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Contested Possession #2
You Could Do Better
“You don’t look at me like a hook-up.”
“How do I look at you?”
“I don’t know. But it’s not like that.”
Chris McLachlan can’t stop thinking about the cool guy he met at a rooftop bar. So when he crashes into him at his favourite coffee shop a year later, he asks him out immediately. He’s bewildered when he gets turned down cold—he’s a decent looking billionaire, is this guy for real? Sure, Chris has a sexual problem, but this guy doesn’t know that.
After his messy break-up, Joaquin Nord never wants to date again. Riddled with feelings of betrayal, shame and depression, he’s content to keep to himself and avoid all things George and Finn—his ex and the rookie he married a month after they broke up—for the rest of his life. He’s definitely not going to date the weird guy who keeps rocking up at his coffee place.
But when Joq is subjected to yet another installment of the Gay Football Soap Opera that is George and Finn in the media, he decides to give Chris a shot. Losing himself in a hot one night stand is just the ticket he needs to move on.
But from the first night, it feels like more than a hook-up. For Chris, it’s the first time he’s slept with someone he wants to see again. For Joq, it’s far too intimate.
Joq won’t do another relationship. And Chris can’t because he’s sexually dysfunctional. It makes no sense for them to keep hooking up.
And yet, they do, repeatedly, both of them waiting for the other shoe to drop…
Until Joq realises he can’t do better, but can Chris?
The follow-up to His Boyfriend’s Rookie and Because He’s My Guy, You Could Do Better brings Joq some much needed closure and a sweet HEA.
“How do I look at you?”
“I don’t know. But it’s not like that.”
Chris McLachlan can’t stop thinking about the cool guy he met at a rooftop bar. So when he crashes into him at his favourite coffee shop a year later, he asks him out immediately. He’s bewildered when he gets turned down cold—he’s a decent looking billionaire, is this guy for real? Sure, Chris has a sexual problem, but this guy doesn’t know that.
After his messy break-up, Joaquin Nord never wants to date again. Riddled with feelings of betrayal, shame and depression, he’s content to keep to himself and avoid all things George and Finn—his ex and the rookie he married a month after they broke up—for the rest of his life. He’s definitely not going to date the weird guy who keeps rocking up at his coffee place.
But when Joq is subjected to yet another installment of the Gay Football Soap Opera that is George and Finn in the media, he decides to give Chris a shot. Losing himself in a hot one night stand is just the ticket he needs to move on.
But from the first night, it feels like more than a hook-up. For Chris, it’s the first time he’s slept with someone he wants to see again. For Joq, it’s far too intimate.
Joq won’t do another relationship. And Chris can’t because he’s sexually dysfunctional. It makes no sense for them to keep hooking up.
And yet, they do, repeatedly, both of them waiting for the other shoe to drop…
Until Joq realises he can’t do better, but can Chris?
The follow-up to His Boyfriend’s Rookie and Because He’s My Guy, You Could Do Better brings Joq some much needed closure and a sweet HEA.
- GenresM M RomanceAustralia
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2024
10 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
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February 9, 2024I liked seeing Joq having his HEA, but I still don't feel sorry for him.🤨
January 8, 2024
I was so happy to know there would be more in this series. I do feel it’s important to read both books prior to reading this one. This was the fallout book from Joq’s POV. This story is Joq’s redemption. Let me say how much I adore Finn & George, however IMO George is equally possibly more responsible for the damage and pain from the prior books. This story really shows Joq’s human side and it’s so heartbreaking. I do wish I had a better understanding of Chris’s “issue” was there a reason behind it, was there any real resolution?
Love this series and I am impatiently 😂😂 anticipating the next book.
Love this series and I am impatiently 😂😂 anticipating the next book.
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April 13, 2024Another conflicting book in this series. Without book 0 and 1 I think this would fall flat. Having Joq’s backstory from Book 0 and 1 made me want to read this for Joq to get his HEA and redemption arc. This could have been bloody brilliant as the concept of this series was quite original but I feel it missed the mark in the execution.
In particular the ending needed more, this was a HFN at best. There was so much page time dedicated to the early build up that more was sorely needed in the final 20%.
Also Chris’s ‘issue’ felt poorly developed. It was like the author wanted to go down the humiliation kink path but it never really eventuated into that. I’m kind of happy it didn’t go further as I’m not a humiliation fan but it still felt like the idea got abandoned halfway through. This issue and others all seemed to wrap up too neatly and easily at the end.
I also needed more resolution to the George/Finn situation. Once again there was a lot of build up with plot line but then the resolution to it felt lacking.
I did love that we got to see more of Joq and that he got a somewhat happy ending, I do wish his mental state was explored more and that we saw his character progress to a happier mindset and acknowledge his unresolved feelings over his last experience. I’m glad George and Finn weren’t sugar coated here, in the previous books I consider their actions to be outright cheating and can absolutely see why Joq did what he did. I hated George in book 1 and Finn barely any less, in fact some more hate for them and acknowledgement of their shitty actions in this would have been preferable!
I don’t know if this is a 3 or 4 stars. I wish it had unpacked so much more in that final third of the book but I was still engaged to the end.
In particular the ending needed more, this was a HFN at best. There was so much page time dedicated to the early build up that more was sorely needed in the final 20%.
Also Chris’s ‘issue’ felt poorly developed. It was like the author wanted to go down the humiliation kink path but it never really eventuated into that. I’m kind of happy it didn’t go further as I’m not a humiliation fan but it still felt like the idea got abandoned halfway through. This issue and others all seemed to wrap up too neatly and easily at the end.
I also needed more resolution to the George/Finn situation. Once again there was a lot of build up with plot line but then the resolution to it felt lacking.
I did love that we got to see more of Joq and that he got a somewhat happy ending, I do wish his mental state was explored more and that we saw his character progress to a happier mindset and acknowledge his unresolved feelings over his last experience. I’m glad George and Finn weren’t sugar coated here, in the previous books I consider their actions to be outright cheating and can absolutely see why Joq did what he did. I hated George in book 1 and Finn barely any less, in fact some more hate for them and acknowledgement of their shitty actions in this would have been preferable!
I don’t know if this is a 3 or 4 stars. I wish it had unpacked so much more in that final third of the book but I was still engaged to the end.
December 20, 2024
My first thought after chapter one was that Chris is too earnest, too eager, an open book. And how much I loved the idea of that for Joq.
Seeing Joq internally crash out whenever Chris got unrelenting business calls was sad, though. Chris would be prioritizing their conversations over business and Joq would be having war flashbacks about the past when George would be shady about picking calls because it was Finn....and what that ended up meaning.
My poor baby😩
“I don’t do repeats,” Joq delivered the line he’d delivered to overzealous hook-ups before. But it didn’t have to be true anymore, did it? He didn’t do repeats because he’d had a goddamned boyfriend. A boyfriend who not only did do repeats but went and fell in love and married the fucking repeat.'
Honestly watching him not deal with the heartache from the breakup and instead shove it into a box labeled 'Do Not Open' deep in the recesses of his mind really sucked. And I'm not surprised it blew up in his face the way it did. I'm just going to say it. After reading all three books I'm 100% a Joq apologist.
Still love Finn. Adorable sweetheart who didn't owe Joq anything. But George absolutely could have, and should have handled the situation better.
Anyway, back to Joq (because fuck George) .
I wanted to bang his head when he threw out the open relationship possibility with Chris because DAMMIT, JOQ, HOW WELL DID PLAYING THAT GAME WORK OUT FOR YOU BEFORE? THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO DETERMINE IF SOMEONE LIKES YOU AND WANTS YOU ONLY TO THEMSELVES, JESUS!
“Don’t fuck anyone else.”
I know Joq acted all huffy about it but I just KNOW his heart was singing for joy.
Unnecessary dumb test passed with flying colors.
But yeeish. Does Chris have his own shit. Joq really CAN NOT catch a break.
And these issues sound like the fuckboy anthem of the century because wdym 'after I fuck someone once I can't stand their touch or their scent and I must leave immediately after and never see or hear from them again'?
💀💀💀💀💀
Chris. Be so for real.
He's so possessive of Joq in a ludicrous way, though, that I kind of adore him. Imagine asking someone not to fuck someone else even if they leave you😂😂😂😂😂😂
It's the audacity for me!
It's really the little things. If you know the George /Joq background, this book makes it obvious that Chris is the perfect fit for Joq.
*Being the chaser. Again, and again, and again.
*Eager to flip fuck.
*Never picking calls around him. Hell, rescheduling board meetings.
*Wanting to shout out their love from the rooftops.
*Being so insanely possessive but in a cute way, not a creepy way. Just —fair warning, I'll probably run mad if you ever fuck around on me.
*Just eager, eager, EAGER
I wish more MCs would discard the shackle of 'shame' and 'cringe' because earnestly eager is the cutest, most adorable thing to see in an MC.
I can't express how deeply I love Chris for Joq.
Seeing Joq internally crash out whenever Chris got unrelenting business calls was sad, though. Chris would be prioritizing their conversations over business and Joq would be having war flashbacks about the past when George would be shady about picking calls because it was Finn....and what that ended up meaning.
My poor baby😩
“I don’t do repeats,” Joq delivered the line he’d delivered to overzealous hook-ups before. But it didn’t have to be true anymore, did it? He didn’t do repeats because he’d had a goddamned boyfriend. A boyfriend who not only did do repeats but went and fell in love and married the fucking repeat.'
Honestly watching him not deal with the heartache from the breakup and instead shove it into a box labeled 'Do Not Open' deep in the recesses of his mind really sucked. And I'm not surprised it blew up in his face the way it did. I'm just going to say it. After reading all three books I'm 100% a Joq apologist.
Still love Finn. Adorable sweetheart who didn't owe Joq anything. But George absolutely could have, and should have handled the situation better.
Anyway, back to Joq (because fuck George) .
I wanted to bang his head when he threw out the open relationship possibility with Chris because DAMMIT, JOQ, HOW WELL DID PLAYING THAT GAME WORK OUT FOR YOU BEFORE? THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO DETERMINE IF SOMEONE LIKES YOU AND WANTS YOU ONLY TO THEMSELVES, JESUS!
“Don’t fuck anyone else.”
I know Joq acted all huffy about it but I just KNOW his heart was singing for joy.
Unnecessary dumb test passed with flying colors.
But yeeish. Does Chris have his own shit. Joq really CAN NOT catch a break.
And these issues sound like the fuckboy anthem of the century because wdym 'after I fuck someone once I can't stand their touch or their scent and I must leave immediately after and never see or hear from them again'?
💀💀💀💀💀
Chris. Be so for real.
He's so possessive of Joq in a ludicrous way, though, that I kind of adore him. Imagine asking someone not to fuck someone else even if they leave you😂😂😂😂😂😂
It's the audacity for me!
It's really the little things. If you know the George /Joq background, this book makes it obvious that Chris is the perfect fit for Joq.
*Being the chaser. Again, and again, and again.
*Eager to flip fuck.
*Never picking calls around him. Hell, rescheduling board meetings.
*Wanting to shout out their love from the rooftops.
*Being so insanely possessive but in a cute way, not a creepy way. Just —fair warning, I'll probably run mad if you ever fuck around on me.
*Just eager, eager, EAGER
I wish more MCs would discard the shackle of 'shame' and 'cringe' because earnestly eager is the cutest, most adorable thing to see in an MC.
I can't express how deeply I love Chris for Joq.
January 10, 2024
With a book that starts with a hook up one would not automatically expect extended longing and some pining and a fantastic push and pull but that’s what you get with this book.
Both these men are dealing with their own baggage causing them to engage with one foot (sometimes both feet .. looking at you Joq) out the door, it made for a very intimate look at their building relationship that gave them a place to belong unconditionally.
This story spanning a couple of years is sweet, funny, steamy and deeply emotional and feels so real in parts and they have so many hurdles to overcome before they figure it out. That ending again had me at the edge of my seat not sure how it would work out and thankfully they do get it together… though I was left wanting more but in the best way imaginable.
Because of the previous books, I was not prepared to like Joq at all but his perspective is more nuanced in this book and despite what he did Sasha made me feel empathy for Joq, feeling his rejection and shame over what went down and what he had done - it somehow made me realise it’s possible for him to make irreversible devastating mistakes and feel remorse while still trying to protect himself from heartache.
Chris is a dream - on the surface so aloof, trying his best to not be a$$hole but physically unable to stay engaged romantically. Till he is hooked on Joq and his mind fixated and his heart caught on someone who is still not reconciled with his own past battling his own demons. I adored how single mindedly determined he is about his connection to Joq. It was everything.
I love the beautifully descriptive writing with deep emotional threads running through giving intimate peeks into her characters and their journey and I
absolutely loved this book, I highly recommend checking it out.
Expect:
* Hurt Comfort
* Longing
* Found family
* Strangers to lovers
* HFN leaning heavily towards an HEA
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Angst: ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
Both these men are dealing with their own baggage causing them to engage with one foot (sometimes both feet .. looking at you Joq) out the door, it made for a very intimate look at their building relationship that gave them a place to belong unconditionally.
This story spanning a couple of years is sweet, funny, steamy and deeply emotional and feels so real in parts and they have so many hurdles to overcome before they figure it out. That ending again had me at the edge of my seat not sure how it would work out and thankfully they do get it together… though I was left wanting more but in the best way imaginable.
Because of the previous books, I was not prepared to like Joq at all but his perspective is more nuanced in this book and despite what he did Sasha made me feel empathy for Joq, feeling his rejection and shame over what went down and what he had done - it somehow made me realise it’s possible for him to make irreversible devastating mistakes and feel remorse while still trying to protect himself from heartache.
Chris is a dream - on the surface so aloof, trying his best to not be a$$hole but physically unable to stay engaged romantically. Till he is hooked on Joq and his mind fixated and his heart caught on someone who is still not reconciled with his own past battling his own demons. I adored how single mindedly determined he is about his connection to Joq. It was everything.
I love the beautifully descriptive writing with deep emotional threads running through giving intimate peeks into her characters and their journey and I
absolutely loved this book, I highly recommend checking it out.
Expect:
* Hurt Comfort
* Longing
* Found family
* Strangers to lovers
* HFN leaning heavily towards an HEA
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Angst: ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
March 17, 2024
3.75 stars ✨
Chris MacLachlan is a billionaire and CEO of a family Company started by his Grand father, who raised him from a young boy. He’s living the good life but he can’t seem to stay with any guy for any length of time. No matter how good they get on, at one point something happens with Chris, he gets out and leaves asap.
While out with his friends at a Bar his eyes light on a handsome blond at the counter, trying to start chatting to him, Chris is promptly given the brush off. A year passes during which Chris tries to find this guy on all the Dating Apps, but no luck.
Joaquin Nord has been burned big time, he didn’t handle it well and he did something which he is extremely ashamed of. Apart from not wanting to be hurt again, he wouldn’t want anyone to discover what a horrible person he can be.
Eventually, Chris spots his quarry at a Coffee Shop near his office. After a lot of too-ing and fro-ing they hook up a few times, Handsome blond won’t do relationships. But still they keep meeting up but Chris has to really work hard to get Joaquin to keep seeing him.
All is going so well until Joaquin comes face to face with his ex and he is shattered. He lets Chris down big time, but he realises too late what he has done.
I liked ‘You Could Do Better’, it was different from what I expected and was a nice change from my recent reads. Chris is a really good man, even though he has great wealth he doesn’t use it as bait or flaunt it to get his own way. His secret is very odd to say the least.
As for Joaquin, it took me a bit longer to warm to him, even before his ‘secret ’.
Still this was an enjoyable few hours reading on a dull March afternoon.
Chris MacLachlan is a billionaire and CEO of a family Company started by his Grand father, who raised him from a young boy. He’s living the good life but he can’t seem to stay with any guy for any length of time. No matter how good they get on, at one point something happens with Chris, he gets out and leaves asap.
While out with his friends at a Bar his eyes light on a handsome blond at the counter, trying to start chatting to him, Chris is promptly given the brush off. A year passes during which Chris tries to find this guy on all the Dating Apps, but no luck.
Joaquin Nord has been burned big time, he didn’t handle it well and he did something which he is extremely ashamed of. Apart from not wanting to be hurt again, he wouldn’t want anyone to discover what a horrible person he can be.
Eventually, Chris spots his quarry at a Coffee Shop near his office. After a lot of too-ing and fro-ing they hook up a few times, Handsome blond won’t do relationships. But still they keep meeting up but Chris has to really work hard to get Joaquin to keep seeing him.
All is going so well until Joaquin comes face to face with his ex and he is shattered. He lets Chris down big time, but he realises too late what he has done.
I liked ‘You Could Do Better’, it was different from what I expected and was a nice change from my recent reads. Chris is a really good man, even though he has great wealth he doesn’t use it as bait or flaunt it to get his own way. His secret is very odd to say the least.
As for Joaquin, it took me a bit longer to warm to him, even before his ‘secret ’.
Still this was an enjoyable few hours reading on a dull March afternoon.
May 10, 2025
JOQ DESERVES THE WORLD
I am rating this book a 5⭐️ because of Joq and Chris, they deserve to be happy and Joq deserves the world.
I’m not even going to think about the stunt this author pulled in an attempt to prevent Joq from getting his happily ever after when no one else deserves it more than him.
I’m glad he and Chris found their way back to each other.
I still think George and Finn need to be flamed alive. They’re both horrible people and anyone who actually like those two are just horrible humans. There is nothing you can tell me that justifies what George did to Joq. And Chris was right about his assessment of Finn. I don’t care if Finn was 20 years old, he was just as horrible of a person as George.
I am so happy Joq found him a man who loves him right.
That being said, I dislike George and Finn so much. I hate the fact that their story exists and they got a happy ending when they don’t deserve it. Nothing is ever going to make me pick up a book by this Author. Ever again. I only read Joq’s book because I just needed to know that he found someone who loved him right.
I am rating this book a 5⭐️ because of Joq and Chris, they deserve to be happy and Joq deserves the world.
I’m not even going to think about the stunt this author pulled in an attempt to prevent Joq from getting his happily ever after when no one else deserves it more than him.
I’m glad he and Chris found their way back to each other.
I still think George and Finn need to be flamed alive. They’re both horrible people and anyone who actually like those two are just horrible humans. There is nothing you can tell me that justifies what George did to Joq. And Chris was right about his assessment of Finn. I don’t care if Finn was 20 years old, he was just as horrible of a person as George.
I am so happy Joq found him a man who loves him right.
That being said, I dislike George and Finn so much. I hate the fact that their story exists and they got a happy ending when they don’t deserve it. Nothing is ever going to make me pick up a book by this Author. Ever again. I only read Joq’s book because I just needed to know that he found someone who loved him right.
January 14, 2024
I enjoyed this trilogy. The author does a good job of exploring the characters and their motivations. This was the weakest for me, relying too much on hot scenes instead of working through issues. Also, romance with billionaires is my least favorite trope, but I wasn’t tempted to leave off. The author is not well-served by the covers and blurbs for these. The contested possession descriptor put me off at first, and the description of this book and creepy cover made me think it would be much different than a straightforward romance.
January 18, 2024
4.5 stars
After reading His Boyfriend's Rookie and Because He's My Guy (plus a very long and amazing free bonus scenes), we already know how the triangle Joq/George/Finn ended: after 12 years together, George falls in love with another man and leaves Joq for him.
I think George loved Joq and that Joq loved him too, it wasn't a "marriage" of convenience. George considered Joq his safe space and his forever partner and until Finn was outed, he chose Joq several times over Finn.
But their open relationship gave George the right to be physically with Finn and opened a void between them.
George would never have pursued a physical relationship with Finn if they hadn't had their arrangement and the fact that in this book Joq still thinks George did cheat on him reveals his lack of introspection.
He never set the no repeat rule because he knew George would never have taken advantage of their open relationship. He thought he was safe, until he wasn't anymore.
In this book Joq isn't over the fact that, despite he was the one cheated on, it was George to end their relationship.
He didn't get to be angry with him or with Finn, he couldn't openly blame George, he had to passively accept his decision. He was never publicly acknowledged so, in the eyes of the world, he never existed and that was too much painful for him.
I think that's way he didn't say to anyone about his and George's open relationship and, especially, about the blackmail. In front of his parents, he still is the poor guy who deserved better
I was happy for him when he was finally honest at least with Chris: it was a big step in the right direction.
But Chris, instead of justifyig what Joq did, should have suggested therapy because Joq clearly needed it to get over his resentment. Maybe Joq would have had the tools to handle the news of George and Finn having a baby.
I believe, in some ways, Joq resents more himself than George.
Sasha Avice delivered another brilliant and realistic story, Joq's emotions and feelings are so well written. And I really believe he and Chris are a good match.
I don't think the point of this book was to get Joq his own HEA, but to make him believe he could learn form his scars, leave the past behind and work hard for a healthy relationship.
There will be other books in this series, maybe the author will drop a hint that Joq is finally happy.
Absolutely recommended.
After reading His Boyfriend's Rookie and Because He's My Guy (plus a very long and amazing free bonus scenes), we already know how the triangle Joq/George/Finn ended: after 12 years together, George falls in love with another man and leaves Joq for him.
I think George loved Joq and that Joq loved him too, it wasn't a "marriage" of convenience. George considered Joq his safe space and his forever partner and until Finn was outed, he chose Joq several times over Finn.
But their open relationship gave George the right to be physically with Finn and opened a void between them.
George would never have pursued a physical relationship with Finn if they hadn't had their arrangement and the fact that in this book Joq still thinks George did cheat on him reveals his lack of introspection.
He never set the no repeat rule because he knew George would never have taken advantage of their open relationship. He thought he was safe, until he wasn't anymore.
In this book Joq isn't over the fact that, despite he was the one cheated on, it was George to end their relationship.
He didn't get to be angry with him or with Finn, he couldn't openly blame George, he had to passively accept his decision. He was never publicly acknowledged so, in the eyes of the world, he never existed and that was too much painful for him.
I think that's way he didn't say to anyone about his and George's open relationship and, especially, about the blackmail. In front of his parents, he still is the poor guy who deserved better
I was happy for him when he was finally honest at least with Chris: it was a big step in the right direction.
But Chris, instead of justifyig what Joq did, should have suggested therapy because Joq clearly needed it to get over his resentment. Maybe Joq would have had the tools to handle the news of George and Finn having a baby.
I believe, in some ways, Joq resents more himself than George.
Sasha Avice delivered another brilliant and realistic story, Joq's emotions and feelings are so well written. And I really believe he and Chris are a good match.
I don't think the point of this book was to get Joq his own HEA, but to make him believe he could learn form his scars, leave the past behind and work hard for a healthy relationship.
There will be other books in this series, maybe the author will drop a hint that Joq is finally happy.
Absolutely recommended.
March 24, 2025
I was rooting for Joaquin. He deserved a world better than George. I can feel his pain, deep anger, humiliation and betrayal caused by his previous power-imbalanced relationship. I wanted to love this book and it felt promising at one point. At the end I felt like Joaquin didn't get the closure he rightly deserved. It felt unfinished. A few important issues left unresolved. I mean he's still rendered speechless and depressed to a point that he loses touch with time and his surrounding, to a point that he stops caring about people who he loves including Chris, every time he see his ex being happy. And the book ended just like that. He deserved better than this precarious HFN!
January 29, 2025
I love everything by this author and especially this series.. so take that into account. This just fell really flat for me. I’m so sorry :’(
April 27, 2024
Warning, this review is more like therapy for me because Sasha Avice’s books are seductive, addictive, but also make me overthink a lot of things. So maybe skip it if you don’t want to see a reader talk themselves in circles and still wind up confused but absolutely loving that book overall.
This review is muddled because that is what the author does to my usually quite straightforward likes and dislikes, but, here goes. This book? Not perfect. But perfect for me, and I’m giving it five stars anyway because. Yup. Because. My heart is squeezing with emotion and thoughts after finishing, in a good way, so, job well done, Author.
This is the story of the jilted Joq from Because He’s My Guy, and billionaire sweetheart Chris, who should have run the other way and didn’t, over and over again. These guys together were fascinating, with unusual push-pull chemistry, and I wanted them to work. The author made me want them to work.
I came to the book with a strong dislike for Joq from reading BHMG, but contrarily, I loved reading about him meeting the persistent almost-pest that is Chris. Chris is a wonderful, multi-faceted character who is perfect for Joq, and I wound up feeling that Joq was perfect for him, even though I still didn’t like Joq and didn’t feel sorry for him at all with his prickly, defensive ways, endearing as that usually is to me. I wanted them to be together and wound up yearning for it, even though I never did like Joq. Author, HTF did you do that to me?!
Seriously, this author makes me love things I don’t even like. It’s her insightful characterizations, her blunt honesty and way of showing what makes people tick without telling.
Anyway. After getting out of a decade-plus relationship feeling like he was lied to and betrayed, with equal doses of hurt and self-loathing for doing something at the end of that relationship that he’s deeply ashamed of, Joq is in his “never EVER again” mode. Chris has never met a man he could stand being with after sleeping with them once. He has true physical revulsion the morning after and has never really dated. It’s a match made in nowhere! And yet, when Chris sees Joq once, he can’t get him out of his mind. So when, a year later, he sees him again? He’s not letting the man get away without finding out who this guy is…and maybe hounding him into getting coffee. Maybe more. And when Chris realizes, after an incendiary night, that Joq doesn’t repulse him and he hopes for a repeat or ten, we get one of the most stubborn romances I’ve ever read. Yup. This book is stubborn.
So, even though I still wasn’t a fan of Joq, because I can’t get over hating him with an utter passion for what he did to my precious Finn in Because He’s My Guy, I found myself seriously rooting for him and Chris. In this book, even in hindsight, Joq still doesn’t take responsibility for how his open-relationship-that-kind-of-wasn’t ended, putting the blame all on his ex, George—not the Bad Thing Joq did, he owns that, thank goodness, but he blames George for not breaking up with him, when Joq himself saw the signs and also didn’t break up with George, instead going for the nuclear option.
But. ***spoilers***
***end spoilers***
So…why should people read this book? It's incredibly romantic, in part, paradoxically, due to Joq’s extreme anti-romanticness. It’s about falling for someone who doesn’t give up on you and sees you at your worst and still is like, yeah. Sign me up! It’s about how pain from the past messes with our heads, even when we don’t want it to, even when it might cost us our future, even when we know we really don’t want that past, it just still HURTS, and that can make us lose it for a time until we claw our way out of it and find a way forward.
Did Joq deserve Chris? Wrong question. In love, there is no “deserve.” There’s just love and unconditional acceptance of our Person. And Chris didn’t, in the end, put up with feeling second best, and that made Joq realize…well, I’m still not happy with where Joq got to, which is why I want a bit more massaging of these two to really satisfy, but, I still felt like they were going to make it together, and since the author made me Believe in them, 5 stars.
Do I wish we had more closure, more insight into these guys a few years down the road? Yes. Did I want to know what was up with Chris’s revulsion issue? Yes, and that wasn’t explored. Maybe therapy for him, too. Was the ending satisfying? Though it is HFN, no, it wasn’t fully satisfying, due to the absolute cluster-f of a disaster that was the dark moment and bleak night of the soul, but, that part was just so good I would have to think through what to suggest to really make the end feel finished, and no one’s paying me to do that. It’ll nag at me, no doubt, and I’ll probably write some embarrassingly long email about it sometime, but who cares, shut it Me, finish this knee-jerk review.
HFN that better turn out to be an HEA. No cheating, emotional cheating, and no cheating-esque OM drama, just past hurts wreaking havoc, but nothing that wasn’t “safe for me.” Before this book, you may want to read My Boyfriend’s Rookie (it seems most readers feel really bad for Joq and hate George if they read that first) and definitely read Because He’s My Guy to fully understand Joq’s motivations and reactions in this book.
Mostly read this book for Chris though, because we all of us readers deserve a Chris. His instincts about being with Joq were on point, even in the face of Joq running every chance he got. And they really were, that’s why I loved the book. Give the man a hug!
Highly recommended.
This review is muddled because that is what the author does to my usually quite straightforward likes and dislikes, but, here goes. This book? Not perfect. But perfect for me, and I’m giving it five stars anyway because. Yup. Because. My heart is squeezing with emotion and thoughts after finishing, in a good way, so, job well done, Author.
This is the story of the jilted Joq from Because He’s My Guy, and billionaire sweetheart Chris, who should have run the other way and didn’t, over and over again. These guys together were fascinating, with unusual push-pull chemistry, and I wanted them to work. The author made me want them to work.
I came to the book with a strong dislike for Joq from reading BHMG, but contrarily, I loved reading about him meeting the persistent almost-pest that is Chris. Chris is a wonderful, multi-faceted character who is perfect for Joq, and I wound up feeling that Joq was perfect for him, even though I still didn’t like Joq and didn’t feel sorry for him at all with his prickly, defensive ways, endearing as that usually is to me. I wanted them to be together and wound up yearning for it, even though I never did like Joq. Author, HTF did you do that to me?!
Seriously, this author makes me love things I don’t even like. It’s her insightful characterizations, her blunt honesty and way of showing what makes people tick without telling.
Anyway. After getting out of a decade-plus relationship feeling like he was lied to and betrayed, with equal doses of hurt and self-loathing for doing something at the end of that relationship that he’s deeply ashamed of, Joq is in his “never EVER again” mode. Chris has never met a man he could stand being with after sleeping with them once. He has true physical revulsion the morning after and has never really dated. It’s a match made in nowhere! And yet, when Chris sees Joq once, he can’t get him out of his mind. So when, a year later, he sees him again? He’s not letting the man get away without finding out who this guy is…and maybe hounding him into getting coffee. Maybe more. And when Chris realizes, after an incendiary night, that Joq doesn’t repulse him and he hopes for a repeat or ten, we get one of the most stubborn romances I’ve ever read. Yup. This book is stubborn.
So, even though I still wasn’t a fan of Joq, because I can’t get over hating him with an utter passion for what he did to my precious Finn in Because He’s My Guy, I found myself seriously rooting for him and Chris. In this book, even in hindsight, Joq still doesn’t take responsibility for how his open-relationship-that-kind-of-wasn’t ended, putting the blame all on his ex, George—not the Bad Thing Joq did, he owns that, thank goodness, but he blames George for not breaking up with him, when Joq himself saw the signs and also didn’t break up with George, instead going for the nuclear option.
But. ***spoilers***
***end spoilers***
So…why should people read this book? It's incredibly romantic, in part, paradoxically, due to Joq’s extreme anti-romanticness. It’s about falling for someone who doesn’t give up on you and sees you at your worst and still is like, yeah. Sign me up! It’s about how pain from the past messes with our heads, even when we don’t want it to, even when it might cost us our future, even when we know we really don’t want that past, it just still HURTS, and that can make us lose it for a time until we claw our way out of it and find a way forward.
Did Joq deserve Chris? Wrong question. In love, there is no “deserve.” There’s just love and unconditional acceptance of our Person. And Chris didn’t, in the end, put up with feeling second best, and that made Joq realize…well, I’m still not happy with where Joq got to, which is why I want a bit more massaging of these two to really satisfy, but, I still felt like they were going to make it together, and since the author made me Believe in them, 5 stars.
Do I wish we had more closure, more insight into these guys a few years down the road? Yes. Did I want to know what was up with Chris’s revulsion issue? Yes, and that wasn’t explored. Maybe therapy for him, too. Was the ending satisfying? Though it is HFN, no, it wasn’t fully satisfying, due to the absolute cluster-f of a disaster that was the dark moment and bleak night of the soul, but, that part was just so good I would have to think through what to suggest to really make the end feel finished, and no one’s paying me to do that. It’ll nag at me, no doubt, and I’ll probably write some embarrassingly long email about it sometime, but who cares, shut it Me, finish this knee-jerk review.
HFN that better turn out to be an HEA. No cheating, emotional cheating, and no cheating-esque OM drama, just past hurts wreaking havoc, but nothing that wasn’t “safe for me.” Before this book, you may want to read My Boyfriend’s Rookie (it seems most readers feel really bad for Joq and hate George if they read that first) and definitely read Because He’s My Guy to fully understand Joq’s motivations and reactions in this book.
Mostly read this book for Chris though, because we all of us readers deserve a Chris. His instincts about being with Joq were on point, even in the face of Joq running every chance he got. And they really were, that’s why I loved the book. Give the man a hug!
Highly recommended.
January 14, 2024
Joq gets his HEA! And it's not a tacked-on afterthought; he actually has to work and grow in order to earn it.
Joq, head of security for a pro footy team's stadium, was messily entangled for a number of years with a pro player turned coach, George, in His Boyfriend's Rookie. Their relationship was overshadowed by the fact that George was in the closet and determined to keep Joq a secret, in spite of the fact that they'd lived together for ten years. Joq and George had an open relationship, though only Joq slept with others until George fell hard for a rookie he was coaching. Joq and George's relationship subsequently resulting in lies, deception, and questionable behavior on both sides.
You Could Do Better finds Joq in the aftermath of that devastating (to him, George has moved on fine) breakup, determined not to date or get emotionally involved with anyone ever again.
He encounters Chris in a series of funny and awkward encounters (Joq saves Chris on his phone as "hot weird coffee guy") and Chris slowly, but surely wears away at the emotional barricades that Joq has erected to protect himself.
Chris, the charming heir to a mega-fortune, has his own problems, namely that he can't sleep with a guy without being physically repulsed moments after coming. He also can't stop thinking about Joq.
Chris is utterly delightful. I appreciated that Joq had someone who thought that he was worth chasing and
It's a surprise to me that Avice's books don't have more reviews/ratings on Goodreads. She's a talented author writing unique romances with interesting, flawed characters and unpredictable narratives. Another excellent outing by Avice!
Joq, head of security for a pro footy team's stadium, was messily entangled for a number of years with a pro player turned coach, George, in His Boyfriend's Rookie. Their relationship was overshadowed by the fact that George was in the closet and determined to keep Joq a secret, in spite of the fact that they'd lived together for ten years. Joq and George had an open relationship, though only Joq slept with others until George fell hard for a rookie he was coaching. Joq and George's relationship subsequently resulting in lies, deception, and questionable behavior on both sides.
You Could Do Better finds Joq in the aftermath of that devastating (to him, George has moved on fine) breakup, determined not to date or get emotionally involved with anyone ever again.
He encounters Chris in a series of funny and awkward encounters (Joq saves Chris on his phone as "hot weird coffee guy") and Chris slowly, but surely wears away at the emotional barricades that Joq has erected to protect himself.
Chris, the charming heir to a mega-fortune, has his own problems, namely that he can't sleep with a guy without being physically repulsed moments after coming. He also can't stop thinking about Joq.
Chris is utterly delightful. I appreciated that Joq had someone who thought that he was worth chasing and
It's a surprise to me that Avice's books don't have more reviews/ratings on Goodreads. She's a talented author writing unique romances with interesting, flawed characters and unpredictable narratives. Another excellent outing by Avice!
March 28, 2024
ARC Review
So this was Joq’s redemption story and honestly I’m here for it. I loved it. In Because He’s My Guy, I had mixed feelings about Joq. I couldn’t understand why he’d want an open relationship, then get mad when the other person in the relationship started sleeping with someone else. On the other hand we all know George was emotionally cheating before he physically did anything with Finn. So yeah conflicted I was. Joq was redeemed a bit in My Boyfriends Rookie which tells it from his view point…
Turns out Joq wasn’t so bad and didn’t really want to have an open relationship and I guess in a way the open relationship was his way of having something that was his, since George wanted to hide him.
Chris omg I loved Chris. He was rich but humble. He was consistent in his pursuit of Joq but also backed off when he really felt like Joq wasn’t feeling it. He was so sweet. They had chemistry for sure, even managed to work around Chris’s…. issue? That’s what we’ll call it. His issue.
I wish the ending had been longer. I would’ve liked to see more of their hea. I definitely recommend.
So this was Joq’s redemption story and honestly I’m here for it. I loved it. In Because He’s My Guy, I had mixed feelings about Joq. I couldn’t understand why he’d want an open relationship, then get mad when the other person in the relationship started sleeping with someone else. On the other hand we all know George was emotionally cheating before he physically did anything with Finn. So yeah conflicted I was. Joq was redeemed a bit in My Boyfriends Rookie which tells it from his view point…
Turns out Joq wasn’t so bad and didn’t really want to have an open relationship and I guess in a way the open relationship was his way of having something that was his, since George wanted to hide him.
Chris omg I loved Chris. He was rich but humble. He was consistent in his pursuit of Joq but also backed off when he really felt like Joq wasn’t feeling it. He was so sweet. They had chemistry for sure, even managed to work around Chris’s…. issue? That’s what we’ll call it. His issue.
I wish the ending had been longer. I would’ve liked to see more of their hea. I definitely recommend.
June 5, 2024
joc deserved better than george, that's all.
this did heal some of my anger from his boyfriend's rookie. but i do feel like joc is too hard on himself. george and finn did not deserve the moral highground in this situation.
in life, not everything is neatly wrapped up by the end and this felt realistic. i don't mind this hfn ending, not every relationship goes the wedding/kids route and this left me in a satisfying place for these characters.
this did heal some of my anger from his boyfriend's rookie. but i do feel like joc is too hard on himself. george and finn did not deserve the moral highground in this situation.
in life, not everything is neatly wrapped up by the end and this felt realistic. i don't mind this hfn ending, not every relationship goes the wedding/kids route and this left me in a satisfying place for these characters.
February 9, 2024
I liked this very much, but a bit more depth would be nice. Joq and Chris seemed like foils, there was meat missing. And people should go to therapy or at least talk to their friends. It's not overrated, guys. As I didn't read the first book (hating cheating), I sure wanted George to eat a bag of dicks.
April 22, 2025
I'm so glad Sasha chose to write a happy ever after for Joq!! He deserved it, even though he did something really bad to Finn (I really couldn't blame him--he was ditched by his lover of 10 years!!) I absolutely felt that Creed did Joq dirty with that whole situation so I loved this romance for Joq!! Highly recommend!
October 11, 2025
joq & chris - 3.75 stars 💜
everyone’s finally with who they’re meant to be with! yaaaay! i looove a happy ending. for all of our guys.
i’m aghast to discover that joq really tried that open relationship thing as a test!!! is that what he wanted from george? for him to push back ?? perhaps! but george was already feeling guilty about keeping him in the closet it made sense for him to agree just to give joq something but joq took that shit personally and even started hooking up to boot!! sir just say what you’re feeling 😭😭 you should’ve said that to george then and you should say it to chris now!! it is interesting to see the ways george & joq’s relationship was failing from both sides even before george fell in love w finn. i loooove some context and drama.
chris was like a labrador puppy. i loved him and his energy lol and he was definitely the right match for joq. i really do love a man who chases. and we saw it both times in george who would chase finn and chris who would chase joq. poetry. you really could just feel how george and joq would never have been able to stay together because george is so suited for finn and chris for joq. i love full circle moments.
in all, joq & chris were really good for each other. they both had their glaring issues lol but it really did take the right person to balance them out and to really take a chance on something after hurt or in the face of insecurity.
“All’s fair in love and war, he knew what he was getting in the middle of.” you know what, clock it chris because at the end of the day everyone made bad choices but for their own reasons. at least he pretty much called out that all three of them could’ve made different choices. george should’ve handled it differently, he was truly in denial about being in love with finn but as soon as he realised he was he should’ve spoken to joq and as joq said they could’ve at lest tried to amicably split but he was afraid of the outcome on all sides and i understand his hesitation even if i wish he hadn’t, finn really threw himself in the messy middle knowing george had a long term boyfriend but he couldn’t help himself because he loves george, and joq should not have threatened that blackmail but he really felt at cliffs edge. it’s crazy when i almost see none of them as the villain of the story, even tho i really take issues with some choices. but they really all did dumb things out of love and care and fear. crazy what the human heart can feel and push you to do.
now obvs i know that chris was going to be painfully bias but george was not the sole ‘asshole’ of his and joq’s relationship 😭😭 like baby it takes two to tango and both of them did shitty things to each other. c’est la vie.
my final note is i really do love and tend to side with george & finn more (and i definitely loved their book the most!), obviously not that they did things perfectly cause hell they all made mistakes. BUT i don’t see joq as the villain really, i think he needed time to really come into who he was and i was glad to see it in this book! you could tell even in moments that he was truly regretful about what he had done even in the face of hurt. a new appreciation.
now, i will circle back to this series bc do i spy that our favourite resident drug addict (sorry lacy love you) is matched up with a church boy???? but alas i have at least 3 arcs i need to read rn so ill have to return but i look forward to it🫡
everyone’s finally with who they’re meant to be with! yaaaay! i looove a happy ending. for all of our guys.
i’m aghast to discover that joq really tried that open relationship thing as a test!!! is that what he wanted from george? for him to push back ?? perhaps! but george was already feeling guilty about keeping him in the closet it made sense for him to agree just to give joq something but joq took that shit personally and even started hooking up to boot!! sir just say what you’re feeling 😭😭 you should’ve said that to george then and you should say it to chris now!! it is interesting to see the ways george & joq’s relationship was failing from both sides even before george fell in love w finn. i loooove some context and drama.
chris was like a labrador puppy. i loved him and his energy lol and he was definitely the right match for joq. i really do love a man who chases. and we saw it both times in george who would chase finn and chris who would chase joq. poetry. you really could just feel how george and joq would never have been able to stay together because george is so suited for finn and chris for joq. i love full circle moments.
in all, joq & chris were really good for each other. they both had their glaring issues lol but it really did take the right person to balance them out and to really take a chance on something after hurt or in the face of insecurity.
“All’s fair in love and war, he knew what he was getting in the middle of.” you know what, clock it chris because at the end of the day everyone made bad choices but for their own reasons. at least he pretty much called out that all three of them could’ve made different choices. george should’ve handled it differently, he was truly in denial about being in love with finn but as soon as he realised he was he should’ve spoken to joq and as joq said they could’ve at lest tried to amicably split but he was afraid of the outcome on all sides and i understand his hesitation even if i wish he hadn’t, finn really threw himself in the messy middle knowing george had a long term boyfriend but he couldn’t help himself because he loves george, and joq should not have threatened that blackmail but he really felt at cliffs edge. it’s crazy when i almost see none of them as the villain of the story, even tho i really take issues with some choices. but they really all did dumb things out of love and care and fear. crazy what the human heart can feel and push you to do.
now obvs i know that chris was going to be painfully bias but george was not the sole ‘asshole’ of his and joq’s relationship 😭😭 like baby it takes two to tango and both of them did shitty things to each other. c’est la vie.
my final note is i really do love and tend to side with george & finn more (and i definitely loved their book the most!), obviously not that they did things perfectly cause hell they all made mistakes. BUT i don’t see joq as the villain really, i think he needed time to really come into who he was and i was glad to see it in this book! you could tell even in moments that he was truly regretful about what he had done even in the face of hurt. a new appreciation.
now, i will circle back to this series bc do i spy that our favourite resident drug addict (sorry lacy love you) is matched up with a church boy???? but alas i have at least 3 arcs i need to read rn so ill have to return but i look forward to it🫡
February 13, 2024
(4,25 stars rated down) Chris McLachlan is an old-money billionaire struggling to get his family business back on track. He can't do relationships, and the guys he hooks up with, he ditches immediately after having sex with them. However, he still thinks about a missed connection with a guy he bumped into a year ago at a rooftop bar. So when he bumps into him again at his local coffee shop, he gives him his number and hopes he'll call him.
The man in question is Joaquin Nord, who we've already had a chance to meet in 'His Boyfriend's Rookie'. After a breakup with his long-term partner, George, which left him feeling both resentful and guilty about how their relationship ended, he's not looking for another relationship or even a hookup. Still, Chris is persistent, and Joq's willpower breaks after another reminder of George and Finn's blissful happiness gets shoved down his throat by the media. The two sleep together, and Chris is surprised , so he continues to pursue Joq in hopes of a repeat until Joq gives in again.
Both men are dealing with their own personal issues and don't consider themselves relationship material, but the more Chris keeps pursuing Joq, the more they're unable to resist each other. I really liked Chris' optimistic character; despite being a billionaire, he was such a down-to-earth guy. Even with the possibility , he still didn't let it stop him from going after what he wanted and pursued Joq wholeheartedly. Unlike Chris, Joq was terrified of giving his heart away to anybody ever again, so he was standoffish and tried to discourage Chris at every point, but was unable to resist his charm in the end.
The story was told from both Chris' and Joq's POV, and I found that to be a good choice as Chris' POV brought a dose of lightness and intrinsic optimism to the story, while also giving the reader a chance to understand Joq's struggle. I enjoyed Chris and Joq's story, and I was glad to see Joq getting another chance at finding happiness with somebody who actually appreciated him. I did find myself wishing for a little bit more resolution at the end, both to Joq's issues with George and Finn's relationship, and his future with Chris, but I also understood that they were both still very much a work in progress, and that was okay.
Themes: dual POV, opposites attract, strangers to lovers, hurt comfort, HFN
The man in question is Joaquin Nord, who we've already had a chance to meet in 'His Boyfriend's Rookie'. After a breakup with his long-term partner, George, which left him feeling both resentful and guilty about how their relationship ended, he's not looking for another relationship or even a hookup. Still, Chris is persistent, and Joq's willpower breaks after another reminder of George and Finn's blissful happiness gets shoved down his throat by the media. The two sleep together, and Chris is surprised , so he continues to pursue Joq in hopes of a repeat until Joq gives in again.
Both men are dealing with their own personal issues and don't consider themselves relationship material, but the more Chris keeps pursuing Joq, the more they're unable to resist each other. I really liked Chris' optimistic character; despite being a billionaire, he was such a down-to-earth guy. Even with the possibility , he still didn't let it stop him from going after what he wanted and pursued Joq wholeheartedly. Unlike Chris, Joq was terrified of giving his heart away to anybody ever again, so he was standoffish and tried to discourage Chris at every point, but was unable to resist his charm in the end.
The story was told from both Chris' and Joq's POV, and I found that to be a good choice as Chris' POV brought a dose of lightness and intrinsic optimism to the story, while also giving the reader a chance to understand Joq's struggle. I enjoyed Chris and Joq's story, and I was glad to see Joq getting another chance at finding happiness with somebody who actually appreciated him. I did find myself wishing for a little bit more resolution at the end, both to Joq's issues with George and Finn's relationship, and his future with Chris, but I also understood that they were both still very much a work in progress, and that was okay.
Themes: dual POV, opposites attract, strangers to lovers, hurt comfort, HFN
November 1, 2025
The resolution I needed
Thank you for this. I could have done without quite so much of George — he’s seriously such a self-absorbed jackass even small doses of him annoy me. His name makes me cringe the way Chris says it does for him. I really wish we’d gotten an epilogue like the others. I’d have loved to see them truly happy down the line after this final coming together. It almost felt like that’s where it was headed until that little twist when Joq was on his way to the restaurant. When there’s that kind of emotional back and forth — things seeming good, then suddenly going sideways — I think it helps to have some closure with an epilogue set a year or more later. I would’ve loved that, but I’ll happily take what we got here.
As a side note, I’m not sure if the Christie you thank (along with Lana — thanks to you too for anything you did to inspire this) is the same Christie whose reviews I’ve seen on the first three books on Amazon. But if it is — or even if it’s not — thank you, Christie, for writing exactly how I felt! I read your reviews each time nodding and saying, yes, this person gets it. By the third one, I wasn’t even surprised to see your name again. I completely related to your note about wanting to tell everyone after reading the prequel, even those who don’t usually read MM romances — that made me laugh out loud because, same. It’s so nice knowing someone else felt just as viscerally about George. Your reviews made my heart ache a little less when no one around me quite understood how deeply these characters hit.
Thank you for this. I could have done without quite so much of George — he’s seriously such a self-absorbed jackass even small doses of him annoy me. His name makes me cringe the way Chris says it does for him. I really wish we’d gotten an epilogue like the others. I’d have loved to see them truly happy down the line after this final coming together. It almost felt like that’s where it was headed until that little twist when Joq was on his way to the restaurant. When there’s that kind of emotional back and forth — things seeming good, then suddenly going sideways — I think it helps to have some closure with an epilogue set a year or more later. I would’ve loved that, but I’ll happily take what we got here.
As a side note, I’m not sure if the Christie you thank (along with Lana — thanks to you too for anything you did to inspire this) is the same Christie whose reviews I’ve seen on the first three books on Amazon. But if it is — or even if it’s not — thank you, Christie, for writing exactly how I felt! I read your reviews each time nodding and saying, yes, this person gets it. By the third one, I wasn’t even surprised to see your name again. I completely related to your note about wanting to tell everyone after reading the prequel, even those who don’t usually read MM romances — that made me laugh out loud because, same. It’s so nice knowing someone else felt just as viscerally about George. Your reviews made my heart ache a little less when no one around me quite understood how deeply these characters hit.
Read
April 5, 2025Ugh ugh ugh ugh. I’m so thoroughly disappointed on how poorly this book ended.
It feels unfinished. Like there wasn’t even an epilogue and the resolution to the conflict was literally on the very last couple pages of the book. It doesn’t even feel like a HEA. It’s a barely there HFN, but there’s no more story!
Very sad about this because the first three books of this series were shaping up to be a masterpiece! So brilliantly written and exploring tough topics. Writing romance very differently than most authors. Then the finale of this book felt cheap! Cheated! Unsatisfying!
The best part of this book was when chris perfectly summed up the beauty of this entire trilogy by saying
“All is fair in love and war.”
Hell fucking yes! That line perfectly described how there weren’t truly any bad characters in this trilogy. And that’s clear in how divided the readers are in who they identified as the villain. Who they sympathized with more. all the characters played a part in the chaos and they all did shity things but guess what? That’s life.
This trilogy was probably the most realistic romance story I’ve ever read because ppl have real emotions & make mistakes, and that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve love.
Brilliant literature here. But I’m still pissed about the ending for this book. Chris deserved more graveling and Joq needed to fight harder.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ not really any spice after 40%
It feels unfinished. Like there wasn’t even an epilogue and the resolution to the conflict was literally on the very last couple pages of the book. It doesn’t even feel like a HEA. It’s a barely there HFN, but there’s no more story!
Very sad about this because the first three books of this series were shaping up to be a masterpiece! So brilliantly written and exploring tough topics. Writing romance very differently than most authors. Then the finale of this book felt cheap! Cheated! Unsatisfying!
The best part of this book was when chris perfectly summed up the beauty of this entire trilogy by saying
“All is fair in love and war.”
Hell fucking yes! That line perfectly described how there weren’t truly any bad characters in this trilogy. And that’s clear in how divided the readers are in who they identified as the villain. Who they sympathized with more. all the characters played a part in the chaos and they all did shity things but guess what? That’s life.
This trilogy was probably the most realistic romance story I’ve ever read because ppl have real emotions & make mistakes, and that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve love.
Brilliant literature here. But I’m still pissed about the ending for this book. Chris deserved more graveling and Joq needed to fight harder.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ not really any spice after 40%
January 8, 2024
4.5⭐️
Such an unique and interesting idea, to revisit Joq again. To be honest, I loved Finn and George’s together so much, I wasn’t much worried about Joq’s point of view. But, I loved getting to know Joq better and seeing the impact his break up with George. Chris was the star of this story for me. I loved his persistence in wooing Joq, who doesn’t make it easy. These two both bring baggage into their tentative non relationship. Joq is still reeling from Finn and George- he’s a mix of rage and guilt. Chris has his own “dysfunction”, he never dates or does repeats. Joq is different, he makes Chris want more. I love seeing Joq slowly open himself up to Chris as they do decide to try for something real. I loved the tension throughout the book. You can feel the cloud of George and Finn hanging over them though, so it’s not a surprise when things blow up. It was maybe a little too neat in resolving but I’m so happy they figured it out. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Joq’s side of the story. The three books together tell a big, messy, and brilliant story. I’m so happy Joq got his HEA too.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Such an unique and interesting idea, to revisit Joq again. To be honest, I loved Finn and George’s together so much, I wasn’t much worried about Joq’s point of view. But, I loved getting to know Joq better and seeing the impact his break up with George. Chris was the star of this story for me. I loved his persistence in wooing Joq, who doesn’t make it easy. These two both bring baggage into their tentative non relationship. Joq is still reeling from Finn and George- he’s a mix of rage and guilt. Chris has his own “dysfunction”, he never dates or does repeats. Joq is different, he makes Chris want more. I love seeing Joq slowly open himself up to Chris as they do decide to try for something real. I loved the tension throughout the book. You can feel the cloud of George and Finn hanging over them though, so it’s not a surprise when things blow up. It was maybe a little too neat in resolving but I’m so happy they figured it out. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Joq’s side of the story. The three books together tell a big, messy, and brilliant story. I’m so happy Joq got his HEA too.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
December 29, 2024
A great read for anyone who didn't feel 100% comfortable with George and Finn's actions in Because He's My Guy! (Must read that book first. Other readers also recommend reading His Boyfriend's Rookie, but I didn't and didn't feel it was necessary.)
I really enjoyed this. I loved the characters and the relationship, and how Joq had to work with his issues - the mistrust and self-hatred. I'm not typically a fan of the billionaire trope, but it had a real purpose in this story. (And Chris was just so likeable he can have as much money as he wants, I don't care!)
Chris's issue was not really well explored, and that was a shame, because it could have been meaningful... and fun.
Looking forward to more in this series. We're back to the footy in the next book, and I could not be more excited.
I really enjoyed this. I loved the characters and the relationship, and how Joq had to work with his issues - the mistrust and self-hatred. I'm not typically a fan of the billionaire trope, but it had a real purpose in this story. (And Chris was just so likeable he can have as much money as he wants, I don't care!)
Chris's issue was not really well explored, and that was a shame, because it could have been meaningful... and fun.
Looking forward to more in this series. We're back to the footy in the next book, and I could not be more excited.
May 29, 2025
I hate hate hate stupid third act breakups just because. This is guilty of that, and of a particularly stupid one which then is resolved way too skimpily. It makes no sense - while other real issues, like Chris' reaction to lovers is fixed in one scene when it likely would have been a bigger issue hanging around them forever.
My first Sasha Avice, and I decided to start here because do not want to read the previous book, nope, not from blurb, not from what I have read here - I do read books with infidelity but it seems it was extended and detailed and I just did not like those two others (nor care about australian football of any kind). And despite feeling like fanservice, it was still interesting to read a story of guy who was cheated trying to overcome that, and getting something better, as well as the billionaire having to do the chase. I loved the book up to a certain point, but then it is like the world count had to be extended to pad it and here comes stupid breakup drama which does not even fit any character growth that might have happened.
My first Sasha Avice, and I decided to start here because do not want to read the previous book, nope, not from blurb, not from what I have read here - I do read books with infidelity but it seems it was extended and detailed and I just did not like those two others (nor care about australian football of any kind). And despite feeling like fanservice, it was still interesting to read a story of guy who was cheated trying to overcome that, and getting something better, as well as the billionaire having to do the chase. I loved the book up to a certain point, but then it is like the world count had to be extended to pad it and here comes stupid breakup drama which does not even fit any character growth that might have happened.
January 8, 2024
After reading His Boyfriend's Rookie by Sasha Avice I was on cloud nine thinking about my babies, George and Finn. I wasn't expecting a sequel and what's more, i wasn't expecting a sequel with Joq as the main character. Joq was George's partner in His Boyfriend's Rookie. What I loved about him is that he was portrayed as a very human character, meaning: not an evil villain cackling at the hero's misfortune. Joq wasn't perfect but i didn't want him to. And now he has his own book and it didn't disappoint. I love stories with flawed characters and both Joq and Chris aren't without faults. I applaud the realistic representation of the mental state of a man who's having to rebuild his life after it being shaken. So what happens after somebody else's happy ending? Read this book and find out!
January 18, 2024
I was so disappointed by this follow up to ‘Because he’s my Guy’. I’ll start by saying I love Sasha Avice, particularly the fact I never know what she is going to throw into the mix in her stories - characters, situations or storylines! Even when she includes subjects I’m not keen on including most recently, open relationships and cheating, the writing is so strong that I can’t put the book down. But in this case, everything was so blurghhh and conventional. I couldn’t care less about the characters - or the story, and I struggled to see Sasha in the writing. I must admit I haven’t read Joq’s backstory - mainly cos I never really liked him, and that may have impacted on my opinion but still ……….so ordinary! Finished it, so gave it 3*s, but only just.
January 8, 2024
Wow. I am really impressed with this book! The author bravely takes on a topic that most authors won’t touch (despite the fact that it happens allllllll the time in real life!) and really handles it in a realistic and mature way!
If you are thinking of reading this, you HAVE to read “Because He’s My Guy” first. Otherwise I don’t think you will be able to see George as anything but a huge jerk.
I loved how sometimes Joq would break down when memories surfaced, and it was really an interesting perspective into how deeply cheating can affect one partner but not the other. By the end I’m kinda mad at George and think he was way over the top with how he iced Joq out.
If you are thinking of reading this, you HAVE to read “Because He’s My Guy” first. Otherwise I don’t think you will be able to see George as anything but a huge jerk.
I loved how sometimes Joq would break down when memories surfaced, and it was really an interesting perspective into how deeply cheating can affect one partner but not the other. By the end I’m kinda mad at George and think he was way over the top with how he iced Joq out.
January 8, 2024
The book I needed!
Thank you, Sasha!! I needed this book like Santa needs his reindeer!! And wow, did you deliver!! What a rollercoaster of emotions!! All through His Boyfriend’s Rookie, Because He’s My Guy, and Because He’ll Always Be My Guy, my heart was just broken for Joq. I have never felt such disdain for a fictional character as I did for George, and I desperately needed Joq to have his HEA!! Chris is not perfect, but he’s perfect for Joq. I will forever be in the ‘I hate George’ fan club, but I will always 1 click buy your books!!
Thank you, Sasha!! I needed this book like Santa needs his reindeer!! And wow, did you deliver!! What a rollercoaster of emotions!! All through His Boyfriend’s Rookie, Because He’s My Guy, and Because He’ll Always Be My Guy, my heart was just broken for Joq. I have never felt such disdain for a fictional character as I did for George, and I desperately needed Joq to have his HEA!! Chris is not perfect, but he’s perfect for Joq. I will forever be in the ‘I hate George’ fan club, but I will always 1 click buy your books!!
January 8, 2024
I'm so relieved that Joq got his story, after looking mostly like a horrible person in the previous two books. All through this book it was clear how badly he had been and still was affected by the whole George mess. Chris was an interesting character and I enjoyed how he finally figured out what caused his "problem". I will be planning a reread of all three from the start now that I have the "proof" that Joq could get something better.
A really unusual series including cheating within an open relationship.
A really unusual series including cheating within an open relationship.
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