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Easton Grammar #4
The Anonymous Hookup
AARON
I’m hiding in a closet at a high school party when a stranger stumbles in. It’s completely dark in the closet so I have no idea who he is, but he’s easy to talk to and he’s secretly gay, just like me. I might not know what he looks like, but I’m drawn to him, and we share one incredible, heart-stopping kiss before he quickly leaves.
I know I’ll probably never see him again but I can’t stop thinking about him, so I post a notice at school to try to find him — and he replies. Soon we’re exchanging letters and meeting in a pitch black room to make out and fool around. He’s one of my classmates but I don’t know who, and to be honest, I don’t care. All that matters is I can tell him secrets I’ve never shared with anyone else.
JUDE
Hooking up with a stranger in a spare room at school is a terrible idea, but I can’t make myself stop. Ever since I moved to a new school because my mum got a job as the principal, I’ve felt lonely and he’s the first person who truly understands me.
Even though we’re just having fun, I want more of him. I want to see him in the light, I want to know his name, I want to hold his hand in public, I want to spend time with him without sneaking around. But we’re both afraid. What if, when we reveal our identities, everything goes wrong?
The Anonymous Hookup is a M/M New Adult romance set in high school. It’s a slow burn with hidden identities and a guaranteed HEA. It can be read as a standalone.
I’m hiding in a closet at a high school party when a stranger stumbles in. It’s completely dark in the closet so I have no idea who he is, but he’s easy to talk to and he’s secretly gay, just like me. I might not know what he looks like, but I’m drawn to him, and we share one incredible, heart-stopping kiss before he quickly leaves.
I know I’ll probably never see him again but I can’t stop thinking about him, so I post a notice at school to try to find him — and he replies. Soon we’re exchanging letters and meeting in a pitch black room to make out and fool around. He’s one of my classmates but I don’t know who, and to be honest, I don’t care. All that matters is I can tell him secrets I’ve never shared with anyone else.
JUDE
Hooking up with a stranger in a spare room at school is a terrible idea, but I can’t make myself stop. Ever since I moved to a new school because my mum got a job as the principal, I’ve felt lonely and he’s the first person who truly understands me.
Even though we’re just having fun, I want more of him. I want to see him in the light, I want to know his name, I want to hold his hand in public, I want to spend time with him without sneaking around. But we’re both afraid. What if, when we reveal our identities, everything goes wrong?
The Anonymous Hookup is a M/M New Adult romance set in high school. It’s a slow burn with hidden identities and a guaranteed HEA. It can be read as a standalone.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 9, 2024
122 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Milana Spencer
13 books170 followersMilana Spencer writes steamy slow burn MM romance.
She's in her early twenties and has an existential crisis every other week. She lives in Australia and loves matcha lattes, cats and to-do lists.
Her favourite tropes include oblivious characters, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers and forced proximity.
Sign up to her email list via her website for latest updates about new books and giveaways!
Contact her via her website!
She's in her early twenties and has an existential crisis every other week. She lives in Australia and loves matcha lattes, cats and to-do lists.
Her favourite tropes include oblivious characters, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers and forced proximity.
Sign up to her email list via her website for latest updates about new books and giveaways!
Contact her via her website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
March 17, 2024
Where to start with this one? I guess with one good thing. I really liked Aaron. The only decent person in this story.
As a romance, it didn't work for me because I didn't find it romantic. The first scene between Aaron and Jude was cute, but I didn't care about their meetings in that storage room. They went for too long and felt repetitive and uninventive – just a bunch of sex scenes with some conversation thrown in. I thought that maybe there would be some development between them in the 'real world', but that didn't really lead anywhere.
I didn't like Jude. He's very rude and inconsiderate. I don't care what his family situation is, that doesn't give him the right to be that way. Talking about his family, I feel the author made such a big deal out of it, when in the end it really wasn't.
I didn't like any of the side characters, especially Jude's mum, Mimi and Lily. I didn't like how one-dimensional they are, like there's only one layer to their character.
I couldn't stand Mimi. She literally yelled at Aaron because he had the audacity to keep his personal stuff to himself and also 'ruin' her attempts to match him with Lily. She's just a rude, spoiled brat.
And Lily, honey, if a boy doesn't respond to your attention, your touching his arm and hugging him, and basically clinging to him like a monkey, it means he's not interested. 🙄
I didn't like the scene when Jude finds out who the other boy is, and their friends find out about them. The drama afterwards felt the same way as Jude's family drama – it was made a big deal out of, but resolved like it was nothing.
The ending of the story wasn't that exciting, either. Just a couple more sex scenes and the most important question: Where to find the next bed?
As a romance, it didn't work for me because I didn't find it romantic. The first scene between Aaron and Jude was cute, but I didn't care about their meetings in that storage room. They went for too long and felt repetitive and uninventive – just a bunch of sex scenes with some conversation thrown in. I thought that maybe there would be some development between them in the 'real world', but that didn't really lead anywhere.
I didn't like Jude. He's very rude and inconsiderate. I don't care what his family situation is, that doesn't give him the right to be that way. Talking about his family, I feel the author made such a big deal out of it, when in the end it really wasn't.
I didn't like any of the side characters, especially Jude's mum, Mimi and Lily. I didn't like how one-dimensional they are, like there's only one layer to their character.
I couldn't stand Mimi. She literally yelled at Aaron because he had the audacity to keep his personal stuff to himself and also 'ruin' her attempts to match him with Lily. She's just a rude, spoiled brat.
And Lily, honey, if a boy doesn't respond to your attention, your touching his arm and hugging him, and basically clinging to him like a monkey, it means he's not interested. 🙄
I didn't like the scene when Jude finds out who the other boy is, and their friends find out about them. The drama afterwards felt the same way as Jude's family drama – it was made a big deal out of, but resolved like it was nothing.
The ending of the story wasn't that exciting, either. Just a couple more sex scenes and the most important question: Where to find the next bed?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2024
⭐️ 4.5 stars ⭐️
No names, dark rooms, whispered secrets. What will happen when they discover who the other is?
I love the anonymous trope, and I especially loved how the author used it for Aaron and Jude’s story.
This romance was so tender and sweet, filled with fumbling yet endearing first times, some teenage dramatics, and unlikely friends becoming more.
The smut was sweet and spicy. A yummy mix of realistic first times, hot dirty talk, and secret but delicious hookups in a storeroom.
I’ve been a fan of Milana Spencer’s writing since I read her novella A Tent for Two, so picking this one up was a no-brainer and a sure win.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
Tropes and NSFW info (spoilers):
- High school setting
- New adult (both 18)
- Virgin MCs
- Anonymous trope
- Secret identities
- First times
- Phone sex
- Frotting
- Vers MCs
No names, dark rooms, whispered secrets. What will happen when they discover who the other is?
I love the anonymous trope, and I especially loved how the author used it for Aaron and Jude’s story.
This romance was so tender and sweet, filled with fumbling yet endearing first times, some teenage dramatics, and unlikely friends becoming more.
The smut was sweet and spicy. A yummy mix of realistic first times, hot dirty talk, and secret but delicious hookups in a storeroom.
He weaves his fingers with mine, and despite the cock in my mouth, my stomach flips at the sweetness of the motion. Him, holding my hand while I suck him off… it’s weirdly romantic.
I’ve been a fan of Milana Spencer’s writing since I read her novella A Tent for Two, so picking this one up was a no-brainer and a sure win.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
Tropes and NSFW info (spoilers):
- High school setting
- New adult (both 18)
- Virgin MCs
- Anonymous trope
- Secret identities
- First times
- Phone sex
- Frotting
- Vers MCs
March 30, 2024
I wasn’t enchanted enough by the story or the characters to forgive the repetitiveness of this one! They meet up in their secret spot, they send letters, they meet up in their secret spot, they send letters, they meet up in their secret spot, they send letters. Okay you’ve read the book!!! You’re welcome. I started looking forward to Aaron’s annoying friends and Jude’s drama with his mom because it was something different!!! This book was full of annoying people, actually. Including the main characters!!! I can’t think of a single memorable piece of dialogue and Jude and Aaron’s inner monologue felt so similar to me, especially in the beginning. I’m such a Milana stan but this was missing the usual elements that make me love her books. No chemistry to be found or the pining she does so well. Every character (including the mains) felt underwritten. We don’t learn anything about anyone!!! (Except how annoying they are).😔😅 Where’s the fun banter!!! And the worst sin of all: this just didn’t feel romantic at all to me!!!!!! I’ve been lead astray and completely bamboozled!!!!!!
March 17, 2024
Unbelievably cute!
I really enjoyed the love letters, and the way they're discovering everything for the first time with each other. I also loved how they talked about their fears and insecurities, and how the anonymity helped them to grow individually and together.
I'd actually be interested to read more about them when they move to Melbourne!
I really enjoyed the love letters, and the way they're discovering everything for the first time with each other. I also loved how they talked about their fears and insecurities, and how the anonymity helped them to grow individually and together.
I'd actually be interested to read more about them when they move to Melbourne!
March 15, 2024
✰ 3 stars ✰
“But if I am invited, then yeah, we can do that. Although we both hate parties, remember?”
I smile, recalling how we first met.
“Yeah,” I say. “But I would go for you.”
Even if I can't shake the thought that I would find it highly improbable that two people who interact in real-life cannot recognize the timbre of the other's voice, despite how breathy or how masked their tone may be otherwise, The Anonymous Hook-up was a low-angst and cute read that doesn't require much from its readers except to witness how two lonely souls find each other in the darkness, but somehow help both of them step into the light. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Because that was the whole point. We didn’t know each other’s identity, which made me feel safe and brave enough to dare to kiss him.”
It starts off innocently enough. A hook-up in a closet at a party neither Year 12 students, newly transferred Jude or slightly withdrawn from his peers Aaron - wanted to be at or felt comfortable being in the company of others. But in the dark recesses of a darkened cupboard, secrets do come out, along with the express interest to explore their unexplored desires of what it feels like to be with another boy - the admittance of being gay is enough to draw them even closer together. 🥺 That first kiss definitely was enough to spark a desire in both of them, and who can blame them for wanting more. 'It’s going to require trust. And we’re going to have to be careful. But I’m willing to do it if you are.' And well, after that, it's this adorable exchange of secretive rendezvous and verbal or written exchanges that show just how similar they are, without even knowing what the other looks like! And while the attraction does start off as simply sexual experimentation, it's the personal growth that came out of it - that they found a kindred spirit in each other - was the part that stood out for me the most. ☺️
I liked how believable it also felt to see their dynamic out of the closet - pun intended. And that both Aaron and Jude were actually decent human beings - no hidden agenda, no cruel intentions - well, a few slight unsuspecting assumptions on either part, but they were good. 'I’m saying that he’s a good guy, no matter how he seems from the outside.' 🥰 They were two kids who were stuck in a position that they felt too afraid to speak up for themselves, or too hesitant to be brave to show the people close to them who they really are. And the poetic irony is that it took a secretive tryst in the shadows to help them break that barrier around themselves - is something that I really appreciated. It's a much simpler premise than how I'm describing it as something much more meaningful and deeper, but I like to look at the subtle touches that may or may not be what the author is trying to achieve. 🤍🤍
““You’re thinking about something,” F murmurs against my lips.
“I’m thinking about you,” I say, renewing my focus on him, on his kisses and the heat of him.
“Everything’s better now that I’ve met you,” he whispers, so low I’m unsure if he intends for me to hear. “I used to be so lonely.”
🥺🥺
Their conversations were very sweet, very open, and very honest. It was definitely a leap into their eagerness to deepen their bond, but the gradual way they helped pull each other out of the funk that they were in was nicely done. Jude does have a slightly pricklier attitude compared to Aaron's, but you can't help but feel for their situations and empathize with why they are the way they are. That by being vulnerable with each other, mutually benefited them both to bring about change - in a good way, even though they didn't realize it. And that final reveal was 🤌🏻🤌🏻. I loved it; it was my favorite part, it just grabbed at my heart. The emotions were at their peak, the build-up so beautifully done, heart-wrenching and perfect at how it rounded up all the key parts and players of the plot believably so. 🫶🏻
I am glad that the author continues to involve the school aspect in their lives; how their academic journey is such a pivotal part of their own relationship with each other. It's a moot point to notice, I know, but from the previous books I've read from the series, it is something that has continued, and I am grateful for that. 👍🏻 There were a few typos here and there, that sadly my discerning eye couldn't help but catch. The details in their intimate scene weren't as passionate as what I am used to from the author, a bit technical this time around, but I guess it makes sense, since they really were mostly in the dark, so there really isn't much to go by besides that hesitant yet searching touch. It's not my favorite of the series, but it was a refreshing breather to my usual reads; as well as an unexpected surprise when I learned that a new book was being released to this series. 🌸
“But if I am invited, then yeah, we can do that. Although we both hate parties, remember?”
I smile, recalling how we first met.
“Yeah,” I say. “But I would go for you.”
Even if I can't shake the thought that I would find it highly improbable that two people who interact in real-life cannot recognize the timbre of the other's voice, despite how breathy or how masked their tone may be otherwise, The Anonymous Hook-up was a low-angst and cute read that doesn't require much from its readers except to witness how two lonely souls find each other in the darkness, but somehow help both of them step into the light. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Because that was the whole point. We didn’t know each other’s identity, which made me feel safe and brave enough to dare to kiss him.”
It starts off innocently enough. A hook-up in a closet at a party neither Year 12 students, newly transferred Jude or slightly withdrawn from his peers Aaron - wanted to be at or felt comfortable being in the company of others. But in the dark recesses of a darkened cupboard, secrets do come out, along with the express interest to explore their unexplored desires of what it feels like to be with another boy - the admittance of being gay is enough to draw them even closer together. 🥺 That first kiss definitely was enough to spark a desire in both of them, and who can blame them for wanting more. 'It’s going to require trust. And we’re going to have to be careful. But I’m willing to do it if you are.' And well, after that, it's this adorable exchange of secretive rendezvous and verbal or written exchanges that show just how similar they are, without even knowing what the other looks like! And while the attraction does start off as simply sexual experimentation, it's the personal growth that came out of it - that they found a kindred spirit in each other - was the part that stood out for me the most. ☺️
I liked how believable it also felt to see their dynamic out of the closet - pun intended. And that both Aaron and Jude were actually decent human beings - no hidden agenda, no cruel intentions - well, a few slight unsuspecting assumptions on either part, but they were good. 'I’m saying that he’s a good guy, no matter how he seems from the outside.' 🥰 They were two kids who were stuck in a position that they felt too afraid to speak up for themselves, or too hesitant to be brave to show the people close to them who they really are. And the poetic irony is that it took a secretive tryst in the shadows to help them break that barrier around themselves - is something that I really appreciated. It's a much simpler premise than how I'm describing it as something much more meaningful and deeper, but I like to look at the subtle touches that may or may not be what the author is trying to achieve. 🤍🤍
““You’re thinking about something,” F murmurs against my lips.
“I’m thinking about you,” I say, renewing my focus on him, on his kisses and the heat of him.
“Everything’s better now that I’ve met you,” he whispers, so low I’m unsure if he intends for me to hear. “I used to be so lonely.”
🥺🥺
Their conversations were very sweet, very open, and very honest. It was definitely a leap into their eagerness to deepen their bond, but the gradual way they helped pull each other out of the funk that they were in was nicely done. Jude does have a slightly pricklier attitude compared to Aaron's, but you can't help but feel for their situations and empathize with why they are the way they are. That by being vulnerable with each other, mutually benefited them both to bring about change - in a good way, even though they didn't realize it. And that final reveal was 🤌🏻🤌🏻. I loved it; it was my favorite part, it just grabbed at my heart. The emotions were at their peak, the build-up so beautifully done, heart-wrenching and perfect at how it rounded up all the key parts and players of the plot believably so. 🫶🏻
I am glad that the author continues to involve the school aspect in their lives; how their academic journey is such a pivotal part of their own relationship with each other. It's a moot point to notice, I know, but from the previous books I've read from the series, it is something that has continued, and I am grateful for that. 👍🏻 There were a few typos here and there, that sadly my discerning eye couldn't help but catch. The details in their intimate scene weren't as passionate as what I am used to from the author, a bit technical this time around, but I guess it makes sense, since they really were mostly in the dark, so there really isn't much to go by besides that hesitant yet searching touch. It's not my favorite of the series, but it was a refreshing breather to my usual reads; as well as an unexpected surprise when I learned that a new book was being released to this series. 🌸
March 13, 2024
Surprisingly good na/highschool romance with a lot of firsts.
I’ll always love a well done “anonymous”/ texting romance, and we have all the right ingredients here: meetings in the dark, letters exchanged in a locker, texting, even talking on the phone - all while being completely oblivious that they sit next to each other during one of their classes.
The way they start their anonymous relationship actually does sound realistic, and the way they talk (and think) is age appropriate for two 18yo boys who haven’t admitted to anyone but therefore yet that they’re gay.
It’s the story of Aaron and Jude, who accidentally end up in a wardrobe at a party, both hiding (but for different reasons), and who have a lot of firsts with each other after they both admit that they’re not only literally in the closet, but figuratively speaking, too.
Yes, there were some moments where I pulled my hair, because HOW could they not realise who their counterpart is??? But that’s part of the fun reading books like these, right?
Loved it, and loved them. It wasn’t perfect, but I definitely had a good time with it ❤️
I’ll always love a well done “anonymous”/ texting romance, and we have all the right ingredients here: meetings in the dark, letters exchanged in a locker, texting, even talking on the phone - all while being completely oblivious that they sit next to each other during one of their classes.
The way they start their anonymous relationship actually does sound realistic, and the way they talk (and think) is age appropriate for two 18yo boys who haven’t admitted to anyone but therefore yet that they’re gay.
It’s the story of Aaron and Jude, who accidentally end up in a wardrobe at a party, both hiding (but for different reasons), and who have a lot of firsts with each other after they both admit that they’re not only literally in the closet, but figuratively speaking, too.
Yes, there were some moments where I pulled my hair, because HOW could they not realise who their counterpart is??? But that’s part of the fun reading books like these, right?
Loved it, and loved them. It wasn’t perfect, but I definitely had a good time with it ❤️
March 11, 2024
cute with fumbling double first times, which i always find so precious. but like….idk i have nothing to say😭 i must be in a rut or something bc a lot of what i’ve read recently has not inspired any sort of strong emotion in me whatsoever☹️
May 3, 2025
This was a fun, breezy read with a premise I loved. Anonymous texting and secret meet-ups? Yes, please. The secrecy and chemistry kept me hooked early on.
That said, the middle dragged a bit, and I wanted more real-world development between Aaron and Jude. As classmates and co-workers, there was so much potential for deeper, more nuanced connection, and I would have loved to see that explored further. To see their anonymous alter egos bleed more into real life. Jude especially was far more likeable behind the screen than in person, where he could honestly come off as kind of a jerk at times.
And then there were the friends - oh boy. Insufferable, meddling, and incredibly insensitive at times, I honestly dreaded every scene they were in lol. Their presence added more irritation than depth to the story for me.
The ending was definitely more of a (quite abrupt honestly) HFN and I would have loved to see their relationship a bit further down the line.
Still, despite the bumps, this was a cute and entertaining read that I enjoyed overall!
3,5⭐️
That said, the middle dragged a bit, and I wanted more real-world development between Aaron and Jude. As classmates and co-workers, there was so much potential for deeper, more nuanced connection, and I would have loved to see that explored further. To see their anonymous alter egos bleed more into real life. Jude especially was far more likeable behind the screen than in person, where he could honestly come off as kind of a jerk at times.
And then there were the friends - oh boy. Insufferable, meddling, and incredibly insensitive at times, I honestly dreaded every scene they were in lol. Their presence added more irritation than depth to the story for me.
The ending was definitely more of a (quite abrupt honestly) HFN and I would have loved to see their relationship a bit further down the line.
Still, despite the bumps, this was a cute and entertaining read that I enjoyed overall!
3,5⭐️
March 15, 2024
Hidden identity, secret hookups, Australia? Say no more, really.
High school students, 18+
Super realistic and accurate depiction of being in high school and still dealing with parents and trying to have relationships and first time experiences.
I love the way everything played out here.
This series is adorable and I’m happy Milana has extended it.
thank you to GRR for the ARC>
High school students, 18+
Super realistic and accurate depiction of being in high school and still dealing with parents and trying to have relationships and first time experiences.
I love the way everything played out here.
This series is adorable and I’m happy Milana has extended it.
thank you to GRR for the ARC>
March 8, 2024
The Anonymous Hookup is an entertaining and unique take on a secret relationship. For over half of this story Jude and Aaron do not see one another. They send messages and their initial meeting is in a pitch-black closet, where they share an instant connection and enjoy the anonymity that their secret meeting brought and continue to meet in secret for months later. I thought this premise was so fascinating and I was curious how everything would develop.
Overall I enjoyed this story. I enjoyed the connection between Jude and Aaron when they are simply F and R and their slow-moving friendship as Jude and Aaron. Together they have a very special bond and connection, which makes for a sweet love story.
Overall I enjoyed this story. I enjoyed the connection between Jude and Aaron when they are simply F and R and their slow-moving friendship as Jude and Aaron. Together they have a very special bond and connection, which makes for a sweet love story.
March 7, 2024
If I lie, it’s only to protect myself — because if I was totally honest all the time, if others saw the real me, then people would turn their backs on me, and I’d be left alone.
4.5⭐️
Super cute new adult romance featuring two high school seniors (both 18) who hide in the same closet at a party. In the dark they both connect over being closeted and hiding in a closet and decide to be each other’s first kiss. What follows is a lovely slow-to-medium burn romance via letters left in an empty locker, dark storeroom hookups, emails, etc. Little do they know they’ve already met in real life and their impressions of each other aren’t great. What will happen when the truth inevitably comes out?
This was adorable!!! I don’t usually read romances set in high school but the anonymous aspect really appealed to me and it was utilised spectacularly! It’s easier sometimes to talk to a stranger and easier still when you can’t see each other. Aaron and Jude really bond over time and I loved seeing their vulnerabilities. I only wish there had been an epilogue after they graduated. The ending was a little abrupt for me but I really loved this! It’s not overly descriptive in the steamy scenes but that feels appropriate and I loved how they were both shy or awkward etc since they were both completely “in the dark” when it came to relationships.
I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
4.5⭐️
Super cute new adult romance featuring two high school seniors (both 18) who hide in the same closet at a party. In the dark they both connect over being closeted and hiding in a closet and decide to be each other’s first kiss. What follows is a lovely slow-to-medium burn romance via letters left in an empty locker, dark storeroom hookups, emails, etc. Little do they know they’ve already met in real life and their impressions of each other aren’t great. What will happen when the truth inevitably comes out?
This was adorable!!! I don’t usually read romances set in high school but the anonymous aspect really appealed to me and it was utilised spectacularly! It’s easier sometimes to talk to a stranger and easier still when you can’t see each other. Aaron and Jude really bond over time and I loved seeing their vulnerabilities. I only wish there had been an epilogue after they graduated. The ending was a little abrupt for me but I really loved this! It’s not overly descriptive in the steamy scenes but that feels appropriate and I loved how they were both shy or awkward etc since they were both completely “in the dark” when it came to relationships.
I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
January 19, 2025
I’m sad this series is over, I’m definitely going to miss Easton Grammar. This was such a sweet story. The angst was present, but it never felt unbearable.
Jude was a deeply sad and lonely character. His unwillingness to let anyone get close, as he explained, was his “defense mechanism.” I was glad the conflict over their true identities didn’t drag on and was resolved quickly. Aaron, on the other hand, was such a sweet character, even if his insecurities affected how he acted around his friends and in public.
I know this technically ends in a HFN, but I’m going to be delulu about it and pretend they stay happy together forever.
Jude was a deeply sad and lonely character. His unwillingness to let anyone get close, as he explained, was his “defense mechanism.” I was glad the conflict over their true identities didn’t drag on and was resolved quickly. Aaron, on the other hand, was such a sweet character, even if his insecurities affected how he acted around his friends and in public.
I know this technically ends in a HFN, but I’m going to be delulu about it and pretend they stay happy together forever.
March 11, 2024
Jude is very serious about his future plans. He works hard to earn good grades and looks down on Aaron, the absentminded doodler who sits next to him in Maths. When the two kiss in a dark closet at a party, they embark on a very sweet relationship that starts with writing each other letters and ends with them meeting every couple days to head back into the closet (literally) at school to hook up, cuddle and chat. This is an opposites attract book where the two boys probably never would have been confident enough to make friends in person, both thinking the other didn’t like them. It’s Love, Simon meets Love Is Blind. The Anonymous Hookup is super cute with low angst and very little to no homophobia which is always appreciated.
Although it is book #4 in a series, The Anonymous Hookup can be read as a standalone. I have not read any of the other books in the series yet, but I do enjoy Milana Spencer's writing a lot. Another couple is mentioned but I didn't feel as though I was missing anything by not starting at the beginning of the series. Milana made both male MCs believable… teenage boys are earnest, careless, anxious little idiots sometimes and the book captured that perfectly, while also showing Jude and Aaron's developing maturity and desire to do the right thing. It was adorable how they didn’t try to figure out the identity of the other.
My only small issue is that the book ended a bit abruptly for me- I wanted a bit of an epilogue or wrap up letting us know what happened with Aaron and Jude after graduation.
Rating: 4
Angst: 2/5
Steam: 2/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
Although it is book #4 in a series, The Anonymous Hookup can be read as a standalone. I have not read any of the other books in the series yet, but I do enjoy Milana Spencer's writing a lot. Another couple is mentioned but I didn't feel as though I was missing anything by not starting at the beginning of the series. Milana made both male MCs believable… teenage boys are earnest, careless, anxious little idiots sometimes and the book captured that perfectly, while also showing Jude and Aaron's developing maturity and desire to do the right thing. It was adorable how they didn’t try to figure out the identity of the other.
My only small issue is that the book ended a bit abruptly for me- I wanted a bit of an epilogue or wrap up letting us know what happened with Aaron and Jude after graduation.
Rating: 4
Angst: 2/5
Steam: 2/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
May 26, 2024
It was okay. The self consciousness of the one MC went on my nerves.
August 31, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Jude + Aaron 🖤
Hidden identities | Double virgins | Love letters
Cute story about two guys in the closet both literally and figuratively. They first meet when they both end up hiding from a party that neither of them wanted to be at. Hidden in the dark they open up to each other and start to build a bond. They both know each other in real life but don't realise at first who the stranger is.
⚠️potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists
Tropes/content:
Artist + math nerd
High school seniors - 18 year olds
Hidden identity
Double virgins
First times including first kiss
Experimenting with everything together
Letter writing back and forth
Anonymous meetups
They dont care for each other in real life
Misunderstood MCs
Soft tummy MC
Warnings:
Aaron has body image issues. Thinks he's not attractive because his stomach is soft
Controlling parents
MCs are both 18 but they are still in high school (year 12)
Jude + Aaron 🖤
Hidden identities | Double virgins | Love letters
Cute story about two guys in the closet both literally and figuratively. They first meet when they both end up hiding from a party that neither of them wanted to be at. Hidden in the dark they open up to each other and start to build a bond. They both know each other in real life but don't realise at first who the stranger is.
⚠️potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists
Tropes/content:
Artist + math nerd
High school seniors - 18 year olds
Hidden identity
Double virgins
First times including first kiss
Experimenting with everything together
Letter writing back and forth
Anonymous meetups
They dont care for each other in real life
Misunderstood MCs
Soft tummy MC
Warnings:
Aaron has body image issues. Thinks he's not attractive because his stomach is soft
Controlling parents
MCs are both 18 but they are still in high school (year 12)
March 23, 2024
Fumbling in lust in the dark is SPICY and ridiculous and all-consuming-ly irresistible!
Unaware that their first forays into sex are with the stranger whom they sit beside in Maths class, Jude and Aaron form a secret bond. The lonely newcomer and the isolated townie soon find they share a common lust, but they don't share names or even faces in this improbable tale of trysts in a darkened, high school supply closet.
Once again, we learn how difficult it is to sustain sharing intimacy without identity . . . in Shakespearean plays and Bertolucci films and yes novels.
(This one, however, could have used a second copy-editing . . . but it's not a game-breaker.)
Unaware that their first forays into sex are with the stranger whom they sit beside in Maths class, Jude and Aaron form a secret bond. The lonely newcomer and the isolated townie soon find they share a common lust, but they don't share names or even faces in this improbable tale of trysts in a darkened, high school supply closet.
Once again, we learn how difficult it is to sustain sharing intimacy without identity . . . in Shakespearean plays and Bertolucci films and yes novels.
(This one, however, could have used a second copy-editing . . . but it's not a game-breaker.)
April 4, 2024
This was very YA with sex scenes, (which I think is what New Adult is?) and I was mostly very bored. The premise starts out kind of cute, with two lonely high school boys making out in a closet in the dark at a party, not knowing who the other is. They then correspond anonymously and make plans to meet up in the dark again. This is where I wasn't really able to suspend my disbelief any more. They spend tons of time talking to each other but fail to recognize each other's voices IRL? Even though they also interact a lot in their normal lives. I can identify a loved one's gait or the way they breathe, I'm finding it very hard to buy that something as unique and personal as a voice goes unrecognised. It was just a really simple, and pretty bland story tbh. Didn't do much for me.
March 21, 2024
This is a high school new adult, which is not something I typically seek out. But I really enjoyed A Tent for Two by this author earlier this year, and thought I would try another book when this popped up on Gay Romance Reviews. Despite being #4 in a series, this truly reads as a standalone, with MCs from the previous books getting the merest passing mention.
This is a really sweet and fairly slow blossoming of a first relationship under . . . unusual circumstances. Yes, you have to suspend disbelief that they wouldn't have figured it out before they did, but people can be oblivious, particularly when not they're trying to see something.
I thought the two MCs had very distinct personalities and character voices, and we got the appropriate amount of teenage angst and doubt from both of them. They are refreshingly open with each other under cover of darkness, and their letters are also really sweet. It was also nice to see a character about to graduate and not shooting for college or stressing about it, in comparison to the other MC. That led to very plausible self-consciousness on Aaron's part later on.
I guess that's what I liked best about this book; once you get past the initial hurdle of buying them meeting up anonymously for so long, the rest is so charmingly real. They are fumbling around with each other, and the physical scenes are mostly amateur hour handjobs until near the end, and the first 'real' time starts off pretty awkwardly, which I appreciated. Of course, they quickly get the hang of things, but neither was a sexual prodigy.
Like I said, I don't often seek out many of these young new adult books, but there can be something magical about first loves and first times, and this book captured a little of that for me.
This is a really sweet and fairly slow blossoming of a first relationship under . . . unusual circumstances. Yes, you have to suspend disbelief that they wouldn't have figured it out before they did, but people can be oblivious, particularly when not they're trying to see something.
I thought the two MCs had very distinct personalities and character voices, and we got the appropriate amount of teenage angst and doubt from both of them. They are refreshingly open with each other under cover of darkness, and their letters are also really sweet. It was also nice to see a character about to graduate and not shooting for college or stressing about it, in comparison to the other MC. That led to very plausible self-consciousness on Aaron's part later on.
I guess that's what I liked best about this book; once you get past the initial hurdle of buying them meeting up anonymously for so long, the rest is so charmingly real. They are fumbling around with each other, and the physical scenes are mostly amateur hour handjobs until near the end, and the first 'real' time starts off pretty awkwardly, which I appreciated. Of course, they quickly get the hang of things, but neither was a sexual prodigy.
Like I said, I don't often seek out many of these young new adult books, but there can be something magical about first loves and first times, and this book captured a little of that for me.
January 1, 2026
Once again Aussie Milana Spencer has written a really good and insightful MM romance between two high school students. The premise is interesting in that the two MCs Aaron and Jude don't know who the other is as they originally met in a dark closet and decide to continue to meet in a dark storeroom at their school and become close and intimate. Once one discovers the others identity by mistake the wheels fall off, but are righted in the end. An unlikely premise for sure, but well done even so. 4 stars.
Read
October 4, 2024DNF 20%
the thing i hate about new adult books is that while the characters are technically adults they’re still (sometimes) in high school….. sorry but i don’t want to read about teenagers hiding their boners from their moms on the way home from school 😭😭😭😭
the thing i hate about new adult books is that while the characters are technically adults they’re still (sometimes) in high school….. sorry but i don’t want to read about teenagers hiding their boners from their moms on the way home from school 😭😭😭😭
March 25, 2024
what a lovely surprise
i easily read this in less than a day. it was so well written and fun!! give this a try i am so glad i did
i easily read this in less than a day. it was so well written and fun!! give this a try i am so glad i did
February 15, 2025
I kinda enjoyed it, but that anonymity didn't make sense to me, I think they could've figured it out quicker.
March 10, 2024
My first book from this author and I loved it! Seeing the drama unfold and the guys getting their happy ending made it all worth it. I love these guys!
April 22, 2024
Exquisitely lovely storytelling and romance
Wow, how have I not read this author before? I guess books titled The Anonymous Hookup are meant to be amazing, because this is the second I’ve read and loved more than almost everything else. (The other terrific one is by Jax Calder, if you want to check it out. You’re welcome.)
This is one of the sweetest, s3xiest, well told romances it’s been my pleasure to read. Two teen boys, both hurting and insecure in their own way, hook up in the dark of a closet at a party and have no idea who the other is. Their journey to continuing to do so at school, anonymously, is credible (the author pulls it off, just go with it! Suspend disbelief. Both of them honoring the agreement never to peek is part of how she reveals character) tender, beautiful, touching, poignant, and yes, steamy hot! All the firsts, and with respect and care but that fumbling awkward tenderness…it’s really lovely.
Told from both Aaron’s and Jude’s points of view, the book puts the reader in the driving seat in a way because you know who each boy from the start, and they don’t find out for quite a while. And when one does, his heartbreak over realizing the other really doesn’t like him in the outside world is gut-wrenching. The fallout is inevitable but done authentically, and these two have gotten to know and truly love and appreciate each other without names and faces, so don’t worry, it isn’t long before they’re grown-up enough to work it out and really appreciate what they have.
Secondary characters and teen situations are as well-drawn and authentic as the two heroes. Family dynamics, personal interests, and the world are equally strong. With a fairy-tale premise and a realistic tone, the story Shows two boys falling in love and the dichotomy between their private anonymous space and their real-world interactions with sensitivity and grace. Truly wonderful.
I loved it so much!
HEA, anonymous hooking up to real friends and lovers, hurt-comfort, first times (for everything!), high school romance. No cheating or emotional cheating or any others in any way. Highly, highly recommended.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the complimentary copy. This opinion is all mine. And I’m going to read everything else this author has ever written and hope she writes many more.
Wow, how have I not read this author before? I guess books titled The Anonymous Hookup are meant to be amazing, because this is the second I’ve read and loved more than almost everything else. (The other terrific one is by Jax Calder, if you want to check it out. You’re welcome.)
This is one of the sweetest, s3xiest, well told romances it’s been my pleasure to read. Two teen boys, both hurting and insecure in their own way, hook up in the dark of a closet at a party and have no idea who the other is. Their journey to continuing to do so at school, anonymously, is credible (the author pulls it off, just go with it! Suspend disbelief. Both of them honoring the agreement never to peek is part of how she reveals character) tender, beautiful, touching, poignant, and yes, steamy hot! All the firsts, and with respect and care but that fumbling awkward tenderness…it’s really lovely.
Told from both Aaron’s and Jude’s points of view, the book puts the reader in the driving seat in a way because you know who each boy from the start, and they don’t find out for quite a while. And when one does, his heartbreak over realizing the other really doesn’t like him in the outside world is gut-wrenching. The fallout is inevitable but done authentically, and these two have gotten to know and truly love and appreciate each other without names and faces, so don’t worry, it isn’t long before they’re grown-up enough to work it out and really appreciate what they have.
Secondary characters and teen situations are as well-drawn and authentic as the two heroes. Family dynamics, personal interests, and the world are equally strong. With a fairy-tale premise and a realistic tone, the story Shows two boys falling in love and the dichotomy between their private anonymous space and their real-world interactions with sensitivity and grace. Truly wonderful.
I loved it so much!
HEA, anonymous hooking up to real friends and lovers, hurt-comfort, first times (for everything!), high school romance. No cheating or emotional cheating or any others in any way. Highly, highly recommended.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the complimentary copy. This opinion is all mine. And I’m going to read everything else this author has ever written and hope she writes many more.
March 12, 2024
This was a surprisingly sweet-yet-spicy coming of age story about two teenage boys coming to terms with their sexuality and discovering love and friendship in the process.
Jude and Aaron have an adorable, anonymous meet-cute while they’re both hiding in the closet trying to escape at a party. Their confessions in the dark lead to them exposing their sexualities to one another, and subsequently they share their first kiss. What follows is a clandestine relationship made up of handwritten notes passed through lockers and meetups in darkened storage closets for makeout sessions. And what started as a hesitant and fumbling attempt at sexual and romantic exploration eventually turned into something tender and deep.
I thought this was a very accurate and honest portrayal of teenage angst and fumbling insecurity around first relationships, friendships, and self-discovery. Jude and Aaron are both struggling with their own identities in different ways, and their budding relationship allows them to share their insecurities and confide in one another in a way they can’t with anyone else. Their relationship develops into something supportive and purposeful because they’re able to be vulnerable with one another.
I wish some of the side characters were more developed and didn’t exist just as 2D peripheral figures to the storyline. There also isn’t much action in the story beyond what’s happening within the bubble of the relationship between Aaron and Jude, so this limits their interactions with both other characters and the world the story exists in. It makes it difficult for the MCs to fully develop as characters if we can’t see them beyond the scope of their interactions with one another.
Overall rating 3.75, rounded up to 4 here. A big thank you to GRR for providing the ARC to review this title.
Jude and Aaron have an adorable, anonymous meet-cute while they’re both hiding in the closet trying to escape at a party. Their confessions in the dark lead to them exposing their sexualities to one another, and subsequently they share their first kiss. What follows is a clandestine relationship made up of handwritten notes passed through lockers and meetups in darkened storage closets for makeout sessions. And what started as a hesitant and fumbling attempt at sexual and romantic exploration eventually turned into something tender and deep.
I thought this was a very accurate and honest portrayal of teenage angst and fumbling insecurity around first relationships, friendships, and self-discovery. Jude and Aaron are both struggling with their own identities in different ways, and their budding relationship allows them to share their insecurities and confide in one another in a way they can’t with anyone else. Their relationship develops into something supportive and purposeful because they’re able to be vulnerable with one another.
I wish some of the side characters were more developed and didn’t exist just as 2D peripheral figures to the storyline. There also isn’t much action in the story beyond what’s happening within the bubble of the relationship between Aaron and Jude, so this limits their interactions with both other characters and the world the story exists in. It makes it difficult for the MCs to fully develop as characters if we can’t see them beyond the scope of their interactions with one another.
Overall rating 3.75, rounded up to 4 here. A big thank you to GRR for providing the ARC to review this title.
March 10, 2024
Cute read! Aaron is closeted and in Year 12 of high school and is looking forward to moving to a big city after graduating so he can finally be himself. He's at a party he didn't want to attend and is avoiding a girl he thinks has a crush on him, finding a dark closet to hide in. He almost falls asleep until someone else stumbles into the closet to hide. It's pitch black and they don't know each other, but they start talking and quickly open up about being gay and never even having a first kiss because they're both hiding. They decide to kiss while they have the chance.
They leave the closet and never exchange names or see each other's faces, but Aaron can't stop thinking about it. He leaves a note in the bathroom at school to try and find his hookup, and luckily it gets found. Jude is new to the school and comes off as pretentious and cold to others, but really his mom is the principal and invades all of his privacy thanks to mistakes his sister made. He and Aaron start exchanging secret messages via an empty locker and they find a dark storeroom to keep hooking up in at school, always closing their eyes when separating to keep their identities a secret. But how long can they keep it up?
🔥: The anonymity of their hookups adds some spice to their scenes, slowly escalating from kissing to more. We get all the graphic details in quickly paced scenes and there's plenty of passion between these two.
😆: Plenty of dramatic irony here to keep you smiling!
😭: There is a little bit of heartache as secrets are revealed, but you're not likely to cry with this one.
The premise of this is so different! It's wild imagining two people hooking up for so long never knowing the other person's identity. These two have incredible will power!
They leave the closet and never exchange names or see each other's faces, but Aaron can't stop thinking about it. He leaves a note in the bathroom at school to try and find his hookup, and luckily it gets found. Jude is new to the school and comes off as pretentious and cold to others, but really his mom is the principal and invades all of his privacy thanks to mistakes his sister made. He and Aaron start exchanging secret messages via an empty locker and they find a dark storeroom to keep hooking up in at school, always closing their eyes when separating to keep their identities a secret. But how long can they keep it up?
🔥: The anonymity of their hookups adds some spice to their scenes, slowly escalating from kissing to more. We get all the graphic details in quickly paced scenes and there's plenty of passion between these two.
😆: Plenty of dramatic irony here to keep you smiling!
😭: There is a little bit of heartache as secrets are revealed, but you're not likely to cry with this one.
The premise of this is so different! It's wild imagining two people hooking up for so long never knowing the other person's identity. These two have incredible will power!
July 7, 2024
✍︎ Classmates To Lovers
✍︎ New Young Adult
✍︎ High School Romance
✍︎ Secret Relationship
✍︎ Met In A Closet
✍︎ First Kiss💋
✍︎ letters💌
✎ This is book 4 of the Easton Grammar Series and the book was so good,the main characters were so cute,I think I said “They are so freaking cute” about a hundred times while reading the book 🥰🤣.
✎ Just imagine you are sitting next to a guy in class and helping him with a math problem he’s finding hard to understand and you see a hickey on his neck and then you tease him about,not knowing that,you gave him that hickey. I love this story so much because it’s different and a whole different spin on secret relationship,It’s like Blind dating/hookup.
✎ This story is about Jude and Aaron,two closeted boys who stumble into each other in a dark closet,told each other their secrets,fears and wants,had their first kiss and decided to keep on meeting in dark rooms to make out with each other.
✎ I love reading about how Jude & Aaron relationship went from F and R(when they were anonymously hooking up)to Jude and Aaron when they finally found out each other’s identity.The way they relationship moved from friendship to love in the most beautiful way.I love the fact that they liked each other before they saw the way the other person looks physically,it made their bond and connection feel so real without being shallow and that made their love story feel so sweet and real.
✍︎ New Young Adult
✍︎ High School Romance
✍︎ Secret Relationship
✍︎ Met In A Closet
✍︎ First Kiss💋
✍︎ letters💌
✎ This is book 4 of the Easton Grammar Series and the book was so good,the main characters were so cute,I think I said “They are so freaking cute” about a hundred times while reading the book 🥰🤣.
✎ Just imagine you are sitting next to a guy in class and helping him with a math problem he’s finding hard to understand and you see a hickey on his neck and then you tease him about,not knowing that,you gave him that hickey. I love this story so much because it’s different and a whole different spin on secret relationship,It’s like Blind dating/hookup.
✎ This story is about Jude and Aaron,two closeted boys who stumble into each other in a dark closet,told each other their secrets,fears and wants,had their first kiss and decided to keep on meeting in dark rooms to make out with each other.
✎ I love reading about how Jude & Aaron relationship went from F and R(when they were anonymously hooking up)to Jude and Aaron when they finally found out each other’s identity.The way they relationship moved from friendship to love in the most beautiful way.I love the fact that they liked each other before they saw the way the other person looks physically,it made their bond and connection feel so real without being shallow and that made their love story feel so sweet and real.
March 25, 2024
Jude and Aaron may know each other casually in class in the real world, but the unique anonymous meet up of 18 year old F and R in a closet at a party is the beginning of a clandestine romance between a shy young man new to the school and a young man with a small circle of friends that he goes along with to fit in. Meeting in the dark, and using only the initials of their middle names, they share private thoughts and feelings about school, family, life, and hopes and dreams for the future. Both gay and in the closet, as they learn more about each other, they begin to experiment with the sexual side of their relationship, still in the anonymous cloak of darkness, private and hidden from others. But private and hidden isn’t guaranteed, and as things begin to unravel, choices need to be made, jeopardizing the connections and beliefs that are the foundation of this relationship. Will it survive, or will they revert to the loneliness which started it all?
Fascinating characters and the development of lasting connections between the two with the potential for a strong couples bond or the heartbreaking destruction of love and trust. A compelling read which had me unable to put it down.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Fascinating characters and the development of lasting connections between the two with the potential for a strong couples bond or the heartbreaking destruction of love and trust. A compelling read which had me unable to put it down.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary review.
March 17, 2025
Although the story held promise, the writing was dry and lacking. The characters came off flat, especially the side characters, whose sole purpose seemed to revolve around the MC's lives. A large portion of the side characters could have been removed from the book, and the story would have been the same.
As to our main characters, Jude & Aaron, they had their cute moments, but it was hard to imagine them as teenage boys. Maybe if they were set in historical times and the story was told in the third person, but as a modern first person POV? It just didn't work for me. This was my first book by this author, so maybe it was a poorly thought-out choice of artistic freedom, making them sound and rationalize like the most sane and boring people alive, but it comes off like bad writing. I'm sorry, no one is as rational and polite as these two.
It might seem based on my review so far that I hated this book, but it wasn't all bad. I liked the premise, I liked the suspense of waiting for the pair to realize who the other was. I liked their friendly rivalry over who was taller.
Overall, would I read this book again? Maybe. Do I consider it a satisfying read? Meh, not really.
As to our main characters, Jude & Aaron, they had their cute moments, but it was hard to imagine them as teenage boys. Maybe if they were set in historical times and the story was told in the third person, but as a modern first person POV? It just didn't work for me. This was my first book by this author, so maybe it was a poorly thought-out choice of artistic freedom, making them sound and rationalize like the most sane and boring people alive, but it comes off like bad writing. I'm sorry, no one is as rational and polite as these two.
It might seem based on my review so far that I hated this book, but it wasn't all bad. I liked the premise, I liked the suspense of waiting for the pair to realize who the other was. I liked their friendly rivalry over who was taller.
Overall, would I read this book again? Maybe. Do I consider it a satisfying read? Meh, not really.
March 24, 2024
Loved the secrecy, understanding and trust in Jude and Aaron's anonymous relationship. The moments they shared together in secret was sweet. However, it was the moments they were around each other but didn't know they were each other's secret hookup that captivated me. Jude calling Aaron on his hickey... classic!
I have never read this author before, let alone the series, and I must say that I really enjoyed this book. It was a refreshing take on what could have been a stereotypical hookup book. Not only were the characters creative, but the author was as well, coming up with situations and scenarios to figure out and/or solve. And the hookup scenes.... hot!! I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
I received an ARC copy of this book from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have never read this author before, let alone the series, and I must say that I really enjoyed this book. It was a refreshing take on what could have been a stereotypical hookup book. Not only were the characters creative, but the author was as well, coming up with situations and scenarios to figure out and/or solve. And the hookup scenes.... hot!! I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
I received an ARC copy of this book from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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