Composed at Randy's

Diner Days

by Zile Elliven

"How do I tell the guy I like that I’m not homeless, just a dumbass?"

Love beyond the binary, serving up low angst trans romances at Randy's Diner.

Composed at Randy’s is a 'dumbasses in love', cis male/trans male pairing with a smooth-brained (not remotely smart) genius, a goth himbo, and all the help they can get to achieve their happily ever after.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, Transgender, LGBT, Gay, Found Family

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2024

Reviews

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was adorable.
I actually think this is my fave in the series I've read so far (not reading in any particular order).
Bael and Wren were so cute, so clueless and silly.
A bit sad that not much of it actually happened in Randy's, but oh well.

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

Generally, I don’t mind my loved ones treating me like a little cutie pie because I am and should be treated as such. Strangers though? They gotta earn that right.

4.5 stars rounded up

What a delightfully funny and sweet book. I had a ton of fun reading it. It was perfectly Zile. He’s got such a fun writing style and it never fails to put a smile on my face.

Now I want to read more ‘idiots in love’ style books, preferably with two disaster himbos like in this one.

Then he relaxes and sits on my lap facing me with his legs criss cross-applesauce. I’m not kidding. He really is small enough to do that, and I hold extra still so he’ll keep doing it.

Definitely recommend this one if you want a good time.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Trans MC
Rock star
Goth MC
Musician MC
Disaster boi
Always-getting-into-trouble boi
Funny misunderstanding
Size difference
Protective goth himbo
Found family
Idiots in love

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Brief mention of parent deaths (past)
Medical treatment for exhaustion and malnutrition
Explicit sexual content

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 20 and 20
Series: Multi-author series
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 194
Happy ending: Yes


Testosterone is a magical thing, but one of the side effects is that it makes me hornier than an entire flock of rabbits.




You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

In spite of how much I wanted to like this, it simply wasn't for me.

If you enjoy instalove and OTT obliviots and aren't afraid of misunderstanding as a plot device, then you might enjoy this. All of this stuff is in the blurb, so it's on me for reading it anyway when I know that's not my style!

I was also somewhat overwhelmed by all the details of the bandmate's sex lives, and completely didn't understand the ghost bit. I am not convinced the MCs have a single conversation in this book, though they do play video games together and seem to have common interests.

[Lionelle Pmuls (That's Slump Backwards & It's What I Do) · Rating 5 out of 5]

💖 5++ Glitter Mafia Stars 💖

ARC Read: 30/09/2024
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, Zile Elliven for this gift. 🥰

What to expect from this book? 🤔

❤️‍🔥Adult MM Trans Romance 🥵💦
🌈🏳️‍⚧️👉A Trans Man & A Cis Man MCs
😏 Strangers To Lovers
😳 Mutual Insta-Attraction/Crush
🤌 Size Difference
🤯 Miscommunication (so perfectly done 🤌🤌🤌)
👉A Pouty Goth Puppy Of A Rockstar
&
👉An Absent-Minded & Daydreaming Cinnamon Roll Of An Artist
🥺 Double Found Family
😗 OTT Hilarious Shenanigans
👌 Stuck Together – I'll Take Care Of U
👆 Forced Proximity = Innocent Cohabitation
😳 Hot Bed Nurse
👉👉 Slow Burnish (u don't even feel it)
👻🎙 Elvis Ghost???
🐈‍⬛ Drowning In Stuffed Cats
📄 Dwyane The Rock Stickers Mystery Unveiled
😽 Hello Kitty-Shaped Sandwiches 🥪
🤘 No Angst
🌍 Very well written, fluf, funny plot & ambience
😌🙌 ATTENTION: This Book Is The Safest Place For Queer People To Laugh And Enjoy Themselves

Series: Diner Days #8
Cover: 5/5
Ebook: ARC
Story: 5/5

This book is an absolute delight!

Composed At Randy’s is a goofy, fluffy and filled with super cute, laugh-out-loud moments that definitely got me some side eye from people!
It’s OTT (in the best way) with delightful shenanigans and overall a beautiful book.

If you’ve ever dreamed of the perfect queer story packed with humor, this is it.
And the best part? There's a whole series of them, and 4 more books to go. YAY!

With trans realness, feel-good vibes, loads of queer rep, double found family, zero angst, excellent world-building (the diner *dreamy sigh*), lovable characters, absolutely hilarious, it's pure joy.

This is simply the perfect trans comfort queer read!

🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆Q🎨u🦆o🎨t🦆e🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆

"Oh dear. My face burns as I realize I basically threw myself at a stranger and gave him no choice but to be my replacement Kai. It doesn’t matter how beautiful he is, he doesn’t deserve having the Wren Show shoved on him without warning. “You don’t actually have to take care of me,” I say quickly. “I can go home now.” “Home?” The level of doubt Bael’s expression shows makes me think he has low confidence in my ability to survive on my own."

🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆

Genre/Trope: Adult/MM Trans Romance/Aesthetic Romance‎/Uniformily Hot Goth/Dirty Talker‎/Forced Proximity/Strangers To Lovers/Size-Diference/LGTBQIA Plus/Love Trans-M/Love M-M/‎New Authors‎/Slow-Burn/Sweet Tooth‎/Oblivious Mess/Sun Kissed Spirit/Golden Retriever/Pansexual Rep/Trans Rep/Very Tempting Roommate/Very Possessive MC/Ximbo/ARC

Content/Trigger Warnings:mentions of mistakenly perceived homelessness, the term cocklet used for a trans man’s penis
Plot: 5/5
POV: 2

Main Characters:
5/5 – Wren Dobrev, he, 20 yo, famous painter, transgender, gay, introvert, oblivious, himbo, clumsy, socially awkward, tiny, adorable, kind, likes and needs people to take care of him and in his own words "I’m a weird little dude. I’m an over-sheltered, under-socialized house cat..."
5/5 – Baelfire, nickname Bael, he, 20 yo, rock star, cisgender, pansexual, stubborn, sweet, generous, kind, funny, likes to carry people, big, goofy, goth, golden retriever.

Wren has such a kind soul. He was very lucky that his path crossed with Bael's.
Ohhhh, Bael, my cute goth puppy.... your kindness and concern for Wren were so beautiful to witness.

Who would have belived, with their incredible chemistry, that they went from strangers to easy friends to adorable lovers?

My heart exploded every time Bael gave his all to take care of Wren!

The oblivious confusion Wren created with the band was the best Miscommunication Trope I've ever read!

Their journey was chaotic (in a good way), super cute, flirty and it had a tiny teeny tiny 3rd act (but no breakup).

I think the only sad thing I’d say about the book is that I wish there were more sexy (smut) scenes.
Please more! I need more Bael & Wren!!!

Other thing, manly a ME thing, was that I had to get used to the Deadpool style narrative (where the MCs talk to the reader).
Don't get me wrong, the book is well written. English isn’t my first language, so it sometimes takes me a moment to catch up, but it only took me a chapter to get into the groove of it.

🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌Q🎶u🍌o🎶t🍌e🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌

"Bael": When I pull my hand away, Wren grabs my wrist and pulls it back to rest on his head and says, “No, I like it. Don’t stop.”
“Thank god,” I say and immediately go back to petting him. “Your hair is just so soft and fluffy. I can’t help myself.”
Wren’s eyes drift shut slowly as I stroke his hair, and he’s doing that thing baby animals do when they don’t realize they’re falling asleep. His eyes close and then they pop back open again, then they drift shut again, and it’s longer between sleepy blinks, and his eyes don’t open as wide after each blink. I know he’ll be asleep any second now, so I keep playing with his hair.
“You’re safe, Wren. I won’t let anything happen to you. It’s safe to fall asleep, I promise.”
He gives a soft sigh, and his eyes stay closed after his last sleepy blink.
Wren is a gift. The universe dropped a fucking gift into my lap, and I’ll be damned if I squander it.

🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌

Side Characters: 5/5

Let's start with the Diner.
The Diner is a wet dream to any queer person.
The calming, relaxing (and fun) vibes during the diner scenes are chef's kiss. It's so inclusive, a true queer safe space.

I made a list of the SC that form the found family around our MCs:
-Wren's Crew:
• Marty (he) Wren's Guardian & BFF
• Kai (he) basically Wren's "babysitter" and parent like figure
• Shelby (she) Wren agent & friend

-The Baelfire Crew:
• Travis (he) cranky/grumpy, allways trying to prove he's macho, little but jacked, and absolutely harmless
• Mel (they/she/he/slut) androgynous and a riot... love them so much!
• Shay (he) the new guy in the band
• Laura (she) Shay's mother
• Elvis? the band ghost??
• Harvey (he) the band manager 😅 has his hands full with this group.
• Dr. Gwen (she) doctor on call for the band
• Bodyguards: Brent & James
• Allie (she) the band's assistant

Oh, and I almost forgot Archie, our Silver Daddy, he's just a side character bc apparently he makes cameos in all Zile Elliven's books.
What was super funny was Wren couldn't figure out if Archie was always talking about his wife,daughter or dog! Cracked Me Up!
I love his character, his sooo thoughtful....swoon!

I have to say THAT I would ABSOLUTY LOVE to read all this side characters books!

Oh! Oh! And we finally discover the mystery behind the Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson stickers that are all over the town! 🤭

🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆Q🎨u🦆o🎨t🦆e🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆

"Wren: “You're not… you guys aren't part of a cult, are you?” If they are, it's probably a really cool one considering their lifestyle, but I know for a fact that neither Kai, Marty, nor Shelly will allow me to be part of a cult no matter how cool it is."

🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆🎨🦆

Humor: High Focus
Angst: Low Focus
Steam Level: 5/5
Romance: High Focus
Cheating? No
Cons:The only thing I didn't need was the specifics on the food. My favorite kinds of books are the ones that don't describe the food the characters are eating in every scene, or at least only once or twice. It's not just because I'm vegan—I respect everyone's choices—but I also don't think it's necessary to define a character's lifestyle or personality by their food preferences. That's why I don't read chef or food-related books. That being said, this one is relatively tame, but it does have some mentions that I don't think are necessary character development.
The Ending: 5/5

OMG. THe Epilogue Made My Life.
That was the best End that I ever read in my book reader life.
What a funny SUPRISE TWIST!

HEA/HFN/Cliffhanger? HEA/HFN
Favorite character? Everyone?... okay if I had to choose... Elvis
Would I read more of this author? Yes
Would I recommend this series? YES YES YES This is Queer Heaven
Will I read this again in the future? Yes

This is my 1st book by Zile Elliven.
Enjoyment: 5/5

🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌����🍌🎶🍌Q🎶u🍌o🎶t🍌e🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌

Bael: Wren taps his index fingers together and looks away. “Well…” I wait patiently, aging months instead of minutes before he finally whispers, “Because I can’t take care of myself.”
I take his anxious fingers and kiss them gently. “I can take care of you, Wren. I really, really can. I want to do it. Please let me take care of you.”
I just need him to give me a chance."

🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌🎶🍌

🎶🎶can't wait for the next booookkk 🎶🎶 in this wonderful serieeeess 🎶🎶

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Diner Days Series: 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
💙1. Written At Randy's by Katherine McIntyre - MX trans masc & bigender MCs - 4,5 stars 💙
💖 2. Final Boy At Randy's by Loren Leigh - MM trans guy & cis guy MCs - 4 stars 💖
🤍 3. Cramming at Randy's by Alex Silver - XX genderqueer & demiboy MCs - 4 stars 🤍
💖 4. Temptation At Randy's by Emily Alter - FX trans femme & non-binary MCs - 4 stars 💖
💙 Expected on 14/11/2024:
5. Hitched At Randy's by A.E. Madsen - MM trans guy & cis guy MCs💙
💖 6. Gaming At Randy's by Duckie Mack - MM trans guy & trans guy MCs - 5 stars 💖
🤍 7. Striking a Chord At Randy's by K.C. Carmine - MM cis guy & trans guy MCs - 4,5 stars 🤍
💖 8. Composed At Randy's - MM trans guy & cis guy MCs - 5 stars 💖
💙 Expected on 07/11/2024:
9. Roleplay At Randy's by Rikki Leighton - MM trans guy & cis guy MCs💙
💖 10. Finding Home At Randy's by Abrianna Denae - MMX trans guy & trans guy & non-binary MCs - 4 stars 💖
🤍 Expected on 31/10/2024:
11. Aftercare At Randy's by R.A. Frick - FXM trans femme & non-binary & trans masc MCs🤍


🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈P.S. There even exists a FB Group made by the authors.
Here is the link if you're interested: Diner Days Reader Group.🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

🎨🦆🎨B🦆o🎨n🦆u🎨s🦆B🎨o🦆n🎨u🦆s🎨🦆Q🎨u🦆o🎨t🦆e🎨🦆🎨

"Wren: His voice is still hot, but it doesn't have that cutting edge to it anymore. This is probably a good thing, because if he talks like that all the time, I will probably die from constant nosebleeds.
“I didn’t know cults have fans.” Though if it's a cult of Bael’s voice, I can see the appeal.
“We’re not a cult!” Travis snaps.
“Whoops. Sorry. I didn't know the mafia had fans.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. We're none of those things. We're a band.” Travis stomps away to the table Mel and Laura grabbed for us.
(...)
Everyone at the table looks at me expectantly. That’s when I finally connect the dots.
“Holy shit, you’re a band? Thank fuck! That's way better than the glitter mafia. I ran out of nice things to say about people who kill people for a living ten minutes ago, and since my phone is dead, I can't google for help to find more.”
Shay laughs. “Jesus, Bael, he’s like your mini-me.”
Mel slams the table with both hands in excitement. “Oh my god, Wren, I love you so much right now. I vote to rename the band Glitter Mafia immediately.”
“No,” Harvey says absently without looking up from his phone. I get the feeling he's used to vetoing a lot of ideas from this group. I wonder what it takes to faze him?
“Yes, please, please, yes,” Bael says...”

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!! I don't equate fiction stories to real life. It's a matter of personal taste and what you are willing or want to tolerate in the books you read. We all have different opinions and preferences when it comes to the kind of books we enjoy, so it's important to respect and remember that it's just a book!!

Hope this review was helpful.
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[Billy ⋆｡･☽･⋆* (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ☆ What a fun book! So fun! Made me lol many times. It’s an easy, breezy, no-lemon-squeezy read!

The MCs are great on so many levels. There's depth, heart, chemistry, and they’re both absolutely adorable! Despite their pasts, which would give anyone a reason to be a "grump" (oversimplifying it), they just want to be happy doing what they love (especially since both of them are involved in art and entertainment). They're both equally special to me, I couldn’t possibly choose a favorite.

The side characters? 🤯 One word: AMAZING! Loved every single one, and again I can not choose a favorite (well.... Mel and Kai! Mel made me laugh and I like their style! Kai, too. He also made me laugh and I dig his style! 🤷). And their whole shenanigans and antics were hilarious!

-Some of my favorite quotes:

》Wren's POV: "But—and here’s the cold, harsh truth part—I’m pretty sure Bael is way out of my league. It’s okay, though. I’m used to that. I’m a weird little dude. I’m an over-sheltered, under-socialized house cat, and I know without a doubt that I don’t belong here.
I’m stupid, but I’m not that stupid."《

- Wren being relatable for a hard second!

》Wren's POV: "“Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?” Laura asks. I forgive her for infantilizing me because she doesn't know me, and I probably look like a child in this massive robe. Generally, I don’t mind my loved ones treating me like a little cutie pie because I am and should be treated as such. Strangers though? They gotta earn that right."《

- I loooove this one ☝️. Again so real, so relatable (if I let it, this will happen to me on a daily-basis... not counting the robe ofc... Side-note: I do look like a teen boy with my baggy shorts and polo shirts, tho 😗)

》Wren's POV - Marty:“I can see by your face that your brain gremlins are taking over and making you feel bad."《

- brain gremlins! 😅 Finally, I know what they're called now!

I totally recommend this book to someone who enjoys queer romance with a lot of humor. Also SO well written! I'm definitely looking forward to read more from this awesome author!

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[San Lemonade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diner Days Series: All Trans Romance
Composed at Randy's by Zile Elliven
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

My first book by Zile Elliven and I loved it!
⬆️ ARC Read

💙💓🤍💓💙
🏳️‍⚧️ Trans/Non-Binary Contemporary Romance With A Focus On Gender Reflection.

👉🖌🎨🖼🗿MC: Wren 👉 ex: Trans-men (he/him) 20yo, he's a bit on a small size, brown eyes, blond hair, orphan, artist, his life is his art, has a tremendous lack of self-care, he's survival depends on three people, his family/crew:
🎨 Marty (BFF since Wren was 5 and his legal guardian).
🎨 Shelly (agent and friend).
🎨 Kai (his caregiver/babysitter/parenting, checks to see if he eats, showers, sleeps, etc, etc... as if Wren was a baby 👶😅).

👉🎶🎤 🎶MC: Baelfire aka Bael 👉 ex: Pan sexual (he/him) 20yo, goth-rockstar w/ strawberry-blond hair, freckles, brown eyes, big size person, thoughtful and a loveable himbo, but when someone does something desrespectable his contol is inexistente, and he gets in trouble a lot, and is part of a band named Baelfire*, they're all a perfect mix of personas, they're his family/crew:
🎶 Travis (he): tiny but pretty jacked, who needs to reaffirm his masculinity, and always arguing with someone, like the grumpy family member.
🎶 Mel (they/she/he) & (slut for gender-neutral😏): an ethereal creature touched by the divine, with an aura of complete fabulocity (described by Wren).
🎶 Shay (he): the new guy.
🎶 Laura (she): Shay's mother, who loves flirting w/ Mel.
🎶 Harvey (he): the band manager and a Saint, he tries to have everyone under control (for their own good)... he tries.
🎶 Allie (she): the band's assistant,
🎶👻 Elvis: a sensitive ghost, who likes to be talked-sweetly,
🎶 Bodyguards: Brent & James
🎶😷 Dr. Gwen (she): doctor's crew, a hundred percent perfect doctor.

*This band is the favorite of Avery and Myles, the MCs from the first book in the series (Written at Randy's by Katherine McIntyre).

🔀 Dual POV
😍💪Huge Cis-Male X 🤏 Tiny Trans-Male 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 Himbos
📚 Where Love Meets Laughter 🔥&😂
💣😅 Two Himbos in co Dependent Family 💥 Crash Together
🙀 Perfect Blending Chaos
👉 You Can't Get Out Of My Sight 👀
👉 Scooping... Up We Go 🥰
🤤 You Can Take Care Of Me 🥵
💥❤️‍🔥 Instant Attraction to Lovers
🖤 Goth-Rockstar x Absent-Minded Artist 😵‍💫
🐶 Enthusiasm Of a Golden Retriever x Under-Socialized House Cat 🐱
👻 Haunted kitchen & Sensitive Ghost w/ Tantrums
😏 Size difference (I love it🥵)
🥵 Slow-burn (but... some hot steamy scenes )
👉 Without-Angst
⚠️ Body Dysphoria (Past Mentions)
⚠️ Contains Mentions of Mistakenly Perceived Homelessness
⚠️ Has The Term Cocklet Used For a Trans Man’s Penis
😍🤣 Adorable & Hilarious & Joyous All The Time 😆😂😂
👉 Found Family
👏 Solid Character Development
💯 Best Side Characters
👉 Can Be Read As A Standalone
😍 Love The Ending 💯📝🅰️➕️🥳
😍 HEA

Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

🏳️‍⚧️ 📖 This book is phenomenal, a true safe space for queer people.
The main characters are perfect: two sweet, lovable himbos. The supporting characters complement the leads and the story beautifully.
It's hilarious and heartwarming at the same time, wonderfully written, and easy to read. The main character's point of view (POV) having a direct conversation with the reader was perfect and added more emphasis to the MC's perspective.

🤯 I wasn't prepared for so much humor. From the very first pages, I was laughing out loud. It’s one of the best comedy books I’ve read this year, and I want to read more about these fantastic characters.

☕️🧃🥪The Diner, as always, is an inclusive haven: perfect for making new friends, reconnecting with old ones, and enjoying meals served by the most wonderful staff.
🧐 Oh, and we finally get to learn the mystery behind the Dwayne "The Rock" stickers!

▪︎FAV QUOTES▪︎

■ Wren: '"His name is Wren?” This is said with all the enthusiasm of a golden retriever puppy being presented with his first ball. “Can I come in, Wren? I promise not to be weird."
“No way!” I yell at the door. “You can only come in if you promise to be as weird as possible.”

■ "Wren: I’m a weird little dude. I’m an over-sheltered, under-socialized house cat, and I know without a doubt that I don’t belong here. I’m stupid, but I’m not that stupid."

■ "Wren: Everyone in this place is a solid fucking ten. Where am I? Queer Heaven?
I mean, I’m just assuming it’s a queer-friendly space given what Gwen told me earlier and Mel’s sheer existence. And maybe everyone here isn’t queer, but even so, the eye candy alone is on the same level as the cast of The Mummy for causing a sexuality identity crisis.
Hell, I bet even Elvis the ghost is hot..."

🍌🦆🍌🦆🍌 I'm definitely going to read this again. 🦆🍌🦆🍌🦆

I'm looking forward to reading the following books on this series and learning more about the trans community.

😉 Thanks for reading hope this helps you out!

Diner Days Series:
1. Written At Randy’s - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
2. Final Boy At Randy’s - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
3. Cramming at Randy's - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
4. Temptation At Randy’s - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
5. Hitched At Randy’s - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
6. Gaming at Randy's - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
7. Striking A Chord At Randy’s - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
8. Composed At Randy’s - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
9. Roleplay at Randy's - Coming 15/12/2024
10. Finding Home At Randy’s - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
11. Aftercare at Randy's - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.

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[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, this book was so cute and hilarious!! So many of my questions from previous books were answered (though not who Randy is) and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Bael and Wren are absolutely perfect for each other, and I love their little found family! I was giggling the whole time I was reading this 😂

[Courtney Bassett · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING and I want a story for everyone now!

This was adorable and made me laugh out loud so many times! The side characters were also endearing and I’m really hoping we get stories for them too! SUCH a fun read and one I highly recommend!

(Tiny caveat: there were some typos and tense switching, but I was enjoying myself too much to care)

[thosemeddlingkids · Rating 3 out of 5]

Low angst contemporary, trans x cis MMCs, himbo MMC, both are idiots, instalove, size difference and himbo must protect his love.

Great narration, a bit meh on the plot and chemistry, "a book that I read" energy for me.

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet classic Elliven with a big x small possessive pairing, insta-connection and some OTT. I enjoyed it! :)

NSFW infos:
- goth himbo big cis man
- smol artist trans man with top surgery, tattoo, small penis “cocklet” and happy to have penetration in both holes
- piv sex

[DeniReadsMostlyMM · Rating 4 out of 5]

***ARC Review***

This is my honest and voluntary review for the ARC I received.

This is another lovely installment in the Diner Days series, showcasing low angst trans romances. This book made me smile. Wren is a trans male and an artist. Bael is a cis male and a rock star. Wren is small. Bael is huge. Wren normally has Marty, Shelly, and Kai to help manage his life. When all three of them leave town at the same time, Wren is left to his own devices. Wren has an incident and Bael mistakenly thinks he is homeless. So he takes him to his penthouse for food and shelter. (Wren isn’t homeless, btw). Chaos and hijinks ensue.

This book is quirky and cute. Wren and Bael are both lovable, if not a little clueless. They definitely have a fast-forming connection. There are some misunderstandings in this book that propel the plot, but it’s fun and amusing for the most part. The MCs have a lot of chemistry and are really captivating.

I loved all of the side characters in this book. Elvis was a delight. (That epilogue, though)! I also loved the found family vibes in this book. You should definitely check it out!

[audiobook_chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky & Fun

This is the second book i’ve read in this series it was fun i liked the characters especially Wren who was a bit lackadaisical or as he puts it smooth brained. Bael was like a big golden retriever happy to do everything he could for Wren the minute he set eyes on him. Baels band mates were a law unto themselves especially Mel and Shay and the ghost put a nice twist on the story. It’s my first book from Zile Elliven but I will definitely be looking at more or their work.

[L.A. Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute and fluffy, Wren and Bael were lovable and clueless! Bael's inner thoughts and reactions to Wren were so adorable, they really complemented each other. Wren was such a chaotic little gremlin, and he really fit into the chaos of the band perfectly! The Elvis ghost and the Rock stickers were so funny, this whole book was like an OTT romcom~ Would highly recommend!

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Composed at Randy's is part of multi author series Diner Days. Each book can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the rest of the series. This is a sweet low angst story about Wren a trans himbo artist and Bael a himbo goth rock star. Zile does such an amazing job with the characters because they feel so real. I loved this book so much. It was just fun and cute. I love all the misunderstandings that happen during the story. This was just a perfect story to relax with as it is a delightful read. I would definitely recommend this book and series.

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, Zile proves they are still Zile in the contemporary world. This is what happens when two himbos in co dependent family crash together. Wren should not be left on his own his survival instincts are completely lacking along with explaining himself to the outside world. Luckily, when he does crash, he lands in with Bael. Bael is a loveable himbo who goes in hyper protect mode when he sees Wren collapse. These two may have some communication errors that lead to chaos gremlins at their finest. Throughout the read, you can't help but ask what am I reading? Mix in the loveable setting of Randys Diner where good food and a safe environment are guaranteed, and you are in for a ride you won't soon forget.

[Cleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Cute, sexy mm trans romance. I didn’t completely buy the set up but I enjoyed it once I relaxed into the ridiculousness.

[Elise H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Completely ridiculous, I don’t even know why I read it all… are there really people who are so dumb???

[Isaiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 40%

It wasn't badly written, I just wasn't invested. I wasn't a big fan of the characters breaking the fourth wall in exactly the same way as each other. Add in the weird kindapping of someone that was assumed to be unhoused and it was really weird.

I am glad this series exists, we need more trans characters.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally like this author's books, but I found this book to be really annoying. The misunderstanding/miscommunication thing dragged on way too long, and having two characters with such a similar and annoying personalities was not cute after a while. I got to around 70% and it was a real struggle to finish. Looks like another author has fallen to the curse of Patreon. Yay. 🤦

[Bluemoonchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

[I received an advanced copy of this book. All reviews and ratings are my own.]

This addition to the Diner Days Series is a delightful romance between a space cadet artist and a larger-than-life (literally) rockstar, and it's a must read for anyone looking for a low-angst, fast paced love story. The chemistry between Wren, a trans man whose life revolves around his art, and Bael, the goth-rock heartthrob of Baelfire, is pure magic, blending chaos with care in the most unexpected and charming ways.

An artist through and through, Wren struggles with the most basic aspects of daily life - eating, dressing, and just generally surviving. Normally, he has three people to handle everything for him, but when all three wind up out of town at the same time, Wren is left to fend for himself. It's an actual recipe for disaster that ends with him collapsing into Bael's arms outside Randy's Diner. Basically a giant, Bael gives off major Clifford the Dog energy - well-meaning with the best intentions, even if things don't always go well. One look at Wren - shoeless, hungry and fading fast - and Bael's protective nature kicks in, and he's immediately determined to care for this homeless street urchin he's found.

What follows is a comedy of delightful misunderstandings, where Wren's attempts to explain his situation only reinforce Bael's believe that Wren is in dire need of Bael's help. It's a dynamic that is both hilarious and heartwarming, with Bael's over-the-top nurturing instinct meeting Wren's absentminded attempts at survival.

Their (lack of) communication is part of what makes this book so engaging. They seem to speak the same language of miscommunication, yet their bond grows deeper with every interaction. As chaos goblins of the highest order, the way they bumble through their days together feels authentic and joyful, with minimal drama. Instead, their relationship seems to grow on humor, mutual affection and attraction, and a shared sense of trust. The whole journey with them feels light, fun and utterly satisfying.

This is a quick read, with the perfect blend of sweetness and silliness, and no heavy angst to weigh it down. Both Wren and Bael are adorable, the kind of characters you wish were real so you could actually be friends with them.

This is part of the Diner Days series, which celebrates love beyond the binary. Wren is a trans man, and Bael is pan, and their identities and sexuality are seamlessly written into the fabric of the story. Nothing needed to be pointed out or written explicitly. It just...is what it is. And it's absolute perfection.

If you're looking for a love story that equal parts tender, hilarious, and joyous, this book is it. There's a guaranteed happily ever after, and two protagonists who are as chaotic as they are lovable, and it's a delightful escape that will leave you smiling.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

engaging characters and wonderful plot

Rating:4.5🌈

Zile Elliven is one of those terrific authors who I so admire their writing. I was really happy to see a new release from Elliven that also came with a new multi-author series to explore as well.

Composed at Randy’s by Zile Elliven is among the eleven books of the new Diner Days series, centered around a LGBTQIA friendly diner. The covers are colorful and an absolute delight as are the stories and characters if this one is an indication of what I’ll find here.

I’ve read other reviews where these wonderfully crafted, so engaging characters were called “himbos” and the reviewers meant that in the best sense. But, imo, Wren, an artist, and Bael, the rock singer, come across as having brain synapses that just fire differently than any one else’s. Wren is unlike any other character I’ve read recently. He understands that he’s unable to self care and needs the support system that’s been established for him (Marty, Shelly and Kai). We get glimpses of Wren’s past, the journey taken to become his true self, and his understanding that being trans is a situation that requires extra awareness. Wren feels so real in depth of personality that reducing him to a “himbo” seems unfair. To Wren , the author’s work, and this book.

Same goes for Bael. His glimmering of deeper awareness of what might be possible in various situations is a developing element. Part of revealing more about him, their journey, and the formation of a larger group of found family and friends.

Bael, his friends (and band members) which are the equal counterparts to Wren’s support group, are marvelous. Big in personality, interesting in a multitude of ways, they cry out for their own stories. How I love Mel!

In fact, my biggest issue is that there’s so much great work here, fabulous characters with backgrounds we need, additional stories going forward, just more, that it’s almost more than this book can convey or indeed cover.

I’m highly recommending Composed at Randy’s (a Diner Days story) by Zile Elliven and looking forward to seeing what the rest of the series brings.

Cover Art by Cormar Covers. Love it!

Diner Days series -11 books:
🔷Written at Randy's by Katherine McIntyre
🔷Final Boy at Randy's by Loren Leigh
🔷Cramming at Randy's by Alex Silver
🔷Temptation at Randy's by Emily Alter
🔷Hitched at Randy's by A. E. Madsen 11/14
🔷Gaming at Randy's by Duckie Mack
🔷Striking a Chord at Randy's by K. C. Carmine
🔷Composed at Randy’s by Zile Elliven❤️
🔷Roleplay at Randy's by Rikki Leighton 11/7
🔷Finding Home at Randy's by Abrianna Denae 10/24
🔷Aftercare at Randy's by R.A. Frick 10/31

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Ok so there were things I wasn't quite so keen on at the beginning. The way the characters 'spoke' to the reader really threw me at first. I've never much enjoyed the kinds of stories where they appear to be acknowledging and talking to someone who isn't physically there within the book.

That said though, this one quickly gripped me and changed my mind on that. I got past it very quickly and fell deeply in love with not only Bael and Wren but also the entire crew of characters that surrounded and loved them.

This book was laugh out loud HILARIOUS. These two are a perfect example of idiots in love and it was a wild, wonderful ride to read their story. The tags and tropes this book was tagged with are 100 accurate and brilliant. Wren and his smooth brain moments were a joy to read and goth, puppy dog himbo Bael made me wanna scream and hug him so so hard. I am still laughing over their antics as I write this review. They were funny, sweet and together very, VERY hot. I couldn't adore them more if I tried.

If you are looking for a book with constant humour, meddling friends and chosen family, and moments that seem so daft and yet still absolutely great, moments that seem totally unhinged and just full of amusment, this is definitely the book for you!

Also, that epilogue. OMG the epilogue. Absolutely amazing. I've loved several of Zile Elliven's books before and this is no exception. Loved every second and would absolutely do a re-read pretty soon.

[isthisakink · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Mystery has been solved, but I hope it keeps popping up in the rest of the series. It was the best reveal, tbh.

Aside from that absolute fucking gem of knowledge, this book was the emotional ride my brain needed to go on. It was hilarious, sweet, gently chaotic, had the perfect little amount of spice, and the instalove was a genuine pleasure. The fact that it was idiots/dummies-in-love was just a bonus. And I don’t even think they’re idiots/dummies, more so just oblivious and constantly have their heads in the clouds.

Trust me, if I could pay someone to know how to do taxes for me or remind me to function like a normal human, I would. That’s not dumb, that’s fucking genius. Outsource the boring stuff, have more room for enjoying mortality.

And this line right here (“In my experience, non-binary folk tend to fall into two categories: complete, feral cave goblins, or ethereal creatures touched by the divine.”) was so relatable I immediately had the urge to tell my phone to GTFO of my house or lower it’s voice😩😂 My friends agreed.

4.5/5. The joy is still making my soul content and I cannot hype this book or the series itself enough. Between this and the Haunted Hearts series, my year has added a bunch of straight up masterpieces to my collection of bangers. Also, do non-anime nerds get nosebleed references? I am also very smooth of brain, so it’s a rogue question wandering the surface.


#webelieveinyouelvis #elvisfansbiggestfans



**[I received an ARC from the author. All ratings, reviews, and opinions are my own.]**

[Katriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE ELVIS the ghost!!!

I don't think I've ever read a story quite like this one before. Wren is an artist who isn't so good at remembering to take care of himself. It's up to his caretaker Kai, his best friend Monty, and his manger to ensure he's taking care of himself properly. When all of them get busy at the same time that leaves Wren on his own... And what could've ended up badly, turned out to have a happy ending.

Bael is apart of a very popular band with his best friends. They banter and argue, but at the end of the day they are family. When Bael sees someone faint outside of Randy's he immediately rushes in to help. When Wren wakes up he's immediately captivated by the quirky young man, and from there as they say, the rest was history!

These two on their own are amazing individuals. They both are so peppy, protective, caring, and cute separately. When they are together though, they are out of this world spectacular! If I had to use one word to describe both Wren and Bael it would be bubbly.

One of my favorite parts about this series is how it casts such a positive light on Trans romances, and showcases so many different demographics, sexualities, and identities so beautifully. All of the books in this series so far has been an absolute joy to read, and this one was sunshine personified.

All in all a really great story with awesome unique characters, and good writing.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝓽𝓪𝓰𝓼: lgbtq+, mistaken identity, shared world
𝓻𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓽𝓮: October 10, 2024
𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:

Wren is a little trans mess and I adored him.
A bit bumbling, a bit absentminded, and a whole lotta fiestiness, it’s no wonder Bael became obsessed with him from the first moment.
Bael. Baelfire. Bael, Bael, Bael.
The himbo-est himbo that ever himbo-d, y’all.
Big and gorgeous and a bit…slow.
But fiercely protective and dedicated to his Wren.

𝙃𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚. 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙚, 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝘽𝙖𝙚𝙡.

This story is so ridiculous and I loved it.
Bael mistakes Wren as a homeless guy and pretty much makes him live with him and his bandmates…who are all equally…unique.
I loved them all.
But Wren had a very cool life of his own and it took forever for the truth to come out.
Poor Wren. 🤣

It was great seeing other characters at Randy’s as well!
I’m really enjoying all the stories in this shared series so far and can’t wait to read more!

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4 Stars

Zile Elliven’s books are always so much fun! This one is too—it has a chaotic energy that lends itself to funny moments and banter. The characters have unusual quirks and extreme personalities that lead them into messy situations full of humor and hijinks.

Wren is an artist who gets so lost in what he calls “Artland” that he’s not really capable of taking care of himself. Bael is impulsive and nurturing, so when he happens to see Wren in a vulnerable situation, he can’t help but step in to take care of him.

This story is definitely an insta-love (or nearly so), but it works because of the characters’ personalities. It’s just hard to imagine these two not being the type to sort of imprint on each other and just go with it.

The side characters are also great. I know this is part of a multi-author series,, but I found myself hoping that Elliven will write stories about the side characters. I really wanna see stories about Mel and Shay and Marty and Kai and Harvey.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Composed at Randy's is the seventh book in the Diner Days series. Thanks to this series, I am discovering great authors that I had overlooked. This is the case of the author of this book.

Wren is a world-renowned, genius-level artist, but he has self-care issues. When he is in Artland, creating art, he forgets to eat, sleep, clean, but for that he has a group of people around him like his manager, Shelly, his caretaker, Kai and Marty. But at one point all three of them have to attend to business and leave him alone. Wren ends up wandering the streets, hungry, entering Randy's and fading into Bael's arms.

Bael is the lead singer of one of the most famous rock bands of the moment, he is also a lovable himbo. He tries his best to help Wren, believing that he has no home, because there is a certain lack of communication or listening from both of them.

It's pure chaos and fun. I enjoyed it.

[Sarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pure chaos in the absolutely best ways possible!!! Wren and Bael are so freaking wonderful! They will absolutely have you in stitches, life full on belly laughs! I've never seen two MC's so eccentric and so perfect! I love that their friends just sit back and watch the chaos of Wren and Bael unfold when they are together! ❤️ I love how Bael just wants to carry Wren everywhere, Wren being pocketsized melts my whole dang heart! I honestly don't think anything I say will do justice for this book. They are absolutely incredible, adorable, loveable and so dang perfect! I want to be a part of this crazy incredible family! And Elvis... literally BRILLIANT!!! This book could have been another 300 pages and I'm not sure that would be long enough, I could read about these two and their whole found family forever!!

[Becky Aks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Composed at Randy’s is another multi-level read by Zile Elliven. Under the quirky, satisfying story of Wren and Bael’s meeting and zig-zag progress to their HEA (aided—or not, by their found families) is my favorite part of Elliven’s writing—his pithy insights into our human thinking and behavior, each couched in gentle words that soften them and make the pondering of them feel do-able. There were so many (I highlighted nine), but as a very short person, this one really made me think: “I guess that just happens to people who are travel sized.” Can I change how I perceive the actions of others toward me, and can I choose to look at those actions with humor instead of insult? I challenge you to read this book and not find life lessons for yourself, whether you’re binary, non-binary, short, tall, green, blue, or red. Highly recommend.

[Megan McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wren & Bael
This was my very first Zile Elliven book, though I have a few free ones I've picked up from previous "stuff your kindle" events. It was amazing! Very high energy and "bouncy". I loved Wren and Bael, they were a perfect couple and a fantastic example of those who pair well even when they're an opposites attract situation. Yes, there's a distinct size difference, but they're otherwise massively similar, as all their friends/family will attest.

The misunderstandings in the story were a bit stressful, but highly hilarious. All the complications in Wren's life seem to pile on, but I loved the support he receives from his people and eventually from Baelfire (person & band). The instant friendships between them all is beautiful and so inspiring.

Composed at Randy's is a fantastic addition to the Diner Days series, and I really love how all of the series' stories interact/overlap, while also being so unrelated plot-wise.

I was supremely entertained by the epilogue of the story. I'm really curious if a paranormal off-shoot is planned to play off the unique POV or not.

I received an advance copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.