Summer Skin

University District #2

by Dani Lakely

The only thing worse than Aven Sinclair’s longtime roommate moving out, is his first love moving in...

When Aven’s town-skipping high school boyfriend reappears out of nowhere five years after leaving with no explanation, the only welcome back to Seattle he’s getting is an ice-cold shoulder.

But an unwelcome snag unravels Aven’s plan when he’s forced to spend time with Chase Matthews and those undeniably familiar sparks fly. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the way his heart remains drawn to the other man. Harder and harder to see why he shouldn’t give in to what he craves and kiss Chase breathless.

Chase was once an insecure loner from the opposite side of the tracks, now he’s one of the most talented rock stars in the world. With Chase’s international tour kicking off shortly, Aven’s determined to spend the time they have left together healing old wounds. One summer of reconnecting, creating music side-by-side, and spending warm, starry nights locked in each other’s arms.

One summer to make Chase Matthews fall in love all over again.

Summer Skin is an MM second chance romance told in dual POV over five years of time. The story features rivals to lovers, coming of age, forced proximity, rock star/dive bar musician, mutual pining, only one bed, high heat, and a very happy ending.

* This story is the second in the University District series, which follows a new couple for each book. As such, Summer Skin may be read as a standalone.

Genres: Second Chance, M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT, College, Forced Proximity

Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2024

About the author

* Writer of queer romance. Poly-genre reader. She/her. Say hi to your cat. *

***

Sign up for Dani's newsletter to receive free bonus content, news on book discounts, and info on all upcoming titles: https://bit.ly/DaniLakelyNewsletter

Find Dani online:
Website - https://www.danilakely.com
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@danilakely
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danilakelyw...
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danilakely/

Reviews

[ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this world and everyone in it. Aven and Chase’s love was intense.
This is how you do second chance romance. Get me invested in their first love, first.
Their first intimate scene together 🔥 🔥 🔥

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

- rivals to lovers
- opposites attract
- roomies
- mutual pining
- second chance

After touring with a band for the last month, Aven is ready to be back with his roomies and to meet the newest one that the others can’t stop gushing about. Color him surprised when his newest roommate is none other than his first love Chase, the boy who broke his heart when he left without a word five years ago.

As to be expected things are icy between Aven and Chase. There’s a lot of unresolved feelings and hurt between the two, but like magnets, no matter how upset he is with what Chase did, Aven cannot resist the pull between them.

Their story didn’t hook me in immediately like it did with Justin & Tyler’s in Cam Fan, but I still really enjoyed Aven and Chase’s story all the same. & I totally cannot wait for more of this series!

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ARC REVIEW⭐️

4.75⭐️

This was my first book by Dani Lakely and she generously sent me an ARC and I have to say my *only* critique was the 3rd person POV other than that I really enjoyed this book!

High heat
Rockstar MC’s
“It’s always been you”
Second chance
Opposites

If you like any of these things please pick this book up!

[megan]

No rating because I did receive this as an ARC and I very likely would settle on less than 3 stars.

Around half the book is spent in a flashback of them in high school falling in love. It was sweet but ultimately too much info and it made the actual second chance part feel rushed and unsatisfying. I have so many problems with Chase as a character and I in no way felt like he took responsibility or made up for his mistakes. Aven is a precious soft angel though and I loved his arc. His true love of Chase and bravery in wanting a life different from what his parents expected for him was beautiful and he was done so dirty.

The spice was hot (though I really did not believe high schoolers would be having sex like that esp when it was Aven’s first time with a guy) but that and my love of Aven Sinclair just wasn’t enough to save this book for me.

[Book.Dragon.Page1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a really nice surpise en I finished it in a day. This is my first book from this author and I didn't really know what to expect. The writingstyle was really fun and from page one I adored Aven. And Chase was soo sweet! This story gives you a lot of feels but I never doubted Aven and Chase. They are so good together. The way you are taken on their story was amazing. You did great by these two boys Dani Lakely!

This book was gifted to me by the author for an honest review and this is my honest opinion about this book!

[T Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Their meeting was monumental as it started them on a journey to forever. Aven and Chase are two very readable characters. Their posse of friends are exceptional. This book has a way of pulling you in. Its draw is the characters, of course, but it’s also their world of separation and reconnecting. It’s their passion and their hearts. This author created a world to get lost in and made it easy to do. Very well done. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5✨️
Second chance for a HEA with your first love? Oh this ate I fear

[read_romance.withgloria Gloria Worlikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Aven's story, which had been hinted at in the first book of the series. Aven and Chase's high school romance and first love was ruined by miscommunication on both sides, and Aven came to hate Chase for abandoning him when he thought they were meant to be together. Although I understood Chase's feelings of inadequacy, I couldn't condone his actions.

The story picks up five years later when Aven returns from a tour and is surprised to discover that his housemates have chosen Chase as their new roommate. Despite agreeing to a truce, Aven finds it difficult to forget the hurt and betrayal he felt when Chase left him. However, Aven still loves Chase and their relationship is beautifully written, both in the past and present.

I found their HEA to be very satisfying, and I appreciated how they worked through their issues and figured everything out. The secondary characters were equally fantastic, particularly Tyler and Justin who are still deeply in love, as well as Ben and Ellie.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and eagerly anticipate future books in this series.

* I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review *

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, but rounding down because I enjoyed this a bit less than book 1. This book is a second-chance romance split into 2 clear halves, the first half taking place in the past, at the high school where our 2 MCs meet, and the latter half in the present. I really enjoyed the first bit, Chase is a kid from a dysfunctional home now staying with rich relatives and ends up as the new kid in an affluent school. Aven is the established cool kid who hates Chase on principal. It was typical entertaining high school nonsense, watching them do a rivals-to-lovers type of thing. The relationship that develops was sweet in the way only first love can be, but they don't get their HEA then. The second half is five years in the future, and I found this part a lot more boring and predictable. That said, this book was easy to read and enjoyable enough, just nowhere near the heat levels of book 1 though.

[Henna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

I cried, a lot. Not full on sobbed but sniffled through most of the book. And this is not even angsty - much - just hit the feelings.
Aven and Chase are high school sweethearts that lost the connection over the years, but now they are living under the same roof as roommates. There's hurt and unresolved issues from the past hanging over them.
I really loved that you really got to know them back in high school, and then again as early 20s. The dual POV is a bit different since past ia done from one person's POV and now from other's. But you still clearly get a full picture.
Both guys deserved the best, and I loved their friends - both in high school and now. It was cute to see Taylor and Justin again being all loved up from the first book.

[Jo Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

New author for me and I did enjoy this book immensely. Aven and Chase were very different people from vastly different backgrounds and expectations. The author has done a great job with the angst level to keep the reader hooked and reading to find out if these two get a HEA.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great 2nd chance love story. Aven and Chase were high school rivals turned lovers who reconnect years later. Fun characters, low angst but plenty of feels. An overall good read.

[The Duckling]

Chase deserves prison, but he won't get time.
(This book had one too many Taylor References.)

[Cindaren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so hot. I don't know how I haven't heard of this author before but damn. I could not put this book down. Love love love Chase and Aven, and the way the povs were handled. I don't usually like when a book starts in the present and then goes back but it really worked in this book. This was one of the best new (to me) books I've read so far this year.

[Raven || The Reader Identity · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐌𝐂𝐬: Aven + Chase
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵, 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵, 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲. 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻. 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

Second chance isn’t a favorite trope of mine. It hurts my heart when a couple is separated for a time only to find each other again. I always cringe and think, “so much wasted time.”

But every once in a while a second chance, fortunately, makes sense. Aven and Chase met as seniors in high school. Aven was a d*ck and Chase was the awkward new guy. From enemies to friends to young lovers, we experience it all. Very few second chances give us the beginning. We get it here. We are gifted with WHY Chase ran away and despite many reviewers not liking it, it was exactly what Chase would do and I’m glad Dani listened to him. Add in some honest miscommunication and it makes sense.

Did it hurt? Yep. But these were 18 year old kids. Chase felt inadequate and unmatched to Aven. He did what he thought was right. We CAN’T fault him. Being able to experience the beginning and then getting to see their reunion hit HARD. From boys to men, this was an emotionally beautiful ride from start to finish. I’m glad Aven didn’t just jump in. Both had misconceptions of what happened but the pull between them was too strong.

“𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀?”
“𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”

The smexy scenes were SO good. Passionate and playful and beautiful. We got to watch two little bi-babies learn together and eventually come back together as adults. The flow was AMAZING and I honestly think this is my favorite second chance romance ever because it was believable, understandable, and the HEA was genuine.

And I’m once again reminded of why I love this group of friends. Great to see Tyler and Justin again!

[Marie-Pierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer Skin is book 2 in the University District series by Dani Lakely.

I swear I had what we call in French "le motton" this whole time I read this book, from the prologue to the final words. You will ask: But MP... what does "having the motton" mean??? Well my friends, it means that my stomach was in knots and that it felt like something was stuck in my throat from all the FREAKING EMOTIONS. I cried... a lot.

This is exactly how I love my second chance romances: witnessing the first chance, seeing all those butterflies grow, the first looks, the first touches and the first times. And yes, the parting of ways (boy did this one hurt!). I find that by doing this, the second chance makes so much more sense. We know the characters and we understand their feelings and issues. I loved it!

In Summer Skin, Aven and Chase have a little bit of a rivalry when Chase is the new student at Aven's school. Both MCs' interests are similar and Chase will shake Aven's world by just... being everywhere. I adored how the author approched the rivalry, i.e. without making characters as*holes (not too much anyways loo). It was easy to see the confusion and the questionning behind Aven's behaviour toward Chase. The switch from rivals to lovers was also beautiful, where I could feel the hesitation to trust but was totally smitten with the little moments between Aven and Chase.

I loved how the family drama was present but not overshadowing the focus on the relationship. The side characters were AMAZING. The MCs were acting their age, there was fun and swoon, and deep and harder moments. I am totally in love with this story.

Dani Lakely really delivered on an emotion packed romance this time. I will carry these boys in my heart.

[BBB · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book got me out of a huge book slump!
I can’t put it down.
I really liked that it’s not all telling and not showing. I like that we could see how their young love blossomed in high school.
The high school part is so sweet.
There was short-lived rivalry at first, and soon became solid friendships.
There’s mutual pining, which I absolutely love!
And when they finally kiss, I swoon so much!!
Their young love is so sweet and naive. Exactly like what high school first love feels like.

And then come five year heartbreaking separation, which I think is necessary because although sweet, they don’t seem mature and capable enough to maintain their relationship.
The separation to allow them to grow up separately and allow Chase to gain some self-confidence.

I don’t really like the part after they reunited.
I think it’s too lust-driven and too ideal.
They don’t really have any conflict after Aven forgave Chase.
They are together 24/7 and still can’t get enough of each other.
A bit too cheesy for me. I found it kind of unbelievable for adult lovers.
Would’ve been a five-star read for the first half.
A bit dragging around 90%


- no imbalance history
- no power imbalance
- they both hookup with other people during separation. But none when they meet again even when they are not together yet.
- strict top/bottom

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I went into it without reading the blurb at all because I loved Cam Fan so much when I read it last year, I just trusted that whatever story Dani wrote would be lovely and I was absolutely correct.

The love story of Chase & Aven is told in the “then” and “now” style, which is a format I am such a sucker for! And I fully didn’t expect it! I love it so much even though it hurts and we know that mid-way thru we will get a breakup. But I’d much rather have that early so we can then get back to the second chance portion of the story, versus a “standard” romance book with a third act breakup. Anyways I digress.

For the first half of this book both MCs are 18 year old seniors in high school and that is definitely what makes them falling hard and fast even more believable. When you’re that age everything is at 110% all the time and so many life decisions are coming at you, it made total sense to me for Chase to still be questioning himself and not be fully confident that he “belonged” with Aven & their friend group due to his childhood being filled with constant upheaval.

Then we get to the now which happens to be 5 years later and everything about it was so perfect. Despite Aven’s best efforts the pull he felt towards Chase was undeniable. And I found the pacing of this half of the book to be very well balanced.

If you have enjoyed any of Dani’s other books you will definitely love this one and it has the same hallmark romantic & swoony writing style.

And now that the book has released into the world I’m off to read the bonus scene that will probably hurt my feelings 🥹😭

*I received an arc of this book, all opinions are my own*

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young love, old hurt, second chance

I was looking forward to Aven's story after seeing him in the first book and Dani didn't disappoint. He was wonderful and had my heart from the prologue. I felt so sad for Chase and his younger sister, their life before we meet them completely unstable and heartbreaking.
Their story starts in the present with Aven's prologue, then changes to Chase narrating their past, and finally Aven takes up where he left off in the prologue. I wasn't sure about this when I started but it actually worked very well. Chase's POV of their past, his thoughts and feelings, were more important to the story, especially as Dani gave us a complete picture of Aven through his eyes. I knew each boy very well, just from Chase's side of their story. Skip to the present and Aven's voice was the one I needed to hear from.
The only quibble I have is that I expected Chase to make more of an effort to earn Aven's forgiveness.
Chase's insecurities and Aven's hurt kept me turning the pages till stupid-o'clock, happy to reach the epilogue that, at last, gave me the HEA I wanted for them.

[Traci S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really well done second chance romance, I especially enjoyed the time the author spent developing the “before” relationship between Aven and Chase. Those chapters looking back over how they started back in high school were both sweet and poignant, you really get a sense of how close a connection they shared. When Chase shows up suddenly as Aven’s new roommate there’s plenty of tension, Chase wants Aven back but Aven is understandably afraid to give him a second chance. They are frustratingly bad at communicating, which isn’t my favorite - but I loved this couple together. The intensity of their connection was there from the start and the author is able to blend steam and intimacy so well. I’ve not read the first book but the world building is solid and the characters and their relationships feel established, I think the characters are exceptionally well done throughout. This is a new author for me, and I look forward to reading more.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of Aven and Chase

This is a second chance romance, featuring Aven, an aspiring musician and Chase, a rockstar.

Aven and Chase meet in their senior years in high school. They go from rivals to friends to lovers (double bi awakening) and are inseparable. They both have dreams of making music for a living and work on songs together while they try and finish high school.

The night before their graduation something happens and they break up, I’m not going to give spoilers, it’s a second chance romance so we all knew a break up would happen but I will say the lead up to this had my anxiety up because I was getting so sad they were going to break up. They were so in love.

Five years later, Chase comes back into Aven’s life as his new roommate dun dun da. This is well worth the read. There is a lot of love in this book between the characters and I had a few tears reading it, it is really well written.

I hope book three will be another MM (please!)

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes that love that did not work passes through your life and stays in the rear view and sometimes it is not quite done. Aven and Chase were once high school boyfriends who lost touch and there was some heartbreak in there that leads to a not so happy reunion. That is problematic when the one who went away returns only to have to be the roommate of the one left behind. This story is told both with flashbacks and history and in the present with the second chance reunion that brings them back into one another's lives. There is still chemistry, attraction and emotion along with those other emotions that they must reconcile as they work their way to a current HEA. In this story I got attached and felt for both of them - there really are more sides to any story than just one and it is possible to understand more than one. Nicely done.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[bookedwith_sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

I’m not sure how I found this book but wow I’m glad I did. Friends to lovers + second chance romance is my dream book and this one didn’t disappoint.

Aven & Chase started out as “enemies” but quickly turned into friends and then boyfriends. They were so sweet together in high school but something happens (don’t want to spoil anything) and they end up broken up for 5 years. When Chase comes back Aven tries his hardest to resist him but they are like magnets and can’t stay away from each other.

I’m glad they got their HEA in the end and can’t wait to read about the side characters!

- Biawakening
- Enemies to Friends to Lovers
- Roommates
- Second Chance
- Musicians

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

☀️SUMMER SKIN by @danilakelywrites

“Ex rival. First love. Chase Matthews. Here.”

————————————

☀️rivals to lovers
☀️second chance
☀️rockstar MCs
☀️forced proximity
☀️there was only one bed

————————————

🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐5
💧 1
🔥 4

Oh wow. I loved this book, from the first to the last page. Chase and Aven are simply amazing, I loved their little beef and I loved even more how fast they got over it and under each other. Their relationship in high school was so cute, you could clearly feel their love pouring out of the pages. (And Andi. Omg I loved them and I would definitely jump on a book about them!) I love the little snippets of songs throughout the book and I loved all of the musical references (every love song is their song because every love song is made for them, y’all that made me cry😭). If i loved the little rivalry from high school, I was *very* into the angst rivalry of the present. There was so much tension between them, I loved that angsty atmosphere. And when they finally reconnected, they were just as sweet and cute and steamy and hot.

————————————

“Nah, they just wanted to sleep with me. Only one person fell in love.”

[K-Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forced proximity romances are a favorite of mine. This one had the added touch that Aven and Chase were each other's first loves in high school. As High School often goes, they were young, passionate and did not clearly communicate their situation with each other. When they meet again as roommates, they are both a bit bitter and hurting. I was happy we did get to know them in the past when they were young and in love and plenty of angsty but spicy reunited time in the present. Five years was a believable separation time for them to reclaim what they lost with each other. I enjoyed all the other "roommates", so I see some future romances needed!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chase had a vagabond school and home life until finally he went to a school and met Aven. It was a perfect first love and sexual relationship. This is that story told in past remembrances and then the present 5 years after they were not together anymore. It is touching and scary and all the ambiguities of teenage life with all the passion and angst built in. They are fascinated and absorbed in each other until the world changes their lives. Now Aven is bitter and Chase has to win his love back. I loved this tender, angsty, passionate story with all the twists of past actions. I received a copy of this book through Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion.

[Jack Harkness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whack-An-A$shole. Petal. Later, Grrrls.

Oh, good golly goshness! I devoured this. It's just so wonderfully enjoyable and satisfying. *sigh* It's edgy, romantic, witty, and steamy. I fell in love with each character and I want more of them, please! Together, Aven and Chase make lovely music and are adorable.

The scenery and imagery are beautifully and vividly described, as are the characters. Every detail and dialog (inner and outer) is deftly fleshed out and well-written. It all clicks and falls into place to create this marvelous story. I can't say enough good things about this book and recommend it!

[Bridgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book in this series, I really enjoyed the first book so I snatched this one up. The story was good and it was very well written. It is a solid second chance romance; lowish angst, medium heat, good characters and development. I did think it was maybe a little longer than it needed to be, and I wasn't a fan of the whole first half being set in HS but that was just my personal hang up. As I stated it was well written and the author really delved into the characters, Aven and Chase, and their flaws backgrounds etc. I'm still looking forward to seeing what comes next in the series.

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aven and Chase ❤️

4 Stars ⭐️



Let me just say that I am loving this series so far. I adore a good second chance romance and this one had everything that I look for:

✅ Well written characters
✅ Past Hurt
✅ Tension
✅ Spice 🔥
✅ Sweetness

If I had to note any negatives they would be the 3rd person pov, which I usually don't like and the fact that Chase's poor decision barely scratched the surface. I would have like to see a bit more surrounding that mess. With that being said it was still a very good read. I would recommend.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Linda A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of young love, heartache and second chances.
Growing up poor and constantly moving Chase and Brooklyn finally end up at their aunts house, in an affluent area, going to school with the rich kids.
Aven didn't make Chase welcome, but as they get to know each other they become inseparable.
Then Chase leaves and Aven is devastated.
Five years later Chase is back and Aven is determined not to let Chase close enough to break his heart again.

I received this book from GRR
This is my honest review