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Not So Over
What if he’s not the one who got away?
Parker
I knew the minute I broke Marcus’ heart—and my own in the process—that I was making the biggest mistake of my life. But try telling that to the anxious voice in my head, telling me I’m not good enough or how bored he must be with me. I’d give anything for a second chance with him, or at the very least, a chance to apologize. When my best friend’s destination wedding gives her the chance to play ‘match re-maker’ with her brother and me, will he finally listen to what I need to say?
Marcus
One minute, I was looking forward to a future with my soulmate and the next, I was devastated by him ending things with no explanation. He’s tried to call and explain what happened, but I’m not ready to hear. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be ready. Unfortunately, my twin sister is his best friend, so we’re going to be around each other for the next week. A supposed reservation snafu—that has Kendra written all over it—has me forced to share a room and the only bed in it with him. With my plan of ignoring him now impossible, am I finally ready to hear what he has to say?
*Please make sure to check the authors note at the beginning of the book. On-page anxiety attack.
Parker
I knew the minute I broke Marcus’ heart—and my own in the process—that I was making the biggest mistake of my life. But try telling that to the anxious voice in my head, telling me I’m not good enough or how bored he must be with me. I’d give anything for a second chance with him, or at the very least, a chance to apologize. When my best friend’s destination wedding gives her the chance to play ‘match re-maker’ with her brother and me, will he finally listen to what I need to say?
Marcus
One minute, I was looking forward to a future with my soulmate and the next, I was devastated by him ending things with no explanation. He’s tried to call and explain what happened, but I’m not ready to hear. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be ready. Unfortunately, my twin sister is his best friend, so we’re going to be around each other for the next week. A supposed reservation snafu—that has Kendra written all over it—has me forced to share a room and the only bed in it with him. With my plan of ignoring him now impossible, am I finally ready to hear what he has to say?
*Please make sure to check the authors note at the beginning of the book. On-page anxiety attack.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2025
8 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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February 2, 2025
I was ready to hate Parker. 20% in, this was shaping up to be a book where one MC did something horrific to the other and now uses his mental health issues as a cop-out AND a way to evade culpability.
Like sure, I understood WHY he broke up with Marcus and shattered his heart a year before. I did NOT understand why he thought EXPLAINING it meant they'd immediately get back to where they'd left off.
That man was shopping for wedding rings before he got dumped out of the blue, he's ALLOWED to be wary of getting back together with you.
And the whole turning his embarrassment into pique whenever Marcus asked to slow things down was not endearing Parker to me. If you walked away from someone without explanation, you can stand to face a little embarrassment if they don't want to rush into things with you🙄
It's like he thought he placed Marcus down in a corner somewhere like a toy and could just come back and pick him up when the mood struck him and they'd start off in the same spot. Gah.
And I hate that Marcus's own sister (who happens to be Parker's best friend) is always in Parker's ear coddling him and acting like what he did to her brother was okay or a small thing that could easily be brushed aside. That's fucked.
Also, I saw a lot of explanations but I wasn't seeing as many apologies. It's like this bitch just expects Marcus's nervous system to forget the anguish he's caused over the past year AND THAT'S JUST NOT HOW THINGS WORK.
Because why does he have to forgive and forget? That man was blindsided the last time. Literally. No signs. Everything was going well and suddenly he's been dumped.
But now Parker's back like 'oh, my bad, I was dealing with stuff in my head that I never once considered telling you about even though I tell you and everyone else that you're my soulmate and so I dropped you like a hot coal and went ghost but I'm ready to tell you what happened now and also can we be in a relationship again like right now? Because I'm ready and everything revolves around me so what do you mean I'm rushing you, do you not love me, oh my God, fine, be like that, I should have known.'
This is exactly what Parker sounds like btw.
Then this annoying ass man is planning a seduction as a fix. I wanted to hit him on the head so badly, like HOW can you not see that that was never the issue?
'I would deserve it if he rejected me again, but I don’t know if I can handle it.'
I've never prayed more strongly for someone to be rejected by the love of their life than I did for this fuck ass bitch. 💀
Meanwhile this whole time? Marcus is reading up on how to help someone with Parker's specific mental health issue so that when it happens again, he's prepared, even as just a friend.
Like???? Yes. This! This is how you love someone. Not by gaslighting them through quickly saying 'it's fine if you don't want to be with me anymore' just because they pulled away from your touch.
The more I read, the more I fell in love with Marcus as an MC and hated the idea of Parker for him.
I think what maddened me the most was that Marcus wasn't allowed to have feelings about being dumped. Everything had to be about Parker because of his issues and for some reason even Marcus wasn't mad about all this so I left this feeling like I'm on a soapbox for no fucking reason because why am I more butthurt about it than he was?
I really need to stay out of grown folks' business.
Because Marcus is really happy about getting a second shot, so. Anyway Marcus is a really green flag sweetheart. Parker is......well. He loves Marcus. That part is not unclear, even while his navigation of it is wanting. And the apologies finally came through. Let's leave it at that.
I got an ARC of this via GRR.
Like sure, I understood WHY he broke up with Marcus and shattered his heart a year before. I did NOT understand why he thought EXPLAINING it meant they'd immediately get back to where they'd left off.
That man was shopping for wedding rings before he got dumped out of the blue, he's ALLOWED to be wary of getting back together with you.
And the whole turning his embarrassment into pique whenever Marcus asked to slow things down was not endearing Parker to me. If you walked away from someone without explanation, you can stand to face a little embarrassment if they don't want to rush into things with you🙄
It's like he thought he placed Marcus down in a corner somewhere like a toy and could just come back and pick him up when the mood struck him and they'd start off in the same spot. Gah.
And I hate that Marcus's own sister (who happens to be Parker's best friend) is always in Parker's ear coddling him and acting like what he did to her brother was okay or a small thing that could easily be brushed aside. That's fucked.
Also, I saw a lot of explanations but I wasn't seeing as many apologies. It's like this bitch just expects Marcus's nervous system to forget the anguish he's caused over the past year AND THAT'S JUST NOT HOW THINGS WORK.
Because why does he have to forgive and forget? That man was blindsided the last time. Literally. No signs. Everything was going well and suddenly he's been dumped.
But now Parker's back like 'oh, my bad, I was dealing with stuff in my head that I never once considered telling you about even though I tell you and everyone else that you're my soulmate and so I dropped you like a hot coal and went ghost but I'm ready to tell you what happened now and also can we be in a relationship again like right now? Because I'm ready and everything revolves around me so what do you mean I'm rushing you, do you not love me, oh my God, fine, be like that, I should have known.'
This is exactly what Parker sounds like btw.
Then this annoying ass man is planning a seduction as a fix. I wanted to hit him on the head so badly, like HOW can you not see that that was never the issue?
'I would deserve it if he rejected me again, but I don’t know if I can handle it.'
I've never prayed more strongly for someone to be rejected by the love of their life than I did for this fuck ass bitch. 💀
Meanwhile this whole time? Marcus is reading up on how to help someone with Parker's specific mental health issue so that when it happens again, he's prepared, even as just a friend.
Like???? Yes. This! This is how you love someone. Not by gaslighting them through quickly saying 'it's fine if you don't want to be with me anymore' just because they pulled away from your touch.
The more I read, the more I fell in love with Marcus as an MC and hated the idea of Parker for him.
I think what maddened me the most was that Marcus wasn't allowed to have feelings about being dumped. Everything had to be about Parker because of his issues and for some reason even Marcus wasn't mad about all this so I left this feeling like I'm on a soapbox for no fucking reason because why am I more butthurt about it than he was?
I really need to stay out of grown folks' business.
Because Marcus is really happy about getting a second shot, so. Anyway Marcus is a really green flag sweetheart. Parker is......well. He loves Marcus. That part is not unclear, even while his navigation of it is wanting. And the apologies finally came through. Let's leave it at that.
I got an ARC of this via GRR.
February 4, 2025
♡ⒶⓇⒸ ⒷⓄⓄⓀ ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ♡
𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓢𝓸 𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻
𝔹𝕪: 𝔸𝕤𝕙𝕝𝕖𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕪𝕟𝕖
☆☆☆☆
“ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛᴏᴏ ʜᴀʀᴅ.”
Not So Over by Ashley Rayne was such a fast paced read. Once you start reading about Parker and Marcus it was impossible to stop. These two may have become my new favorites from Ashley’s characters. I just love and adore them.
I love how these two reconnected. Ashley wrote about Parker’s anxiety so well. I really connected to his character and all he dealt with.
Marcus-hurt and confused, finally lets Parker tell him what happened and it broke my heart. Marcus was such a great guy about it all and I really love how he handle and help Parker. When Parker’s anxiety hit, Marcus held him up, play his music and was his support. Everyone deserves a Marcus.
Parker’s best friend, who just happen’s to be Marcus’s sister really is the best. I’m glad she forced these two into a force proximity, one bedroom situation. She made them face each other and finally talk everything out.
Thank you Ashley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I love reading for you. I always fall in love with your guys.
𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓢𝓸 𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻
𝔹𝕪: 𝔸𝕤𝕙𝕝𝕖𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕪𝕟𝕖
☆☆☆☆
“ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛᴏᴏ ʜᴀʀᴅ.”
Not So Over by Ashley Rayne was such a fast paced read. Once you start reading about Parker and Marcus it was impossible to stop. These two may have become my new favorites from Ashley’s characters. I just love and adore them.
I love how these two reconnected. Ashley wrote about Parker’s anxiety so well. I really connected to his character and all he dealt with.
Marcus-hurt and confused, finally lets Parker tell him what happened and it broke my heart. Marcus was such a great guy about it all and I really love how he handle and help Parker. When Parker’s anxiety hit, Marcus held him up, play his music and was his support. Everyone deserves a Marcus.
Parker’s best friend, who just happen’s to be Marcus’s sister really is the best. I’m glad she forced these two into a force proximity, one bedroom situation. She made them face each other and finally talk everything out.
Thank you Ashley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I love reading for you. I always fall in love with your guys.
January 15, 2025
We met Marcus in Not So Casual a couple months back and I was intrigued by his situation ever since. This was an adorable second chance romance, best friend's brother, forced proximity book. Make sure to check the trigger warnings on this- anxiety is a large theme in this book. Ashley handled this so well, as a sufferer of anxiety, I felt this was an accurate portrayal. Not all anxiety presents the same but I can for sure say I’ve experienced some of the symptoms mentioned. She handled this with care, did her research and/or pulled from personal experience, I'm not sure which, but I always appreciate when topics like this are portrayed accurately, I feel it’s important. This is a paced, easy read under 200 pages!
*I want to thank Ashley for the opportunity to read and review this book, this is my honest opinion*
*I want to thank Ashley for the opportunity to read and review this book, this is my honest opinion*
January 22, 2025
Parker and Marcus are exes who meet up again in Aruba for Marcus' sister's wedding (Parker's BF). Mysteriously they are stuck sharing a room. Can they rebuild their relationship? In a will they, won't they - attraction builds, longing for their past to become their future, fears, hurt and concerns need to be worked on and forgiven and love needs to conquer all. I love Ashley's books. I received a copy of this and this is my voluntary opinion.
January 30, 2025
Parker and Marcus are former partners. They have each struggled without the other but it’s not until the pair are forced to room together for Marcus’ sisters wedding in Aruba, the pair start to delve into their previous relationship and what they meant to one another.
One of the real strengths of this book is the representation of Parker’s (at times) debilitating anxiety and how this impacts him. It also provides opportunity for Marcus to communicate his care and compassion for Parker, which is evident through the couple knowing each other so well.
This was a gentle story really with the storyline taking its time until about half way. Whilst there was some romance and steam, it did feel comfortable though you could tell the pair was struggling to communicate effectively all the time. A struggle for me was that whilst there was that comfort, I didn’t feel the need or chemistry as much as I have felt in other books in this series but I can’t pinpoint what made me feel this way other than to say I wanted the HeA but I was as invested as I could have been. (As nice as this couple are)
Thank you to Ashley Rayne for sending me a copy of this to read before it’s release.
One of the real strengths of this book is the representation of Parker’s (at times) debilitating anxiety and how this impacts him. It also provides opportunity for Marcus to communicate his care and compassion for Parker, which is evident through the couple knowing each other so well.
This was a gentle story really with the storyline taking its time until about half way. Whilst there was some romance and steam, it did feel comfortable though you could tell the pair was struggling to communicate effectively all the time. A struggle for me was that whilst there was that comfort, I didn’t feel the need or chemistry as much as I have felt in other books in this series but I can’t pinpoint what made me feel this way other than to say I wanted the HeA but I was as invested as I could have been. (As nice as this couple are)
Thank you to Ashley Rayne for sending me a copy of this to read before it’s release.
April 9, 2025
“What happened is in the past. You hurt him and you broke yourself in the process. But sometimes people work through the hurt and they find their way back to one another.”
Not So Over by Ashley Rayne is the second book in the Not So series. It’s the story of Marcus and Parker. We first meet Markus in Not So Casual, he’s Alexander’s best friend. We only have glimpses of him in that book, but something about him grabbed my attention and I wanted for him to have his own book, I wanted to know why was he so sad and what happened in his breakup. Well, I’ve had all my answers in Not So Over.
Marcus and Parker were partners but Parker broke the relationship almost a year before. They haven’t seen or spoken to each other since the breakup. Kendra, Markus twin sister and Parker’s best friend is getting married in Aruba. They will have to spend a week together preparing the wedding and attending it, and they are going to share a room...
Both are still in love with each other, and neither of them are done with the other. You can feel there is a strong emotional connection between them. When Parker explains the reasons why he broke the relationship, Markus is totally supportive with him. I loved his kindness, his compassion, how he takes care of Parker (the guitar OMG), he deals with Parker’s insecurities and encourages him to talk because part of their breakup was lack of communication.
BTW, I loved the flashbacks!!!
TW: anxiety and anxiety attack on page—accurately portrayed by Ashley.
I received an ARC from the author for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
Not So Over by Ashley Rayne is the second book in the Not So series. It’s the story of Marcus and Parker. We first meet Markus in Not So Casual, he’s Alexander’s best friend. We only have glimpses of him in that book, but something about him grabbed my attention and I wanted for him to have his own book, I wanted to know why was he so sad and what happened in his breakup. Well, I’ve had all my answers in Not So Over.
Marcus and Parker were partners but Parker broke the relationship almost a year before. They haven’t seen or spoken to each other since the breakup. Kendra, Markus twin sister and Parker’s best friend is getting married in Aruba. They will have to spend a week together preparing the wedding and attending it, and they are going to share a room...
Both are still in love with each other, and neither of them are done with the other. You can feel there is a strong emotional connection between them. When Parker explains the reasons why he broke the relationship, Markus is totally supportive with him. I loved his kindness, his compassion, how he takes care of Parker (the guitar OMG), he deals with Parker’s insecurities and encourages him to talk because part of their breakup was lack of communication.
BTW, I loved the flashbacks!!!
TW: anxiety and anxiety attack on page—accurately portrayed by Ashley.
I received an ARC from the author for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
February 4, 2025
3.5 stars
Not So Over is book two in the Not So series. This MM second chance romance story is about Parker and Marcus.
Parker is headed to a destination wedding in Aruba. His best friend Kendra is getting married, and he is the man of honor. And although he is excited about this trip, he is also dreading it because he will see his ex boyfriend Marcus, who also happens to be Kendra’s twin brother. To make matters worse, Parker and Marcus discover they were booked the same room at the resort, and now will have to share it. And did I mention there is only one bed?
Parker was the one who broke up with Marcus, and he regretted leaving him with no explanation. When Parker finally gathered the courage to tell him, Marcus was too heartbroken and refused to answer Parker’s calls. Now they will be around each other for a whole week, so we will get to see them try to work things out and move forward.
Marcus finally lets Parker tell him what happened, and he was understanding about it. It was clear Parker and Marcus cared about each other and still had feelings for one another. Although I understood Marcus was hesitant, I did feel he was giving Parker mixed signals. When Parker admitted he wanted to try to have a relationship again, Marcus responded that he wanted to take it slow because he wanted to protect his heart. That made complete sense to me, so it felt off when shortly after things progressed quickly with Parker and Marcus.
We do learn that Parker struggles with anxiety, and I appreciated the way the author handled this sensitive subject. Marcus’s support of Parker was everything.
In the end, I was glad to see Parker and Marcus were able to work through the hurt and find their way back to each other.
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
Not So Over is book two in the Not So series. This MM second chance romance story is about Parker and Marcus.
Parker is headed to a destination wedding in Aruba. His best friend Kendra is getting married, and he is the man of honor. And although he is excited about this trip, he is also dreading it because he will see his ex boyfriend Marcus, who also happens to be Kendra’s twin brother. To make matters worse, Parker and Marcus discover they were booked the same room at the resort, and now will have to share it. And did I mention there is only one bed?
Parker was the one who broke up with Marcus, and he regretted leaving him with no explanation. When Parker finally gathered the courage to tell him, Marcus was too heartbroken and refused to answer Parker’s calls. Now they will be around each other for a whole week, so we will get to see them try to work things out and move forward.
Marcus finally lets Parker tell him what happened, and he was understanding about it. It was clear Parker and Marcus cared about each other and still had feelings for one another. Although I understood Marcus was hesitant, I did feel he was giving Parker mixed signals. When Parker admitted he wanted to try to have a relationship again, Marcus responded that he wanted to take it slow because he wanted to protect his heart. That made complete sense to me, so it felt off when shortly after things progressed quickly with Parker and Marcus.
We do learn that Parker struggles with anxiety, and I appreciated the way the author handled this sensitive subject. Marcus’s support of Parker was everything.
In the end, I was glad to see Parker and Marcus were able to work through the hurt and find their way back to each other.
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
January 17, 2025
Arc read
Parker Olsen is going to Aruba with his best friend Kendra for her wedding to Tim. One week in the island paradise is just what he needs. The only problem, is he will come face to face with his ex boyfriend who also is Kendra's twin brother Marcus.
Marcus Williams will be there for his sister as she marries her husband to be. He checks into his hotel room only to be faced with Parker. Someone has ‘accidentally’ booked them into the same room with one bed.
Parker and Marcus are still in love with each other and a week together could be all it takes to rekindle their love. Marcus and Parker have some issues to work through and find they need to be honest about how they are feeling with each other.
I was given this book to beta read by Ashley Rayne.
I loved the way the story flows and unfolds. The close proximity with the two former lovers is beautiful. It is obvious neither are done with each other and the tension builds, until they have their second chance. I could feel the love and warmth from both main characters radiating through the words in the book. They love each other deeply. Their chemistry is also so wonderful.
I love a second chance trope with a side of best friends brother thrown in.
I knew i would love this book. It was also great to hear from Alexander and Elias again (this time no desks were hurt).
Parker Olsen is going to Aruba with his best friend Kendra for her wedding to Tim. One week in the island paradise is just what he needs. The only problem, is he will come face to face with his ex boyfriend who also is Kendra's twin brother Marcus.
Marcus Williams will be there for his sister as she marries her husband to be. He checks into his hotel room only to be faced with Parker. Someone has ‘accidentally’ booked them into the same room with one bed.
Parker and Marcus are still in love with each other and a week together could be all it takes to rekindle their love. Marcus and Parker have some issues to work through and find they need to be honest about how they are feeling with each other.
I was given this book to beta read by Ashley Rayne.
I loved the way the story flows and unfolds. The close proximity with the two former lovers is beautiful. It is obvious neither are done with each other and the tension builds, until they have their second chance. I could feel the love and warmth from both main characters radiating through the words in the book. They love each other deeply. Their chemistry is also so wonderful.
I love a second chance trope with a side of best friends brother thrown in.
I knew i would love this book. It was also great to hear from Alexander and Elias again (this time no desks were hurt).
February 12, 2025
1st person, present tense, dual PoV
Parker Olsen, realtor
Marcus Williams, advertiser at Mayfield and Sons
Having spent two weeks in Aruba last year I was excited to see the island as the backdrop for this story but with the amount of time these guys spend in their room in general and in the shower specifically there isn't a whole lot of exploring left to be done, which was disappointing.
I'm a hard sell on second chance and this didn't work to sway my opinion of the trope. If it's your groove, definitely give this a whirl, while it wasn't for me, YMMV. For me, the reason I enjoy second chance, when I enjoy it, is I love seeing two characters overcome the impediments that existed previously in order to try again. I love the slow, inevitable, draw of two people learning who each other is again, freeing themselves from the past, and discovering how well they fit together now. That heartache and tension is nowhere to be found in this story.
I loved the delicious set-up, but hated that it was all contrived by Marcus's sister rather than being a genuine accident. Had that been the extent of her meddling I'd have been okay, but it's not and it felt extremely heavy handed, robbing us of seeing the couple come back together more naturally.
I think that's why I didn't love this book, I loved the idea, but the execution felt forced - you can't convince me that after nearly a year apart and months of avoiding calls and conversations that Marcus claps his eyes on Parker for five minutes and suddenly decides it would be fine to share a room and bed with him for the next week. Before they've even had a real conversation.
This peaked way too soon for me and I admit, I got a little bored. At 25-30% they are all but together again, though they were extremely wishy washy about it. By turns, first Marcus then later Parker ask to take things a little slower as they date and try to get back to a place of coupledom (which is a great idea) but it's full speed ahead with these two and it didn't feel like they were working toward building something sustainable. Showing the parallels of how they initially got together through flashbacks (which were sweet) with a similar trajectory in the present day was nicely done. I think those were my favourite bits. I'd have enjoyed a little more introspection though, seeing the cracks and having them discuss how to move forward stronger than before.
I really appreciated Parker's struggle with anxiety and intrusive thoughts, it felt very authentic, but I'm not sure it was integrated well into the narrative. Marcus seemed a little dismissive at times, wanted to brush things off that probably should have been discussed. It's all well and good to declare it all water under the bridge but you can't be an ostrich about these things. That said, I loved how Marcus was trying to do the right things to support Parker. They both needed therapy.
I'm a pretty big believer in HEAs, but one week felt too fast after the hurt they both experienced. I'm a huge fan of smut but this felt a little too much too soon for rebuilding their fragile relationship and at the expense of building a deeper connection. I'd have found it more in keeping with the story if they were just well on their way to their HEA at the end. However, the epilogue was adorable and made the whole book worth it. I like Ashley's writing and look forward to reading her next book.
I was given an ARC and voluntarily wrote an honest review.
Parker Olsen, realtor
Marcus Williams, advertiser at Mayfield and Sons
Having spent two weeks in Aruba last year I was excited to see the island as the backdrop for this story but with the amount of time these guys spend in their room in general and in the shower specifically there isn't a whole lot of exploring left to be done, which was disappointing.
I'm a hard sell on second chance and this didn't work to sway my opinion of the trope. If it's your groove, definitely give this a whirl, while it wasn't for me, YMMV. For me, the reason I enjoy second chance, when I enjoy it, is I love seeing two characters overcome the impediments that existed previously in order to try again. I love the slow, inevitable, draw of two people learning who each other is again, freeing themselves from the past, and discovering how well they fit together now. That heartache and tension is nowhere to be found in this story.
I loved the delicious set-up, but hated that it was all contrived by Marcus's sister rather than being a genuine accident. Had that been the extent of her meddling I'd have been okay, but it's not and it felt extremely heavy handed, robbing us of seeing the couple come back together more naturally.
I think that's why I didn't love this book, I loved the idea, but the execution felt forced - you can't convince me that after nearly a year apart and months of avoiding calls and conversations that Marcus claps his eyes on Parker for five minutes and suddenly decides it would be fine to share a room and bed with him for the next week. Before they've even had a real conversation.
This peaked way too soon for me and I admit, I got a little bored. At 25-30% they are all but together again, though they were extremely wishy washy about it. By turns, first Marcus then later Parker ask to take things a little slower as they date and try to get back to a place of coupledom (which is a great idea) but it's full speed ahead with these two and it didn't feel like they were working toward building something sustainable. Showing the parallels of how they initially got together through flashbacks (which were sweet) with a similar trajectory in the present day was nicely done. I think those were my favourite bits. I'd have enjoyed a little more introspection though, seeing the cracks and having them discuss how to move forward stronger than before.
I really appreciated Parker's struggle with anxiety and intrusive thoughts, it felt very authentic, but I'm not sure it was integrated well into the narrative. Marcus seemed a little dismissive at times, wanted to brush things off that probably should have been discussed. It's all well and good to declare it all water under the bridge but you can't be an ostrich about these things. That said, I loved how Marcus was trying to do the right things to support Parker. They both needed therapy.
I'm a pretty big believer in HEAs, but one week felt too fast after the hurt they both experienced. I'm a huge fan of smut but this felt a little too much too soon for rebuilding their fragile relationship and at the expense of building a deeper connection. I'd have found it more in keeping with the story if they were just well on their way to their HEA at the end. However, the epilogue was adorable and made the whole book worth it. I like Ashley's writing and look forward to reading her next book.
I was given an ARC and voluntarily wrote an honest review.
January 27, 2025
Tooo many options on reading at the moment, so why not read another quick novella? Here's Ashley Rayne's "Not So Over." It's the second book in her Not So series.
["What if he’s not the one who got away?
Parker
I knew the minute I broke Marcus’ heart—and my own in the process—that I was making the biggest mistake of my life. But try telling that to the anxious voice in my head, telling me I’m not good enough or how bored he must be with me. I’d give anything for a second chance with him, or at the very least, a chance to apologize. When my best friend’s destination wedding gives her the chance to play ‘match re-maker’ with her brother and me, will he finally listen to what I need to say?
Marcus
One minute, I was looking forward to a future with my soulmate and the next, I was devastated by him ending things with no explanation. He’s tried to call and explain what happened, but I’m not ready to hear. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be ready. Unfortunately, my twin sister is his best friend, so we’re going to be around each other for the next week. A supposed reservation snafu—that has Kendra written all over it—has me forced to share a room and the only bed in it with him. With my plan of ignoring him now impossible, am I finally ready to hear what he has to say?"]
Another adorable addition to Ashley's collection.
It was equal parts love and pining, heart and heat. It was about second chances and starting over. It was about trusting yourself, your heart, and your soulmate.
In my opinion, it did focus a little too much on the anxiety, but anxiety is a bitch so, who knows what anxiety would make someone do.
Trigger Warnings: on-page anxiety attack and more
#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#notsocasual #notsoover #ashleyrayne #notso #notsoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
["What if he’s not the one who got away?
Parker
I knew the minute I broke Marcus’ heart—and my own in the process—that I was making the biggest mistake of my life. But try telling that to the anxious voice in my head, telling me I’m not good enough or how bored he must be with me. I’d give anything for a second chance with him, or at the very least, a chance to apologize. When my best friend’s destination wedding gives her the chance to play ‘match re-maker’ with her brother and me, will he finally listen to what I need to say?
Marcus
One minute, I was looking forward to a future with my soulmate and the next, I was devastated by him ending things with no explanation. He’s tried to call and explain what happened, but I’m not ready to hear. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be ready. Unfortunately, my twin sister is his best friend, so we’re going to be around each other for the next week. A supposed reservation snafu—that has Kendra written all over it—has me forced to share a room and the only bed in it with him. With my plan of ignoring him now impossible, am I finally ready to hear what he has to say?"]
Another adorable addition to Ashley's collection.
It was equal parts love and pining, heart and heat. It was about second chances and starting over. It was about trusting yourself, your heart, and your soulmate.
In my opinion, it did focus a little too much on the anxiety, but anxiety is a bitch so, who knows what anxiety would make someone do.
Trigger Warnings: on-page anxiety attack and more
#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#notsocasual #notsoover #ashleyrayne #notso #notsoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
February 10, 2025
I’m a bit all over the board on this one. I love the idea, Marcus is an amazing partner, and I felt so bad for Parker. But I also felt like the pacing was a bit off – the first part was a bit rushed and the second part dragged.
Parker is a bit nervous because he’s going to be in the same location as his ex and is hoping that he’ll get the opportunity to explain why he broke up with him. But he’s also nervous that it won’t go the way he hopes. Marcus isn’t open at first to listening but he gets there pretty quickly. (Maybe a little too quickly.) And they spend the week finding their way back together.
I do feel like Marcus was a bit too fast being alright with sharing a room with Parker. I understand that he isn’t over him and I’m guessing he is hoping that this will give him the excuse to get back together. But he says he was devastated and I think he needs a bit more to get to that point. I do appreciate how he takes what Parker tells him and puts the effort into figuring out how he can help. The man straight up does the work to be a good partner and I love it!
So the first part is all the feels and by midway they are pretty much together. After that it is a lot of steam, with a little bit of moving their relationship further along. I’m not against heat in my stories but I think the balance is off. A bit more time needed to be spent on addressing how hurt Marcus was by the way their relationship ended, forgiving Parker, and being comfortable with giving him another chance. To working their way towards each other again.
Pacing issues aside, I did enjoy it. Loved me some Marcus and his happiness made me happy.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Parker is a bit nervous because he’s going to be in the same location as his ex and is hoping that he’ll get the opportunity to explain why he broke up with him. But he’s also nervous that it won’t go the way he hopes. Marcus isn’t open at first to listening but he gets there pretty quickly. (Maybe a little too quickly.) And they spend the week finding their way back together.
I do feel like Marcus was a bit too fast being alright with sharing a room with Parker. I understand that he isn’t over him and I’m guessing he is hoping that this will give him the excuse to get back together. But he says he was devastated and I think he needs a bit more to get to that point. I do appreciate how he takes what Parker tells him and puts the effort into figuring out how he can help. The man straight up does the work to be a good partner and I love it!
So the first part is all the feels and by midway they are pretty much together. After that it is a lot of steam, with a little bit of moving their relationship further along. I’m not against heat in my stories but I think the balance is off. A bit more time needed to be spent on addressing how hurt Marcus was by the way their relationship ended, forgiving Parker, and being comfortable with giving him another chance. To working their way towards each other again.
Pacing issues aside, I did enjoy it. Loved me some Marcus and his happiness made me happy.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
February 9, 2025
Have you ever done something and immediately regretted it?
Parker broke up with the love of his life in a moment of anxiety-induced dread that he was only dragging Marcus down, and almost immediately regretted it. However, Marcus was not interested in hearing any explanation for why the love of his life abruptly dumped him out of nowhere--in fact, he's not interested in seeing Parker at all (and understandably so). So they both have some anxiety/dread/curiosity about an upcoming wedding where they both will be heavily involved (the bride is Marcus's sister and Parker's best friend). Parker is hoping to get his chance to at least explain and get a shot at having Marcus in his life at all. He did not anticipate that he would have to spend the week sharing a room with Marcus.
Overall, this is a good second-chance romance! Parker and Marcus still clearly have a lot of chemistry together, and they've both been in a kind of stasis since they broke up. I really liked the flashbacks that showed moments of their relationship the first time around, as it did add further context to how they ended up here. The setting of the book was beautiful, and Kendra was a great side character.
I do wish we had spent more time with Parker really accepting how much he hurt Marcus and having everyone focus on Marcus's feelings through all of this. While Parker and Kendra know the whole story, Marcus is completely in the dark, so it does feel at times like he's being steamrolled a bit.
One thing that I liked (but not everyone may like) is how Parker's anxiety is handled. It does make him a bit unlikable at times, but as someone who has anxiety, it does not always make you a likable person. Getting stuck in a thought spiral about something sucks for the person going through it, but it also makes that person somewhat self-centered at times and also can cause them to unintentionally (or sometimes intentionally) hurt others. It made him relatable to me, even if sometimes I wanted to shake him.
Marcus is honestly pretty perfect. The only real thing he arguably did wrong was refuse to hear Parker out before this wedding, but honestly he is kind of a saint about all of this. I personally would have required more groveling and time hanging out before I jumped back into things. However, happily most fictional characters are not me, so I am fine with how he chose to handle things.
This was a cute second-chance romance, and I am really enjoying discovering this author!
CW: sexual content, anxiety, anxiety attack
Parker broke up with the love of his life in a moment of anxiety-induced dread that he was only dragging Marcus down, and almost immediately regretted it. However, Marcus was not interested in hearing any explanation for why the love of his life abruptly dumped him out of nowhere--in fact, he's not interested in seeing Parker at all (and understandably so). So they both have some anxiety/dread/curiosity about an upcoming wedding where they both will be heavily involved (the bride is Marcus's sister and Parker's best friend). Parker is hoping to get his chance to at least explain and get a shot at having Marcus in his life at all. He did not anticipate that he would have to spend the week sharing a room with Marcus.
Overall, this is a good second-chance romance! Parker and Marcus still clearly have a lot of chemistry together, and they've both been in a kind of stasis since they broke up. I really liked the flashbacks that showed moments of their relationship the first time around, as it did add further context to how they ended up here. The setting of the book was beautiful, and Kendra was a great side character.
I do wish we had spent more time with Parker really accepting how much he hurt Marcus and having everyone focus on Marcus's feelings through all of this. While Parker and Kendra know the whole story, Marcus is completely in the dark, so it does feel at times like he's being steamrolled a bit.
One thing that I liked (but not everyone may like) is how Parker's anxiety is handled. It does make him a bit unlikable at times, but as someone who has anxiety, it does not always make you a likable person. Getting stuck in a thought spiral about something sucks for the person going through it, but it also makes that person somewhat self-centered at times and also can cause them to unintentionally (or sometimes intentionally) hurt others. It made him relatable to me, even if sometimes I wanted to shake him.
Marcus is honestly pretty perfect. The only real thing he arguably did wrong was refuse to hear Parker out before this wedding, but honestly he is kind of a saint about all of this. I personally would have required more groveling and time hanging out before I jumped back into things. However, happily most fictional characters are not me, so I am fine with how he chose to handle things.
This was a cute second-chance romance, and I am really enjoying discovering this author!
CW: sexual content, anxiety, anxiety attack
February 10, 2025
Spoilers
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First of all I loved the previous book a lot and her other books as well and just as I suspected it was another 5 star read for me. Parker dealing with anxiety stops his happily ever after with Marcus and he has to be with him for his best friends wedding. They share a room which I thought was genius to have them in a room so they are forced to talk and be ok with being around each other again. Marcus never knew why Parker ended things till Parker tells him the reason and they get a second chance talk things out. The part that got me was Parker having a panic attack and Marcus shows up to help him I literally cried for them both. It was a look into the world of people that have anxiety and how they deal with it. Some people don't have anyone to help or will let anyone help. But Parker let him help and was better because of Marcus who could have left but he stayed and helped the man he loves. Vacation to Florida flashback was everything and a touch of what they were like together before they ended things which was steamy and adorable. Not many couples get a second chance or want a second chance. But Parker and Marcus are not like that they both never wanted anyone else and still wanted to be with the other. I thought it was cute and steamy but the perfect amount of steamy stuff. Again I will always recommend Ashley and her books.
This quote was everything I felt so much just reading this.
Parker has the power to destroy me. He did it once and he could easily do it again.
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First of all I loved the previous book a lot and her other books as well and just as I suspected it was another 5 star read for me. Parker dealing with anxiety stops his happily ever after with Marcus and he has to be with him for his best friends wedding. They share a room which I thought was genius to have them in a room so they are forced to talk and be ok with being around each other again. Marcus never knew why Parker ended things till Parker tells him the reason and they get a second chance talk things out. The part that got me was Parker having a panic attack and Marcus shows up to help him I literally cried for them both. It was a look into the world of people that have anxiety and how they deal with it. Some people don't have anyone to help or will let anyone help. But Parker let him help and was better because of Marcus who could have left but he stayed and helped the man he loves. Vacation to Florida flashback was everything and a touch of what they were like together before they ended things which was steamy and adorable. Not many couples get a second chance or want a second chance. But Parker and Marcus are not like that they both never wanted anyone else and still wanted to be with the other. I thought it was cute and steamy but the perfect amount of steamy stuff. Again I will always recommend Ashley and her books.
This quote was everything I felt so much just reading this.
Parker has the power to destroy me. He did it once and he could easily do it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2025
**********Contains Spoilers**********
I’m new to Ashley Rayne’s work, as I’ve only read her Vexing the Viper which was part of the multi-authored Creepin U Series. I really enjoyed this book. This is the first book that I’ve read in the Not So Series and I’m definitely going to Not So Casual after I’ve finished this book. I’m glad that Marcus and Parker got their second chance at happiness. Parker finally got to explain to Marcus the reason he broke up with him, as he had undiagnosed anxiety and the negative thoughts in his head became too much, and he believed that it would be easier to leave before Marcus ended up doing the honours, as he believed that Marcus had fallen out of love with him.
I’m glad that Marcus’s twin sister/Parker’s best friend decided to meddle and booked them a room together in Aruba for her destination wedding in Aruba, even though they hadn’t spoken since they broke up but she knew the real reason why Parker left and that they both still had feelings for each other, so they actually got a chance to clear the air. I thought they were great together. I’m looking forward to reading more books from this series, as well as more books from Ashley in the future. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to everyone.
******I received a complimentary copy of this book through GRR. I would still happily review this book even if I purchased it myself. My thoughts and feelings about this book are completely unbiased******
I’m new to Ashley Rayne’s work, as I’ve only read her Vexing the Viper which was part of the multi-authored Creepin U Series. I really enjoyed this book. This is the first book that I’ve read in the Not So Series and I’m definitely going to Not So Casual after I’ve finished this book. I’m glad that Marcus and Parker got their second chance at happiness. Parker finally got to explain to Marcus the reason he broke up with him, as he had undiagnosed anxiety and the negative thoughts in his head became too much, and he believed that it would be easier to leave before Marcus ended up doing the honours, as he believed that Marcus had fallen out of love with him.
I’m glad that Marcus’s twin sister/Parker’s best friend decided to meddle and booked them a room together in Aruba for her destination wedding in Aruba, even though they hadn’t spoken since they broke up but she knew the real reason why Parker left and that they both still had feelings for each other, so they actually got a chance to clear the air. I thought they were great together. I’m looking forward to reading more books from this series, as well as more books from Ashley in the future. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to everyone.
******I received a complimentary copy of this book through GRR. I would still happily review this book even if I purchased it myself. My thoughts and feelings about this book are completely unbiased******
February 9, 2025
I read Not So Casual last year after winning it in a giveaway, so I jumped at the chance to ARC Not So Over after being super curious about how Marcus and Parker broke up. Marcus was equally cut up over it and tight-lipped, so I had to know the details. But this genuinely works well as a standalone.
I have an anxiety disorder, so this book hit differently. I called it long before Parker “confessed” because I’m very aware of anxiety and neurodivergent rep. That said, I’m also a people pleaser (interesting combination, I assure you), so some of the ways Parker approached things were very different from what I expected. Anxiety is different for everyone, though.
Marcus’s sister, Kendra, is really meddlesome. But I thoroughly enjoyed her “I’m drinking all the things!” wedding levity to get Parker relaxed enough to open up. Of course, things progressed really quickly from there. I admire how they first attempted to reconcile the friendship they began with. I ain’t friends with any of my exes, but good for them lol. And yay, Alexander and Elias showed up still as cute as ever!
One quote really stood out to me as the perfect depiction of my anxiety experience: “Once I could put a name to it, I felt a lot better.” Whew. A word. Also, I really want to hang out with some flamingos now.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews (my favorite review site at this point) and this is my honest review. I would have read it regardless, though. 4.25 stars.
I have an anxiety disorder, so this book hit differently. I called it long before Parker “confessed” because I’m very aware of anxiety and neurodivergent rep. That said, I’m also a people pleaser (interesting combination, I assure you), so some of the ways Parker approached things were very different from what I expected. Anxiety is different for everyone, though.
Marcus’s sister, Kendra, is really meddlesome. But I thoroughly enjoyed her “I’m drinking all the things!” wedding levity to get Parker relaxed enough to open up. Of course, things progressed really quickly from there. I admire how they first attempted to reconcile the friendship they began with. I ain’t friends with any of my exes, but good for them lol. And yay, Alexander and Elias showed up still as cute as ever!
One quote really stood out to me as the perfect depiction of my anxiety experience: “Once I could put a name to it, I felt a lot better.” Whew. A word. Also, I really want to hang out with some flamingos now.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews (my favorite review site at this point) and this is my honest review. I would have read it regardless, though. 4.25 stars.
January 15, 2025
Not So Over is second chance + best friend’s brother + forced proximity + one bed romance featuring former couple, Marcus and Parker. At the book’s start, the pair have been separated for a year, but the wedding of Marcus’s sister (also Parker’s bestie) throws them together again. Through some sly maneuvers by the bestie, the two end up sharing a room…and a bed.
The story is a pretty quick read at under 200 pages. It did feel a bit slow at times, and the story doesn’t really focus solely on the couple until around half way through. That said, the interaction between the two was soft and comforting. The communication was healthy and both characters were understanding of each other. Ashley did a great job describing Parker’s extreme anxiety. As someone who suffers from panic attacks, it was refreshing to see it portrayed so well in writing. I loved the way Marcus was so willing to be the support that Parker needed. The way he responded really strengthened that image of them as a couple who deserved a second chance to become an even stronger couple. While there was definitely some heat to the book, I feel like the focus was more on the emotional connection, and that was done very well.
It was also great seeing a glimpse of Alexander and Elias. I look forward to reader whatever this author writes next.
January 16, 2025
“What happened is in the past. Sometimes people work through the hurt and they find their way back to one another.”
For a short quick novella this sure did pack a punch and a good one at that.
If you had a second chance at the one you let go would you take it or would you pass it by?
Parker & Marcus’s story is what second chances is all about.
Parker stepped away from the man he loves because of doubts. Leaving questions unanswered and two broken hearts in the aftermath.
Marcus never thought he would lose the man he planned to spend the rest of his life with when out of the blue with no explanation, he did.
Ashley did Parker’s struggles justice in every way that you can on this subject. Not everyone goes through it the same or copes the same but the way it was described and explained made me very happy to see.
Once Marcus gets the full picture of what happened and continues to happen he realizes that he can’t let him go again, no matter what.
Of course there are the happier lighter aspects of their story too and tropes we all love.
Best friends brother ✔️
One Bed ✔️
Touch of dirty talk ✔️
Hurt/Comfort ✔️
And more..
Definitely one I am glad I read. It was a nice fast paced, quick read that I finished in one sitting.
Ashley never fails to grab you into a story and leave you smiling at the end.
For a short quick novella this sure did pack a punch and a good one at that.
If you had a second chance at the one you let go would you take it or would you pass it by?
Parker & Marcus’s story is what second chances is all about.
Parker stepped away from the man he loves because of doubts. Leaving questions unanswered and two broken hearts in the aftermath.
Marcus never thought he would lose the man he planned to spend the rest of his life with when out of the blue with no explanation, he did.
Ashley did Parker’s struggles justice in every way that you can on this subject. Not everyone goes through it the same or copes the same but the way it was described and explained made me very happy to see.
Once Marcus gets the full picture of what happened and continues to happen he realizes that he can’t let him go again, no matter what.
Of course there are the happier lighter aspects of their story too and tropes we all love.
Best friends brother ✔️
One Bed ✔️
Touch of dirty talk ✔️
Hurt/Comfort ✔️
And more..
Definitely one I am glad I read. It was a nice fast paced, quick read that I finished in one sitting.
Ashley never fails to grab you into a story and leave you smiling at the end.
February 4, 2025
This is a quick, easy second chance romance. Parker and Marcus are meant to be together. They are the perfect match, if only Parker's anxiety hadn't gotten in the way.
The best part of this story is the representation of someone with severe anxiety. Parker doesn't even realize what it is that he's feeling at first, not until it's too late and he's already walked away from Marcus without an explanation.
I wouldn't really consider this an enemies-to-lovers story because they still love each other, even though Marcus is definitely angry. That is all resolved really fast, like in the first 30% of the book. The rest of the story is them getting to know each other again and figure out how to move forward.
It's a low angst story because they reconcile so very fast, which was a little disappointing for me. There isn't much tension after the initial first quarter of the story. I felt like Marcus was a little too perfect. Once Parker explained what had happened between them, he was immediately forgiving and all on board trying again. That didn't seem realistic.
The writing style is pretty simple and I did think it could have used a thorough edit, if for nothing else than to eliminate some of the overused phrases.
Bottom line: Both MCs are likeable and it was a short read that is perfect for an afternoon when you need a little escape.
The best part of this story is the representation of someone with severe anxiety. Parker doesn't even realize what it is that he's feeling at first, not until it's too late and he's already walked away from Marcus without an explanation.
I wouldn't really consider this an enemies-to-lovers story because they still love each other, even though Marcus is definitely angry. That is all resolved really fast, like in the first 30% of the book. The rest of the story is them getting to know each other again and figure out how to move forward.
It's a low angst story because they reconcile so very fast, which was a little disappointing for me. There isn't much tension after the initial first quarter of the story. I felt like Marcus was a little too perfect. Once Parker explained what had happened between them, he was immediately forgiving and all on board trying again. That didn't seem realistic.
The writing style is pretty simple and I did think it could have used a thorough edit, if for nothing else than to eliminate some of the overused phrases.
Bottom line: Both MCs are likeable and it was a short read that is perfect for an afternoon when you need a little escape.
February 10, 2025
Second chance romances, especially when both parties were still desperately in love with the other—even a year after breaking up—are sometimes hard to read, especially when the breakup was caused by one of the MCs mental health.
In this forced proximity/only one bed, best friend’s brother story, it was thanks to the meddling of one best friend and twin sister that we got our hard fought HEA though I think that our MMCs would probably have found their way back to each other in time.
I can only imagine what it’s like to have recurring panic attacks…how your own thoughts can work against you… With no experience of my own to draw from and only what I’ve read or heard, the author’s description seems pretty spot on as well as all too heartbreakingly real. Reading Parker’s experiences with his anxiety and his almost self hatred for allowing it to come between him and Marcus almost broke my heart, I wanted to just wrap him up in the biggest hug and not allow anything to hurt him ever again. Thankfully though, he had people in his life that could do that for him.
If second chance, forced proximity, only one bed, best friend’s brother romance is your weakness, I highly recommend this one, you’re really gonna love it! 4 stars!
I received a copy of this book for free and this is my honest opinion.
In this forced proximity/only one bed, best friend’s brother story, it was thanks to the meddling of one best friend and twin sister that we got our hard fought HEA though I think that our MMCs would probably have found their way back to each other in time.
I can only imagine what it’s like to have recurring panic attacks…how your own thoughts can work against you… With no experience of my own to draw from and only what I’ve read or heard, the author’s description seems pretty spot on as well as all too heartbreakingly real. Reading Parker’s experiences with his anxiety and his almost self hatred for allowing it to come between him and Marcus almost broke my heart, I wanted to just wrap him up in the biggest hug and not allow anything to hurt him ever again. Thankfully though, he had people in his life that could do that for him.
If second chance, forced proximity, only one bed, best friend’s brother romance is your weakness, I highly recommend this one, you’re really gonna love it! 4 stars!
I received a copy of this book for free and this is my honest opinion.
January 28, 2025
Parker is headed to a destination wedding with his best friend, who also happens to be the bride and sister of his ex-boyfriend Marcus. Breaking up with Marcus was his biggest regret. When Parker called Marcus to explain why he broke up with him, Marcus never returned his calls. Now that the two of them are headed to the same wedding together, and it's the perfect time to apologize. Except the bride has plans over her own. Plans like putting them together in one room, with one bed for an entire week together.
No So Over is a sweet second chance love story about two exes who are forced to share a room and bed during a week of wedding festivities. Parker finally gets to admit to Marcus his reason for breaking up with him so suddenly, and it was bigger than Marcus thought. These two men never stopped loving or caring about each other. Watching them reconnect and build their relationship again was so beautiful. Ashley did a great job with anxiety representation in Parker's character and with how Marcus was such a great partner to help Parker through his panic attacks. I read this novella in one sitting it was just so good.
No So Over is a sweet second chance love story about two exes who are forced to share a room and bed during a week of wedding festivities. Parker finally gets to admit to Marcus his reason for breaking up with him so suddenly, and it was bigger than Marcus thought. These two men never stopped loving or caring about each other. Watching them reconnect and build their relationship again was so beautiful. Ashley did a great job with anxiety representation in Parker's character and with how Marcus was such a great partner to help Parker through his panic attacks. I read this novella in one sitting it was just so good.
February 7, 2025
Didn't work at all for me
I enjoyed Not So Casual, starring Marcus' best friend, and was looking forward to finding out about Marcus' lost love. Unfortunately, I wasn't invested in either man, nor their reunion.
Parker suddenly ended their relationship without explanation, leaving Marcus was hurt, bewildered and lost. Now Parker regrets what he did and wants to apologise and explain. Marcus isn't sure he's ready or able to forgive and forget, even though he still loves Parker.
I didn't like Marcus' sister meddling and I wasn't keen on the amount of sex they had even though they hadn't commited to being together again. It just didn't ring true, nor seem like the right thing to do in the circumstances. Marcus was the one making all the concessions while Parker just tied himself in knots due to his anxiety, despite Marcus doing everything he wanted. I know anxiety and panic attacks can't be completely eradicated, even with the treatment and therapy Parker was having, but it got a little wearing.
I'm glad they sorted themselves out and got their HEA but by that stage, I wasn't invested at all.
Oh, and why wasn't Alexander, Marcus' best friend, even mentioned in the epilogue?
I enjoyed Not So Casual, starring Marcus' best friend, and was looking forward to finding out about Marcus' lost love. Unfortunately, I wasn't invested in either man, nor their reunion.
Parker suddenly ended their relationship without explanation, leaving Marcus was hurt, bewildered and lost. Now Parker regrets what he did and wants to apologise and explain. Marcus isn't sure he's ready or able to forgive and forget, even though he still loves Parker.
I didn't like Marcus' sister meddling and I wasn't keen on the amount of sex they had even though they hadn't commited to being together again. It just didn't ring true, nor seem like the right thing to do in the circumstances. Marcus was the one making all the concessions while Parker just tied himself in knots due to his anxiety, despite Marcus doing everything he wanted. I know anxiety and panic attacks can't be completely eradicated, even with the treatment and therapy Parker was having, but it got a little wearing.
I'm glad they sorted themselves out and got their HEA but by that stage, I wasn't invested at all.
Oh, and why wasn't Alexander, Marcus' best friend, even mentioned in the epilogue?
January 27, 2025
Lovely second chance romance!
📚ARC Review…Not So Over by Ashley Rayne
💙 Second Chance
💙 Low angst
💙 Spicy
💙 Anxiety rep
💙 Forced Proximity
💙 Single Bed
What an enjoyable read. As someone who has a loved one with anxiety, Parker’s feelings were so relatable in how he knows his thoughts are intrusive and do not make sense and most likely are not real, but it doesn’t matter. Anxiety does not make sense. It just is. And it forces him to do something he does not really want to do. It was so heartbreaking!
Marcus is amazing. When all is explained, he becomes so supportive, devoted to always supporting Parker when the thoughts become overwhelming. He truly understands that this is something that will never go away and always be a part of who Parker is and the way he dives in head first? Swoon.
Their journey of healing and understanding as they make their way back to each other was so sweet! I loved their stated out loud commitment to never give up on their relationship and to always fight for each other.
📚ARC Review…Not So Over by Ashley Rayne
💙 Second Chance
💙 Low angst
💙 Spicy
💙 Anxiety rep
💙 Forced Proximity
💙 Single Bed
What an enjoyable read. As someone who has a loved one with anxiety, Parker’s feelings were so relatable in how he knows his thoughts are intrusive and do not make sense and most likely are not real, but it doesn’t matter. Anxiety does not make sense. It just is. And it forces him to do something he does not really want to do. It was so heartbreaking!
Marcus is amazing. When all is explained, he becomes so supportive, devoted to always supporting Parker when the thoughts become overwhelming. He truly understands that this is something that will never go away and always be a part of who Parker is and the way he dives in head first? Swoon.
Their journey of healing and understanding as they make their way back to each other was so sweet! I loved their stated out loud commitment to never give up on their relationship and to always fight for each other.
February 13, 2025
This was okay.
I’m not a fan of Parker. You don’t just blindside your boyfriend the way he did Marcus. Broke up with him out of nowhere, now tried to blame his decision on his mental health.
I don’t like when people use their mental health as excuses to comp out of a situation, especially to avoid consequences. How are you in a relationship but you can’t even communicate with your partner? Okay you found out you had anxiety. What stopped you from sitting down with your partner and having a conversation with him? Instead you choose to break up with him out of the blue, the expect him to just welcome you with open arms because oh, you explained to him that it was your anxiety that caused it?
Marcus is not a toy. He has feelings too and his feelings were hurt. You can’t just expect him to jump back into a relationship with him. I love that Marcus was wary and wanted to take things slow.
Do I think Parker deserves the happy ending he got? Nope. But Marcus deserved to be happy.
*I received an Arc of this via GRR*
I’m not a fan of Parker. You don’t just blindside your boyfriend the way he did Marcus. Broke up with him out of nowhere, now tried to blame his decision on his mental health.
I don’t like when people use their mental health as excuses to comp out of a situation, especially to avoid consequences. How are you in a relationship but you can’t even communicate with your partner? Okay you found out you had anxiety. What stopped you from sitting down with your partner and having a conversation with him? Instead you choose to break up with him out of the blue, the expect him to just welcome you with open arms because oh, you explained to him that it was your anxiety that caused it?
Marcus is not a toy. He has feelings too and his feelings were hurt. You can’t just expect him to jump back into a relationship with him. I love that Marcus was wary and wanted to take things slow.
Do I think Parker deserves the happy ending he got? Nope. But Marcus deserved to be happy.
*I received an Arc of this via GRR*
February 15, 2025
I have to admit, I wasn’t sold on Parker from the beginning.
The guy breaks Marcus’s heart out of nowhere, then just expects everything to magically pick back up when he decides he’s ready to try again. Excuse me? He’s not some toy you misplaced.
Marcus has every right to be wary after being blindsided, and Parker’s whole “explanation without an apology” attitude pissed me off. The worst part was how Marcus’s sister, who’s also Parker’s best friend, just kept excusing his behavior, acting like what he did to her brother wasn’t a big deal.
It felt so unfair that Parker got all this sympathy while Marcus was left to pick up the pieces of his broken heart. Honestly, I was way more invested in Marcus’s journey of healing than in Parker’s attempts to win him back. In the end, I wanted Marcus to end up with someone who deserved him—someone worthy of him. I also wanted Marcus to distance himself from his sister for the role she played in this.
Overall, 3/5 stars.
ARC provided by GRR, and I have given my voluntary review.
The guy breaks Marcus’s heart out of nowhere, then just expects everything to magically pick back up when he decides he’s ready to try again. Excuse me? He’s not some toy you misplaced.
Marcus has every right to be wary after being blindsided, and Parker’s whole “explanation without an apology” attitude pissed me off. The worst part was how Marcus’s sister, who’s also Parker’s best friend, just kept excusing his behavior, acting like what he did to her brother wasn’t a big deal.
It felt so unfair that Parker got all this sympathy while Marcus was left to pick up the pieces of his broken heart. Honestly, I was way more invested in Marcus’s journey of healing than in Parker’s attempts to win him back. In the end, I wanted Marcus to end up with someone who deserved him—someone worthy of him. I also wanted Marcus to distance himself from his sister for the role she played in this.
Overall, 3/5 stars.
ARC provided by GRR, and I have given my voluntary review.
January 29, 2025
Few books move me like this one. I fell and I fell hard for Parker and Marcus. Two former partners till Parker's anxiety got the best of him and he dropped Marcus with no explanation. Marcus still bears that pain and has not interest in Parker's trying to apologize. However, the two are thrown back together at a wedding (seems Kendra is getting married and she is Marcus twin sister and Parker's best friend) and when I saw thrown I mean one hotel room with one bed. Of course as these two never stopped loving one another you know they will find their way back to one another. And that is the beauty of this sweet, short, fantastic read. I love the realism of how Parker's anxiety is written and love that this book reminds us love wins and second chances are possible. Also a warning be prepared to shed a tear or two, a tear of happiness as they find their way back to one another. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.
February 11, 2025
It is hard when anxiety works against Parker and keeps him from believing that he can be happy with Marcus. He just cannot hang in there so he breaks up with Marcus and does not explain what drove him to do that. And immediately regrets it. But Marcus is hurt and does not want to hear from Parker when he reaches out. They get a shot at their second chance courtesy of Marcus' sister who is Parker's bestie. She uses their attendance at her wedding as an opportunity to room them together giving them the forced proximity that will allow them time to sort things out. I felt for Parker and the work he has done to try to struggle with managing his anxiety. And really appreciated Marcus who once he finds out is lovely to Parker. And Kendra, Marcus's sister, who does not overstep but gives them space to work it out themselves without her doing too much.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 27, 2025
black bracelet, cat-in-a-witch hat, queso & chips, rose petals, sky blue bow tie, smiling pumpkin joggers, lap dance
Anxiety ridden Parker wants nothing more than getting back into his relationship with Marcus. One year ago, Parker left Marcus during one his spiraling thoughts and anxiety attacks. Parker quickly realizes he made a huge mistake. Marcus and Parker are each other's "the one". Of course, Marcus is deeply hurt not knowing the reason for the breakup. Parker and Kendra, Marcus's twin sister, are each other's BFF. Kendra is getting married in Aruba and Parker is her "maid of honor". Kendra has a scheme to get the two men back together. The steam level is high.
It's a feel good story that's enjoyable and satisfying. Only wonderful characters are in the story. There's no bad guy at all. Recommended!
Anxiety ridden Parker wants nothing more than getting back into his relationship with Marcus. One year ago, Parker left Marcus during one his spiraling thoughts and anxiety attacks. Parker quickly realizes he made a huge mistake. Marcus and Parker are each other's "the one". Of course, Marcus is deeply hurt not knowing the reason for the breakup. Parker and Kendra, Marcus's twin sister, are each other's BFF. Kendra is getting married in Aruba and Parker is her "maid of honor". Kendra has a scheme to get the two men back together. The steam level is high.
It's a feel good story that's enjoyable and satisfying. Only wonderful characters are in the story. There's no bad guy at all. Recommended!
January 31, 2025
The way I raced through this book! I couldn’t get enough! I truly loved every second of it! So funny, sweet and heartwarming. 💙
I loved Marcus and Parker. The teasing and flirting was so good and fun 😏😍 they had such explosive chemistry and the love and care they showed each other🥺 Marcus having endless amounts of patience and understanding towards Parker🥺🩵 so beautiful!
Parker was such a sweet soul too. I just loved those two together! 🥰 and don’t get me started on the guitar! You’re not ready! 😢💙
The anxiety representation was so well done. 👏🏻 I felt very seen🥺
A beautiful book, with fun characters, sweet and spicy moments and all the feels 🩷
So if you like forced proximity, only one bed, pining, lacy underwear and second chance, low angst romances, then this ones for you! 😍
Oh and that epilogue! 🥺
I loved Marcus and Parker. The teasing and flirting was so good and fun 😏😍 they had such explosive chemistry and the love and care they showed each other🥺 Marcus having endless amounts of patience and understanding towards Parker🥺🩵 so beautiful!
Parker was such a sweet soul too. I just loved those two together! 🥰 and don’t get me started on the guitar! You’re not ready! 😢💙
The anxiety representation was so well done. 👏🏻 I felt very seen🥺
A beautiful book, with fun characters, sweet and spicy moments and all the feels 🩷
So if you like forced proximity, only one bed, pining, lacy underwear and second chance, low angst romances, then this ones for you! 😍
Oh and that epilogue! 🥺
February 2, 2025
Not So Over by Ashley Rayne is book 2 in the Not So series. Parker and Marcus are exes who are still in love with each other. Parker broke up with Marcus when he was in the depths of an anxiety attack/spiral. After the breakup, he is diagnosed and begins therapy and medicine. However, he is convinced that he has lost the love of his life forever. His best friend, Kendra (Marcus’ twin sister) is getting married and the two come face to face after a year separated. I did love these two but Marcus was so hot and cold. He wanted to be there to protect Parker and support him, but was not willing to put himself out there. I don’t know. There was just something missing for me. I do love a second chance but this one was just okay.
I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review
I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review
April 22, 2025
Parker regrets breaking Marcus’ heart, haunted by self-doubt and longing for a second chance. When a destination wedding throws them together, Parker hopes to finally make things right. Marcus, still wounded from their sudden breakup, has avoided hearing Parker’s explanation—until a suspiciously convenient reservation mix-up forces them to share a room. As proximity reignites emotions, Marcus must decide whether he’s ready to listen, and Parker must prove that their love was never meant to slip away.
I loved this story with the two men who were meant to be together and the reason for their sudden breakup. I loved the sensitive way that anxiety was handled and explained to the readers. There were a lot of emotions and feelings which were all easy to feel and understand. At a basic level this was a story about love. This was an MM story with mature content.
I loved this story with the two men who were meant to be together and the reason for their sudden breakup. I loved the sensitive way that anxiety was handled and explained to the readers. There were a lot of emotions and feelings which were all easy to feel and understand. At a basic level this was a story about love. This was an MM story with mature content.
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