Appearances

by TH Forest

Matt is a former US Navy SEAL, turned successful CEO of a cyber-security company that he started with the help of his best friend, Finn. Every hour of every day is regimented as tightly as his carefully crafted façade. He has a girlfriend, a sweet condo in the North End of Boston, and a growing emptiness he continues to ignore.
Ollie is a grad student at Oxford and when he’s not studying, he divides his time between playing football and hanging out with his mates. When he meets Finn, an American getting her PhD in ancient languages, Ollie has no idea just how life-changing their friendship will become.
Finn introduces Ollie to Matt one summer night at a pub near campus and both men are leveled. Ollie takes one look at the broody, dark-haired god, with the deep, gravelly voice and is smitten. While Matt, so busy building his empire from inside his closet, is wholly unprepared for the effect Ollie (with his golden hair and beautiful smile) has on him.
It becomes a dance of cat and mouse, intensifying each time Matt comes to stay with Finn so he can stare at Ollie. Their first kiss is the stuff dreams are made of, because their love is destined by the gods.

Appearances is a moderate-angst, MM romance, HEA with mild content warnings for an instance of consensual sexual violence and a morally grey MC. Check content warnings on author website.

Genres: M M Romance

412 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2024

About the author

I write heartfelt queer romance and coming of age stories. I have been an avid reader since age 4 and am currently obsessed with MM Romance :-) Book 3 of my Matt & Ollie series was released in April, and the book that started it all, Descendants of the Gods, the very first book I wrote, will be released later this year!

Reviews

[Sasha Avice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the initial meet between these two MCs—Matt and Ollie. Those first few scenes, occurring over a few weeks or months, were so on point with the obsessive (and unwanted) attraction Matt had for Ollie, while Ollie is just so suave; he’s earnest yet clever and charming. The scene at the urinal was perfection. As the book progresses, Matt becomes a really problematic guy. I mean, he’s flying more red flags than you’ll see at a Sydney Swans football game. It’s a compulsive reading experience because you’re just waiting for Ollie to find out how deranged he is and bring him to his knees, to deliver us from Matt with some sweet payback. I needed more from Ollie on that front, but I think Forest is setting us up to get it in later books. Five stars for Matt being one of the most unlikable, red-flag-waving MCs I’ve ever read and still managing to be a romantic hero.

[Vanessa Hernandez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the spice, that’s probably why I kept going.
Honestly, this book pissed me off.
I loved them then I hated them.

Matt because of everything
And Ollie because he just kept accepting it.

It was like Ollie was Matt’s punching bag and he kept going and going.

I didn’t even want to finish it.
But I can’t leave it unfinished.. so i literally just skipped to the end.

[Manic killer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating~ 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice~ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Wow.

So, I have a lot to say but if I start I’ll just end up on a rant/rambling like I did on tiktok.

Let me start by saying, I really enjoyed this book. Aside from the fact that it was so well written, it was a story that just had you glued and kept you reading and wanting to know more. Now, that’s not to say I wasn’t pissed 89% of the time while reading this.

Oliver worked my last nerve for being such an effing doormat. My God, don’t even get me started on that guy. I know majority of readers hate Matt but to be honest, I was more angry at Oliver than I could be bothered about Matt. Because this was literally an adult that knew what he was getting into, but because he was so infatuated by Matt’s body and of course his 10inch rod, this guy kept coming up with different excuses every time Matt fucked up. Like he kept making excuses and find justification for every single fuck up made did and it was so infuriating to witness.

As for Matt, I do not have the energy to be mad at him. Obviously he is a toxic, manipulative, controlling asshole yet Oliver chose to stay with him despite every fucked up thing he did, which was a lot. It wasn’t just one mistake. Oliver had this thought/agenda that he could change Matt, but the problem was, Matt wasn’t just someone in the closet. This was a man that hated himself for being gay. The self loathing was literally his entire reason for the things he did and also his controlling ass.

Despite these facts though, I can’t deny that Matt is a charmer when he wants to be and this two had some really good moments together. Matt is who he is, but they make a very cute couple when Matt isn’t being who he is.

Infuriates and frustrated as I was with Oliver, I still enjoyed this and I can’t wait to read Book 2🥰

[Bernice Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wheeew,this book took me through a wall of emotions,I was mad,frustrated,sad,happy and at the verge of screaming .How can I feel for a character and still be so mad at him at the same time.That’s how frustrating Matt’s character was,I wanted to enter the book and maybe slap some sense into his brain but also tell him,he deserves to beloved and love,he deserves to live free and in his truth.His father,the church and the world did a number on him and I’m happy he had some like Finn by his side.

❦

This book put me through it,Ollie my poor baby,he deserve the world,space and the whole universe,he deserves to be happy,I still don’t think Matt deserves him but since hes in love and thats what he wants,I support his decision.

❦

This book is about how repression can damaged you emomotionally and psychologically,Matt’s father’s homophobia really messed him up,and even though he’s on a journey of freeing himself from all that internal hate,fear and self loath,he’s learning and I hope to see that amazing wonderful growth in Part 2. 𝓒𝓐𝓝’𝓣 𝓦𝓐𝓘𝓣 𝓣𝓞 𝓡𝓔𝓐𝓓 𝓘𝓣.❤︎︎

❦

[Zarih Sundberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

turmoil

The book is well-written. I can not decide whether I like it or not. Plenty of feelings. If cheating, lying, controlling behavior, and abuse a triggers for you I recommend you not to read it. Matt is so far in the closet that it is scary. There are only a few years between Matt and Ollie. But it feels like 15 years. Matt is simply I horrible person. Matt is selfish, emotionally scared, abusive, controlling, and a coward. Ollie behaves like any abused spouse would. I was hoping for another ending. I suppose this is HEA, but Matt doesn't deserve it.

[Moesha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like it but I just couldn't get past how Matt kept being so evasive about his feelings for Ollie. And like I get it. Coming out and self acceptance are hard for some people to come to terms with especially when you have no support other than one of your closest friends but I found myself honestly annoyed with how he treats Ollie. I couldn't get further than 20% into the story no matter how hard I tried. Maybe someday I can come back with fresh eyes and try reading this again and absolutely love it.

[Manic killer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating~ 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice~ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Wow.

So, I have a lot to say but if I start I’ll just end up on a rant/rambling like I did on tiktok.

Let me start by saying, I really enjoyed this book. Aside from the fact that it was so well written, it was a story that just had you glued and kept you reading and wanting to know more. Now, that’s not to say I wasn’t pissed 89% of the time while reading this.

Oliver worked my last nerve for being such an effing doormat. My God, don’t even get me started on that guy. I know majority of readers hate Matt but to be honest, I was more angry at Oliver than I could be bothered about Matt. Because this was literally an adult that knew what he was getting into, but because he was so infatuated by Matt’s body and of course his 10inch rod, this guy kept coming up with different excuses every time Matt fucked up. Like he kept making excuses and find justification for every single fuck up made did and it was so infuriating to witness.

As for Matt, I do not have the energy to be mad at him. Obviously he is a toxic, manipulative, controlling asshole yet Oliver chose to stay with him despite every fucked up thing he did, which was a lot. It wasn’t just one mistake. Oliver had this thought/agenda that he could change Matt, but the problem was, Matt wasn’t just someone in the closet. This was a man that hated himself for being gay. The self loathing was literally his entire reason for the things he did and also his controlling ass.

Despite these facts though, I can’t deny that Matt is a charmer when he wants to be and this two had some really good moments together. Matt is who he is, but they make a very cute couple when Matt isn’t being who he is.

Infuriates and frustrated as I was with Oliver, I still enjoyed this and I can’t wait to read Book 2🥰

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got halfway through chapter 6, maybe 7, and stopped. Every character is unlikable. Matt, the MMC, is nothing but a walking red flag, controlling and manipulative. He treats women as things to use to help cover up his severe internal homophobia all while fantasizing about being with a man in order to help get himself off during sex with women. He treats his so called best female friend just as badly, admitting to scaring off potential suitors because he deemed them not good enough for her. Unfortunately, the female characters in this book are just as shallow and manipulative as Matt. Finn, the female BFF, pushes Matt into meeting Ollie, well aware of how deeply Matt is in the closet and how he uses women as cover, acknowledging how he sleeps around while dating someone. Sam, the woman Matt uses as his “I’m straight” cover debases herself to become more of what Matt wants to try to keep him from treating her like crap.

This text/tone of this book is very shallow/self-centered. Matt, especially, is very looks/appearance biased, along with rules about how people should behave making him extremely unlikable. The female characters as well just come off as shallow and self centered.

[Ali · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoilers. I’m writing this review because I wish someone else had. I would never have started this series. I was invested in this book and quite enjoyed it. I read about 50 pages of Foundations and something occurred to me. I thought Matt isn’t going to change is he?. He’ll stay in the closet, and by association Ollie would too, and only be out to his close circle of friend, Finn, and some family members. I skimmed some of Illusions and read the some of the last 40 pages. Matt doesn’t change he’s still the same controlling b*stard he’s always been. Poor Ollie never gets to be the partner he should have been. Yes they love each other but what sort of a life is it where you’re living a lie?. They will go into their retirement years exactly the same. Some people will be fine with the series, after all they are together and love each other, but, for me I’m left impotent, bereft, cheated and empty. I become emotionally involved in the books I read. I’ve wasted my time and psyche.

[Miss Pokerface]

I had to dnf this book unfortunately. If the writer was going to make Matt so horrible, at least she could have made Ollie had a backbone then I could have continued reading this book.

Cannot wait to read her other books in the future. Hopefully she has other releases this year. Love her writing and she has so much potential.

[Bernice Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wheeew,this book took me through a wall of emotions,I was mad,frustrated,sad,happy and at the verge of screaming .How can I feel for a character and still be so mad at him at the same time.That’s how frustrating Matt’s character was,I wanted to enter the book and maybe slap some sense into his brain but also tell him,he deserves to beloved and love,he deserves to live free and in his truth.His father,the church and the world did a number on him and I’m happy he had some like Finn by his side.

This book put me through it,Ollie my poor baby,he deserve the world,space and the whole universe,he deserves to be happy,I still don’t think Matt deserves him but since hes in love and thats what he wants,I support his decision.

This book is about how repression can damaged you emomotionally and psychologically,Matt’s father’s homophobia really messed him up,and even though he’s on a journey of freeing himself from all that internal hate,fear and self loath,he’s learning and I hope to see that amazing wonderful growth in Part 2. 𝓒𝓐𝓝’𝓣 𝓦𝓐𝓘𝓣 𝓣𝓞 𝓡𝓔𝓐𝓓 𝓘𝓣.❤︎︎



- [ ] C.E.O X Lawyer
- [ ] Strangers To Lovers
- [ ] Secret Relationship
- [ ] Closeted MC
- [ ] He Calls him Lieutenant😩
- [ ] First Times
- [ ] Possessive MC
- [ ] Boss X Employee

[Rhys Ton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pacing was good, the chemistry was awesome, really enjoyed it