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Front Range University #1
Beautifully Fractured
Ever have someone get you so well it’s like looking in a mirror?
Cruz
Starting over is not what I had planned.
Those stories about magically becoming best friends with the person assigned to live with you… Yeah, that won’t be me. I already have a best friend. Even if I wanted a new one, Liam wouldn’t be it. He’s permanently grouchy, carrying a negative energy I don’t need since I’m finally in a good place. But I’ve never been good at ignoring when people need help, so I paste on a smile and play nice.
Predictably, Liam isn’t much of a talker, but after an unexpected accident he needs my help in other ways. Ways that offer me answers about myself. Ways that raise new questions about the football dreams I’ve been chasing since I was a kid. Ways that make me relive the past I want to ignore.
To say I’m confused is an understatement, but there’s one thing I know for certain…Liam is either the key to one door or the bolt that could prevent another from ever opening. And I have to choose which I want him to be.
Liam
Starting over is exactly what I need.
I can’t get any more invisible than I’ve been for the past few years, and I figure rooming with another person means at least one human on the planet can’t ignore me. Unfortunately, that human is Adonis personified, and not gay, so it’s looking like my invisibility streak might continue.
Then I suffer a minor accident, and Cruz’s hero complex comes out in full force.
I should be grateful to have someone to open my door and carry my books, but when you pair his selfless personality with that body… My mind starts to blur the roommate line, which makes his blur the line of not being gay.
My heart is already battered, and I doubt it can take rejection from the one person who broke down all the walls I’d built around it. That doesn’t mean I won’t try to give it to him anyway.
**Beautifully Fractured is a high-heat MM romance with medium angst that features a grumpy/sunshine relationship, forced proximity, hurt/comfort situations and a bi-awakening. This is book one in a series of interconnected standalones. Though the main characters are athletes, this is not a sports romance. Rather, it's a romance that happens to feature people who play sports.
Cruz
Starting over is not what I had planned.
Those stories about magically becoming best friends with the person assigned to live with you… Yeah, that won’t be me. I already have a best friend. Even if I wanted a new one, Liam wouldn’t be it. He’s permanently grouchy, carrying a negative energy I don’t need since I’m finally in a good place. But I’ve never been good at ignoring when people need help, so I paste on a smile and play nice.
Predictably, Liam isn’t much of a talker, but after an unexpected accident he needs my help in other ways. Ways that offer me answers about myself. Ways that raise new questions about the football dreams I’ve been chasing since I was a kid. Ways that make me relive the past I want to ignore.
To say I’m confused is an understatement, but there’s one thing I know for certain…Liam is either the key to one door or the bolt that could prevent another from ever opening. And I have to choose which I want him to be.
Liam
Starting over is exactly what I need.
I can’t get any more invisible than I’ve been for the past few years, and I figure rooming with another person means at least one human on the planet can’t ignore me. Unfortunately, that human is Adonis personified, and not gay, so it’s looking like my invisibility streak might continue.
Then I suffer a minor accident, and Cruz’s hero complex comes out in full force.
I should be grateful to have someone to open my door and carry my books, but when you pair his selfless personality with that body… My mind starts to blur the roommate line, which makes his blur the line of not being gay.
My heart is already battered, and I doubt it can take rejection from the one person who broke down all the walls I’d built around it. That doesn’t mean I won’t try to give it to him anyway.
**Beautifully Fractured is a high-heat MM romance with medium angst that features a grumpy/sunshine relationship, forced proximity, hurt/comfort situations and a bi-awakening. This is book one in a series of interconnected standalones. Though the main characters are athletes, this is not a sports romance. Rather, it's a romance that happens to feature people who play sports.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2024
About the author
Michele Lenard
30 books165 followersMichele writes contemporary romance that is both sweet and steamy. Her goal is to make you fan your face as you wipe a tear from your eye. Several of her books have been named as finalists in the MARA Fiction From the Homeland contest. Her books are part of a series but there are no cliffhangers so each can be read as a standalone. When she isn't reading or writing she enjoys the outdoors, something that pops up in her books from time to time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
April 29, 2024
⭐️ 4.5 stars ⭐️
Truer words have never been spoken.
Who doesn’t love a brooding, hurt bad boy that falls for his sunshine-y, golden retriever roommate?
Beautifully fractured reminded me of a less angsty version of Hidden Scars. Dislike than turns into friendship that then becomes love, some hurt/comfort, a loving family that accepts both MCs, a big grump who is really just hurt and lonely.
Despite the heavy themes of grief that both MCs struggle with, the overall vibe was very sweet and smutty and everything I love about college romances.
There’s just something about the way Michele Lenard writes spice that makes me blush and melt and kick my feet everytime. Cruz and Liam slowly discovering each other, the tentative touches, the body worshipping, the erotic frotting sessions. It was all fire, and I’ve said it when I read Bad Pucking Influence, and I’ll say it again — hotter than some of the kinkier stuff I’ve read.
I loved how she approached Cruz’s sexuality dilemma, not defining what ACE is supposed to look like, but showing how the character found the label that fit him. Sexuality is a spectrum, and showing characters going through those questioning times, the struggles to define who they are, is incredibly affirming and validating and I will forever support this, that nothing is one size fits all, that everyone should live their life how they feel fits them.
Loving this new series, and can’t wait to see some best friends becoming more, and a couple of rivals finding out their might be something underneath all the hate.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Off-page deaths of friend and family member
- Themes of grief
- Football player vs lacrosse player
- Roommates
- Friends to lovers
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Found family
- Asexual/Demi rep
- “Let me give you a hand(y)” injury caretaking
- Mild edging
- Frotting
- Vers MCs (strict top/bottom on page)
“Getting me to smile is diabolical. It ruins my whole brooding vibe.” “Why do you want a brooding vibe?”
“Everyone loves a bad boy, duh.”
Truer words have never been spoken.
Who doesn’t love a brooding, hurt bad boy that falls for his sunshine-y, golden retriever roommate?
Beautifully fractured reminded me of a less angsty version of Hidden Scars. Dislike than turns into friendship that then becomes love, some hurt/comfort, a loving family that accepts both MCs, a big grump who is really just hurt and lonely.
Despite the heavy themes of grief that both MCs struggle with, the overall vibe was very sweet and smutty and everything I love about college romances.
There’s just something about the way Michele Lenard writes spice that makes me blush and melt and kick my feet everytime. Cruz and Liam slowly discovering each other, the tentative touches, the body worshipping, the erotic frotting sessions. It was all fire, and I’ve said it when I read Bad Pucking Influence, and I’ll say it again — hotter than some of the kinkier stuff I’ve read.
I loved how she approached Cruz’s sexuality dilemma, not defining what ACE is supposed to look like, but showing how the character found the label that fit him. Sexuality is a spectrum, and showing characters going through those questioning times, the struggles to define who they are, is incredibly affirming and validating and I will forever support this, that nothing is one size fits all, that everyone should live their life how they feel fits them.
Loving this new series, and can’t wait to see some best friends becoming more, and a couple of rivals finding out their might be something underneath all the hate.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Off-page deaths of friend and family member
- Themes of grief
- Football player vs lacrosse player
- Roommates
- Friends to lovers
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Found family
- Asexual/Demi rep
- “Let me give you a hand(y)” injury caretaking
- Mild edging
- Frotting
- Vers MCs (strict top/bottom on page)
May 2, 2024
i was more interested in jagger and cameron and their possible besties to lovers vibes than the main couple….like literally chapter one i was like damn it why can’t this be their book instead😭😭 sorry cruz and liam, i have nothing against y’all except for the fact u bored me…water under the bridge tho, ur forgiven😇 lmaooo…..now, if book two isn’t jagger and cameron i will fucking scream!!!!
April 24, 2024
- roomies
- athletes (football, lacrosse)
- grumpy x sunshine
- hurt x comfort
- bi awakening
- ace rep
Cruz moves to the honors dorms so he can focus on his studies after spending the summer in the jock dorms, and gets stuck rooming with Liam. He's surly and grumpy and walks around with a chip on his shoulder, but despite that a friendship slowly blossoms between the two of them.
When Liam breaks his arm, Cruz goes into caretaker mode, doing anything he can to make sure that Liam is taken care of, even going so far as to offering him a 'helping hand' 😏😏 & while things do unexpectedly heat up between the two, I honestly loved that it wasn't the sole focus and that their exploration didn't go from 0 to 100% given that Cruz was on the ace-spec.
Things were just so open and honest between them as Cruz explored his attraction and sexuality for the first time, and was just so wonderfully and believably done. Their story was also way more emotional than I was expecting it to be with their shared connection through loss and grief, and took me for a ride on the feels train.
Liam and Cruz are just so perfect together, and I cannot wait for more of this series!
- athletes (football, lacrosse)
- grumpy x sunshine
- hurt x comfort
- bi awakening
- ace rep
Cruz moves to the honors dorms so he can focus on his studies after spending the summer in the jock dorms, and gets stuck rooming with Liam. He's surly and grumpy and walks around with a chip on his shoulder, but despite that a friendship slowly blossoms between the two of them.
When Liam breaks his arm, Cruz goes into caretaker mode, doing anything he can to make sure that Liam is taken care of, even going so far as to offering him a 'helping hand' 😏😏 & while things do unexpectedly heat up between the two, I honestly loved that it wasn't the sole focus and that their exploration didn't go from 0 to 100% given that Cruz was on the ace-spec.
Things were just so open and honest between them as Cruz explored his attraction and sexuality for the first time, and was just so wonderfully and believably done. Their story was also way more emotional than I was expecting it to be with their shared connection through loss and grief, and took me for a ride on the feels train.
Liam and Cruz are just so perfect together, and I cannot wait for more of this series!
August 29, 2024
4**** stars
Thought this would be a lot more angsty But this was actually only cute and heartwarming with a little heartache on the side.
*************
Front Range University Series
Book 1 - Beautifully Fractured - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - Beautifully Devoted - skimmed a bit
Thought this would be a lot more angsty But this was actually only cute and heartwarming with a little heartache on the side.
*************
Front Range University Series
Book 1 - Beautifully Fractured - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - Beautifully Devoted - skimmed a bit
May 6, 2024
Tropes: roommates, jock/jock, gay demi awakening
Feels: 3/5
Steam*: 3.5/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low to medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: bad parents, addict parent, death of loved ones, grief, OM (but no hurt feelings around it), cancer, homophobia, hate crime, physical assault
Cruz and Liam are both 19-year-old college freshmen. They are athletes, football and lacrosse respectively. Liam is out and gay. Cruz is ace spectrum, and through this book comes to a gay Demi awakening of sorts. They both want to prioritize their education so they are rooming in an academic housing as opposed to athlete housing. They end up as roommates. They are both dealing with s***** things in their pasts.
Liam is pretty quickly attracted to Cruz. But it takes a while for Cruz to feel more than friendship towards Liam. Obviously, given Cruz's sexuality. They get close and they share with each other and they realize that they have some things in common. Liam realizes that Cruz isn't the a****** that he thought he was. When Liam breaks his arm and can no longer to his daily routine of masturbation to relieve stress, Cruz volunteers a hand. After a couple repeats, Cruz starts to to have a response to Liam, and that's how they realize Cruz is on the gay demi range of the ace spectrum. They start hooking up and being secret boyfriends. There's a bit of a struggle about coming out because Cruz wants to be a professional NFL player though he's realistic and building a backup plan career-wise.
This was a pretty nice story. It was one of the better ace spectrum romance stories that I've read. I liked the way that they talked about the ace experience, and that it wasn't instalust for Cruz which would have been very unrealistic. I liked the expression the author used to differentiate the experience of not hiding versus not knowing answers to give about your sexuality. I liked that their friend groups were not assholes. I can see already that some of the characters are being set up for having their own books and those relationships sound intriguing. I liked the humor once Liam and Cruz's relationship came out. I liked that there was a positive female character and friendship with her, as too often mm romances present female characters in a toxic way and present them as villains. I liked Cruz's choice between protecting his future career staying in the closet and being with Liam, I liked the way that was articulated.
There were a couple things that didn't quite sit right with me:
- The first time that Cruz jacks off Liam, it came off as dubcon to me. He didn't give Liam a chance to say anything, he just shoved his hand in his pants.
- I was okay enough with this though it wasn't my personal preference, but I feel like I should put this feedback in this section for others reading this review - if you're a bit sensitive to other man drama, Liam has an on page hookup with another man at 10% and off page he is continuing to hook up with that fuckbuddy until about 21%. Cruz knows about it though and isn't hurt, it's before there's anything between Cruz and Liam.
- Considering this was a romance with a demi character, I wasn't really seeing Cruz's feelings for Liam as being romantic or high intensity emotion. I definitely saw a friendship in their relationship and the sexual attraction that they eventually shared, but when you're feeling romantic towards someone there are these tells and Cruz didn't have them. They had their first Mutual hookup at 50%. But they didn't have their first kiss until 72%. There were some misses in showing the emotion Cruz felt, but also once Cruz accepted that that what he was feeling was sexual or romantic, he jumped straight into sex.
- The author said something that I thought was kind of preachy and insulting to people. "I’m just saying it’s possible to be friends with someone before, during and after you’ve had sex with them. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or too immature to be having sex.”... I get it, sometimes you can be friends before during or after, but it depends on the two people. It came off as preachy and judgy to people who have problems with an ex still being in the picture, and that's just invalidating legitimate emotions and worries about physical and emotional cheating.
Some notable moments:
The Jesus clock LOL. "“Look at it.” Tommy points to a block of text on the package. “It says, ‘gently reminds you to engage in moments of prayer.’ Can you imagine sitting in your quiet house and all of a sudden a strange voice says, ‘Let us pray.’ They should call it a meet-your-maker clock, cause that thing’ll give you a heart attack for sure.”"
"We’re christening our new bedroom for at least the tenth time since we moved in, and we’re supposed to be practicing quiet sex since our roommates have gone from impressed with our stamina to pissed about the noise. And it’s only been a week."
"Jagger stands there, dumbstruck, mouth hanging open in shock as he watches my boyfriend’s cock spew its impressive release. “I… The Jeep isn’t here. And you’re… Fuck.” He backs out of the room and closes the door behind him, speechless for the first time in, maybe ever, which makes Liam and I crack up. “How much of that did he see?” I kiss along Liam’s neck, feeling the rapid beat of his pulse under my lips. “Jagger’s either gonna have some great spank bank material or he’ll be scarred for life.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 3/5
Steam*: 3.5/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low to medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: bad parents, addict parent, death of loved ones, grief, OM (but no hurt feelings around it), cancer, homophobia, hate crime, physical assault
Cruz and Liam are both 19-year-old college freshmen. They are athletes, football and lacrosse respectively. Liam is out and gay. Cruz is ace spectrum, and through this book comes to a gay Demi awakening of sorts. They both want to prioritize their education so they are rooming in an academic housing as opposed to athlete housing. They end up as roommates. They are both dealing with s***** things in their pasts.
Liam is pretty quickly attracted to Cruz. But it takes a while for Cruz to feel more than friendship towards Liam. Obviously, given Cruz's sexuality. They get close and they share with each other and they realize that they have some things in common. Liam realizes that Cruz isn't the a****** that he thought he was. When Liam breaks his arm and can no longer to his daily routine of masturbation to relieve stress, Cruz volunteers a hand. After a couple repeats, Cruz starts to to have a response to Liam, and that's how they realize Cruz is on the gay demi range of the ace spectrum. They start hooking up and being secret boyfriends. There's a bit of a struggle about coming out because Cruz wants to be a professional NFL player though he's realistic and building a backup plan career-wise.
This was a pretty nice story. It was one of the better ace spectrum romance stories that I've read. I liked the way that they talked about the ace experience, and that it wasn't instalust for Cruz which would have been very unrealistic. I liked the expression the author used to differentiate the experience of not hiding versus not knowing answers to give about your sexuality. I liked that their friend groups were not assholes. I can see already that some of the characters are being set up for having their own books and those relationships sound intriguing. I liked the humor once Liam and Cruz's relationship came out. I liked that there was a positive female character and friendship with her, as too often mm romances present female characters in a toxic way and present them as villains. I liked Cruz's choice between protecting his future career staying in the closet and being with Liam, I liked the way that was articulated.
There were a couple things that didn't quite sit right with me:
- The first time that Cruz jacks off Liam, it came off as dubcon to me. He didn't give Liam a chance to say anything, he just shoved his hand in his pants.
- I was okay enough with this though it wasn't my personal preference, but I feel like I should put this feedback in this section for others reading this review - if you're a bit sensitive to other man drama, Liam has an on page hookup with another man at 10% and off page he is continuing to hook up with that fuckbuddy until about 21%. Cruz knows about it though and isn't hurt, it's before there's anything between Cruz and Liam.
- Considering this was a romance with a demi character, I wasn't really seeing Cruz's feelings for Liam as being romantic or high intensity emotion. I definitely saw a friendship in their relationship and the sexual attraction that they eventually shared, but when you're feeling romantic towards someone there are these tells and Cruz didn't have them. They had their first Mutual hookup at 50%. But they didn't have their first kiss until 72%. There were some misses in showing the emotion Cruz felt, but also once Cruz accepted that that what he was feeling was sexual or romantic, he jumped straight into sex.
- The author said something that I thought was kind of preachy and insulting to people. "I’m just saying it’s possible to be friends with someone before, during and after you’ve had sex with them. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or too immature to be having sex.”... I get it, sometimes you can be friends before during or after, but it depends on the two people. It came off as preachy and judgy to people who have problems with an ex still being in the picture, and that's just invalidating legitimate emotions and worries about physical and emotional cheating.
Some notable moments:
The Jesus clock LOL. "“Look at it.” Tommy points to a block of text on the package. “It says, ‘gently reminds you to engage in moments of prayer.’ Can you imagine sitting in your quiet house and all of a sudden a strange voice says, ‘Let us pray.’ They should call it a meet-your-maker clock, cause that thing’ll give you a heart attack for sure.”"
"We’re christening our new bedroom for at least the tenth time since we moved in, and we’re supposed to be practicing quiet sex since our roommates have gone from impressed with our stamina to pissed about the noise. And it’s only been a week."
"Jagger stands there, dumbstruck, mouth hanging open in shock as he watches my boyfriend’s cock spew its impressive release. “I… The Jeep isn’t here. And you’re… Fuck.” He backs out of the room and closes the door behind him, speechless for the first time in, maybe ever, which makes Liam and I crack up. “How much of that did he see?” I kiss along Liam’s neck, feeling the rapid beat of his pulse under my lips. “Jagger’s either gonna have some great spank bank material or he’ll be scarred for life.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2024
This gave me Sadenverse vibes (especially Frat wars a CU Hockey) and I am SO not opposed to it.
When Cruz and Liam are placed in the same dorm, one a 'jock' and the other a brilliant student, they think they couldn't be more different. But Cruz is a caretaker by nature and Liam slowly takes down his walls to let him in. They become friends little by little, sharing their secrets and their anxieties. Cruz is in the ace spectrum, and his is a journey of discovery. Liam has a family destroyed by tragedy and he is fending for himself. As they open up to each other -including Cruz lending a 'helping hand' to Liam when he breaks his arm-, they help the other to become stronger.
This was a lovely story and both characters and their friends were fun and endearing. I really enjoyed their relationships and, though there weren't overly angsty moments, it didn't lack depth.
I can't wait to see what happens between Jagger and Cam...
When Cruz and Liam are placed in the same dorm, one a 'jock' and the other a brilliant student, they think they couldn't be more different. But Cruz is a caretaker by nature and Liam slowly takes down his walls to let him in. They become friends little by little, sharing their secrets and their anxieties. Cruz is in the ace spectrum, and his is a journey of discovery. Liam has a family destroyed by tragedy and he is fending for himself. As they open up to each other -including Cruz lending a 'helping hand' to Liam when he breaks his arm-, they help the other to become stronger.
This was a lovely story and both characters and their friends were fun and endearing. I really enjoyed their relationships and, though there weren't overly angsty moments, it didn't lack depth.
I can't wait to see what happens between Jagger and Cam...
September 21, 2026
Sad boys that room together stay together. I really enjoyed this book. It was adorable how much of a golden retriever Cruz was in comparison to Liam’s grumpiness.
Both had very sad moments in their past that made it easier for them to understand each other. I liked how Liam was super understanding of Cruz and how Cruz was effortlessly nice towards Liam.
Who would think a helping hand would change so much lol?
Can’t wait to read the next book and see those dumb dumbs realize they are more than codependent besties.
Both had very sad moments in their past that made it easier for them to understand each other. I liked how Liam was super understanding of Cruz and how Cruz was effortlessly nice towards Liam.
Who would think a helping hand would change so much lol?
Can’t wait to read the next book and see those dumb dumbs realize they are more than codependent besties.
May 1, 2024
Reread July 26,2024
Thoughts on reread:
So, I may have added another star to this book. I 'accidentally' re read it to get in the mood for book two which I am highly anticipating reading. And I liked it a whole lot more this time around. I know last time I was in a bad place and I was actually negatively influenced by other things I'd read at the time. I'm glad I reread it as it was not on my reread list. Just goes to show, always have an open mind✌️
Original first read review:
I have thoughts but they didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.
Cruz of course was an angel and Liam I just wanted to hug all the time, broodiness and all.
Two main issues.
a) ACE representation
b) Conveniently bad parents
The found family/friends is always a plus. I'll be looking forward to the rest of the books. Jagger and Cameron, I'm looking at you😉
Thoughts on reread:
So, I may have added another star to this book. I 'accidentally' re read it to get in the mood for book two which I am highly anticipating reading. And I liked it a whole lot more this time around. I know last time I was in a bad place and I was actually negatively influenced by other things I'd read at the time. I'm glad I reread it as it was not on my reread list. Just goes to show, always have an open mind✌️
Original first read review:
I have thoughts but they didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.
Cruz of course was an angel and Liam I just wanted to hug all the time, broodiness and all.
Two main issues.
a) ACE representation
b) Conveniently bad parents
The found family/friends is always a plus. I'll be looking forward to the rest of the books. Jagger and Cameron, I'm looking at you😉
August 20, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Did Not Finish
September 8, 2024Dnf @21%
Never mind...I just wasn't feeling this from the start, idk why exactly, except I guess Liam's anger and reactions to things Cruz does felt disingenuous or over the top and it has too much description and since I'm not into the characters it's just too much to slog through. idk I just want to move on from this already and having that intense a feeling while reading isn't good. Oh well.
Never mind...I just wasn't feeling this from the start, idk why exactly, except I guess Liam's anger and reactions to things Cruz does felt disingenuous or over the top and it has too much description and since I'm not into the characters it's just too much to slog through. idk I just want to move on from this already and having that intense a feeling while reading isn't good. Oh well.
April 26, 2024
So… The tropes advertised here are not accurate. This is not your average bi awakening story. In fact, it’s about an asexual (demisexual?) MC who has never felt attraction to anyone until he becomes close to his new roommate/best friend… and slowly learns what sexual attraction is like in the process. It is genuinely an ace book, and I think it will appeal to my friends who seek ace rep! It was so carefully done and detailed, and the MC is never pressured to define himself immediately since even he doesn’t know. It even takes him time to realize that what he’s feeling IS a crush and IS sexual attraction. It’s very interesting!
As for the bi awakening part, I don’t think that’s accurate either since at the end of the book the MC Cruz comes out as “gay” to his friends. He also mentions how he’s never felt sexual attraction to any women, and the only person he’s been attracted to is his male roommate. He panics over what labels to use and settles on gay ace. Yes, this is a mild spoiler but I don’t understand why the novel was mis-marketed to this extent. It’s otherwise pretty great!!
Beautifully Fractured is a very sweet, low angst, friends to lovers romance. It’s very very smutty but also pretty cute because MC Cruz has a kind, tenderhearted Golden Retriever personality. Love interest Liam is the grumpy (gay, family trauma, loner) to Cruz’s sunshine, but despite some bad first impressions, they develop a very soft relationship.
No, seriously, I think this could be defined as a cozy romance because of how nice everyone is. Liam came from a homophobic high school but everyone in their college and everyone in Cruz’s family is welcoming and accepting. Liam stresses out over whether or not his feelings are returned, but there is no dramatic angst, no depressing third act heartbreak. Both MCs are athletes but as the author mentioned, this isn’t actually a sports romance — just a romance between two sporty guys.
That said, due to their young ages (college freshmen) they read annoyingly young to me (oh no, signs of aging). At one point the book became pure smut so like lol this is kinda repetitive. And the love confessions were kinda cringe… I’m sorry. Otherwise, I’m pleasantly surprised by this and I think it will find its audience! As long as they are corrected by the advertising.
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for providing me with the ARC.
As for the bi awakening part, I don’t think that’s accurate either since at the end of the book the MC Cruz comes out as “gay” to his friends. He also mentions how he’s never felt sexual attraction to any women, and the only person he’s been attracted to is his male roommate. He panics over what labels to use and settles on gay ace. Yes, this is a mild spoiler but I don’t understand why the novel was mis-marketed to this extent. It’s otherwise pretty great!!
Beautifully Fractured is a very sweet, low angst, friends to lovers romance. It’s very very smutty but also pretty cute because MC Cruz has a kind, tenderhearted Golden Retriever personality. Love interest Liam is the grumpy (gay, family trauma, loner) to Cruz’s sunshine, but despite some bad first impressions, they develop a very soft relationship.
No, seriously, I think this could be defined as a cozy romance because of how nice everyone is. Liam came from a homophobic high school but everyone in their college and everyone in Cruz’s family is welcoming and accepting. Liam stresses out over whether or not his feelings are returned, but there is no dramatic angst, no depressing third act heartbreak. Both MCs are athletes but as the author mentioned, this isn’t actually a sports romance — just a romance between two sporty guys.
That said, due to their young ages (college freshmen) they read annoyingly young to me (oh no, signs of aging). At one point the book became pure smut so like lol this is kinda repetitive. And the love confessions were kinda cringe… I’m sorry. Otherwise, I’m pleasantly surprised by this and I think it will find its audience! As long as they are corrected by the advertising.
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for providing me with the ARC.
August 1, 2024
DNF: 40%
Look, it's not that this was plain horrible, but I have a million other books to read, and there are only 24 hours in each day, so...
Look, it's not that this was plain horrible, but I have a million other books to read, and there are only 24 hours in each day, so...
October 22, 2025
“He’s a vision. A fantasy. The missing piece of my soul that I didn’t even know was lost until he found me and helped me realize I was capable of such happiness.”
3.5⭐️
Every college romance series about athletes in dorms—okay, not every one, but many, many of them—always seems to have the strangest plot devices to get two dudes together to fuck and fall in love. Let me get this straight… or gay… or ace. Your roommate breaks their arm, and you’re such a nice guy (and ace!) that you say, “Why not, I’ll jack you off because you’re stressed”? Girl, bye. Ain’t no fucking way.
But that’s exactly what this book uses to launch the sexual escapade of Cruz and Liam. Surprisingly, there’s actually some fractured sadness here, but it takes way too long for them to spill it. If that emotional baggage had been laid out earlier—at least for the readers—it would’ve carried more weight and given the story a lot more depth. Because frankly? Cruz and Liam are a little boring. There, I said it.
I mostly read this book so I could get to the second one. Sue me. But hey, it’s not bad. It could’ve been way better with a few tweaks, but that’s just my personal preference—which, I mean, is what a review is, so ignore me.
Anyway, I’d say give it a shot if you’re curious. It’s not life-changing, but it’s a fun time. Honestly, this would be a great starter MM romance for someone new to the genre.
3.5⭐️
Every college romance series about athletes in dorms—okay, not every one, but many, many of them—always seems to have the strangest plot devices to get two dudes together to fuck and fall in love. Let me get this straight… or gay… or ace. Your roommate breaks their arm, and you’re such a nice guy (and ace!) that you say, “Why not, I’ll jack you off because you’re stressed”? Girl, bye. Ain’t no fucking way.
But that’s exactly what this book uses to launch the sexual escapade of Cruz and Liam. Surprisingly, there’s actually some fractured sadness here, but it takes way too long for them to spill it. If that emotional baggage had been laid out earlier—at least for the readers—it would’ve carried more weight and given the story a lot more depth. Because frankly? Cruz and Liam are a little boring. There, I said it.
I mostly read this book so I could get to the second one. Sue me. But hey, it’s not bad. It could’ve been way better with a few tweaks, but that’s just my personal preference—which, I mean, is what a review is, so ignore me.
Anyway, I’d say give it a shot if you’re curious. It’s not life-changing, but it’s a fun time. Honestly, this would be a great starter MM romance for someone new to the genre.
May 4, 2024
This is in the (very close) running for my favorite book of the year. I loved it so much.
It was incredibly organic and natural. Often, books go from zero to one hundred in a few pages. This book has such a natural pacing that it kept me hyper focused on it.
The ACE rep was beautiful. For many, it is so hard to figure out what box you fit in. There are so many now, thankfully, but it can be so overwhelming to figure it out. I’m so glad that that process was shown here. Once you land on a label it can feel comforting, but not knowing and not understanding yourself can be painful. 😔
I also love that the ACE rep wasn’t washed away with the “unicorn dick” phenomenon. Cruz is still very much in the spectrum, but his initial label shifted. I feel like many times, books have ACE rep that gets trampled on because they fall in love etc. It’s ridiculous imo, but this book shows Cruz learning about himself in a safe environment that doesn’t overshadow his feelings.
I could ramble about this all day, but this book deserves a pedestal. It’s the perfect balance of couple, supporting characters, conflict, and spice. I felt like I was reading a diary of the characters and not an expedited love story. 🖤
Read it.
It was incredibly organic and natural. Often, books go from zero to one hundred in a few pages. This book has such a natural pacing that it kept me hyper focused on it.
The ACE rep was beautiful. For many, it is so hard to figure out what box you fit in. There are so many now, thankfully, but it can be so overwhelming to figure it out. I’m so glad that that process was shown here. Once you land on a label it can feel comforting, but not knowing and not understanding yourself can be painful. 😔
I also love that the ACE rep wasn’t washed away with the “unicorn dick” phenomenon. Cruz is still very much in the spectrum, but his initial label shifted. I feel like many times, books have ACE rep that gets trampled on because they fall in love etc. It’s ridiculous imo, but this book shows Cruz learning about himself in a safe environment that doesn’t overshadow his feelings.
I could ramble about this all day, but this book deserves a pedestal. It’s the perfect balance of couple, supporting characters, conflict, and spice. I felt like I was reading a diary of the characters and not an expedited love story. 🖤
Read it.
September 22, 2024
2.55
This book was so boring...
I liked the bestfriends more. (I think their story is next) but this just lacked pizzazz...
Eh
This book was so boring...
I liked the bestfriends more. (I think their story is next) but this just lacked pizzazz...
Eh
May 5, 2024
4.5☆
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖:🔥🔥🔥
𝕃𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕤:🤣🤣
𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤:🥲
𝕄ℂ𝕤: Liam, Cruz
ℙ𝕆𝕍: 1st, Dual.
𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤: Bi-awakening, Ace Rep, Demi Rep, Hurt/Confort, College Romance.
Al inicio tenía ciertas dudas con respecto al Ace Rep pero la calidad de perosnajes Líam y Cruz y todo su dolor el camino recorrido en su pasado, demás cosas y como llegan a cierto punto te termina cuativando ese complejo de Héroe de Cruz me tenia derretido y el.dolor que embarga a Liam luego de lo que pasó y xon sus padres se siente y Cruz es el indicado ellos son el uno para el otro al que Cruz carga con el dolor. Ellos saben como seguir adelante definitivamente seguiré esta serie y leeré otros más de la autora.
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖:🔥🔥🔥
𝕃𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕤:🤣🤣
𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤:🥲
𝕄ℂ𝕤: Liam, Cruz
ℙ𝕆𝕍: 1st, Dual.
𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤: Bi-awakening, Ace Rep, Demi Rep, Hurt/Confort, College Romance.
Al inicio tenía ciertas dudas con respecto al Ace Rep pero la calidad de perosnajes Líam y Cruz y todo su dolor el camino recorrido en su pasado, demás cosas y como llegan a cierto punto te termina cuativando ese complejo de Héroe de Cruz me tenia derretido y el.dolor que embarga a Liam luego de lo que pasó y xon sus padres se siente y Cruz es el indicado ellos son el uno para el otro al que Cruz carga con el dolor. Ellos saben como seguir adelante definitivamente seguiré esta serie y leeré otros más de la autora.
June 10, 2026
3,5⭐️ Ändå helt okej! Inte så mycket angst som jag trodde utan mer feelgood. Inte heller läst så många böcker med någon som är asexuell så det var lite annorlunda (eller var det det?). Gillade verkligen Liam (lite mer än Cruz).
April 28, 2024
Uh, my heart 💔
Sometimes you read books at just the right time and I felt like this one was one of those books.
This is about two young college roommates who don’t know each other initially, come from divergent family backgrounds, both of whom have experienced significant losses in their lives. It’s essentially the trajectory from them being roommates to friends to more.
For one of the characters Football playing Cruz we see him examining his understanding of his personal identity. For the other Liam, we see him reflecting on his familial dysfunction and considering a way forward when it seems like he has limited opportunities.
Whilst there’s plenty of steam, there’s a whole lot more to this dynamic and their relationship which was a joy to read about. It’s ‘I gotchu’ in the best way.
Cruz - It doesn’t have to be an emergency for me to be there for you.
and
Thank you for helping me find out who I am.
There’s a strong friendship group which forms the basis for you wanting more in future books.
May 10, 2024
This story was beautiful in so many different ways and I don’t think any review I write can do it justice. This book was my ‘treat’ – I’d been looking forward to it for some time, and I decided to settle down with a drink, a cat and a heated blanket. And oh my, did this book deliver.
Cruz is like the world’s happiest golden retriever of a person and it would be so easy to dismiss him as such a simple character. But as the story continues, we learn about the things that Cruz struggles with, the fears he’s hiding, the confusion about who he is and what he is – it’s handled in such a nuanced fashion, I was really impressed. And I loved him so much as a character – so matter of fact about things that would send most people into a tailspin, with a solidness to him that I appreciated more and more the further I read.
Liam broke my heart – over and over – but I was also incredibly impressed with how strong a character he was. With his history – with his family – it would have made the most sense in the world for him to shut down completely, allow himself to be utterly bitter and beyond even the grumpy trope. But instead, Liam allowed Cruz to see the person he was beneath the crusty exterior; made friends with people who by rights should have terrified him based on his history; opened himself to new friendships despite how badly friends had burned him in the past; and ultimately move past his family and the aftermath of the tragedy.
I absolutely adored the relationship between these two – I gotchu was a catchphrase that was made for the two of them, and they demonstrated it so many times over and over with how much grace they gave each other; how supportive they were; how much they understood the other person. I feel like I’m just spewing out words of praise without any substance but I don’t want to risk spoilers – this is a book that deserves people going into it without knowing what’s coming because then they get to enjoy as it all unfolds without warning, to have those ‘awwww’ moments as well as the ‘oh wow’ ones.
I think it’s really easy to tell that I truly adored this book – all I can say is that it’s one of the best ones of the year so far for me. A well deserved 5/5.
Cruz is like the world’s happiest golden retriever of a person and it would be so easy to dismiss him as such a simple character. But as the story continues, we learn about the things that Cruz struggles with, the fears he’s hiding, the confusion about who he is and what he is – it’s handled in such a nuanced fashion, I was really impressed. And I loved him so much as a character – so matter of fact about things that would send most people into a tailspin, with a solidness to him that I appreciated more and more the further I read.
Liam broke my heart – over and over – but I was also incredibly impressed with how strong a character he was. With his history – with his family – it would have made the most sense in the world for him to shut down completely, allow himself to be utterly bitter and beyond even the grumpy trope. But instead, Liam allowed Cruz to see the person he was beneath the crusty exterior; made friends with people who by rights should have terrified him based on his history; opened himself to new friendships despite how badly friends had burned him in the past; and ultimately move past his family and the aftermath of the tragedy.
I absolutely adored the relationship between these two – I gotchu was a catchphrase that was made for the two of them, and they demonstrated it so many times over and over with how much grace they gave each other; how supportive they were; how much they understood the other person. I feel like I’m just spewing out words of praise without any substance but I don’t want to risk spoilers – this is a book that deserves people going into it without knowing what’s coming because then they get to enjoy as it all unfolds without warning, to have those ‘awwww’ moments as well as the ‘oh wow’ ones.
I think it’s really easy to tell that I truly adored this book – all I can say is that it’s one of the best ones of the year so far for me. A well deserved 5/5.
April 29, 2024
5/5 ⭐️ 3/5 🌶️
- MM
- College roommates
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Gay x confused ACE
- Handling loss/grief
- Athletes (footballer x lacrosse player)
- Hurt/comfort
This was my first Michele Lenard book and it definitely won’t be my last, she’s earned a lifetime reader with this astonishing book. I was hooked from the start until the very end. There were a lot of super sweet moments in this as well as intense spicy scenes. I loved all of the characters and the beautiful story.
You have Cruz who is one of the MCs. He’s handling the loss of his best friend whilst also trying to figure out his own sexuality which is really overwhelming. He thinks he’s an ACE or demi since he doesn’t feel physically attracted to others. He’s still a ray of sunshine despite all this.
The other MC is Liam who is gay and a grouch but with reason. His parents have neglected him since losing his sister to cancer. He was outed in high school and turned on by his best friend who was involved in jumping him at school. Liam’s pretty lonely and has trust issues letting people in and letting down his walls.
These two become roommates and form somewhat of a friendship after a rocky introduction. Liam ends up with a fractured arm which causes him to struggle with some everyday tasks. In comes Cruz who loves to be a hero and wants to lend a helping hand to his roommate literally and figuratively. This leads them down the path of a stronger connection, physical and mental attraction and a lot of question marks about their futures together.
I adored them individually and as a couple. I highly recommend this beautiful book to anyone who wants a sweet MM romance and wants to get in their feels about sexuality, relationships, grief,and family.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I need books on Jagger & Cam, Bennet & Damien, and Aiden & his crush ASAP! (Not sure if they will actually end up as couples but a girl can dream)
- MM
- College roommates
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Gay x confused ACE
- Handling loss/grief
- Athletes (footballer x lacrosse player)
- Hurt/comfort
This was my first Michele Lenard book and it definitely won’t be my last, she’s earned a lifetime reader with this astonishing book. I was hooked from the start until the very end. There were a lot of super sweet moments in this as well as intense spicy scenes. I loved all of the characters and the beautiful story.
You have Cruz who is one of the MCs. He’s handling the loss of his best friend whilst also trying to figure out his own sexuality which is really overwhelming. He thinks he’s an ACE or demi since he doesn’t feel physically attracted to others. He’s still a ray of sunshine despite all this.
The other MC is Liam who is gay and a grouch but with reason. His parents have neglected him since losing his sister to cancer. He was outed in high school and turned on by his best friend who was involved in jumping him at school. Liam’s pretty lonely and has trust issues letting people in and letting down his walls.
These two become roommates and form somewhat of a friendship after a rocky introduction. Liam ends up with a fractured arm which causes him to struggle with some everyday tasks. In comes Cruz who loves to be a hero and wants to lend a helping hand to his roommate literally and figuratively. This leads them down the path of a stronger connection, physical and mental attraction and a lot of question marks about their futures together.
I adored them individually and as a couple. I highly recommend this beautiful book to anyone who wants a sweet MM romance and wants to get in their feels about sexuality, relationships, grief,and family.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I need books on Jagger & Cam, Bennet & Damien, and Aiden & his crush ASAP! (Not sure if they will actually end up as couples but a girl can dream)
May 17, 2024
If you’re looking for solid asexual representation and wonderful characters, this story is going to be a perfect fit, particularly if you enjoy a new adult/college setting. I adored Cruz, he’s a wonderful blend of oblivious, sweet, protective, and intelligent. While every character always has their own journey, this is definitely focused on Cruz and the self-discovery he undergoes the closer he and Liam become.
I liked how patient and kind Liam was with Cruz, he really was a great match for him. Both Liam and Cruz each have their own personal issues to deal with, which does mean you’ll find a medium amount of angst here. I loved though how Cruz dealt with his issues related to his best friend, and Liam’s sensitive responses to the situation. On the flip side, Cruz was a great support to Liam with his family issues. They complemented each other perfectly.
You’ll also find some great supporting characters, in particular Jagger and Cameron, best friends who are on the football team with Cruz. Like I’m sure many other readers will be, I’ll be eagerly awaiting their stories (story? Yes, please!). They turn out to be fantastic friends to both Cruz and Liam, and Cruz’s family was wonderful with Liam.
Beautifully Fractured was a 4.5-star read for me, and I am looking forward to more in this series. I’d definitely recommend this to any M/M romance fan, especially if you are looking for a story with an amazing character on the asexual/demisexual spectrum. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
I liked how patient and kind Liam was with Cruz, he really was a great match for him. Both Liam and Cruz each have their own personal issues to deal with, which does mean you’ll find a medium amount of angst here. I loved though how Cruz dealt with his issues related to his best friend, and Liam’s sensitive responses to the situation. On the flip side, Cruz was a great support to Liam with his family issues. They complemented each other perfectly.
You’ll also find some great supporting characters, in particular Jagger and Cameron, best friends who are on the football team with Cruz. Like I’m sure many other readers will be, I’ll be eagerly awaiting their stories (story? Yes, please!). They turn out to be fantastic friends to both Cruz and Liam, and Cruz’s family was wonderful with Liam.
Beautifully Fractured was a 4.5-star read for me, and I am looking forward to more in this series. I’d definitely recommend this to any M/M romance fan, especially if you are looking for a story with an amazing character on the asexual/demisexual spectrum. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
May 8, 2024
DEMI/ACE SEXUAL AWAKENING💕
“Liam taught me it’s okay to need an emotional connection in order to feel physical attraction.”
I’m not sure where Cruz really belongs on the 🌈spectrum but to me he is more Demi sexual than Ace?
The author depicted Cruz’s awakening beautifully with a special emotional connection that he shared with his grouchy roommate Liam.
I loved Cruz as a sunshiny golden retriever character who brought out Liams old sweet, lovable self who was slowly becoming like his clinical, stoic father as a result of grief and family abandonment…
Both characters were broken souls who were in need of healing from a great loss-
“He’s a vision. A fantasy. The missing piece of my soul that I didn’t even know was lost until he found me and helped me realize I was capable of such happiness.”
There are choices to be made and decisions to accept for these two beautiful characters but with the help of Cruz’s teammates Jagger and Cameron and the love and support of his family their journey is set in motion…
A sweet epilogue follows their journey with a hint of what to expect with the next characters…
I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.
“Liam taught me it’s okay to need an emotional connection in order to feel physical attraction.”
I’m not sure where Cruz really belongs on the 🌈spectrum but to me he is more Demi sexual than Ace?
The author depicted Cruz’s awakening beautifully with a special emotional connection that he shared with his grouchy roommate Liam.
I loved Cruz as a sunshiny golden retriever character who brought out Liams old sweet, lovable self who was slowly becoming like his clinical, stoic father as a result of grief and family abandonment…
Both characters were broken souls who were in need of healing from a great loss-
“He’s a vision. A fantasy. The missing piece of my soul that I didn’t even know was lost until he found me and helped me realize I was capable of such happiness.”
There are choices to be made and decisions to accept for these two beautiful characters but with the help of Cruz’s teammates Jagger and Cameron and the love and support of his family their journey is set in motion…
A sweet epilogue follows their journey with a hint of what to expect with the next characters…
I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.
May 20, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Beautifully Fractured started out as a fun college story where the main characters are athletes and their sport is woven into the story. Cruz plays football on the college team and, while Liam had been recruited for lacrosse, he now plays on a club team. Cruz decided not to live in the team dorm, which is he how he wound up rooming with Liam. Liam has had bad experiences with football athletes and is cold to Cruz to start, although he does notice how hot Cruz is. Liam also is estranged from his parents after a family tragedy and he’s been mostly on his own dealing with his feelings of grief and loss. This is something that the guys have in common, as Cruz is also dealing with a tragic loss. However, I felt both of these storylines were too watered down and weren’t given enough supporting details to make either one flow well into the larger story.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Beautifully Fractured started out as a fun college story where the main characters are athletes and their sport is woven into the story. Cruz plays football on the college team and, while Liam had been recruited for lacrosse, he now plays on a club team. Cruz decided not to live in the team dorm, which is he how he wound up rooming with Liam. Liam has had bad experiences with football athletes and is cold to Cruz to start, although he does notice how hot Cruz is. Liam also is estranged from his parents after a family tragedy and he’s been mostly on his own dealing with his feelings of grief and loss. This is something that the guys have in common, as Cruz is also dealing with a tragic loss. However, I felt both of these storylines were too watered down and weren’t given enough supporting details to make either one flow well into the larger story.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
August 6, 2024
Was a beautiful surprise!
This is a heartbreaking love story, intense.
But this MCs are game on their relationship development.
They talk, they experience, they feel they are not afraid to show their vulnerabilities.
I read it in almost one day..
I just couldn 't let it go.
You will find bi awakening, virg1n Mcs, ACE Representation and found family.
This is a heartbreaking love story, intense.
But this MCs are game on their relationship development.
They talk, they experience, they feel they are not afraid to show their vulnerabilities.
I read it in almost one day..
I just couldn 't let it go.
You will find bi awakening, virg1n Mcs, ACE Representation and found family.
May 8, 2024
Cruz & Liam
I'm rounding this up from 3.5. It took me a little bit to get into this one. By the end, though, I did find myself enjoying the overall story.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I'm rounding this up from 3.5. It took me a little bit to get into this one. By the end, though, I did find myself enjoying the overall story.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
January 7, 2025
This was such a fun cute book! I loved both Cruz and Liam. It wasn't a very angsty book but they both went through a lot. The story was fastpaced and I really can't wait to read about the other characters as well... it was also very hot!
February 1, 2026
Low-ish angst (juuust enough tension to make it interesting but not so much to make it stressful), good spice and decent characters that did not annoy the fuck out of me. Solid and easy. Great palate cleanser or recovery read.
January 3, 2025
3.5 ish? Quick read, sweet relationship and good rep! Pretty good for NA, which I am usually mid on!
September 2, 2026
MM. Grump v Sunshine. Roommate Rom. Football MMC is ace.
August 7, 2026
Firstly, frankly, I'm more intrigued by the 2 "straight" friends who straddle each other when they're working out... NGL, that's doing it for me... 🤐😏
----- I've had to revise my review, otherwise it'd be 60 pages long, it may still be long, though... -------
I like their love story, some of the rest I'm not really onboard with TBPH!
Hmmm... a little side note, I listened to the Audiobook, so I thought his name was Crewe & originally I thought that was his surname, but he later says his surname, so it's meant to be his first name & I saw in some of the reviews that I read, that it's meant to be CRUZ... which is a Spanish/Portuguese SURNAME (Catholic countries) because it means CROSS... Having it as a first name is a REALLY odd choice 😬😬😬
As for Cruz & Liam, I do like them, I think they're sweet together & I also LOVE that Liam is aware enough that he knows that starting a relationship with an athlete in a sport that is chock-full of toxic masculinity traits, means being out & proud BEFORE you've made a name for yourself does unfortunately mean that it'd more than likely be career suicide!
It's very sad, but true... also, I have NO idea why a player's sexuality even matters either way as his sexual prowess plays absolutely no part on how well or badly they play... but, hey-ho!
His cousin being a complete dick to Cruz & acting as though Cruz is merely being insensitive rather than prudent rubbed me up thevwrong way!
Especially being a gay man, he should know that being out & proud in a sport where many others do feel the need to hide their sexuality because of the very REAL fact that homophobia & toxic masculinity go hand in hand... hence the reason why there aren't many out players exactly because it sadly (shouldn't, but CAN) affect their chances!
I didn't like that at first, Liam & then subsequently Danny & Cruz's cousin kept forcing the sexuality label onto Cruz. In fact, Danny becomes a bit of a broken & is OBSESSED with Cruz coming out.... WHY?!
He's literally only just figured out that he's possibly asexual/Demi... WHY does he have to come out UNLESS he's both ready or wishes to... that's one if the subplots that is REALLY doing my head in... in fact, it's my least favourite trope in Bi-awakening stories which are (without the gender/sexual politics that ALWAYS get tacked-on 😡🤬) my favourite genre in MM Romances!
Lordy... I think that every single human being on planet earth is capable of entering into a same-sex relationship as sexuality is a lot more fluid than people wish it be & also because you can find yourself falling for someone simply because of WHO they are & how they male you feel! Now, I KNOW that people will want to label that as Pan/Bi or Demi, which fine... but, I think it's more that the heart wants what it wants regardless of sexuality &/or gender 🤷♀️ but I digress...
That IMO, has also become a toxic trait... people are too quick & eager both to label & be privy to other people's sexuality. Back off, let him figure it out himself in his own time.
I do love it though that as the book progresses, Liam does chill TF out with that mess & is firmly on Cruz's corner, naturally because he's getting his own sexual gratification, but it does feel like genuine support & I'm here for it 👍👍
My biggest problem overall with the story is that the author tries so hard to make emotional issues so much bigger than they are, should be or need to be...
Liam refusing to meet Cruz's parents because his own parents are neglectful was going overboard & it did enter into moronic ville.
We're all surrounded by (biological/step/adoptive) parents everywhere we look... your life would be a constant misery if meeting parents were an issue... 🤦♀️🤦♀️
I say this as an 80s child, who grew up without a father in a Catholic country, where being born out of wedlock was/is seen as one of the ultimate sins & being called a bastard (the original meaning of being farherless) was extremely commonplace.
As far as I'm aware, my father is still alive & well & he acknowledged three kids that I'm aware of, but there's a good chance that he had a lot more...
However, I NEVER had an issue meeting my friends, cousins, acquaintance's fathers... EVER! Nor did I hate, begrudge, was jealous nor envious of, spiteful or what have you towards anyone nor felt any type of way by seeing them interact with their fathers. That'd ve moronic!
I can kinda understand SOME reticence perhaps, but acting like you're going to be traumatised for life if you meet somebody else's parents is way too stupid to countenance, I'm sorry... 🤷♀️
Frankly, I sided with Cruz with what he said to his friend... if you're having to put your life on hold to please someone else 😬... that's NEVER a good or healthy choice!
Lord have mercy upon my soul...
Having a crush on someone, lusting after them, finding them ATTRACTIVE are ALL forms of attraction FFS 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
The attempts to make the simplest things have or be far greater than they are is what's doing my head in with this book!
FML, the friend Danny FANNED herself because of Cruz's reaction to thinking about Liam & suddenly she goes in all earnestness & as though she solved the puzzle to life "you didn't mention anything about attraction..." 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
The last time they were together, they were discussing Cruz's CRUSH ( i.e. ATTRACTION) to Liam! STREWTH 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
& then she goes on to say, again in all earnestness "well, my guess is that you aren't experiencing lust or infatuation (that's EXACTLY what it DOES mean 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ FML)... whenever a cute guy or girl catches your eye, that's EXACTLY what's happening... simple ATTRACTION 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
She then goes on to say... "... more like affection..." No, you dumbass, affection AND attraction are NOT synonymous!
We have affection for our loved ones, like parents, siblings, (purely platonic) friends, FWB, even acquaintances, pets, plants, colleagues, etc... give me strength... seriously 🙄
----- I've had to revise my review, otherwise it'd be 60 pages long, it may still be long, though... -------
I like their love story, some of the rest I'm not really onboard with TBPH!
Hmmm... a little side note, I listened to the Audiobook, so I thought his name was Crewe & originally I thought that was his surname, but he later says his surname, so it's meant to be his first name & I saw in some of the reviews that I read, that it's meant to be CRUZ... which is a Spanish/Portuguese SURNAME (Catholic countries) because it means CROSS... Having it as a first name is a REALLY odd choice 😬😬😬
As for Cruz & Liam, I do like them, I think they're sweet together & I also LOVE that Liam is aware enough that he knows that starting a relationship with an athlete in a sport that is chock-full of toxic masculinity traits, means being out & proud BEFORE you've made a name for yourself does unfortunately mean that it'd more than likely be career suicide!
It's very sad, but true... also, I have NO idea why a player's sexuality even matters either way as his sexual prowess plays absolutely no part on how well or badly they play... but, hey-ho!
His cousin being a complete dick to Cruz & acting as though Cruz is merely being insensitive rather than prudent rubbed me up thevwrong way!
Especially being a gay man, he should know that being out & proud in a sport where many others do feel the need to hide their sexuality because of the very REAL fact that homophobia & toxic masculinity go hand in hand... hence the reason why there aren't many out players exactly because it sadly (shouldn't, but CAN) affect their chances!
I didn't like that at first, Liam & then subsequently Danny & Cruz's cousin kept forcing the sexuality label onto Cruz. In fact, Danny becomes a bit of a broken & is OBSESSED with Cruz coming out.... WHY?!
He's literally only just figured out that he's possibly asexual/Demi... WHY does he have to come out UNLESS he's both ready or wishes to... that's one if the subplots that is REALLY doing my head in... in fact, it's my least favourite trope in Bi-awakening stories which are (without the gender/sexual politics that ALWAYS get tacked-on 😡🤬) my favourite genre in MM Romances!
Lordy... I think that every single human being on planet earth is capable of entering into a same-sex relationship as sexuality is a lot more fluid than people wish it be & also because you can find yourself falling for someone simply because of WHO they are & how they male you feel! Now, I KNOW that people will want to label that as Pan/Bi or Demi, which fine... but, I think it's more that the heart wants what it wants regardless of sexuality &/or gender 🤷♀️ but I digress...
That IMO, has also become a toxic trait... people are too quick & eager both to label & be privy to other people's sexuality. Back off, let him figure it out himself in his own time.
I do love it though that as the book progresses, Liam does chill TF out with that mess & is firmly on Cruz's corner, naturally because he's getting his own sexual gratification, but it does feel like genuine support & I'm here for it 👍👍
My biggest problem overall with the story is that the author tries so hard to make emotional issues so much bigger than they are, should be or need to be...
Liam refusing to meet Cruz's parents because his own parents are neglectful was going overboard & it did enter into moronic ville.
We're all surrounded by (biological/step/adoptive) parents everywhere we look... your life would be a constant misery if meeting parents were an issue... 🤦♀️🤦♀️
I say this as an 80s child, who grew up without a father in a Catholic country, where being born out of wedlock was/is seen as one of the ultimate sins & being called a bastard (the original meaning of being farherless) was extremely commonplace.
As far as I'm aware, my father is still alive & well & he acknowledged three kids that I'm aware of, but there's a good chance that he had a lot more...
However, I NEVER had an issue meeting my friends, cousins, acquaintance's fathers... EVER! Nor did I hate, begrudge, was jealous nor envious of, spiteful or what have you towards anyone nor felt any type of way by seeing them interact with their fathers. That'd ve moronic!
I can kinda understand SOME reticence perhaps, but acting like you're going to be traumatised for life if you meet somebody else's parents is way too stupid to countenance, I'm sorry... 🤷♀️
Frankly, I sided with Cruz with what he said to his friend... if you're having to put your life on hold to please someone else 😬... that's NEVER a good or healthy choice!
Lord have mercy upon my soul...
Having a crush on someone, lusting after them, finding them ATTRACTIVE are ALL forms of attraction FFS 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
The attempts to make the simplest things have or be far greater than they are is what's doing my head in with this book!
FML, the friend Danny FANNED herself because of Cruz's reaction to thinking about Liam & suddenly she goes in all earnestness & as though she solved the puzzle to life "you didn't mention anything about attraction..." 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
The last time they were together, they were discussing Cruz's CRUSH ( i.e. ATTRACTION) to Liam! STREWTH 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
& then she goes on to say, again in all earnestness "well, my guess is that you aren't experiencing lust or infatuation (that's EXACTLY what it DOES mean 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ FML)... whenever a cute guy or girl catches your eye, that's EXACTLY what's happening... simple ATTRACTION 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
She then goes on to say... "... more like affection..." No, you dumbass, affection AND attraction are NOT synonymous!
We have affection for our loved ones, like parents, siblings, (purely platonic) friends, FWB, even acquaintances, pets, plants, colleagues, etc... give me strength... seriously 🙄
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