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Oliver Spalding is back in town and the only souvenir he has from his time overseas is a broken heart. Being home should be revitalizing, but his best friend is dating his dad and Oliver feels like a third wheel.
Feeling unmoored, and out of place, Oliver seeks comfort in the arms of a handsome stranger. Oliver likes his new hookup, but with one recently broken heart under his belt, he doesn’t want to get attached. Oliver’s plans to ghost his new hookup go awry when he finds out who he really is.

Jordan Cooper is a force to be reckoned with when he wants something, and he wants Oliver. When Leo opens a door of opportunity, Jordan takes it and ropes Oliver into his plans to do something special for Leo and Benji. But Oliver is struggling more than anyone knows and if he’s going to pull out of it, he’ll need to let his family support him.

Between a relationship that almost never happened, a wedding that does not go off without a hitch, Oliver learns that the best things in life are worth working for and sometimes we all need a little lift from our friends.

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2023

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About the author

E.M. Denning

97 books558 followers
EM Denning has more than twenty romance novels under her belt and has become an author you can rely on to bring you emotionally endearing, soft and fuzzy, stories. She is well known among her friends for her love of naps and sarcasm. She spends her free time reading as many romance novels as she can get her hands on.

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5 stars
76 (37%)
4 stars
84 (41%)
3 stars
39 (19%)
2 stars
4 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Book Binge: Reviews by Melissa DaSilva.
937 reviews97 followers
February 24, 2024
So this was a cute story. This is the first book I’ve read by this author so going into this book I didn’t know Benji and Leo’s story (the MCs from book 1). I wasn’t lost or confused but they are in the books a lot so I’m guessing I would have connected more with the book if I had read their story and loved them too.

Anyways Jordan and Oliver have a really cool meeting and I really enjoyed how that worked and how they discovered who they really were. They start out with fake names and sexy scenes right away so I was a little confused at times at the beginning when they used different names. However, that doesn’t last too long.

I liked how their relationship developed and how Jordan was very calm, considerate and loving towards Oliver no matter what he was going through. Their HEA was cute. If you read book 1 and enjoy this author I would recommend.
Profile Image for Maggie.
320 reviews6 followers
January 21, 2024
I loved Oliver from the beginning, he was an amazing friend to Benji and now he's in a bad phase mentally. He is depressed after discovering that his ex cheated on her husband with Ollie.

Jordan was so sweet, he was so perfect for Ollie 🥺

"You are my favorite place, my favorite person."
Profile Image for Bee.
1,134 reviews224 followers
January 10, 2025
This was just as beautiful as the first book, honestly. Just as poignant too. I love Oliver and Jordan together. I love how love wasn't a cure for the mental health issues in this book or in the previous one. I love the beautiful writing. I love the characters. I just love all of it. These two books are undoubtedly going to stay with me for a long time.
Profile Image for Abigail Beckwith.
1,780 reviews
June 11, 2024
odl post reposted


Not sure what to read, but I've been meaning to read some more of E.M. Denning's things. Here's "Oliver." It's the second novel in her Walking Disaster series.
["Oliver Spalding is back in town and the only souvenir he has from his time overseas is a broken heart. Being home should be revitalizing, but his best friend is dating his dad and Oliver feels like a third wheel. Feeling unmoored, and out of place, Oliver seeks comfort in the arms of a handsome stranger.

Oliver likes his new hookup, but with one recently broken heart under his belt, he doesn’t want to get attached. Oliver’s plans to ghost his new hookup go awry when he finds out who he really is.

Jordan Cooper is a force to be reckoned with when he wants something, and he wants Oliver. When Leo opens a door of opportunity, Jordan takes it and ropes Oliver into his plans to do something special for Leo and Benji. But Oliver is struggling more than anyone knows and if he’s going to pull out of it, he’ll need to let his family support him.

Between a relationship that almost never happened, a wedding that does not go off without a hitch, Oliver learns that the best things in life are worth working for and sometimes we all need a little lift from our friends."]

Well, while Oliver's best friend and father were falling in love and getting their lives sorted, Oliver's was falling apart. No wonder why he was so freaking sad and grumpy and straight-up miserable. He showed alll of the signs of depression (which were written out and describe well, so mind that trigger warning), but somehow, he still have enough room to squeeze Jordan past his walls.

Jordan thought he didn't have room left in his life or his heart for someone, even if he was feeling more and more alone lately (seeing your best friend fall in love does that). Until he met Oliver. Then he was done, gone, head over heals, ready to sacrifice anything for this man.

These two were so freaking cute. And spicy as hell (seriously, there was more smut in here than plot--not that I'm complaining).

Trigger Warnings: depression

#benji #oliver #walkingdisaster #walkingdisasterseries #emdenning #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
Profile Image for Moni.
420 reviews
December 7, 2023
Oliver was trying to escape a broken heart when he moved back from London, but it turns out healing takes a lot longer than just a plane ride. He finds the perfect, experienced, and hot-as-hell hook up in Jordan … only to realize he cannot escape his one-night stand either.
As much as Oliver is happy for his dad and Benji while they find true love in each other’s arms, he is struggling and doing all he can to cover it up, scratching his itch for human contact with occasional hook ups. But as he discovers, one might come with some complications. It wasn’t planned at all, but Oliver needs help and Jordan is more than willing to take care of him like that’s his only life goal. They are both happy to pretend it’s only sex … but after spending a couple of nights together, Jordan realizes it’s much more than just the physical attraction. Holy hotness, you don’t have to worry about the chemistry between these two, Denning wrote some crazy good scenes for them! There is something in Jordan that soothes Oliver's brokenness. I could feel how solid and special Jordan's personality was, and I understood why Oliver was instantly drawn to him, why he could not stay away from him, even though he didn’t want a relationship at all. I honestly highlighted half the book between Jordan being extremely caring, supporting Oliver's mental health, and being beyond hot with him. Another perfect, low angst, age gap, hurt comfort read that you should not miss.
Hurt/Comfort
Dad’s Best Friend
Age Gap
Mental Health Rep
Steamy
I was fortunate to have received a copy of this book from the author, and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Heather Duff.
1,961 reviews40 followers
December 6, 2023
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Be still my mushy sappy heart. Jordan and Oliver are all kinds of sweet and loving. They are as cuddly as a mountain goat plushy.

An age-gap romance with a wonderful young man who’s been knocked off-kilter by an ex, and a breakup that sent him back home to lick his wounds. It’s not until Jordan, and his BFF Benji, that he finds some hope for the future.

Jordan may be a busy man, he’s Mayor after all, but wow does he know how to court someone. He’s patient and tender, and just really really perfect. Though he’s had his heart broken before and trust damaged, he’s managed to keep his heart open. We could all use a Jordan in our lives.

This story was all kinds of wonderful. I love angsty stories, but sometimes you just need a cuddly story to warm your heart, and Oliver does just that.
Profile Image for Heather MMRomanceReviewed.
1,769 reviews96 followers
December 6, 2023
As much as I would have loved a chance to revisit this world for a third time, the balance and rightness of pairing a Best Friend's Father book with a Father's Best Friend book was just so delicious!

The combination of the best friend dynamics with the father/son dynamic and Oliver's need to heal from his past relationship hurt that mirrored Jordan's less recent past hurt was delicious... and I truly appreciated getting to see the couple from the first book, Benji and Leo, get married!

I will say this book's relationship started backwards - hook ups to dating, but for this couple it worked (and it meant that we didn't have to wait long at all for some amazing steamy scenes...).

While this book could be read standalone, I think it's much better read after Benji. If the author ever wants to give us a chance to revisit these characters, there's always a chance we'd want to read about the helicopter and resort owning friend of Jordan's...
Profile Image for Aimee .
1,210 reviews13 followers
December 6, 2023
I never have enough words to express how much I truly love EM’s books and Oliver is another wonderful story. I needed to hear about Oliver struggling with depression. It hit home for me in a way I wasn’t expecting. Our situations that caused the deprssive episodes may differ but I could see myself so vividly in Oliver…in the way he stuggled with his apartment and unpacking, his inability to smile, and wanting to sleep all the time. I absolutely adored how Jordan was there thru it all, never really pushing or demanding but loving and accepting Oliver and just being a shoulder for him to cry/lean in. Depression is real and I was happy to see how Oliver got help for it and while he wasn’t cured, because it can’t really be cured, he was finally happy and able to smile and laugh and it was real.
Profile Image for Belinda Zamora.
2,968 reviews8 followers
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December 7, 2023
I loved Oliver from Benji's book and I'm so glad we got more of him.
He is such a good friend and really advocated for Benji when he was so down on himself.
He's back from overseas where his life tanked.
A hot hookup with sexy "Dan" AKA Jordan, his dad's best friend and Mayor has him really feeling things.
Jordan was leery of letting someone in again after being hurt but Oliver has also been hurt and more than that he's really struggling.
Jordan was wonderfully supportive and I loved that Oliver's issues were dealt with realistically.
They weren't just brushed aside and there's no magic cure, simply an effort put into finding what works for him and consistently working towards a goal.
I loved seeing Benji and Leo again and it was great for Oliver to see that even though you're the one others depend on, you have to take care of yourself as well.
240 reviews3 followers
February 2, 2024
loved it

I really really enjoyed this book… There is an age gap, but it is literally never acknowledged with actual numbers. The only way you know is because Oliver is best friends with Benji, who is marrying Oliver’s dad Leo, and Jordan is Leo’s best friend.

I was able to look past the age gap, and the best friend/dad, relationship, and focus on Oliver and Jordan, who were so perfect for each other.

It starts in a hook up with fake names and quickly evolves into friends with benefits and absolute bone deep love. Poor Oliver goes through the ringer with his ex and is not in a good place when he gets home but luckily he has the right kind of support to help him get his head back above water, and Oliver is so good in the end and heals so much with Jordan.

Third person dual point of view and deliciously steamy
Profile Image for J.L..
Author 14 books70 followers
December 1, 2023
I know the author had grand plans for a trilogy, but I loved the symmetry of best friend's dad and dad's best friend romances. Even better, Oliver and Jordan are absolutely perfect together.

This book doesn't shy away from the reality of depression, nor does it ever imply that love or a relationship can "cure" it. However, the care that Jordan (and Oliver's best friend and dad) show for Oliver is a glimpse into what any of us who have experienced depression might want. Kudos to Denning for walking that fine line between reality and fantasy so well, without ever losing any of the swooniness or escapism we might want from a romance.

Disclaimer: I received an electronic review copy of this book from the author.
1,135 reviews16 followers
December 3, 2023
I.. really wanted to love this story as much as I enjoyed the characters. I liked the characters, their personalities was good, they learned how to lean on one another, and the characters were fleshed out. I really enjoyed seeing Benji and Leo once again, that was really cool. What I wasn't as fond of was how this book focused on Oliver and Jordan's time in the bedroom rather than them going on dates, or getting to know each other better. Yes Oliver told Jordan about his ex, but that was really the only serious conversation they had. I didn't get any romance from this book, just a whole lot of steam. Now that's not a bad thing, it just isn't my cup of tea. But it could very well be yours!
Profile Image for Fay MMBookworm.
3,145 reviews70 followers
December 5, 2023
4.5 stars
Oliver had returned back from overseas to find his best friend and his dad had a romance in book I.
Sulking in a bar over his past Ex, he meets Dan or aka Jordan and they hookup. Haha I had to laugh at who Scott was and it would involve an ants nest later for both of them.
Scenes play out with Oliver not in a good place but lucky he has Jordan and Benji when he needs them.
We met Benji in the first book and he still finds himself in a mess on the most important day of his life. Sexy scenes included also with lots of emotions going for Ollie.
A beautiful ending to the book with their romance getting an HEA.
Profile Image for Showarst.
1,159 reviews
January 14, 2024
I was really looking forward to this one after reading Benji. I adored Leo and Benji and wanted Oliver to have the same. After getting his heart broken, Oliver comes home to put his life together. I honestly didn’t think that he was ready to start a relationship with Jordan. He was still hurting over his ex and focused on that. Jordan and Oliver never really spent a lot of time together outside of the bedroom so I was really shocked when Jordan said he loved Oliver. It felt too fast and Oliver had too much baggage. I would have loved to have seen them date more. I did love seeing Benji and Leo get married. Those two are pretty sweet.
802 reviews7 followers
December 7, 2023
4.25 Stars

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved getting to see Benji and Leo again. I'm so happy Oliver and Jordan found their way to each other independently and had time to come to terms with how their one night stand became so much more. I'm glad that fate threw them back together after that night and that Jordan was so patient and understanding with Oliver. I was so proud of Oliver finding his way and starting to take back control of his life, especially when he opened up to everyone who loved him. Oliver and Jordan were great together.
1,962 reviews8 followers
November 30, 2023
Loved Oliver and Jordan’s story! I felt so sad for what Oliver was going through but I’m so glad he had Jordan, Benji, and Leo! Jordan was so patient and just perfect for him. These two balanced each other out. This was such a sweet story and I just loved the family dynamics. The author did a great job with a sensitive subject! Very enjoyable read and I highly recommend. This is my honest opinion of this complimentary copy of this book
Profile Image for Sharing The Book Love (Kelli Maree PA).
950 reviews16 followers
December 4, 2023
Best friends dad/dads best friend

Even though Oliver wasnt as much physically prone to accidents than Benji, Ollies book foccusses more on the mental accidents ..well thats how I termed it

It is a bit more gritty, a bit more ansgsty but still a cute sweet age gap read with Oliver and Jordan getting their HEA

And we still get a lot of Benji and Leo story cos well the couples are super intertwined right :) wedding mishaps and all
Profile Image for Terri.
1,669 reviews
December 12, 2023
This was a sweet and very sexy romance. Oliver and Jordan were perfect together. The only stress in their story was caused by Oliver's anxiety and depression, but Jordan didn't let that stop him from falling. Even as he doubted himself, Oliver never doubted Jordan. I loved this romance, and I also loved the other relationships here. The friendships and father-son bond were so important to the story. I went through all the feels while reading this one, and I am happy to recommend it to others.
Profile Image for Tiuri.
481 reviews
January 7, 2024
Very sweet. I liked seeing Benji again because his friendship with Oliver is just amazing, across both books it's the relationship I enjoyed most. I like both books but I like book 1 just a bit more. Book 2, this one, felt just a little bit too close to the idea that everything can be solved with sex. Fortunately it didn't quite cross that line and the final chapter pushed back against that idea so all in all, I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Mary Vitrano.
441 reviews7 followers
December 2, 2023
So good!!! We start this book with several 🔥 scenes, and then, bit by bit, we came to know better Oliver and his struggle. It was a beautiful, very intense reading. I loved how the author portraied all the different relationships. Even if this is a standalone, I definitely recommend to read it after Benji.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.
Profile Image for Brenda.
14 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2023
Worth the wait.

I really enjoyed Oliver. It was warm and fuzzy and very enjoyable. Thanks for the good feelings. I was having a hard time finding something to read that kept my attention. Oliver was a very real character. It was good to see a mc that had real problems to work through.
1,132 reviews1 follower
December 6, 2023
I adored Oliver from the first time his character was mentioned in Benji’s book. Seeing him get his hea was delightful. Jordan is the calm in the storm and he truly knows how to be that reliable sweet person. I loved the cameo appearances from Benji and Leo. This is just a delight.
Profile Image for Amanda Reeves.
3,925 reviews39 followers
December 6, 2023
This is the second book in a duo and while it was great, it wasn't as good as the first book. I did love reading about Oliver and Jordan, it's a very steamy, age gap romance. This one definitely had more s3x in it than the Benji did, but I loved it.
Profile Image for Alicia Meyer.
1,571 reviews2 followers
December 13, 2023
Oliver and Jordan

Closer to a 3.5 but this is a whirlwind romance. For most of the book they are hooking up with some story of Benji and Leo and their wedding. It is a bit too fast paced for my liking but they are sweet together.
Profile Image for Jess (sweet_as_fiction).
223 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2024
Jess’s overall enjoyment: 5/5⭐️
Spice level: 3.5/5 🌶️
Angst level: 3.75/5 ❤️‍🩹
Plot: 3.75/5 🗺️
Writing: 4.5/5 🖊️

I really loved the first book, Benji, so I wasn't sure how this book was going to stack up. However I ended up loving this book just as much! I adore the dynamic between Jordan and Oliver, and how understanding Jordan is of Oliver's situation. Oliver is in such a bad place right now and he knows it, and while he's not doing himself many favors he also isn't be a total bonehead which is refreshing. It felt cozy, intimate, normal, and sexy to read. Jordan and Oliver's relationship made my heart hurt because of how sweet it is.
75 reviews1 follower
August 1, 2024
Deserving of love despite the past's baggage

I loved this book. I loved insecure Benji and confident Leo, and I loved broken Oliver and patient Jordan. Despite the baggage each man carried from their pasts, they found love and acceptance in each other's arms.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews