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Unfix Me

Resist Me

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Whoever claimed that opposites attract was smoking something. West and Lincoln couldn't be more different. The only thing they have in common is their position on the football team, which will soon be West's. He doesn't need to fight for it, but he wants to. From the moment he met Lincoln, he wanted to challenge him, to prove himself worthy of taking his crown. Rivalry really was bitter and it could prove to be a dangerous game.

When the last game of the season concludes, West isn't sure what to think of his former teammate. He assumed they wouldn't see each other anymore, but they just keep running into each other- at his apartment, on campus, and in coffee shops. And when he really stops to think about it, he wonders if there's more to Lincoln than his star quarterback status. The question how much does he care

West is a firm believer in the fluidity of attraction, but when he finds himself grappling with whatever is growing between them, he has to confront more than just his sexuality. Between school, Lincoln, and the arrival of his sister in Seattle, there are too many variables at play, too many things that can go wrong, and ways for him to fail. If he can't find balance, he might just let his greatest fears consume him.

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 8, 2024

63 people are currently reading
328 people want to read

About the author

Emory Weste

5 books89 followers
I am an 18+ MM romance author.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
Profile Image for Lau ♡.
586 reviews623 followers
October 24, 2024
Lincoln doesn’t really care about football. Despite being good enough to the NFL, he’s going to pursue a PhD in music and say goodbye to the team after four years of being a quarterback. He’s looking forward to this, especially because he won’t have to endure spoiled brat West again, who is determined to hate him for no reason. Lincoln can’t stand the guy, and the feeling is mutual. But the more they talk, the more he starts to feel a pull towards him. Too bad West is straight, because all that energy he has could be used for something fun.


Resist Me is a shelf as an enemies to lovers sports romances but, as it usually happens, it’s more of a ‘I hate you because I can’t stand you’ type of book. I tend to dislike when characters keep telling us readers that ‘they hate the other person’ when it’s clear they don’t, and I dislike even more seeing them telling each other ‘i hate you’ as if they were little kids. So, when I started this arc, I was very anxious it was going to keep going like that. I was already wondering why I was back at reading arcs when they give me lots of anxiety, but the book quickly took a turn and I realized I had started worrying way too soon.

My favorite part about this book was Lincoln, he was a fantastic character and I connected with him very quickly. He was an introvert, funny and kind but also able to say no when he wasn’t treated fairly and seeing him take care of West warmed my heart. While a lot of readers enjoy the ‘i hate you’ attitude (there’s a lot of this here), I enjoy when characters stop faking their feelings and let the others see their true selves. I also appreciated the slow burn at the beginning.💫

West brought his hand up and ran his fingers through my hair. I resisted the urge to tell him how long I'd spent taming these godforsaken curls.
Lincoln is so relatable i can't
😆


There was a scene where West it’s extremely tired because there are roaches in his room that don’t let him sleep and Lincoln, despite not being his friend, lets him crash at his place so the poor guy can rest. Everything that happens after that keeps playing in my head when I think about this book. I adored every single sentence of it because West was too tired to fake his arrogance and hatred and they finally talked as friends.

West was a character I didn’t actually connect with. He has a very dark past, his father hates him for something that wasn’t his fault and West is unable to love himself because of that. He likes to put on a happy smile but he’s always hurting on the inside. He’s a bit crazy and I feel I would have enjoyed his character if it wasn’t because he didn’t feel real for me. In part I think it was because some of the dialogues, especially the ones between West and his father, felt forced, so I couldn’t shake the feeling of ‘this is only a book’ and didn’t actually get into those parts.

Talking about West and his father, you should know that this book deals with some heavy themes (there’s a trigger list inside the book if you need to check them out). I enjoy lighthearted college romances over drama, adding the fact that I didn’t love how it was executed (I felt his father was very cartoonish) made me not love that part of the book. I also hate when the main characters resolve the problems using violence. If a behavior is not okay between a woman and a man, it’s also not okay in a relationship between two people of the same genre. I couldn’t shake the ‘red flag’ feeling that a scene at 63% left me, but it was told almost as if it was something normal.

That being said, I read this book in only one sitting and, when I finished it, it made me crave binge reading mm college romances. I can’t remember the last time I felt the urge to do this, so I was very grateful that the parts I liked-the lighthearted ones when Lincoln and West dropped the ‘I hate you’ act-had that impact on me. Also, this author has amazing music taste, now when I listen to Too Sweet I can't stop picturing West and Lincoln signing along.


I kindly received an ARC from Booksirens in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


*Rating: 2.5 stars
Profile Image for xxBooksILovexx.
781 reviews43 followers
October 14, 2024
I loved this story so much! Linc & West worked really hard to get the HEA they both really deserved . This book had my emotions all over the place. I laughed and I cried. Enemies to lovers is my absolute favorite trope and Emory did an amazing job delivering. I’m so sad it’s over. I’m not ready to let them go. And bonus - I was happy to spend more time with Sen & Kai!
Profile Image for Saskia Veldhuis .
1,993 reviews15 followers
November 12, 2024
4.25 stars. West was my favourite type of character to read - really broken and suffering but hiding it behind an over the top, irritating but amusing wall. There was so much more to him than he let people see, and it was lovely how Linc figured that out and kept pushing. The mutual irritation and dislike was quite convincing, and the irritation didn't magically go away, which was good. I could have lived without the cockroach plague, though (shudder).
Profile Image for Natalie.
578 reviews147 followers
November 10, 2024
West & Lincoln
Rating: (to be updated)

- Hurt/Comfort
- Extrovert/Introvert
- College Romance
- Found Family
- Football Players
- Competitive Streak
- Sunshine/Golden Retriever
- Fear of Commitment
- Piano Playing

*RTC*

I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Julia Toth.
460 reviews9 followers
November 10, 2024
This was my first Emory Weste novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I felt I could understanding everything even without reading book 1, but I'm curious to go back and read Kai and Sen's story too.
It was a slow build up towards Lincoln and West getting together, but I really enjoyed how it all played out and I felt like the speed was perfect so that we could get to know both of them. Both of them had their issues, but Lincoln was very put together, despite everything. I loved that they both slowly developed feelings for each other despite how much they annoyed each other and that they couldn't resist getting into each others orbits. I loved that Linc really tried to help West with his issues and that he always fought for him and them and that he always communicated with West and tried to get him to talk too, instead of running away. Lincoln could be bossy when it came to talking and working through things and I really enjoyed that.
I loved their back and forth and they could be very funny. West was dramatic and so very energetic, over the top and bright, while Lincoln was more of an introvert and did things for his benefit without caring what others thought; he was content to be on the sidelines. Lincoln didn't need attention, but West thrived on it and would do anything to get the attention he wanted. West also just wanted someone to love him and fight for him, and thankfully Lincoln was there to do it. West was exactly what Lincoln needed to shake him up a bit and make his life brighter. I loved them together and they felt like a perfect pair. They were sweet and also swoony at times, but also fun. I loved how slightly aggressive they were and that they sometimes enjoyed pushing each others buttons.
It did get a bit emotional in the end and I got teary eyed. I also really enjoyed the epilogue.

Definitely recommend this book if you enjoy reading about college football players trying to communicate healthily.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kenny Danewitz raveh.
624 reviews34 followers
February 18, 2026
This was a great read. it was very well written, I loved both characters and even though it was book#2 I didn't read book#1 and didn't feel like I was missing something. One of my absolute favorite book is And Then You by Briar Prescott and this one gave me the same vibes. highly recommended.
Profile Image for Jordan.
37 reviews13 followers
November 8, 2024
I loved West and Linc. This book has a totally different vibe from Unfix Me, but rightfully so since it is enemies to lovers. West has a different trauma/hard life upbringing than Sen did in book 1 and it causes him to keep his walls up towards outsiders. He can love fiercely… but only the few who already penetrated those walls. Lincoln is exactly what he needed. Lincoln was so MATURE. Maturity = sexy. Lincoln knew exactly when to push him and his boundaries and when to give him space to do his own thinking and come to terms on his own. There is lots of heated time in bed, some defending each others’ honor, and character/relationship development that is so fun to see West finally accept love. This book has lots of laughs and Emory did a fantastic job of weaving in humor with the deeper elements of this book! Give this couple a read! 🫶
Profile Image for Kristi.
453 reviews11 followers
November 10, 2024
"Hey West?"
"Hmm?"
"Will you let me call you mine?" 😍

*Swoon*

Resist Me by Emory Weste is the second book in the series. I read Unfix Me, where we learn about Kai and Sen. In that book, we are introduced to Lincoln and West. Book 2 dives deeper into these two, and I love it.

West is the wild child, untamable guy and Kai's ride or die. Tormented by his past and his terrible relationship with his father, West is quick to negative reactions and shutting down. His twin sister Willow is also dealing with her terrible past, and West takes the blame for not protecting her.

West and Lincoln are quarterbacks on the college football team and they can't stand one another. Linc is the polar opposite of West. He's introverted, needs alone time, passive. But something about West gets under his skin.

As their relationship changes after one night of force proximity (due to a cockroach - beware) they begin to realize that there are feelings under those frustrations and their push and pull is delicious.

Linc shows West that he is worthy of love and West helps Linc to be a little less rigid.

I really loved these characters. The boys all return, and we get a sneak peek of Brooks and what is brewing with him. The vulnerability of West is so sweet and his sexual fluidity of loving who you love is beautiful. The fun banter and chiding is back as well as some serious stuff. I really love this series and can't wait for the next one!!

Story: 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 4/5 🍆🍆🍆🍆
Characters: 5/5 🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂
Banter:4/5 😂😂😂😂
Profile Image for beautiful journey。.
156 reviews8 followers
November 14, 2024
No i o tym właśnie myślałam, gdy zobaczyłam, że West jest bohaterem drugiej części. Nieprzewidywalny i niepokorny, a w duecie z Lincolnem tworzą mieszankę wybuchową. Jest śmiesznie, iskrzy, jest też trochę dramatów (jako rodzic miałam duży problem z zachowaniem ojca Westa), czasami coś mi fabularnie zgrzytało, no ale zwaliłam to na karb tego, że autorka chciała mieć historię chłopaków z gorącymi głowami. Także ten - czekam na Brooksa!
Profile Image for Kaylee.
225 reviews5 followers
February 20, 2025
This was another book I found in my kindle suggested in an attempt to find something sad and dramatic. I liked this book but it was not my favorite.

I felt like there was a lot of things this book could have down better and ways it could have been better but overall this book had such an amazing set up to have this huge dramatic 3rd break up act or angsty comment and it just didn't take it?
So it kinda just became this string of passive aggressive acceptance, like the open MMC would get upset that the other also open MMC wasn't willing to be anything official but they we'd forget about it and move on, just for this same sequence to happen another 7 times. It became a little much and made me want to pull my hair out.

This dialogue was also SOO modern I hated it. I saw words like "hella" being thrown around etc etc and I just couldn't it made me cringe
Profile Image for ✿ Deanna Lea  ✿.
255 reviews19 followers
November 10, 2024
So damn cute 😍

Another amazing MM Romance by Emory ❤️❤️

Lincoln and Wes are so perfect and so freaking cute. The perfect enemies to loves ❤️ 😍

Thank you Emory for allowing me to read and review ❤️
Profile Image for •mikaela• :).
277 reviews11 followers
August 25, 2025
✨ARC Review✨

Gah, why was this book so god damned cute. 🥺

West is just an adorable yet full on man child that shouldn’t be left alone and needs constant surveillance. Like a destructive puppy. 💁🏻‍♀️
Linc is just a big tattooed biker looking dude with golden retriever energy. I love him. 😭

Love the character development, the slow burn, and the heartache these characters go through. And also seeing Kia and Sen from book one, the cutie patooties. 🥰

The ending had me cackling. The best happy ever after EVER. 🫶🏻
3 reviews
February 18, 2025
Poorly Written

I haven’t finished yet, so not sure about the love story, but I will always rate books low when they don’t understand the basics of the sport they are based on. US college football doesn’t play past the first week of January and this book already has them playing in March. It only takes 1 quick online search to know this and makes the book writing lazy.
Profile Image for TeeReads.
624 reviews23 followers
June 30, 2024
This was a beta read, and I loved it! Definitely check this out when it releases later this year.
Profile Image for Heidi.
124 reviews2 followers
November 14, 2024
If you loved Unfix Me, the first book in this series, then your going to enjoy this one as well. In this follow-up, we get to catch up with Kai and Sen, who are still going strong, while the focus shifts to Lincoln and West's story. You might remember West from book one—he's the guy with heavy family baggage and a fierce drive to protect his little sister. As we dive deeper, we see how he carries a big chip on his shoulder, mostly as a survival tactic. Lincoln, meanwhile, has his own family loss but a strong support system in his grandparents. On the surface, he looks like he has it together, but he’s quietly struggling with expectations to go pro in football, sidelining his passion for music. Because if you can make it to the NFL, shouldn’t you?
These two start out as sworn enemies, though West does seem a bit too eager to keep that anger alive. But as they start to drop their walls, the inevitable happens—they soften and, yes, they fall for each other. Like Unfix Me, this book explores family trauma and difficult parental relationships, though it’s a bit lighter than the intense themes like conversion therapy that came up in book one. Overall, it’s an engaging read that kept me hooked, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t connect quite as deeply with Lincoln and West. I would’ve loved to see them soften even more in those intimate moments. But the vibe is great, and I’m definitely excited to see where the series heads next!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Ash.
402 reviews28 followers
November 1, 2024
West and Lincoln are just perfection. The way they find the line between love and hate and ride that bad boy until the end.

Lincoln is so broody and stoic but just a softy in his core. The way he cares for West is fairytale level swoon (eventually 🤪).

West. My love. My sweet man. With the weight of the world on his shoulders. The fierce protector who deserves someone to protect him. He’s my favorite and I’ll never change my mind.

Their relationship isn’t traditional, or at least it doesn’t begin that way. They’re both rude and kinda cocky. They both play the same position with West taking over Lincoln’s role once he leaves. Their rivalry is just them being rude basically 😂😂

Anywho, I love them so much. They live rent free in my head. 🖤

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was grateful to be able to beta read this.🖤

Profile Image for molly.
393 reviews7 followers
May 2, 2025
The cover is great and some of the banter was really well written, but sad to say - there was more I didn’t like than did. First of all, no college football player at what is described as "one of the top schools for football" would challenge the starting QB to a duel, put fish in their locker, flip them off during a game (and if it's a top school that game is being televised)... I had a hard time getting past this and almost stopped reading 10% in. I absolutely loved Lincoln's character and thought the author did a wonderful job writing his personality and verbiage. On the flipside, West was SO wildly written that I had a hard time liking him and definitely didn't feel the romance or chemistry. They also went from rivals to sex so fast I had whiplash.
Profile Image for Christy Ritchie.
17 reviews
October 16, 2024
I am absolutely obsessed with Linc and West! The banter, the emotions, the spice! It's as close to perfect as you can get ❤️
Profile Image for Kaez.
186 reviews
November 8, 2024
3.75⭐️

i’m enjoying this series so much! both books so far had had such different vibes but it fits for the characters! let me just say i loved lincoln so much, i really connected to him in the sense that he’s a kind of a loner, likes his space, and just tends to keep to himself! i also think he was the perfect match for west, he knew when to push him and then when he needed to step back and give him space!

now west has some super high walls up but he loves so fiercely when he lets people in! i loved that about him, he has his people and he just adores them. i really liked getting to see west’s character development throughout the story, i honestly wasn’t sure how i felt about him at first but seeing him grow and try to be better was just great.

i also loved getting to see my babies sen and kai!! the pacing was a little slow for me in some places but i overall really liked it! and i can’t wait for the next book!!
Profile Image for Syd.
66 reviews2 followers
December 10, 2025
I’m not crying, you’re crying 🥹
Profile Image for Lorna.
106 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2025
It was cute. The writing style changed a bit throughout and I found the jumps from certain scenes to be a little disjointed but overall I enjoyed it. It was an easy read and I enjoyed the jokes throughout.

I found out that the author has already written about Kai and Sen so I will be reading that one.

Worth a read if you want something cute and quick.
161 reviews15 followers
May 8, 2025
West. I think he's my soul brother. I've never said "OMG I would have done the same" so often while reading a book.

If you like rivals to lovers (or mortal enemies, as west calls them), you'll love this one. Poor Lincoln works so hard to get to West's heart and I was there for every second of it. The tension between the two of them was just perfect.

I am absolutely in love with this series. Resist Me has a spot in my top 5 of 2025. This book spoke to my heart.
Profile Image for Alia.
153 reviews40 followers
April 15, 2025
What a great sequel! West and Lincoln are great. Again there is a lots of parental trauma but the author handled it with care. I love all the side characters and how they play a role in the overall development of the story. Emory’s writing is so easy to read and follow. Emory is quickly becoming a favourite author! The spice was perfect in this. The enemies to lives trope was executed perfectly. They really did hate each other and I loved how Lincoln is there for West even when West doesn’t deserve it. I can’t wait to read the next!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
34 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2025
DNF. Was trying to wait for West to redeem himself for overall being an ass but I ultimately gave up on that when I was more than halfway through and he hadn’t changed a bit. The only reason I’m giving this 2 start is for Lincoln. Sorry not sorry. This just wasn’t for me. I have more to say about this book but I’m annoyed and need to go read something else to forget.
Profile Image for Mello.
306 reviews28 followers
November 16, 2024
4.75⭐

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, BookSirens and the author, for the opportunity.

What to expect:
📍Versatile couple
📍College setting
📍Enemies to lovers
📍Slow burn
📍High tension
📍Hurt/comfort
📍Opposites attract (introvert x extrovert)
📍Bickering couple
📍Slight angst
📍Mental health
📍Found family
📍Fluid sexuality

After reading the first book in the series, which I was fortunate enough to review with an ARC, I felt very intrigued by West's story. So this was a book I was looking forward to with high expectations. However, it surprised me to find that it was not at all what I thought it would be. It wasn't necessarily a negative surprise, just unexpected in many ways.

I went crazy about West and discovered that he was a much more complex character, full of problems and flaws. I was skeptical of Lincoln and it turns out I love him now because he is THE GREEN FLAG EVERYONE DESERVES IN THEIR LIVES. The dynamics and conflicts took directions and outcomes I didn't see coming either. All this just goes to show that this is a good book and its characters feel very human, a big win in my opinion for the author who once again won me over with her engaging storytelling.

I enjoyed the frequent cameos of the main characters from the first book. That book left quite a mark on me and it was nice to be reminded of it. Especially the bond between Sen and West was much stronger in this book. I love reading about diverse characters with complicated lives full of problems and traumas. But even more, I love to see how they manage to be happy and rise above it all.

Another thing this story had going for it was how much I could relate to Lincoln. This man is a total mood. He is my inner spirit now. We are very similar in personality and have common goals and expectations. It felt good to read about someone like him. I liked his reactions to everything that happened (I'm not going to talk about West and his self-destructive tendencies just because it stresses me to think about it).

West's family situation was sad to read, but the way the author presented it was quite sensitive. Especially the character of the twin sister, I liked that she didn't follow the victim stereotype and was more than instrumental to the plot. The ending of this conflict and some of the comments and behaviors were not quite what I would have liked, but that's not a big deal, it was a plausible and meaningful resolution.

All in all, a great story, a fun couple with great chemistry, complex and relatable characters, lots of hurt/comfort, and good found family vibes. Oh, and let's not forget the cockroaches. The icing on the cake for this recommendation.

PS: I'm serious, cockroaches should have their own trigger warning. It was disgustingly unexpected and graphic. Ugh!
Profile Image for M's ☆~HEA~☆.
1,386 reviews59 followers
January 18, 2025
This is book 2 from the author and they have grown leaps & bounds in their talent from book 1. West & Linc are such beautifully written, complex, perfectly imperfect, well-formed characters. Both men feel like real people and I truly understand why they act as they do and why they fit together so well.
“You took my bed, ate my cake, and read my book. Do you want to wear my clothes too?” I cocked my head. “Would you let me?” “No. I’m being facetious.” “Fancy.”
These two had me actually laughing out loud so many times. They had this amusing rivalry that was more snarky than nasty. West has a huge personality that just does not quit & Linc is able to appreciate him, reel him him if necessary, and let him shine when appropriate.
Watching his long fingers move across the keys woke something in me. I moved my gaze to his face: his high cheekbones, the paleness of his skin below his dark hair, and his beautiful blue eyes when he glanced at me. His hands stilled as he stared back at me. The silence in the room made the tension unbearable. And I just… gave up. I grasped the back of his neck and leaned in.
I don't care if it's cliche or whatever but these two are swoon-worthy. It's definitely a slower burn romance and they don't start out pining for each other. West actually takes quite awhile to warm up to Linc's advances. And omg they are simply the hottest together.

“Can you stand to look at my face or should I flip you over?” Instead of using my words, I grabbed his arms and pulled him closer. He used his knees to spread my legs further apart. His teeth clamped down on my lower lip, drawing a groan from my throat.
💙I found Linc so relatable. He's an introvert with a huge heart.💙 If West annoys you remember he's only 18!!💙We also got tons of the other guys included really really special moments with Kai & Sen💙 We even got some wonderful scenes with Eli which made me sob of course!💙The epilogue was insanely perfect.💙I freaking love this book💙
Profile Image for Theodore.
1,061 reviews18 followers
March 9, 2025
Story was generally ok and I probably would've rated this higher if it wasn't for how annoying West was.

The relationship dynamic was just a bit too unbalanced. Lincoln was the one who kept reaching out everytime West pulled back. Would've been nice if it was reversed at least once to show that West was just as invested.

The turning point where West was supposed to start to like Lincoln also didn't really make sense. It had come right after Lincoln confessed to having West hurt and then the next scene was basically West agreeing to practice with him in the rain? At least Lincoln's turning point was believable when he saw West sleeping in the rain.

Also was not a fan of Willow and her mess of a life. I get the trauma she suffered, but her complete lack of awareness regarding West and their dad was honestly irritating.

I'm glad that West and his dad did not reconcile though! Definitely happy that there was no forgiveness.

Weird that we got Sen meeting Travis in this book as opposed to the last one. Felt more appropriate to have it in his and Kai's story.

TL;DR West and Lincoln's relationship was truly toxic and imbalanced. Lincoln was fine, West and his side of the story was neutral to annoying.
Profile Image for noa A.
513 reviews3 followers
March 29, 2025
In one word? Childish
There's no reason for them to be rivals and there's no reason for them to fall in love.

West is just childish and annoying, I couldn't connect with his character at all, he's like a little boy with moods that don't match his seemingly difficult life story.

I actually liked Lincoln, but I'm not sure what his attraction is to West, if someone acts like an idiot you stay away from them, don't seek out their company!

This is a romantic book, I didn't want the characters to be together.

PS His sister is also really annoying.
Profile Image for GreenwingReads.
343 reviews2 followers
November 9, 2024
Another great book from Emory Weste!

Resist Me is the next book following Unfix Me. The story features West Densmore and his rival Lincoln Porter. West is Kai's somewhat crazy and wild best friend. West has plenty of his own demons, which he pushes aside in favor of taking care of those he loves.

I thought West was an interesting character. He has been through a lot, and as I learned more about him, his chaotic and self-sabatoging behavior made sense. West isn't afraid to love, he does so fiercely. He is terrified to allow someone to love him. His character arc is centered around a fear of abandonment.

Lincoln is older than West (22 to West's 18). He is more mature, settled, and stable. He's the anchor that West needed and West grows a lot during the evolution of his relationship with Lincoln. I really liked Lincoln. He is compassionate, but not a doormat. I thought he was the perfect counterpoint for West. It was surprising how willing he was to put up with West's nonsense before he knew the reason behind it, but his patience and steadiness are Lincoln's defining characteristics. Where West is hot, Lincoln is cool.

Another thing I liked about the relationship between West and Lincoln is that this wasn't an "I say I hate you but I've always secretly wanted you" enemies-to-lovers story. These two legitimately disliked each other. It isn't until they come to get to know one another better that their feelings began to change.

Emory's writing is deeply emotional and the stories they tell are raw and real and sometimes hard, but always beautiful. There were plenty of lighthearted moments with West's antics to provide breaks from the heaviness. The dialogue is witty and entertaining.

All that said, I wish I could have seen more of West's feelings. Even to himself, he didn't often think about how he was feeling or what he was afraid of, especially in terms of his relationship with Lincoln. There was a lot of longing for something similar when he watched Kai and Sen together, but I didn't feel the evolution of his affection for Lincoln the way I felt Lincoln's for him. I did love seeing the connection West and Sen shared.

I found West's twin sister Willow a bit frustrating. She had her own share of trauma and was hiding something that was eating away at her. However, I didn't fully buy the reason why she kept it to herself. She could be deeply intuitive about West and knew him so well, but that didn't stop her from behaving in ways that were, frankly, sometimes cruel because she knew her behavior was triggering him. She seemed sometimes to downplay everything West did for her and what he endured himself to justify her own behavior, which made her seem selfish to me. I won't say what West went through was worse than what Willow did because the traumas they experienced were horrific and also very different. But West lived through so much and endured it for ten years. I felt like Willow could have been more cognizant of that. If someone treated my brother the way West was, I don't care who they are or how differently they treated me, I wouldn't want anything to do with them. Full stop.

Finally, I think the story could have done with some more thorough editing for punctuation and grammar. As this is only their second book, I expect Emory's already talented style will only improve from here. I look forward to more from these characters!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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