Tropes: fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, Golden retriever/black cat, actor/actor
Feels: 5/5
Steam*: 3.5/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: banter, touch starved / cuddling
I loved this book! This was right up my alley. Chase and Amos are in college studying acting, they both want to be actors. They haven't really interacted a lot but they've been in each other's periphery as they participate in drama classes and such together. I think they're both in their last year? Chase is a golden retriever carefree fuckboy who doesn't do relationships and everyone on campus knows that, he's bi. Amos is a gay grumpy black cat, friendless because he's antisocial but hot and mysterious. The college is doing a reality TV 90210/Friends story that follows three couples and two friends. It's supposed to be method acting, with their characters being as close to who they are as people as possible. They get paired together as an established relationship, a gay couple who has been together for over a year, so they have to be very comfortable with each other. Chase is very cuddly and inserts himself directly into Amos's space. They develop an intense comfort with each other, they so easily slip into sharing physical space and having deep talks. They constantly get lost in their own little world and are oblivious to people around them watching them, trying to talk to them, or filming.
They had beautiful bickering and bantering. Amos is a grump and Chase just goes to work at battering down any distance between them and worming his way closer and closer to Amos. And Amos bickers back, but secretly he loves every moment. I'd call this relatively slow burn, they don't even talk about doing anything until the 56% mark, first real kiss at 59%. This was a beautiful story, I really loved the humor and the feelings they had. It was hilarious how oblivious the guys were to their surroundings and everyone shipped them and were fascinated by them.
Some notable moments:
The snuggling in this book was top tier!! "I went over and tapped his knee, then sat down right in between his legs leaning back against him. I was beginning to think this could be my new favorite spot. “Are you okay there?” “I am now.” I sighed as I made myself comfortable, which included taking his hand and draping his arm over my chest. “I’m just going to assume that if you need less people time that does not include me. I’ll be quiet, I just don’t want you to be alone.”"
Words cannot describe how much I love this dynamic. I love a clingy grabby touch starved for their person, cuddle monster! And the grump begrudgingly putting up with it but secretly loving it. "Deirdre came over for the iPad. “Well, you two look very relaxed.” I made a point of trying to remove Chase’s arm from my waist and failing. “He’s like those dryer sheets,” I said. “You know the staticky ones that stick to everything. He’s like that.” “He’s called me worse,” Chase mumbled, seemingly undeterred. “Staticky dryer sheet is a compliment coming from him.” I sighed. “It’s not too late for a partner change, right?”"
Their bickering is adorable "“You are insufferable. Has anyone ever told you that?” “You do. A lot,” he said, pouting because I was kind of squishing his cheeks. “But you’re really fucking cute. And you drive me so crazy I could scream.” “In a good way?” “No.” He made a squishy sad face. “Oh.”"
"“Oooh, I know. You could do me.” “I thought you said—” “That was past-me. Now-me wants it, and future-me agrees.” “Chase,” he murmured. “Just a little orgasm. It doesn’t have to be a big orgasm. Just a little one.” He looked up to the sky and sighed."
*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.