Until We Kiss

Until We #2

by Loren Leigh

Six months ago, everything changed.

I was quarterback for IFU and heading to the NFL draft when a lineman slammed into me.

Before that last moment on the field, I knew who I was. I knew where I was heading. I had confidence, certainty, maybe some cockiness.

Now, I know nothing.

Only that I’m heading on a last spring Break with the guys—five days of sun and sand with my three best friends—and I’m determined to get back to myself.

And the way to do that? It might be unconventional, but there's one thing I’ve wanted to try, one thing I’ve never done.

Being with another guy wasn’t on the forefront of my thoughts before, but now I just need anything to stop me from thinking about the remnants of my life.

The only other thing that helps? My best friend Carter. Big, excitable and always laughing, with his warm hazel eyes and dimpled grin. He takes me out of the dark holes my mind keeps pushing me into.

Hooking up with him never crossed my mind… not really…

But when I step into the shower with him, both of us shivering from a midnight dip in the ocean, my heart starts pummeling, and every part of me responds.

The steam is thick, the water glistening along his skin.

But we’re friends. Bros. I can’t—won’t—risk that.

Except now that I’m looking at him, I can’t stop.


Until We Kiss is a 26k word spring break, friends-to-lovers MM romance novella about overcoming the obstacles that life throws at you.

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Novella, Romance, Sports, Contemporary, LGBT

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2025

About the author

Loren's characters want nothing more than to fall in love--wholeheartedly, deeply and wildly--and they're ready to take you on the journey with them.


Loren writes contemporary m/m romance, spanning from college romance to romantic suspense, with characters who jump off the page and chemistry that's burning hot.


Join Loren's Facebook readers group here:
www.facebook.com/groups/lorenstarlights/

Reviews

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

*screaming crying throwing up* I WISH THEY HAD A FULL LENGTH BOOK!!! I FEEL SO ROBBED!!! I absolutely loved this. Compelling characters, a strong plot plus Loren’s wonderful writing makes for a happy Marci😁😁😁 Miscommunication trope plus an explosive feelings confession…THANK YOU LOREN!!!! The animal facts and Carter the adorable golden retriever puppy human - I LOVE YOU BBY!!!! Theo, I also love you but you get it.🙏🏻 There’s yearning, jealousy, sweetness and real personal growth abound. 💖💖💖

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, this was right up my alley:

Best friends to lovers, delicious pining, ‘just one bed’, a surprising amount of complexity when it comes to the two MCs background and my fav kind of character in form of Carter with the biggest golden retriever energy ever.
I absolutely adored him and all his reverence and excitement and praise about everything Theo 🫠🫠

The epilogue was perfect.

I’m sad this wasn’t a full length novel, simply because I want more more more of them. But it worked really well as a novella as well.

[Mug · Rating 3 out of 5]

for a novella in the popped anthology, i certainly wasn’t expecting the lack of anal💀

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

TROPES:
🌴 Friends to lovers
🌴 Vacation romance
🌴 Only one bed

“What if everything’s changed?”

Another lovely & sweet friends to lovers novella. It did feel somewhat emotionally heavier than the first novella. I don’t know how to explain it, but it just tugged at my heart in a not entirely pleasant way.
Theo’s thoughts and feelings were a bit of an emotional punch I didn’t quite expect in a 100 page novella.

“I CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE.” He shouts so loud that it seems to fill every molecule of air, vibrating between us. “Do what?” “Fucking want you.”

I still really loved it, loved seeing these two finally express their feelings, the island setting.
The feels hit just a little too hard.

“At the end of this story, I’m going to get the guy.” Jesus, Carter. “You already have him.”

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Mentions of past injury & scars
- Depression & anxiety
- No penetrative sex
- Brief rimming

[Jane aka Coughy019 (Safety info included) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as part of the popped anthology. Pasting my review on this one so that I don't forget that I read it.

Until we Kiss by Loren Leigh - 4.5 stars

This is the story of Theo and Carter. They've been friends all of college and they're getting near to graduation. Theo is gay and in the closet, he's never been kissed or done anything, he tried to make a move on his friend Jason in high school and was sneered at and put down. Theo was an athlete, he played football and was aiming to go pro in the NFL. But he had a knee injury that ended his career hopes and he's recovering from it. Theo really struggles with self-esteem and he has depression. Carter is his best friend and a rock for him. Their friend group goes on a vacation to a tropical destination and Theo decides he's going to take this opportunity away from home to hook up with someone random and get over his anxiety, he doesn't want to repeat of what happened with Jason and if it's a stranger and no one knows about it he thinks it'll be fine.

Carter notices Theo's subtle flirting with a guy and he's hurt and a blow-up reveals that they actually both have a crush on each other. They hook up, but Theo realizes that he has no reason to be unhappy, he has a boyfriend who he loves, but he's still not right, he still about to break down. He comes to the realization that it's him that's not right, he needs mental health intervention and he takes the time to do that, with Carter patiently waiting for him. The book flashes forward a year at the end and they're better off for it.

This was really good 4.5 Stars. I'm really impressed with how much story they conveyed in a short novella. It helps that the characters knew each other and had a really really strong relationship as friends for years before the timeline of the novella. There was good depth to the characters and complexity to the storyline. I was really impressed with the mental health representation, it's difficult to get that right in a full length book and the author hit some good notes with displaying the complexity of it. I really enjoyed it, I highlighted tons of passages in yellow which means they were favorite moments. I thought Carter was sweet Golden retriever character, he was funny and loving.

Tropes are friends to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort.

[therese ˃ᴗ˂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started out very, very strong and good. And I am alarmed that the progress is close to 100% and the ending is quite near. What the fuck. Why is the ending like that?? Why? Author shouldnt have made this a novella. The characters have so much story to tell. Quite disappointing.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I didn’t like this one as much as the first one. I liked both of the characters, unlike the first book, but I wish we saw more of them together.

They don’t get together until after 50% and for a book that’s 100 pages that seemed too late to me. Like I said I liked the characters and all the stars are for them. It would have been more but then they have a one year separation between the last chapter and the epilogue and that ruined it for me. They got together so late and then when they finally get together the author decides to throw in a one year later type thing. They didn’t break up they were still together but why have them get together if they were just gonna be apart for so long? Idk but it took a star off for me.

I was also kind of confused on their relationship. Like at the beginning Theo says he’s never had feelings for Carter then they all of a sudden pop up and then I love yous are said after a couple days. It feels like they’ve both had feelings for each other for a while but it’s never said?

OW/OM: Theo had a plan so give his first blow job and wants to find someone on their vacation. He meets a bartender and hangs out with him. Nothing happens but Carter sees them hanging out and decides to kiss a girl because he was upset.

NO CHEATING
OW/OM see above
ONE YEAR LONG DISTANCE
VIRGIN MMC
HFN

[Tare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 3.5 Stars rounded up

I liked this couple more than the first but the ending felt so out of pocket.

But I really loved Carter and Theo and honestly this would have been a great full length novel especially with Theo's mental health struggles.

[Nicole M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Carter and Theo are precious. I typically don't love a best friends to lovers trope but after meeting these two on the last book, I knew I would love them just like I loved Dorian and Rory. Loren Leigh does a great job of writing these characters who learn to love themselves and learn to accept the love offered to them.

[erm · Rating 2 out of 5]

oh heck no

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 5 out of 5]

story of Carter and Theo

This is a best friends to more romance novella, featuring Carter and Theo, and is a book two in the Until We series.

This is a reread for me. I first read this story as part of the Popped anthology and I absolutely loved it. And second time round, I loved it even more.

It’s a sweet low angst read. Carter and his golden retriever ways are so cute and he fiercely loves and supports Theo. They are such a beautiful pair together.

Love this series!

Things to expect in this book are:
Book 2 in series
Novella
MM romance
Low angst
Best friends to more
Spring break
Golden retriever MC
Virgin MC
Only one bed, WOO HOO!
Bi awakening
Spicy first times
Hurt / Comfort
Mental health themes
All in
HEA

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theo + Carter

-mm sweet romance
-best friends to lovers
-spring break fling
-injury insecurities
-ex athlete
-beachy sporty vibe

oh these two were the cutest & i love a good jealous moment & they both had theirs! & it took a minute at the end for them to have their happy ending & it was the best!!

[Nijntje Pluis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Very nice. Liked both main characters, the setting and all Carter's little gestures. It's only a 100 pages, so of course there's limited space for character development, but it wasn't pure fluff either. Well done.

[Christina Sturgill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5 🌟
Spice: 2.5/5 🌶️
Characters: Theo and Carter

[A Damach · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4⭐

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Loren Leigh’s writing, and this book was just as good as her others, but it was way way too short. I felt the same way about the other novella in this series. I wish it was twice as long!

[Trinity · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶/5

TW - depression, homophobia (past, mentioned), career ending sports injury (past, broken bones, recounted, surgery, scars, rehab, mentioned), alcohol consumption

Tropes - jealousy, summer read / beach read, spring break, friends to lovers

Representation - gay rep, mental health rep

I've been waiting for this novella since reading Until We Fall and I enjoyed it cover to cover. Carter (MMC) and Theo (MMC) are best friends. We get this story from Theo's POV who is struggling to find himself after a football injury that ends his career before it's even begun. His struggle with depression is raw and defo pulls on the heart strings. I was nervous about Theo doing a 'love fixes all' but he didn't and it made the story better.

Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪

🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List / The Naughtier List

[Kirstine Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of this novella is centered around Theo, and his depression and anxiety after an injury derailed his whole life. He's also terrified of telling his best friend that he's gay. Thankfully Carter is always there, and this is how he heads off a panic attack on the plane in the beginning of the story:

“Theo?” he asks, in that soft ‘just us’ voice.

Find a fact, Theo.

“Butterflies can taste with their feet,” I say. “That's how they know where to lay their eggs.”

“Really? That’s badass.” He glances as his left foot, shoved out into the aisle. “But now my feet seem ridiculously boring. How cool would it be to taste with your feet?”

“Are you sure you’d want to taste the flavor of the insides of your shoes?”

“Good point.” He looks back at me, then brightens. “Although, we’d probably have flavored shoe inserts if that was the case.”

My lips lift, despite everything else. Despite that big, black hole that feels like it’s edging right on the sides of my vision. “Flavored shoe inserts. That’s pretty brilliant, dude.”

“I know, right!” His dimple pops. “Like hazelnut.”

“Peppermint,” I offer.

He grins. “Birthday cake surprise!”

“Cookie dough.”
“Neapolitan ice cream.”

“Ohhh, yesss.” His lashes flutter, his head tipping back as he groans. “Or… Cinnamon roooolllls. It would be amazing. I’m so fucking jealous of butterflies now, you don’t even know.” He knocks his knee softly against mine. “Feel better?”

I look down at the hair on his leg again, still sticking out with static. “Yeah.”

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ ꒰ 𝟒.𝟖/𝟓 ★ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

this was sooo cute & sweet😭 also full of feels!! which suprised me a bit, i expected a lighthearted besties to lovers novella, kinda like the previous one, but gosh Theo made me tear up🤧 & Carter made me fall in love with him too, he was adorable, so supportive, a total golden retriever💘 i could totally feel his yearning & his little jealousy - all combined, they really hit me in the feels💘 i loved this novella, i ate it up, couldn't put it down, Loren Leigh always entrances me with her amazing writing💗 i'm also beyond greatful to her for steadily feeding my besties to lovers obsession with all these wonderful books🧎‍♀️🥰🤭

⋆｡𖦹 °. 🏈✈️🏝🐋🩹🪨🍹🏖🩳🍌🏐 ༄˚｡⋆

➥ ᴍᴍ
➥ ғɪʀsᴛ-ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ, sɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴘᴏᴠ
☼ ʙᴇsᴛɪᴇs ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs
⛱ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ-ᴀɢᴇᴅ
☼ sᴘʀɪɴɢ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ɢᴇᴛᴀᴡᴀʏ - ᴍᴇxɪᴄᴏ 🇲🇽
⛱ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ʙᴇᴅ
☼ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴘɪɴɪɴɢ
⛱ ʜᴜʀᴛ/ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛ
☼ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇs
⛱ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʟᴏɴᴇ sʜᴏʀᴛ sᴛᴏʀʏ ɪɴ ᴀɴ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟʟᴀ sᴇʀɪᴇs
➥ ᴄᴡ: ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ (ᴅᴇᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴxɪᴇᴛʏ), ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴘᴀsᴛ (sᴘᴏʀᴛs) ɪɴᴊᴜʀʏ (& ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛɪɴɢ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛs ᴏғ ɪᴛ + ᴘᴀɪɴ)

[Kim B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in the Popped Anthology -- happened to start reading Popped right after I read Until We Fall, so perfect timing! A quick review:
Theo and Carter’s story — I had just read Until We Fall, so was excited to see their story in this anthology. Definitely suggest reading Until We Fall first but if that doesn’t happen, read it next. Theo and Carter are best friends and “bros”. Carter is the fun-loving, golden retriever. Theo is more quiet and was a football player hoping to play in the NFL until a knee injury changed his life and left him a bit depressed and without direction. But one person was always there for him…Carter. They are both secretly pining for one another until their spring break trip.

[Chinelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

Friends to lovers would always be my favourite hill.

I loved Theo and Carter, especially Carter. Golden retriever type people are my favourites. Carter was patient with Theo, loving him through the ups and downs. I liked how they had their own little special world when it was just two of them. How Carter softened his voice for Theo and how Theo always made Carter feel enough. This was a short but beautiful read. There's minimum angst in it if you are worried about that.
I liked that Theo took responsibility for his well-being and decided to make things better for his future self and Carter. Finally, I loved how they loved themselves without reservation. It was wholesome.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have absolutely loved all of Loren Leigh’s other books but this one didn’t hit right for me. There were heavier issues that probably should have been addressed in a full length novel but instead they were sort of brushed over. The ending didn’t really make sense, and felt rushed and unrealistic. I will write spoilers below.













Spoilers below the line












Spoilers below
————————————



Spoilers: how could Theo just not come back from spring break? Like what? What about his degree that he was 99.9% of the way through? What about a visa? This did not make sense and was very unsettling. Also I hated that his depression was magically cured by moving to a new place.

[malia ༊·° · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

This was so fucking cute🥹

“I want you to be okay,” he whispers into my ear. “So fucking much. I think about you all the time. I’m going around, pretending to be normal, but the only thing I’m thinking about is you.” He leans back, catching my eyes. “You know I love you too, right? Pebbles and everything.”


<3 <3 <3


“You planned this to help me?”
“Of course.” Then he’s there, warm palms on my biceps, amber eyes, a waft of sunblock. “When someone you love is hurting, you try to help them.”

I love Carter so much omg 🥺🫶🏻

[Bengisu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in the anthology. I'm SO happy I get to rate it here because this was absolutely breathtakingly stupid smile inducing whatever the fck cuteness. I loved every second of it. I haven't read anything this good in so long. I love love love best friends to lovers and man did this author just DELIVER.

It was my first time reading from this author and it seems their books are all bf to lovers and so now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go read every other book they've written. Bye.

[Amity Tribby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding A Future

Carter and Theo were fantastic together. They each wanted the other, but didn't think it was mutual. Theo was also reeling from losing the only future he had planned for. Carter would have done anything to make things easier on him. However, sometimes you just need to find your own way. I am glad they discovered their mutual feelings and explored being together. They are absolutely perfect for each other. Loved it.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four college lads off for a mini holiday before graduation and each then going off in different directions. But our protagonist, Theo, is having mini crisis about his sexual identity and his best friend Carter. It's at times touching and then humorous, but also a wee bit slow. All that aside I did find it a rather sweet story, your heart will go out to gentle but confused Theo who over thinks every thing soooo much.

[Courtney Bickley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one a little bit more than the previous novella in this series, it’s just not a standout compared to others I’ve read lately.
I did like Carter and Theo as a couple, there were some cute moments and I liked how short and sweet it was so there wasn’t any drawn out story points just to create drama.
The only thing that really bugged me was Carter calling Theo bro. Using that as a pet name just weirded me out and didn’t make sense.

[Helen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising exactly no one, I loved this novella! I can’t get enough of Loren Leigh's IFU stories and the men they introduce. Carter’s golden retriever energy drew me right in; he was the embodiment of joy. I also greatly appreciated the mental health representation of Theo’s struggle with his deep-seated depression. It was so fulfilling to see him choose his own health during a pivotal point in the story. Beautifully done, highly recommended!

[Aղցela W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was book 2 in the "Until We Novellas" series. I liked both of these characters Carter and Theo really cute together. Carter and Theo are friends in college. Theo was also reeling from losing the only future he had planned for. Carter would do anything to make it easier for Theo. This was a short quick read that I wished was longer. I liked that the author didn't brush a side Theo's issues with depression. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling.

[Valen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of the Popped Anthology, and it was my favourite one of the bunch. I’ve never read a Loren Leigh I didn’t like (even LOVE - Let’s Do This is just so incredible). Leigh is one of my auto buy authors. Just do yourself a favour and read this and all of her other books! (Also Loren please please give us the next IFU Hockey!)