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The Boys of Apartment 13 #2
Lover Boy: The Boys of Apartment 13 Book 2
Lover boy Cadence Howard is unlucky in love...
Cade
Kissing my best friend was a stupid mistake. It earned me a few good hits to the face by his hulking boyfriend, Sebastian, and I can admit that I deserved that. Agreeing to let my stepbrother move in is another stupid mistake, and every single day since he moved in feels worse than Sebastian's beefy fists.
Nicolas Aldana has always hated me. His dad marrying my mom ruined his life, and he never lets me forget it. And I hate him too. I don't care how big of a glow-up the guy has had, I. Hate. Him.
But what I don't hate is the way his hands feel wrapped around my neck...
Nic
My life has sucked ever since my dad left me and my mom. My mom fell apart and my dad couldn't care less. Why would he? He had a new wife and a better son to love.
I can't stand my stepmom, but I hate my stepbrother. He's the son my dad loves and the friend everyone wants to be around. That's why living with him has to be temporary. There's just no way I can handle being couped up with him for long.
But there's just something about the way he takes my hate...
**Lover Boy is a spicy MM romance with moderate angst that features two stepbrothers who love to hate each other. This is book two in a series of interconnected standalones. For a deatailed list of possible triggers as well as the sorts of naughty fun you can look forward to, please check out the Look Inside feature.**
Cade
Kissing my best friend was a stupid mistake. It earned me a few good hits to the face by his hulking boyfriend, Sebastian, and I can admit that I deserved that. Agreeing to let my stepbrother move in is another stupid mistake, and every single day since he moved in feels worse than Sebastian's beefy fists.
Nicolas Aldana has always hated me. His dad marrying my mom ruined his life, and he never lets me forget it. And I hate him too. I don't care how big of a glow-up the guy has had, I. Hate. Him.
But what I don't hate is the way his hands feel wrapped around my neck...
Nic
My life has sucked ever since my dad left me and my mom. My mom fell apart and my dad couldn't care less. Why would he? He had a new wife and a better son to love.
I can't stand my stepmom, but I hate my stepbrother. He's the son my dad loves and the friend everyone wants to be around. That's why living with him has to be temporary. There's just no way I can handle being couped up with him for long.
But there's just something about the way he takes my hate...
**Lover Boy is a spicy MM romance with moderate angst that features two stepbrothers who love to hate each other. This is book two in a series of interconnected standalones. For a deatailed list of possible triggers as well as the sorts of naughty fun you can look forward to, please check out the Look Inside feature.**
260 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2024
261 people are currently reading
1352 people want to read
About the author
Brianna Flores
3 books430 followersWhen Brianna Flores isn't writing romance books, she's reading them! She currently lives in Arizona, and if you're nearby, you can probably hear her arguing with the fictional characters she conjures up in her head as she sips on the tenth cup of coffee she's had that day.
If you want to tell her it's weird to talk to imaginary people–no matter how attractive they are–you can email her at BriannaFloresAuthor@gmail.com.
If you want to tell her it's weird to talk to imaginary people–no matter how attractive they are–you can email her at BriannaFloresAuthor@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 414 reviews
October 1, 2024
3.5 Stars
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD‼️
I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, I didn't connect with the characters, but by the end, I did end up liking them. That said, the ending felt rushed. How do we go from not knowing if they’re even dating to getting married in four days? It felt unrealistic. Cade’s mom was another issue for me. How Nic's dad still married to her after everything that happened is beyond me. That woman deserves to be stoned. I also felt there were too many loose ends or plot points brushed over, like the book could’ve been better if it had more time to flesh everything out.
Liam was another point of frustration. I love him, but as Cade’s friend, he annoyed the hell out of me. It seemed like he was one of those friends who ditch you when they get into get a boyfriend. Yes, Cade kissed him, but still, the way he treated Cade afterward just wasn’t great. And don’t even get me started on Jax—my heart broke for him. When he told Cade how Sebastian ditches him for Liam, it just made me so mad for him. The part where Jax jokingly asked if he could share Nic with Cade and Cade’s reply—“He likes his ass a little less yappy”—was just unnecessary and downright rude.
One thing I did love, though, was Nic’s obsession with Cade from the beginning. I mean this man was dropping lines like this,
"I’m making all the wrong choices where he’s concerned. Looking for him when I should be avoiding him. Trading shifts with coworkers so we work together, even if it’s only an hour or two. Staying at home, in our room all the time, hoping he’ll return like an idiot. Stopping the meds I probably still need just so I can come without knowing for sure if he even wants that from me anymore."
The miscommunication between Cade and Nic was frustrating at times. If they’d just talked openly about their insecurities, things would’ve been so much easier. But I will give the author credit for how Nic’s insecurities about his scars were handled. Cade’s actions—taking care of Nic’s scars without making a big deal out of it—spoke louder than words, and it was a beautiful moment that showed how much Cade truly cared.
This quote,
Cade: “Damn.” He lays down beside me, aggressively shoving hair off his forehead. “You look stupid when you come.”
Nic: I watch him run his fingertips through the mess splattered across his six-pack, feeling all sorts of comfortable lying next to him. “Well, you look beautiful when you come.” He looks crazy in that moment—actually demented or dying—but it doesn’t feel like a lie to tell him differently. He is beautiful. Always. 😫😫
Despite all my frustrations, I really did enjoy the book. The spice was top-tier—Brianna Flores really knows how to write steamy scenes and tension! Nic and Cade’s chemistry was off the charts, but I do wish there had been more focus on their emotional connection. The book leaned more into their sexual chemistry and the fact that they couldn't keep their hands off of each other, and by the time they finally communicated it was rushed and suddenly they were together in the future, and the book was over..
All in all, Lover Boy was a wild ride. It frustrated me at times, but it also had moments that I absolutely loved like the chase scene 🥵🔥
________________
Pre-Read:
OMG!!! How did I NOT know that this book was OUT??!!! Screaming crying throwing up
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD‼️
I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, I didn't connect with the characters, but by the end, I did end up liking them. That said, the ending felt rushed. How do we go from not knowing if they’re even dating to getting married in four days? It felt unrealistic. Cade’s mom was another issue for me. How Nic's dad still married to her after everything that happened is beyond me. That woman deserves to be stoned. I also felt there were too many loose ends or plot points brushed over, like the book could’ve been better if it had more time to flesh everything out.
Liam was another point of frustration. I love him, but as Cade’s friend, he annoyed the hell out of me. It seemed like he was one of those friends who ditch you when they get into get a boyfriend. Yes, Cade kissed him, but still, the way he treated Cade afterward just wasn’t great. And don’t even get me started on Jax—my heart broke for him. When he told Cade how Sebastian ditches him for Liam, it just made me so mad for him. The part where Jax jokingly asked if he could share Nic with Cade and Cade’s reply—“He likes his ass a little less yappy”—was just unnecessary and downright rude.
One thing I did love, though, was Nic’s obsession with Cade from the beginning. I mean this man was dropping lines like this,
"I’m making all the wrong choices where he’s concerned. Looking for him when I should be avoiding him. Trading shifts with coworkers so we work together, even if it’s only an hour or two. Staying at home, in our room all the time, hoping he’ll return like an idiot. Stopping the meds I probably still need just so I can come without knowing for sure if he even wants that from me anymore."
The miscommunication between Cade and Nic was frustrating at times. If they’d just talked openly about their insecurities, things would’ve been so much easier. But I will give the author credit for how Nic’s insecurities about his scars were handled. Cade’s actions—taking care of Nic’s scars without making a big deal out of it—spoke louder than words, and it was a beautiful moment that showed how much Cade truly cared.
This quote,
Cade: “Damn.” He lays down beside me, aggressively shoving hair off his forehead. “You look stupid when you come.”
Nic: I watch him run his fingertips through the mess splattered across his six-pack, feeling all sorts of comfortable lying next to him. “Well, you look beautiful when you come.” He looks crazy in that moment—actually demented or dying—but it doesn’t feel like a lie to tell him differently. He is beautiful. Always. 😫😫
Despite all my frustrations, I really did enjoy the book. The spice was top-tier—Brianna Flores really knows how to write steamy scenes and tension! Nic and Cade’s chemistry was off the charts, but I do wish there had been more focus on their emotional connection. The book leaned more into their sexual chemistry and the fact that they couldn't keep their hands off of each other, and by the time they finally communicated it was rushed and suddenly they were together in the future, and the book was over..
All in all, Lover Boy was a wild ride. It frustrated me at times, but it also had moments that I absolutely loved like the chase scene 🥵🔥
________________
Pre-Read:
OMG!!! How did I NOT know that this book was OUT??!!! Screaming crying throwing up
October 7, 2024
you’ve heard of “i have concepts of a plan”, get ready for “i have concepts of a book”💀💀 hahaha the ideas were there for sure, but the execution of all of them was so unsatisfying😭 like seriously, everything felt embryonic…and then, all of the sudden, we’re rushing at the end?? like EXTREME RUSHING ahaha like that vegas shit was outta nowhere helppppp😭😭😭 i finished it in case i needed to know anything for the next book or if there were any interactions/hints for the next book’s couple (there isn’t, but there is a blurb at the end) bc yes i’ll still be tuning in for book 3 shhh🤣🤣
October 1, 2024
˗ˏˋ ꒰ 𝟓/𝟓 ★ ꒱ ˎˊ˗
omfg this book!!!!! i LOVED every second of this book!!!!❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 even when it hurt😭 Cade & Nic just stole my heart completely, i felt so much for them, & they deserved the bestest HEA after everything they've been through🥺❤️🩹
tbf i felt for Cade in book one already, i was so rooting for him ever since🥺 also to be completely honest, i loved this book much better than book one🙈 don't get me wrong!! Pretty Boy was fab & everything BUT this book-!!!!!! i have no words lol it was ✨impeccable✨ & worth all that wait! the pacing was so well-done, i got sucked into the story right away! moreover, the MCs were so lovable & perfectly written with enough back story & emotions that i could really connect with them & feel for them💘💘💘
Nic specifically was the character i resonated with the most & on a deeper level - he was dealing with so much, emotions & pain, that i teared up a few times.. his insecurities were so heartbreaking especially bc everyone was like 'he's the sexiest guy i've ever seen, hotter than any model ever' yet he thought the worst of himself, never even considering that so many ppl viewed him completely differently🥺 he also felt so lonely & unlovable, i just wanted to wrap him in bubble wrap & protect him from everything & everyone😭❤️🩹
also, his vitiligo made him beautifully unique, i loved how obsessed Cade was with him & how he couldn't help being attracted to Nic🔥 (also the author made an artwork of Nic & he's really the hottest!!)
Cade was also dealing with lots of negative emotions among feeling unlovable which kinda seems ironic for both MCs to feel this way - yet their book is called Lover Boy c,:
ik some ppl disliked Cade in the previous book & i'm like??🤨??? but okay sure valid i guess but- i was kinda mad at his bestie, Liam instead for making Cade feel so alone, like that was absolutely not bestie behavior to neglect his childhood bff just bc he got a boyfriend & bc Cade (accidentally🤫😬) kissed him😭 so yeah Liam was generally cute* but also grrrrr ( •̀ - •́ )
[* especially when he interacted with Seb🔥]
⤷ this made me so giddy!! like yess so well-said Nic👏 justice for Cade!!😤🙈
i definitely see now how Liam & Cade could've never worked,, bc Cade & Nic were just meant to be, so perfect for each other🥺❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 their dynamic with all that "hate" & sexual tension & banter was just extremely hot!! also the taboo/forbidden aspect of their relationship with Nic calling Cade 'little brother' had me weak in the knees🫠
i'm gonna yap some more (ig i got influenced by Jax lol🤪) bc Cade was quoting 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 in this book & it's 🍂hoa hoa hoa season🍂 & i literally just finished rewatching the whole series so this was just a perfect coincidence ig that made me "🤭" ahaha 🐀✨
here's some more yapping: Cade & Nick was lowkey giving Kade & Nicky vibes (from Dirty Love) so naturally they're now also among my top fave stepbrothers💞 (the similar names were a total coincidence!i asked Brianna🙈 bc i'm a stalker & i can't stop obsessing about these boys😭😆)
last but not least, a bit more about the side characters: i loved Baby in this book too!!! especially his & Nic's friendship💕 super excited for his book!! Logan was pretty absent from this book👀 & who really suprised me was Jax! (i kinda disliked him in the previous book🙈 but he totally grew on me in this one, i'm so curious about him now!! also Jax & Cade together were something else lol 🚘👀🤭)
Lover Boy was ✨everything✨ with all the feelssss, Brianna totally slayyyyed with this one, & as i mentioned before, it was worth all the wait!!❤️🔥 & now onto waiting yet again for the rest of apartment 13's boys ahahaaaaa c,:
𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥
ᴛᴀʏʟᴏʀ sᴡɪғᴛ
─•───────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺
【 જ⁀➴ 𝓲 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓬 𝓲 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻 𝓿𝓲𝓪 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓢𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓽.ᐟ 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝔀𝓷, 𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓾𝓲𝓷𝓮 (𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓬) 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ⊹˙✧ 】
➥ ᴍᴍ ❴ʙɪ × ɢᴀʏ❵
➥ ғɪʀsᴛ-ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ, ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ
ᰔ ᴛᴀʙᴏᴏ/ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ: sᴛᴇᴘʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀs
ᰔ 'ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs' ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs
ᰔ ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʀᴇᴛʀɪᴇᴠᴇʀ × ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄᴀᴛ
ᰔ ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ - ʀᴏᴏᴍᴍᴀᴛᴇs
ᰔ ʜᴜʀᴛ/ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛ
ᰔ ᴊ/ᴘ - “ᴍɪɴᴇ”
ᰔ ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ ʀᴇᴘ - ᴛʜᴇʀᴀᴘʏ ᴘᴏsɪᴛɪᴠɪᴛʏ
ᰔ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇs
ᰔ ᴇʀᴇᴄᴛɪʟᴇ ᴅʏsғᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ʙᴄ ᴏғ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
ᰔ ʜᴀᴛᴇ sᴇx, ʟɪɢʜᴛ sᴀᴅᴏᴍᴀsᴏᴄʜɪsᴍ
ᰔ ᴅᴇɢʀᴀᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ & ᴘʀᴀɪsᴇ
ᰔ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴘʟᴀʏ, ʜᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴄᴋʟᴀᴄᴇs
ᰔ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ᴘʟᴀʏ
ᰔ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ sᴇʀɪᴇs
➽ ᴛᴡ: ʟɪɢʜᴛ sᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ (ʙʏ ᴍᴄ), ᴄɴᴄ, ᴅᴇᴘɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏғ sᴇʟғ-ʜᴀʀᴍ ᴀɴᴅ sᴄᴀʀʀɪ��ɢ (ʙᴜʀɴ sᴄᴀʀs, ᴏғғ-ᴘᴀɢᴇ), ᴅᴇᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ (ᴍᴄ, sᴄ) ᴀɴxɪᴇᴛʏ (ᴍᴄ), ᴅᴇᴘɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏғ ᴄʜʀᴏɴɪᴄ ᴘᴀɪɴ (ᴍᴄ), ɴᴇɢᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢs ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠɪɴɢ ɪɴsᴇᴄᴜʀɪᴛɪᴇs (ᴍᴄs), ɪɴᴊᴜʀʏ/ɪɴᴊᴜʀʏ ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟs (ᴍᴄ), ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ (ɴᴏᴛ ɢʀᴀᴘʜɪᴄ), sᴀғᴇᴡᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ, ᴍɪɴɪᴍᴀʟ ᴘʀᴇᴘ, ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛ (ʙʏ sᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴇ, ᴏғғ ᴘᴀɢᴇ), ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ʟᴏss (ᴏғ sᴄ, ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ), ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ɴᴇɢʟᴇᴄᴛ (ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ, ᴏғғ-ᴘᴀɢᴇ), ɴᴀᴍᴇ-ᴄᴀʟʟɪɴɢ (ʙʏ ᴍᴄ, "ᴡʜᴏʀᴇ" + "ʜᴏᴍᴏs"), ᴅɪsᴄᴜssɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍs (ᴏғ sᴄ)
· 𔓘 · ──────── · ၄၃ · ──────── · 𔓘 ·
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞:
omg screaming crying throwing up i just got my ARC!!!!!😭🙊❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
hope Brianna is doing well💞
❝ 𝑯𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕. 𝑯𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒑𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒐𝒓 𝑰’𝒍𝒍… 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒕, 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘.
𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆. ❞
omfg this book!!!!! i LOVED every second of this book!!!!❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 even when it hurt😭 Cade & Nic just stole my heart completely, i felt so much for them, & they deserved the bestest HEA after everything they've been through🥺❤️🩹
tbf i felt for Cade in book one already, i was so rooting for him ever since🥺 also to be completely honest, i loved this book much better than book one🙈 don't get me wrong!! Pretty Boy was fab & everything BUT this book-!!!!!! i have no words lol it was ✨impeccable✨ & worth all that wait! the pacing was so well-done, i got sucked into the story right away! moreover, the MCs were so lovable & perfectly written with enough back story & emotions that i could really connect with them & feel for them💘💘💘
Nic specifically was the character i resonated with the most & on a deeper level - he was dealing with so much, emotions & pain, that i teared up a few times.. his insecurities were so heartbreaking especially bc everyone was like 'he's the sexiest guy i've ever seen, hotter than any model ever' yet he thought the worst of himself, never even considering that so many ppl viewed him completely differently🥺 he also felt so lonely & unlovable, i just wanted to wrap him in bubble wrap & protect him from everything & everyone😭❤️🩹
also, his vitiligo made him beautifully unique, i loved how obsessed Cade was with him & how he couldn't help being attracted to Nic🔥 (also the author made an artwork of Nic & he's really the hottest!!)
Cade was also dealing with lots of negative emotions among feeling unlovable which kinda seems ironic for both MCs to feel this way - yet their book is called Lover Boy c,:
ik some ppl disliked Cade in the previous book & i'm like??🤨??? but okay sure valid i guess but- i was kinda mad at his bestie, Liam instead for making Cade feel so alone, like that was absolutely not bestie behavior to neglect his childhood bff just bc he got a boyfriend & bc Cade (accidentally🤫😬) kissed him😭 so yeah Liam was generally cute* but also grrrrr ( •̀ - •́ )
[* especially when he interacted with Seb🔥]
❝ 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑳𝒊𝒂𝒎 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒌𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕—𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒚𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅?
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉. 𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎—𝑳𝒊𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒇𝒚 𝒅𝒖𝒅𝒆. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒅𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒖𝒈𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎.
𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞. ❞
⤷ this made me so giddy!! like yess so well-said Nic👏 justice for Cade!!😤🙈
i definitely see now how Liam & Cade could've never worked,, bc Cade & Nic were just meant to be, so perfect for each other🥺❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 their dynamic with all that "hate" & sexual tension & banter was just extremely hot!! also the taboo/forbidden aspect of their relationship with Nic calling Cade 'little brother' had me weak in the knees🫠
❝ “𝑴𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒆.” 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏—𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔. 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒆—𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌. 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆. 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒃𝒆, 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉. “𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅.” ❞
i'm gonna yap some more (ig i got influenced by Jax lol🤪) bc Cade was quoting 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 in this book & it's 🍂hoa hoa hoa season🍂 & i literally just finished rewatching the whole series so this was just a perfect coincidence ig that made me "🤭" ahaha 🐀✨
❝ 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍—𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆—𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚. 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒏. 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔. 𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒎-𝒄𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒎𝒐 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍, 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝑬𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒓𝒆-𝒄𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒎𝒐 𝒃𝒐𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆. ❞
here's some more yapping: Cade & Nick was lowkey giving Kade & Nicky vibes (from Dirty Love) so naturally they're now also among my top fave stepbrothers💞 (the similar names were a total coincidence!
last but not least, a bit more about the side characters: i loved Baby in this book too!!! especially his & Nic's friendship💕 super excited for his book!! Logan was pretty absent from this book👀 & who really suprised me was Jax! (i kinda disliked him in the previous book🙈 but he totally grew on me in this one, i'm so curious about him now!! also Jax & Cade together were something else lol 🚘👀🤭)
❝ “𝑩𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒚, 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔,” 𝑱𝒂𝒙 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒔 𝑵𝒊𝒄 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒕. “𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒚𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
“𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒚𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅.” 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕, 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒛𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒖𝒎𝒃 𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. ❞
Lover Boy was ✨everything✨ with all the feelssss, Brianna totally slayyyyed with this one, & as i mentioned before, it was worth all the wait!!❤️🔥 & now onto waiting yet again for the rest of apartment 13's boys ahahaaaaa c,:
𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥
ᴛᴀʏʟᴏʀ sᴡɪғᴛ
─•───────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺
【 જ⁀➴ 𝓲 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓬 𝓲 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻 𝓿𝓲𝓪 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓢𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓽.ᐟ 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝔀𝓷, 𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓾𝓲𝓷𝓮 (𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓬) 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ⊹˙✧ 】
➥ ᴍᴍ ❴ʙɪ × ɢᴀʏ❵
➥ ғɪʀsᴛ-ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ, ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ
ᰔ ᴛᴀʙᴏᴏ/ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ: sᴛᴇᴘʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀs
ᰔ 'ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs' ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs
ᰔ ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʀᴇᴛʀɪᴇᴠᴇʀ × ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄᴀᴛ
ᰔ ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ - ʀᴏᴏᴍᴍᴀᴛᴇs
ᰔ ʜᴜʀᴛ/ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛ
ᰔ ᴊ/ᴘ - “ᴍɪɴᴇ”
ᰔ ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ ʀᴇᴘ - ᴛʜᴇʀᴀᴘʏ ᴘᴏsɪᴛɪᴠɪᴛʏ
ᰔ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇs
ᰔ ᴇʀᴇᴄᴛɪʟᴇ ᴅʏsғᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ʙᴄ ᴏғ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
ᰔ ʜᴀᴛᴇ sᴇx, ʟɪɢʜᴛ sᴀᴅᴏᴍᴀsᴏᴄʜɪsᴍ
ᰔ ᴅᴇɢʀᴀᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ & ᴘʀᴀɪsᴇ
ᰔ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴘʟᴀʏ, ʜᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴄᴋʟᴀᴄᴇs
ᰔ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ᴘʟᴀʏ
ᰔ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ sᴇʀɪᴇs
➽ ᴛᴡ: ʟɪɢʜᴛ sᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ (ʙʏ ᴍᴄ), ᴄɴᴄ, ᴅᴇᴘɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏғ sᴇʟғ-ʜᴀʀᴍ ᴀɴᴅ sᴄᴀʀʀɪ��ɢ (ʙᴜʀɴ sᴄᴀʀs, ᴏғғ-ᴘᴀɢᴇ), ᴅᴇᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ (ᴍᴄ, sᴄ) ᴀɴxɪᴇᴛʏ (ᴍᴄ), ᴅᴇᴘɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏғ ᴄʜʀᴏɴɪᴄ ᴘᴀɪɴ (ᴍᴄ), ɴᴇɢᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢs ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠɪɴɢ ɪɴsᴇᴄᴜʀɪᴛɪᴇs (ᴍᴄs), ɪɴᴊᴜʀʏ/ɪɴᴊᴜʀʏ ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟs (ᴍᴄ), ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ (ɴᴏᴛ ɢʀᴀᴘʜɪᴄ), sᴀғᴇᴡᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ, ᴍɪɴɪᴍᴀʟ ᴘʀᴇᴘ, ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛ (ʙʏ sᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴇ, ᴏғғ ᴘᴀɢᴇ), ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ʟᴏss (ᴏғ sᴄ, ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ), ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ɴᴇɢʟᴇᴄᴛ (ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ, ᴏғғ-ᴘᴀɢᴇ), ɴᴀᴍᴇ-ᴄᴀʟʟɪɴɢ (ʙʏ ᴍᴄ, "ᴡʜᴏʀᴇ" + "ʜᴏᴍᴏs"), ᴅɪsᴄᴜssɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍs (ᴏғ sᴄ)
· 𔓘 · ──────── · ၄၃ · ──────── · 𔓘 ·
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞:
omg screaming crying throwing up i just got my ARC!!!!!😭🙊❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
hope Brianna is doing well💞
September 29, 2024
5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“‘I could’ve sworn that I’ve been in love before, Nic, but I was wrong. This is—it’s everything. You’re everything.’”
I know everyone has their opinions about Cade from Pretty Boy, but I’ve always had a soft spot for him and really never felt any type of negative way towards him, and his book only further cemented that. He’s just an adorable little broken boy who wants to belong to someone. And his stepbrother, Nic, is an even more broken boy who just needs to be loved.
I adored these two. The way I just put my life on hold for this book is nothing short of ridiculous but I was addicted to them and couldn’t stop reading. The degradation, the codependency, the jealousy and possessiveness and mild stalking… Everything just absolutely worked for me. Where Liam and Bash are completely adorable and non-toxic together, Cade and Nic are the 100% opposite of that. And I was obsessed.
I feel like the ending went a little fast, and I wish we got more time with them, but I love everything that happened. “Beating” their parents to getting married was actually everything and the kind of petty I aspire to be. Cade’s mom can also go fuck all the way off. I’m just so glad Cade picked Nic in the end and proved his love for him.
The way that I already need Baby’s and Jax’s books. I’m so thrilled they both had more time in this book because I adore both of them. Baby deserves the entire world, and I just want to put Jax in my pocket and keep him safe. I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment of this series and anything else Brianna gives us. The way she writes is so beautiful and real, and I’m here for all of it!
*I received a free advanced copy of this book from Booksprout and this is my voluntary, honest review
Bookstagram | Booktok
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
“‘I could’ve sworn that I’ve been in love before, Nic, but I was wrong. This is—it’s everything. You’re everything.’”
I know everyone has their opinions about Cade from Pretty Boy, but I’ve always had a soft spot for him and really never felt any type of negative way towards him, and his book only further cemented that. He’s just an adorable little broken boy who wants to belong to someone. And his stepbrother, Nic, is an even more broken boy who just needs to be loved.
I adored these two. The way I just put my life on hold for this book is nothing short of ridiculous but I was addicted to them and couldn’t stop reading. The degradation, the codependency, the jealousy and possessiveness and mild stalking… Everything just absolutely worked for me. Where Liam and Bash are completely adorable and non-toxic together, Cade and Nic are the 100% opposite of that. And I was obsessed.
I feel like the ending went a little fast, and I wish we got more time with them, but I love everything that happened. “Beating” their parents to getting married was actually everything and the kind of petty I aspire to be. Cade’s mom can also go fuck all the way off. I’m just so glad Cade picked Nic in the end and proved his love for him.
The way that I already need Baby’s and Jax’s books. I’m so thrilled they both had more time in this book because I adore both of them. Baby deserves the entire world, and I just want to put Jax in my pocket and keep him safe. I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment of this series and anything else Brianna gives us. The way she writes is so beautiful and real, and I’m here for all of it!
*I received a free advanced copy of this book from Booksprout and this is my voluntary, honest review
Bookstagram | Booktok
October 1, 2024
this is good.
however i could tell that the author rushed some parts of it. i do get the pressure of releasing it after pushing it back, however i’d rather wait more rather than feeling that it could’ve been better
however i could tell that the author rushed some parts of it. i do get the pressure of releasing it after pushing it back, however i’d rather wait more rather than feeling that it could’ve been better
March 18, 2025
My kryptonite is definitely sad boys and stepbrothers 😂 For me personally I just find a book so much more engaging when a character is emotionally vulnerable and engaging, whether they make me cry or laugh with them, as long as I feel that connection I am a super happy reader.
I loved Cade and Nic pretty much right from the start. Their insecurities and feeling unwanted by everyone hit me in the heart and made me teary eyed. I wanted to hug them both so hard! It was cool to see Cade realise though that he and Liam would never have been compatible even if anything had cdeveloped between them - they both wanted the complete opposite to each other and I hope we see their friendship repairing more over the books to come.
The progression of Cade and Nic's relationship kept my attention the whole time and I loved their back and forth. The way they go from despising each other to being marshmallows on the inside for each other was adorable. I was also totally surprised by the ending, yet also not because it felt like a very them thing to do! The extended epilogue was also really fun to see them getting ready for Liam and Seb's wedding too because it wasn't detailed in their own book.
I absolutely hated Cade's mother. It's not often that I call someone a bitch and genuinely mean it, but that woman was a stone cold bitch and there was never going to be a way to redeem her for me. Her behaviour and choices were so abhorrent - Nic was an angry and upset kid because her actions along with his dad's caused his mum to spiral so badly! What a selfish, petty woman...
I'm kind of intrigued for Baby and Logan's story, but I'll be totally honest, Jax has grown on me like an unwanted fungus and now I really need to see that sad boy get a HEA so badly!
I loved Cade and Nic pretty much right from the start. Their insecurities and feeling unwanted by everyone hit me in the heart and made me teary eyed. I wanted to hug them both so hard! It was cool to see Cade realise though that he and Liam would never have been compatible even if anything had cdeveloped between them - they both wanted the complete opposite to each other and I hope we see their friendship repairing more over the books to come.
The progression of Cade and Nic's relationship kept my attention the whole time and I loved their back and forth. The way they go from despising each other to being marshmallows on the inside for each other was adorable. I was also totally surprised by the ending, yet also not because it felt like a very them thing to do! The extended epilogue was also really fun to see them getting ready for Liam and Seb's wedding too because it wasn't detailed in their own book.
I absolutely hated Cade's mother. It's not often that I call someone a bitch and genuinely mean it, but that woman was a stone cold bitch and there was never going to be a way to redeem her for me. Her behaviour and choices were so abhorrent - Nic was an angry and upset kid because her actions along with his dad's caused his mum to spiral so badly! What a selfish, petty woman...
I'm kind of intrigued for Baby and Logan's story, but I'll be totally honest, Jax has grown on me like an unwanted fungus and now I really need to see that sad boy get a HEA so badly!
November 3, 2024
Wtf did I just read?? That ending?! Why do I do this to myself? There are so many amazing books on my TBR but I see one good review and all my sanity goes out the window in one impulsive poof. Proper review to come when I’m feeling less ranty.
October 3, 2024
I can’t wait for this book 🫶🏻 I dont get the low ratings just cause the release date was pushed back cause of the authors health… I think health is more important ❤️
Just finished the book and LOVED it! Idk I just love how the author writes her characters. I care about all the characters so much. Cannot wait for the rest of the series 🫶🏻
Just finished the book and LOVED it! Idk I just love how the author writes her characters. I care about all the characters so much. Cannot wait for the rest of the series 🫶🏻
November 6, 2024
Worth the wait
Ooo I love a good hurt/comfort story and Cade and Nic put me right in my lil feels 🥺
I know it’s toxic af to say but I loved their nasty banter and hateful dynamic bc I knew the feels after they got past it were gonna be so good 🥵 And they so were!!! The sex scenes were sooo damned good!! 🥵 I liked that there was some underlying feelings that were begrudgingly recognized on both sides. They really did care underneath all that misunderstood and misdirected hate…(it should’ve been directed at Cade’s mom🙄) Cade was sooo hard on himself and though there were reasons he should’ve been he just needed someone to love. And my bby Nic, I just wanted to give that prickly boy a hug 🥺 I actually love an enemies to lovers story where the hatred lasts more than than 40-50% of the book I feel like it’s way more worth it in the end! I think the book could’ve done with maybe 50 more pages to give them more time after the walls and hate broke down but I still ate this story tf up.
Ooo I love a good hurt/comfort story and Cade and Nic put me right in my lil feels 🥺
I know it’s toxic af to say but I loved their nasty banter and hateful dynamic bc I knew the feels after they got past it were gonna be so good 🥵 And they so were!!! The sex scenes were sooo damned good!! 🥵 I liked that there was some underlying feelings that were begrudgingly recognized on both sides. They really did care underneath all that misunderstood and misdirected hate…(it should’ve been directed at Cade’s mom🙄) Cade was sooo hard on himself and though there were reasons he should’ve been he just needed someone to love. And my bby Nic, I just wanted to give that prickly boy a hug 🥺 I actually love an enemies to lovers story where the hatred lasts more than than 40-50% of the book I feel like it’s way more worth it in the end! I think the book could’ve done with maybe 50 more pages to give them more time after the walls and hate broke down but I still ate this story tf up.
November 8, 2024
Man, how I wish I could have given this 5 stars like the first book.
It had so much of what I loved about the first book. The insane sexual chemistry between Cade and Nic, the intense feelings that grow between them, the feeling of not being able to put this down and rushing through it.
This would 100% have gotten 5 stars from me, if the second half, especially the ending, hadn't been so rushed.
I would have waited longer to read this if we'd gotten to have more time with these two, more time of them dealing with all their issues, with each other and apart, and dealing with their parents - and also if the stepbrother thing had been utilized in a fun, great way. Once again, it was like it didn't matter that they were stepbrothers. In fact, it was more of an afterthought than anything.
And anything that could have come from it, like Cade's mother having a problem at the end, was glossed over in once sentence, and we didn't even get to see her reaction.
It just felt like, the closer we got to the end, the more the author was trying to rush to finish this book.
I wanted these two to talk about so much more than they did. I wanted to get to Nic being more comfortable with deeper kisses with Cade. The fact that we didn't get many kisses in this bummed me out. And what we did was tentative. Sweet, but tentative all the same.
Also? I love that they like damn it was SO rushed and out of NOWHERE.
The epilogue is 4 years later, and that would have been a great time for
All that screams rushed, rushed, rushed. Even if they
I'd say the the last....oh, I don't know 20%, 30% or so, is about a 3 star read for me. The rest is a 5 star read, so I'm evening out at 4 stars.
I think if this book had gotten a proper ending, proper time to breathe with everything that happened, with proper time put into resolving their issues and the plot lines, this book would have been on par with the first book for me.
But it took too many missteps at the finish line for me to give this the 5 stars I so wish I could give it.
Because Cade and Nic were just SO intriguing together, so explosive, and I adored them together so much that they deserved a better, more fleshed out ending. I needed to see that proper conversation they had at , I needed to see them confront their parents, even if nothing changed in their parents behavior. I needed a much less rushed ending, with more than a page or so of epilogue chapters.
I just had too much I wanted but didn't get. Some much of this story was really good, really fun and entertaining and absorbing, but the payoff wasn't good enough, because there was barely any at the end. We just needed more. Sucks how sometimes the more boring books with no plot line and not good enough MC's get well over 300 pages and then really good books like this, with really interesting plot lines, great MC's with an amazing romance doesn't get as many pages as it should have.
So, I definitely recommend this, for sure. The majority of it is still very much on par with the first book, with interesting characters and great chemistry between them, with great romance in between the spicy "hate" they share that turns into love.
It just gets very rushed at the end, so I'd just be prepared for that before diving into this. They have a HEA and I'm so happy about that, but how we got there at the end just needed so much more that we didn't get. Cade and Nic are still a great, intriguing couple that I loved, though.
I'm still very, very excited for Baby and Logan's book next (we basically saw no Logan this whole book, wild), and if that takes a long while, I do not care, because please no rushed ending in their book, Ms. Flores!
Can't wait! 😘
My Ratings for The Boys of Apartment 13 Series:
🔆 Pretty Boy: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 Lover Boy: 4 stars
🔆 Good Boy: The Boys of Apartment 13 Book 3: TBR
🔆 Lonely Boy: The Boys of Apartment 13 Book 4: TBR
It had so much of what I loved about the first book. The insane sexual chemistry between Cade and Nic, the intense feelings that grow between them, the feeling of not being able to put this down and rushing through it.
This would 100% have gotten 5 stars from me, if the second half, especially the ending, hadn't been so rushed.
I would have waited longer to read this if we'd gotten to have more time with these two, more time of them dealing with all their issues, with each other and apart, and dealing with their parents - and also if the stepbrother thing had been utilized in a fun, great way. Once again, it was like it didn't matter that they were stepbrothers. In fact, it was more of an afterthought than anything.
And anything that could have come from it, like Cade's mother having a problem at the end, was glossed over in once sentence, and we didn't even get to see her reaction.
It just felt like, the closer we got to the end, the more the author was trying to rush to finish this book.
I wanted these two to talk about so much more than they did. I wanted to get to Nic being more comfortable with deeper kisses with Cade. The fact that we didn't get many kisses in this bummed me out. And what we did was tentative. Sweet, but tentative all the same.
Also? I love that they like damn it was SO rushed and out of NOWHERE.
The epilogue is 4 years later, and that would have been a great time for
All that screams rushed, rushed, rushed. Even if they
I'd say the the last....oh, I don't know 20%, 30% or so, is about a 3 star read for me. The rest is a 5 star read, so I'm evening out at 4 stars.
I think if this book had gotten a proper ending, proper time to breathe with everything that happened, with proper time put into resolving their issues and the plot lines, this book would have been on par with the first book for me.
But it took too many missteps at the finish line for me to give this the 5 stars I so wish I could give it.
Because Cade and Nic were just SO intriguing together, so explosive, and I adored them together so much that they deserved a better, more fleshed out ending. I needed to see that proper conversation they had at , I needed to see them confront their parents, even if nothing changed in their parents behavior. I needed a much less rushed ending, with more than a page or so of epilogue chapters.
I just had too much I wanted but didn't get. Some much of this story was really good, really fun and entertaining and absorbing, but the payoff wasn't good enough, because there was barely any at the end. We just needed more. Sucks how sometimes the more boring books with no plot line and not good enough MC's get well over 300 pages and then really good books like this, with really interesting plot lines, great MC's with an amazing romance doesn't get as many pages as it should have.
So, I definitely recommend this, for sure. The majority of it is still very much on par with the first book, with interesting characters and great chemistry between them, with great romance in between the spicy "hate" they share that turns into love.
It just gets very rushed at the end, so I'd just be prepared for that before diving into this. They have a HEA and I'm so happy about that, but how we got there at the end just needed so much more that we didn't get. Cade and Nic are still a great, intriguing couple that I loved, though.
I'm still very, very excited for Baby and Logan's book next (we basically saw no Logan this whole book, wild), and if that takes a long while, I do not care, because please no rushed ending in their book, Ms. Flores!
Can't wait! 😘
My Ratings for The Boys of Apartment 13 Series:
🔆 Pretty Boy: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 Lover Boy: 4 stars
🔆 Good Boy: The Boys of Apartment 13 Book 3: TBR
🔆 Lonely Boy: The Boys of Apartment 13 Book 4: TBR
October 12, 2024
Tropes: step brothers, roommates/forced proximity, enemies to lovers
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 4/5
Kinks: semi public sex, rough sex, breath play, sadomasochism, CNC, degradation, primal play
Angst: medium/high
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: suicide of parent, cheating (Nic's dad cheated on his mom and Cade's mom), MMC that self harms, anxiety, depression, permanent injuries and disabilities, miscarriage (Nic's mom)
4 stars
Nic and Cade are 21. They met at age 13. Nic's dad cheated on his mom with Cade's mom, leaving her and marrying Cade's mom Tracey. Nic's mom had recently miscarried and had always struggled with depression, and the miscarriage and divorce pushed her mental health over the line. Nic's dad Anton tried to pull Nic into the new family he created, but Nic couldn't forgive his dad and was loyal to his mom. Nic had to take care of his mom for years, constantly worried about her. Nic also suffers from depression and anxiety and over the years he self-harmed to deal with things. Cade one day saw Nic bleeding and spoke up and that caused things to be revealed and Nic to end up in therapy. They haven't really seen each other since Nic turned 18 and had more of a choice about which parent he interacted with.
Nic has been dealing with a s*** ton of stuff and he hasn't prioritized school. Now he's trying to give college another go, and with Cade needing a new roommate when Liam moved out, their parents suggest that they room together. They share a literal room. Nic is gay, Cade is bi and trying to get over his crush on Liam.
They are attracted to each other and animosity explodes between them and they enjoy the hate f****** more than they expected to. They keep going back for more even when they try to quit each other. They eventually give in and go full throttle into a f*** buddy but kind of more relationship. They share a lot of kinks. Cade discovers he is a pain slut, likes breath play, and enjoys bottoming with minimal prep. Their relationship is very jealous/possessive.
They have a compelling relationship. This book following Liam and Sebastian's story... Liam and Sebastian were a bit of a tough act to follow. I really liked how in love Liam and Sebastian were, they were such simps for each other. While this book was very steamy and fraught with tension, I did miss some of the tenderness and cherishing that we saw with Liam and Sebastian. But Nic and Cade were a fun ride. I like their relationships with their friends, it moved their relationship along and added some comedy.
Things I didn't like:
- There were a couple typos
- This didn't affect my rating or enjoyment of the the book at all, but I just want to share my hate for Tracey and Anton, but mostly Tracey because she did what she did deliberately to be hurtful / hateful. She was a horrible stepmother and her deliberately planning her wedding for the anniversary of Nic's mother's death was the lowest of the low.
- The I love yous were a little sudden. I could have given that a pass, but to follow it by having them getting engaged right then and get married 4 days later was a little too much.
- In the last book, Liam became a nutritional counselor after he struggled with disordered eating. In this book the author has Nic become a family counselor after his struggles with depression and anxiety and dealing with his mom's suicide and his past with self harm. In both books, neither characters had aspired to those careers or talked about the career choice at all before the time jump revealing their career. It feels cheap, a little like the author is trivializing what they struggled with, not doing it justice, by just wrapping up a loose end. I don't like seeing trauma cheapened.
Some notable moments:
"He needs to cut it out. He better stop putting his hand on my throat like that, or I’ll… shit, I don’t even know. Come. I’ll probably come."
"“I’m not going in there with you.” I roll my eyes, squaring my shoulders to fight off the subtle sting those words inflict. He came here, to this club, to fuck around with someone. In there is exactly where he was planning on ending up. “Yeah, you are.” It’s me or nobody. Those are his options because there is no fucking way I am letting him go to detention with someone else."
"“Buddy, I don’t know how to tell you this,” Jax starts as soon as Nic has left the table, and I already know he’s going to say some bullshit. “But your boyfriend hates you.” “He’s not my boyfriend.”"
*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: 4/5
Steam*: 4/5
Kinks: semi public sex, rough sex, breath play, sadomasochism, CNC, degradation, primal play
Angst: medium/high
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: suicide of parent, cheating (Nic's dad cheated on his mom and Cade's mom), MMC that self harms, anxiety, depression, permanent injuries and disabilities, miscarriage (Nic's mom)
4 stars
Nic and Cade are 21. They met at age 13. Nic's dad cheated on his mom with Cade's mom, leaving her and marrying Cade's mom Tracey. Nic's mom had recently miscarried and had always struggled with depression, and the miscarriage and divorce pushed her mental health over the line. Nic's dad Anton tried to pull Nic into the new family he created, but Nic couldn't forgive his dad and was loyal to his mom. Nic had to take care of his mom for years, constantly worried about her. Nic also suffers from depression and anxiety and over the years he self-harmed to deal with things. Cade one day saw Nic bleeding and spoke up and that caused things to be revealed and Nic to end up in therapy. They haven't really seen each other since Nic turned 18 and had more of a choice about which parent he interacted with.
Nic has been dealing with a s*** ton of stuff and he hasn't prioritized school. Now he's trying to give college another go, and with Cade needing a new roommate when Liam moved out, their parents suggest that they room together. They share a literal room. Nic is gay, Cade is bi and trying to get over his crush on Liam.
They are attracted to each other and animosity explodes between them and they enjoy the hate f****** more than they expected to. They keep going back for more even when they try to quit each other. They eventually give in and go full throttle into a f*** buddy but kind of more relationship. They share a lot of kinks. Cade discovers he is a pain slut, likes breath play, and enjoys bottoming with minimal prep. Their relationship is very jealous/possessive.
They have a compelling relationship. This book following Liam and Sebastian's story... Liam and Sebastian were a bit of a tough act to follow. I really liked how in love Liam and Sebastian were, they were such simps for each other. While this book was very steamy and fraught with tension, I did miss some of the tenderness and cherishing that we saw with Liam and Sebastian. But Nic and Cade were a fun ride. I like their relationships with their friends, it moved their relationship along and added some comedy.
Things I didn't like:
- There were a couple typos
- This didn't affect my rating or enjoyment of the the book at all, but I just want to share my hate for Tracey and Anton, but mostly Tracey because she did what she did deliberately to be hurtful / hateful. She was a horrible stepmother and her deliberately planning her wedding for the anniversary of Nic's mother's death was the lowest of the low.
- The I love yous were a little sudden. I could have given that a pass, but to follow it by having them getting engaged right then and get married 4 days later was a little too much.
- In the last book, Liam became a nutritional counselor after he struggled with disordered eating. In this book the author has Nic become a family counselor after his struggles with depression and anxiety and dealing with his mom's suicide and his past with self harm. In both books, neither characters had aspired to those careers or talked about the career choice at all before the time jump revealing their career. It feels cheap, a little like the author is trivializing what they struggled with, not doing it justice, by just wrapping up a loose end. I don't like seeing trauma cheapened.
Some notable moments:
"He needs to cut it out. He better stop putting his hand on my throat like that, or I’ll… shit, I don’t even know. Come. I’ll probably come."
"“I’m not going in there with you.” I roll my eyes, squaring my shoulders to fight off the subtle sting those words inflict. He came here, to this club, to fuck around with someone. In there is exactly where he was planning on ending up. “Yeah, you are.” It’s me or nobody. Those are his options because there is no fucking way I am letting him go to detention with someone else."
"“Buddy, I don’t know how to tell you this,” Jax starts as soon as Nic has left the table, and I already know he’s going to say some bullshit. “But your boyfriend hates you.” “He’s not my boyfriend.”"
*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.
October 2, 2024
I am so sad about this book. As someone who gave her first book 5⭐️ and still think about daily, this book was disappointing. I truly think the author should pull and re-write because the storyline is there but the execution was completely off. There would be scenes that just end and pick up days later on another subject, extreme miscommunication where it could be cleared up by asking a simple question. We never got the story of Nic’s mom and dad and then Cade’s mom being a complete bitch felt like it came out of thin air. There was never a time I felt like Cade and Nic were on the same page, and then the ending became very rushed and felt forced to me. I never felt like Cade grew out of his pettiness and juvenile behavior and we never got details about them talking everything out at the end. That would have helped conclude the story nicely.
I will continue to read Brianna’s books because I know she is a great writer and love to recommend Pretty Boy.
I will continue to read Brianna’s books because I know she is a great writer and love to recommend Pretty Boy.
November 8, 2024
Just going to pretend this finished at the 97% mark. That ending was batshit.
THE PREMISE: Cade has a new roommate. His stepbrother who hates him.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Stepbrothers
- Enemies to lovers
- Hefty mental health and self-harm rep
- *they were roommates*
- Hand necklaces
- Books that made me cry
3.5⭐️ (it was solidly a 4⭐️ before the end bit) 3.5🌶️
THE PREMISE: Cade has a new roommate. His stepbrother who hates him.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Stepbrothers
- Enemies to lovers
- Hefty mental health and self-harm rep
- *they were roommates*
- Hand necklaces
- Books that made me cry
3.5⭐️ (it was solidly a 4⭐️ before the end bit) 3.5🌶️
Read
October 17, 202410/10
September 30, 2024
Rating: 3.5
I loved the first half of this book, and I really liked stepbrothers Nic and Cade's hate to fuck buddies to lovers arc.
Their chemistry was volatile and intriguing and hot, and both were more insecure about feelings and self-worth than they'd ever suspect the other of being. It was a great parallel for two otherwise very different characters.
I loved Cade and his little hissy fits over finding his stepbrother hot and over possibly even liking him! Oh the horror lol
However, the pacing in the second half of the book was off to me, and felt a bit weird.
I also would've loved even more time with Nic whose background was super interesting and I wanted to dive deeper into it and him. I thought him having vitiligo was cool though, it's not something I think I've read an MC have before.
Overall, I really enjoyed a lot of this book but I felt somewhat unsatisfied after finishing it because I still wanted something *more* from it.
I loved the first half of this book, and I really liked stepbrothers Nic and Cade's hate to fuck buddies to lovers arc.
Their chemistry was volatile and intriguing and hot, and both were more insecure about feelings and self-worth than they'd ever suspect the other of being. It was a great parallel for two otherwise very different characters.
I loved Cade and his little hissy fits over finding his stepbrother hot and over possibly even liking him! Oh the horror lol
However, the pacing in the second half of the book was off to me, and felt a bit weird.
I also would've loved even more time with Nic whose background was super interesting and I wanted to dive deeper into it and him. I thought him having vitiligo was cool though, it's not something I think I've read an MC have before.
Overall, I really enjoyed a lot of this book but I felt somewhat unsatisfied after finishing it because I still wanted something *more* from it.
October 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this! Really thought it would be a five star read, but you can tell the ending was rushed a bit. It needed a few more chapters to wrap it up a bit better I think. But overall, I really good entertaining book!
September 29, 2024
Absolutely devoured this one, I couldn’t put it down. I’ve been dying to get my hands on this book and it was everything I wanted it to be! I’m so glad Cade gets his HEA and I loved Nic, I just wanted to give him a big hug. I love all the side characters and can’t wait for more books from this series!
August 21, 2025
This is going to sound bad but these two brothers should have fucked it out of their system and kept it moving. I'm not buying that they're in love.
And this is 100% because the ending was rushed. They're hot for each other, they're not really bothered by the fact that it's 'taboo'......which, yes. Kudos for that. They're not related so it was fun to see a (step) brother fucker story not go that route but there's simply not a good enough transition from the mild rivalry to the love bit.
I legit feel like if they just fucked it out of their system, they could really just......go back to being brothers. Or good friends. To each other. God knows they both need a good friend.
Nick's never had one and heavy side eye to Liam for being one of those friends that forgets all about their friends once they get into a relationship.
Anyway. For most of this, Cade seems to be more into Nick. Like.....embarrassingly so. Then suddenly it just flips? I was very confused at Nick being the one to get the love realization first and Cade being the one who needs outside help figuring it out.
Not to mention....these two go from afraid to say what's on their mind to....
"We should get married. Not today, but soon. Maybe tomorrow."
💀💀💀💀💀Yeah. Soon.
But —why?
You JUST confessed your feelings. Why are you getting married? How do you go from 'I'm not ready to tell OUR parents we're a thing' to 'let's do life together' ON THE SAME DAY?
Though to be fair, their parents are SUCH incredibly shitty people that I'd have rooted for these two to get married if it had been proposed as purely a revenge gimmick.
A 'let's get married so our parents can't.'
Do things even work that way? I don't know but I'd support it.
Except it seems like their parents were already married (?) but Cade's mom wanted to do it again on a particularly terrible day to do it JUST to be an even worse human being?
Anyway. Massive let down after book one.
Still have high hopes for Baby, though. Because why does he bite people?
I simply HAVE to know.
And this is 100% because the ending was rushed. They're hot for each other, they're not really bothered by the fact that it's 'taboo'......which, yes. Kudos for that. They're not related so it was fun to see a (step) brother fucker story not go that route but there's simply not a good enough transition from the mild rivalry to the love bit.
I legit feel like if they just fucked it out of their system, they could really just......go back to being brothers. Or good friends. To each other. God knows they both need a good friend.
Nick's never had one and heavy side eye to Liam for being one of those friends that forgets all about their friends once they get into a relationship.
Anyway. For most of this, Cade seems to be more into Nick. Like.....embarrassingly so. Then suddenly it just flips? I was very confused at Nick being the one to get the love realization first and Cade being the one who needs outside help figuring it out.
Not to mention....these two go from afraid to say what's on their mind to....
"We should get married. Not today, but soon. Maybe tomorrow."
💀💀💀💀💀Yeah. Soon.
But —why?
You JUST confessed your feelings. Why are you getting married? How do you go from 'I'm not ready to tell OUR parents we're a thing' to 'let's do life together' ON THE SAME DAY?
Though to be fair, their parents are SUCH incredibly shitty people that I'd have rooted for these two to get married if it had been proposed as purely a revenge gimmick.
A 'let's get married so our parents can't.'
Do things even work that way? I don't know but I'd support it.
Except it seems like their parents were already married (?) but Cade's mom wanted to do it again on a particularly terrible day to do it JUST to be an even worse human being?
Anyway. Massive let down after book one.
Still have high hopes for Baby, though. Because why does he bite people?
I simply HAVE to know.
October 3, 2024
Absolutely ate this book up, no exceptions!!
I just adore Nic and Cade. ❤️🔥❤️🔥
This was definitely Cade's redemption arc and my heart broke for him so I was very happy him and Nic got their HEA! (someone's mom, IYKYK can eat a Popeye's biscuit with no water)
I did enjoy the spice and the plot in this although there felt like there was some off the page things happening that I would like of had been able to read more about.
Overall I did enjoy this book and I absolutely missed this series and might just reread Pretty Boy soon cause why not 🤪
I just adore Nic and Cade. ❤️🔥❤️🔥
This was definitely Cade's redemption arc and my heart broke for him so I was very happy him and Nic got their HEA! (someone's mom, IYKYK can eat a Popeye's biscuit with no water)
I did enjoy the spice and the plot in this although there felt like there was some off the page things happening that I would like of had been able to read more about.
Overall I did enjoy this book and I absolutely missed this series and might just reread Pretty Boy soon cause why not 🤪
September 29, 2024
i loved this sm 🥹
RTC
RTC
October 1, 2024
Stepbrothers Cade and Nic don't like each other. For Nic, it was hatred at first sight. Cade is a little confused why Nic doesn't like him, but he's sure he dislikes him right back. They've managed to avoid each other for years but the animosity never dies. When the two are forced to become roommates, tensions- and attraction- flare brighter than ever.
I really liked Pretty Boy but I wasn't sure after reading the ending if I really liked Cade's character. He seemed a bit foolish and impulsive and I wasn't sure about him at all. After reading Lover Boy I'm happy to say that Brianna redeemed him completely. Nic's character is flawed as well, which makes for interesting reading. Nic needs to face his mental health and abandonment issues, while Cade has some growing up to do to gain perspective and do some self-discovery. I thought she did a great job of making Cade and Nic believable, relatable and likeable. I loved the way the tension was built up throughout the book, and how their relationship evolved. I also liked that Brianna leaned into the quasi-taboo stepbrother relationship throughout 🔥🔥🔥. I've added book 3 to my TBR because who doesn't love Baby after the first 2 books 😍?!
Rating: 4 stars
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 4/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
"He's mean. He doesn't like me. He's my stepbrother - that alone should be enough of a reason to stomp on the massive brain boner he gives me. And worse, I think that's part of what gives me all those real boners I've tried and failed to ignore since last week."
I really liked Pretty Boy but I wasn't sure after reading the ending if I really liked Cade's character. He seemed a bit foolish and impulsive and I wasn't sure about him at all. After reading Lover Boy I'm happy to say that Brianna redeemed him completely. Nic's character is flawed as well, which makes for interesting reading. Nic needs to face his mental health and abandonment issues, while Cade has some growing up to do to gain perspective and do some self-discovery. I thought she did a great job of making Cade and Nic believable, relatable and likeable. I loved the way the tension was built up throughout the book, and how their relationship evolved. I also liked that Brianna leaned into the quasi-taboo stepbrother relationship throughout 🔥🔥🔥. I've added book 3 to my TBR because who doesn't love Baby after the first 2 books 😍?!
Rating: 4 stars
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 4/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
April 16, 2025
Like the previous book in this series, it was a lot more intense than I expected. And like many stepbrothers books, the relationship with the parents was difficult. I did feel it was realistic though, I’ve met people who talked about their step kids like Cade’s mother in real life.
This book would have been five stars for me if the backstory was a bit more explained. The author left a lot off page, especially at the end. And it took quite long before they started being civil to each other. I did appreciate how they took care of each other, when they finally made up. And how Nic finally had someone in his corner for the first time in his life.
Might reread and do recommend.
I hope the third book in this series will be published at some point in time, but I’m not sure why it hasn’t already. Maybe something happened to the author?
This book would have been five stars for me if the backstory was a bit more explained. The author left a lot off page, especially at the end. And it took quite long before they started being civil to each other. I did appreciate how they took care of each other, when they finally made up. And how Nic finally had someone in his corner for the first time in his life.
Might reread and do recommend.
I hope the third book in this series will be published at some point in time, but I’m not sure why it hasn’t already. Maybe something happened to the author?
October 13, 2024
Rtc but i liked this better than the first one 👀it could have been a little longer though
April 3, 2025
Rating: 4.5/5 🌟
Spice: 3.5/5 🌶️
Characters: Nic and Cade
I keep fluctuating between a 4 and a 4.5 for this one. It's definitely a lot more angst and heavier than Pretty Boy. I think it could have been a 5-star read for me if it had been a bit longer. I absolutely loved Nic, but I still struggled with Cade's character. And with what they were both going through and dealing with (especially Nic) it just felt like things moved too quickly and then wrapped up too quickly. Especially with both of them being so stubborn...it was just a lot going on internally and externally for both characters.
I think I'm going to leave it at a 4.5 because of how much I loved Nic's character and how much I wanted him to finally feel loved and chosen. I just with there had been more in the story to bring me around to Cade more. Even by the end of this book I couldn't quite pin down his personality that well. He was like an entirely different character in this book than Pretty Boy, so it was like learning him all over again...but then he sort of felt a bit all over the place in this book. He was definitely a sweet character but other than his sweet moments and thoughtfulness at times I just didn't quite connect.
Still really enjoyed this and finished it in one sitting but I wanted more.
Can't wait for the next one!
Spice: 3.5/5 🌶️
Characters: Nic and Cade
I keep fluctuating between a 4 and a 4.5 for this one. It's definitely a lot more angst and heavier than Pretty Boy. I think it could have been a 5-star read for me if it had been a bit longer. I absolutely loved Nic, but I still struggled with Cade's character. And with what they were both going through and dealing with (especially Nic) it just felt like things moved too quickly and then wrapped up too quickly. Especially with both of them being so stubborn...it was just a lot going on internally and externally for both characters.
I think I'm going to leave it at a 4.5 because of how much I loved Nic's character and how much I wanted him to finally feel loved and chosen. I just with there had been more in the story to bring me around to Cade more. Even by the end of this book I couldn't quite pin down his personality that well. He was like an entirely different character in this book than Pretty Boy, so it was like learning him all over again...but then he sort of felt a bit all over the place in this book. He was definitely a sweet character but other than his sweet moments and thoughtfulness at times I just didn't quite connect.
Still really enjoyed this and finished it in one sitting but I wanted more.
Can't wait for the next one!
September 30, 2024
First of all, very confused about the rating system here because there are five star reviews from months ago but the book just came out yesterday lololol ok.
I really liked Pretty Boy - so much so that I was actively looking forward to this book (and I def wasn’t in the camp of people who thought Cade and Liam should have ended up together). However, the plot and character development were lacking for me. You can’t make up for missing plot and holes with eroticism. There was so much content that could have been added. For example, we get very little backstory about Cade and how he grew up and we don’t fully get Nic’s until 80% in and it’s not even the full picture. Additionally I would have appreciated more context around Nic’s mental health issues (why does he not like kissing? How did his family initially handle his mental health? How tf did his dad meet Cade’s mom and did he cheat on her? How would Nic know this?)
The two MCs don’t evolve much over the course of the book besides having ✨more sex✨. That isn’t character development nor a replacement for it. They weren’t even nice to each other until the VERY END.
Im waffling about reading the remaining books in this series but I hope that the author can get different beta readers to help them hash out the other stories.
I really liked Pretty Boy - so much so that I was actively looking forward to this book (and I def wasn’t in the camp of people who thought Cade and Liam should have ended up together). However, the plot and character development were lacking for me. You can’t make up for missing plot and holes with eroticism. There was so much content that could have been added. For example, we get very little backstory about Cade and how he grew up and we don’t fully get Nic’s until 80% in and it’s not even the full picture. Additionally I would have appreciated more context around Nic’s mental health issues (why does he not like kissing? How did his family initially handle his mental health? How tf did his dad meet Cade’s mom and did he cheat on her? How would Nic know this?)
The two MCs don’t evolve much over the course of the book besides having ✨more sex✨. That isn’t character development nor a replacement for it. They weren’t even nice to each other until the VERY END.
Im waffling about reading the remaining books in this series but I hope that the author can get different beta readers to help them hash out the other stories.
September 30, 2024
from finishing this yesterday, the more the day has gone on, the more I can’t get these boys out of my head. cade + nic were my favs, i seriously loved them and cade really was redeemed in my eyes, like i just wanted him to find exactly what he was looking for bc baby you were looking in the wrong places!! Liam was not the one but your stepbrother.. yes boo he’s the one.
Nic has easily become my favourite book boyfriend. this angel of a man deserves the absolute world and i will die on that hill, idc what anyone says. He deserved better than the treatment and lack of love he got from his shitty dad and stepmother. Like this man was going throuuuuuugh it and no one cared, no one was there, he was so misunderstood and i just totally empathised with him.
the push pull of these two was so hot, i loved it and loved them! I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop and grow, at times i was sat there like please just communicate bc you two are not talking and you could easily be in love and living your best lives by nowwwwww like stop this shit hahaha but even with that being said, it made for fun and entertaining reading and I’m so glad these babies got their happy ending.
also few honourable mentions: nics mouth was filth and i very much enjoyed the ‘little brother’ this and ‘little brother’ that. Yum. 10/10. another mention to the best side characters, baby and jax!! baby i cannot wait to read your story, you sweet sweet lil twink, I can’t wait to see you become a good boy! And jaxxxx, what a yapping legend. I hope we see more of you babe, you deserve your moment too!!
four and half stars for my baby loves, lover boy was such a good read and i will forever love Brianna’s writing!! auto buy author for me, I will always read everything and anything she releases!! <333
Nic has easily become my favourite book boyfriend. this angel of a man deserves the absolute world and i will die on that hill, idc what anyone says. He deserved better than the treatment and lack of love he got from his shitty dad and stepmother. Like this man was going throuuuuuugh it and no one cared, no one was there, he was so misunderstood and i just totally empathised with him.
the push pull of these two was so hot, i loved it and loved them! I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop and grow, at times i was sat there like please just communicate bc you two are not talking and you could easily be in love and living your best lives by nowwwwww like stop this shit hahaha but even with that being said, it made for fun and entertaining reading and I’m so glad these babies got their happy ending.
also few honourable mentions: nics mouth was filth and i very much enjoyed the ‘little brother’ this and ‘little brother’ that. Yum. 10/10. another mention to the best side characters, baby and jax!! baby i cannot wait to read your story, you sweet sweet lil twink, I can’t wait to see you become a good boy! And jaxxxx, what a yapping legend. I hope we see more of you babe, you deserve your moment too!!
four and half stars for my baby loves, lover boy was such a good read and i will forever love Brianna’s writing!! auto buy author for me, I will always read everything and anything she releases!! <333
October 6, 2024
Rating- 3.5 Stars
Okay this is a hard one to rate and review. On the one hand I was absolutely in love with both Cade and Nic and their relationship. But on the other - the pacing was soooo off.
This was stepbrother, enemies to lovers, forced proximity goodness. Cade - this precious boy gave off himbo vibes and honestly didn’t know what the fuck he was doing most of the time. And Nic *sigh* I do love a broken boy who is closed off except for that one person. And that one person happens to be his stepbrother whom he despises lol. But Cade is the only person in his life that really sees him and pays attention.
The first half of the book was great. Nic moves in with Cade and they share a room on the college campus. We got all the animosity, forced proximity, and the sexual tension was off the charts! I loved seeing them slowly become more obsessed with each other.
Then the pacing speeds up and we get the cute, tender moments (hello caring for scars - fuck me up), gestures of vulnerability, etc. And then it’s just BAM - wrap up some plot and HEA. Done. I had whiplash near the end.
If this book had been about 100 pages longer and kept up the slow emotional build I potentially would’ve rated it 5 stars. The animosity turned into obsession was slowly transforming into tenderness and care-giving but I needed to see more to really see them fall head over heels in love.
Also - the parents?! Are you kidding. I needed so much more resolution on that whole situation. It felt completely unresolved.
In the end I absolutely loved Cade & Nic. Their chemistry was next level 🥵 I just wish that their story was fleshed out a bit better to truly give them the justice they so deserved because they were amazing.
I am excited to read more in this series and have high hopes for both Baby & Logan’s book as well as whoever can handle Jax (he deserves someone who treats him right).
Okay this is a hard one to rate and review. On the one hand I was absolutely in love with both Cade and Nic and their relationship. But on the other - the pacing was soooo off.
This was stepbrother, enemies to lovers, forced proximity goodness. Cade - this precious boy gave off himbo vibes and honestly didn’t know what the fuck he was doing most of the time. And Nic *sigh* I do love a broken boy who is closed off except for that one person. And that one person happens to be his stepbrother whom he despises lol. But Cade is the only person in his life that really sees him and pays attention.
The first half of the book was great. Nic moves in with Cade and they share a room on the college campus. We got all the animosity, forced proximity, and the sexual tension was off the charts! I loved seeing them slowly become more obsessed with each other.
Then the pacing speeds up and we get the cute, tender moments (hello caring for scars - fuck me up), gestures of vulnerability, etc. And then it’s just BAM - wrap up some plot and HEA. Done. I had whiplash near the end.
If this book had been about 100 pages longer and kept up the slow emotional build I potentially would’ve rated it 5 stars. The animosity turned into obsession was slowly transforming into tenderness and care-giving but I needed to see more to really see them fall head over heels in love.
Also - the parents?! Are you kidding. I needed so much more resolution on that whole situation. It felt completely unresolved.
In the end I absolutely loved Cade & Nic. Their chemistry was next level 🥵 I just wish that their story was fleshed out a bit better to truly give them the justice they so deserved because they were amazing.
I am excited to read more in this series and have high hopes for both Baby & Logan’s book as well as whoever can handle Jax (he deserves someone who treats him right).
October 2, 2024
3 stars
I don’t know what to say besides that I was looking forward to Cade’s story as I loved him in Pretty Boy. But I just didn’t connect with him or his step brother in Lover Boy. It’s Cade’s personality that I didn’t like, if I’m being honest. And I’m pretty sure I did this to myself y expecting him to be a touch sweet as Liam, his personality in this book is what i was expecting from our favorite bite monster in apartment 13.
I don’t know.
The story felt rushed too, especially in the end.
I almos have this 2stars but it makes me feel bad to do so because the spice was really good, and they got tested before they ditched the condoms so I don’t know, I’m a sucker for safe sex, sue me.
I don’t know what to say besides that I was looking forward to Cade’s story as I loved him in Pretty Boy. But I just didn’t connect with him or his step brother in Lover Boy. It’s Cade’s personality that I didn’t like, if I’m being honest. And I’m pretty sure I did this to myself y expecting him to be a touch sweet as Liam, his personality in this book is what i was expecting from our favorite bite monster in apartment 13.
I don’t know.
The story felt rushed too, especially in the end.
I almos have this 2stars but it makes me feel bad to do so because the spice was really good, and they got tested before they ditched the condoms so I don’t know, I’m a sucker for safe sex, sue me.
did-not-finish
July 2, 2025DNF 36%
I am just underwhelmed
I am just underwhelmed
May 13, 2025
from the masterpiece that was pretty boy, to this, i’m lowkey disappointed 💀
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