I hate jocks. They think I’m weak, that they can throw their size around to intimidate me for an easy A.
It’s why I refuse to tutor them.
When my sister begs me to help one of her friends from the football team, I don’t have the heart to say no.
At first glance, Cooper looks like any other jock but he’s quick to prove me wrong.
He’s a social butterfly, I’m an introvert.
Somehow we manage to build a friendship between us. One that shouldn’t work, yet it does.
The more time I spend with him the more I start to notice something inside me is changing. Feelings I’ve never experienced before cause me to question everything I thought I knew about myself.
I feel like I’m drowning, like my whole world is changing. And the person who stands by me, holding my hand through it all is him. Cooper.
He came into my life and turned it upside down in the best way. I just hope I make it out in one piece.
Cooper
Getting a tutor is the only thing that will save me from getting kicked off the football team and losing my scholarship.
The situation might not be ideal, but I’m not at all mad about spending time with my new tutor.
Blake is cute, grumpy and quiet. The total opposite of me.
I find myself intrigued, wanting to know more.
It doesn’t take long before I find myself falling hard for the one person I can’t have.
Not just because he’s my tutor, but because Blake doesn’t like men. He also doesn’t seem to like women either.
But as time goes by, I’m starting to think maybe that might not be true. Even though he might not be ready to see it just yet.
That's okay. I’ll wait. I’ll be the friend that he needs. Stay by his side. And support him however I can.
Because it’s too late, I’ve already fallen hard and fast for Blake and I don’t see me turning back any time soon.
Oh my god this book was amazing. It's everything I want in a romance book and absolutely LOVE the demisexual representation. It was done so well and what I feel was so true to life. I've read other books with demisexual characters and they didn't hit the right vibe. Excellent writing. Completely in love with this author now.
This was fun! Cooper is a precious sunshine angel. Blake is a precious grumpy angel. I love them together! Cooper is genuinely so kind, hard working, and chill. He gives a lot to others, especially his friends. Blake is so smart and big hearted. He’s been hurt, so he’s hesitant, but once he finds friends and cooper, he cares for them deeply.
I love the tutor situation. That’s always a favorite trope. And cooper surprising Blake at every turn is wonderful. I love the possessiveness and protectiveness from both of them, especially cooper. And the slow burn burns so good. I adore seeing these two become best friends. And I enjoyed seeing Blake try to sort through his feelings as he started to get them.
I love the side characters and I am eager to read their stories. Overall, this book was a good time.
Notes: 1.5/5 spice levels, tutor/tutee, jock/nerd, jock/emo, grumpy/sunshine, past bullying, football, jealousy, protective mc, Demi rep, friends to lovers
OMG! Cooper was everything I expected from him and even more. The way he loved and care for Blake in the way Blake always wanted was absolutely beautiful. My Sweet Blake...I just wanted to climb into the book and hug him. Highly recommend.
This was more on the 4.5 side but I didn’t absolutely love it enough to give it 5 stars. There was honestly nothing wrong with it. I liked it from beginning to end and loved the characters but my 5 stars are for books I would immediately read again.
Anyway these two were sooo sweet together. It was definitely grumpy/sunshine with the grumpy nerd and the golden retriever jock. Copper was literally the sweetest man ever!! He saw Blake and was smitten from jump. It was like love at first sight for him but this was a slow burn because Blake is demi so it took him just a little longer to develop feelings. I liked how they became best friends first then became something more. They eventually became mutually obsessed with each other which I loved!!! Love obsessed MCs, especially when they both are!! I appreciated that this was more about their relationship and not a sexual relationship. There were some spicy scenes but it was more sweet than anything. Maybe sometimes a little too cheesy.
I would have preferred Cooper not call all of his friends “babe” because when he called Blake that for the first time it didn’t hit the in the usual way. I wasn’t like “swoon” or “aww” because I just watched him call all his friends that so it didn’t seem super special. I was very happy that Cooper is super far from a manwhore though. He would rather sleep with someone he has a connection with than just hooking up for the sake of it. I liked him even more when he said that the way his friend talked about women and sex really bothered him. Though that friend seemed to disappear even though he was considered his best friend. Like where the heck did he go?
There’s some light OM drama. A guy Cooper used to hook up with showed up a few times. Blake got jealous. The guy wanted Cooper back but he only has eyes for Blake. Blake is literally all he thinks about for the entire book!!
I’m bummed all of the secondary characters are in the poly relationship. I like when we meet characters we want to read about but they seem like they have too many working parts and poly relationships aren’t my thing.
Anyway looking forward to what else this author has in store.
No cheating, light om drama, no third act break up. Past loss of loved ones (parents), past mention of bullying on MC, violence. HFN/HEA (will be living together and have talked about marriage and babies)
When I say I’m completely obsessed with how Alisha brings her characters to life. I’m not kidding. Cooper and Blake are just the cutest boyfriends ever and I was so sad when it was over.
I just knew that when Cooper was told he had to pull up his grades to stay on the team that this was going to be what I needed in my life. Cooper is a ball of sunshine and Blake definitely gives black cat energy. Cooper came into Blake’s life when he least expected.
Their first kiss, though. I was in love with that moment because that was the starting of their relationship and man, they had the sweetest moments. There wasn’t a lot of spicy moments but when there were, these two were hot!
And the found family here is everything. The way that Cooper’s friend pretty much adopted Blake into their friend group, I was all for it. There were so many funny moments but that moment when Val missed the dart board and almost took out the guy coming out the bathroom had me giggling.
Also, I’m a huge fan when a character is demisexual because it made Blake and Cooper’s relationship even more perfect.
I now need to read the series because I need more from them. Also, if you love a slow burn with the right amount of emotions, this book is for you!
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
This story fixed my broken heart just a little more💖
Do you ever just read a book and once you finish it you know that those characters and that story is gonna stick with you for a while? Well this is one of those books. From the very first page you absolutely fall in love with Cooper. He is the most golden golden retriever that there ever was. But boy the mouth on him when I tell you he is nasty. I mean it, but I’ll let you experience that for yourself. Then you meet Blake and even though he’s grumpy on the outside his story just melts your heart. Their love story is what most people hope to experience once in their life. Alisha just knows how to write characters that you will instantly connect with. Like when Blake finally realizes that he has a group of friends that he can rely on. I recently experienced that feeling and just seeing a character go through the same things that I have was incredible. If you’re looking for a sweet, easy romance book with great representation in their characters and a story that will just make you giggle, kick your feet, and get teary-eyed. This is it.
I loved this book. the interaction between all the characters not just the main ones, was excellent, and the writing was great.
Two very different people, on the face of it, but perfect matches for each other. Both with their own issues to overcome and insecurities, but together they just fit.
Cooper works hard to get Blake to open up and become more confident and his patience pays off for both of them.
Oh, sweet Cooper and sweet Blake! A chance encounter turned unexpected tutoring turned friendship turned lovers. Cooper definitely fell first, but once Blake did, he was all in. I loved how Cooper gave Blake space to be himself. I loved their found family! Very much a slow burn, as expected, but the spice was great! Loved it!!!
Cooper and Blake are so stinking cute. I’m a sucker for a golden retriever jock with a heart of gold. Cooper is that. His grumpy love is adorable. I’m happy they found what they needed in each other.
This was cute, but I did find myself frequently checking what percent I was at towards the end so I could be done with the book. There were also a lot of moments where things were told rather than shown which is always annoying to me
God I love Cooper and Blake. Cooper has been one of my favored since meeting him in SVU but this just solidified it for me. I’m so glad we got his back story with Blake and they are so cute together. I hate how much Blake went through but I’m glad he ended up with a boyfriend and some amazing friends.
A Beautifully Validating Journey of Healing and Heat!
📚 Book = Standalone (set in the Silver Valley University world) 🔥 Burn = Slow burn, 🎭 OW/OM Drama = No, 🐺 Alpha Men = Yes if anyone hurts Blake! 🌶️ Heat/spice = 9/10 (Spicy but focused on connection) 😬 Angst = Low, 💔 Third Act Breakup = No, 🤥 Cheating = No, 🌈 MM/FF = Yes, MM 🤷🏻♀️ RH/ Poly = None, 🔹 Writing = 1st Person, MultiPOV 🔸 Genre = Contemporary College Romance 🔹 Tropes = MM✨American Football player & Tutor✨Jock/Nerd✨Grumpy x Sunshine✨Demisexual MMC✨Slow burn / Spicy✨Sweet and Fun with lots emotions✨Found family✨HEA✨ ‼️ Triggers = Medium (MyPOV - Please check yourself before reading)
Wow! That was an absolutely stunning, beautifully written story. I could continue reading further, covering Cooper and Blake’s whole lives, and it still wouldn't be enough! 🥰
Alisha Williams, you have written an outstanding book in my view. I can’t recommend this story highly enough. I’ve been gushing all the way through, and I was honestly totally gutted when it came to the end. So much of Blake’s life struck a chord for me; I felt akin to his insecurities and self-worth. Alisha articulated the lingering weight of being bullied with a precision that was both heartbreaking and incredibly validating.
Blake suffered years of bullying and torment throughout high school, which left a massive stain and a big bruise, leaving him with deep insecurities and very low self-esteem. He felt the need to isolate himself just to save himself from further berating and heartbreak. Because he’s lost trust in everyone, he envisioned his whole life to be a very lonely one—that is, until Cooper and his friends showed him that there are not only good, honest people out there, but also fantastic friends who have his back. Seeing Blake’s shock and flustering each time someone did or said something nice was both heartbreaking and beautiful.
As for Cooper, well, he truly turned Blake’s whole world around for the better. He’s a jock, but not your typical loud, drunk, "out-for-himself" college student. No, Cooper was always looking out for everyone, ensuring they were happy and safe even at parties. He didn’t follow the crowd; he only wanted genuine, kind-hearted friends. Unfortunately, between football and working at his dad’s garage, Cooper is getting behind on his classwork and struggling to comprehend the material. When the football coach threatens to drop him if his grades don’t improve, Cooper needs to find a tutor, fast. Luckily, one of his friend’s brothers is a tutor... Blake!
Their love story starts off really wobbly because of Blake’s insecurities, but Cooper is so beautifully patient with him. Cooper falls hard and fast, but he’s unsure how Blake feels and doesn't want to push him away. After seeing how much Blake’s past has affected him, he wants nothing more than to bring joy and laughter into his life. Even if his growing love isn’t reciprocated, he’s determined to be the best darn friend Blake will ever have.
Since Blake is demisexual, he has never had even an inkling of sexual feelings for anybody before; he needs that connection first. As their bond grows, Blake starts to feel things that are completely alien to him, leaving him confused and flustered. While their friends can see the connection, neither Blake nor Cooper wants to frighten the other away by making a move that isn't returned. However, they both start to feel sparks of jealousy and possessiveness when they think someone else is "sniffing around their man!" When Cooper’s ex comes back on the scene, it finally brings every longing and feeling into the light. And once they have their first kiss... passion ignites very quickly! 🔥
This story follows such a beautiful growing friendship, from tentative meetings to not wanting to be apart for a second, how the right person can help you rebuild the walls bullying tore down. Their chemistry and encounters are so sizzlingly hot. I loved it all—their connection was so strong you couldn't help but be swept away. The side characters were totally outstanding too, especially Val, who was such a vivacious, magnetic force of nature. I hope we get further books for all of them!
If you love a patient hero, a deeply relatable lead, and a "slow burn to high heat" romance, you need to read this. I’m so in love with this book—I could read it again and again!
Every time I read one of her books, Alisha reminds me why she's one of my favourite authors. She had me obsessed with these two!
Cooper is such a ray of sunshine, it’s infectious, both to those around him and me. I adored the light he brought into the lives of those he loves. He’s so sweet, so genuine. But if you mess with those he’s closest to, prepare for his wrath (Mickey, we mean you!)! Cooper is truly Blake’s hero.
I had a massive soft spot for Blake. Our wonderful socially awkward, prickly grumpster. His muttering and blushing only made me love him even more. Every time we learnt more about Blake’s past, my heart cracked wider open for him. He’s been treated so terribly all these years by others, so no wonder he keeps to himself and overthinks everything. Blake has such a kind heart though, and he loves his family so much; I adored seeing him turning into a softie for his sister!
This is a slow burn romance, and I so enjoyed seeing the journey as Blake and Cooper's relationship grows and blossoms in the most beautiful of ways. I simply fell in love with them even harder as they spent more time together. Blake’s demisexuality is treated with such respect by Alisha.
I couldn’t get enough of these two’s playful banter as they spend an ever-increasing amount of time together. While Blake is suspicious of his sincerity when first meeting the football player, Cooper shows him what a big heart he has and proves himself in every way. As Blake drops his barriers, Cooper shows him how to open his heart and trust again.
There’s understandably less spice in this than usual for Alisha, but that suits the storyline, and when it comes, it’s the usual spicy goodness you’d expect from her, with top-notch dirty talk.
Seeing Cooper and his loyal friends encouraging Blake to take part in things outside of his usual comfort zone in such a supportive way and him having an amazing time was so heartwarming. Big love to them for bringing him out of his shell and making him feel accepted. The bar scene was one of my favourites: seeing Blake let his hair down. Urgh, I was smiling so much!
Blake needed some sunshine in his life, and Cooper brings that in spades, helping the other man to finally find his place in the world. Seeing Blake shine with his own light is everything. But he’s always going to have some of that angry, feisty kitten in him, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you love sweet, grumpy/sunshine, college MM romances, you must read this one.
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Some of my favourite quotes
Ugh, he looks like an adorable little feral kitten. I just want to scoop him up and get my face clawed off for petting him.
“You’re so cute when you're mad. Like an angry Chihuahua,”
“I think everyone is perfect in their own way. As long as they’re being their true self, and not an evil person, they’re perfect just the way they are.”
“You’re safe, Blake. No one is going to hurt you again. I promise.”
“You’re not pathetic, stupid, or a loser, okay? Sure, you’re prickly around the edges, but I like that about you. You’re fun to be around, you’re a good person, and you deserve all the friends in the world. Your past is in the past. That’s not who you are, or how things are now. Right?”
“If that wasn’t clear enough for you, Blake, you’re the one I want. No. The one I need. I’m crazy about you, Latte Boy. Have been for a while.”
“You’re all I think about. When you’re not with me, I want to find ways to be near you. When you’re upset, I want to make it all better. When you’re happy, it makes my whole fucking chest swell with joy. No other man in this world will do, Blake. Just you.”
“I’d have waited as long as it took. You were worth the wait, Blake.”
“Damn it. Crazy, sexy, wild Golden Boy,”
“Blake Clark, wanna make me the happiest man ever and be my boyfriend?”
For the first time in my life, I let myself be happy, to be wanted. For the first time in my life, I feel like I deserve something good. For the first time in my life, I fall in love and pray that this will be the only time, because at this moment, there will never be anyone else for me but Cooper. I want him to be it for me. To be my forever.
“You are never too much, Blake. You’re the perfect amount.”
“I’ll never get enough of you, Blake. I’m addicted. The sweetest drug.”
“You're the only person who’s ever stood up for me, defended me. I love you so fucking much for that.”
“You’re my forever, Blake. You are what matters, not football. I don’t care if I lose everything I have in life. As long as you’re safe, you’re happy, that's all that I care about.”
“But I want you to listen to me, Blake Clark. You are worth it. You are loved. You are wanted. Not only by me, but by our friends. And while we’re alive, you will never be alone.”
Who knew all it took was a golden boy football player and his sunshine smile to change my whole world?
⊹ | 𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙔𝙤𝙪 by Alisha Williams is a contemporary M/M sports romance. This book is a part of the 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 world and follows Blake, a grumpy tutor, and Cooper, a popular football player.
I love reading Alisha Williams M/M romances! They are always so refreshing, and her MMCs never fail to make me smile. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Cooper is a sweet, well-known football player on a scholarship. When he learns that if he doesn't keep his grades up he will be kicked off the team, he desperately starts seeking out a tutor. Soon after finding someone to help him, Cooper finds himself wanting to learn everything about his mysterious and grumpy tutor.
Blake is shy, an introvert, and has a traumatic past due to severe bullying. He has made it his number one rule to never help jocks, since it's never done him any good. When his sister begs him to help a member of the football team, Blake finds himself going against the only rule he has in place. As time goes on, the two start to slowly form a strong friendship that eventually turns into more.
One of my favorite things about this book was how obsessed the main characters were with each other. While it initially took Blake a minute, since he's demi, Cooper was immediately down bad and I loved that. Cooper was also so freaking adorable. He was protective and didn't stand for people hurting others without reason.
At this point, I'm collecting demisexual MMCs like infinity stones. First it was my sweet baby Oliver, then it was Gabe, and now Blake! The bullying he faced throughout school was super heartbreaking because I understood it. While my experience isn't identical, it was still bullying. It hurts and it sticks with you long after childhood. It was so sad to see how much he closed himself off, but I loved how Cooper and the girls helped bring him out of his shell.
I can't forget the girls!! Val, Lexi, Tabitha, and Ellie were the best group of friends ever :). Val was absolutely my favorite girl out of the group, and her forced friendship with Blake was hilarious. Overall, if you are looking for a cute slow-burn M/M read, then this book is perfect.
This was honestly so much more emotional than I thought it was going to be. Cooper and Blake were so adorable together, I could not get enough of their story and honestly, I would read so much more of their life into the future.
Blake might be one of my favorite MMCs that I've read in a long time. He's incredibly smart and was bullied relentlessly by the football team throughout high school and college, so he keeps to himself and is very insecure, untrusting, and a bit of a stormy rain cloud. He originally thought he was asexual, but with the help of some online friends, came to understand that he's actually demisexual - but hasn't ever actually found anyone that he connects with.
Insert Cooper - sunshine in human form. I just LOVE him. He's kind, genuine, positive, understanding, patient, and absolutely obsessed with Blake. He's a football player but nothing like the typical jock that Blake is used to. So when Cooper needs Blake to tutor him, they slowly (at Cooper's insistence hahaha) build a really beautiful friendship.
As Cooper and Blake's friendship starts to grow, Blake's feelings start to change and you can just FEEL his confusion and panic surrounding all of that. It really feels relatable to how your first crush felt and all of that insecurity and jealousy, and he doesn't always handle it in the best way. But sweet Cooper keeps communication open and stays patient with Blake to walk through things - seriously, green flags all around.
I think I swooned through this entire book. There's very low angst, some really great funny side characters (familiar ones if you've read Silver Valley University!), and the most precious slow burn to high heat love story. I absolutely could not recommend this one more. 🖤
Let Me Show You is a sweet, emotional slow burn MM romance that is full of heart!!
What you get.... ♡MM Romance ♡Grumpy Sunshine ♡College Romance ♡Sports Romance ♡Opposites Attract ♡He's a Football Player ♡He's a Tutor ♡Friends to Lovers ♡Jock x Nerd ♡Black Cat x Golden Retriever ♡Great Banter ♡Demisexual MMC ♡Slow Burn ♡Protective Hero ♡Friend Group ♡Touch Him and ☠️ Vibes ♡Found Family ♡No 3rd Act Breakup
Cooper and Blake go from a chance meeting in a coffee shop to tutoring sessions, to an easy friendship, and finally into the sweetest slow burn romance!!
Cooper definitely falls first, but once Blake lets himself feel it, he’s all in, and watching him open up is absolutely beautiful!!🥰🥰
Blake’s journey hits hard. The bullying in his past, his low self worth, the way kindness surprises him every time. His slow shift toward trust and believing he deserves love is written with so much care.
And Cooper? The softest golden retriever jock to ever exist. He is protective, patient, gentle, and so determined to make Blake feel safe. He never pushes, never rushes, just shows up for Blake again and again.
Their friendship, the found family vibes, the teasing, the unnamed jealousy… it all builds into a warm, healing, eventually spicy romance that’s absolutely worth the slow burn.
Alisha, thank you for this beautiful story. Cooper, Blake, and their chaotic, lovable circle completely stole my heart.
If you love patient love, emotional healing, and a slow burn that truly pays off, grab this today!!
I loved going back to SVU. Cooper was always such a great friend to Ellie in her series so I was so excited that we got to go back in time and see him get his HEA.
Blake is the quite broody guy. The smart good looking loner. Who unfortunately has a bully. One that's tormented him through out HS and Uni. Because of the AH, Blake doesn't trust people much. He closes himself off and doesn't experience alot of things in life like friendship, kindness without strings. His sister who he adores asks him for a huge favor. For him to tutor a good friend of hers. Who needs to pass his classes to stay on the football team and keep his scholarship. He has trouble processing stuff even when putting in all the work. Blake wants to refuse because his bully is a footballer and he hates jocks because they are all AH's. But when his sister tells him he's one of the rare ones who's genuinely a good person he agrees because his sister only surrounded herself with good people.
Blake and Cooper become something so magical throughout this book. What starts as a one time encounter ends up becoming a weekly tutoringship and developing into soooooo much more. There's so much affection and growth from both characters. So much support and trust among them. I fell hard for their story. It was such a great chance to revisit favorite characters and find new ones. I would love more from this universe someday.
Tropes: MM romance, sports romance, grumpy x sunshine, demisexual MMC, slow burn, football player x tutor, sweet but emotional
Honestly… this book was so cute and sweet. I was really hesitant to start it because I saw “slow burn,” and that’s usually not my favorite trope. But I decided to give it a chance — and I’m so glad I did because I ended up really enjoying it.
This book was so sweet I swear I have a cavity now 😉
Cooper is the definition of golden retriever energy. I know that personality isn’t for everyone, but I found it absolutely adorable. He’s such a genuinely good person — the kind of friend everyone deserves to have. He’s warm, supportive, and never makes Blake feel like he’s too much or not enough, which made me love him even more.
And Blake… my heart broke for him. Everything he went through growing up made it so easy to understand why he struggled so much with confidence and feeling like he belonged. Watching Cooper slowly bring him out of his shell, include him, support him, and help him figure out his sexuality felt so gentle and emotional.
This isn’t a super spicy book, but the emotional connection is what really makes it work. It’s soft, sweet, and full of healing moments — and I honestly cried more than I expected to.
We seriously need more Coopers in the world, because maybe it wouldn’t feel so cruel if we had more people like him 🥺💙
Let Me Show You is a contemporary romance written by Alisha Williams.
💜 university setting 💜 football 💜 tutoring 💜 bullying 💜 MM 💜 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Cooper loves playing football, and getting a scholarship to play at Silver Valley University was a bonus. He could afford to go to school and play a sport he loves. He doesn’t plan to go pro, but he wants to finish this year’s season with being on top. But after practice one day, the coach pulls him to the side. He has to do better in his classes or he will be sidelined for at least a month until his grades are better. So, he suggests Cooper gets himself a tutor. Can he find one? Most of the tutors are paid, but there are some free ones. Will he be able to find a free tutor? Will he do better in classes to stay on the team?
This was a fun book that’s set at Silver Valley University where there was already a great series written there. You don’t have to have read the series to understand this one. But, if I were you, I would go back and read it now. The world building addition was great, as well as the character building. I liked both of the characters and the differences they brought to the storyline. This was a fun book.
I really enjoyed this book, it was well written, had plenty going on to keep me interested and two MMCs you just can’t help love. Cooper is a Jock but he is far from the typical Jock, he’s sweet, kind, caring and not afraid to stand up for the underdog. Blake is a bit of a loner having been bullied his whole life, he is a bit wary when he first comes across Cooper but slowly starts to learn that he is not like his counterparts. Their relationship is really sweet, they start out becoming friends before those feelings turn into something more, but at the heart of it you can still see the friendship they built. I loved how Cooper never pushed for more than Blake was able to give him at the time and seeing how they both fell hard was so sweet. This is a slow burn book as Blake is demisexual but once he realises what his feelings mean then the spice definitely hits. If you are looking for a sweet MM read that will leave you smiling and warm and fuzzy inside then this is the book for you.
Oh sweet grumpy demisexual Blake I absolutely loved him. He's nerdy and has struggled with bullies for so long. He tutors scholarship kids and has never Bern interested in anyone before.
Cooper is a ray of sunshine and always helping his fruends. When his coach says he needs to pass his classes he tries to find a tutor except the only ones left he can't afford. Thankfully a friend suggests her brother might be willing to make an exception to help him. Cooper proves to Blake that not all jocks are terrible. Watching him try so hard to get Blake to notice him is freaking adorable. However, more than then that he brings friendships to Blake's life and really allows him to shine.
I love how this relationship built slowly and always at Blake's pace. These two fit together beautifully and it was a pleasure to read. I also adore nicknames and these were so sweet. Latte Boy for Blake and Golden Boy for Cooper. Freaking adorable together even before they move past friendship.
Blake and Cooper are hands down one of the best MM couples I’ve read—they were perfect.
Blake must be protected at all costs 🥹 This sensitive, awkward man who’s already been through so much absolutely melted my heart. Watching him grow, build confidence, and find his people was everything.
And Cooper?! The ultimate boyfriend AND best friend. Caring, understanding, always listening and showing up when it matters. He would go to war for the people he loves, no questions asked.
Their relationship was so beautiful to watch unfold. Starting as a genuine friendship and slowly building into something deeper made it hit even harder. I loved every second of it and honestly could read a hundred more books about these two 🥰
Tropes: 💙 MM romance ☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine 🖤 Demisexual MMC 🏈 Football player x Tutor 🔥 Slow burn 💞 Friends to Lovers 🌈 Exploring sexuality 🌶️ Spicy scenes 🥹 Sweet but emotional ✨ Fun & flirty
Grumpy/sunshine Jock/tutor College/sports romance Found family Best Friends- Lovers Slow burn
This book is so damn sweet!! I was smiling (yes me), giggling, so excited every time these 2 were close hahaha and the tension…soo so good🥵
The entire buildup relationship tutor/best friend/boyfriend just 10/10, Cooper is just way too funny and Blakey poo so grumpy and sweet, and I really enjoyed the side characters and their friendship specially Val hahaha that girl is just something else
Can’t wait for Crossing the line, I’m very intrigued
FYI: This is a very slow burn (did I enjoy it?? Fkn YYES is so worth it) but since one of the MMC´s is demi is just fitting the buildup so just a heads up if you’re not a fan of a slow burn
Thank you Alisha for an opportunity to read this arc. This is my honest review
I have loved Cooper from the Silver Valley series and was so happy that he got his own book. Cooper is a football player that is just a ray of sunshine. He is always smiling.
Blake is a grumpy smart guy. He gas been bullied and just hasn't made friends. So he definitely comes off as grumpy but I really loved his character.
The way Blake and Cooper first met at the coffee place is so cute. Cooper needs a tutor and Blake's sister asks Blake if he can tutor him. Cooper is so happy to get help and the way Cooper keeps being there for Blake and makes sure he knows his self worth is seriously the best.
I love how all the side characters are as friends. I really loved this book. It is a slow burn but once the burn happens, it is hot! Great book.
We are first introduced to Cooper in the Silver Valley University trilogy. He is the most amazing best friend any girl could ask for so I was really looking forward to his book. I am forever happy to not be disappointed with it. Cooper is strong in his goals and ideals but he is also a marshmallow with his feelings. Now, Blake on the other hand has been hurt so much that he’s prickly and hide his true self. So many times you feel sorry for how hurt he is that he doesn’t want to let anybody near him, but the way he opens for Cooper is couple goals. They just complement each other so well and the patients at Cooper has with him is so swoon worthy. Not everything comes easy to them and I guess that’s what makes the story so enjoyable. I give this book 5 ⭐️ and 3.5 🌶️ .
It felt so good to be back in SVU’s universe. This book was everything and so much more. I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t get enough of it. I had a hard time wanting to put this beauty down. The characters and plot were so well written and the depth to the characters I loved.
I really loved Blake and wanted to hug him. He has been through so much and I loved how patient Cooper was with Blake. I felt like he just was so sweet and there were very much swoonworhy moments. Not just that but also the moments that cooper was there for Blake.
Overall, this is one of my favorite reads this year. I couldn’t get enough and absolutely loved these two. I can’t wait for more from Alisha. Highly recommend!
While there are definitely aspects about this book that I do find endearing and entertaining, it didn’t keep that level of interest all the way through.
Ultimately it is a slow blow and I did like that progression. I really enjoyed the way it builds and they connect over time. I personally think that could’ve been dived into deeper, maybe even stronger pining, questioning. Maybe Blake doubting Cooper hard, which could’ve motivated the plot with Mickey later on, something like “You set this up?”
Wha pulls me back is the later half. Once they finally connect, the sorry kind of falls flat. It treads on to provide sexual scenes and quick tension with Mickey that is resolved instantly, and felt rather unnecessary… I think what holds it back is neither one of the characters felt like they had anything to lose, or no real tension persisted. There was nothing more to cling to that made them worth reading about once they got together.
The story and writing itself feels novice, which isn’t really a bad thing… but it could’ve helped.