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Not That #3
Not That Ridiculous
Charlie Galloway is handling it, okay?
Yes, he’s been left to run the family coffee shop all on his own, he’s up to his eyeballs in mortgages and loans, and his fixer-upper dream house is falling down around his ears. Big deal. He can handle it.
Just like he can handle being secretly in love with Kevin Wallis, Chipping Fairford’s favourite handyman, best known for once finding a dead body in a storage tub under a client’s bedroom floor.
Only it turns out that while Kevin might come across as a total cinnamon roll with his gentle brown eyes and his sweet, calm nature, he really is…not.
He’s not straight—not when it comes to Charlie, anyway—the things he keeps doing to Charlie are definitely not sweet, and he’s not holding back from letting Charlie know what he wants.
Not a problem. Charlie can handle that, too.
Charlie can handle anything.
Right up until Kevin decides to bust out his sledgehammer, work his handyman magic on Charlie’s dream house, and…well.
There’s a reason the local newspaper called him the Chipping Fairford Corpse Finder.
Not That Ridiculous is a 98k-word romantic comedy about a grumpy and overworked coffee shop owner and the sunshine handyman who wants to fix everything. Yes, there are some random dead guys in the mix, but that’s background noise. Who even cares? It’s incidental at best. There’s kissing and first times and way more interesting stuff going on. This is a romance!
Book Three in the Not That series.
Yes, he’s been left to run the family coffee shop all on his own, he’s up to his eyeballs in mortgages and loans, and his fixer-upper dream house is falling down around his ears. Big deal. He can handle it.
Just like he can handle being secretly in love with Kevin Wallis, Chipping Fairford’s favourite handyman, best known for once finding a dead body in a storage tub under a client’s bedroom floor.
Only it turns out that while Kevin might come across as a total cinnamon roll with his gentle brown eyes and his sweet, calm nature, he really is…not.
He’s not straight—not when it comes to Charlie, anyway—the things he keeps doing to Charlie are definitely not sweet, and he’s not holding back from letting Charlie know what he wants.
Not a problem. Charlie can handle that, too.
Charlie can handle anything.
Right up until Kevin decides to bust out his sledgehammer, work his handyman magic on Charlie’s dream house, and…well.
There’s a reason the local newspaper called him the Chipping Fairford Corpse Finder.
Not That Ridiculous is a 98k-word romantic comedy about a grumpy and overworked coffee shop owner and the sunshine handyman who wants to fix everything. Yes, there are some random dead guys in the mix, but that’s background noise. Who even cares? It’s incidental at best. There’s kissing and first times and way more interesting stuff going on. This is a romance!
Book Three in the Not That series.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 23, 2025
128 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
About the author
Isabel Murray
12 books399 followersIsabel is a writer, a reader, and a lover of love. She couldn’t stick to a subgenre if her life depended on it, but MM romance is her jam. She lives in the UK, reads way too much, and cannot be trusted anywhere near chocolate.
Website: https://isabelmurrayauthor.wordpress.com
Other links: https://isabelmurray.carrd.co
Website: https://isabelmurrayauthor.wordpress.com
Other links: https://isabelmurray.carrd.co
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 2, 2025
Hilarious!! This was back to the humour of book one and I could not stop laughing - this fits my sense of humour perfectly!
Charlie is outwardly a black cat but inside he's soooo sweet! Kevin is just an absolute golden retriever of a man and I loved him 😂
Seriously I'm kinda jealous that Kevin's way of wooing Charlie was planning a full home renovation and buying him a new front door 😍😍😍
I loved that we got a resolution to the Dollhouse killer plot too.
Adam and Ray are still amazing characters and I loved their friendship with Charlie. Jasper felt like he'd grown up a lot too and Liam didn't annoy me at all in this book!
I'm kinda hoping we get another book set in this community because the books have been so fun, but I also won't be sad if this is the end.
Charlie is outwardly a black cat but inside he's soooo sweet! Kevin is just an absolute golden retriever of a man and I loved him 😂
Seriously I'm kinda jealous that Kevin's way of wooing Charlie was planning a full home renovation and buying him a new front door 😍😍😍
I loved that we got a resolution to the Dollhouse killer plot too.
Adam and Ray are still amazing characters and I loved their friendship with Charlie. Jasper felt like he'd grown up a lot too and Liam didn't annoy me at all in this book!
I'm kinda hoping we get another book set in this community because the books have been so fun, but I also won't be sad if this is the end.
February 28, 2025
4.5 stars
I found this much better than book two, and almost as good as book one. I thoroughly enjoyed this, as I always do when one character just completely bulldozes the other into a relationship. It was especially adorable because both were clearly super into each other.
This was both casual and hilarious, and it was nice to get a bit of a wrap up on the murderer, although I do hope for a book four and maybe some more information on that. Or even a proper epilogue. That would definitely bump my rating up.
I think there’s a bonus chapter in the author’s newsletter, which I am signed up for, but I’m tired of doing extra work for extra story.
I found this much better than book two, and almost as good as book one. I thoroughly enjoyed this, as I always do when one character just completely bulldozes the other into a relationship. It was especially adorable because both were clearly super into each other.
This was both casual and hilarious, and it was nice to get a bit of a wrap up on the murderer, although I do hope for a book four and maybe some more information on that. Or even a proper epilogue. That would definitely bump my rating up.
I think there’s a bonus chapter in the author’s newsletter, which I am signed up for, but I’m tired of doing extra work for extra story.
February 28, 2025
The heretofore straight MC telling the gay virgin MC not to worry about the sex because HE has it covered as he's watched a lot of gay porn is the scariest AND funniest thing I've read in a while.
Had Charlie panicking the whole time because he wouldn't stop using phrases like....
“Taken by the tradesman: sassy twink nailed to the wall like a sexy picture—”
“Rough handyman pounds his big hammer in twink’s virgin hole,”
“Handyman with XXXL tool nails twink to floor. Handyman surprises twink with his XXXL power tool.”
And he was only doing it to freak Charlie out 💀
Oh, and fingering buns at the coffee shop, to Charlie's confused (but deeply unserious while also deeply horny) mortification.
A real nuisance, our Kevin.
My favorite thing in books with bi-awakenings is when the Out MC freaks out on behalf of the Closeted-for-Now MC when they're in public and people can potentially tell they're together and the other is like huh? 'What are you hiding, let me touch you, dammit' because then it's like awwww. And also, whew! They're going to have issues but it won't be that.
Which was a good thing because Charlie had to say(MULTIPLE) times:
“I love you. You’re blameless and I love you.”
Because Kevin his Corpse Finder™ boyfriend kept finding corpses.
I digress. Back to the fun bits because the murder mysteries never matter in this series. They're just ✨filler subplot✨.(though it does get solved in this one. Unless there's another book after this in which the mystery comes to life again. Nothing has resurrected so much like this mystery. Not even Stefan Salvatore)
A 24 year old manhandling a 31 year old man is very funny business. Just picking him up willy nilly and placing him where he wants.
And Charlie kept getting annoyed at it. Made it even funnier when Kevin would simply....do it again. And go, 'Do the sassy barrista thing again, I think it's hot' 💀
I LOVED the sex scenes(not because I'm a pervert, which maybe I am, but that's not why I loved them) they were just so refreshingly real. The virgin had a lot of virgin worries.
And Kevin had the tendency to ask to look at holes then simply go mute, resulting in moments like...
“Don’t worry, I won’t take it personally.” I was going to take it so personally I would never expose myself to a human being again.
It goes without saying that what follows is one of the most ridiculous sex scenes I've read so far. I also appreciated the realness of the confession that Charlie kept losing the rhythm 💀💀💀💀💀
Thank you for your realness, king, because a LOT of romances keep telling us people are perfect at it their first time and mmmmmm??? Not buying it. 😂😂😂😂😂
'Bouncing on it was, apparently, a young man’s game. Or a fitter-than-me man’s game.'
Crackling knee gang thanks you once again for your bravery lol.
💀Oh, Charlie with the flat butt. The gym is calling your name. LOUDLY.
Kevin has the libido of a 24 year old man and the energy to back it up with action. Charlie was humped to within an inch of his life.
' I loved the feeling of him behind me, big and hot and solid. And inside me. Also big and hot and solid.'
😂Okay, then.
He's living a life of limping around the coffee shop because his thighs have never been spread THAT far apart in his life 😂
And nobody is buying the ' I overdid it at the gym' excuse.
I'm surprised their sex life doesn't kill him. Puts a whole new meaning to 'pounced on him'.
Anyway. This book is absolutely THAT ridiculous. And so funny. I loved it. No idea if it's my mood, or the fact that I find this author's humor over the top but never cringey, or I simply just love their writing or a combination of all the above.
Went in expecting to love it and wasn't let down.
Had Charlie panicking the whole time because he wouldn't stop using phrases like....
“Taken by the tradesman: sassy twink nailed to the wall like a sexy picture—”
“Rough handyman pounds his big hammer in twink’s virgin hole,”
“Handyman with XXXL tool nails twink to floor. Handyman surprises twink with his XXXL power tool.”
And he was only doing it to freak Charlie out 💀
Oh, and fingering buns at the coffee shop, to Charlie's confused (but deeply unserious while also deeply horny) mortification.
A real nuisance, our Kevin.
My favorite thing in books with bi-awakenings is when the Out MC freaks out on behalf of the Closeted-for-Now MC when they're in public and people can potentially tell they're together and the other is like huh? 'What are you hiding, let me touch you, dammit' because then it's like awwww. And also, whew! They're going to have issues but it won't be that.
Which was a good thing because Charlie had to say(MULTIPLE) times:
“I love you. You’re blameless and I love you.”
Because Kevin his Corpse Finder™ boyfriend kept finding corpses.
I digress. Back to the fun bits because the murder mysteries never matter in this series. They're just ✨filler subplot✨.(though it does get solved in this one. Unless there's another book after this in which the mystery comes to life again. Nothing has resurrected so much like this mystery. Not even Stefan Salvatore)
A 24 year old manhandling a 31 year old man is very funny business. Just picking him up willy nilly and placing him where he wants.
And Charlie kept getting annoyed at it. Made it even funnier when Kevin would simply....do it again. And go, 'Do the sassy barrista thing again, I think it's hot' 💀
I LOVED the sex scenes(not because I'm a pervert, which maybe I am, but that's not why I loved them) they were just so refreshingly real. The virgin had a lot of virgin worries.
And Kevin had the tendency to ask to look at holes then simply go mute, resulting in moments like...
“Don’t worry, I won’t take it personally.” I was going to take it so personally I would never expose myself to a human being again.
It goes without saying that what follows is one of the most ridiculous sex scenes I've read so far. I also appreciated the realness of the confession that Charlie kept losing the rhythm 💀💀💀💀💀
Thank you for your realness, king, because a LOT of romances keep telling us people are perfect at it their first time and mmmmmm??? Not buying it. 😂😂😂😂😂
'Bouncing on it was, apparently, a young man’s game. Or a fitter-than-me man’s game.'
Crackling knee gang thanks you once again for your bravery lol.
💀Oh, Charlie with the flat butt. The gym is calling your name. LOUDLY.
Kevin has the libido of a 24 year old man and the energy to back it up with action. Charlie was humped to within an inch of his life.
' I loved the feeling of him behind me, big and hot and solid. And inside me. Also big and hot and solid.'
😂Okay, then.
He's living a life of limping around the coffee shop because his thighs have never been spread THAT far apart in his life 😂
And nobody is buying the ' I overdid it at the gym' excuse.
I'm surprised their sex life doesn't kill him. Puts a whole new meaning to 'pounced on him'.
Anyway. This book is absolutely THAT ridiculous. And so funny. I loved it. No idea if it's my mood, or the fact that I find this author's humor over the top but never cringey, or I simply just love their writing or a combination of all the above.
Went in expecting to love it and wasn't let down.
March 5, 2025
We get to know who the killer was! Not that it is the focus of the story, definitely not, and none of our guys plays detective (not even the detective) but it feels like closure to the series and it is a good, sweet one.
It might be the best of the series yet, or at least my favorite - but I think it is best read in order.
This feels like a mm version of a british chick lit country escape romance (Cotswold village) and it does that thing that british chick lit fantasies do that is not my favorite - the main PoV character is totally the girl in the relationship and the love interest is so perfect and competent and infatuated as a matter of course, as setup, without us seeing it happening or developing. I like romances more balanced, but that is my issue.
It might be the best of the series yet, or at least my favorite - but I think it is best read in order.
This feels like a mm version of a british chick lit country escape romance (Cotswold village) and it does that thing that british chick lit fantasies do that is not my favorite - the main PoV character is totally the girl in the relationship and the love interest is so perfect and competent and infatuated as a matter of course, as setup, without us seeing it happening or developing. I like romances more balanced, but that is my issue.
March 10, 2025
Yes, I swore off this author after the last thing I read by her, but here I am, back for more.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Thing is I guess I liked the first two books in this series more than I hated them, so when I saw there was a third, I just couldn’t resist.
Murray writes some very charming characters, and is frequently funny. Here, she pretends to be repeating the sweetheart x asshole pairing she went with in the first two books. #1 (Not That Complicated) in some ways was arguably better than #2 (Not That Impossible), but Impossible worked much better for me despite its weaknesses because Complicated was from the pov of the asshole, and he was not the sort of asshole I get along with.
In Ridiculous we’re back in the pov of the asshole, but it’s kind of an asshole fail, because while Charlie is antisocial and grouchy, he’s actually fairly considerate underneath. (Though I did think his initial response to Kevin’s behavior after finding the body was a major fail.)
So, this book doesn’t suffer from its “asshole” protagonist like Complicated, it just suffers from the problem common to everything I’ve read from Murray so far: there being just WAY too much sex in the book.
But… whereas Complicated had a dislikable narrator, and basically everyone in Impossible except the narrator felt barely sketched in, both Charlie and Kevin worked and felt more evenly balanced in this one.
This is, I think, the most successful of the three books, and I’m not just saying that cuz she finally tied up the mystery that’s in the background of all three. (Don’t expect too much in that department, the corpses don’t turn up until quite late in the story and it’s all very offhanded and epilogue-y.)
It gives me great pain to give this five stars. I don’t think it deserves it. Like fifty percent of it is the book I actually wanted, and the rest is just annoying nonsense to skim through. But I gave #1 a four because I did greatly enjoy parts of it, and #2 a five cuz it was better, even if that was almost entirely down to having Jasper as a narrator instead of Ray, and this really is the best of the three, I think, so here’s me pinching my nose and closing my eyes as I click the 5th star on my rating.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Thing is I guess I liked the first two books in this series more than I hated them, so when I saw there was a third, I just couldn’t resist.
Murray writes some very charming characters, and is frequently funny. Here, she pretends to be repeating the sweetheart x asshole pairing she went with in the first two books. #1 (Not That Complicated) in some ways was arguably better than #2 (Not That Impossible), but Impossible worked much better for me despite its weaknesses because Complicated was from the pov of the asshole, and he was not the sort of asshole I get along with.
In Ridiculous we’re back in the pov of the asshole, but it’s kind of an asshole fail, because while Charlie is antisocial and grouchy, he’s actually fairly considerate underneath. (Though I did think his initial response to Kevin’s behavior after finding the body was a major fail.)
So, this book doesn’t suffer from its “asshole” protagonist like Complicated, it just suffers from the problem common to everything I’ve read from Murray so far: there being just WAY too much sex in the book.
But… whereas Complicated had a dislikable narrator, and basically everyone in Impossible except the narrator felt barely sketched in, both Charlie and Kevin worked and felt more evenly balanced in this one.
This is, I think, the most successful of the three books, and I’m not just saying that cuz she finally tied up the mystery that’s in the background of all three. (Don’t expect too much in that department, the corpses don’t turn up until quite late in the story and it’s all very offhanded and epilogue-y.)
It gives me great pain to give this five stars. I don’t think it deserves it. Like fifty percent of it is the book I actually wanted, and the rest is just annoying nonsense to skim through. But I gave #1 a four because I did greatly enjoy parts of it, and #2 a five cuz it was better, even if that was almost entirely down to having Jasper as a narrator instead of Ray, and this really is the best of the three, I think, so here’s me pinching my nose and closing my eyes as I click the 5th star on my rating.
September 18, 2025
Thus was very cute! I had tried to read the first book awhile ago but wasn’t into it but after reading this one I think I’ll try again.
I had a few issues but they did not overshadow my enjoyment. I thought Kevin was very immature but he is only 23 so that tracks. I didn’t understand why he was attracted to Charlie when he’s never been attracted to a man before. I wish we had his point of view at least once. He seemed to only want Charlie for physical reasons and I wish the book had them conversing more. Being only in Charlie’s head took away this part of the story and that’s my one complaint. Plus communication!!!! Poor Charlie suffered all day because Kevin hadn’t learned about communicating with him yet.
I did love Charlie though. I just adore a cynical character who is an introvert. Charlie runs his coffee shop and makes no apologies for who he is. He is lonely though so I am so happy he found out he has so much support and also a man who loves him.
I had a few issues but they did not overshadow my enjoyment. I thought Kevin was very immature but he is only 23 so that tracks. I didn’t understand why he was attracted to Charlie when he’s never been attracted to a man before. I wish we had his point of view at least once. He seemed to only want Charlie for physical reasons and I wish the book had them conversing more. Being only in Charlie’s head took away this part of the story and that’s my one complaint. Plus communication!!!! Poor Charlie suffered all day because Kevin hadn’t learned about communicating with him yet.
I did love Charlie though. I just adore a cynical character who is an introvert. Charlie runs his coffee shop and makes no apologies for who he is. He is lonely though so I am so happy he found out he has so much support and also a man who loves him.
February 27, 2025
What a happy surprise to see a new book in this series! I liked it so much, just like the other two! Charlie is adorably grumpy and Kevin is a big ol sweetie with a secret sexually dominant side 🔥
September 8, 2025
Another delightful rom-com that is both romantic and genuinely funny,
Not That Ridiculous is, well, ridiculous in the very best of ways.
Local barista and coffee-shop owner Charlie is a bit of a grouch who smiles rarely and doesn't suffer fools. He loves what he does, but he's mortgaged to the hilt after he and his sister agreed to buy their parents' business when they wanted to retire, and his sister then decided she wanted to see the world leaving Charlie to run things single-handed and having to take out another loan so he could buy her out, too. He's stressed, works all the time and doesn't have anyone in his life apart from his massive elderly dog, Phil - but that's fine. He knows he's not the easiest person to get along with and has never expected to find Mr. Right - he hasn't even had the time to find Mr. Right-Now.
He's had a crush on local builder and handyman Kevin Wallis for quite a while but knows it can't go anywhere. For one thing, Kevin is gorgeous and chatty and lively - why would he be interested in a boring homebody like Charlie? - and for another, he's straight. So that's that. Until it isn't, and Kevin kisses Charlie one afternoon and makes it clear he'd like to do lots of other things with him as well.
Kevin is a hoot - a total sweetheart with a terrible line in dirty talk and whose idea
of wooing his man is to buy him a new front door, re-hang the doors on his kitchen cupboards, and completely redesign his (dilapidated) house.
The third-act break-up is very flimsy, but at least it doesn't last long, and the mystery of the dead body under the floorboards (Not That Complicated) is finally solved.
Not That Ridiculous is a lot of charming, light-hearted and sexy fun.
Not That Ridiculous is, well, ridiculous in the very best of ways.
Local barista and coffee-shop owner Charlie is a bit of a grouch who smiles rarely and doesn't suffer fools. He loves what he does, but he's mortgaged to the hilt after he and his sister agreed to buy their parents' business when they wanted to retire, and his sister then decided she wanted to see the world leaving Charlie to run things single-handed and having to take out another loan so he could buy her out, too. He's stressed, works all the time and doesn't have anyone in his life apart from his massive elderly dog, Phil - but that's fine. He knows he's not the easiest person to get along with and has never expected to find Mr. Right - he hasn't even had the time to find Mr. Right-Now.
He's had a crush on local builder and handyman Kevin Wallis for quite a while but knows it can't go anywhere. For one thing, Kevin is gorgeous and chatty and lively - why would he be interested in a boring homebody like Charlie? - and for another, he's straight. So that's that. Until it isn't, and Kevin kisses Charlie one afternoon and makes it clear he'd like to do lots of other things with him as well.
Kevin is a hoot - a total sweetheart with a terrible line in dirty talk and whose idea
of wooing his man is to buy him a new front door, re-hang the doors on his kitchen cupboards, and completely redesign his (dilapidated) house.
The third-act break-up is very flimsy, but at least it doesn't last long, and the mystery of the dead body under the floorboards (Not That Complicated) is finally solved.
Not That Ridiculous is a lot of charming, light-hearted and sexy fun.
July 21, 2025
This may partly be the right book at the right time but I think I liked this even more than book one! Which was a relief after being a bit disappointed by book two.
Very light, fun and silly read. Also, while it was nice to see all the folks from the previous books, Adam is the Ilya Rozanov of Chipping Fairford and I am here for it.
Very light, fun and silly read. Also, while it was nice to see all the folks from the previous books, Adam is the Ilya Rozanov of Chipping Fairford and I am here for it.
April 1, 2025
3.75 stars
Unpretentious wish-fulfilment story, which I thoroughly enjoyed. On another day, I might have queried the vestigial plot, but the cinnamon roll energy is strong in this one. Both MCs are allowed to be imperfect, and there's a little quiet joy in seeing them fall for each other nevertheless.
Unpretentious wish-fulfilment story, which I thoroughly enjoyed. On another day, I might have queried the vestigial plot, but the cinnamon roll energy is strong in this one. Both MCs are allowed to be imperfect, and there's a little quiet joy in seeing them fall for each other nevertheless.
dnf
August 31, 2025DNF #8 @48%
This one is definitely a me issue and nothing with the story itself. In fact, I found myself loving that Kevin wasn't conventionally handsome and that he was "built like a brick shithouse" but in a way where he had a lil chub but it evened out as he grew into his height🤔. I'm so burnt out on all the extremely sexy people that it's nice to see some representation of an MC who is liked for his calm presence, kindness and happy attitude.. So i'll admit my enjoyment already started to go down once Charlie saw Kevin at the gym and how he's basically a chiseled god.
And I found my enjoyment diminishing further the more I read because I was really wanting Kevin's POV. I've been spoiled and I don't think i'll ever be able to read single POVs again. But it was especially missing here, at this point in the story it's clear that Charlie has seen Kevin with women in the past and admiring women but Kevin has told Charlie he's been thinking about him for a while, but like, how long?
I'm thinking too deeply on a story that's meant to be humorous and filled with sex but here I am imagining how much I would be enjoying the story if it were dual POV and less humor. Another blatant reminder that romantic comedies are not for me.
I really liked the characters and I loved how much Kevin seems to be into Charlie when Charlie had no idea but i've been needing more of a connection in my stories aside from sex. I loved the premise and I wish it worked for me but unfortunately my slump will continue.
"Kevin wasn’t what you’d call a handsome lad. He had an open, honest face with a strong jawline and high, flat cheekbones. When he was younger, he’d had a round babyface, and he’d been somewhat stockier. He’d changed a lot in the last couple of years. He had some serious heft to him still, but his looks had refined and that heft was now stretched out over a significantly taller frame. He was over six feet, giving him at least three inches on me, and he was built like a brick shithouse. His eyes were a soft, gentle dark brown, his hair was golden brown, and he had an endearingly crooked left incisor." Give me more MCs like Kevin pls!
This one is definitely a me issue and nothing with the story itself. In fact, I found myself loving that Kevin wasn't conventionally handsome and that he was "built like a brick shithouse" but in a way where he had a lil chub but it evened out as he grew into his height🤔. I'm so burnt out on all the extremely sexy people that it's nice to see some representation of an MC who is liked for his calm presence, kindness and happy attitude.. So i'll admit my enjoyment already started to go down once Charlie saw Kevin at the gym and how he's basically a chiseled god.
And I found my enjoyment diminishing further the more I read because I was really wanting Kevin's POV. I've been spoiled and I don't think i'll ever be able to read single POVs again. But it was especially missing here, at this point in the story it's clear that Charlie has seen Kevin with women in the past and admiring women but Kevin has told Charlie he's been thinking about him for a while, but like, how long?
I'm thinking too deeply on a story that's meant to be humorous and filled with sex but here I am imagining how much I would be enjoying the story if it were dual POV and less humor. Another blatant reminder that romantic comedies are not for me.
I really liked the characters and I loved how much Kevin seems to be into Charlie when Charlie had no idea but i've been needing more of a connection in my stories aside from sex. I loved the premise and I wish it worked for me but unfortunately my slump will continue.
"Kevin wasn’t what you’d call a handsome lad. He had an open, honest face with a strong jawline and high, flat cheekbones. When he was younger, he’d had a round babyface, and he’d been somewhat stockier. He’d changed a lot in the last couple of years. He had some serious heft to him still, but his looks had refined and that heft was now stretched out over a significantly taller frame. He was over six feet, giving him at least three inches on me, and he was built like a brick shithouse. His eyes were a soft, gentle dark brown, his hair was golden brown, and he had an endearingly crooked left incisor." Give me more MCs like Kevin pls!
May 29, 2025
This was just so CHARMING. I think I just really needed a rom com, because this hit every single spot and I'm like still smiling about it. Murray is a great comedic writer, with a very British sense of humour, it's great.
So in this book we're back in Chipping Fairford, the extremely quaint Cotswolds village we've come to love, and our protagonist, Charlie, owns and operates the local coffee shop. Charlie is 31, an introvert and grump, and he has developed a wicked crush on Kevin, the strapping 24-year-old local handyman. But Kevin, as far as Charlie knows, is straight. So he pines in secret (or so he thinks). But eventually things take a turn and we learn that Kevin has feelings of his own when it comes to Charlie.
This is a quintessentially black cat v golden retriever romance and I loved it. Love how whipped Charlie was for Kevin, loved how unexpectedly filthy it was in places, loved the cute village and its inhabitants. There's also a fair bit of cameo by the previous couples in series. It was a great, cozy read - more vibes than plot, but honestly if I could live in this book, I would.
So in this book we're back in Chipping Fairford, the extremely quaint Cotswolds village we've come to love, and our protagonist, Charlie, owns and operates the local coffee shop. Charlie is 31, an introvert and grump, and he has developed a wicked crush on Kevin, the strapping 24-year-old local handyman. But Kevin, as far as Charlie knows, is straight. So he pines in secret (or so he thinks). But eventually things take a turn and we learn that Kevin has feelings of his own when it comes to Charlie.
This is a quintessentially black cat v golden retriever romance and I loved it. Love how whipped Charlie was for Kevin, loved how unexpectedly filthy it was in places, loved the cute village and its inhabitants. There's also a fair bit of cameo by the previous couples in series. It was a great, cozy read - more vibes than plot, but honestly if I could live in this book, I would.
March 1, 2025
Book 1 is still my favorite, but this was very cute and enjoyable.
March 15, 2025
2.5⭐️ This was cute but the humor didn’t hit for me at all. Book one was much better. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the MCs. I didn’t understand why they were supposedly in love with each other. It just felt like lust and silly crushes.
March 19, 2025
SO much fun!!!
This was a DELIGHT! I giggled so much. I’ve loved this entire series, but this one might just be my favorite! Who knew the depths Kevin had?
This was a DELIGHT! I giggled so much. I’ve loved this entire series, but this one might just be my favorite! Who knew the depths Kevin had?
September 17, 2025
I think this is my favorite book of the series, but might have to reread them all to check. This has the sort of grumpy/sunshine pairing I love. A grump who's really just introverted and overwhelmed, but has a soft spot for one special person. And the sunshine has hidden depths and a unexpectedly perceptive view of himself.
I actually laughed out loud at this one (I'm sure Murray has made me laugh before now, but these are truly funny books, with equal emphasis on both Rom and Com.) I mean, yes, it's ridiculous, but it's meant to be.
Also, I love awkward moments of intimacy where they work through it . . . we get a couple great scenes in this book. I'm not one for picture perfect , and was so glad to read one that felt plausibly fumbling to start. Murray deploys the single POV with great success, as well.
Had a great time with this, would have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to work--made my day!
Re-read updates: I have re-read this book maybe five times this year (so far) - it is definitely an instant fave and comfort read. I didn't mark every time I read it, but it's been on near constant rotation around other books.
I actually laughed out loud at this one (I'm sure Murray has made me laugh before now, but these are truly funny books, with equal emphasis on both Rom and Com.) I mean, yes, it's ridiculous, but it's meant to be.
Also, I love awkward moments of intimacy where they work through it . . . we get a couple great scenes in this book. I'm not one for picture perfect , and was so glad to read one that felt plausibly fumbling to start. Murray deploys the single POV with great success, as well.
Had a great time with this, would have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to work--made my day!
Re-read updates: I have re-read this book maybe five times this year (so far) - it is definitely an instant fave and comfort read. I didn't mark every time I read it, but it's been on near constant rotation around other books.
April 20, 2025
A perfect ending to the series.
Charlie, the grumpy loner, will steal your heart immediately. He’s running his family café after buying out his parents and then his sister (Amalie, from the previous books). Juggling a mortgage on his fixer-upper, a business loan, and repayments to his sister, he’s barely keeping his head above water. Life hasn’t quite gone to plan, but through it all, Charlie’s doing his best.
The dollhouse bodies only make an appearance in the latter half of the book, but they definitely spice things up. While they bring mystery and a touch of chaos, it’s Charlie and Kevin’s relationship that truly shines. Kevin’s calm, solid presence is the perfect match for Charlie’s overwhelmed, overworked life. Their romance is the kind that hits the ground running — all in, emotional, and genuine — the kind of love story where you realise they’ve both been falling for each other quietly for years, and when the moment finally comes, they go for it.
There’s a moment near the end where everything comes together beautifully. After a tense period of miscommunication and fear that he’s lost Kevin for good, Charlie reassures him with a heartfelt reminder that he loves him and won’t walk away, no matter what. It’s a sweet, emotional moment that adds depth to their relationship, especially considering the wild circumstances they’ve been through together.
And let’s not forget Phil — Charlie’s enormous, sweet-natured cuddlebug of a dog. He’s under the impression he’s a lapdog and loves meeting new people, but he never once went upstairs. Not when Deirdre was alive. Not even after. Poor Phil.
While the mystery is central to the series arc, at its heart this is a story about love, connection, and making space for joy in a messy, imperfect life. It’s emotional, funny, tender, and full of quirky charm — a warm, satisfying finish to a wonderful series.
Charlie, the grumpy loner, will steal your heart immediately. He’s running his family café after buying out his parents and then his sister (Amalie, from the previous books). Juggling a mortgage on his fixer-upper, a business loan, and repayments to his sister, he’s barely keeping his head above water. Life hasn’t quite gone to plan, but through it all, Charlie’s doing his best.
The dollhouse bodies only make an appearance in the latter half of the book, but they definitely spice things up. While they bring mystery and a touch of chaos, it’s Charlie and Kevin’s relationship that truly shines. Kevin’s calm, solid presence is the perfect match for Charlie’s overwhelmed, overworked life. Their romance is the kind that hits the ground running — all in, emotional, and genuine — the kind of love story where you realise they’ve both been falling for each other quietly for years, and when the moment finally comes, they go for it.
There’s a moment near the end where everything comes together beautifully. After a tense period of miscommunication and fear that he’s lost Kevin for good, Charlie reassures him with a heartfelt reminder that he loves him and won’t walk away, no matter what. It’s a sweet, emotional moment that adds depth to their relationship, especially considering the wild circumstances they’ve been through together.
And let’s not forget Phil — Charlie’s enormous, sweet-natured cuddlebug of a dog. He’s under the impression he’s a lapdog and loves meeting new people, but he never once went upstairs. Not when Deirdre was alive. Not even after. Poor Phil.
While the mystery is central to the series arc, at its heart this is a story about love, connection, and making space for joy in a messy, imperfect life. It’s emotional, funny, tender, and full of quirky charm — a warm, satisfying finish to a wonderful series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2025
One morning I looked into his lovely brown eyes as I handed him his flat white, our fingers brushed, and I thought, Oh, hell.
I’m in love with Kevin Wallis.
I don't know what it is about this slice-of-life series, but I keep coming back for more! This story features prickly barista Charlie and younger, golden retriever Kevin. Yes, that Kevin. Kevin of the dead bodies. Corpse-Finder Kevin.
He dipped his chin. “I could have been coming into your coffee shop every day for a couple of years now, checking out your menu. Thinking about trying out your latte.”
The euphemisms and special brand of Kevin-flavored dirty talk in this read was so so entertaining. I adored how Kevin threw himself into wooing Charlie! He was surprisingly hot as heck under that golden retriever exterior too.
He set the toolbox on the doorstep and straightened, staring at me as he slid the belt off his shoulder, slung it around his hips, and buckled it. Slowly. Lingeringly.
“What is this, a reverse striptease?” I said, trying to cover the fact that my breathing had sped up.
“I’m just standing here putting my tool belt on, Charlie,” he said.
A highlight in this third book in series was the other characters - Adam and Ray and Jasper and Liam - all coming in and out of the story as Charlie and Kevin navigated their new relationship. They were great for some comic relief, but also a lot of coming together and supporting Charlie when the first you-know-what turned up! It 100% made me want to go back and re-read their books!
I can't finish my review without saying.... I loved how the casual background who-dun-it was solved at the end!
March 2, 2025
The best in the series so far (not sure if she'll write more in the series but I hope so). It has everything you expect from Isabel Murray - lovable characters, soothing small town settings, laugh out loud funny scenes. No literally, I laughed so hard my husband came to check on me because he thought I was crying. Usually I find the reader's view into the other side of the relationship to be a little one sided but not in this book! Kevin's feelings were clear and made you feel the warm fuzzies. And Charlie is a deeply relatable character who you knew from previous books and grew to love in this one. Scenes at the gym and coffee shop, as well as Charlie's home, were such a delight. I can see this being one of my favorite books of the year at least.
Best of all, the elderly dog is perfectly healthy the whole time! No dog tragedies here.
Best of all, the elderly dog is perfectly healthy the whole time! No dog tragedies here.
April 4, 2025
This was my fav in the series and I actually accidentally read it first!
Charlie and Kevin were so funny to me and since I didn’t read the others, the surprise bodies in the walls had me dying laughing.
Also this fit my mood of gym bros falling in love. Kinda reminded me of Brad Bradley from 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love as far as humor goes. Just so funny.
Bonus points for the binder of renos. Seriously that was so hot.
Charlie and Kevin were so funny to me and since I didn’t read the others, the surprise bodies in the walls had me dying laughing.
Also this fit my mood of gym bros falling in love. Kinda reminded me of Brad Bradley from 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love as far as humor goes. Just so funny.
Bonus points for the binder of renos. Seriously that was so hot.
February 28, 2025
This was a treat. And a surprise treat as well, a fantastic newsletter to get.
I was a bit afraid that the dynamic would be too similar to book 1, but even though there are parallels they are distinct enough.
Sad that this may have been the last one of this series. And now wanting to re read them all
I was a bit afraid that the dynamic would be too similar to book 1, but even though there are parallels they are distinct enough.
Sad that this may have been the last one of this series. And now wanting to re read them all
March 4, 2025
Cute and fun. But the concept is getting a little tired maybe?
December 21, 2025
Entirely a delight. The MC grumpy and great, the love interest is cinnamon roll complexly great, the separation trope is profound, the end is satisfying. No notes. :)
March 2, 2025
Book no.3 in Isabel Murray's Not That series, Not That Ridiculous delivers more or less the same light-heart and fun blend of comedic romance, spicy scenes, and a nice dose of character development and drama. I don't know why, but I was not expecting a 3rd entry in the series considering it had been almost two years since Not That Impossible was published which felt like a perfect ending and companion novel to Not That Complicated. Yet Murray is able to somehow work a 3rd romantic couple out of the past books' already limited side characters and base this novel around one of the most prominent Cotswolds locations previously featured. While I read and reviewed both
Not That Complicated
and
Not That Impossible
, each having their own specific strengths and weaknesses, Not That Ridiculous is definitely the most balanced of the three and will certainly satisfy fans of the previous novels (especially those that preferred the first over the second). Featuring an entertaining story and narration courtesy of Chipping Fairford's resident caffeinated "grouch" Charlie Galloway paired off with Kevin Wallis, the famed general handyman that discovered the original dead bodies in Ray's house, Not That Ridiculous is funny, silly, spicy yet also quite polished. Despite having a few minor nitpicks with the focus and pacing of the story, I enjoyed this a lot and breezed through it in two days.
Before getting into Not That Ridiculous specifically, I feel the need to add an upfront disclaimer to my review. Based on other reviews and scoring for Murray's previous two Not That novels, I feel like I'm definitely in the minority for enjoying and preferring Not That Impossible more than Not That Complicated due to the former's more ambitious character development, atypical pairing/chemistry, and having found Liam highly entertaining from his first appearance in the first book. While having stronger comedic shenanigans, I felt Not That Complicated was a bit slapstick-heavy, verging on cringe-y at times, and Ray/Adam lacked Jasper's strong character story and complex history with Liam. In many ways, Not That Ridiculous feels like a happy medium between the two, though part of me suspects this one was crafted as a direct response to the negative reviews of the 2nd entry, one I don't agree with. If I'm being honest, I was surprised Murray was able to make this 3rd novel work considering the original timeline of events felt already well-covered between the past two perspectives, and with Jasper and Liam paired off, there really wasn't any other characters left to explore. I never would've imagined Charlie would work as a main protagonist considering he had such little presence in the first two books (his sister Amalie being the more notable coffee shop barista), let alone pairing him with Kevin Wallis who had more appearances but didn't leave much of an impression for me (let alone being remotely interested in another man). Yet despite the unexpected combination, it works!
Unlike the previous two novels that covered roughly the same events from different perspectives, Not That Ridiculous instead is set four years after the previous two entries. A lot has changed in those years, namely the past couples are now married, Kevin is now a strong 24yr old young man, and Charlie is the financially-strapped and at capacity sole owner of the The Chipped Cup, the coffee shop frequently visited by all of the previous main characters. I'm a huge latte and coffee shop enthusiast so I obviously appreciated the story's focus on the coffee shop, espresso drinks, vintage gaggia machines and Kevin's fascination for latte art, but I thought the general business owner storyline plus the time jump was a refreshing change of pace. And after all the invasive residential destroying that was done in the first two books, it was also a fun idea focusing on the restoration process via Kevin's occupation. Taking a page from Jasper's character-focused story yet also keeping the spicy romcom hook front and center, Not That Ridiculous's story flows really well and avoids the tonal extremes of its predecessors. I also felt like Murray's writing style just keeps getting better and better with each novel, and while the jokes and punchlines can still be purposefully comically goofy, they feel smarter and rely less on pop culture references or slang that will certainly age quickly (Not That Complicated in particular). Being set after the earlier stories also allows this novel to serve dual purposes of not only developing Charlie and Kevin's relationship but also serving as an extended epilogue for the other characters that are interwoven effectively into this story. While Charlie and Kevin's romance was cute, I was almost more invested in Jasper considering where his novel left off and seeing Ray and Adam very settled compared to their whirlwind relationship.
While not nearly as charming as Jasper, I also loved Charlie's character and enjoyed the duality between his grumpy and tired exterior with his sweeter and wholesome internal feelings. Professionally competent, responsible, and constantly overloaded (honestly what a mood), I appreciated how frank and direct his dialogue and character logic was, especially his "I don't have the time or energy for miscommunication, so this is how it is" (compare that to Ray/Adam). In general, his relationship with Kevin felt closer to Ray and Adam's in terms of dynamics vs the Jasper and Liam's rockier and edgier relationship. However, unlike either of the other two pairings, Charlie and Kevin's relationship doesn't waste time with the usual will-they won't-they, instead hitting it right off from the get-go and immediately getting into steamy situations quickly (a direct contrast to one the common complaints others made about Not That Impossible that I don't agree with). Instead, this novel focuses on Charlie's confusion trying to understand why Kevin is interested in him as a seemingly straight gym bro or more importantly, why he's obsessed with trying to fix Charlie's fixer-upper abode. Also, as a reader who is in his early 30's (which is not THAT old I might add), Charlie's lack of dating, relationship history, and inexperience with sex is relatable and nice switch-up for the series compared to Ray's flamboyant demeaner and worlds away from Jasper's storylines. As a direct result, the banter between a gay guy inexperienced with sex and a typically straight guy who is confident based on his extensive research watching gay porn is absolutely hilarious. It sounds silly on paper but Murray makes it comedy gold:
Owing to their rather limited appearances in the past two novels, one aspect I found interesting was how both Charlie and Kevin were mostly blank slates in terms of character narratives and personalities compared to Jasper and Liam's portrayals prior to their novel. From what I remember, Charlie was merely an aloof and grouchy barista who seemed to have had a vague interest in Jasper at some point during his journalism days while Kevin was a masculine, not the sharpest tool in the shed laborer (also the only male character featured in this series to not have expressed any sort of interest or attraction to guys previously compared to the breadcrumbs left for Liam and Charlie). At times I did question the plausibility of all the various buddy buddy relationships that seemed at odds with how they were portrayed previously, particularly Charlie and Jasper who didn't seem anywhere near that close in Not That Impossible as well as Kevin who seemed didn't seem to be hugely familiar with any of the other guys before. Murray makes it work, but if you read the novels back-to-back it slightly stretches what's believable and can feel a bit forced in.
While I found Not That Ridiculous to be a really fun and light-hearted read, the one nitpick I had was that the narrative content felt unevenly concentrated in the last third of the book. While not having nearly as ambitious character growth and storylines as Not That Impossible, I felt like a lot the real meat of the story came in relatively late. While I have nothing against books that feature falling in love (and into each other's bed repeatedly 😉) fast, the character storylines involving Charlie's unhappiness in life, feelings of abandonment by Amalie, his resistance to opening up to others and avoiding his problems all felt rushed and crammed in at the last minute. Additionally while Kevin's straight boy > I love Charlie progression was cute and his occupation was quite interesting, his character felt less developed compared to past love interests Adam and Liam. Additionally, the book often foreshadowed some sort of character growth moment where Kevin would confront his questionable boss Craig or go solo based on how unhappy Kevin is with his job arrangement (or even just channeling a fraction of Charlie's business ownership, professional independence), but what I actually got was a bit of a letdown. And while the strained relationship and conflict between Charlie and Kevin made narrative sense, I never really understood why Kevin came to his decision and worry about the situation and would have liked to explore the source of the miscommunication or his concerns more. Frankly, I would've liked their whole separation arc to be longer in general, not only for greater character growth potential, but also for more interactions with Adam and Ray which I really enjoyed. The story also never really explores Kevin's bi/pan/demi(?) awakening which also would be interesting content and material to cover. With the way the book was setup and structured, there simply was not enough time and pages left compared to the first two thirds which, despite being entertaining and full of steamy sex scenes, felt like a lot of padded out fluff; cute and fun fluff, but fluff nonetheless. Perhaps this is me being picky and wanting more from this novel than what was it was written for, but while good as is, it's awfully close to being great.
Like the previous novels in the series, I enjoyed Not That Ridiculous and read through it very quickly. Returning to a romance-heavy focus, this is a really fun, quick read and a great choice for readers looking for a hilarious light-hearted yet spicy M/M read. For readers that have been keeping up with the series, this one is like the best of both worlds of the past books. And most importantly, Not That Ridiculous finally addresses the source and possible culprit of the mysteriously bizarre costumed dead bodies mystery that stretches across all three novels. And with the possible culprit revealed and Murray exhausting just about every eligible male character in Chipping Fairford, this is likely the end to the series that is tied up in a rather satisfying way. Looking back, it's funny thinking how invested I became reading Murray's novels after picking up Not That Complicated on a blind automated algorithm Kindle suggestion, especially since I considered that first novel cute but very casual and low-stakes. While obviously not intending to be the most dramatic or moving material out there, Murray's series has been a lot of fun and it's been a great time reading along with it! That being said, I also wouldn't be terribly surprised if Murray somehow manages to twist either Kevin's handyman boss Craig or The Inquirer's publisher Ralph that Jasper submitted his journalism articles to into a fourth romantic interest, despite how terrible these two would be in a M/M pairing in theory. That being said, they are both old and therefore would be on-brand for this series' age-gap formula so... yeah, we are not manifesting that-
*For more reviews, book lists and reading updates, checkout my blog TheBookGrind!
Before getting into Not That Ridiculous specifically, I feel the need to add an upfront disclaimer to my review. Based on other reviews and scoring for Murray's previous two Not That novels, I feel like I'm definitely in the minority for enjoying and preferring Not That Impossible more than Not That Complicated due to the former's more ambitious character development, atypical pairing/chemistry, and having found Liam highly entertaining from his first appearance in the first book. While having stronger comedic shenanigans, I felt Not That Complicated was a bit slapstick-heavy, verging on cringe-y at times, and Ray/Adam lacked Jasper's strong character story and complex history with Liam. In many ways, Not That Ridiculous feels like a happy medium between the two, though part of me suspects this one was crafted as a direct response to the negative reviews of the 2nd entry, one I don't agree with. If I'm being honest, I was surprised Murray was able to make this 3rd novel work considering the original timeline of events felt already well-covered between the past two perspectives, and with Jasper and Liam paired off, there really wasn't any other characters left to explore. I never would've imagined Charlie would work as a main protagonist considering he had such little presence in the first two books (his sister Amalie being the more notable coffee shop barista), let alone pairing him with Kevin Wallis who had more appearances but didn't leave much of an impression for me (let alone being remotely interested in another man). Yet despite the unexpected combination, it works!
Unlike the previous two novels that covered roughly the same events from different perspectives, Not That Ridiculous instead is set four years after the previous two entries. A lot has changed in those years, namely the past couples are now married, Kevin is now a strong 24yr old young man, and Charlie is the financially-strapped and at capacity sole owner of the The Chipped Cup, the coffee shop frequently visited by all of the previous main characters. I'm a huge latte and coffee shop enthusiast so I obviously appreciated the story's focus on the coffee shop, espresso drinks, vintage gaggia machines and Kevin's fascination for latte art, but I thought the general business owner storyline plus the time jump was a refreshing change of pace. And after all the invasive residential destroying that was done in the first two books, it was also a fun idea focusing on the restoration process via Kevin's occupation. Taking a page from Jasper's character-focused story yet also keeping the spicy romcom hook front and center, Not That Ridiculous's story flows really well and avoids the tonal extremes of its predecessors. I also felt like Murray's writing style just keeps getting better and better with each novel, and while the jokes and punchlines can still be purposefully comically goofy, they feel smarter and rely less on pop culture references or slang that will certainly age quickly (Not That Complicated in particular). Being set after the earlier stories also allows this novel to serve dual purposes of not only developing Charlie and Kevin's relationship but also serving as an extended epilogue for the other characters that are interwoven effectively into this story. While Charlie and Kevin's romance was cute, I was almost more invested in Jasper considering where his novel left off and seeing Ray and Adam very settled compared to their whirlwind relationship.
While not nearly as charming as Jasper, I also loved Charlie's character and enjoyed the duality between his grumpy and tired exterior with his sweeter and wholesome internal feelings. Professionally competent, responsible, and constantly overloaded (honestly what a mood), I appreciated how frank and direct his dialogue and character logic was, especially his "I don't have the time or energy for miscommunication, so this is how it is" (compare that to Ray/Adam). In general, his relationship with Kevin felt closer to Ray and Adam's in terms of dynamics vs the Jasper and Liam's rockier and edgier relationship. However, unlike either of the other two pairings, Charlie and Kevin's relationship doesn't waste time with the usual will-they won't-they, instead hitting it right off from the get-go and immediately getting into steamy situations quickly (a direct contrast to one the common complaints others made about Not That Impossible that I don't agree with). Instead, this novel focuses on Charlie's confusion trying to understand why Kevin is interested in him as a seemingly straight gym bro or more importantly, why he's obsessed with trying to fix Charlie's fixer-upper abode. Also, as a reader who is in his early 30's (which is not THAT old I might add), Charlie's lack of dating, relationship history, and inexperience with sex is relatable and nice switch-up for the series compared to Ray's flamboyant demeaner and worlds away from Jasper's storylines. As a direct result, the banter between a gay guy inexperienced with sex and a typically straight guy who is confident based on his extensive research watching gay porn is absolutely hilarious. It sounds silly on paper but Murray makes it comedy gold:
“Cute coffee shop barista twink gets railed,” Kevin said.
Well, that was a needle-scratch moment. What the hell?
“Hot coffee shop twink gets a triple shot,” he continued. “Handyman with XXXL tool nails twink to floor. Handyman surprises twink with his XXXL power tool.”
Owing to their rather limited appearances in the past two novels, one aspect I found interesting was how both Charlie and Kevin were mostly blank slates in terms of character narratives and personalities compared to Jasper and Liam's portrayals prior to their novel. From what I remember, Charlie was merely an aloof and grouchy barista who seemed to have had a vague interest in Jasper at some point during his journalism days while Kevin was a masculine, not the sharpest tool in the shed laborer (also the only male character featured in this series to not have expressed any sort of interest or attraction to guys previously compared to the breadcrumbs left for Liam and Charlie). At times I did question the plausibility of all the various buddy buddy relationships that seemed at odds with how they were portrayed previously, particularly Charlie and Jasper who didn't seem anywhere near that close in Not That Impossible as well as Kevin who seemed didn't seem to be hugely familiar with any of the other guys before. Murray makes it work, but if you read the novels back-to-back it slightly stretches what's believable and can feel a bit forced in.
While I found Not That Ridiculous to be a really fun and light-hearted read, the one nitpick I had was that the narrative content felt unevenly concentrated in the last third of the book. While not having nearly as ambitious character growth and storylines as Not That Impossible, I felt like a lot the real meat of the story came in relatively late. While I have nothing against books that feature falling in love (and into each other's bed repeatedly 😉) fast, the character storylines involving Charlie's unhappiness in life, feelings of abandonment by Amalie, his resistance to opening up to others and avoiding his problems all felt rushed and crammed in at the last minute. Additionally while Kevin's straight boy > I love Charlie progression was cute and his occupation was quite interesting, his character felt less developed compared to past love interests Adam and Liam. Additionally, the book often foreshadowed some sort of character growth moment where Kevin would confront his questionable boss Craig or go solo based on how unhappy Kevin is with his job arrangement (or even just channeling a fraction of Charlie's business ownership, professional independence), but what I actually got was a bit of a letdown. And while the strained relationship and conflict between Charlie and Kevin made narrative sense, I never really understood why Kevin came to his decision and worry about the situation and would have liked to explore the source of the miscommunication or his concerns more. Frankly, I would've liked their whole separation arc to be longer in general, not only for greater character growth potential, but also for more interactions with Adam and Ray which I really enjoyed. The story also never really explores Kevin's bi/pan/demi(?) awakening which also would be interesting content and material to cover. With the way the book was setup and structured, there simply was not enough time and pages left compared to the first two thirds which, despite being entertaining and full of steamy sex scenes, felt like a lot of padded out fluff; cute and fun fluff, but fluff nonetheless. Perhaps this is me being picky and wanting more from this novel than what was it was written for, but while good as is, it's awfully close to being great.
Like the previous novels in the series, I enjoyed Not That Ridiculous and read through it very quickly. Returning to a romance-heavy focus, this is a really fun, quick read and a great choice for readers looking for a hilarious light-hearted yet spicy M/M read. For readers that have been keeping up with the series, this one is like the best of both worlds of the past books. And most importantly, Not That Ridiculous finally addresses the source and possible culprit of the mysteriously bizarre costumed dead bodies mystery that stretches across all three novels. And with the possible culprit revealed and Murray exhausting just about every eligible male character in Chipping Fairford, this is likely the end to the series that is tied up in a rather satisfying way. Looking back, it's funny thinking how invested I became reading Murray's novels after picking up Not That Complicated on a blind automated algorithm Kindle suggestion, especially since I considered that first novel cute but very casual and low-stakes. While obviously not intending to be the most dramatic or moving material out there, Murray's series has been a lot of fun and it's been a great time reading along with it! That being said, I also wouldn't be terribly surprised if Murray somehow manages to twist either Kevin's handyman boss Craig or The Inquirer's publisher Ralph that Jasper submitted his journalism articles to into a fourth romantic interest, despite how terrible these two would be in a M/M pairing in theory. That being said, they are both old and therefore would be on-brand for this series' age-gap formula so... yeah, we are not manifesting that-
*For more reviews, book lists and reading updates, checkout my blog TheBookGrind!
Read
February 28, 2025I didn't like Kevin, something about him rubs me the wrong way.
I am also disappointed that there wasn't any real explanation/conclusion about the mystery part unless there will be another book about it
I am also disappointed that there wasn't any real explanation/conclusion about the mystery part unless there will be another book about it
May 1, 2025
The start was really really good. I liked reading Charlie's uncertainty over Kevin and Kevin's weirdly affectionate acts.
The story was generally humorous too, as per this author's strength.
But things went downhill for me after Kevin started showing his affection.
I did not like how far Kevin took things at the start. Pretty much all he did could be construed as sexual harrassment, only we were supposed to find him endearing because we know Charlie likes him despite the fact that most of his "romancing" involved a lot of ignoring Charlie's protests and forced physical contact.
I didn't like how Charlie didn't ask Kevin about what he was doing and just accepted things without clearly defining the parameters. I mean, sure, they didn't need to write up a contract or anything but a single conversation about what the first two kisses meant would've gone a long way in stopping the nonsensical "Kevin's bring weird and idk why" part.
I really didn't like how weirdly possessive Kevin got. Like he was physically moving people (Adam when he was in Charlie's way, Jasper when he was helping Charlie with squats, he prevented Jasper from moving Phil when the other dog was coming). Felt very very toxic and not at all cute/romantic.
I also didn't like anything past when Charlie and Kevin found the bodies. I understood Charlie running off because he was traumatized after seeing yet another corpse. I did not like how Charlie was just waiting by his phone expecting Kevin to show up as if he couldn't check up on him himself. It's a two way street and Charlie seemed to have an easier time dealing with things (considering his large support group). But when he got the call from Jasper, I hated how Kevin started ignoring Charlie's calls because he was scared that Charlie was going to break up with him. When they finally did talk, I felt so vindicated when Charlie mentioned that they never defined what they were to each other like normal people would if someone started giving each other gifts and having sex
I hated how we got so much negative PR of Charlie's sister only for him to magically have a real conversation with her after she continued to butt into his business (sensing a theme here around people doing things in spite of Charlie's protests).
Similarly, I didn't like why we never got a good reason for why Kevin didn't quit or sue Craig for clear illegal business practices.
Both MCs had their personal conflicts just swept under the rug and ignored without any real conclusions. Charlie was in debt and had a bad relationship with his sister (but still talked to her) and Kevin stayed with Craig's business despite how badly he was being treated.
Finding out the murderer was an ok way to tie up that plot thread, though I wonder if there are going to be more books.
TL;DR: Really really good start that then asks you to turn your brain off and just take things as they are. Don't think about how Kevin's actually a little problematic for forcing himself on Charlie. Don't think about his they never talked about what they were or questioned it until way too late. Don't think about Kevin's weird possessiveness and general callousness for physical interventions when it came to people who were inconveniencing Charlie. Had good humor, decent sex, but romance needed a deeper look.
The story was generally humorous too, as per this author's strength.
But things went downhill for me after Kevin started showing his affection.
I did not like how far Kevin took things at the start. Pretty much all he did could be construed as sexual harrassment, only we were supposed to find him endearing because we know Charlie likes him despite the fact that most of his "romancing" involved a lot of ignoring Charlie's protests and forced physical contact.
I didn't like how Charlie didn't ask Kevin about what he was doing and just accepted things without clearly defining the parameters. I mean, sure, they didn't need to write up a contract or anything but a single conversation about what the first two kisses meant would've gone a long way in stopping the nonsensical "Kevin's bring weird and idk why" part.
I really didn't like how weirdly possessive Kevin got. Like he was physically moving people (Adam when he was in Charlie's way, Jasper when he was helping Charlie with squats, he prevented Jasper from moving Phil when the other dog was coming). Felt very very toxic and not at all cute/romantic.
I also didn't like anything past when Charlie and Kevin found the bodies. I understood Charlie running off because he was traumatized after seeing yet another corpse. I did not like how Charlie was just waiting by his phone expecting Kevin to show up as if he couldn't check up on him himself. It's a two way street and Charlie seemed to have an easier time dealing with things (considering his large support group). But when he got the call from Jasper, I hated how Kevin started ignoring Charlie's calls because he was scared that Charlie was going to break up with him. When they finally did talk, I felt so vindicated when Charlie mentioned that they never defined what they were to each other like normal people would if someone started giving each other gifts and having sex
I hated how we got so much negative PR of Charlie's sister only for him to magically have a real conversation with her after she continued to butt into his business (sensing a theme here around people doing things in spite of Charlie's protests).
Similarly, I didn't like why we never got a good reason for why Kevin didn't quit or sue Craig for clear illegal business practices.
Both MCs had their personal conflicts just swept under the rug and ignored without any real conclusions. Charlie was in debt and had a bad relationship with his sister (but still talked to her) and Kevin stayed with Craig's business despite how badly he was being treated.
Finding out the murderer was an ok way to tie up that plot thread, though I wonder if there are going to be more books.
TL;DR: Really really good start that then asks you to turn your brain off and just take things as they are. Don't think about how Kevin's actually a little problematic for forcing himself on Charlie. Don't think about his they never talked about what they were or questioned it until way too late. Don't think about Kevin's weird possessiveness and general callousness for physical interventions when it came to people who were inconveniencing Charlie. Had good humor, decent sex, but romance needed a deeper look.
April 16, 2025
Wow, I am in a slump. This was just boring and a bit painful. Not funny. DNF.
March 24, 2025
Ridiculously fun
I am a big fan of Isabel Murray’s “Not that…” series and think they are some of the best romcoms out there. She has a wonderful sense of humour and is excellent at creating loveable, quirky characters that propel her story telling making her books such a joy to read. I was so excited when she announced she was returning to Chipping Fairford and knew I was in for a treat, no matter what the story was about. And that is exactly what I got… well mostly.
With Kevin and Charlie we are presented with two opposite characters. Different in age, worklife and personality, but similar in that they have been secretly in love with one another for some time. Following advice from Charlie’s doctor, Charlie is force to join a gym in the hope it will help with his health and the stress he is under. A chance encounter with Kevin pushes the two of them together and suddenly they find themselves in a more romantic relationship.
And that really is all the story is about. Although there is a tiny subplot about hidden bodies in the walls, that is mainly there to serve as an “11th hour” breakup scene… something I wish authors would stop using, if only to stop the global eye roll you can feel readers going through every time we encounter this plot ploy. The bodies in the wall story was something that was much more prominent in the first two books and really underlined the main story and a lot of the comedic scenes. So much of the character development hung off this storyline and made for a really fun read. Unfortunately here it makes it appearance just towards the end of the book and seems designed just to force a kind of breakup between Charlie and Kevin… which is such a shame.
I would probably go so far as to say it actually emphasises the fact that such a lot of the interactions between Charlie and Kevin are mainly between the sheets. Don’t get me wrong, these are brilliantly written scenes and Isabel Murray certainly knows how to turn up the heat. But I missed more of the day to day stuff of the two of them interacting with the rest of the characters in the same way we saw in the previous two books. In fact there was a small scene where Kevin asked Charlie to join him and his friends in the pub, but Charlie said “No” and I was desperate for him to change his mind so I could read more about that side of Charlie and Kevin’s relationship. How do two different people interact together outside the bedroom (cinnamon bun innuendo scene aside). I want to get inside Kevin’s head and understand why he won’t stand up to Craig or at least see Charlie and Kevin socialising with their friends some more. If the bodies in the walls storyline had been more prominent, or the sex scenes toned down just a tad, then maybe we would have got to see more of that. It was the same with “Catch and Release”, I needed to see more of the two main characters outside of the bedroom (though the short story did make up for that). After all that is where the real comedy is found with these books. By no means is this meant as a criticism, just a plea as I love those scenes so much I just want more of them.
The characters though are always excellent and so very distinct. I loved Kevin and was glad we got a book about him after his brief appearance in the previous ones. I thought the author handled the whole sexuality issues with him in a very subtle way. I was also glad we got to see another side to Karen Strickland, and thought the scene with her and Jasper was excellent. I wanted more of these comedy moments, and was pleased the 11th hour breakup gave us more scenes like these as Charlie got to spend more time with the other side characters. That is when the author truly came in to her element and the book really shone for me.
I have to also mention how refreshing it is to read more typically British humour in literature. As with all Isabel Murray’s books they are so distinctly British and her humour really hits the mark with me. They are always my go to books if I need to feel uplifted and this one is no exception. I really hope she continues this series as I am Not that done with it yet, and don’t think I will be for years to come.
I am a big fan of Isabel Murray’s “Not that…” series and think they are some of the best romcoms out there. She has a wonderful sense of humour and is excellent at creating loveable, quirky characters that propel her story telling making her books such a joy to read. I was so excited when she announced she was returning to Chipping Fairford and knew I was in for a treat, no matter what the story was about. And that is exactly what I got… well mostly.
With Kevin and Charlie we are presented with two opposite characters. Different in age, worklife and personality, but similar in that they have been secretly in love with one another for some time. Following advice from Charlie’s doctor, Charlie is force to join a gym in the hope it will help with his health and the stress he is under. A chance encounter with Kevin pushes the two of them together and suddenly they find themselves in a more romantic relationship.
And that really is all the story is about. Although there is a tiny subplot about hidden bodies in the walls, that is mainly there to serve as an “11th hour” breakup scene… something I wish authors would stop using, if only to stop the global eye roll you can feel readers going through every time we encounter this plot ploy. The bodies in the wall story was something that was much more prominent in the first two books and really underlined the main story and a lot of the comedic scenes. So much of the character development hung off this storyline and made for a really fun read. Unfortunately here it makes it appearance just towards the end of the book and seems designed just to force a kind of breakup between Charlie and Kevin… which is such a shame.
I would probably go so far as to say it actually emphasises the fact that such a lot of the interactions between Charlie and Kevin are mainly between the sheets. Don’t get me wrong, these are brilliantly written scenes and Isabel Murray certainly knows how to turn up the heat. But I missed more of the day to day stuff of the two of them interacting with the rest of the characters in the same way we saw in the previous two books. In fact there was a small scene where Kevin asked Charlie to join him and his friends in the pub, but Charlie said “No” and I was desperate for him to change his mind so I could read more about that side of Charlie and Kevin’s relationship. How do two different people interact together outside the bedroom (cinnamon bun innuendo scene aside). I want to get inside Kevin’s head and understand why he won’t stand up to Craig or at least see Charlie and Kevin socialising with their friends some more. If the bodies in the walls storyline had been more prominent, or the sex scenes toned down just a tad, then maybe we would have got to see more of that. It was the same with “Catch and Release”, I needed to see more of the two main characters outside of the bedroom (though the short story did make up for that). After all that is where the real comedy is found with these books. By no means is this meant as a criticism, just a plea as I love those scenes so much I just want more of them.
The characters though are always excellent and so very distinct. I loved Kevin and was glad we got a book about him after his brief appearance in the previous ones. I thought the author handled the whole sexuality issues with him in a very subtle way. I was also glad we got to see another side to Karen Strickland, and thought the scene with her and Jasper was excellent. I wanted more of these comedy moments, and was pleased the 11th hour breakup gave us more scenes like these as Charlie got to spend more time with the other side characters. That is when the author truly came in to her element and the book really shone for me.
I have to also mention how refreshing it is to read more typically British humour in literature. As with all Isabel Murray’s books they are so distinctly British and her humour really hits the mark with me. They are always my go to books if I need to feel uplifted and this one is no exception. I really hope she continues this series as I am Not that done with it yet, and don’t think I will be for years to come.
March 24, 2025
4.5 Stars
This was pure grumpy/sunshine gold! I love a grumpy character who is secretly a total softie for the people he cares about and Charlie fits that bill so well. And Kevin had total golden retriever/cinnamon roll energy and was just a delight. Together Charlie and Kevin were too darn cute. I had a dumb grin on my face for most of this book because they were so cute. I swooned and laughed and even had a few happy tears (the end of the bonus scene linked at the end of the book got me good). I thoroughly enjoyed all three books but I think this may be my favorite of the series.
I think it’s best to read these books in order. The first two books take place on the same timeline and it’s nice seeing the same events through different lenses. This book takes place four years later and features Charlie and Kevin who you meet in the first books. Plus there are plenty of cameos from Ray, Adam, Jasper, and Liam. Each book gives enough background information that you wouldn’t be lost if you haven’t read the others but I think reading in order will give you maximum enjoyment.
The book is told from Charlie’s POV and I loved it. He was grumpy and anti-social but he had secret soft spots for a select few. One of those people is Kevin, the local handyman, and general ray of sunshine. Charlie has loved Kevin from afar for years, assuming he was straight. But it turns out that Kevin has had eyes for Charlie too and I loved the way he bulldozed his way into Charlie’s life. He had the energy of a golden retriever puppy and his unbridled enthusiasm for seducing Charlie was challenged only by his unbridled enthusiasm at the prospect of fixing up Charlie’s house. He was such a lovable character and it was so fun seeing him bulldoze his way into Charlie’s life. These two were so darn sweet together.
We finally got answers on the overarching plot line of the dead bodies that kept popping up and I was glad we got some closure on that front. It was always just a secondary plot line but it was nice to have a bit of closure. And I loved seeing what the previous couples were up to 4 years down the line. I don’t know if there'll be more in this series, I’d happily read them if there ends up being more, but if not, I was happy with the closure we got.
"I want you to be happy. I don’t think you are.”
I looked into his eyes, admiring the familiar, gentle brown that did a terrifyingly good job of hiding the passionate, energetic, determined man he really was. “I’m happy right now.”
His full lips curled up in a sweet smile. “I’m going to keep making that happen for you.”
This was pure grumpy/sunshine gold! I love a grumpy character who is secretly a total softie for the people he cares about and Charlie fits that bill so well. And Kevin had total golden retriever/cinnamon roll energy and was just a delight. Together Charlie and Kevin were too darn cute. I had a dumb grin on my face for most of this book because they were so cute. I swooned and laughed and even had a few happy tears (the end of the bonus scene linked at the end of the book got me good). I thoroughly enjoyed all three books but I think this may be my favorite of the series.
I think it’s best to read these books in order. The first two books take place on the same timeline and it’s nice seeing the same events through different lenses. This book takes place four years later and features Charlie and Kevin who you meet in the first books. Plus there are plenty of cameos from Ray, Adam, Jasper, and Liam. Each book gives enough background information that you wouldn’t be lost if you haven’t read the others but I think reading in order will give you maximum enjoyment.
I rolled my head back and glared up at the ceiling. “Fine,” I said. “You can sledgehammer my bedroom wall.”
“And then you.”
“And then me.”
The book is told from Charlie’s POV and I loved it. He was grumpy and anti-social but he had secret soft spots for a select few. One of those people is Kevin, the local handyman, and general ray of sunshine. Charlie has loved Kevin from afar for years, assuming he was straight. But it turns out that Kevin has had eyes for Charlie too and I loved the way he bulldozed his way into Charlie’s life. He had the energy of a golden retriever puppy and his unbridled enthusiasm for seducing Charlie was challenged only by his unbridled enthusiasm at the prospect of fixing up Charlie’s house. He was such a lovable character and it was so fun seeing him bulldoze his way into Charlie’s life. These two were so darn sweet together.
We finally got answers on the overarching plot line of the dead bodies that kept popping up and I was glad we got some closure on that front. It was always just a secondary plot line but it was nice to have a bit of closure. And I loved seeing what the previous couples were up to 4 years down the line. I don’t know if there'll be more in this series, I’d happily read them if there ends up being more, but if not, I was happy with the closure we got.
"It’s you, Charlie. I look at you, and I want you. That’s it. It’s not that complicated.”
March 13, 2025
Absolute delight. I adored book 1, book 2 was a disaster dumpster-fire of wtf happened to romance and character development, and now...this. I smiled all the way through. Back on point, Isabel Murray!
If there were any issues, I didn't notice or care. Charlie the coffee house owner has a crush on Kevin Wallis, whom you might remember as the finder of some bodies in book 1 (and maybe 2? don't remember, that book really was a weird rough draft of a disaster), the handyman/construction worker who comes into his shop every day. But when book 2 hero and bestie Jasper drags Charlie to the gym and Charlie gets an eyeful of naked Kevin in the locker room...and Kevin sees Charlie Looking...everything changes.
What ensues is hilarious adorable rom-com fun as formerly assumed very straight Kevin bulldozes his way into Charlie's life and into his heart for real, no more daydreaming crush, and makes it very, VERY clear that he wants into Charlie's life, his bed, his heart, and wants to demo and rebuild the house that is falling down around Charlie and his wonderful dog Phil's ears. The push-pull as a disbelieving Charlie finds the man he's been daydreaming about in his arms is heartwarming charming great fun, and I loved every moment.
Oh, and...you find out where all the bodies came from, because there's an...incident...with the demo in Charlie's house (eventually).
Small-town vibe, many returning quirky and busybody and supportive wonderful characters, cameos of Ray-Adam, Jasper-Liam, and the townsfolk who all come through Charlie's coffee shop. I loved it. Declarations of "I want to f you" and "we're boyfriends" and how the ILYs come out and all...just...worked for me. Oh, and, Charlie is mostly a virgin because. That's how things went for him. Kevin is first-times with a man, and his dedication to learning all he could to make everything fantastic for Charlie was endearing AF.
HEA, secret crush to boyfriends, bi-awakening, virgin hero, minor murder mystery on the side. No cheating or others in any way, shape or form, no OP drama at all. Totally safe for me. Highly recommended as is book 1. Read book 2 for how hilarious Jasper's fan-fic is, that part was great.
If there were any issues, I didn't notice or care. Charlie the coffee house owner has a crush on Kevin Wallis, whom you might remember as the finder of some bodies in book 1 (and maybe 2? don't remember, that book really was a weird rough draft of a disaster), the handyman/construction worker who comes into his shop every day. But when book 2 hero and bestie Jasper drags Charlie to the gym and Charlie gets an eyeful of naked Kevin in the locker room...and Kevin sees Charlie Looking...everything changes.
What ensues is hilarious adorable rom-com fun as formerly assumed very straight Kevin bulldozes his way into Charlie's life and into his heart for real, no more daydreaming crush, and makes it very, VERY clear that he wants into Charlie's life, his bed, his heart, and wants to demo and rebuild the house that is falling down around Charlie and his wonderful dog Phil's ears. The push-pull as a disbelieving Charlie finds the man he's been daydreaming about in his arms is heartwarming charming great fun, and I loved every moment.
Oh, and...you find out where all the bodies came from, because there's an...incident...with the demo in Charlie's house (eventually).
Small-town vibe, many returning quirky and busybody and supportive wonderful characters, cameos of Ray-Adam, Jasper-Liam, and the townsfolk who all come through Charlie's coffee shop. I loved it. Declarations of "I want to f you" and "we're boyfriends" and how the ILYs come out and all...just...worked for me. Oh, and, Charlie is mostly a virgin because. That's how things went for him. Kevin is first-times with a man, and his dedication to learning all he could to make everything fantastic for Charlie was endearing AF.
HEA, secret crush to boyfriends, bi-awakening, virgin hero, minor murder mystery on the side. No cheating or others in any way, shape or form, no OP drama at all. Totally safe for me. Highly recommended as is book 1. Read book 2 for how hilarious Jasper's fan-fic is, that part was great.
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