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Cedar Lakes University #4
Riptide
I came home to forget the ocean. To forget what it took from me. Surfing used to be everything, until it became the thing I couldn’t survive. Now, I’m stuck in my hometown, dodging questions, helping my twin sister by looking after my niece. All the while, pretending I’ve got a plan. A hookup app was supposed to be just a distraction. Nothing serious. But then I met Foxx. He’s smart, serious and hot as hell. I swiped right without knowing he’d wreck me in the best possible way.
After my divorce, I built a life I could manage. It was quiet, structured and safe. Numbers always made sense to me hence my job as a math Professor. People though? Not so much. Especially not flirty blond surfers who crash into my life with too many secrets and no right to make me feel this alive. I told myself it was just one night. But Finn pulls me out of my head in ways I haven’t let anyone do in years. And when I realize he’s not just a hookup, but one of my students in my night classes? The line I swore I wouldn’t cross blurs fast and I’m caught up in a riptide.
After my divorce, I built a life I could manage. It was quiet, structured and safe. Numbers always made sense to me hence my job as a math Professor. People though? Not so much. Especially not flirty blond surfers who crash into my life with too many secrets and no right to make me feel this alive. I told myself it was just one night. But Finn pulls me out of my head in ways I haven’t let anyone do in years. And when I realize he’s not just a hookup, but one of my students in my night classes? The line I swore I wouldn’t cross blurs fast and I’m caught up in a riptide.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2025
47 people are currently reading
637 people want to read
About the author
Meghan Hollie
13 books206 followersMeghan is a British author living in East England with her husband, two children and their yappy dog.
You can find Meghan reading and escaping into fictional worlds or with her head in her laptop creating brand new ones for you all to enjoy.
She writes adult contemporary romance novels, with happily ever afters, swoony and sexy men and strong capable women with a sprinkle of spice.
Connect with Meghan on her social media:
https://www.tiktok.com/@authormeghanh...
https://www.instagram.com/meghanholli...
Website and newsletter sign up coming soon!
You can find Meghan reading and escaping into fictional worlds or with her head in her laptop creating brand new ones for you all to enjoy.
She writes adult contemporary romance novels, with happily ever afters, swoony and sexy men and strong capable women with a sprinkle of spice.
Connect with Meghan on her social media:
https://www.tiktok.com/@authormeghanh...
https://www.instagram.com/meghanholli...
Website and newsletter sign up coming soon!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
August 14, 2025
I wanna be your left hand man / I love you when you're singin' that song and / I got a lump in my throat 'cause / You're gonna sing the words wrong (Riptide – Vance Joy).
So… I’ve been thinking, you know how I’m always putting song lyrics in my reviews like some kind of Tumblr user circa 2014? Yeah well, I wonder if I’ve ever accidentally repeated myself by using the same song without noticing. A real thinker, that one. It’s just been on my mind a lot because this book felt like a series of repeat chapters oscillating between boring text conversations featuring two dull automatons bereft of personalities equipped with mid-2000’s romcom quips and their court mandated sexless sex scenes. Not to be dramatic, but reading this is like being stuck in a Groundhog Day time-loop or trapped in the Blair Witch Project forest, forever going through Foxx and Finn's same stale grammatically correct text conversations, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeating for hundreds of pages. It didn’t help that everything had the same monotone and gray sheen to it as Dave Filoni mashing together his OC action figures in what he calls a Star Wars show rather than anything resembling a real life conversation, let alone a Grindr booty call. I don't know, switch it up, do a trick or something! There's a pattern to Riptide’s writing style, and I couldn’t for the life of me get into rhythm with it. Got that Mandark prose! Ah-ha-ha… ha-ha-ha-ha-ha… ha-ha! So here’s the thing, I would have liked this a lot better if it started out with the two main characters meeting right away in a Master of None situation where we're then slowly given the rest of the contextual back story through dialogue. Not only would that have completely fixed any issues I had with the wooden narrative, but considering my biggest gripe with the book was how disengaged I was from the main relationship, it could have given much needed focus on the characters! But you never know, I'm just a big fan of Before Sunset type conversations where things flows naturally, and maybe too wordy a scene might not have worked as well in here. Anyway, Riptide is about a snooty teacher guy named Foxx (two “x’s”) who's been desperately looking for love in all the wrong places, and even though he’s incredibly lonely, he still manages to conjure up enough spiteful energy to judge like-minded folks on Grindr in a sad attempt to feel bigger and better than everybody else. Okay wait, I might have added a little too much of my own personal interpretation into that synopsis, and my intense dislike for him may have colored the description a little bit. Let me try again. Riptide! …Is a book about two lost souls adrift at sea who both think they only want something casual but are unknowingly looking for a real love. “Real love, I'm searching for a real love, someone to set my heart free, real love, I'm searching for a real love.” And during the strenuous scrolling and swiping, Foxx then comes across a twink who texts with perfect punctuation (like a freak) and figures that's the only sign he needs that this twenty-year-old has the "old soul” he's looking for, leading to him hopping on some Leonardo DiCaprio type shit and deciding to swipe right. Look, by that metric it probably sounds like the biggest problem I had with this book was that I found it problematic, but that’s not it. I didn’t care that the characters had a ten year age-gap, I cared that they were boring characters with no chemistry in a boring story that had no momentum, and I cared that reading this book felt like an immense Sisyphus task just to turn the page.
Let’s see, I'm sure I could think of something positive to say about this book. Well, I liked how this book came out in 2025 and doesn’t have an A.I. generated cover. All disgustingly glossy and hazy! It's getting tiring to have to constantly duck and dive around new releases while giving every single book post-2024 a Shawn Spencer “Psych” once over just to avoid all this A.I. trash! Now that would have warranted some real hatred from me! And seeing as I’ve long since lost the spark for contemporary romances in general, coming across something that hasn't given into the slop machine is a significant weight off of my my mind. It's the little things! But yeah, even though Riptide is the only queer romance in this series (with the rest of the Cedar Lakes University series out here looking like Meghan Trainor’s discography) and the relationship between Foxx and Finn felt like it was written with pencil in one hand and an "ally’s guidebook for writing tokenized gay relationships" in the other, I can still acknowledge that this book is an authentically written... book. If only in intent rather than execution. Besides, in a weird way that has nothing to do with the story, reading Riptide helped me appreciate how much braver I’ve gotten while picking these queer books, because there was a time not too long ago where I would have been too closeted and too shy to even log something like this on Goodreads. Isn’t that wild? This book with that cover was too much for me! Ahh two fully clothed dudes standing next to each other, bodies facing the camera while wistfully glancing at each other, the shame! But now look at me, I’ll read a book any old book with an oiled up dude on the cover and give the whole thing more of a thoughtful analysis than I could possibly give even Frankenstein, a classic! And you know what? That’s totally cool with me. In fact, you could even call that growth™! But maybe it's just that thing where I have an easier time talking about something I didn't like, which is why I still haven't been able to talk about Circe at length. "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more." Hey, so I've definitely been too harsh throughout this review (if you can even call it that), and being super snarky and mean-spirited only to then slap a low-rating on a novel that somebody clearly put a lot of effort into is really not what my kind of thing. There are a lot of people I know who like to write Yelp reviews with that kind of mindset and it's really uncool. You know, where they'll rate places super low based on things that the restaurants hardly have any control over and then act real cute in by being all passive aggressive, not caring that a lot of these spots live and die by the reviews. So, let me just set the record straight that that’s really not the vibe I’m trying to give off! I don't want to be that guy! Besides, there’s a good chance that the only reason why I didn’t love this is because the book didn’t find me at the right time, because like I said, I don’t really gel with contemporary romances the way I used to. I mean, a book has to have Ari and Dante, Gives Light, or This Is Not a Love Story levels of beautiful prose just for me to really fall into step with it nowadays, so it really is a high bar to clear and it’s totally not fair that this book didn't reach my unreachable standards. So when I say this, I say it as sincerely as I can… I’m sorry for being so mean, book! Everybody should know that I’m most likely a minority in the minority here, and I’m sure that there are a large number of people out there that will find the perfect comfort read in Riptide. Don’t mind me!
“I think I’ve been dick-matized.”
Foxx and/or Finn, stop trying to make “dick-matized” happen. It’s not going to happen!
So… I’ve been thinking, you know how I’m always putting song lyrics in my reviews like some kind of Tumblr user circa 2014? Yeah well, I wonder if I’ve ever accidentally repeated myself by using the same song without noticing. A real thinker, that one. It’s just been on my mind a lot because this book felt like a series of repeat chapters oscillating between boring text conversations featuring two dull automatons bereft of personalities equipped with mid-2000’s romcom quips and their court mandated sexless sex scenes. Not to be dramatic, but reading this is like being stuck in a Groundhog Day time-loop or trapped in the Blair Witch Project forest, forever going through Foxx and Finn's same stale grammatically correct text conversations, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeating for hundreds of pages. It didn’t help that everything had the same monotone and gray sheen to it as Dave Filoni mashing together his OC action figures in what he calls a Star Wars show rather than anything resembling a real life conversation, let alone a Grindr booty call. I don't know, switch it up, do a trick or something! There's a pattern to Riptide’s writing style, and I couldn’t for the life of me get into rhythm with it. Got that Mandark prose! Ah-ha-ha… ha-ha-ha-ha-ha… ha-ha! So here’s the thing, I would have liked this a lot better if it started out with the two main characters meeting right away in a Master of None situation where we're then slowly given the rest of the contextual back story through dialogue. Not only would that have completely fixed any issues I had with the wooden narrative, but considering my biggest gripe with the book was how disengaged I was from the main relationship, it could have given much needed focus on the characters! But you never know, I'm just a big fan of Before Sunset type conversations where things flows naturally, and maybe too wordy a scene might not have worked as well in here. Anyway, Riptide is about a snooty teacher guy named Foxx (two “x’s”) who's been desperately looking for love in all the wrong places, and even though he’s incredibly lonely, he still manages to conjure up enough spiteful energy to judge like-minded folks on Grindr in a sad attempt to feel bigger and better than everybody else. Okay wait, I might have added a little too much of my own personal interpretation into that synopsis, and my intense dislike for him may have colored the description a little bit. Let me try again. Riptide! …Is a book about two lost souls adrift at sea who both think they only want something casual but are unknowingly looking for a real love. “Real love, I'm searching for a real love, someone to set my heart free, real love, I'm searching for a real love.” And during the strenuous scrolling and swiping, Foxx then comes across a twink who texts with perfect punctuation (like a freak) and figures that's the only sign he needs that this twenty-year-old has the "old soul” he's looking for, leading to him hopping on some Leonardo DiCaprio type shit and deciding to swipe right. Look, by that metric it probably sounds like the biggest problem I had with this book was that I found it problematic, but that’s not it. I didn’t care that the characters had a ten year age-gap, I cared that they were boring characters with no chemistry in a boring story that had no momentum, and I cared that reading this book felt like an immense Sisyphus task just to turn the page.
Let’s see, I'm sure I could think of something positive to say about this book. Well, I liked how this book came out in 2025 and doesn’t have an A.I. generated cover. All disgustingly glossy and hazy! It's getting tiring to have to constantly duck and dive around new releases while giving every single book post-2024 a Shawn Spencer “Psych” once over just to avoid all this A.I. trash! Now that would have warranted some real hatred from me! And seeing as I’ve long since lost the spark for contemporary romances in general, coming across something that hasn't given into the slop machine is a significant weight off of my my mind. It's the little things! But yeah, even though Riptide is the only queer romance in this series (with the rest of the Cedar Lakes University series out here looking like Meghan Trainor’s discography) and the relationship between Foxx and Finn felt like it was written with pencil in one hand and an "ally’s guidebook for writing tokenized gay relationships" in the other, I can still acknowledge that this book is an authentically written... book. If only in intent rather than execution. Besides, in a weird way that has nothing to do with the story, reading Riptide helped me appreciate how much braver I’ve gotten while picking these queer books, because there was a time not too long ago where I would have been too closeted and too shy to even log something like this on Goodreads. Isn’t that wild? This book with that cover was too much for me! Ahh two fully clothed dudes standing next to each other, bodies facing the camera while wistfully glancing at each other, the shame! But now look at me, I’ll read a book any old book with an oiled up dude on the cover and give the whole thing more of a thoughtful analysis than I could possibly give even Frankenstein, a classic! And you know what? That’s totally cool with me. In fact, you could even call that growth™! But maybe it's just that thing where I have an easier time talking about something I didn't like, which is why I still haven't been able to talk about Circe at length. "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more." Hey, so I've definitely been too harsh throughout this review (if you can even call it that), and being super snarky and mean-spirited only to then slap a low-rating on a novel that somebody clearly put a lot of effort into is really not what my kind of thing. There are a lot of people I know who like to write Yelp reviews with that kind of mindset and it's really uncool. You know, where they'll rate places super low based on things that the restaurants hardly have any control over and then act real cute in by being all passive aggressive, not caring that a lot of these spots live and die by the reviews. So, let me just set the record straight that that’s really not the vibe I’m trying to give off! I don't want to be that guy! Besides, there’s a good chance that the only reason why I didn’t love this is because the book didn’t find me at the right time, because like I said, I don’t really gel with contemporary romances the way I used to. I mean, a book has to have Ari and Dante, Gives Light, or This Is Not a Love Story levels of beautiful prose just for me to really fall into step with it nowadays, so it really is a high bar to clear and it’s totally not fair that this book didn't reach my unreachable standards. So when I say this, I say it as sincerely as I can… I’m sorry for being so mean, book! Everybody should know that I’m most likely a minority in the minority here, and I’m sure that there are a large number of people out there that will find the perfect comfort read in Riptide. Don’t mind me!
“I think I’ve been dick-matized.”
Foxx and/or Finn, stop trying to make “dick-matized” happen. It’s not going to happen!
August 14, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
DNF @61%
The book itself isn’t bad,the characters are fine, likeable, and well-written ...BUTTT it completely missed what I was hoping for. I picked it up because I was drawn to the idea of forbidden vibes, that tension of a student-teacher relationship, the push-and-pull of something exciting yet off-limits. I was expecting slow-burn drama, messy emotions, and a sense that the stakes were high. But none of that actually happened. The “forbidden” element barely existed, and they brushed past it so quickly that it never felt like it had any weight.So the part of the story that drew me in in the first place was missing for me which made this made the book a bit of a letdown and for me, that made it a DNF.
DNF @61%
The book itself isn’t bad,the characters are fine, likeable, and well-written ...BUTTT it completely missed what I was hoping for. I picked it up because I was drawn to the idea of forbidden vibes, that tension of a student-teacher relationship, the push-and-pull of something exciting yet off-limits. I was expecting slow-burn drama, messy emotions, and a sense that the stakes were high. But none of that actually happened. The “forbidden” element barely existed, and they brushed past it so quickly that it never felt like it had any weight.So the part of the story that drew me in in the first place was missing for me which made this made the book a bit of a letdown and for me, that made it a DNF.
October 12, 2025
A summary of my favorite things because I got excited and wrote a pretty long review 😂
- The messages between Finn and Foxx — I lived for their hilarious exchanges.
- The relatively short chapters — made it way too easy to say, “Just six more pages.”
- Eugene — loved the way his character was written.
- The main characters’ chemistry — a solid 10/10.
- Finn and baby Rosie — absolutely adorable.
- How the book handled mental health and loss, as well as the journey of healing from trauma.
- The perfect balance of steamy, sweet, and funny moments.
____________
This was one of those books that had me constantly refreshing my inbox, hoping I’d been selected as an ARC reader.
And when I was, it did not disappoint!
I can’t even put into words how much I LOVED this book. Both Finn and Foxx were sooo easy to like (they literally had my heart in the palm of their hands from the very first page of their individual POVs).
I hadn’t read the first book, so finding out that Finn had a twin and a baby niece was such an adorable surprise. I loved their relationship and how he took care of the baby to help his sister out. His personality seemed fun and his POVs were always entertaining.
As for Foxx, I was a little worried he’d be colder and more of a stereotypical stand-offish professor, but he turned out to be super nice as well. He was the type of character who was very loving, but had to unfortunately put a lot of walls up. His friendship with Eugene was everything😂 (such an iconic character!!).
Finn and Foxx’s chemistry was instant, and the sexual tension was palpable when they met. I liked that it didn’t feel forced or rushed, which usually happens when a story starts off that way, but this wasn’t the case at all. The teasing and banter in their text messages really helped build up the tension to that first meeting in a way that felt real and natural. Their messages were also hilarious! There’s nothing I love more than quick, funny banter between characters, and the author absolutely nailed it. I found myself laughing out loud at their conversations and falling in love with their personalities even more.
Both characters had things from their past that left emotional scars, and it was beautiful to see them grow closer and more comfortable with each other. Not only did they help themselves heal, but they helped each other heal too. Seeing them be there for one another with love, understanding, and support was truly heartwarming🥹
This book was just so good. I loved it from beginning to end. I gasped, I cried, I smiled, I screamed, I freaked out, I laughed… and went through all the stages of grief once I finished.
Thank you, Meghan Hollie and Love Notes PR, for letting me read this wonderful story 🩷
- The messages between Finn and Foxx — I lived for their hilarious exchanges.
- The relatively short chapters — made it way too easy to say, “Just six more pages.”
- Eugene — loved the way his character was written.
- The main characters’ chemistry — a solid 10/10.
- Finn and baby Rosie — absolutely adorable.
- How the book handled mental health and loss, as well as the journey of healing from trauma.
- The perfect balance of steamy, sweet, and funny moments.
____________
This was one of those books that had me constantly refreshing my inbox, hoping I’d been selected as an ARC reader.
And when I was, it did not disappoint!
I can’t even put into words how much I LOVED this book. Both Finn and Foxx were sooo easy to like (they literally had my heart in the palm of their hands from the very first page of their individual POVs).
I hadn’t read the first book, so finding out that Finn had a twin and a baby niece was such an adorable surprise. I loved their relationship and how he took care of the baby to help his sister out. His personality seemed fun and his POVs were always entertaining.
As for Foxx, I was a little worried he’d be colder and more of a stereotypical stand-offish professor, but he turned out to be super nice as well. He was the type of character who was very loving, but had to unfortunately put a lot of walls up. His friendship with Eugene was everything😂 (such an iconic character!!).
Finn and Foxx’s chemistry was instant, and the sexual tension was palpable when they met. I liked that it didn’t feel forced or rushed, which usually happens when a story starts off that way, but this wasn’t the case at all. The teasing and banter in their text messages really helped build up the tension to that first meeting in a way that felt real and natural. Their messages were also hilarious! There’s nothing I love more than quick, funny banter between characters, and the author absolutely nailed it. I found myself laughing out loud at their conversations and falling in love with their personalities even more.
Both characters had things from their past that left emotional scars, and it was beautiful to see them grow closer and more comfortable with each other. Not only did they help themselves heal, but they helped each other heal too. Seeing them be there for one another with love, understanding, and support was truly heartwarming🥹
This book was just so good. I loved it from beginning to end. I gasped, I cried, I smiled, I screamed, I freaked out, I laughed… and went through all the stages of grief once I finished.
Thank you, Meghan Hollie and Love Notes PR, for letting me read this wonderful story 🩷
July 10, 2025
Yes! Thank you, this was awesome. I’ve been amazed by Hollie’s entire series so far and this one certainly didn’t disappoint.
Both Finn and Foxx were the greenest of green flags. I loved their dynamic and how they both handled the topic of grief. It was truly touching seeing their characters develop into a more relaxed self.
I don’t even have much to say except for one thing: Please try giving this series and ‘Riptide’ a chance. It’s a wonderfully written story with honest and relatable characters.
Huge thank you for providing me with an arc! Moreover, Meghan Hollie donating earnings of this book to fund LGBTQ charity is just the cherry on top. We love a supportive queen!
~arc for honest review~
Both Finn and Foxx were the greenest of green flags. I loved their dynamic and how they both handled the topic of grief. It was truly touching seeing their characters develop into a more relaxed self.
I don’t even have much to say except for one thing: Please try giving this series and ‘Riptide’ a chance. It’s a wonderfully written story with honest and relatable characters.
Huge thank you for providing me with an arc! Moreover, Meghan Hollie donating earnings of this book to fund LGBTQ charity is just the cherry on top. We love a supportive queen!
~arc for honest review~
August 30, 2025
Nothing really stood out for me. I don’t wanna hate it that bad but yeah. Like I feel empty. Feels like a carbon copy. Unoriginal. Nothing riled me up.
July 3, 2025
Thank you to Meghan Hollie and Love Notes PR for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Foxx is just looking for a hookup. He redownloads an app he hasn’t used in years to find someone who can distract him for a little while. What he doesn’t expect is Finn. A younger man who makes him feel alive again after years of being alone.
I love a good nickname and “baby” will always make me melt. When Foxx changed his name on his dating profile I knew he was finally able to be his true self without his ex. The way Foxx felt about Finn early on was the sweetest thing. Finn’s first smile at Foxx in the bar was breathtaking. The scene at the coffee shop was not what I expected. That ending was absolutely epic and just what I needed. Eugene and Rosie are the 2 best side characters in this series.
Meghan Hollie hit it out of the park with this one. The banter in this is top tier! The emotion was portrayed in this was amazing. It needs more than 5 stars so I give it 6. Absolute perfection. I can’t wait to read more from Meghan.
Foxx is just looking for a hookup. He redownloads an app he hasn’t used in years to find someone who can distract him for a little while. What he doesn’t expect is Finn. A younger man who makes him feel alive again after years of being alone.
I love a good nickname and “baby” will always make me melt. When Foxx changed his name on his dating profile I knew he was finally able to be his true self without his ex. The way Foxx felt about Finn early on was the sweetest thing. Finn’s first smile at Foxx in the bar was breathtaking. The scene at the coffee shop was not what I expected. That ending was absolutely epic and just what I needed. Eugene and Rosie are the 2 best side characters in this series.
Meghan Hollie hit it out of the park with this one. The banter in this is top tier! The emotion was portrayed in this was amazing. It needs more than 5 stars so I give it 6. Absolute perfection. I can’t wait to read more from Meghan.
July 4, 2025
Firstly a special mention to my girl across the pond Meghan, not only is your brain magic, write the most beautiful stories, you are the sweetest person ever and I’m so glad I stumbled across you and call you a friend 🤍
NOW as much as I love you, how dare you write a book this good and make me fall in love with these two 🥺
This one was beyond beautiful, with a journey on healing after loss no matter what that looks like for a person.
“𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙭. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪.“
I absolutely loved Finn and Foxx, they just had this instant connection and chemistry which flowed throughout the book and don’t even get me started on their banter. TOP TIER. And the text messages? The best 🤭
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙨?”
“𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨.”
Job well done Meghan 👏🏼
🌊 broken sunshine/ broody grumpy
🤍 healing
🌊 age gap
🤍 mm romance
🌊 student/teacher
🤍 college romance
🌊 strangers to friends to lovers
NOW as much as I love you, how dare you write a book this good and make me fall in love with these two 🥺
This one was beyond beautiful, with a journey on healing after loss no matter what that looks like for a person.
“𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙭. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪.“
I absolutely loved Finn and Foxx, they just had this instant connection and chemistry which flowed throughout the book and don’t even get me started on their banter. TOP TIER. And the text messages? The best 🤭
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙨?”
“𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨.”
Job well done Meghan 👏🏼
🌊 broken sunshine/ broody grumpy
🤍 healing
🌊 age gap
🤍 mm romance
🌊 student/teacher
🤍 college romance
🌊 strangers to friends to lovers
June 27, 2025
✨ my first meghan book was a hit & im OBSESSED✨
this story was so beautifully written, especially the way grief was explored for both finn & foxx. it was tender, layered & so real, showing how grief looks different for everyone! boy did it pulled at my heart in the best way.
both these men? walking green flags 🚦💚 the honesty, the communication, the vulnerability??? swoon. they TALK, they hold space for each other, they love so deeply & it made falling for them so easy.
the side characters were great! they did what they had to do to get the characters through their hardships & to me that the best thing a side character can do!
&& um HELLO, the spice??? SPICY spicy 🔥 like i had to take a minute spicy. meghan knows how to bring the heat while still giving you all the feels.
i loved every moment and didn’t want to put it down. it’s emotional, it’s hopeful, it’s soft, it’s hot, and it’s everything i love about romance wrapped up in a story that stays with you.
if you love:
❤️ college romance
🏳️🌈 mm romance
🌧️ broken sunshine/broody grumpy
👨🏫 student/professor
❤️ age gap
🌻 healing & grief journeys
🌊 strangers to friends to lovers
then you NEED to pick up riptide immediately. this series is one i’ll return to for sure! 💖✨
this story was so beautifully written, especially the way grief was explored for both finn & foxx. it was tender, layered & so real, showing how grief looks different for everyone! boy did it pulled at my heart in the best way.
both these men? walking green flags 🚦💚 the honesty, the communication, the vulnerability??? swoon. they TALK, they hold space for each other, they love so deeply & it made falling for them so easy.
the side characters were great! they did what they had to do to get the characters through their hardships & to me that the best thing a side character can do!
&& um HELLO, the spice??? SPICY spicy 🔥 like i had to take a minute spicy. meghan knows how to bring the heat while still giving you all the feels.
i loved every moment and didn’t want to put it down. it’s emotional, it’s hopeful, it’s soft, it’s hot, and it’s everything i love about romance wrapped up in a story that stays with you.
if you love:
❤️ college romance
🏳️🌈 mm romance
🌧️ broken sunshine/broody grumpy
👨🏫 student/professor
❤️ age gap
🌻 healing & grief journeys
🌊 strangers to friends to lovers
then you NEED to pick up riptide immediately. this series is one i’ll return to for sure! 💖✨
June 27, 2025
Awwww, this was adorable!
This book completely stole my heart, it was my first book in the series, so I wasn’t super familiar with the characters, but honestly? It didn’t even matter because Finn and Foxx instantly made me love them
Their relationship was so wholesome and perfect, literally the definition of “right person, right time.” You can’t help but love them, I absolutely adored their chemistry and how naturally they clicked
Huge thank you to Love Notes PR and Meghan Hollie for the ARC. I loved every second of this one, couldn't stop reading. Definitely adding the rest of the series to my TBR. I need to read Daphne and Hudson's story
This book completely stole my heart, it was my first book in the series, so I wasn’t super familiar with the characters, but honestly? It didn’t even matter because Finn and Foxx instantly made me love them
Their relationship was so wholesome and perfect, literally the definition of “right person, right time.” You can’t help but love them, I absolutely adored their chemistry and how naturally they clicked
Huge thank you to Love Notes PR and Meghan Hollie for the ARC. I loved every second of this one, couldn't stop reading. Definitely adding the rest of the series to my TBR. I need to read Daphne and Hudson's story
July 27, 2025
4.5 stars
July 10, 2025
Thank you to Meghan Hollie and LoveNotes PR for the ARC copy.
If I had to encompass this book in just one word, it would be 'healing'. Riptide is raw but covers grief, mental health and divorce really sensitively.
Both Finn and Foxx have been through recent difficulties in their lives and are both very much in the throws of healing. When they find each other, they are drawn together like magnets. I loved that Finn and Foxx were inevitable right from the beginning.
Finn is struggling with not only the loss of a friend but also the loss of his hobby and passion. Foxx helps Finn work through and face his grief.
Foxx has just gone through a divorce which was a result of being cheated on. Struggling with feelings of 'I'm not good enough' and 'I don't deserve a HEA.' - Finn is able to show him the love and support to show him just how deserving he is!
I absolutely adore this series and I love that we also saw so much of Daphne and Hudson (from book 3) too.
If I had to encompass this book in just one word, it would be 'healing'. Riptide is raw but covers grief, mental health and divorce really sensitively.
Both Finn and Foxx have been through recent difficulties in their lives and are both very much in the throws of healing. When they find each other, they are drawn together like magnets. I loved that Finn and Foxx were inevitable right from the beginning.
Finn is struggling with not only the loss of a friend but also the loss of his hobby and passion. Foxx helps Finn work through and face his grief.
Foxx has just gone through a divorce which was a result of being cheated on. Struggling with feelings of 'I'm not good enough' and 'I don't deserve a HEA.' - Finn is able to show him the love and support to show him just how deserving he is!
I absolutely adore this series and I love that we also saw so much of Daphne and Hudson (from book 3) too.
August 4, 2025
Fui ler este livro, pensando que seria um romance fofo para me aquecer o coração.
Com o que me deparei? Um romance bem hot, em que dois personagens com traumas se encontram e se ajudam a superar os medos que os assombram.
O Finn é um miúdo de 20 anos que, após a perda de uma pessoa muito importante, abandona o seu sonho e volta para casa. O problema é que essa mesma perda o persegue, causando pânico sempre que ele pensa em algo que sempre foi o seu lar.
Já Foxx é um professor de 29 anos. Ainda a lidar com as suas inseguranças após o divórcio, não contava com se apaixonar por alguém mais novo, pois isso vem deixar a sua vida de pernas ao contrário.
Vocês não estão a entender o quão hot são estes dois. Este livro deixou-me CORADA e com a mão à frente da boca com o choque sempre que estavam entre 4 paredes (ou será que era só entre 4 paredes? 👀).
Aconselho, sem sombra de dúvida, e já quero ler os outros livros desta série.
Com o que me deparei? Um romance bem hot, em que dois personagens com traumas se encontram e se ajudam a superar os medos que os assombram.
O Finn é um miúdo de 20 anos que, após a perda de uma pessoa muito importante, abandona o seu sonho e volta para casa. O problema é que essa mesma perda o persegue, causando pânico sempre que ele pensa em algo que sempre foi o seu lar.
Já Foxx é um professor de 29 anos. Ainda a lidar com as suas inseguranças após o divórcio, não contava com se apaixonar por alguém mais novo, pois isso vem deixar a sua vida de pernas ao contrário.
Vocês não estão a entender o quão hot são estes dois. Este livro deixou-me CORADA e com a mão à frente da boca com o choque sempre que estavam entre 4 paredes (ou será que era só entre 4 paredes? 👀).
Aconselho, sem sombra de dúvida, e já quero ler os outros livros desta série.
June 23, 2025
This is Meghan’s best book yet. No question.
I’m genuinely struggling to put into words what this story did to me. It didn’t just sweep me off my feet, it wrecked me. I laughed. I sobbed. I ached. I wasn’t ready for how deeply this would reach into me and twist everything I thought I could handle. These boys? They owned me. Meghan’s writing doesn’t just pull at emotions.. it claws them out, raw and real, and holds them hostage until the final page.
Finn. My sweet, broken boy, hiding behind humour like it’s armor. So much pain behind those eyes, and yet so much wisdom. He broke me.
Foxx. Quiet. Routine. Order. The math teacher with a mind for numbers and a mouth that undid me. That dominant, commanding side? I felt it in my soul. When he said open - I swear, my entire being submitted. I would’ve handed him every last piece of me without hesitation.
They weren’t looking for anything more than an escape. A moment to breathe, to forget. But what they found in each other was everything. Safety. Hope. Strength. Fear. Trust. It was beautiful and terrifying and so real. The growth they each went through, both separately and together, was some of the most powerful I’ve ever read. They shouldn’t have worked on paper… but somehow, they were perfect. Two broken pieces fitting together in a way that made them whole.
And the side characters? Rosie and Eugene.. I laughed so hard I cried. They lit up every scene they were in. Honestly, they made the book even more unforgettable.
I’m devastated that we’re nearing the end of this series. I don’t want to say goodbye. I need more pages. I need more. I dont want to let go.
I’m genuinely struggling to put into words what this story did to me. It didn’t just sweep me off my feet, it wrecked me. I laughed. I sobbed. I ached. I wasn’t ready for how deeply this would reach into me and twist everything I thought I could handle. These boys? They owned me. Meghan’s writing doesn’t just pull at emotions.. it claws them out, raw and real, and holds them hostage until the final page.
Finn. My sweet, broken boy, hiding behind humour like it’s armor. So much pain behind those eyes, and yet so much wisdom. He broke me.
Foxx. Quiet. Routine. Order. The math teacher with a mind for numbers and a mouth that undid me. That dominant, commanding side? I felt it in my soul. When he said open - I swear, my entire being submitted. I would’ve handed him every last piece of me without hesitation.
They weren’t looking for anything more than an escape. A moment to breathe, to forget. But what they found in each other was everything. Safety. Hope. Strength. Fear. Trust. It was beautiful and terrifying and so real. The growth they each went through, both separately and together, was some of the most powerful I’ve ever read. They shouldn’t have worked on paper… but somehow, they were perfect. Two broken pieces fitting together in a way that made them whole.
And the side characters? Rosie and Eugene.. I laughed so hard I cried. They lit up every scene they were in. Honestly, they made the book even more unforgettable.
I’m devastated that we’re nearing the end of this series. I don’t want to say goodbye. I need more pages. I need more. I dont want to let go.
June 26, 2025
Arc review - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ ♾️
“He’s becoming something constant in my world, and I’m not sure how to tell him that he’s been one I’d maybe like to stand still with.”
Once again Meghan has delivered an insanely beautiful story filled with relatable characters who you can’t help but fall in love with instantly! Oh boy and the spice in this was was soooo delicious 🔥
Riptide was filled with a beautiful love story showing us the different sides of grief and how it can present differently for each person and their situation.
Finn & Foxx completely swept me off my feet and had me giggling, crying and aching for them both in different ways. I could feel just how much love Meghan put into their story and I loved every moment that I was immersed in their world, once I stared I couldn’t put it down.
Watching them both navigate their own individual grief journeys was so emotional and I couldn’t help but feel every single thing they both went through. I loved watching them come together and both learn to love again. This book was so pure and special once again with the found family we’ve grown to love with this series, I’ll be sad once it ends but I know I’ll be finding myself coming back to this series and enjoying it time and time again.
Thanks so much to Meghan for the arc, I’m forever grateful and feel so lucky to be apart of your street team, I cannot wait to see what’s next 💖
What to expect in Riptide - Book 4 Of Cedar Lakes U series
🌊 College Romance
❤️ MM Romance
☀️ Broken Sunshine/Broody Grumpy
🌊 Student/Professor
❤️ Age Gap
☀️ Healing/Grief Journeys
🌊 Strangers to Friends to Lovers
I highly recommend anything written by Meghan 💋✨
June 21, 2025
As a reader who primarily gravitates toward LGBTQIA+ romance, I’m always looking for new authors to add to my shelves. Unfortunately, this one really didn’t land for me.
The character names (Foxx and Finn) were confusingly similar, and that, paired with indistinct narrative voices, made it hard to stay grounded in the story. I often had to flip back to figure out who was speaking.
The writing style seemed to reach for something poetic, but often ended up circling the same surface-level emotions without really digging deeper. That may be a personal taste issue, but it didn’t feel intentional or earned.
Given the teacher-student (college) setup, I expected more emotional maturity, but both characters often felt much younger than their supposed ages. It was hard to root for their dynamic as a result.
And while this is admittedly a nitpick, they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but I can’t help it as the cover features chemistry symbols on a chalkboard for a math professor — a small detail, but one that reinforced the feeling that the story hadn’t been fully thought through.
In the end, this read more like a concept aimed at capitalizing on current trends than a heartfelt or informed entry into queer romance, genuine love letter to the genre. It gave the impression that the popularity of MM romance was the main motivator—rather than a deep understanding of the community or tropes that make these stories resonate with readers.
The character names (Foxx and Finn) were confusingly similar, and that, paired with indistinct narrative voices, made it hard to stay grounded in the story. I often had to flip back to figure out who was speaking.
The writing style seemed to reach for something poetic, but often ended up circling the same surface-level emotions without really digging deeper. That may be a personal taste issue, but it didn’t feel intentional or earned.
Given the teacher-student (college) setup, I expected more emotional maturity, but both characters often felt much younger than their supposed ages. It was hard to root for their dynamic as a result.
And while this is admittedly a nitpick, they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but I can’t help it as the cover features chemistry symbols on a chalkboard for a math professor — a small detail, but one that reinforced the feeling that the story hadn’t been fully thought through.
In the end, this read more like a concept aimed at capitalizing on current trends than a heartfelt or informed entry into queer romance, genuine love letter to the genre. It gave the impression that the popularity of MM romance was the main motivator—rather than a deep understanding of the community or tropes that make these stories resonate with readers.
June 21, 2025
Infinity ⭐
First off i would like to thank Love notes & Meghan for the opportunity to read & review this gifted E-Arc.
Finn & Foxx
IM IN LOVE! I absolutely love them both so freaking much and want to keep them. I love watching these two find each other at the perfect time when they both needed someone and then to watch them become friends while building a relationship with each other was so beautiful. I loved how they both didn't judge and then slowly becoming vulnerably with their feelings. I loved that Finn was this goofy carefree guy who was secretly struggle with what he wanted outta life and how to get to it. I loved that Foxx was this grumpy closed off guy who wanted to play it safe and worked for what he wanted in life. I absolutely enjoyed that Finn helped Foxx be wild and reckless while Foxx helped Finn be steady and still. These two are totally opposite who work perfectly.
5/5 Recommend this book. Meghan absolutely smashed it with this book. It is my favorite of hers. It does deal with some sensitive topics that was handle with the utmost care. I loved that it showcase healing and dealing with grief and how it takes just ine person to see the real you and stand by you anyways.
First off i would like to thank Love notes & Meghan for the opportunity to read & review this gifted E-Arc.
Finn & Foxx
IM IN LOVE! I absolutely love them both so freaking much and want to keep them. I love watching these two find each other at the perfect time when they both needed someone and then to watch them become friends while building a relationship with each other was so beautiful. I loved how they both didn't judge and then slowly becoming vulnerably with their feelings. I loved that Finn was this goofy carefree guy who was secretly struggle with what he wanted outta life and how to get to it. I loved that Foxx was this grumpy closed off guy who wanted to play it safe and worked for what he wanted in life. I absolutely enjoyed that Finn helped Foxx be wild and reckless while Foxx helped Finn be steady and still. These two are totally opposite who work perfectly.
5/5 Recommend this book. Meghan absolutely smashed it with this book. It is my favorite of hers. It does deal with some sensitive topics that was handle with the utmost care. I loved that it showcase healing and dealing with grief and how it takes just ine person to see the real you and stand by you anyways.
June 24, 2025
ARC Review ✨
First I would like to say a big thank you to Meghan for letting me be apart of this ARC Team!
Rate: 4.5/5⭐️
Spice: 1.5/5🌶️
What to expect when reading Riptide;
-MM romance
-Age gap
-Student x Teacher
-Broody/ex
-Sunshine
This is book four of the Cedar Lake University series! These two were so HOTT!!!!😮💨 Finn and Foxx while each was navigating their own personal issues. These two were like made for each other. From the beginning, they had you in a chokehold with their flirty fun to where you knew these two were going to be a fun time. Their growth was so healing. This series keeps getting better, if you haven’t read the first three please do they are just as amazing as this one🙌🙌
Side notes:
-Eugene and poppy lol
-their texts
-Finn has no filter
-Foxx standing up for himself🙌
Fav Quote:
•”Hands down. No notes”
•”you sure you want this math problem? I come with missing data and way too many variables”
Make sure you get your copy of the book when it releases July 9th🩷
#bookstagram #romance #review
First I would like to say a big thank you to Meghan for letting me be apart of this ARC Team!
Rate: 4.5/5⭐️
Spice: 1.5/5🌶️
What to expect when reading Riptide;
-MM romance
-Age gap
-Student x Teacher
-Broody/ex
-Sunshine
This is book four of the Cedar Lake University series! These two were so HOTT!!!!😮💨 Finn and Foxx while each was navigating their own personal issues. These two were like made for each other. From the beginning, they had you in a chokehold with their flirty fun to where you knew these two were going to be a fun time. Their growth was so healing. This series keeps getting better, if you haven’t read the first three please do they are just as amazing as this one🙌🙌
Side notes:
-Eugene and poppy lol
-their texts
-Finn has no filter
-Foxx standing up for himself🙌
Fav Quote:
•”Hands down. No notes”
•”you sure you want this math problem? I come with missing data and way too many variables”
Make sure you get your copy of the book when it releases July 9th🩷
#bookstagram #romance #review
June 22, 2025
He’s becoming something constant in my world, and I’m not sure how to tell him that he’s the one I’d maybe like to stand still with.
We already met Finn in his twin sister Daphne’s book „Pieces“, but Foxx is a new character! Finn is back from Australia to help out Daphne and Hudson with their new daughter. But there is also another reason he is back. Finn and Foxx meet over a dating app, where they both just want to temporarily have fun. But temporarily turns into more amd eventually into forever.
I cried - it was that good! I normally don‘t cry while reading, but Meghan just wrote that one chapter where I couldn’t take it anymore. 🤍 This was also my first MM-Romance, and I am very happy it was this one!
I think those two are truly made for eachother. They both help the other to grow and overcome something in their life. But the love they share is unmatched!
This book is a little deeper than the other, but it fits the characters so well!
I am PUMPED for Jay‘s book, but also very sad, because it will be the last of the series.
Thank you Meghan Hollie and LoveNotesPR for the ARC! 🤍
We already met Finn in his twin sister Daphne’s book „Pieces“, but Foxx is a new character! Finn is back from Australia to help out Daphne and Hudson with their new daughter. But there is also another reason he is back. Finn and Foxx meet over a dating app, where they both just want to temporarily have fun. But temporarily turns into more amd eventually into forever.
I cried - it was that good! I normally don‘t cry while reading, but Meghan just wrote that one chapter where I couldn’t take it anymore. 🤍 This was also my first MM-Romance, and I am very happy it was this one!
I think those two are truly made for eachother. They both help the other to grow and overcome something in their life. But the love they share is unmatched!
This book is a little deeper than the other, but it fits the characters so well!
I am PUMPED for Jay‘s book, but also very sad, because it will be the last of the series.
Thank you Meghan Hollie and LoveNotesPR for the ARC! 🤍
June 27, 2025
Finn & Foxx had me going through all of the emotions while reading this book. It was such a beautiful story and I loved every minute of it.
They weren't looking for anything more than an escape, a moment to forget. But what they found in each other was so much more. The healing and the growth they both did throughout this book 🥹 was perfection. I loved watching these two come together and learn to love and trust again.
Absolutely love the found family in this series! And I always love some good banter 👌🏼 definitely recommend this whole series, I love Meghan's really writing. Her books always have me hooked from the very start 🩷
They weren't looking for anything more than an escape, a moment to forget. But what they found in each other was so much more. The healing and the growth they both did throughout this book 🥹 was perfection. I loved watching these two come together and learn to love and trust again.
Absolutely love the found family in this series! And I always love some good banter 👌🏼 definitely recommend this whole series, I love Meghan's really writing. Her books always have me hooked from the very start 🩷
June 20, 2025
alpha read - will update nearer release
Words alone cannot express how good Finn & Foxx. Yes I'm in @meghanhollieauthor team and read this story in various forms but the end product is amazing. Its a beautiful love story of grief, love, care, growth, and acceptance. In whatever form that may be. But let's not forget the spice. And boy, it's spicy as hell. I simply adore these boys. @meghanhollieauthor your words never fail floor me in the best way!
Words alone cannot express how good Finn & Foxx. Yes I'm in @meghanhollieauthor team and read this story in various forms but the end product is amazing. Its a beautiful love story of grief, love, care, growth, and acceptance. In whatever form that may be. But let's not forget the spice. And boy, it's spicy as hell. I simply adore these boys. @meghanhollieauthor your words never fail floor me in the best way!
June 22, 2025
I absolutely devoured this book! It was a great blend of sweet and spice. Foxx and Finn are a great example of opposites attract without it feeling forced or awkward. There were definitely opportunities for some more depth and character development, but I still really enjoyed the story. Absolutely recommend this read! Thanks to Meghan Hollie for the ARC :)
June 22, 2025
This was so good, just like all the other books in the series. These two are just a little bit lonely and stuck in their memories. They meet each other at the perfect time and I love it. They kept saying that it was only temporary but they thought about each other all the time.
I received an arc from love notes pr.
I received an arc from love notes pr.
July 3, 2025
Thank you so much to Meghan and Love Notes PR for the arc copy!
It's my first book in the CLU series and let me tell you, it's looking promising. Like 'possible favourite comfort series' promising.
In this book we follow Finn, dealing with the recent loss of his best friend, and Foxx, stuck on the same routine for 4 years.
Finn moves back to his home town so he can escape his grief. He spends his time babysitting his niece and trying to learn how to overcome his pain. In the middle of this, he meets Foxx.
Foxx was stuck. He went to work, came home, worked some more, spent time with Eugene, and that's about it. He thought a casual fling might help him get out of this cycle. And that’s how he met Finn. (Spoilers: there’s absolutely nothing casual about them)
Once I finished this book I immediately regretted the speed at which I read it. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters but I was so enthralled in the whole story I lost track of time, and well... I finished it.
The relationship between Finn and Foxx was so well developed. The banter, the tension, the spice - everything contributed to this easy, flowy, light thing they have. They understand each other to a whole other level. It didn't feel forced in the slightest, it felt meant to be.
The talk about grief and loss was also always present. Finn had to learn how to live with it, and in the end, he made peace with it. And even tho I'm focusing more on Finn, I can't forget to mention Foxx's struggle. While Finn is learning to navigate life again, Foxx is also dealing with the loss of his past life, his past self.
This story was so beautifully written. I cried, I laughed, I giggled, I sobbed. Watching Finn and Foxx find each other and watching their journey through love was so comforting and heartwarming.
I absolutely loved everything about this book and can't wait to go back and read the whole series.
Once again, thank you so much to Meghan and Love Notes PR! I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.🫶🏻
'Riptide' is just the right book if you're looking for:
🌊College MM Romance
☀️Broken Sunshine/Broody Grumpy
👓Student/Teacher
🌊Age gap
☀️Healing/Comfort
👓Strangers to lovers
It's my first book in the CLU series and let me tell you, it's looking promising. Like 'possible favourite comfort series' promising.
In this book we follow Finn, dealing with the recent loss of his best friend, and Foxx, stuck on the same routine for 4 years.
Finn moves back to his home town so he can escape his grief. He spends his time babysitting his niece and trying to learn how to overcome his pain. In the middle of this, he meets Foxx.
Foxx was stuck. He went to work, came home, worked some more, spent time with Eugene, and that's about it. He thought a casual fling might help him get out of this cycle. And that’s how he met Finn. (Spoilers: there’s absolutely nothing casual about them)
Once I finished this book I immediately regretted the speed at which I read it. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters but I was so enthralled in the whole story I lost track of time, and well... I finished it.
The relationship between Finn and Foxx was so well developed. The banter, the tension, the spice - everything contributed to this easy, flowy, light thing they have. They understand each other to a whole other level. It didn't feel forced in the slightest, it felt meant to be.
The talk about grief and loss was also always present. Finn had to learn how to live with it, and in the end, he made peace with it. And even tho I'm focusing more on Finn, I can't forget to mention Foxx's struggle. While Finn is learning to navigate life again, Foxx is also dealing with the loss of his past life, his past self.
"Love doesn't go anywhere, it just grows different."
This story was so beautifully written. I cried, I laughed, I giggled, I sobbed. Watching Finn and Foxx find each other and watching their journey through love was so comforting and heartwarming.
I absolutely loved everything about this book and can't wait to go back and read the whole series.
Once again, thank you so much to Meghan and Love Notes PR! I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.🫶🏻
'Riptide' is just the right book if you're looking for:
🌊College MM Romance
☀️Broken Sunshine/Broody Grumpy
👓Student/Teacher
🌊Age gap
☀️Healing/Comfort
👓Strangers to lovers
July 14, 2025
Hi help, I’ve fallen in love with them both and I will never recover.
Meghan outdid herself with this one! I seriously love both of these men so much. I enjoyed that they each had to go on their own healing journeys and had encouragement from the other along the way.
Daddy Foxx 🥵 the perfect man honestly. Damaged but cautiously willing to be vulnerable again. Quiet and smart but soooo bossy 😍 as evidenced by…
🔥 “You’ve got such filthy manners for someone so desperate”
🔥 “That’s a good boy”
🔥 “Come for me, baby. Make a fucking mess. I want it all.”
Also shoutout to Eugene because I always love an elderly side character who helps push the two MCs together 😂
Meghan outdid herself with this one! I seriously love both of these men so much. I enjoyed that they each had to go on their own healing journeys and had encouragement from the other along the way.
Daddy Foxx 🥵 the perfect man honestly. Damaged but cautiously willing to be vulnerable again. Quiet and smart but soooo bossy 😍 as evidenced by…
🔥 “You’ve got such filthy manners for someone so desperate”
🔥 “That’s a good boy”
🔥 “Come for me, baby. Make a fucking mess. I want it all.”
Also shoutout to Eugene because I always love an elderly side character who helps push the two MCs together 😂
July 9, 2025
This book completely stole my heart. Meghan Hollie just became an auto-buy for me after this. Riptide was tender, soft, healing, hot—it was everything I love in a romance, all wrapped up in one story that I couldn’t put down.
Finn and Foxx? Ugh. I loved them both so much. Finn is this chatty little sunshine who wears his heart on his sleeve, and Foxx is all “I don’t do relationships” while obviously falling hard the entire time. Their dynamic was so natural and genuine, and watching their connection build while they worked through grief and opened up to each other? That shit hit. It was real and messy and beautiful.
The grief piece was written so well. I loved that you could feel how different their experiences were, but still see how much they understood each other. It wasn’t surface-level either—it actually showed how complicated healing is and how love can come alongside it without trying to replace the hurt.
And the spice?? BABY. Meghan knew what she was doing. The tension, the vulnerability, the payoff—it was chef’s kiss. Nothing felt thrown in just to be hot. It was emotional and intimate and fit their story perfectly.
Finn and Foxx? Ugh. I loved them both so much. Finn is this chatty little sunshine who wears his heart on his sleeve, and Foxx is all “I don’t do relationships” while obviously falling hard the entire time. Their dynamic was so natural and genuine, and watching their connection build while they worked through grief and opened up to each other? That shit hit. It was real and messy and beautiful.
The grief piece was written so well. I loved that you could feel how different their experiences were, but still see how much they understood each other. It wasn’t surface-level either—it actually showed how complicated healing is and how love can come alongside it without trying to replace the hurt.
And the spice?? BABY. Meghan knew what she was doing. The tension, the vulnerability, the payoff—it was chef’s kiss. Nothing felt thrown in just to be hot. It was emotional and intimate and fit their story perfectly.
July 10, 2025
A broken surfer running from his grief and a math professor seeking to regain control and structure in his life.
I loved how this book focused on Finn and Foxx's healing journey after loss, showing us how grief can manifest in different ways. They were complete opposites in personality—Finn, the confident, sunshine sufer who loves to joke around, and Foxx, the serious introverted math professor who is getting used to being alone—yet they were perfect for each other. They truly balanced one another, and I loved how understanding they were of each other's past and how supportive they were of each other's healing, letting each other know that they can take their time to heal, and that they'd be there by their side.
Rosie and Eugene were characters who constantly stole the scene, and I especially loved Eugene's sweet tooth and quiet, tough love.
4.5
I loved how this book focused on Finn and Foxx's healing journey after loss, showing us how grief can manifest in different ways. They were complete opposites in personality—Finn, the confident, sunshine sufer who loves to joke around, and Foxx, the serious introverted math professor who is getting used to being alone—yet they were perfect for each other. They truly balanced one another, and I loved how understanding they were of each other's past and how supportive they were of each other's healing, letting each other know that they can take their time to heal, and that they'd be there by their side.
Rosie and Eugene were characters who constantly stole the scene, and I especially loved Eugene's sweet tooth and quiet, tough love.
4.5
July 10, 2025
ARC REVIEW (mild spoilers)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
-MM College Romance
-Strangers to friends to Lovers
-Student/Teacher
-Age Gap
-Hurt/Comfort
This book just… ugh🫠 I’ve been so excited for this book and it did not disappoint. Finn and Foxx just stole my heart immediately. I’m an absolute sucker for an age gap trope. Always have been.
This story was a rollercoaster. I cried, laughed and swooned. Did I at some wish it was possible to jump into the book and punch Foxx’s ex-huasband? Yes. I absolutely did. I love watching a character who has a hard time opening up, find that one person they can do it with. And I feel like you got that on both sides. Finn’s reasoning for not surfing anymore hurt my heart and watching Foxx comfort him when he went near the ocean and had a panic attack healed it right back up. I cannot wait for the last book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
-MM College Romance
-Strangers to friends to Lovers
-Student/Teacher
-Age Gap
-Hurt/Comfort
This book just… ugh🫠 I’ve been so excited for this book and it did not disappoint. Finn and Foxx just stole my heart immediately. I’m an absolute sucker for an age gap trope. Always have been.
This story was a rollercoaster. I cried, laughed and swooned. Did I at some wish it was possible to jump into the book and punch Foxx’s ex-huasband? Yes. I absolutely did. I love watching a character who has a hard time opening up, find that one person they can do it with. And I feel like you got that on both sides. Finn’s reasoning for not surfing anymore hurt my heart and watching Foxx comfort him when he went near the ocean and had a panic attack healed it right back up. I cannot wait for the last book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2025
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Riptide @meghanhollieauthor
Book 4 in the Cedars Lake University Series
Releasing 3rd July
Oh boy.
I was so excited for this book and it did not disappoint. I am so in love with both Finn and Foxx. I have loved every book in this series but these two are just everything and more, it's absolutely outstanding and Meghan's best book so far in my opinion. I don't think I can honestly express all my thoughts on this book it leaves me speechless. You would never guess this is Meghan's first MM book.
I would recommend reading the series in order, as you see more of Finn's sister Daphne and Hudson from Pieces and their little girl, Rosie
Finn has returned from surfing after a tragedy trying to deal with his grief and figure out what's next in his life. Whilst trying to do so he is helping look after Rosie whilst they are at college.
Foxx is trying to navigate his own loss after divorce and finding his feet again. Both are looking for nothing serious, but either could not deny the chemistry these two have from the very start. They complement each other so much, and the way they are each others constant support was amazing to witness. The spice in this book had me melting, its so good, match that with the topics highlighted and the hilarious banter it just has everything you would need in a book. I couldn't end the review without mentioning Foxx's only friend, his elderly neighbour Eugene, loved him!
I don't want this series to end but I am also looking forward to the final book in the series, as Liv is something else and she is honestly going to surprise us all and give us plenty of laughs.
💖College romance
💖MM Romance
💖Broken sunshine /broken grumpy
💖Student/teacher
💖Age gap
💖Healing
💖Strangers to friends to lovers
Thank you @meghanhollieauthor for allowing me to be apart of your team and to read your amazing books.
Please note all preorder profits are donated to The Trevor Project organisation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Riptide @meghanhollieauthor
Book 4 in the Cedars Lake University Series
Releasing 3rd July
Oh boy.
I was so excited for this book and it did not disappoint. I am so in love with both Finn and Foxx. I have loved every book in this series but these two are just everything and more, it's absolutely outstanding and Meghan's best book so far in my opinion. I don't think I can honestly express all my thoughts on this book it leaves me speechless. You would never guess this is Meghan's first MM book.
I would recommend reading the series in order, as you see more of Finn's sister Daphne and Hudson from Pieces and their little girl, Rosie
Finn has returned from surfing after a tragedy trying to deal with his grief and figure out what's next in his life. Whilst trying to do so he is helping look after Rosie whilst they are at college.
Foxx is trying to navigate his own loss after divorce and finding his feet again. Both are looking for nothing serious, but either could not deny the chemistry these two have from the very start. They complement each other so much, and the way they are each others constant support was amazing to witness. The spice in this book had me melting, its so good, match that with the topics highlighted and the hilarious banter it just has everything you would need in a book. I couldn't end the review without mentioning Foxx's only friend, his elderly neighbour Eugene, loved him!
I don't want this series to end but I am also looking forward to the final book in the series, as Liv is something else and she is honestly going to surprise us all and give us plenty of laughs.
💖College romance
💖MM Romance
💖Broken sunshine /broken grumpy
💖Student/teacher
💖Age gap
💖Healing
💖Strangers to friends to lovers
Thank you @meghanhollieauthor for allowing me to be apart of your team and to read your amazing books.
Please note all preorder profits are donated to The Trevor Project organisation.
July 10, 2025
“ I remember that love doesn’t go anywhere, it just grows different.”
This was a steamy and unexpectedly warm read. Foxx, our math professor with a guarded heart, and Finn, our free-spirited surfer have both been hurt in life. After stepping out of their comfort zones, they meet through a dating app looking for some fun.
Foxx was not prepared for Finn, their personalities were so different but fit together perfectly and I loved it!
Also, we can't forget about Eugene, out of all the side characters he's my favorite. Him and his grumpy kitty Poppy!
If you want an MM romance with a great mixture of tender, funny, and hot moments this is definitely for you!
This was a steamy and unexpectedly warm read. Foxx, our math professor with a guarded heart, and Finn, our free-spirited surfer have both been hurt in life. After stepping out of their comfort zones, they meet through a dating app looking for some fun.
Foxx was not prepared for Finn, their personalities were so different but fit together perfectly and I loved it!
Also, we can't forget about Eugene, out of all the side characters he's my favorite. Him and his grumpy kitty Poppy!
If you want an MM romance with a great mixture of tender, funny, and hot moments this is definitely for you!
July 4, 2025
As excited as I was for this book, I honestly didn’t think I would love them as much as the previous CLU couples. But I have been proven wrong because these two were so adorable and sweet and just meant for one another!
Getting to know Finn was a lot of fun. He had quite the personality and gave the kind of confidence I could only wish to have on a daily basis. He loves his people with a fierceness and it shows.
Foxx was who I connected with more in terms of personality. His past has made him cautious and he sticks to a routine. He’s been existing but not exactly living.
But thanks to the side characters (who I adore with my whole heart) they give both Finn and Foxx the nudge they need to try something new and get back out there.
Finn and Foxx together was pure perfection! From the get go they had a chemistry that was undeniable and my god were they HOT! While the spice was definitely spicing (the mouths on these men), they also gave each other the peace they needed to confront their demons. They felt seamless together and absolutely meant to be.
It was all balanced so incredibly well and I loved getting to know these two better. I also need to shoutout my love for Daphne and Hudson and Rosie! I ate up every crumb with them that I could! Also Eugene!! Love this man with my whole heart, no one is allowed to hurt him!
Thank you to Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Getting to know Finn was a lot of fun. He had quite the personality and gave the kind of confidence I could only wish to have on a daily basis. He loves his people with a fierceness and it shows.
Foxx was who I connected with more in terms of personality. His past has made him cautious and he sticks to a routine. He’s been existing but not exactly living.
But thanks to the side characters (who I adore with my whole heart) they give both Finn and Foxx the nudge they need to try something new and get back out there.
Finn and Foxx together was pure perfection! From the get go they had a chemistry that was undeniable and my god were they HOT! While the spice was definitely spicing (the mouths on these men), they also gave each other the peace they needed to confront their demons. They felt seamless together and absolutely meant to be.
It was all balanced so incredibly well and I loved getting to know these two better. I also need to shoutout my love for Daphne and Hudson and Rosie! I ate up every crumb with them that I could! Also Eugene!! Love this man with my whole heart, no one is allowed to hurt him!
Thank you to Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read this ARC!
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