What do you think?
Rate this book
This Too
Dear Author,
We’ve been best friends since the day we met in kindergarten. I’ve been in love with him forever, but he’s straight— as evidenced by the scads of girls he’s dated. I finally worked up the nerve to not only come out to him our senior year of high school but also tell him how I felt for him. As I expected, he told me that he’d be my best friend no matter what but that he was straight and didn’t feel the same way. I was heartbroken but knew that I had to suck it up if I wanted us to remain friends. I stayed single for the rest of high school while he dated every girl around. Now we are rooming together in college and I’m doing my best to get over him and move on. Unfortunately, every time I meet someone or date someone new, he thwarts my plans. I don’t even want to talk about the time he walked in on me and my new guy about to get down and dirty— let’s just say he was NOT happy. I don’t understand! If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was jealous. But he’s straight… isn’t he?
Photo Description:
Two young men, lying side by side with their heads on pillows. The first man is a brunette wearing a red T-shirt. The other has lighter brown hair, a five o’clock shadow, and is wearing a grey T-shirt. Both men look slightly rumpled. The man with the grey shirt has reached over and turned the other man’s face towards him planting a kiss on his lips. The man with the red shirt appears surprised. They both have their eyes open looking at the other’s response.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
We’ve been best friends since the day we met in kindergarten. I’ve been in love with him forever, but he’s straight— as evidenced by the scads of girls he’s dated. I finally worked up the nerve to not only come out to him our senior year of high school but also tell him how I felt for him. As I expected, he told me that he’d be my best friend no matter what but that he was straight and didn’t feel the same way. I was heartbroken but knew that I had to suck it up if I wanted us to remain friends. I stayed single for the rest of high school while he dated every girl around. Now we are rooming together in college and I’m doing my best to get over him and move on. Unfortunately, every time I meet someone or date someone new, he thwarts my plans. I don’t even want to talk about the time he walked in on me and my new guy about to get down and dirty— let’s just say he was NOT happy. I don’t understand! If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was jealous. But he’s straight… isn’t he?
Photo Description:
Two young men, lying side by side with their heads on pillows. The first man is a brunette wearing a red T-shirt. The other has lighter brown hair, a five o’clock shadow, and is wearing a grey T-shirt. Both men look slightly rumpled. The man with the grey shirt has reached over and turned the other man’s face towards him planting a kiss on his lips. The man with the red shirt appears surprised. They both have their eyes open looking at the other’s response.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
31 pages, ebook
First published August 25, 2014
37 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 25, 2014
Love denied for too long.
Angsty and a bit dramatic, but captures that sense of frozen urgency of youth and the insecurity that plagues it. Jake needs to get with the program and poor Ryan, sucks to have to be the strong one.
Angsty and a bit dramatic, but captures that sense of frozen urgency of youth and the insecurity that plagues it. Jake needs to get with the program and poor Ryan, sucks to have to be the strong one.
August 29, 2014
1.5 stars
Way too much summarizing; entire years are condensed into a paragraph or two. There was just so much telling. And the emotional connection between the MCs wasn't developed enough to be believable. Jake really screwed dozens of girls while Ryan remained his roommate for YEARS?
And if the Reverend Daddy was so good and forgiving why did he not say anything to the boys? I didn't buy it.
I even skimmed through the sex scene at the end, because the story just didn't hold my interest, and that's saying something.
I appreciate the author's time and effort, but this one didn't work for me.
Way too much summarizing; entire years are condensed into a paragraph or two. There was just so much telling. And the emotional connection between the MCs wasn't developed enough to be believable. Jake really screwed dozens of girls while Ryan remained his roommate for YEARS?
And if the Reverend Daddy was so good and forgiving why did he not say anything to the boys? I didn't buy it.
I even skimmed through the sex scene at the end, because the story just didn't hold my interest, and that's saying something.
I appreciate the author's time and effort, but this one didn't work for me.
August 26, 2014
I love friends-to-lovers stories so when I read the prompt I knew I was not going to wait for the story to be available for download - I had to read it as soon as possible.
Sadly, the story was not what I expected. Don't get me wrong, it was not bad but it didn't wow me either. I just wish it had followed the prompt more closely.
2.5 stars
Sadly, the story was not what I expected. Don't get me wrong, it was not bad but it didn't wow me either. I just wish it had followed the prompt more closely.
2.5 stars
September 1, 2014
I seriously wanted to scream while I read this. And also, I need to be more selective with these stories.
It didn't work for me, but others will like this more, because it is more of a personal preference than anything. Like the last one, this just wasn't a Trisha story.
It didn't work for me, but others will like this more, because it is more of a personal preference than anything. Like the last one, this just wasn't a Trisha story.
September 3, 2014
2.5 stars, generously rounded up.
I like this premise, I like the sense of desperation that lead to the disclosure and reveal, but then .....three years pass. Three whole years. Gone. Skimmed over like slightly off milk at the top of the bottle. Swiped away without thought and then story on like they were never there. So why did not 8 months? A semester? A year and a little recap? But three years and zilch? What was that about? And dad doesn't give a damn after all, so now we're all good again? I would've liked a bit more depth. But what was filled out was nicely done, just too much skipping and then too neat and tidy.
I like this premise, I like the sense of desperation that lead to the disclosure and reveal, but then .....three years pass. Three whole years. Gone. Skimmed over like slightly off milk at the top of the bottle. Swiped away without thought and then story on like they were never there. So why did not 8 months? A semester? A year and a little recap? But three years and zilch? What was that about? And dad doesn't give a damn after all, so now we're all good again? I would've liked a bit more depth. But what was filled out was nicely done, just too much skipping and then too neat and tidy.
July 24, 2015
A cute story about a college hockey player, Ryan, falling in love with his best friend, Jake, and the angst filled journey of supposed unrequited feelings. The prompt suggests that Jake is straight but the author went in a different direction, and made him bi. This wasn't a fact that he hid from his best friend/admirer, Ryan. He deliberately decided to date women only, because he felt that he would let down his family otherwise. Each time he brings home a girl, he breaks Ryan's heart a little more.
The premise is cute and I liked the story overall. There were some pacing issues, specifically in the beginning. I would have liked to see this story, before the "coming together" especially, drawn out a little more, just to get a more concrete feeling of Ryan's frustration over his feelings for Jake and Jake's feelings for him, but overall the author did a great job of that all or nothing first love drama.
I will mention quickly that this story is not quite what the prompt suggested: the incident mentioned in the prompt doesn't happen at all, and the dating Ryan is suppose to be doing in order to get over Jake was minimal, not to the degree that the prompt suggests. Still, it was a cute story.
My thanks to the author for their time and participation in the loves landscapes event.
The premise is cute and I liked the story overall. There were some pacing issues, specifically in the beginning. I would have liked to see this story, before the "coming together" especially, drawn out a little more, just to get a more concrete feeling of Ryan's frustration over his feelings for Jake and Jake's feelings for him, but overall the author did a great job of that all or nothing first love drama.
I will mention quickly that this story is not quite what the prompt suggested: the incident mentioned in the prompt doesn't happen at all, and the dating Ryan is suppose to be doing in order to get over Jake was minimal, not to the degree that the prompt suggests. Still, it was a cute story.
My thanks to the author for their time and participation in the loves landscapes event.
August 25, 2014
Didn't really follow the prompt.
September 3, 2014
My favourite trope. Thank you for this story.
September 28, 2014
A really nice story of friendship, love and understanding.
June 20, 2021
* free
* friends to lovers
* college age
* denial isn't just a river in Egypt
Didn't really meet the prompt.
Ryan was too much of a doormat. And Jake was a dick, not only to Ryan but to all those girls he slept with too. Unfortunately thislacked chemistry for me.
Clearing my Kindle Keyboard.
* friends to lovers
* college age
* denial isn't just a river in Egypt
Didn't really meet the prompt.
Ryan was too much of a doormat. And Jake was a dick, not only to Ryan but to all those girls he slept with too. Unfortunately thislacked chemistry for me.
Clearing my Kindle Keyboard.
August 29, 2014
I am sorry, but I did not like this storyline. I wasn’t a fan of this couple. I honestly didn’t care if they ended up together or not at the end. I like the writing style. It flowed very nicely. It was simply the couple, especially Jake, I did not care for.
Ryan is in love with Jake, his best friend from forever. Finally, Ryan confesses with a kiss, in which Jake was more than pleased to continue. Then Jake goes all ape-shit on him. Confesses that he is in fact bi, but he could never let his family know. He loves Ryan, but he can’t lose his family. So, they have this sexual tension continue onward.
So, the two of them live together. What does Jake do? Brings sex conquests home(all girls of course) over the next three years(this is how much time passes). Of course it breaks Ryan’s heart, and Jake know this. Because he knows Ryan loves him. So, finally in the end, Jake gets all pissy that Ryan is trying to move on and makes a move.
Ryan snaps, says he is done with it all and he is moving out. Finally, Jake is all ‘Nooo… I’ll can’t lose you’ and comes out to his family(choosing Ryan over his family. ‘Happy ending’. I am sorry, but I wouldn’t have accepted Jake. I would have told him to take a hike.
Ryan is in love with Jake, his best friend from forever. Finally, Ryan confesses with a kiss, in which Jake was more than pleased to continue. Then Jake goes all ape-shit on him. Confesses that he is in fact bi, but he could never let his family know. He loves Ryan, but he can’t lose his family. So, they have this sexual tension continue onward.
So, the two of them live together. What does Jake do? Brings sex conquests home(all girls of course) over the next three years(this is how much time passes). Of course it breaks Ryan’s heart, and Jake know this. Because he knows Ryan loves him. So, finally in the end, Jake gets all pissy that Ryan is trying to move on and makes a move.
Ryan snaps, says he is done with it all and he is moving out. Finally, Jake is all ‘Nooo… I’ll can’t lose you’ and comes out to his family(choosing Ryan over his family. ‘Happy ending’. I am sorry, but I wouldn’t have accepted Jake. I would have told him to take a hike.
Read
March 29, 2015Contemporary short story (probably I'd say NA) of childhood friends, one gay, one bi, and neither out who are in love with each other but for the sake of a hockey scholarship and how the family would react don't act on this, despite sharing a house while away at college. This one didn't work for me as I couldn't feel any real connection with the characters.
Want to read
October 28, 2014
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
December 8, 2014
Another case of in love with your best friends i love these ones. Story is fast past get to the point.
ryan and jake best friends they share a kiss but after that jake is the one who cant commit because he cant be gay his family wont approve. So they remain friends, When Ryan starts dating. How will jake react did he miss his chance read find out i would have loved more.
ryan and jake best friends they share a kiss but after that jake is the one who cant commit because he cant be gay his family wont approve. So they remain friends, When Ryan starts dating. How will jake react did he miss his chance read find out i would have loved more.
July 21, 2015
This Too is very short, so be aware that the timeline is rushed. Even though the characters have a pretty predictable Gay-For-You romance, I still thought it was cute. Happy endings always make me smile.
April 2, 2016
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
event-stories-unread
May 27, 2015[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]
September 8, 2014
Didn't really feel the connection between the two MC's. An okay read for me.
October 12, 2014
Review to come
September 12, 2016
Thank you for this story :)
August 21, 2015
Ugh, boneheads. Sweet boneheads, but still . . .
November 14, 2015
This was baaaaaaaaaaad.
I was actually sort of laughing my way through this, it was so melodramatic, and cheesy.
I was actually sort of laughing my way through this, it was so melodramatic, and cheesy.
November 21, 2014
Cute, short and sweet with lots of angst in the middle. A good short read.
January 14, 2015
3.75 stars
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews