King of Pain

Damaged Hearts #1

by J.P. Joseph

In an epic love story caught between neon lights and shadowed pasts, two hearts collide. Their souls are bound by secrets, passion, and the undeniable pulse of the 80s. Anthony Pachini is guarded, haunted, and desperate to break free. Chance Sullivan is a hotter than sin rebel running from a fate already written. Together, they're headed straight for heartbreak—or redemption. King of Pain by JP Joseph is coming to Kindle screens and bookshelves August 16th, 2025. Prepare to experience the 80s like never before!

King of Pain – A Dual POV Heartfelt MM Romance with all 80s Music Vibes

Anthony A college football player entering his final year at Arizona State. When he's not dominating the field, he's working at Devil Records, indulging his deep obsession with 80s music. Proudly Italian and a passionate cook, Anthony carries the weight of a traumatic past, making him guarded and firmly in denial about his true feelings and desires.

Chance Sullivan: Recently transplanted from Boston to Arizona, Chance seeks to forge a new path far removed from the life previously planned for him as a member of The Doves, an Irish organization with deep roots. Chance shares Anthony's fervent love for 80s music and the moment he walks into Devil Records on his first day of work and locks eyes with Anthony, Chance is certain of one thing—he must have him.


King of Pain is Book 1 in the Damaged Hearts series, with books 2 and 3 set for 2026

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Sports, College, Slow Burn, Queer

569 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2025

Reviews

[Erika Braga · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
“That, Chance Sullivan, was my first kiss. So no, no one else has ever had these lips.”
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
“My heart, Beautiful,” he murmurs. “What about it?” I ask softly. “I may have been born with it beating in my chest,” he says, thumb grazing over my knuckles, “but it never really belonged to me.”
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
“I simply can’t shake the thought that Anthony Pacini is going to change my life. And maybe I’ll change his too. It feels… inevitable.”
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Chance walks into the Record Store sees Anthony for the first time and he is a goner !!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Anthony looks at Chance :
Chance thinks “That’s how I die”

Anthony talks to Chance :
Chances thinks “Just kidding THAT’S how I die”

Anthony touches Chances accidentally:
Chance thinks : “I’m DEAD! This man has no regards to my wellbeing “

This book it’s not my usual read, this is not a dark romance and guess what ? It’s a slow burn….. I normally don’t read slow burns like this one when the first kiss they had was literally at 68% ! Also it’s not spicy…… so as you can see this is not my type of book BUT OMG I DID FALL IN LOVE WITH CHANCE AND ANTHONY!!!!! 😍😍😍😍 their story is so beautiful, the book is so well written that it was impossible for me not to love it.
Chance is this GOD from Boston who grew up with a horrible father in a house with domestic abuse, his father was part of a criminal organization plus the captain of the police force and very corrupted. His mom was amazing but suffered abuse her whole life till Chance was big enough to protect her.
Chance is AMAZING! He is sooooooooooooo protective, loving and always the one taking the initiative. He was literally THE MAN. Amazing, hot, sexy, god like gorgeous, kind and protective = CHANCE !
Anthony is this very closed off GORGEOUSSSSS football played with so much trauma that you can’t help but feel for him. He grew up in a very catholic family in a catholic school and was sexually abused there for years and his mother + father never protected him. So when he leaves to got to College in Arizona he never looks back and cuts his family off but the extreme trauma lingers. Chance also moves to Arizona trying to scape being roped into the criminal organization his father was part of. Chance always knew he was gay, Anthony knew he always had an attraction for men but was confused as if it was real or just due to his trauma.
I was swooning after them, I was suffering with them, I was laughing with them. The friends are amazing, Jen cracked me up and Lexi was the best. The found family and their deep love is unmatched! Also Anthony never been kissed .. awwwwwwwww I can’t ! The cutest. I did not give 5⭐️ because slow burns are not my thing and here the slow was burning REALLY HARD! But the yearning in this book makes me want to scream !!!!!!! THE PAIN !!!! Ughhhhh ….. So so good ! Yep it was not my style but so worth it ❤️

[patrícia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came out of this book feeling… richer 🎼🖤

J.P. Joseph’s debut is one of those rare novels that feels both deeply personal and universally powerful.* Knowing parts of the story is rooted in the author’s own experience makes the emotional weight hit even harder. This isn’t just a romance—it’s an exploration of love, pain, and the courage to embrace your truth. 💔

Anthony Pacini, the Italian-American football player haunted by scars from his past, and Chance Sullivan, the newcomer trying to carve out a life of his own, are unforgettable. From their first meeting at Devil Records, the chemistry is magnetic. Their relationship is messy, vulnerable, and real—yet at the same time, pure couple goals.

Kissing.in.the.rain. >>>>> forever in my heart ❤️

This is a super slow burn, but when it finally catches fire? Oh. My. God. 🔥 All those first times—so incredibly hot, dirty, and beautifully written. It made the payoff feel earned, raw, and unforgettable. Specially because waiting for them to be ready, and seeing Ant come out, completely guarded and loved by Chance.🥹🥹🥹

And then at 50%… the almost-dying heartbreak tore me apart.I wasn’t ready, and yet it made everything that came after hit ten times harder. The paintings were another emotional punch—such a breathtaking way of capturing love, grief, and memory on the page.

The book is also filled with an amazing found family dynamic. Chance’s mother, “Ma,” nearly broke me with her heartfelt letter, and the love that radiates through those relationships is just as powerful as the romance itself. And yes—I loved seeing the “bad guys” get exactly what they deserved.

What ties everything together is the 80s soundtrack vibe. The story isn’t set in the 80s, but both Anthony and Chance live and breathe the era’s music and culture. Every chapter is named after a classic 80s hit, and it gives the book an emotional pulse that carries through every page.

There’s a lot of memorable moments, a lot of pain and frustration. There’s also a lot of monsters made of flesh and bone who almost seem human, but that can be right, because how can you do this kind of thing to a child? But this story is also filled with beautiful humans, kind, understanding, supportive, patient, loving, funny humans, and because of those I come out of this book richer. 🫶 omg and Ant’s cooking is to.die.for.🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

And that 77-year-old epilogue? Pure perfection. It made the journey feel whole, timeless, and unforgettable.

In the end, this is a romance that’s not afraid to be sappy, dramatic, fated-mates-level “meant to be,” and I loved every second of it. So many incredible moments will stay with me forever.

This is an incredibly strong debut—emotional, lyrical, filthy in the best ways, and unafraid to cut deep. Thank you, J.P. Joseph, for turning pain into something so powerful and beautiful. I can’t wait to see where the *Damaged Hearts* series goes next, but I’m here for it 🙏

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At some point Anthony goes on dates but nothing happens beyond that. They are separated for 3 years.

[Gry ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story about Ant and Chance has a lot of potential. Especially considering it’s easy to tell that the characters and subjects are so close to the author’s heart.
That said, I can’t help but be disappointed in the writing and pacing of this story.

For me to invest my time into a 500+ page romance, I expect there to be substance.
But fact is, most of this book is unfortunately fluff. Sure, there are some cute moments in there - but do we really need to see Ant making Chance dinner a million different times? One or two times must surely be enough, or it being mentioned in passing and not actually Ant being in the kitchen hacking up ingredients.
I feel like I know their daily routines by heart by how many times they were mentioned over and over again.

The writing unfortunately consisted of a lot telling instead of showing. Telling us what the characters felt, or being obvious when dropping hints about future events, making it very undramatic and predictable for the reader.
As an example, early on in the book Chance talks about a rare vinyl he wants, and tell all his colleagues in their music store to be on the lookout. Ant overhears this, makes a comment about it being Chance’s holy grail and then it’s specifically written that Ant opens his notes app. Any reader will at this point be able to figure out that Ant wants to surprise Chance with this by these context clues, making that later moment much less special for the reader.

Whilst this at times felt cozy, especially in the found family aspects or facetime’s with Ma’ the way the overall story is told did not do it justice. Even though it covers some dark topics and turns in the book, it always felt like I knew where the story was going beforehand. Only one or two things actually managed to surprise me, but then even those were handled in a very non dramatic fashion and it was back to regular programing of fluff.
Alas, all this led to a very meh romance.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
ARC REVIEW

Please, please, please read this review because I need you to understand how badly I want everyone to experience this book once it’s released.

I'm still struggling to put into words how phenomenal this book was. Huge thanks to @Lana for being endlessly patient with me as I screamed about a certain chapter. This book deserves more than five stars!

Anthony’s life is split between the football field and the 80’s records he treasures, his heart carefully hidden behind years of hurt. Chance comes to Arizona searching for a new start, and with one look across the counter at Devil Records, he knows Anthony is the beginning of it.

Every single word out of Chance’s mouth had me squealing. If I were Anthony, I would’ve been gone on the spot. The 80’s music woven throughout the story was the cherry on top for me. The banter, the flirting, the quiet tenderness between them it all came together so beautifully. The setting, the atmosphere, the way it made me feel… everything was perfect. My mom even asked what on earth had happened to me when she heard me playing 80’s songs all day.

Anthony and Chance were like puzzle pieces that had been waiting for each other, like a song you’ve known your whole life but finally get to hear in full. Their chemistry didn’t just spark it burned, steady and relentless, and I was not ready for how much it would make me feel.

The pacing is perfect. It’s the kind of story where you think you know what’s coming, yet you’re constantly caught off guard in the best way.

And to think this is the author’s debut JP Joseph, you’ve created something truly special. You’ve gained a forever reader in me, and I loved every single moment of this story. This is without a doubt going on my top reads of 2025, and I’m beyond excited for what’s coming next! 🔥

[peoniesandmm · Rating 5 out of 5]

THAT WAS A DEBUT?
stop it right now. i loved every minute of it 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

!!!chance & ant forever!!!

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more of a 3.75 that a solid 4 for me. It was pretty obvious this was a debut self-published book because it was SO overly long and it had everything including the kitchen sink thrown in! It was definitely a book of two halves for me also, and the second half is what saved it.

The first 45% of this book had me questioning the high reviews and all of the hype I'd seen and I wasn't sure that I was even going to finish it. I think in the first 10% I felt like I already had a full bingo card of tropes and microtropes, and by the end I could have filled five more. It felt bloated and excessive, almost like the author read a list of tropes and tried to jam them all in to the story whether they played a significant or relevant role or not. I do understand though that when you're putting your own life into your baby and it's most likely giving you a cathartic experience, it's probably really difficult to edit as brutally as the book may have needed. I think 200 pages could have easily been cut and we'd still have gotten the same story with the same impact, maybe even a stronger impact because there wouldn't have been so many things competing for attention. Did Chance really need to have been a hockey player? Did Anthony really need to have so many hobbies, interests and passions? It got a bit overwhelming trying to remember everything about each MC!

There were also so many overly detailed descriptions of settings, meals, outfits, that I found myself trying to figure out how it was relevant to the story too. I didn't really like the use of flashbacks (I rarely enjoy flashbacks in a story ever) because it felt like we just got the same events explained in the present timeline so it was a little overkill and too much repetition.

That said, I completely agree with the opinion that reading this felt like watching a TV series or film. It was easy to picture everything and see the characters as being real, and the pacing and stylistic choices would definitely translate well to visual media. The 80s music soundtrack also added another layer to the story and I could definitely see it being used in a TV show also.

I feel like this has been a really negative review so far, but I genuinely really liked Chance and Anthony and the way their relationship built and progressed. It wasn't until their date on Chance's birthday and the events that followed though that I really felt fully invested in their story and wanted to keep reading to see what happened to them. I'm glad we didn't get bogged down in the aftermath with Anthony and that instead the timeline skipped forward, because after that halfway point it felt like things were starting to come together and be more streamlined. I do think I would have given up if that time jump hadn't been used!

I am a little confused at the role played by The Doves though because I couldn't figure out where their money was coming from, or why they would be setting Chance up with accomodation, transport and security when he'd effectively left. I'm confused about why Chance's ex Cristian was mentioned in a flashback scene that was totally unnecessary and also randomly in a phonecall and then was never mentioned again - he could have been completely removed from the book and nothing at all would have changed. I'm also really confused about how and why Chance basically did everything that he did: the burst pipe, the unaliving, the resources to stalk... I didn't really understand his reasoning for things or how he could make them happen!

Even though I think this book definitely needed condensing and the MCs needed a few less things going on, I am definitely interested in reading more from this author because there were a few side characters that grabbed my attention and I need to know what happens to them - I'm hoping there will be stories for Butters and Deacon especially!

[♡Gabi♡ [life & work is chaotic hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

currently sobbing my eyes out because that was the most raw and heartbreakingly beautiful love story I’ve read in a long time. Ant and Chance are everything—I will never be over them. their love was soft, pure, and unshakably strong. the fact that they started as friends and built such a solid foundation before anything else? absolute perfection. also, the found family was SOOOO amazing and I loved each and every side character. cannot WAIT for butter’s and spencer’s story next askdfjdkjjdk!!

the pain was real throughout their journey, but my goodness, they proved that they can conquer anything as long as they have each other. and to think this was the author’s debut?!?! a masterpiece if I do say so myself that pulled every emotion out of me. 😭

infinity stars. 🥹❤️ already planning my reread.

[369Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️
Chance and Anthony are both dealing with dark pasts. Anthony is a college football player working at a vinyl store. When new employee, Chance, is placed in his care for training, there’s an immediate spark between them.

You can expect:
-angst
-second chance
-dark pasta / trauma
-nightmare trope
-a cute dog
-found family
-dark themes (check TWs)

I want to be completely honest in this review, while still remaining positive. I saw a couple reviews of this book absolutely raving, claiming it was a 6⭐️ read for them, and that they couldn’t believe how good it was, etc. therefore, I know this book must be very good for some people. A certain type of person will enjoy it a lot.

I’ll start positively by saying that I could tell this author worked hard on paying attention to details. It’s one of those books that should absolutely be edited down, but it feels like the author loved the characters so much that they had to keep everything in. I can feel that love there. Another really cool thing about the book was that each chapter was named after an 80s song, and Anthony/Chance bonded over 80s music. Cute and unique detail!

I went into this book with high expectations due to other reviews, but I do want to remind other readers that this is a debut novel. The author did some things well, but you can absolutely tell that this is a debut/the author isn’t super experienced.

The book started off with promise—setting up dark back stories for the characters. Setting up a meet-cute with fun flirting and a bit of tension. I found Chance to be charming at the beginning, and was rooting for Ant to come into himself and find his happiness.

However, as the story progressed, I found there were some things that personally didn’t vibe with me. Firstly, the plot feels very much like scenes patched together, and the flow is a little jarring. The events of the plot sometimes feel a bit out of nowhere, which kind of pulled me out of the story. There is also a ton of telling instead of actual showing in the plot. Like there’s mafias and arson and stuff, but we just get told about it after it happens. I also found that as the book went on, I liked the characters less. Chance would smirk or make a comment that seemed inappropriate for the seriousness of the conversation, and some of his previously cute flirting seemed cringe, for example.

I found myself just trying to push to read and get through this book rather than actually enjoying it in the end. Though some people have definitely enjoyed it, the writing style and the characters didn’t resonate with me personally.

[Alisia alis_reads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 ⭐️ stars! Infinity stars!!

This is epic romance at its finest. It’s one of those books that when you finished it, you want to read it all over again just to feel how you felt AGAIN! I fear I won’t be able to pick up an mm book for a bit cuz how can anything compare!?

Hello there to my new favorite mm author! Ahhh these characters made me fall in love, cry, laugh, laugh some more, swoon, cry and fall in love AGAIN!!

I’ve never read anything like them before and what a breath of fresh air. The found family was perfect cuz I wanted to be apart of their group. Please adopt me.

The dialogue is what popped out the most to me. They felt like real people. It was NOT cheesy, it felt like what a real human being would react or say and I was impressed with how realistic they felt. I would literally go to war for Chance and Anthony.

One of the slowest of slow burns but when the spice hits it hits gooooood!! There is a scene that will live with me daily.


Is it long, yes. But there’s a reason why!!! Every scene, and moment was important.

[Danielle Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony lost his faith in people a long time ago. Abused by those meant to protect him and haunted by the label of being the favorite, he would've given anything to disappear. His only escape was football a full ride and a one-way ticket out of the town that gave him nothing but scars, and nearly broke him. He once dreamed of going pro, but an old injury closed that door and opened another. One that let him stay close to the game he loved, while helping others the way no one helped him. He worked his way through school alone, and found family in the one place outside of football that felt safe, Devil Records. So when he's told to train the new hire, he's less than thrilled, until Chance walks in. And every wall Anthony built starts to crumble. He doesn't stand a chance.

Chance has always had a big heart, he gets that from his mom. He never understood why she stayed with a man so cruel, but one night, he stepped in. Became her protector. Her hero. From that moment on, he vowed to keep her safe. He found safety in the arms of a rival gang they have morals and lines they refused to cross. But this wasn't the life she wanted for him. So he left Boston, only after promised protection, and to keep in touch, enrolled in college as an art major, bought a lab puppy, and landed his first real job at Devil Records. He didn't expect his heart to land on the man behind the counter.
When strangers become fast friends, and making each other smile becomes second nature, it feels easy. Too easy. Until it all comes crashing down. Secrets, pain, and the past they tried to outrun finally catch up.

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - slowest burn but 😮‍💨 when it hits

JP's holy debut novel! This is the kind of book the gods send down. This is not just a love story. It's a survival story. A healing story. A journey through the darkest valleys and into the brightest light. The growth, the sexal tension, the raw emotion, the found family. This book will wreck you in the most beautiful way. You'll sob, you'll laugh, you'll giggle so hard you'll kick your feet, and just when you think you're safe, you'll ugly cry again. But joy always comes back.
Unputdownable. Book of the year.

[Daje1968 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t want to say mean things about a debut book, but I don’t get all the gushing reviews. To be fair, from the reviews I thought it would be set in the 80s and as a GenXer, I was looking forward to that. I got all creased in the beginning when Anthony had a protein shake thinking it was too anachronistic but quickly realized it was modern day, not historical. So maybe that kind of started my disappointment out the gate.

It’s too long, and while I am happy to suspend disbelief for a good romance, this one required a bit too much suspension. First of all, how did Chance all of a sudden have so much money? He was a lackey for a Boston gang for a few years and now he is buying a fancy condo with cash and he has mobsters doing 24/7 bodyguard duty calling him “boss”? And I almost wish I didn’t read the last 20%. From the exhibit onward was so schmoopy and over the top (small detail but like Anthony’s boss would have her name listed second) and his married friend just has a kid for them?? I actually DNF’d during the epilogues and I am a sucker for an epilogue. Maybe Deacon’s story will be better, but I would not even try Butter’s story with the obnoxious sassy twink.

Sorry I guess I said mean things. If the writer is reading this — good first try! Next time shorter and maybe have beta readers to point out plot holes and also lay off Tal Bauer for inspiration, way too much treacle by the end.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good debut, my god! I’m also now half in love with JP. He’s the loveliest soul and will be reading anything he writes from now until forever.

TROPES & VIBES:
- Angsty MM contemporary with shades of sports and mafia romance
- Inspired by the author’s life
- *we are not the things that break us, and we can heal*
- Found family
- Food and murder as love languages
- “Omg they were roommates”
- I loved all the strong female supporting characters
- *wearing your shirt*
- “Baby”, “Beautiful” and “Mine”
- Yo. The final epilogue song mention did make me teary

FAVE LINE: “Chance Sullivan takes everyone’s pain—plus the pain he inflicts on himself from his actions—and absorbs it like some kind of sin-eater.”

4⭐️ 3🌶️ (check TWs)

[mymmrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. I cried, I laughed, I swooned, I got angry, I blushed… I felt EVERYTHING! This is an incredibly emotional, deeply romantic, and wildly sexy story that’s as much about survival and healing as it is about first love and found family. It’s a heavy, heart-wrenching journey at times, but one full of hope, strength, and joy.

Anthony and Chance had my heart from the very beginning. I’m not even sure why. I just felt this immediate connection to them. And the more I got to know them, the more deeply I loved them. They felt so real, so raw, so human. Anthony is sensitive and guarded, a quiet survivor still carrying the weight of his past. Chance is a protector in every sense. He’s kind, patient, loyal, and exactly what Anthony needs. Watching their friendship grow into something deeper was just beautiful. Nothing felt rushed or forced. Every step of their relationship felt genuinely earned. And when things finally ignite between them… Oh. My. God. It’s HOT! Like, off-the-charts hot! Seriously, the slow burn in this is absolute perfection.

There’s also so much humour in this story, and it hits just as hard as the emotion. The banter is laugh-out-loud hilarious, and the comedic relief in some of the heavier moments is immaculate. It never takes away from the emotional weight of the story. It just makes everything feel more real.

The 80s music vibe running through this story is everything. Every chapter opens with an 80s track, and I listened to them all as I read. The nostalgia, the energy, the way the music is woven into the characters’ identities adds so much depth and makes the story feel completely immersive.

The side characters are fantastic too, and the strong found family vibe makes everything feel even richer and more emotional. I’m already obsessed with them and genuinely excited to see what comes next.

JP Joseph has created something truly special. I can’t stop thinking about this book. I’ll be recommending it to everyone, and I already can’t wait to read it again. My first ever six-star read!

*Please note that my review/thoughts on this book are based off of the beta version I received.

[Notagingerninja · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Ant and Chance complimented each other so beautifully, they were truly destined to be together.

Such a cute story, with the extra HEA at the end 😭

[Crystal (Crystalreads2) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Full review tom come for this gem

[Zainab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a hundred and one things to say about this book and i know i won't be able to list them all down but first things first. Reading this book was a TRAGICALLY BEAUTIFUL experience. Go, read it and then come back here to agree with me.

It took me five fucking days to finish this cuz i didn't want it to end. I didn't have it in me to say goodbye to this bunch of beautifully written characters (yay me, we're getting a whole series). It was long, yeah, but if you hand me 500 more pages of Ant and Chance and their life, i'd abandon everything for it. They were such heartwarming and wholesome characters who went through the most excruciating things and found their healing within each other and the people around them. The found family trope was done perfectly. I loved every single one of that lot. And the slow burn? FUCK the slooowww buurrrnnn?! Trust me when i say i screamed the loudest of y'all when Ant and Chance had their first kiss. Idk about y'all but if any two characters fit perfectly with each other, it's these two. If anyone needs the tightest of the tightest hugs, it's Ant and Chance. Their hearts and souls were one of the most beautifully tender things i read about.

I've never been much of a fan of the 80's but the way i listened to the playlist? I can now sing every single song of it at the top of my lungs, word by word. Trust me when i say that Ant, Chance, this new found family and these songs are my newest obsessions and i will make it my mission to make everyone and their grandma read this book, learn the entire playlist by heart and then do a carpool karaoke with me

[M's ☆~HEA~☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, I could tell you that this was a tad too long and maybe could have been a duet with all the drama, trauma, sex, love, angst, etc they packed in but nah...it works. I could say that no book needs an epilogue set when the MCs are 77 years old nor do we need TWO epilogues...but I won't say that either. I will say that, no disrespect to Ant, but I'm stealing Chance. He's mine. He's perfect. He's hot af and possessive af and capable af and I want him.

Ant picks up a crayon, glances at me with a tiny smirk, and scrawls upside-down on the table: Hi. I smile, grabbing my own crayon: Hey. His lips press together. Then, with slightly shaky hands, he writes upside-down again: I like you.

Dead💙

Then he shifts, strong arms wrapping around me, pulling me upright until my back is flush with his chest. One hand slides up, curling gently—but firmly around my throat. His lips graze the shell of my ear. “Ride.”

I have zero complaints about the loyalty of these MCs. We do not have to see them even flirt with others😍 They also have a solid friend group that isn't obnoxious or over-bearing at all! So refreshing😍 You do need to deal with some Irish mafia, non-graphic past child SA from the Catholic Church, off-page murder, and a 3yr time jump. Nothing is graphic or drawn out. You also have to deal with some seriously hot sex scenes and two MCs that are 100% meant to be💙

[Crisana · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was quite a long book. And I loved every second of it. I actually had a little cry at the end, which does not happen often.
I was sold when I saw the 80's music bit but the story was so much more. These two were perfection and meant to be together. And little G was just too cute.
All the secondary characters were great as well and added so much. I loved the found family aspect, it worked really well here because of the MCs families.
There are some darker parts but it was done without it being thrown in my face and I did not get a hint of trauma porn either.
The ending was just perfection. I wish more books showed the long after, instead of only a few months/years ahead.
Looking forward to the next book.

[gab_e_reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sitting here collecting myself, having just finished such a wonderful, incredible book. Dear Joseph, you have a new fan - your story has enchanted, captivated and mesmerized me.
Ant and Chance are meant for each other, that's clear from the very first moment. But their path together is not easy, and they find happiness in a roundabout way, never losing sight of each other. I love all these deep feelings, emotions, the longing, just exactly to my taste ❤️. The spice from tender to incredibly hot and wild at the same time, just great 🔥. I also love all the other characters in this book and can't wait to read their story too! My review doesn't do this book justice so just go and read it for yourself, I wholeheartedly recommend it!

[Hex · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. I feel like nothing ever really happens...? Except for what occurs halfway through (which, to be fair, I felt hard), it's very... slice-of-life-ish, and I think my main issue is that there's too much telling and not enough showing. Even the humor often fell flat despite all the characters laughing or having a fun time. I'm sad i couldn't connect with them as much as I expected to :(

[izzy]

DNF 67% - 10/01/25 edit i removed my original 2 star rating, no rating because i never finished this.

I was so excited for this book, seeing everyone post that it was their first 6 star read of the year. And while i can see the passion the author put into writing this, i don’t think the book ended up being for me in the end.

It took me almost 10 days to read 67%. That is so wild to me. I should have dnfed sooner, but i kept waiting for that one moment to click with me. Unfortunately that never happened :/ i feel like majority of this book is repetitive fluff and cooking lasagna. The flirting didn’t have me giggling or wanting more, and chance and ant planning out when things happened just felt off. It sucks when you’re more excited to finish a book just so you can start a new one.

A positive is i can feel how much this author loves these boys. I saw another review mention that it felt like the author loved them so much that they didn’t want to delete any of it while editing, and i couldn’t agree more.

[𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙡𝙚𝙚✌️📚🦄 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chance + Anthony

-mm romance
-80s music obsessed
-trauma bonding
-forced proximity
-first times
-time jumps

holyyyy forking shirt balls you guys!! that was the angstiest ride of any angst build up EVERRRR to then get interrupted LIKE THAT at over 50%?? like stfu!!! these two go THRU ITTT & i absolutely am obsessed with our #1 daddy of all daddies, chance mf sullivan!!

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

Thank you so much to {insert clever elf name here} for the gift!

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is ALMOST good and this could just be a me thing but I never felt like I was IN the book and couldn’t understand any character choices I guess?

I thought some of the conversation and dialogue was kinda cringe and I didn’t feel connected to any side character or even MMC idk

I’m not sure how to even explain myself rn all I know is I didn’t enjoy my time reading

That being said, I still see a lot of potential with this author!!

[bookluvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ atrocious ai cover aside, this was (mostly) a pretty enjoyable romance for me. the first half of this? damn near perfection. the second half, though? a few things felt off but there was still a good amount to like. i can see why this book has a lot of hype - it’s got one of those big angsty hurt / comfort love stories at the center, and anthony and chance managed to burrow their way into my heart as well, i won’t lie 🥹

i loved everything about the first 50% - i really have no complaints about this portion of the book. i immediately fell in love with the two main characters and their dynamic. the development of it was so damn good. watching anthony and chance gradually build up their friendship, trust and affection for one another had me giggling, kicking my feet, swooning, cheesing so hard - i was just so taken by them. yes, the instant connection and insta attraction is there, but them becoming closer happens gradually. the mutual hurt / comfort had my chest aching (both mcs had difficult childhoods for different reasons, and my heart was wide open for both of them - but especially for anthony 🥺). their chemistry, tension and attraction was so palpable - i was rooting for them to get together so bad! i genuinely had little flutters in my belly at how soft and sweet and cute they were and how chance was so patient and gentle with anthony. watching anthony unfurl slowly and come to terms with himself, and find comfort and safety with chance was so rewarding too. the devices were all used so well - the forced proximity especially. everything about the pace and the tone of the romance here was *chef’s kiss*. the roadtrip and everything that came after it leading up to the middle of the book were my highlights for sure. i also loved how anthony developed his own relationship with chance’s mom - please - my heart couldn’t take it all 🥹 the little found family moments with the record shop gang and the college friends were great as well. honestly, had the book maintained this energy with an acceptable enough third act (if any) and wrapped up 100-150 pages sooner, i would have rated this 4.5-5 stars - easy!

then we hit the halfway point, and there’s a shift in the book because of something big that happens at said midpoint. while i did enjoy a good amount of the second half, there were a handful of things that didn’t quite work for me. this next part will have some spoilers because i need to highlight a few specific things:

- the 50-60% leg was the most jarring part of the book for me, and this was for a few reasons. one, i was so confused about the genre the author was writing (like was this a mafia romance now, was it a dark romance now, what was going awwwwwn?! i thought i was just reading an angsty contemporary romance but there was a HUGE tonal shift). two, the pace of this section was all over the place. the time jumps and the way the events of these 3 years were just told and not really shown was odd to me, and therefore, had limited emotional impact because of how the events of these years were delivered to me as reader. anthony goes through a lot of transformation during this time - he goes from being very inward (and presumably, he would have been crushed and heartbroken by what happens at said midpoint) but then he’s now confident and secure (and a little sassy) because he’s gone to therapy and changed a lot as a person, but because i never got to see it happen, his development felt abrupt and he felt like a very different guy in the second half compared to the first, which was a little disorienting. now, don’t even get me started on chance’s decision to leave the way he did in the first place, because i hate that kind of thing (disappearing acts without proper communication). AND…what the hell was the cabin and the goat about lol - i was so discombobulated here. this felt borderline bizarre that he was in the mountains with this damn goat 💀🙈 there was also so much going on with anthony and the side characters’ lives moving forward after college in this 50 odd pages, but it all felt so rushed and an info overload in a short timeframe. lexi suddenly married?? my head was spinning lol. i wish that the book spent more time a) actually showing us properly what happened in this time and wrote out the emotions for both chance and anthony - the pain, the longing and waiting, the dealing with the separation, the healing, etc and b) made everything in this section feel more natural, gradual and organic. the book had the real estate to do both of those things too, page length wise at least, but everything was so glossed over. all of a sudden, we’re just on the other side of this harrowing event and terrible three-year period in the blink of an eye. finally, the main characters are reunited after the 3 year separation at just shy of the 60% mark of the book, but the moment itself was so anticlimactic. recognition by ass? really? this whole moment just felt off to me ☹️ i wanted it to be more grand, more angsty, more emotional. it was so meh.

- anyways, post the 60% mark things felt better, but it still wasn’t as perfect as the first half of the book. the biggest issue was pace (and plotting - the two are intrinsically connected in this case). anthony and chase reconcile pretty quickly after the conflict in this middle section (after chance comes back at 60%, the two of them are back together by 70%), but then there was STILL 150(ish) pages left of the book? the rest is mainly smut and some other cute couple stuff and fluff to pad the smut, but you could tell the smut was the author’s number #1 priority for the rest of the book. if this was going to be the case, the book’s length could have been trimmed down because 150 pages of almost no plot and also no real tension since the characters are finally together felt excessive. there really wasn’t much else by way of a plot or character development going on. i did enjoy the cute moments and (a good amount of) the sex, but this latter piece came to be too much after a certain point as well. i got fatigued (except with that one jersey wearing scene somewhere in the last 20% - that one woke me all the way up 🫦). but again, given the amount of pages the book had, there was enough space to really inject some substance into this section of the book, but the focus was the sexual dynamic. there could have been more on overcoming grief, the rebuilding of their trust, processing the aftermath of what they’d been through - but the opportunity wasn’t taken to really give something fleshed out here when it came to the emotional depth side of things.

- speaking of the spice, while it was hot and pretty good (before i got tired), i do think the author generally rushes the resolutions of the scenes they write. the writing around the finishing always felt very perfunctory to me, which was eroding the sensory quality of the act itself. it was like the build up was happening and that’s all hot, you’re in the middle, and then oh…over in the blink of an eye. to speak plainly - the author didn’t know how to write an orgasm.

- i really didn’t understand chance’s status in life in this second half portion of the book. he said he was putting the white doves behind him after he was able to return to arizona post the cabin stint, but then he was moving like a mafia boss? also, how did he have access to all that power and money as someone who i imagine couldn’t have been all that high-level in a big gang? being called boss? having personal guards? executing hits? if anything, i could have said maaaybe getting the condo and a nice lump sum of cash to walk away and set him up after all that he’d been through and the organization taking care of their own would have felt realistic - but it’s like he had toooooo many resources and too far a reach. this all didn’t connect with who he came across as in the first half, and he couldn’t have built up this energy after the fact as he would have had limited influence while in exile for 3 years AND his express mention of walking away from that life once he was on the other side of said exile wasn’t consistent with what we were actually seeing. i also don’t know how i feel about the author confirming that chance orchestrated anthony’s dorm flooding to force their proximity like he was some typical calculating morally grey dark / mafia romance hero. it cast a shadow on the first half a little bit because i was charmed by the innocence and happenstance of what throws them together into their living arrangement in that part of the book and how everything plays out because of said proximity. to find out it was a manipulated situation left me a bit cold. and then, chance is suddenly a mortally avenging angel as well by murdering folks who hurt ant? seriously, all this stuff about chance was so confusing to me and felt tonally off from the rest of the book and how i was interpreting this story.

- lots of telling instead of showing - some things were really glossed over or rushed too (like the closure of the priest plotline and chance’s involvement in that, the set up of their long-term future near the end, etc). the quality of the writing in the second half was more shallow than i would have preferred (i wanted to be gutted but i wasn’t) - and things are just told, rather than experienced.

- speaking of that long-term future, a piece of it involved ant (and his old boss) getting their own agency and charity, as orchestrated by chance. chance all but announces this to a whole room of people at a gallery opening and alludes to anthony’s past abuse and how he’s a survivor. when did they ever discuss that this was something that could be mentioned to the masses? i felt a bit put off by this. the gesture was sweet but chance shouldn’t have aired anthony’s story out like that (even if it was in a vague way) before checking with him that he was ready for that. idk, i was quite bothered by this.

- there weren’t enough found family moments in the second half (until the near end). i wish there was more.

- the ending was draaaaaggging - i genuinely thought i was never going to finish this book because it just kept going on and on and on. and from someone who generally likes 400+ page romances more than the shorter ones because i get to spend a more substantial amount of time with the characters and feel like things aren’t moving too fast for my liking, this is really saying something because i almost never complain that a book is too long. but this one was, because nothing of note was really happening for a huge chunk of the last 100 or so pages other than sex and fluff. i was crawling through those final chapters thinking omg when are we packing it up?

i still felt the love and chemistry between anthony and chance throughout the book, which is more than i can say for a lot of romances these days. i did really have so much affection for them, both as individuals and as a couple. ALSO, i can’t forget about little g - please. he was so precious to me 😭😭😭. i just wish some aspects of the storytelling and writing were different in half two, but all in all, i had a good enough time. i was just expecting more - i really thought i was heading towards a near 5 star read but the book fumbles in the second half. but, anthony and chase were still very adorable - i was not immune to that last epilogue when they’re in their 70s 🥹🥹 a beautiful, full life they seemed to have gotten to live indeed, and they deserved all that love and happiness and peace - and all that family, considering both of them didn’t have much in the way of that growing up.

i’m quite intrigued about butters and spencer’s relationship, both by whatever may have happened so far because there was definitely something brewing between them that was happening concurrently with the timeline of this book after they meet at the 60% mark but it wasn’t necessarily shown (which i completely understand as to why not - gotta save it for their book), and i want to see what the two of them together is going to be like - so i’ll be reading that book after it comes out for sure. colour me curious. i do have some apprehension toward it though, despite my curiosity. i just hope it isn’t too insta lusty with trite sexual-toned banter (because i was getting some of those vibes lowkey), i hope spencer isn’t too unnecessarily obnoxious because there was an energy about him that could point towards that characterization and this could get annoying if overdone, and i also hope we don’t get repetition with someone in the pairing fighting their sexuality, because i can almost see something like this happening for butters (definitely not for spencer, he seems out and proud). butters’ sexuality was never confirmed during this book nor did he ever have a gf in college that was mentioned, so the book could avoid taking this route - and i really hope it does. he is a pro-athlete though so maybe there will be a conflict about being openly gay even if there isn’t an internal struggle, but i kind of want something with a bit more of a fresh angle. there are already tons of books like this.

[el :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is absolutely beautiful. probably my favourite book of the year ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

[sambam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more like a solid 3 for me but I’m a softy

[Abigail Nyirenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I DNF’ed at 80%. I really pushed myself to finish, but in the end I just didn’t care enough about the ending. Admittedly, I’ve never been a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope (with a few exceptions), and this book didn’t change my mind.

Going in, I was hoping for something fresh and different. I purposely avoided spoilers or trope breakdowns so I could be surprised, but the story dragged for me. It took far too long for the characters to get together, and Chance leaving “to protect him” with zero communication felt frustrating and unnecessary. Honestly, half the book could have been summarized without losing much.

Chance also didn’t convince me as someone from a mafia-type background—he wasn’t written with enough edge or presence. The “bad boy” persona didn’t land, nor did his supposed talent as a painter. On top of that, the use of the “queer kid molested by a priest” backstory felt like an overused device. I’ve seen it in several books, and here it didn’t have the emotional impact it might have had the first time I encountered it.

Overall, the pacing dragged, the character arcs lacked believability, and the tropes didn’t work for me. While I can see how others might enjoy it, King of Pain just wasn’t for me.

[Rae_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hurts in the best way. King of Pain is a heartfelt MM romance wrapped in 80s nostalgia, emotional depth, and just the right amount of chaos. Anthony and Chance are magnetic—two broken souls colliding in a record store, bound by music, secrets, and a love that refuses to be easy.

The writing is smooth and immersive, the banter is hilarious, and the side characters are scene-stealers. It’s a slow burn, but when the spice hits... whew. You’ll feel it.🎧 Bonus points for the 80s soundtrack woven throughout—it’s moody, meaningful, and totally addictive.

I laughed, I swooned, I screamed at the plot twists—and now I’m counting down to book 2 in the Damaged Hearts series. If you love emotional MM romance with spice, sass, and a killer soundtrack, King of Pain is your next obsession. 

Vibes: 
- Slow Burn 
- Hurt/Comfort 
- Found Family 
- Music as Emotional Anchor 
- Workplace Romance (Devil Records, I want merch) 
- Irish Mob Backstory 
- Grumpy/Sunshine (but make it mutual trauma) 
- First Love, First Real Choice

Rating: 5⭐️
Spice 3🌶

[Bryoni Jayde · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly don’t see what all the hype is about. When someone calls a book a 6⭐️ read, you better believe I’m holding it to the standard of authors like Lily Mayne, Emmy Sanders and Jessie Walker. Unfortunately, this one didn’t even come close, and I’m honestly questioning if I read the same book as everyone else.

I struggled to get through it. The story felt repetitive, and there was far more telling than showing. I don’t think we needed a play-by-play of every single time they took the dog out or a full step-by-step recipe every time they cooked. Those details didn’t add depth, they just slowed everything down.

This was almost a DNF for me, and honestly, I kind of wish I had thrown in the towel.

Unfortunately, this one just didn’t hit the mark and I wouldn’t recommend it.