Don't Say You're Sorry

Hawthorne University #2

by Bethany Winters

I didn't know if I'd ever see him again.

Adam Kane. My best friend, stepbrother... and the guy I fell for when I was eighteen.

Three and a half years ago, Adam had a choice to make.

Spoiler alert—he didn't choose me.

He left me after our high school graduation and took my heart with him.

Now he's back, living with me and my teammates, and the real kicker? He wants to be friends again. Brothers. He wants things to go back to the way they were before. Before he broke me.

Before he broke us.

My happy-go-lucky facade is slipping, and the person I keep caged beneath the surface is starting to become visible through the cracks.

I shouldn't be allowing him back into my life. It's too risky. But I can't push him away. Consequences be damned, I find myself doing the opposite, unable to resist taking everything I've ever wanted.

I've waited long enough. Now that he's within reach, I'm not letting him get away a second time.

I'm making him mine again.

And I'll do whatever it takes to keep him.

Genres: M M Romance, Second Chance, College, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Sports, Found Family

414 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2025

About the author

MF & MM contemporary romance author.

Reviews

[Emna · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @11%

EWWWWWWW .Nope. Not today. Not ever.

DISGUSTED,DONE AND FUCKINGGG ANNOYED .

Oh. My. God. What an absolute, soul-sucking disaster of a book! Whoever wrote this clearly had the emotional maturity of a horny teenager, Flaunting the ‘second chance’ trope like a promise that means nothing . Three fucking years and a half of separation, and the moment they meet? They fuck ..... and immediately start fucking like horny robots?????🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮. That’s it. That’s the entire “plot"??????????? The characters are so cringy it physically hurts—every single one of them—and the dialogue ...Oh, the conversations between them are excruciatingly, eye-rollingly cringe. Nothing is happening, nothing is redeeming, and nothing will keep me reading this trainwreck. I’m only 11% in, and I already hate them all. Nate and Xavi? Even they can’t save this catastrophe. The only second chance here is me giving myself a second chance at life by quitting this book forever. I cannot, for the love of me, read another word of this nightmare. Holy. Fucking. Shit. What a disaster.

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ☆

what the fuck. THIS WAS SO GOOD?? i loved Easton and Adam so much. book one had potential that, to me, didn’t deliver so i was kinda hesitant going into this but i’m glad to be proven wrong bc i was invested af in their second chance romance (which is a trope that can be a hit or miss for me but this was definitely in the former). i ate up their tension and dynamic/banter and i just wanted to keep reading more once i finished the book. 🥲 no surprise here that i fucking loved the possessive and jealousy scenes bc that’s literally one of my favorite things ever to read about. 😭 the heartbreak when it was revealed that Adam never received the calls/messages Easton had sent to him and Adam just broke down after seeing/listening to the messages? OH MY HEART-

oh and okay, i can’t lie that Nate and Xavi’s scenes had me living in this, especially bc of how angsty their book was and even though i only started truly liking their story towards the end of their book, it helps seeing them just be all up on each other here and how Nate was so possessive towards Xavi lmao.

Carter has always been a side character that intrigued me since the first book and omg his interactions with Axel?? excuse me?? i need their book NOW please. like?

Just as I’m about to punch him again, two things happen. Easton’s arms locks around my waist from behind, and Carter steps in front of me, blocking my view of Axel.
My nostrils flare as I struggle to catch my breath.
“Move,” I say to Carter.
He shakes his head. “One’s enough. You want to hit something? Hit me.”

I sigh as Axel’s fist flies towards Carter’s face. He punches him, and Carter stumbles back, but Axel doesn’t let him fall. He grabs him by his hoodie, spins him, and pins him to the side of my car, so close their faces touch. Carter’s nose is bleeding, his teeth stained red as he smiles. The dumbass looks thrilled. It makes Axel even more furious.
“You never know when to shut up.”
“You remember how to make me?”
Axel laughs cruelly. “You couldn’t handle me anymore, love.”
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that, straight boy?”

ANYMORE?? LOVE?? i need more context. 😭

also, on a random note, i loved the lil addition of the Nordika Night scene where Axel was reading Alter Arlo. it had me cracking up seeing Axel and Adam bicker about the book and Easton feeling jealous bc that was something he used to do with Adam. 🤣🤣

[reverie · Rating 1 out of 5]

No! 😄
-- x --
Initially I was going to leave that ^ as the review and move on with my life, but nearly a full day and I'm still bothered by this book.

Don't Say You're Sorry is insanely uninspired. It's lazy. Feels incredibly phoned-in, which is kinda hilarious when you consider the author delayed the release to spend more time writing the damn thing.

The main characters are just flat, useless echoes of popular tropes. Their voices are near indistinct (except when one of them starts acting like a nervous, blushing 15 y/o). Any passion between the couples is told to the reader, rather than shown. I couldn't tell you why the fuck they liked each other--and I don't think the author could, either. Rather than take time to show the connection between both characters, we're just smacked over the head with a genuinely comical level of possessiveness.

Any potentially interesting plot points are either absorbed by gratuitous scenes of characters bickering or being exhibitionists. The big reveal of what might've gone down in the past is brushed over for most of the book, and given no real room to breathe by the end. Way too much of this book was spent trying to set up what is obviously going to be the next, and even that got fucking exhausting.

Also... I understand how nitpicky this is, but how was it so fucking easy for them to just fly to and from London at the drop of a hat? Once, maybe. Twice, I'll think about it. But these characters are choosing to move between countries and making full round trips, including the packing up of their lives, within three fucking days.

What??? I have dual citizenship and I doubt I could arrange for things properly from one country to the other in less than a month's time.

I really enjoyed Like You Hate Me. Like--I thought that book was terrible but in the fun sort of way. I don't need a book to be good to enjoy it! I don't need a literary masterpiece. But this book was just.... no. No fun at all. Just a waste of time reading, and time spent waiting for it to release.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my exact brand of OTT drama and ridiculousness. I could not put this book down, and it entertained me thoroughly - I laughed, I cried, I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt!

I really liked how Easton and Adam fought to get their relationship back on track, despite the efforts and willful ignorance of their parents and Adam's older brother. The messages and voicemails were devastating.

I loved how both Easton and Adam were jealous and territorial of each other too. Easton marking Adam so that no one would go near him was so funny, but Adam revelling in Easton's attention was cute. I loved how well these guys knew each other, and they really felt like they were meant to be together.

It was also really nice to see how Nate and Xavi were more settled in their relationship too, and Xavi building a friendship with Adam was so sweet.

Carter is still a mystery to me, but I'm so ready for his story. My only question is will Anthony somehow be involved, because I'm assuming Axel and Carter are going to be a thing? Either way, I can't wait for the next book.

*
*
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HRCYED2: Challenge Yourself

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOWWW. Oh Bethany Winters… my queen… thank you!!!! This was everything. I feel like this will now forever be my favorite Bethany book. It was just perfect. I felt every emotion reading this. Adam and Easton are the definition of soul mates. I’m so in love with their love.💜What a journey! The pacing and story flow was fantastic. I need Carter’s book like I need air. THE TENSION BETWEEN HIM AND AXEL IS SOMETHING SERIOUS!!! 🤭 When I get my grubby little hands on his book, I’ll be the happiest gal in the world.

Banter✨
Second chance romance✨
Angst / tension / what went wrong?✨
Possessiveness / jealousy✨
Top tier smut✨
Found family✨
Memorable side characters✨
Gripping story line / page turner✨

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5**** stars


This one didn’t get to me nearly as much as the first one did but I still enjoyed it. I just expected more from this story the way it was set up.



I think we can all guess who’s next in the series and although, from what I’ve gathered in this book, I won’t be super impressed by it either, I’m still quite looking forward to Carter and Axel’s story.

***********
Hawthorne University Series

Book 1 - Like You Hate Me - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Don't Say You're Sorry - 3.5 stars
Book 3 - tbd

[Renae Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't Say You're Sorry is a great angsty stepbrother romance. Adam and Easton go through so much to finally reach their long-awaited HEA. These two are in a complicated situation, but the consequences of their romance ending have disastrous effects on their family as a whole. This author does a fantastic job of showing both sides of this dilemma while rooting for these two to communicate and move on from their heartbreaking past.

My heart ached for both Adam and Easton. Their suffering was so internal and difficult to see. Both love each other fully, and watching them reconcile with their haunted past while moving forward together with a new understanding made all their pain and heartache worthwhile. Plus, they have amazing chemistry to balance out the angst.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and can't wait for the next one. I have a few ideas about who the couple might be.

*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***

[ash[hearts]angst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easton, Easton, Easton 😈

If you couldn't already tell, Easton was a standout for me. This filthy, flirty man was everything I needed and more. As soon as he sees that his step-brother Adam is back in town, his world gets turned upside down. But as always, Easton maintains his very well constructed mask to the world until he can't anymore. I enjoyed learning more about Easton's past and his more vulnerable side.

Adam's character was so interesting to me and I loved the fact that he was British. (Yes, I was reading in an accent thank you very much) He came back with a purpose and he stood on business and wasn't going to let anything or anyone stand in his way. Adam definitely has a complicated past and his relationships with his family are incredibly messy, but it all shapes his character very well.

Their chemistry was insane. Their back and forth banter was so delicious because there was so much emotion behind every single word. The games they played were worth it because they knew what the stakes were. The spice was incredibly hot and their sweet moments were just so fucking real, raw and emotional. The way Adam just gives himself to Easton at every single turn just shows the trust he has in him. These two were also hilarious, and I have so many highlights of moments where I truly laughed out loud.

I'm a sucker for good back and forth timelines and Bethany delivered. The way we see their past from both of their perspectives equally makes you fall even more in love with them and also breaks your heart. I can confidently say that I don't think Adam or Easton is the villain in their story, because you can feel how much love they had for each other before everything went to shit. Honestly, the real villain to me is Axel and Michael.

We get plenty of moments with our favorite boys Nate and Xavi, and seeing how their relationship is now put all the smiles on my face. I loved the friendship between Xavi and Adam, it's so cute. Nate is Nate always and even gives some relationship advice to Easton, which I thought was really touching and sweet. There is such a found family aspect to this series that just makes me all ooey gooey inside. The little things they do for each other, and the welcome BBQ's were just so touching.

Special shout out to Adam's mom, Veronica, because that woman is a SAINT and she's f*cking HILARIOUS. I hope we get an update in the next book...

I'm very much here for the next couple in the series and I can't wait to see how that clusterfuck plays out! 😈

"Every day, I’ve missed him, needed him, wished for him, pined for him. Every fucking day, I thought about dropping everything and risking it all for him."

"He turned his back on me. Just like I did to him."

"I don’t want him to stop. He could keep fucking coming, crawl his way into me, and burn me from the inside out, and I still wouldn’t want him to stop."

"I love him like this. Bossy. Dominant. Mine."

“Are you gonna hurt me, sunshine?”

“Don’t say you’re sorry for this.”

[patrícia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐ — Stepbrothers, smut, and second chances

This book had a lot of the tropes I usually go for:
🍭 Stepbrothers
🩵 College basketball
🍭 Love to hate to love
🩵 Second chance
🍭 Heartbroken boys
🩵 Found family
🍭 Caretaker vibes
🩵 No kissing
🍭 Lollipops (yes, they matter)

I’ll be honest—I came for the smut and the possessiveness, and I definitely got both. If you’re into that intense, can’t-breathe-without-you kind of obsession, this might hit the spot.

That said, Like You Hate Me worked better for me overall—maybe because of Nate and Xavi, or maybe it was just the mood I was in.

This one follows Adam coming back after 3.5 years of silence, trying to win back Easton. It’s a second chance setup built on miscommunication, which can work when done right… but here, it leaned too far into “no one talks to each other” territory. Adam’s return revolves around making amends, but the groveling felt a little too soft. He doesn’t push back, doesn’t really grow—just kind of exists to be forgiven. And Easton, for all his initial anger, forgives him pretty quickly.

What worked for me: the forbidden stepbrother angle (always fun), the tension, the smut, and the glimpses into their shared past. The found family moments were sweet, and the flashbacks gave some emotional weight.

What didn’t quite land: the actual reason for their separation felt a bit over-the-top, especially since their whole family knew about their relationship and was… weirdly fine with it? Yet everyone stayed silent for years while both boys were miserable. It just didn’t feel believable.

Also, Carter and Axel... not their best moments. Let’s leave it at that.

Still, I liked seeing Nate and Xavi again (never enough of those two), and if you’re into second chances with intense chemistry and a possessive edge, there’s definitely something to enjoy here.

“Are you sorry?” I whisper.
It takes him a minute, but he eventually says, “Never.”

I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a perfect example of what's wrong with the romance genre. An author posts about a book they've not written with some arbitrary date attached. Then they have to keep moving the date on said book and eventually just have to publish it or get slapped by Amazon. This read like an extremely ROUGH draft. It was inconsistent, incoherent at times and wildly far fetched. When are these authors going to learn to write the book THEN schedule a release date.

The volume of unrealistic and unromantic sex in this book was laughable. Why weren't they learning about each other physically, about being with a male? Bonding over those experiences? All she did was withhold kissing in their present situation. Big deal. There was no tension or pining.

Why were they all wealthy? What was that? Buying the car, only 2 people paying rent, buying the motorcycle, countless overnight trips to London? Also, Ethan was a top collegiate athlete - he shouldn't have had any extra time. Nothing made sense!!! Don't even get me started on Axel and the parents - giant plot holes. Even the premise was flimsy.

The only reason this isn't getting a one star is simply because she had moments when she allowed the heartbreak between the two boys to be the central focus. The text messages and voicemails were so sad and it really made me feel for them.

I may change my mind and drop to a one star just because this was frustrating and so inadequate. This is also indicative of why I rarely read new release romances, especially MM. The genre is dictated by lame TikTok trends with lazy writing.

[khai · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 55% “love to hate to love” but wheres the hate? the book fell flat from the start. I wanted tension between Easton and Adam but it was hardly there since theres not that much animosity between them and they don’t even hate each other. they’re stepbrothers and they haven’t seen each other in 3 and a half years and Adam returns in chapter 1 and he’s already on his knees sucking off Easton by chapter 3…??? where is the build up for this relationship? I don’t expect them to be xavinate level of toxicity but I still expected some messy shit.

The “angst” within 55% of the book was not doing it for me. (wasn’t even sad) I wanted soul crushing angst but bethany couldn’t even deliver that.

Also, what is with Easton? He doesn’t stand out, he’s boring and quiet confusing. I don’t think Bethany developed his character well. He just fell flat. and that bathroom scene at the start where he punches Adam after his big return. he’s smiling then frowning then smiling and then smirking. like pick a fucking expression my guy. I just couldn’t grasp his character. He was lowkey embarrassing as well as Adam.

This might just be a me thing but I really fucking hate it when authors make the mc so possessive where they don’t like when the other mc is close to their sibling. Because Easton irritated me when he got angry that Axel (Adam’s biological brother) casually touched Adam. Stated no one is allowed to touch him even his own brother because he belongs to him. Adam and axel have a good relationship (from where I’ve read up to) and Adam loves him. But he was rude to Axel when it came to Adam. Like piss off you boring prick 🙄

On the other hand, I have seen reviews where they’ve mentioned they loved learning about Easton’s past and seeing him vulnerable but I can’t push through anymore to read to get to those bits. my soul has been drained just by reading 55% of this book.

(Adam reading Alter Arlo by Nordika Night took me out. I couldn’t take this book seriously anymore after he mentioned he was reading it.)

[kaleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Safety info:
- Adam has only ever been with Easton. Easton had been with girls before Adam but Adam is the only guys he’s ever been with
- no OM
- Easton not celibate during the 3(?) year separation. He said he slept with “a lot” of girls which made Adam jealous and he would ask Easton if he slept with so and so if the OP was close with Easton. Easton only slept with girls but did get a BJ from a guy during the separation. Adam was celibate during the separation.
- small OW- Easton’s ex (from the separation) appears in the story but does not cause drama between Easton and Adam. Easton also shared girls in threesomes with his best friend Frankie (a girl) who is a big character in the story. Easton never slept with Frankie but it did come close in the past. Frankie makes a few remarks to make Adam jealous about her and Easton’s friendship, but doesn’t cause much drama.
- no condoms, both clean
- vers

[Jane aka Coughy019 (Safety info included) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes: second chances, friends to lovers, stepbrothers, roommates
Feels: 3.5/5
Steam*: 3/5
Kinks: marking, toys, choking
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: pining, interfering family members
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: Adam is gay and has only ever been with Easton, even during their 3-year separation. Easton is bi, the only guy he's ever been with really is Adam, but he's been with tons of girls. Before he got together with Easton at 18, he was with a bunch of girls while Adam was pining for him. After Adam broke up with him later that year, Easton resumed hooking up / dating and he was with lots of girls during their 3-year separation. Once they meet again at 21 neither of them are with anyone else.

4 stars (Good book, but I'm so ticked at the stupid reason for their separation)

FYI, this review spoils why they are apart for 3 years.

Adam and Easton have been best friends since they were 8 years old. Their parents got married when they were 11 years old. In the present, they are 21 years old. Adam is gay. Easton is bi. They've always loved each other but when they were 18 it went from a platonic relationship to a sexual one. They were in love. Adam feels responsible for his mother's first marriage breaking up, because he told his mother that his father was cheating. Adam stepfather and brother Axel find out about Adam and Easton's relationship, and tell Adam to end it because they think it will hurt the mother Veronica and her marriage with Easton's father. Adam stupidly listens and leaves, going to London with Axel, breaking both Adam and Easton's hearts. Easton tries to communicate with Adam over the years, begging him to come back, but Adam never replies (he didn't get the messages). Easton is angry and hurt. 3 years later, Adam can't stay away any longer and comes home, wanting to be in Easton's life somehow. And Easton makes him work for it, punishing him for leaving him in the first place. But they both feel intensely about each other and find their way back to each other.

This was a really emotional book. The connection between Adam and Easton was so strong, they cared about each other so much. The love, hurt, pining, sexual tension between them was palpable. This was a really good book, except the reason for their separation was so stupid and the interference of the family members was so unforgivable. It was so dumb for Michael and Axel to assume that Veronica would have such a problem with Adam and Easton being together! There was literally no reason to think that would hurt her. Them being together wasn't a threat to Michael and Veronica's relationship.

It was especially a betrayal by Axel to separate them, when he knew how in love they were, and axel interfered with Adam getting Easton's messages, so he saw how emotionally wrecked Easton was and he still deliberately kept them apart. That was so selfish and cruel. I can't articulate how furious I would be at Axel. I would not forgive Axel if I was Adam or Easton, what he did was too much, it went too far. It wasn't a one time forgetting to share a message, it wasn't a misunderstanding about how deep they felt for each other, he knew it and he prevented their communication every day for years. He had to listen to the voicemails Easton sent, because they were on his phone and he would have had to see them every time he checked his phone messages for actual messages for himself. I'm sure Axel and Carter are getting a book of their own, and I'm so angry at Axel I don't even know if I'll be able to read that book.


Some notable moments:

"I raise a brow. “You sure you wanna hear it?” “That’s what this is for.” He raises his glass. “Bottoms up, little brother.” I cringe. “Please don’t ever call me that again.” He stares at me, his head cocked in confusion, and then it hits him. “Jesus Christ.” He swallows his drink in one go. I chuckle as he pours another one. “I thought you weren’t going to judge me.” “I lied.”"

I love how Easton made sure Adam couldn't run away from him again. "“Your apartment’s gone, and your brother’s back in Hawthorne,” he says, his lips moving over my jawline. “If you try to run from me again, you won’t get very far. I’ll catch you this time,” he whispers in my ear. “You think your life was miserable before? I’ll show you what it really means to be miserable. Do you hear me?” “I won’t run,” I vow breathlessly. “Never again.”"



*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.

**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.

[melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️
I wouldn’t do that to Adam. It would break his heart. And even though my heart is currently lying on the ground in front of me, I refuse to touch his.

Nothing infuriates me more than people stirring up chaos in the name of fixing a problem that never existed, and that's exactly what this book did.

╰•★★ Easton Miller & Adam Kane ★★•╯

“There are worse things than lying,”
“Like?”
“Like never saying a fucking word.”

Adam and Easton started as bff, became stepbrothers, and then turned into lovers. Axel (Adam’s brother) and Michael (Easton’s dad) caught on to what was happening between them and decided to manipulate and guilt-trip Adam into moving to London with Axel, all to avoid breaking Veronica’s (Adam and Axel’s mom) heart and marriage once she found out what those two were doing behind closed doors. Adam being the ultimate martyr, chose his mom’s happiness over his own and left with his brother, shattering his and Easton’s heart in the process.

“If you felt for me what I felt for you, you never would have left me.”

3 years later, Adam comes back and wants to fix things with Easton, though let’s be real, he didn’t even have to work that hard for it. Easton said he hated him (which lasted, what? 3 chapters?) and then turned around and did everything in his power to make sure Adam couldn’t go back to London and leave him again. At the end of the book we find out what I already suspected: Veronica already knew those two were in love. So everything they went through, all the heartbreak and pain during those three years WERE FOR NOTHING!

“You knew and you didn’t say anything?”
“Why would I?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Mum. Maybe so I wouldn’t break his fucking heart to protect yours.”

Adam was miserable for NOTHING.
Easton got his heart broken for NOTHING.
Axel lost his brother’s trust and earned his hatred for NOTHING.
Michael coerced his wife’s son into leaving the country for NOTHING.
Veronica got separated from two of her sons and had to sit there watching the third one suffer for three years for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!

I want that. I fucking had that. And I threw it away.

And why is that? Because those stupid men thought they were protecting Veronica by hiding a secret she ALREADY KNEW! Saying I’m mad doesn’t even cover it, because I really expected it to be something bigger. I just wanted them to give me something REAL to justify wrecking an entire family for THREE damn years.

“I’ll take whatever I can get. I just want to be in your life again, E. I want my person back.”

So yeah, I had to knock off 0.75 stars for that. As much as I loved these two, the found family, and everything else… I just can’t ignore the fact that this entire book is built on Easton’s pain, pain we’ve been reading about since page one, and that pain stems from a situation that could’ve been solved if these people had just talked and been honest with each other because Veronica was a good mom. There was nothing about her that suggested she’d disown her kids if she found out. But of course, if they had that conversation, we wouldn’t have a book, would we?

“I hadn’t talked to Easton in three and a half years.”
“Maybe you weren’t talking to him, but he was definitely talking to you.”

Easton spent three years calling and texting a number that never replied. These people flew to London like it was the corner store so instead of working to buy Adam's car, he should've used that money to fly over and knock some damn sense into him. But again, no conversation = no book, right?

“I don’t want anyone else. I want him because he’s mine. He’s my person, Axel. He’s the one I’m supposed to be with.”

I LOVED Easton and Adam’s relationship, their bond, chemistry, the tension they had, their love, the devotion they had for each other, the jealousy scenes, everything about them was perfect.

“You know, Nate hasn’t used that barbecue since the day Frankie moved in. Welcome to the family, little brother.”

And not just that, the found family was immaculate. I was living for the crumbs of Nate and Xavi, and Carter Westwood? Yeah that man had me on my knees for him.

“Did he tell you to leave?” I nod. “Then get the fuck out. And If that’s your boyfriend outside, don’t ever let me see you again.”

UGH I’ll probably have to wait a whole year to read his book, but honestly? I don’t even care. Anyways, great couple, amazing found family and a plot that was basically nonexistent.

[Laura Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t Say You’re Sorry is book two in the Hawthorne University series. This MM stepbrothers romance story is about Easton and Adam.

Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. I was so invested in Easton and Adam’s story, and I was not expecting it to be so emotional. I liked Easton when we met him in Like You Hate Me, but after getting to know the real Easton in this book, I absolutely fell in love with him. And when Adam shows up three and a half years after making a heartbreaking decision, I couldn’t help but love how he came back for Easton and would do anything for him. I was definitely rooting for these former best friends and stepbrothers.

Easton and Adam’s chemistry was insane and I loved their dynamic. I couldn’t get enough of how possessive they were of each other. And as much as I loved how hot they were together, it was also touching to see all of their sweet and emotional moments. I really enjoyed the flashbacks of Easton and Adam’s past, but it also made my heart hurt that much more for what they went through. The love Easton and Adam had for each other was everything.

What I also loved about this story was how we got more of Nate and Xavi! It was so great to see how supportive they were of Easton and Adam. I enjoyed their found family, including Carter and Frankie. I will say Adam’s brother Axel was something else, and I was not a fan of him. Hopefully my opinion of him will change with the next book.

Easton and Adam’s story was beautiful. I am officially obsessed with this series and it is definitely at the top of my favorites. I can’t recommend this series enough, and I hope you end up loving these boys as much as I do.

I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review. 

[peoniesandmm · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️⭐️

ummm wow 😭 absolutely perfect, i don’t think there are any words i could use to describe how amazing that was. the possessive vibes in this book 🤭😏 i loved every second of this.

wowowowowowowowow

[Miki_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

wtf these 2 were so cute. I am fucking giddy (rtc)

*signed a girlie who hates stepbrother romances x

ALSO CARTERS BOOK WHEN???? I AM OBSESSED WITH THAT MAN

[Zainab · Rating 2 out of 5]

Noooooooooo!!!!! This was BAD. Where was the hate? Where was the groveling? Was i too blind for Axel and Carter to see it? UGHH i wanted so much more from Easton and Adam and these two did NOT serve at all. There was next to no plot other than Adam being a whore for Easton and Easton simply enjoying his misery. That's it. The only parts where i actually paid attention were of Axel and Carter (i know it deep in my bones they're getting the next book)

[nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. LYHM was one of the first mm books i read and is my fav mm book. so i was so excited for this one. one thing about a bethany winters book is that the trope will be executed perfectly. the longing that both easton and adam had😭 they are so adorable and i love how they both knew they were endgame (even when they weren’t on good terms) eastons cockiness mixed with adam’s brokenness genuinely made me wanna crash out. JUST KISS ALREADY. i definitely forgot how bethany writes spice and i was shocked once again😦 the bathroom scenes????😛🙈 the format of this book is also very creative with the texts from easton. every single one hurt my heart🥲 WE GOT MORE XAVI AND NATE CONTENT❤️❤️❤️ adam joining eastons little found family is so cute and i hope we get carters book because im INTRIGUED. a beautiful book that will make you want to cry because the mcs are so broken without each other. but you cant cry because they also can’t keep their hands off each other.

[Kim Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was on my top 3 of the most anticipated releases this year. After re-reading Like You Hate Me multiple times, which rarely ever happens for me, I couldn't wait to start this one 💫

The dynamics between Adam and Easton was twisted, biased and a little bit toxic at the beginning of this story, and I loved it 🤭

They are stepbrothers and they have been something of an item years ago, but then Adam decided to move to London, leaving everything and everyone behind. Easton didn't handled that very well and their is.. tension, like big time.

Bethany writes amazing stories and the spice is exceptionally well written.

Reading this book equally hurt and fixed me and I think I'm a llttle addicted 🙈

This book will definitely stay in my head for a long time and there also definitely will be a re-read 💖

We even got some scenes that included Nate & Xavi and I hung on every word, since they are everything to me 😅

[Cyndy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I see this author has written a new mm book I get excited. The possessive, jealous, low-key angst throughout was so so good! The timeline back and forth was perfect. I’m so looking forward to Carter and Axel…and Anthony…?

I wait until he’s back inside the restaurant before I say, “You know he’s in love with your brother, right?” Adam scrunches his nose. “No way. Why would you think that?” I shrug. “I sense these things.” “Based on a sixty-second conversation?” He shakes his head in disbelief. “You’re good, but you’re not that good.” We’ll see.

[Lauralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easton and Adam... I don't know where to start. This was one of my most anticipated reads of this year and boy did it DELIVER. I am as obsessed with this book as I am with Like You Hate Me. Bethany truly has polished this world so much, and I feel so immersed when I read the books in it. I care for all of the characters so much, and I am just so happy I was able to get an ARC of the book. Bethany, you are truly impressive and so is this book.

Adam and Easton went through so much to get to where they finally do in the book, and it's not an easy journey. But my god, they love each other so much. They lose more time together than they should, but when they finally come back into each other's orbits, it's a delicious mix of tension, love, and hurt. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone. I loved it.

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, seriously addictive writing, I spent every free minute immersed int he world the author created. The book is a tight rope of tension, of secrets, of betrayal, of unbearable obsessive love and pining, of bone deep undeniable attraction that just makes these two collide and the sparks are incinerating.. burning everything in their path. The author is a master storyteller, honestly cannot recommend the book enough (sensitive themes so please check the triggers)

This is Easton and Adam’s story and boy did it live up to expectations. Their more than borderline k1nky dynamic rooted deeply in this all consuming “loved you forever” love was so so satisfying… and the way the author reveals the twists, the revelations.. mind blowing. I think what I loved most is how the charters are consistent in their growth, their motivations clear no confusion or waffling, it made this such an enjoyable read.

The found family (specially Nate and Xavi) were stellar, I honestly don’t know what’s going on with Axel and Carter (but I need to.. please) I loved the way the situation with Veronica and Michael (who is on my sh1t list) was handled. I absolutely loved the finale (can’t say more), the caretaking vibes where supreme.. oh and did o mention the book is HOT.. like seriously breaking the skoville scale fire hot!!!!

expect:

- second chances
- Found family
- More than a dash of K1nk (like a tonne of edging, restraint, sensory play, marking and a lot more)
- Pining
- Stepbrothers
- Sports romance
- Caretaking

[alex :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ve been waiting for this release for months and it didn’t disappoint AT ALL. idc i was rooting for everyone!! whether a character was in a relationship or not, best believe i was rooting for them. the push and pull between easton and adam was phenomenal, the tension between axel and carter was hot, and xavi and nate were just the cutest lovebirds. ngl, i was even feeling whatever was going on between the parents. like yes ma’am, you make him grovel for pressuring your kids to separate and then proceed to still keep him at arms length until you’re ready to forgive him. that’s a damn good mom 🙂‍↕️

[haletostilinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in another buddy read with the always lovely Lilly ❤️

Overall, a great second installment in this series.

Did I love this as much as the first one? Not quite - but did I still enjoy it immensely? Definitely, yes.

Easton and Adam are stepbrothers, but three and a half years prior, Adam broke Easton's heart (and his own) but leaving to go to London with his brother (also Easton's stepbrother) to try and "do the right thing" as they were scared of how their mother would react to finding out her son and stepson were together.

Easton was determined to be with Adam anyway, no matter the consequences, and thought Adam would be too, but that wasn't the case.

But, it's pretty clear early on that Adam wanted to - and almost did - almost right away, but other factors (and people) were play that fucked that up, and fucked it up for these two getting their happy ending.

I did really like how this book didn't skip or gloss over the gravitas of these two being stepbrothers. Adam's brother, Axel and Easton's father both didn't handle learning about them well and treated it with the gravitas it needed. Now did I like how these two acted and what they did to these two? NopE! But was it realistic and and a rational reaction to stepbrothers being together in your own family? YEP!

I'm so so SO tired of stepbrother romances being so milquetoast, whatever stories where the stepbrother taboo doesn't even matter. I will keep complaining about it because it keeps being a problem! Do I have continued hope when I read a stepbrother romance that it'll treat it with the gravitas it needs (because it is a TABOO, is it not? Because MANY stepbrother romances these days don't treat it like that and it's barely even a factor in the story and if that's the case just make it a regular romance ffs!)? Yes!

So to come across this one that, on the whole, treated it with the gravitas it needed, made me very happy.

Now, I do wish the mother's reaction had been followed through on. She didn't care and was happy for them, but they had all this drama, this three and a half year separation and for what???.

Ultimately I wasn't too hard on that because it made sense for the mother's character, but I'm still taking some points off for that.

As well as for the book title and author mention. Authors, PLEASE stop doing this! It's SO tacky and slimy, it's the same thing as product placement and it's not subtle and it's very cringey. And the characters go on to talk a bit about the book as well and it's like....yikes, what are we doing here? Stop it, please, I beg of you! It's just like when you're watching a tv show and they product placement something so much and so obviously, like stop!

So yeah, this author could have done more with the the stepbrother trope, and I could have done without that product placement author mention, but overall this was still a solid read and I enjoyed it. I was so happy to see these two get their well deserved HEA.

Axel, though, was a little bitch in this and he pissed me off so much. I don't know how this author will redeem him/make him likable in his book, but guess we'll see! Carter is also a bit annoying so I wonder how he'll become more likable as well. But they're obviously each other's LI so I'll be interested to see how that goes...

Until then! ❤️

My Ratings for the Hawthorne University Series:

✨ Like You Hate Me: 5 stars (my review)
✨ Don't Say You're Sorry: 4 stars

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gimme Carter's book plssss 😭😭

[Kate V · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars!

Listen…I really hate the miscommunication trope sometimes. But the miscommunication trope in here made this romance so good! Sooooo good.

Adam and Easton are step brothers and each other’s person. Their bond grows deeper and they find themselves more than just friends. Their love is all consuming and beautiful. Until Adam leaves because reasons and the relationship they’ve built shatters.

Easton is absolutely devastated that Adam leaves and they don’t talk for over three years (to Adam’s knowledge). When Adam returns and wants to reconcile with Easton he isn’t going to make it easy on him.

But these two are like moths to a flame and when secrets are revealed, they’ll find their way back to each other in the best ways.

Adam was a sweet character. He had just enough alpha in him for me to really enjoy his character. A more quiet strength to him that at times felt like he was lost. But Easton was the missing piece of his soul.

Easton…gah he was just so swoony. He felt so deeply and loved Adam with a ruthlessness that was incredibly hot. These two were so possessive over each other and the smut in here was top notch. I didn’t love talk of Easton trying to be with other people during their time apart but it also fit the story somehow and at the end it was always Adam.

“Yeah, baby,” he says, answering my unspoken question. “You’re still the only guy I’ve ever been with. Not for lack of trying. Trust me. I fucking tried.”

I swallow. “What happened?”

“They weren’t you,” he says as he walks out.”

This story was angsty, the banter was delicious, the smut was so hot and passionate and the plot felt well thought out. Even the flashbacks didn’t annoy me. When I say I like MM, it’s this kind of book I’m talking about!

[Reanna Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart!! This book was EVERYTHING I had hoped for and more. Going into this book I had no idea what to really expect. I knew I loved Easton in Like You Hate Me, but this book gave me a whole new appreciation for him.

Easton, Sunshine, Oh my god how I love you. Easton was the picture of a sunshine boy in the first book. You could tell there was a sadness, but you didn’t know how deep that hurt really went. Easton had such depth and emotion. I absolutely loved the way he cared from the jump even when he wasn’t ready to completely show it. He took care of Adam even when he was mad at him. The love he has for his friends, his family, and the people within his circle are insane. I couldn’t have loved him more.

Adam, baby. I LOVE you so much and you deserved so much better from your family. Adam broke his own heart for everyone else’s benefit and oh how that broke me. His heartbreak, his ability to love and show compassion it was absolutely amazing. His relationship with Xavi was absolutely precious and I loved their fast forming friendship. He worked so hard to gain Easton’s trust back and the way they trust one another showed such depth in their relationship.

All in all I was absolutely in awe of this book. They were perfect. I can’t wait to see the next couple in this series.

[Daryn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t Say You’re Sorry ARC Review:

Easton and Adam 💙🥹🍭

After three and a half years apart, Adam returns to mend what he broke between him and Easton when he left. Easton has no intentions in letting Adam run from him this time around. Don’t Say You’re Sorry is the second book in the Hawthorne University series, centered around Easton and Adam as they get a second shot at the happiness they once had together.

I loved Like You Hate Me, so to say I was excited for Easton’s book would be an understatement. Getting to dive into Easton’s backstory solidified the intrigue I felt for Easton into so much love for him and Adam’s second chance. Making the choice Adam did broke the both of them, so he puts all he can into showing Easton he means it when he says he's back and staying. I have quite a soft spot for a second chance and while there were heartbreaking moments, their second chance was balanced with a sweetness to the heartache in each interaction that felt just right for them. Don’t Say You’re Sorry had me shocked and in awe so many times, plus the times I got sniffly holding back tears. While Adam had to prove himself to Easton, and I do love a good groveling campaign in winning back the one you love!

Getting to see Nate and Xavi again had me giggling and swooning! I am so glad to see them happy together! Getting more of Frankie and Carter was also such a treat, and I can’t wait to see where the series leads 👀 I have my hunches, but only time will tell!

5/5 🌟

[Abigail | mooretoread | · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Oooh brothers and found family- yes please! First of all, this book was hot and no one should be surprised by this. It’s always hard coming into the second book after the first was so beloved. And this did not disappoint. Were there things that felt different, yes. But Adam and Easton have their own story.

I love that Adam and Axel are British. I could imagine them so clearly. And I already loved Easton from the first book. But now so many things make sense about Easton and his sunshine personality.

I love, love how involved Xavi and Nate (also Carter and Frankie) were with the evolution of this story. We got to hear vulnerable Nate when sharing with Easton. And something about these big, athletic men who are such loyal and fierce friends. It’s really beautiful.

I wanted to hate Axel for some of his decisions but I think he will be one of my favorites in— I’m hoping Carter’s book. I also wanted to hate Easton’s dad but found that I couldn’t. He didn’t make great decisions but it showed how people do things for love.

The only thing I wanted more of was the resolution of everything at the end. I’m sure we will hear more from the family in the coming books but I loved Veronica’s character and wanted her to be happy.

The past to present jump in the timeline was really enjoyable- did I suspect some of what happened from early on- yes. But they each handled those things with a possessive streak- and dare I also say, with grace. I love this world and can’t wait for more!

Thank you for this arc! 🩵💙🖤