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Totally Pucked #2
The Legend Next Door
I didn’t think hockey was the game for me…now I’m obsessed.
My new neighbor, Ben Stirling, is a beautiful, famous ex-player. A living NHL legend. A single dad with sad eyes and a smile I feel in my knees.
I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s what would you’d get if you squeezed masculinity through a sieve. He’s the grit. The pulp. The hard stuff that leaves a sweet taste in your mouth. On top of that, he’s kind and funny, and did I mention he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on?
Obviously, he’s straight.
And obviously, that’s fine.
It’s not like I’m going to flirt with him. Or fall for him.
My new neighbor, Ben Stirling, is a beautiful, famous ex-player. A living NHL legend. A single dad with sad eyes and a smile I feel in my knees.
I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s what would you’d get if you squeezed masculinity through a sieve. He’s the grit. The pulp. The hard stuff that leaves a sweet taste in your mouth. On top of that, he’s kind and funny, and did I mention he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on?
Obviously, he’s straight.
And obviously, that’s fine.
It’s not like I’m going to flirt with him. Or fall for him.
477 pages, Paperback
Published May 8, 2025
625 people are currently reading
2058 people want to read
About the author
Jesse H. Reign
18 books1,426 followersI'm Jesse, and I write contemporary and paranormal MM romance.
Whether my characters are born magical, or whether magic is something they make between the sheets, I strive to take the reader into the mind of the narrator. My ultimate goal is to leave the reader feeling like they’ve made a new friend or have spent a few hours flirting with a brand-new book boyfriend.
I love coffee, chocolate and daydreaming, in no particular order. I love conflicted characters, lust at first sight and angst – no seriously, ALL the angst. Give it to me!
Whether my characters are born magical, or whether magic is something they make between the sheets, I strive to take the reader into the mind of the narrator. My ultimate goal is to leave the reader feeling like they’ve made a new friend or have spent a few hours flirting with a brand-new book boyfriend.
I love coffee, chocolate and daydreaming, in no particular order. I love conflicted characters, lust at first sight and angst – no seriously, ALL the angst. Give it to me!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 731 reviews
May 11, 2025
I have complaints.
Jeremiah is dog-panting-with-tongue-out-to-cool-down levels of horny. Consistently, too. No days off, just up and at it every morning.
"I’m a horny little shit, and I like doing horny little shit things…”
Lolol. Men with the most biblical names and the most satanic horn. The venn diagram continues to be a circle.
Ben. Ben's the one who's a really well fleshed out character. For the first half, that is. Single dad, dealing with grief and a sudden inexplicable series of boners for his gay neighbor who adores his son.
50% in, Ben's great, Jeremiah's horny and things seem to be going okay. Then they touch one time and suddenly it's full steam ahead to Bone Town.
Honestly, even the whole light D/s dynamic felt so out of the blue to me. How on earth did Ben think to go there with Jeremiah?
I can't remember anything of value they do in the latter half beyond fucking. They fuck and suck and fuck some more.
And then suddenly they're in love. And to make it worse, the first time they say it is in front of Ben's kid.
I must be a hater because a love declaration in front of a child elicited a viserally violent reaction within me. Ugh.
Kids are great but I really really really hate them in romance novels because they're meddlesome meddlers who meddle. Couldn't even let that man unwrap his love declaration surprise in peace.
Kids are walking, talking spoiler alerts. Actually, no. They're not the alert. They're the spoiler. It was a really thoughtful surprise, too.
Ship them off to boarding school in Switzerland, I beg of you. Luca was off at sleepovers for a lot of this but it wasn't enough for me.
Won't lie, though, it was annoyingly sweet how into Luca Jeremiah is. These two MCs will probably make great parents and love the shit out of that boy. So there's that.
This bored me. There seemed to be no plot, and I'm a notorious hater of actual plot in romance but this? What sort of nothing burger was this?
A bi-awakening where there's hardly any mentiom of an awakening. Just oh, guess I like dick now, moving on.
Also, am I the only one who deeply believed Marcus was in love with Jeremiah? I thought it was hinted at but then it sort of disappeared into the ether and now I don't know if I'm crazy.
Jesse said this is low angst and she really meant that shit. Which is also deeply irritating because Jesse fucking shines at extreme angst.
Sigh.
Oh, and it's like AFTER writing the book is when it was remembered that this was supposed to have sprinkles of hockey so they brought the previously retired MC out of retirement for a singular game. During the EPILOGUE 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Meh. I actually don't mind that bit, it's just funny.
Can't even convince myself to give 3* on the basis of having loved the author's other works. 2.5 rounded down.
And I'm irritated by the suspicion that next we're going to get Sev and T-Dog and the most boring of 'forbidden romance' which is brother's best friend.
I'm disappointed in advance.
And why on earth did Goodreads change the order of the shelves, how does this even make sense? People are about to pretend it's this HUGEEEEE deal to be in love with their best friend's brother, don't we already have enough problems?
Maybe I'm just in a mood.
Jeremiah is dog-panting-with-tongue-out-to-cool-down levels of horny. Consistently, too. No days off, just up and at it every morning.
"I’m a horny little shit, and I like doing horny little shit things…”
Lolol. Men with the most biblical names and the most satanic horn. The venn diagram continues to be a circle.
Ben. Ben's the one who's a really well fleshed out character. For the first half, that is. Single dad, dealing with grief and a sudden inexplicable series of boners for his gay neighbor who adores his son.
50% in, Ben's great, Jeremiah's horny and things seem to be going okay. Then they touch one time and suddenly it's full steam ahead to Bone Town.
Honestly, even the whole light D/s dynamic felt so out of the blue to me. How on earth did Ben think to go there with Jeremiah?
I can't remember anything of value they do in the latter half beyond fucking. They fuck and suck and fuck some more.
And then suddenly they're in love. And to make it worse, the first time they say it is in front of Ben's kid.
I must be a hater because a love declaration in front of a child elicited a viserally violent reaction within me. Ugh.
Kids are great but I really really really hate them in romance novels because they're meddlesome meddlers who meddle. Couldn't even let that man unwrap his love declaration surprise in peace.
Kids are walking, talking spoiler alerts. Actually, no. They're not the alert. They're the spoiler. It was a really thoughtful surprise, too.
Ship them off to boarding school in Switzerland, I beg of you. Luca was off at sleepovers for a lot of this but it wasn't enough for me.
Won't lie, though, it was annoyingly sweet how into Luca Jeremiah is. These two MCs will probably make great parents and love the shit out of that boy. So there's that.
This bored me. There seemed to be no plot, and I'm a notorious hater of actual plot in romance but this? What sort of nothing burger was this?
A bi-awakening where there's hardly any mentiom of an awakening. Just oh, guess I like dick now, moving on.
Also, am I the only one who deeply believed Marcus was in love with Jeremiah? I thought it was hinted at but then it sort of disappeared into the ether and now I don't know if I'm crazy.
Jesse said this is low angst and she really meant that shit. Which is also deeply irritating because Jesse fucking shines at extreme angst.
Sigh.
Oh, and it's like AFTER writing the book is when it was remembered that this was supposed to have sprinkles of hockey so they brought the previously retired MC out of retirement for a singular game. During the EPILOGUE 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Meh. I actually don't mind that bit, it's just funny.
Can't even convince myself to give 3* on the basis of having loved the author's other works. 2.5 rounded down.
And I'm irritated by the suspicion that next we're going to get Sev and T-Dog and the most boring of 'forbidden romance' which is brother's best friend.
I'm disappointed in advance.
And why on earth did Goodreads change the order of the shelves, how does this even make sense? People are about to pretend it's this HUGEEEEE deal to be in love with their best friend's brother, don't we already have enough problems?
Maybe I'm just in a mood.
April 30, 2025
4.7 ⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
format: ebook
a sweet and emotional story between a widower/single dad and his quirky neighbor.
ben and jelly were just the absolute cutest. i adored the way they kinda met through luca and built this amazing friendship. while jeremiah was immediately smitten, i really enjoyed the way ben’s feelings (and bi-awakening) progressed at a slower pace that felt natural.
this was low on relationship angst but still had a lot of emotional elements. i loved the way jesse handled ben’s grieving. and the way that jeremiah became a part of ben’s life without replacing his late wife.
and my favorite part overall was the relationship jelly had with luca. the way jeremiah loved ben’s son was so beautiful and meaningful. as a single mom with a little boy, those moments they shared just spoke to my soul.
as usual, jesse h reign slayed and i already cannot wait for t-dog and sev. my favorite author + hockey romances is just everything.
*i received a free, advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
format: ebook
a sweet and emotional story between a widower/single dad and his quirky neighbor.
ben and jelly were just the absolute cutest. i adored the way they kinda met through luca and built this amazing friendship. while jeremiah was immediately smitten, i really enjoyed the way ben’s feelings (and bi-awakening) progressed at a slower pace that felt natural.
this was low on relationship angst but still had a lot of emotional elements. i loved the way jesse handled ben’s grieving. and the way that jeremiah became a part of ben’s life without replacing his late wife.
and my favorite part overall was the relationship jelly had with luca. the way jeremiah loved ben’s son was so beautiful and meaningful. as a single mom with a little boy, those moments they shared just spoke to my soul.
as usual, jesse h reign slayed and i already cannot wait for t-dog and sev. my favorite author + hockey romances is just everything.
*i received a free, advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
April 27, 2025
“I’d let you do anything to me, Ben Stirling.”I'm pretty sure everyone who reads this book will agree with Jelly about that! Jesse H Reign has just gift wrapped 2 legendary book boyfriends for us! The characters of Ben and Jeremiah sparkle with JHR magic. I’m so sad to be done this book 💔. Jesse is one of my favourite writers and this book is honestly superb.
"The space between us is electric. The problem with being the one generating the electricity is that you’re so busy buzzing and spewing energy from every pore that you can’t tell if it’s going both ways or only one. You can’t tell if it’s crossing more distance than usual or less. Or even the same amount it always does."
When Ben's wife Liz dies, he retires from hockey and moves he and his son Luca closer to her extended family. His next door neighbour is Jeremiah 'Jelly', who is essentially sunshine in human form. Although Jelly and Luca become instant friends, it takes Ben a little longer to warm up to his new neighbour because he's grieving the immense losses of his wife and his identity as a hockey player. It's really incredible to watch someone heal from tragedy and start to move on. I love the way Jesse portrayed Ben's healing (alone and also aided by Jeremiah). I felt like Liz was a secondary character in the book and the love Ben and Luca have for her was beautifully portrayed. The dining room table scene broke my heart and put it back together again in just a few pages. I also loved the way Jesse kept the book light and the plot moving with humour. Luca was an absolute delight and Ben and Jelly were so incredibly likeable. I felt sick that Jelly's feelings might be unrequited for even a second. He's an overthinker and a worrier and I acutely felt every moment of his yearning when Ben asked him for a massage (and his embarrassment when Ben saw IT in the washroom, IYKYK!! 🤣) At this point I'm just rambling but honestly there was so much to love that I don't know where to stop.
My favourite line of the whole book is when Ben says to Jelly "“We need more stuff like that at my place, don’t you think?” he says to me." Acknowledging that they're a "we" made me tear up because it meant Jelly was getting everything he wanted. He's such a sweetheart and it made me happy to see Ben say something so casually that conveyed that he loved Jelly and saw forever with him.
The realization is a jarring. A blunt shock. I’m protective of him. I’m protective of Jeremiah. Protectiveness is part of my nature. Part of who I am. Who I used to be. Who I’ve always been. It’s a brand of emotion I haven’t felt for many people. Something that usually takes a long time to develop. Something I only feel when the person inspiring it is significant to me.
Jesse, can we have Luca's story at some point please? I want to see if he does grow up to be a better hockey player than his dad ♥️
Rating: 5
Angst: 1/5 (biawakening without the angst is one of my favourite things and I'm OBSESSED with Ben for the way he handled his burgeoning attraction to Jelly)
Steam: 3.5/5
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, and this is my honest review
June 25, 2025
I think I flew too close to the sun with book 1 in the Totally Pucked series. I mean, the DIRTY TALK, the intensity, the ROMANCE! It was hard to top. And while The Legend Next Door was a really good read, it was just eversoslightly underwhelming.
I'm a huge fan of slow-burn, hurt/comfort romances, and that's exactly what we get here. The MC (Ben Stirling) lost his wife (big part of the story), and he and his son are slowly rebuilding their lives. There is a lot of sadness here, and I liked the emotional intensity that it brought to the story.
Jeremiah was a burst of sunshine, and was exactly what Ben needed. I liked the steady way that Jeremiah supported Ben, and how he brought Ben into the present when he needed it most.
My sticking point is the sexual stuff, a bit. Now, don't get me wrong, a sexuality discovery story is like my catnip. I seriously can't get enough of them! But I was like only 72% convinced that Ben was falling for Jeremiah on more than a friendship level. I thought they were lovely together, but it felt a bit *sticky* with the details.
The hockey is soooo much of an afterthought here. I mean, Ben *was* a professional hockey player, and the loss of his career compounded with the loss of his wife is huge for him, but this isn't a "hockey romance," IMO.
The Legend Next Door was a solid read from Jesse H. Reign, but I'm hoping for more book 1 magic with the rest of the series.
*~*Follow me on instagram for more reviews, book talk, and deals posts*~*
I'm a huge fan of slow-burn, hurt/comfort romances, and that's exactly what we get here. The MC (Ben Stirling) lost his wife (big part of the story), and he and his son are slowly rebuilding their lives. There is a lot of sadness here, and I liked the emotional intensity that it brought to the story.
Jeremiah was a burst of sunshine, and was exactly what Ben needed. I liked the steady way that Jeremiah supported Ben, and how he brought Ben into the present when he needed it most.
My sticking point is the sexual stuff, a bit. Now, don't get me wrong, a sexuality discovery story is like my catnip. I seriously can't get enough of them! But I was like only 72% convinced that Ben was falling for Jeremiah on more than a friendship level. I thought they were lovely together, but it felt a bit *sticky* with the details.
The hockey is soooo much of an afterthought here. I mean, Ben *was* a professional hockey player, and the loss of his career compounded with the loss of his wife is huge for him, but this isn't a "hockey romance," IMO.
The Legend Next Door was a solid read from Jesse H. Reign, but I'm hoping for more book 1 magic with the rest of the series.
*~*Follow me on instagram for more reviews, book talk, and deals posts*~*
May 9, 2025
Well, this was disappointing. Mary Sue character leads a charmed life to the point the trophy hockey legend who moved next door turns gay for him. That is it basically.
I really like Reign's writing, and this is really polished, professional, competent writing. Here she is going for something sweet-felt, hints of modern cottagecore (Jeremiah literally lives in a "cottage"...), all vibes and healing and all. But it just did not work for me. Maybe I am just jealous (of a character nicknamed Jelly) but I had a very hard time relating to him, despite him being a booklover with a too big TBR and a problem with book bans as a concept. He felt like a Mary Sue character, everybody loves him (particularly the author, I think), things just fall into his lap. He pays no rent because he lives in a wonderful guesthouse his rich aunt built for him in his garden (his family is not dead, just moved andhe stayed with her, he just feels more connected to her), he does ceramics and photography and occasionally does massages and teaches 3 yoga classes a week (he cancels a morning one without much regret when he has a hangover. Maybe this is part of my grudge, that is awful for the class and manager of the studio....) but it is all so low key, so low stress, so hobby like. And the relationship just falls into his lap, the very hot man moved next door, and his kid just really likes him instantly and he is all ready for a relationship with a man. . He does not even have to do much for his aunt, not even dog sitting because she is out of the way travelling the world with her two great danes! He is supposedly funny and adorable and all, but it was just not there for me. I found this MC so unrelatable and so unlikeable. It is a charmed life, and maybe people leading charmed lives deserve love too but it is a little bit disgusting to see things just fall into their lap yet again without them needing to do any effort or change or think about others much...
The other MC was the best, and his reflections on his grief were the best part of the book (apart from those lines about how sex is different for men and women), but he also felt like a trophy somehow, and his falling into love with the boy next door a bit too instant. That first sex scene by the way felt odd, the instant out of the blue kink connection not really showing before or after and they just do not talk of it again. It felt like it belonged to a different couple almost. I saw comparisons of this book with Unbreak Me, and I loved that book, and this is all miles more shallow...
In all, a disappointing book from a favorite author. Maybe part was my expectations, I am liking her recent books so much and the ARC hype is so big (I should know better, I really should but do not...) Really polished though, but the main pairing was just obnoxious gets what he lusts after...
I really like Reign's writing, and this is really polished, professional, competent writing. Here she is going for something sweet-felt, hints of modern cottagecore (Jeremiah literally lives in a "cottage"...), all vibes and healing and all. But it just did not work for me. Maybe I am just jealous (of a character nicknamed Jelly) but I had a very hard time relating to him, despite him being a booklover with a too big TBR and a problem with book bans as a concept. He felt like a Mary Sue character, everybody loves him (particularly the author, I think), things just fall into his lap. He pays no rent because he lives in a wonderful guesthouse his rich aunt built for him in his garden (his family is not dead, just moved andhe stayed with her, he just feels more connected to her), he does ceramics and photography and occasionally does massages and teaches 3 yoga classes a week (he cancels a morning one without much regret when he has a hangover. Maybe this is part of my grudge, that is awful for the class and manager of the studio....) but it is all so low key, so low stress, so hobby like. And the relationship just falls into his lap, the very hot man moved next door, and his kid just really likes him instantly and he is all ready for a relationship with a man. . He does not even have to do much for his aunt, not even dog sitting because she is out of the way travelling the world with her two great danes! He is supposedly funny and adorable and all, but it was just not there for me. I found this MC so unrelatable and so unlikeable. It is a charmed life, and maybe people leading charmed lives deserve love too but it is a little bit disgusting to see things just fall into their lap yet again without them needing to do any effort or change or think about others much...
The other MC was the best, and his reflections on his grief were the best part of the book (apart from those lines about how sex is different for men and women), but he also felt like a trophy somehow, and his falling into love with the boy next door a bit too instant. That first sex scene by the way felt odd, the instant out of the blue kink connection not really showing before or after and they just do not talk of it again. It felt like it belonged to a different couple almost. I saw comparisons of this book with Unbreak Me, and I loved that book, and this is all miles more shallow...
In all, a disappointing book from a favorite author. Maybe part was my expectations, I am liking her recent books so much and the ARC hype is so big (I should know better, I really should but do not...) Really polished though, but the main pairing was just obnoxious gets what he lusts after...
April 30, 2025
Aww... this is a great emotional romance between next-door neighbors Ben and Jeremiah. Their love story is full of hope, perseverance, and trust as they both navigate their growing feelings for one another, which catches both by surprise.
Ben's story is incredibly moving as he tries to process the unending grief for his wife while raising their six-year-old son, who is quite adorable and is the perfect little instigator for many moments between Ben and Jeremiah, whom he affectionately nicknames Jelly. Jeremiah has the utmost patience while waiting for Ben to make a move. When that eventually happens, these two are inseparable, and I cannot get enough of the sweet and loving moments between them.
Overall, this is a wonderful story of second chances and being open to new experiences. Ben and Jeremiah make a great pair, and their story has so much heart.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Ben's story is incredibly moving as he tries to process the unending grief for his wife while raising their six-year-old son, who is quite adorable and is the perfect little instigator for many moments between Ben and Jeremiah, whom he affectionately nicknames Jelly. Jeremiah has the utmost patience while waiting for Ben to make a move. When that eventually happens, these two are inseparable, and I cannot get enough of the sweet and loving moments between them.
Overall, this is a wonderful story of second chances and being open to new experiences. Ben and Jeremiah make a great pair, and their story has so much heart.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
May 14, 2025
How stinking cute was this book??? 😍😍
I loved the slow burn, especially because one MC is a grieving widower. This new relationship also didn't take anything away from his previous one, and I loved that the wife was still treated like part of the family.
Ben's journey of grief was so emotional to read, and it felt realistic too. Luca was absolutely adorable as well and I cried every single time he cried 🥺
Jelly/Jeremiah was just the perfect addition to this family. The way he got so tongue tied and flustered was so entertaining 😂 I loved how invested he was in Luca's happiness too, it was never just about Ben for him.
I will say my only gripe is that even though it was a slow burn and there were no sex scenes for about 70% of the book, after that point there were soooo many smushed so close together that I did find my attention span faltering. I actually really preferred the ways they showed they loved each other without the sex! The coffee, the emotional conversations, the surprise flowers, the hockey stuff... I also cackled when Jelly got changed into the kit before they even left the house 😂😂😂
I did really like the Robbie and Ant cameos though, and I'm so keen to read T-Dog and Sev's story too!
I loved the slow burn, especially because one MC is a grieving widower. This new relationship also didn't take anything away from his previous one, and I loved that the wife was still treated like part of the family.
Ben's journey of grief was so emotional to read, and it felt realistic too. Luca was absolutely adorable as well and I cried every single time he cried 🥺
Jelly/Jeremiah was just the perfect addition to this family. The way he got so tongue tied and flustered was so entertaining 😂 I loved how invested he was in Luca's happiness too, it was never just about Ben for him.
I will say my only gripe is that even though it was a slow burn and there were no sex scenes for about 70% of the book, after that point there were soooo many smushed so close together that I did find my attention span faltering. I actually really preferred the ways they showed they loved each other without the sex! The coffee, the emotional conversations, the surprise flowers, the hockey stuff... I also cackled when Jelly got changed into the kit before they even left the house 😂😂😂
I did really like the Robbie and Ant cameos though, and I'm so keen to read T-Dog and Sev's story too!
April 28, 2025
Infinite stars for Ben, Jelly and Luca 🥹🩵
I was in a bad mood when I started this, but by the time I finished it I was smiling, I was warm and fuzzy, I was horny af, but most of all I was happy and content 🥰 Thank you Jesse for unslumping me 🙏✨🫡
I’ve read ALL of Jesse’s books — Unbreak Me owns me, Unrequited and Romeo Falling have such a tender place in my heart, The Situation series, Sainted, Poetry on Ice — JFC delicious — and now this one... Well, let me just say Ben, Luca, and Jelly are eternally in my heart and soul, right next to Davey and Jonathan! And you know why?
▪️Second chance romance
▪️Opposites attack
▪️Widower MC
▪️Single dad
▪️Yoga, photography, massages, and pottery
▪️Yoga pants and jockstraps
▪️Pining (a 🏅 for all of Jeremiah’s inner inappropriate thoughts)
▪️Recovering from grief
▪️Adorable six-year-old boy
▪️Hockey shenanigans
▪️Robbie and Ant cameos
▪️Slow burn
▪️Thigh kink
▪️Book addicted
▪️Oh Captain my Captain
▪️Clutching pearls HOT
🟣Toys in the shower
▪️Letters to Liz
▪️Family
The book promises a heartfelt MM romance featuring beautiful themes like second chances, the tenderness of single parenthood, and the deep, complicated work of moving on from grief — and it delivers it all with Jesse’s signature magic.
She writes the kind of story you read more than once. She draws me in; I feel connected to the MCs and their journey. It’s incredible, and I know I can always trust her.
I absolutely loved their friendship — how they slowly navigate from friends to lovers. How it started with Luca and a fence. (By the way, Jelly and Luca are totally adorable.) I also loved the respect Jeremiah showed toward Liz — the small things he did that allowed her presence to be a good one instead of a shadow.
Luca, what an adorable six-year-old. He says the funniest, sweetest things. He’s so clever about life in general. Losing his mother so young... poor baby. Ben is the perfect dad. Their relationship is pure love.
Sex? Well folks, expect top shelf intimacy — body worship, learning, experimenting, touching. Their dynamic is one of my favorites: super hot, soft Dom/sub. And let me tell you, they’re both so primed for each other that I’m pretty sure they moved the planet forward on global warming issues. Ben is so willing to try everything, and the end game is always making Jeremiah feel worshiped and loved.
The spying behind the curtains, the texting, the yoga pants — god, I love everything.
Also loved Amy, Nessa, and Marcus — always there, supportive without being too much.
That epilogue brought tears to my eyes. So, so beautiful and touching.
There are a few moments that happened off-page that I would’ve loved to read — like Jelly’s first sleepover at Ben’s, or Jelly’s dinner surprise with his aunt and friends. But Jesse told the story with all the emotion and heart it needed. (Still would’ve gobbled those scenes up though.)
PS: I would love to share my favorite quotes, but I guess Jesse wouldn’t like it if I shared the whole book😄
Jesse sent me a copy of this book, and this is my swooning, face-hurt-from-smiling, "Oh Captain, my Captain!" honest review.
I was in a bad mood when I started this, but by the time I finished it I was smiling, I was warm and fuzzy, I was horny af, but most of all I was happy and content 🥰 Thank you Jesse for unslumping me 🙏✨🫡
I’ve read ALL of Jesse’s books — Unbreak Me owns me, Unrequited and Romeo Falling have such a tender place in my heart, The Situation series, Sainted, Poetry on Ice — JFC delicious — and now this one... Well, let me just say Ben, Luca, and Jelly are eternally in my heart and soul, right next to Davey and Jonathan! And you know why?
▪️Second chance romance
▪️Opposites attack
▪️Widower MC
▪️Single dad
▪️Yoga, photography, massages, and pottery
▪️Yoga pants and jockstraps
▪️Pining (a 🏅 for all of Jeremiah’s inner inappropriate thoughts)
▪️Recovering from grief
▪️Adorable six-year-old boy
▪️Hockey shenanigans
▪️Robbie and Ant cameos
▪️Slow burn
▪️Thigh kink
▪️Book addicted
▪️Oh Captain my Captain
▪️Clutching pearls HOT
🟣Toys in the shower
▪️Letters to Liz
▪️Family
The book promises a heartfelt MM romance featuring beautiful themes like second chances, the tenderness of single parenthood, and the deep, complicated work of moving on from grief — and it delivers it all with Jesse’s signature magic.
She writes the kind of story you read more than once. She draws me in; I feel connected to the MCs and their journey. It’s incredible, and I know I can always trust her.
I absolutely loved their friendship — how they slowly navigate from friends to lovers. How it started with Luca and a fence. (By the way, Jelly and Luca are totally adorable.) I also loved the respect Jeremiah showed toward Liz — the small things he did that allowed her presence to be a good one instead of a shadow.
Luca, what an adorable six-year-old. He says the funniest, sweetest things. He’s so clever about life in general. Losing his mother so young... poor baby. Ben is the perfect dad. Their relationship is pure love.
Sex? Well folks, expect top shelf intimacy — body worship, learning, experimenting, touching. Their dynamic is one of my favorites: super hot, soft Dom/sub. And let me tell you, they’re both so primed for each other that I’m pretty sure they moved the planet forward on global warming issues. Ben is so willing to try everything, and the end game is always making Jeremiah feel worshiped and loved.
The spying behind the curtains, the texting, the yoga pants — god, I love everything.
Also loved Amy, Nessa, and Marcus — always there, supportive without being too much.
That epilogue brought tears to my eyes. So, so beautiful and touching.
There are a few moments that happened off-page that I would’ve loved to read — like Jelly’s first sleepover at Ben’s, or Jelly’s dinner surprise with his aunt and friends. But Jesse told the story with all the emotion and heart it needed. (Still would’ve gobbled those scenes up though.)
PS: I would love to share my favorite quotes, but I guess Jesse wouldn’t like it if I shared the whole book😄
Jesse sent me a copy of this book, and this is my swooning, face-hurt-from-smiling, "Oh Captain, my Captain!" honest review.
November 1, 2025
this went from hilarious, to sad, to hot af, to sad, to hilarious, on repeat. and somehow had 0 angst. amazing.
April 27, 2025
This was so so sweet, I absolutely loved it. I was completely hooked from the first page and couldn’t put it down. I loved Ben and Jeremiah’s relationship, they were seriously so sweet together, so many swoon worthy moments. This one definitely had me in my feelings, you’re gonna need tissues for this read!
September 1, 2025
Западають в душу ті книги, які змогли доторкнутися до чогось дуже глибокого та таємного в нашому серці. І ця книга виявилась такою для мене ❤️ Вона дуже відрізняється від першої. Ця історія більш чуттєва та зворушлива.
Мені здається, кожен читач відчуває якусь спорідненість з Джеллі (я не можу повністю написати його ім'я, воно до біса для мене складне😅).
Ох, Бен... Ідеальний чоловік — це все, що вам потрібно знати. Просто не буде шансів не закохатися.
Їх розвиток стосунків дуже зворушив мене. Багато думок героїв відгукувались і мені. Наведу один приклад:
"Часто, майже завжди, ми не знаємо, коли щось важливе в нашому житті, щось, що ми любимо, добігає кінця. Ми не можемо вирішити, не можемо підготуватись. Усе, що нам залишається, – вижити. Відреагувати. Навчитись жити з новою реальністю".
Окрема моя любов до сина Бена Луки. Чудовий малюк 🥰
Мені здається, кожен читач відчуває якусь спорідненість з Джеллі (я не можу повністю написати його ім'я, воно до біса для мене складне😅).
Ох, Бен... Ідеальний чоловік — це все, що вам потрібно знати. Просто не буде шансів не закохатися.
Їх розвиток стосунків дуже зворушив мене. Багато думок героїв відгукувались і мені. Наведу один приклад:
"Часто, майже завжди, ми не знаємо, коли щось важливе в нашому житті, щось, що ми любимо, добігає кінця. Ми не можемо вирішити, не можемо підготуватись. Усе, що нам залишається, – вижити. Відреагувати. Навчитись жити з новою реальністю".
Окрема моя любов до сина Бена Луки. Чудовий малюк 🥰
May 26, 2025
4.5**** stars
Ugh, this was stinking cute. And hot. And also a lot of fun to read.
I’m not a fan of the dead-spouse trope but I think it was done well here and handled with care.
The epilogue was so damn beautiful it literally brought me to tears. And because that is a very hard thing to achieve, I’m giving some extra points to my rating. ♡
************
Totally Pucked Series
Book 1 - Poetry on Ice - 4.25 stars ♡
Book 2 - The Legend next Door - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Flagrant Foul - tbd
Ugh, this was stinking cute. And hot. And also a lot of fun to read.
I’m not a fan of the dead-spouse trope but I think it was done well here and handled with care.
The epilogue was so damn beautiful it literally brought me to tears. And because that is a very hard thing to achieve, I’m giving some extra points to my rating. ♡
I love you and I miss you, and I’m happy.
Love, Ben
************
Totally Pucked Series
Book 1 - Poetry on Ice - 4.25 stars ♡
Book 2 - The Legend next Door - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Flagrant Foul - tbd
May 12, 2025
I've given up understanding the metrics and logistics of indie published books and the KU model of whatever. I'm left with a book that bit off way more than it can chew within the number of pages allotted and I do not understand why. I read indie books that are a bloated 500 pages that need an editor and ones like this that really, at least, need 3-5 more chapters. What is stopping you from writing 3 more chapters? 🤷♀️
This is a well written book. It's lyrical and at the edge of too flowery that is typical of this author. I still do not understand what Jeremiah's whole life deal is; everything is jack-of-all-trade and a free custom cottage built especially for him etc, so ok fine, you have all the time in the world to spend with your 34 year old famous retired hockey player I guess, but he's still vague and not fully fleshed out to me.
Ben is going through something profound; grief, moving, single parenthood, the end of a career, fame, family, dating, and sexual identity all at once and all of that needs more space to work through that is not allowed in this model.
It comes to a head at 73% kinda out of nowhere. There's one sided flirty friendship until BAM! We're doing this! Whole hog! There's D/s kink that needs way more words than is allowed. There's sexual identity that needs more words than is allowed. There is a conflation that seems to propose that being a Dom makes you not care especially what gender you're engaging with that is sketchy. There's a child involved, for fucks sake, that needs more words than is allowed.
EVERYTHING NEEDS MORE WORDS.
Go back and rewrite this. It's a good story that is treated superficially from beginning to end. It's not lack of story management. It's lack of care in how you get from beginning to end. And needs at minimum 3-5 more chapters for a fulfilling HEA. A letter and hockey game just don't cut it.
This is a well written book. It's lyrical and at the edge of too flowery that is typical of this author. I still do not understand what Jeremiah's whole life deal is; everything is jack-of-all-trade and a free custom cottage built especially for him etc, so ok fine, you have all the time in the world to spend with your 34 year old famous retired hockey player I guess, but he's still vague and not fully fleshed out to me.
Ben is going through something profound; grief, moving, single parenthood, the end of a career, fame, family, dating, and sexual identity all at once and all of that needs more space to work through that is not allowed in this model.
It comes to a head at 73% kinda out of nowhere. There's one sided flirty friendship until BAM! We're doing this! Whole hog! There's D/s kink that needs way more words than is allowed. There's sexual identity that needs more words than is allowed. There is a conflation that seems to propose that being a Dom makes you not care especially what gender you're engaging with that is sketchy. There's a child involved, for fucks sake, that needs more words than is allowed.
EVERYTHING NEEDS MORE WORDS.
Go back and rewrite this. It's a good story that is treated superficially from beginning to end. It's not lack of story management. It's lack of care in how you get from beginning to end. And needs at minimum 3-5 more chapters for a fulfilling HEA. A letter and hockey game just don't cut it.
June 18, 2025
Tropes: hurt/comfort, kidfic, single dad, neighbours
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 2.5/5
Kinks: dominance/submission, toys
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: grief, past death of spouse, mental health
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: Ben's wife Liz died in a car accident a year and a half ago. He hasn't been with anyone since. During this book, he's dealing with grief, but Jeremiah is never made to feel like second choice. At one point before they get together, Jeremiah decides to go on a Grindr date because he's hopelessly crushing on a straight guy and hasn't hooked up since meeting him. But Jeremiah cancels the date, he can't bring himself to go on it. They are both very focused on each other once they get together.
4.5 stars
Ben is 34, and a year and a half ago his wife Liz died, leaving him a single dad to his now 6-year-old son Luca. Ben was a professional NHL player, but he quit when Liz died. He recently decided to move closer to his former in-laws and sister-in-law, to be closer to them plus to leave the home he shared with his wife because it's hurting his ability to move on and heal.
Jeremiah is 27, gay, and Ben's new neighbor. Jeremiah meets Luca first, and Luca takes a shine to him. Luca calls him Jelly. Their relationship is very sweet. Jeremiah start spending a lot of time hanging out on the porch and the yard talking to the two of them, and then he starts coming over for dinners and stuff. They become very close friends over the course of eight or so weeks. Jeremiah develops a massive crush on Ben, because he is not only very attractive, he is a very kind man and gives off soft Dom vibes and he turns Jeremiah into a puddle of feelings. Ben has always identified as straight and hasn't really considered men before. But he feels a lot of affection for Jeremiah, he feels possessive and protective of him, and he can't take his eyes off him, there's something about him that fascinates him and makes him feel like home. It takes a while for Ben to realize his interest in Jeremiah is sexual and romantic too.
This was a very sweet and emotional story. It dealt with some tough themes, but I would say it was pretty low angst considering everything. There was no real angst between Ben and Jeremiah, they were platonic relationship goals and then sex was added to the mix and they met all of their needs together. I loved how Jeremiah was unconditionally there for Ben. I loved that Jeremiah loved Luca as much as he loved Ben. They made a great family unit. There was some nice comic relief in Jeremiah's wacky thoughts. Jeremiah was very relatable. There was a lot to enjoy in this book, I marked a lot of favourite passages.
Two things I wasn't a huge fan of. I was just confused about what this unspoken thing with Marcus was that they mentioned a few times. It made it sound like Marcus had one sided feelings for Jeremiah, but there was nothing else that implied that, and Jeremiah specifically said they once kissed and neither of them felt anything, so it didn't fit! Another thing was that it was kind of random that Ben got to play one last game in the nhl. It was just a little convenient.
Some notable moments:
"That’s one of the things I love about kids. They’re born without judgment or hate. Luca learned Jonah has two dads at a birthday party last year. Luca suggested they get some more candy, and Jonah said, “I can’t have more because one of my dads says too much candy gives me the zoomies.” Despite not having met a kid with two dads before, Luca didn’t bat an eye. He simply said, “Which one of your dads says that?” “The one with red hair,” Jonah said sadly. “’Kay, let’s go and ask your dad with brown hair then.”"
This had me crying "“We were three people,” he cries. “We were three people, Daddy, and, and I’m still a three-person. I’m a three-person. I don’t want to be two people.” He sobs until his voice grows softer and watery. “I’m a three-person, Daddy. I’m a three-person.”"
Poor Jeremiah was suffering. Lol. "I shake my head thoughtfully from side to side. “No, I didn’t see anything unusual…” He goes lax, slumping back against the backrest of the sofa and looking up at the ceiling in such relief I feel bad about my decision to joke about it. It’s too late to change my mind, though, because I can’t lie to him, so I whisper, “I mean, I did see a wall-mounted dildo, but…that’s not all that unusual.” “Oh God,” he says, closing his eyes and breathing prayerfully. “Canada. Brace yourself, babygirl. I’m coming at you. You have a new citizen headed your way.”"
*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.
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 2.5/5
Kinks: dominance/submission, toys
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: grief, past death of spouse, mental health
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: Ben's wife Liz died in a car accident a year and a half ago. He hasn't been with anyone since. During this book, he's dealing with grief, but Jeremiah is never made to feel like second choice. At one point before they get together, Jeremiah decides to go on a Grindr date because he's hopelessly crushing on a straight guy and hasn't hooked up since meeting him. But Jeremiah cancels the date, he can't bring himself to go on it. They are both very focused on each other once they get together.
4.5 stars
Ben is 34, and a year and a half ago his wife Liz died, leaving him a single dad to his now 6-year-old son Luca. Ben was a professional NHL player, but he quit when Liz died. He recently decided to move closer to his former in-laws and sister-in-law, to be closer to them plus to leave the home he shared with his wife because it's hurting his ability to move on and heal.
Jeremiah is 27, gay, and Ben's new neighbor. Jeremiah meets Luca first, and Luca takes a shine to him. Luca calls him Jelly. Their relationship is very sweet. Jeremiah start spending a lot of time hanging out on the porch and the yard talking to the two of them, and then he starts coming over for dinners and stuff. They become very close friends over the course of eight or so weeks. Jeremiah develops a massive crush on Ben, because he is not only very attractive, he is a very kind man and gives off soft Dom vibes and he turns Jeremiah into a puddle of feelings. Ben has always identified as straight and hasn't really considered men before. But he feels a lot of affection for Jeremiah, he feels possessive and protective of him, and he can't take his eyes off him, there's something about him that fascinates him and makes him feel like home. It takes a while for Ben to realize his interest in Jeremiah is sexual and romantic too.
This was a very sweet and emotional story. It dealt with some tough themes, but I would say it was pretty low angst considering everything. There was no real angst between Ben and Jeremiah, they were platonic relationship goals and then sex was added to the mix and they met all of their needs together. I loved how Jeremiah was unconditionally there for Ben. I loved that Jeremiah loved Luca as much as he loved Ben. They made a great family unit. There was some nice comic relief in Jeremiah's wacky thoughts. Jeremiah was very relatable. There was a lot to enjoy in this book, I marked a lot of favourite passages.
Two things I wasn't a huge fan of. I was just confused about what this unspoken thing with Marcus was that they mentioned a few times. It made it sound like Marcus had one sided feelings for Jeremiah, but there was nothing else that implied that, and Jeremiah specifically said they once kissed and neither of them felt anything, so it didn't fit! Another thing was that it was kind of random that Ben got to play one last game in the nhl. It was just a little convenient.
Some notable moments:
"That’s one of the things I love about kids. They’re born without judgment or hate. Luca learned Jonah has two dads at a birthday party last year. Luca suggested they get some more candy, and Jonah said, “I can’t have more because one of my dads says too much candy gives me the zoomies.” Despite not having met a kid with two dads before, Luca didn’t bat an eye. He simply said, “Which one of your dads says that?” “The one with red hair,” Jonah said sadly. “’Kay, let’s go and ask your dad with brown hair then.”"
This had me crying "“We were three people,” he cries. “We were three people, Daddy, and, and I’m still a three-person. I’m a three-person. I don’t want to be two people.” He sobs until his voice grows softer and watery. “I’m a three-person, Daddy. I’m a three-person.”"
Poor Jeremiah was suffering. Lol. "I shake my head thoughtfully from side to side. “No, I didn’t see anything unusual…” He goes lax, slumping back against the backrest of the sofa and looking up at the ceiling in such relief I feel bad about my decision to joke about it. It’s too late to change my mind, though, because I can’t lie to him, so I whisper, “I mean, I did see a wall-mounted dildo, but…that’s not all that unusual.” “Oh God,” he says, closing his eyes and breathing prayerfully. “Canada. Brace yourself, babygirl. I’m coming at you. You have a new citizen headed your way.”"
*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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2025
Story had some very rough and unconnected parts that made things feel like they were patched up from different drafts or something.
Ben's meeting with his old team being timelapsed over was weird. I thought missing hockey was such an important part of his character journey, wouldn't an event as big as seeing people he used to play with be worth exploring? I mean he literally couldn't go to a game because of his hangups.
The massage Jeremiah offered came out of nowhere. Ben gets a headache and Jeremiah just magically suggests physical contact? I'd get it if Ben had gotten hurt or threw out his back hanging up curtains or whatever, but a full body massage for a headache?
After the massage, Jeremiah and Ben getting on to the topic of Jeremiah being gay was so very confusing. Idk why a question about how Ben knew Jeremiah was gay came up when so many other noteworthy events had just happened like Jeremiah giving Ben a massage, Ben crying on his shoulder, or Ben seeing his used dildo. What about that leads to "How'd you know I was gay?" (especially when Jeremiah had talked about it literally before the message too)
Jeremiah knowingly flirting with a guy he thought was straight was a bit questionable imo. Sure, he was crushing hard on the very attractive neighbor, but continually hitting on a man (and not being subtle about it at all) started to feel a bit icky, even though Ben never said no. The principle of it just didn't sit right with me because Ben was straight as far as he knew, so the flirting was just inappropriate.
When Ben gets drunk and ends up being the soft dom he was randomly described as earlier, it felt weird. There hadn't been any themes of dom/sub or control play prior to this (outside of the two times Jeremiah's friend described Ben as a soft dom which had literally zero justification other than looking at a picture). Also, wasn't Ben still grieving the death of his wife? The notes at the start of the chapters indicate an attachment that should've interfered more with Ben's attraction and we had not gotten any description of closure on his part aside from the crying that happened after the massage. Them talking about her after the fact just underscored how weird the situation was. We just get a few paragraphs about how Ben got over his grief when we really should've seen that happen on page.
Everything that happens after Ben and Jeremiah get together is too fluffy. There's literally zero conflict between the first BJ to the first anal scene, and only at 83% do we get Jeremiah randomly blurting to his best friend (who's been MIA for most of the book at this point) that he's scared "all the time" about him and Ben not working out. Unless I've magically missed "all the times" he's expressed fear or worry about Ben's supposedly unsolid affection, this is yet another example of something in the story that feels disconnected because Jeremiah being scared that Ben was going to pull away from him happened only once right after the first BJ, but Ben very quickly rectified that but explicitly telling Jeremiah to stay. Jeremiah also mentions he's scared for Luca, and goes on a tangent about everything that could go wrong for an upcoming Christmas play, but like the fear over things ending with Ben, there had been zero scenes prior to that showing Jeremiah was actually scared for Luca's general experience growing up.
The story does a good job with the setup and steam, but everything surrounding it felt tacked on and underbaked.
Ben's meeting with his old team being timelapsed over was weird. I thought missing hockey was such an important part of his character journey, wouldn't an event as big as seeing people he used to play with be worth exploring? I mean he literally couldn't go to a game because of his hangups.
The massage Jeremiah offered came out of nowhere. Ben gets a headache and Jeremiah just magically suggests physical contact? I'd get it if Ben had gotten hurt or threw out his back hanging up curtains or whatever, but a full body massage for a headache?
After the massage, Jeremiah and Ben getting on to the topic of Jeremiah being gay was so very confusing. Idk why a question about how Ben knew Jeremiah was gay came up when so many other noteworthy events had just happened like Jeremiah giving Ben a massage, Ben crying on his shoulder, or Ben seeing his used dildo. What about that leads to "How'd you know I was gay?" (especially when Jeremiah had talked about it literally before the message too)
Jeremiah knowingly flirting with a guy he thought was straight was a bit questionable imo. Sure, he was crushing hard on the very attractive neighbor, but continually hitting on a man (and not being subtle about it at all) started to feel a bit icky, even though Ben never said no. The principle of it just didn't sit right with me because Ben was straight as far as he knew, so the flirting was just inappropriate.
When Ben gets drunk and ends up being the soft dom he was randomly described as earlier, it felt weird. There hadn't been any themes of dom/sub or control play prior to this (outside of the two times Jeremiah's friend described Ben as a soft dom which had literally zero justification other than looking at a picture). Also, wasn't Ben still grieving the death of his wife? The notes at the start of the chapters indicate an attachment that should've interfered more with Ben's attraction and we had not gotten any description of closure on his part aside from the crying that happened after the massage. Them talking about her after the fact just underscored how weird the situation was. We just get a few paragraphs about how Ben got over his grief when we really should've seen that happen on page.
Everything that happens after Ben and Jeremiah get together is too fluffy. There's literally zero conflict between the first BJ to the first anal scene, and only at 83% do we get Jeremiah randomly blurting to his best friend (who's been MIA for most of the book at this point) that he's scared "all the time" about him and Ben not working out. Unless I've magically missed "all the times" he's expressed fear or worry about Ben's supposedly unsolid affection, this is yet another example of something in the story that feels disconnected because Jeremiah being scared that Ben was going to pull away from him happened only once right after the first BJ, but Ben very quickly rectified that but explicitly telling Jeremiah to stay. Jeremiah also mentions he's scared for Luca, and goes on a tangent about everything that could go wrong for an upcoming Christmas play, but like the fear over things ending with Ben, there had been zero scenes prior to that showing Jeremiah was actually scared for Luca's general experience growing up.
The story does a good job with the setup and steam, but everything surrounding it felt tacked on and underbaked.
April 28, 2025
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
ARC review.
This book was everything I didn't know I needed. Jesse H. Reign's writing style is so beautiful in this one; it reminded me of Romeo Falling, my favorite book written by her.
The Legend Next Door is Ben Stirling and Jeremiah Blake's story. Ah, these men! I loved them so much. Their relationship developed in a genuine way, from friends to lovers. It felt natural, not forced.
The author portrayed Ben's feelings in such a beautiful way. I won't lie, the dead wife trope is not my favorite, but I appreciated how Liz, Ben's wife, played a part in this story, and how Ben and Jeremiah were open about his past relationship with her. The letters Ben wrote to her at the beginning were a great addition too. Yes, Ben did love his wife, but that didn't tarnish his new feelings for Jeremiah. Never once did I think that Ben loved Jeremiah less than Liz.
Jeremiah was an amazing character, too. Being in his head was a fun experience; I loved his thoughts, and how he talked about Ben. The way he described him? I was melting. The pining was on another level with this boy!
The intimacy between them didn't feel rushed (but they were horny, that's for sure). Ben's willingness to discover his sexuality with Jeremiah. His curiousity and his thoughtfulness toward him. Seriously, Jesse nailed it. Ben was, indeed, extremely swoon-worthy!
Of course, I'm not forgetting about Ben's son, Luca, which was a great surprise to me! I liked this boy so much, and his interactions with both Ben and Jeremiah were so funny. The family those three created together was beautiful.
And this epilogue? Can we talk about this freaking epilogue, and how it completed the story? Jesse ended the book on a strong note. It was impressive. Ben evolved a lot, and the epilogue showed it perfectly. It was a well-deserved happy ending for him and Jeremiah.
I'm grateful I had the opportunity to read this book before its release.
ARC review.
This book was everything I didn't know I needed. Jesse H. Reign's writing style is so beautiful in this one; it reminded me of Romeo Falling, my favorite book written by her.
The Legend Next Door is Ben Stirling and Jeremiah Blake's story. Ah, these men! I loved them so much. Their relationship developed in a genuine way, from friends to lovers. It felt natural, not forced.
The author portrayed Ben's feelings in such a beautiful way. I won't lie, the dead wife trope is not my favorite, but I appreciated how Liz, Ben's wife, played a part in this story, and how Ben and Jeremiah were open about his past relationship with her. The letters Ben wrote to her at the beginning were a great addition too. Yes, Ben did love his wife, but that didn't tarnish his new feelings for Jeremiah. Never once did I think that Ben loved Jeremiah less than Liz.
Jeremiah was an amazing character, too. Being in his head was a fun experience; I loved his thoughts, and how he talked about Ben. The way he described him? I was melting. The pining was on another level with this boy!
The intimacy between them didn't feel rushed (but they were horny, that's for sure). Ben's willingness to discover his sexuality with Jeremiah. His curiousity and his thoughtfulness toward him. Seriously, Jesse nailed it. Ben was, indeed, extremely swoon-worthy!
Of course, I'm not forgetting about Ben's son, Luca, which was a great surprise to me! I liked this boy so much, and his interactions with both Ben and Jeremiah were so funny. The family those three created together was beautiful.
And this epilogue? Can we talk about this freaking epilogue, and how it completed the story? Jesse ended the book on a strong note. It was impressive. Ben evolved a lot, and the epilogue showed it perfectly. It was a well-deserved happy ending for him and Jeremiah.
I'm grateful I had the opportunity to read this book before its release.
May 3, 2025
Well, I didn't expect to be crying at the last chapter of this book, but here we are. The ending just unexpectedly hit me and the emotion and HEA for these two - yeah, happy tears.
This is such a beautiful romance, with a look at grief, loss, how to move on but also not forget that love, and find new love with someone who is equally just as perfect for you. I just adored every single character in this book. Jeremiah/Jelly was honest, sweet, caring, and a riot! And Ben - ahhh, Ben. A grieving widow, trying to find a purpose and joy in life, and take care of his young son - who is precocious but not TOO OVERLY so lol, and honestly his friendship with Jelly was beyond sweet.
I love that there wasn't big drama over Ben falling for Jeremiah, there wasn't any crisis and break up or miscommunication. I absolutely LOVED their romance.
Ahhhh these two. I'll be thinking about them for some time. I cannot wait to read more in this world and get our next hockey couple.
There is this bit at the end of chapter 35, where Ben is talking about how he was frozen after his wife died. And that Jeremiah was what got the world rotating for him again. I don't know, it was just so poignant and beautifully worded. I know I say this with many of Jesse's books, but this might be the new favorite? Definitely in the top 3!
This one would stand really well on its own, since the previous couple only make a couple quick appearances. This is definitely a big focus on Ben, Jeremiah, and Luca.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a beautiful romance, with a look at grief, loss, how to move on but also not forget that love, and find new love with someone who is equally just as perfect for you. I just adored every single character in this book. Jeremiah/Jelly was honest, sweet, caring, and a riot! And Ben - ahhh, Ben. A grieving widow, trying to find a purpose and joy in life, and take care of his young son - who is precocious but not TOO OVERLY so lol, and honestly his friendship with Jelly was beyond sweet.
I love that there wasn't big drama over Ben falling for Jeremiah, there wasn't any crisis and break up or miscommunication. I absolutely LOVED their romance.
Ahhhh these two. I'll be thinking about them for some time. I cannot wait to read more in this world and get our next hockey couple.
There is this bit at the end of chapter 35, where Ben is talking about how he was frozen after his wife died. And that Jeremiah was what got the world rotating for him again. I don't know, it was just so poignant and beautifully worded. I know I say this with many of Jesse's books, but this might be the new favorite? Definitely in the top 3!
This one would stand really well on its own, since the previous couple only make a couple quick appearances. This is definitely a big focus on Ben, Jeremiah, and Luca.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2025
Initially I could not put this down. I adored every chapter with Luca, Ben's son, in it. He brought energy & joy to the page. I loved Ben and Jeremiah getting to know each other and the way "Jelly" obviously fit almost seamlessly into Ben & Luca's life.
I was super annoyed that Robbie & Ant appeared in like only two lines in the whole book and zero slutty socks were seen! I know it's not their book but I expected to see more of them 😥
Take a picture because I don't know if you'll ever see me type this again but I liked the book without the sex scenes. They kind of lost me. I felt almost like they didn't quite belong the way they were added. Like one minute Ben is straight, sobbing over ex-wife, and writing her letters and then he's tongue deep in boy butt. Felt off idk. But yeah, I loved the little family they were making outside of the bedroom so I preferred those moments.
Next book sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun!
I was super annoyed that Robbie & Ant appeared in like only two lines in the whole book and zero slutty socks were seen! I know it's not their book but I expected to see more of them 😥
Take a picture because I don't know if you'll ever see me type this again but I liked the book without the sex scenes. They kind of lost me. I felt almost like they didn't quite belong the way they were added. Like one minute Ben is straight, sobbing over ex-wife, and writing her letters and then he's tongue deep in boy butt. Felt off idk. But yeah, I loved the little family they were making outside of the bedroom so I preferred those moments.
Jeremiah and Luca. My family. My future. I raise my hand in their direction, clenching my fist decisively before smiling and flicking my fingers hard, sending a thousand tiny droplets in their direction.
Next book sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun!
June 23, 2025
Така миленька книга, дуже сподобались головні герої і малюк Лука
Книга без драми, от таке мені дуже подобається, я просто получала задоволення від читання, моментами сміялась
Вони такі хороші обоє, Лука така мила дитина, шкода що потім було мало взаємодії з ним
Книга сподобалась більше ніж попередня з цієї серії, але тут вже було менше хокею (але мені таке наоборот подобається)
Книга без драми, от таке мені дуже подобається, я просто получала задоволення від читання, моментами сміялась
Вони такі хороші обоє, Лука така мила дитина, шкода що потім було мало взаємодії з ним
Книга сподобалась більше ніж попередня з цієї серії, але тут вже було менше хокею (але мені таке наоборот подобається)
July 23, 2025
Do you ever worry that perhaps you've set your standards too high with an anticipated book release? You think, "could it possibly match all the hype and expectations" ????
Hell yeah! Reign delivers in fine form yet again.
Omg! This was FUN! But it equally ripped me to shreds with its deep dive into the grief over losing a partner. I had the tissues out in the first chapters! And don't even get me started on the last!
I love being surprised when reading mm romances which go beyond the spice, beyond the romance and hit you with such beautiful emotion that it takes your breath away. But then I shouldn't be surprised by the author who wrote the superb Unbreak Me.
I also loved how Ben (our grieving widow) calls bullshit on the stages of grief! Hallelujah! I almost cheered when I read my own feelings about this topic laid out on the page. His journey of grief was very close to home and was authentically written. Some of the brutal truisms.... the blade of pain that slices when new things are learned about a deceased partner... the way waves of emotions, of pain, rise unexpectedly... the craving for that pain ... the diary to your loved one ... the prepared responses to people's questions. Spot on.
And Luca, Ben's 6yo son was just frigging adorable and the narrator's voice for him was cuteness personified. And a cute AF meet cute - not with the MC's but between Luca and Jeremiah!
Speaking of Jeremiah, his crush on Ben was next level. And right off the bat. No build up there! 😅
"I am patheticness personified. A gurgling, whimpering mess that smiles like an idiot." Jeremiah Blake
God I loved these two. 😍
I was giggling ridiculously, no, make that cackling, over the innuendos going on in Jeremiah's head while they were planting seeds 🤣🤣🤣
My only complaint (and believe me it's minor) was when finally (and I mean finally!) the boys acted on their horniness for each other, I felt a little let down that their intimacy went straight into a D/s situation. I mean they really seemed into each other but there was no kiss first - just straight into it. Personally I don't think this resonated with the build up to their relationship. I would have really loved to hear Ben's inner voice as to why he acted the way he did. But the narration was more in Jeremiah's head.
Over all though, an exquisite read from one of my favourite authors.
I think I need more sweetness like this in my life, so I think I'll go back and reread The Daddy Arrangement. Elliot shares Jeremiah's cuteness. And Stuart and Ben certainly have some similar Dom energy going on! ❤️❤️❤️
Hell yeah! Reign delivers in fine form yet again.
Omg! This was FUN! But it equally ripped me to shreds with its deep dive into the grief over losing a partner. I had the tissues out in the first chapters! And don't even get me started on the last!
I love being surprised when reading mm romances which go beyond the spice, beyond the romance and hit you with such beautiful emotion that it takes your breath away. But then I shouldn't be surprised by the author who wrote the superb Unbreak Me.
I also loved how Ben (our grieving widow) calls bullshit on the stages of grief! Hallelujah! I almost cheered when I read my own feelings about this topic laid out on the page. His journey of grief was very close to home and was authentically written. Some of the brutal truisms.... the blade of pain that slices when new things are learned about a deceased partner... the way waves of emotions, of pain, rise unexpectedly... the craving for that pain ... the diary to your loved one ... the prepared responses to people's questions. Spot on.
And Luca, Ben's 6yo son was just frigging adorable and the narrator's voice for him was cuteness personified. And a cute AF meet cute - not with the MC's but between Luca and Jeremiah!
Speaking of Jeremiah, his crush on Ben was next level. And right off the bat. No build up there! 😅
"I am patheticness personified. A gurgling, whimpering mess that smiles like an idiot." Jeremiah Blake
God I loved these two. 😍
I was giggling ridiculously, no, make that cackling, over the innuendos going on in Jeremiah's head while they were planting seeds 🤣🤣🤣
My only complaint (and believe me it's minor) was when finally (and I mean finally!) the boys acted on their horniness for each other, I felt a little let down that their intimacy went straight into a D/s situation. I mean they really seemed into each other but there was no kiss first - just straight into it. Personally I don't think this resonated with the build up to their relationship. I would have really loved to hear Ben's inner voice as to why he acted the way he did. But the narration was more in Jeremiah's head.
Over all though, an exquisite read from one of my favourite authors.
I think I need more sweetness like this in my life, so I think I'll go back and reread The Daddy Arrangement. Elliot shares Jeremiah's cuteness. And Stuart and Ben certainly have some similar Dom energy going on! ❤️❤️❤️
May 12, 2025
Rating: 4.5/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Ben and Jeremiah
This is a very sweet romance between Ben and Jelly. It's a great slow burn that shows them building a friendship as neighbors first and then the development of more.
Ben and his son, Luca, move into the house next door to Jeremiah. He is still grieving the loss of his wife, the end of his professional hockey career, and needs to be around family. Jeremiah (Jelly) strikes up a friendship with him right away. Jelly brings him coffee every morning, gives him support, help with Luca, and comfort when he needs it. The friendship that blossoms between these two is absolutely beautiful. And I loved how Jelly was with Luca. Jelly absolutely stole the show for me in this book though. He was funny, soft, playful, vulnerable, supportive, and the perfect fit for both Ben and Luca. I loved everything about his character.
The soft moments between Ben and Jelly were touching. The spice was delicious. And the way they opened up to each other, supported each other, and fit into each other's lives was beautiful.
I feel like I'm sort of talking in circles. It's just hard for me to put into words how much I loved these three together as a family unit. And this is one of those stories that truly is based around the characters - grieving single dad moves in next door and falls in love with his neighbor. That's that storyline. But there is so much more to it because of the characters and the emotion.
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Ben and Jeremiah
This is a very sweet romance between Ben and Jelly. It's a great slow burn that shows them building a friendship as neighbors first and then the development of more.
Ben and his son, Luca, move into the house next door to Jeremiah. He is still grieving the loss of his wife, the end of his professional hockey career, and needs to be around family. Jeremiah (Jelly) strikes up a friendship with him right away. Jelly brings him coffee every morning, gives him support, help with Luca, and comfort when he needs it. The friendship that blossoms between these two is absolutely beautiful. And I loved how Jelly was with Luca. Jelly absolutely stole the show for me in this book though. He was funny, soft, playful, vulnerable, supportive, and the perfect fit for both Ben and Luca. I loved everything about his character.
The soft moments between Ben and Jelly were touching. The spice was delicious. And the way they opened up to each other, supported each other, and fit into each other's lives was beautiful.
I feel like I'm sort of talking in circles. It's just hard for me to put into words how much I loved these three together as a family unit. And this is one of those stories that truly is based around the characters - grieving single dad moves in next door and falls in love with his neighbor. That's that storyline. But there is so much more to it because of the characters and the emotion.
May 3, 2025
Maybe because I’m a sucker for single dad romances, but I adored this? The Legend Next Door checked all the boxes for me and Ben and Jelly’s story was so sweet. Luca was absolutely adorable too!
What to expect:
- retired hockey player
- widowed single dad
- quirky neighbor
- adorable six year old
- neighbors
- friends to lovers
- bi awakening
What to expect:
- retired hockey player
- widowed single dad
- quirky neighbor
- adorable six year old
- neighbors
- friends to lovers
- bi awakening
May 11, 2025
3.5⭐
I've read five books by Jesse so far, and my ratings vary wildly, anywhere from five stars to two. I never know what to expect.
The first half of the story was great, with Ben working through his grief, but it then lost its way.
I think this would have been a little better if the authors had used some of the smut time to properly address Ben's bi-awakening. It came out of nowhere.
I liked the epilogue; it kind of made up for Ben's premature departure from hockey.
NB: The cover got 0.5 stars from me. The model is really cute.😘
I've read five books by Jesse so far, and my ratings vary wildly, anywhere from five stars to two. I never know what to expect.
The first half of the story was great, with Ben working through his grief, but it then lost its way.
I think this would have been a little better if the authors had used some of the smut time to properly address Ben's bi-awakening. It came out of nowhere.
I liked the epilogue; it kind of made up for Ben's premature departure from hockey.
NB: The cover got 0.5 stars from me. The model is really cute.😘
July 28, 2025
The single dad/dead wife trope is really not my favourite if I’m honest, but aside from that I just didn’t get how Ben went from a grieving “straight” guy to bisexual daddy Dom so fast, without any kind of exploration or communication first. It was weird and felt out of character, and then the last 30% of the book was a fuck fest.
This book had some sweet moments, but overall it didn’t work for me. The audiobook narration was great though!
This book had some sweet moments, but overall it didn’t work for me. The audiobook narration was great though!
May 10, 2025
I love Jesse's writing. She's written several of my favourite and most recced books (I'll never shut up about Unrequited, ever!).
Things I loved:
This was well written, and entertaining. Although my favourite bits were the heavy ones, those with Ben dealing with grief over his dead wife, because Jesse can write angst and I will eat. it. up.
The scene where Ben's kid is setting out the table and he sets 3 places instead of 2 made me cry ugly tears. Little Luca crying about being a "three-person" hit me so hard.
Things I didn't love:
I wasn't as on board with the rest. Jelly is an adorable human, but at the same time I'm not sure I got to know him. He has hobbies, and jobs here and there, but there was no conflict or tension or anything else in his life. I wanted some more drama from his best friend who is so very obviously in love with him, but he disappears from the picture very quickly and conveniently for Jelly to start sleeping with Ben.
I wish we had seem a bit more self reflection about Ben and his bi-awakening. And their first sex scene confused me a lot - they never discussed their kinks, or attraction to each other, and BOOM now they're doing this dom/sub dynamic. It made my head spin a little. Unfortunately I'm not into D/S so this wasn't my cup of tea. It's me, not you Jesse.
So yeah, not my favourite book from one of my favourite authors.
Thanks Jesse and team for the ARC!!
Things I loved:
This was well written, and entertaining. Although my favourite bits were the heavy ones, those with Ben dealing with grief over his dead wife, because Jesse can write angst and I will eat. it. up.
The scene where Ben's kid is setting out the table and he sets 3 places instead of 2 made me cry ugly tears. Little Luca crying about being a "three-person" hit me so hard.
Things I didn't love:
I wasn't as on board with the rest. Jelly is an adorable human, but at the same time I'm not sure I got to know him. He has hobbies, and jobs here and there, but there was no conflict or tension or anything else in his life. I wanted some more drama from his best friend who is so very obviously in love with him, but he disappears from the picture very quickly and conveniently for Jelly to start sleeping with Ben.
I wish we had seem a bit more self reflection about Ben and his bi-awakening. And their first sex scene confused me a lot - they never discussed their kinks, or attraction to each other, and BOOM now they're doing this dom/sub dynamic. It made my head spin a little. Unfortunately I'm not into D/S so this wasn't my cup of tea. It's me, not you Jesse.
So yeah, not my favourite book from one of my favourite authors.
Thanks Jesse and team for the ARC!!
May 11, 2025
This book is both beautiful and confusing. I loved, loved, loved the first part! It’s so sweet and vulnerable. I love how Ben loved his wife and how good he is with his son and their grieving. Especially when Luca breaks down with setting the table and crying about being a three-people-person. And how fast Ben reaches out to Jelly, in all sorts of situations, to help. And how much Jelly is there for him when he’s upset. And the letters to Liz are both adorable and funny.
And all of a sudden it’s a (light)bdsm-book with a bi-awakening that was so fast it’s not even mentioned (until almost the end). Why not spend just a few pages on the start of their relationship? I could have used a hesitant first kiss, from Ben’s point of view. Almost the whole book is mostly from Ben’s perspective (and wonderfully so). And this important part is from Jelly. Such a missed chance!
Also: why doesn’t Jelly have a normal job? I understand he needs to be home a lot for him to be able to jump when Ben needs him. He could have been only a photographer or yoga teacher. Why make him a bit of a loser? (Not that I think either or the combination of those jobs make you a loser, but the way it was written it felt like the author somehow felt like he was, that his aunt needed to rescue him with her free cottage).
Anyway, I really loved 90% of this and will definitely reread this book. I’ll just make up the missing 10% in my head when I do that 😄
I do recommend this book because of the beautiful grieving parts and the great parenting bits.
And all of a sudden it’s a (light)bdsm-book with a bi-awakening that was so fast it’s not even mentioned (until almost the end). Why not spend just a few pages on the start of their relationship? I could have used a hesitant first kiss, from Ben’s point of view. Almost the whole book is mostly from Ben’s perspective (and wonderfully so). And this important part is from Jelly. Such a missed chance!
Also: why doesn’t Jelly have a normal job? I understand he needs to be home a lot for him to be able to jump when Ben needs him. He could have been only a photographer or yoga teacher. Why make him a bit of a loser? (Not that I think either or the combination of those jobs make you a loser, but the way it was written it felt like the author somehow felt like he was, that his aunt needed to rescue him with her free cottage).
Anyway, I really loved 90% of this and will definitely reread this book. I’ll just make up the missing 10% in my head when I do that 😄
I do recommend this book because of the beautiful grieving parts and the great parenting bits.
April 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I can already tell I’m going to eat up every book in this series and leave no crumbs. You all know I LOVED POI, I mean.. my Roman Empire kind of love. Ant and Robbie ♾️ so how do Jelly & Ben compare? Well it’s impossible to ignore the way these two are VASTLY different from my boys, so we’re not even going to compare apples to oranges but I LOVED THEM. PERIOD.
Ben has suffered immense loss, he packed up his life and his son and moved to Seattle, leaving everything behind, to start fresh. New house, new life, new outlook? Hopefully.
Luca, Ben’s son, quickly makes friends with the man next door, Jelly (aka. Jeremiah) and they strike up the sweetest friendship.
Jelly is a single man, living alone, the jack of all trades but master of none. He does a little bit of everything and he develops a massive crush on his new next door neighbour. A straight man. Because of course, that’s just Jelly’s luck when it comes to dating.
What I loved most about this story was that Ben’s Bi-Awakening? Seamless. Absolutely beautiful to experience, and he never once doubted what he was feeling for Jelly. He just knew in his heart that this man was sent to him for a reason, and he wasn’t letting him go. 🥹
Jelly brought such hilarious, funny, perfect moments to their story that had me laughing one minute and crying the next. He’s hilarious, but when it comes time for the serious, caring, tender moments? He knows just what to say. And he breaks down all of Ben’s walls without even trying. Okay, maybe a little flirting helped. Okay, a lot of flirting but you get the idea 😂
These two were HOT, an everything I needed. You get a little bit of the signature Jesse poetry, beautiful writing, stunning descriptions of feelings and emotions, but it was also just a really fun, easy, lighthearted, low angst read.
I loved everything about them, I only wish it were longer so I could eat up some more of them.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I can already tell I’m going to eat up every book in this series and leave no crumbs. You all know I LOVED POI, I mean.. my Roman Empire kind of love. Ant and Robbie ♾️ so how do Jelly & Ben compare? Well it’s impossible to ignore the way these two are VASTLY different from my boys, so we’re not even going to compare apples to oranges but I LOVED THEM. PERIOD.
Ben has suffered immense loss, he packed up his life and his son and moved to Seattle, leaving everything behind, to start fresh. New house, new life, new outlook? Hopefully.
Luca, Ben’s son, quickly makes friends with the man next door, Jelly (aka. Jeremiah) and they strike up the sweetest friendship.
Jelly is a single man, living alone, the jack of all trades but master of none. He does a little bit of everything and he develops a massive crush on his new next door neighbour. A straight man. Because of course, that’s just Jelly’s luck when it comes to dating.
What I loved most about this story was that Ben’s Bi-Awakening? Seamless. Absolutely beautiful to experience, and he never once doubted what he was feeling for Jelly. He just knew in his heart that this man was sent to him for a reason, and he wasn’t letting him go. 🥹
Jelly brought such hilarious, funny, perfect moments to their story that had me laughing one minute and crying the next. He’s hilarious, but when it comes time for the serious, caring, tender moments? He knows just what to say. And he breaks down all of Ben’s walls without even trying. Okay, maybe a little flirting helped. Okay, a lot of flirting but you get the idea 😂
These two were HOT, an everything I needed. You get a little bit of the signature Jesse poetry, beautiful writing, stunning descriptions of feelings and emotions, but it was also just a really fun, easy, lighthearted, low angst read.
I loved everything about them, I only wish it were longer so I could eat up some more of them.
May 12, 2025
“𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭. 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘐’𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺.”
Bye. Literally excuse me while I ugly cry 😭
This damn book.
THIS DAMN BOOK. So fucking cute it made my damn tooth ache.
I usually hate the dead wife trope in mlm books. Mostly because it’s always somehow used as a way to degrade women even in death. Pisses me tf off.
But this one? STOP
It was written so damn beautifully. It’s so damn raw and vulnerable and filled with so much love and reverence for the dead wife. Ben Stirling got two loves in his lifetime. Both so adored by him, that I know for sure.
I enjoyed all the time I spent reading this, I had to battle so many emotions. I’m high key not ready to let go of Ben, Luca and Jelly. I wish there was SO MUCH MORE.
Bye. Literally excuse me while I ugly cry 😭
This damn book.
THIS DAMN BOOK. So fucking cute it made my damn tooth ache.
I usually hate the dead wife trope in mlm books. Mostly because it’s always somehow used as a way to degrade women even in death. Pisses me tf off.
But this one? STOP
It was written so damn beautifully. It’s so damn raw and vulnerable and filled with so much love and reverence for the dead wife. Ben Stirling got two loves in his lifetime. Both so adored by him, that I know for sure.
I enjoyed all the time I spent reading this, I had to battle so many emotions. I’m high key not ready to let go of Ben, Luca and Jelly. I wish there was SO MUCH MORE.
May 11, 2025
4.75⭐️
This was soooo good. I felt like the characters were so real, so human, and so, so sweet. These two are genuinely so kind and lovely to each other.
Ben and his son have recently moved into a new place after Ben loses his wife and he retires from his hockey career. He’s barely holding it together when he meets Jeremiah (or Jelly). Yet he unexpectedly finds the most beautiful companionship with Jelly.
Things you’ll get in this book include:
-retired hockey player single dad / yoga teacher pottery enthusiast
-bi awakening
-soft d/s vibes
-a massage scene
-hurt/comfort
-no third act breakup and great communication
-an adorable 6 year old
This was a great second instalment in the series!
This was soooo good. I felt like the characters were so real, so human, and so, so sweet. These two are genuinely so kind and lovely to each other.
Ben and his son have recently moved into a new place after Ben loses his wife and he retires from his hockey career. He’s barely holding it together when he meets Jeremiah (or Jelly). Yet he unexpectedly finds the most beautiful companionship with Jelly.
Things you’ll get in this book include:
-retired hockey player single dad / yoga teacher pottery enthusiast
-bi awakening
-soft d/s vibes
-a massage scene
-hurt/comfort
-no third act breakup and great communication
-an adorable 6 year old
This was a great second instalment in the series!
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