Just for Practice

by Jenny Pineapple

Dating lessons from his cocky stepbrother—what could possibly go wrong?

Emmett has his life in perfect order—straight A’s, swim team star, and a plan to win over the hottest girl on campus. All he needs is a little help in the romance department. Unfortunately, the only one willing to teach him? His cocky and chaotic stepbrother.

Kade is everything Emmett isn’t—lazy, reckless, magnetic. He dates for fun and treats life like a joke. But when Emmett asks for lessons in flirting, Kade agrees…because watching the Golden Boy squirm is too tempting to resist.
But practice turns dangerous when touches linger, kisses start to mean more, and everything Emmett thought he knew about himself—and about Kade—begins to shift.

One weekend. No rules. And one final lesson Emmett will never forget...

THEMES /
🔥 Stepbrothers to Lovers
🔥 Double Bi-Awakening
🔥 Golden Boy x Bad Boy
🔥 Dating Lessons / Fake Practice
🔥 Taboo Romance
🔥 First Person, Dual POV

Genres: M M Romance, Novella, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Smut, College

95 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2025

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stepbrothers Kade and Emmett are rivals who resent each other- Emmett hates that Kade is irresponsible and lazy, while Kade thinks 'Golden Boy' Emmett is uptight and needs to learn how to relax. Things change when Emmett asks Kade to help him score with a girl he likes at school. Just practice turns into making out, and then something real. This book is filthy but has a perfect HEA. I really liked this one! 😍

Each stroke sends waves of pleasure coursing through me. I strain against the handcuffs, desperate to touch him in return, but the restraints hold firm. “Tell me what you want,” Kade commands, his hand continuing its maddening rhythm. “Tell me what you want your stepbrother to do to you.”

[acalithas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical hot stepbrothers trope. Loved it. Quick easy read!

[Ninni · Rating 3 out of 5]

More cute hotness from this author. Really liked this step-bros falling for each over story ⭐⭐⭐

[Lars · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just for Practice: ★ ★ ★ ★

“Let me teach you something new, Golden Boy. Let me show you what it feels like to surrender control.”

Emmett just wants to impress a girl, but he has no charm. Who does? His stepbrother. Doesn't hurt to ask for some tips... right?

Tropes:
– Forbidden (stepbrothers)
– Lessons in seduction

Hot and spicy and forbidden quick read that was filled with tension and spice. Can’t go wrong, really.

[Madam Ra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. The dialogue was nice. I love a nice step bro situation, it had good pace. But it was predictable and I am afraid forgetable. Nice palette cleaner though.

[Aleja · Rating 3 out of 5]

MM romance | Stepbrothers | Opposites attract | Golden boy x Bad boy | Dating lessons | Double bi awakening | Secret relationship | Calls him Golden Boy

Okay, me gustaron muchísimo Emmett y Kaden! De tanto que lo disfruté se me pasó muy rápido la lectura jajaja.

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️

I absolutely loved Emmett and Kaden! I enjoyed their story so much that I flew through the pages, lol. ✨

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmett is the golden boy. Studies hard, has a swimming scholarship, does his share of the chores without complaint. He is quite simply, at least in the eyes of his stepbrother, the golden boy, loved unconditionally by both parents.

Kade is the opposite. To his dad he is a boy who needs to still be treated like a child, not really given too much attention until he can sort himself, and his grades out. He seems to see life, dating, college as a joke.

A rare opportunity is presenting itself. Currently the boys live in an guest house on their parents property but they are planning a weekend away. Emmett has decided it will be the perfect opportunity to try out his dating skills once and for all. There is a girl from one of his classes he wants to try a little harder with but he has absolutely no idea how to even begin being a good date. Kade on the other hand does, at least in Emmetts eyes. So, Emmett bites the bullet and, after agreeing to do Kade's chores is about to embark on some dating lessons. Only they don't go quite as planned. Yes, Kade does show him how to talk, touch, kiss. Yes the date goes ahead. But instead of something happening for Emmett and his date it looks very much like both boys have been ignoring something far more impactful.

Full of some of the most fantastic tropes Jenny Pineapple's latest book offers everything from step brothers to enemies to lovers, bad boy good boy, bi-awakening and even the most adorable golden retriever. I can't decide if I love the dog more than the boys or if they can all share my love! Their story made me laugh, feel warm and tingly and just feel incredibly happy. Jenny Pineapple does it again, gives us an impossible to put-down novella which packs in everything we could want and does it with confidence and passion.

[Anne Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was meant to be helping but instead developed into something so more
Emmett and Kade are stepbrothers, but very different people. Emmett is very structures. Part of the swimming team knows exactly what he wants from life Kade is more laid-back. Everything is a joke and he is very good with the ladies. When their parents are going away Emmett decides that he is going to invite a girl over for dinner, but he asked Kade to help him with his date. Kade agreed after he gets Emmett to make payment of a month chores. But what starts out as advice and technique soon leads into these two finding what they were looking for was under underneath the same roof.
I’ve got to say I really enjoyed this read I really liked the banter between Kade and Emmett the attraction and the passion between them is undeniable. I’m also very happy how Mum and Dad react to the news. A great little Read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stepbrothers romance, featuring Emmett and Kade, and is a standalone novella

Emmett, the golden boy with a perfect plan, turns to his reckless stepbrother Kade for dating lessons, never expecting the practice kisses to start feeling real. What begins as a game quickly spirals into a forbidden attraction neither of them can ignore.

This was such a fun, messy, and flirty read. Emmett and Kade’s golden boy/bad boy dynamic got me untested straight away, and the “dating lessons” setup was the perfect mix of tension and sweetness. Forbidden, playful, and surprisingly heartfelt. I had a great time with this one.

Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone novella
MM romance
Stepbrothers
Opposites attract
Golden boy x Bad boy
Dating lessons
Holding hands
Candlelight dinner
Kissing practice
Double bi awakening
Spicy times
Secret relationship
Coming out to parents
Calls him Golden Boy
HEA

[Raven || The Reader Identity · Rating 5 out of 5]

★ ★ ★ ★ ✬ ||4.5 stars||
[may contain spoilers for some readers]

Again, I could've spent 200 more pages with Emmett and Kade. Because they were GREAT characters, they had amazing chemistry, and this 99 page book had full development.

I'm slightly obsessed but also--ugh, I need MORE.

The tension was superb. The animosity between these two...it was real. Which made the sexual tension INSANE when they started their little lessons. Lemme tell you, I felt things during the build up.

The whole lead up to the cuffed scene? Kade was like a trapped animal. And the way Emmett owned his wants???

The writing. 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻

It's another HFN. I felt the love but we didn't necessarily hear it. The ending is sweet and perfect but I could've read moooorrrreeeee.

꧁𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁꧂
[pov]: 1st, dual
[spice level]: 🌶🌶🌶
[roles]: strict top/bottom
[om/ow drama]: OW, it's the premise for the "lessons"
[3rd act breakup]: 🚫

♡ dual bi-awakening
🏳️‍🌈 stepbrothers
♡ lessons in seduction
🏳️‍🌈 low angst
♡ HFN

[Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the bi-awakening, enemies-to-lovers, taboo relationship that develops between Emmett and Kade in this story. I loved the guise behind their making moves towards one another and watching them fall deeper was so much fun to read. The only oddity to me was that they never did express their love verbally for one another, just in their actions towards each other. I guess actions, in this case, spoke louder than words did.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

'My heart is pounding so hard I’m certain he can hear it. I try to dismiss these reactions as normal nervousness— after all, physical contact with anyone after a long dry spell would feel intense— but my body isn’t buying that explanation.'

I loved this book. It was such a fun, steamy read. I love the premise of one teaching the other, but then attractions flare and practice becomes real. I loved both Emmett and Kade. I enjoyed Kade's lessons and how Emmett reacted to them. Their chemistry sizzled and I always love bi-awakening. 5 stars.

[Bambi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and cute.
Emmett and Kade are step brothers. Emmett is the good, responsible boy. Good student and on the swim team, while Kade is disorganize and parties all the time.
Emmett asks Kade for flirt lessons and they found out they are attracted to each other
The lessons are hot and full of tension. Than the ton changes slightly to submissive and dominate, which is a bit weird for such young men

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

MM
🌶️🌶️
College
Double bi awakening
Stepbrothers

Kade and Emmett are stepbrothers. Emmett asks Kade with daring help. Kade gives him lessons in flirting, casual touch and kissing. When his date takes places, she handcuffs him to the bed and Kade discovers him. Emmett confessed to his date he liked someone else. Kade keeps him handcuffed and they have sex. Then they come out to their parents. HEA

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I like how a little relationship help allows Kade and Emmett to realize their true feelings. I'm glad their parents accept their relationship.

[Samantha G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute quick read. Emmet and Kade were cute characters who fell for one another during a "teach me" trope. The characters were very likeable and it was a good LGBT+ fiction that made you root for both characters to find happiness.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic, spicy and a short read? Count me in! The transition from hating each others as stepbrothers to eventually falling in love and doing the ooh la la is giving me butterflies all over. The story is short but definitely scratched my stepbro itch. Lol! Love this JP!

[Amanda Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read

Nice quick steamy read about step brothers in denial and teaching lessons. Both Emmet and Kade are oblivious to their feelings until things go a little to far. Low angst and easy quick read

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

整体的故事大纲和cherry ice差不多 都是没有经验的Virgin（cherry是真处 而这本是太久没date生疏了）为了在和crush 约会时不尴尬，选择找身边人进行约会联系（cherry是青梅竹马 这本是继兄）
刚看完friend 果然有对比就会有伤害 虽然我很喜欢这本step brother/enemies to lovers 的trope 每一次的约会练习的hotness和暧昧程度都逐步上升 循序渐进的拉扯让人脸红心跳 但是床戏部分果然还是输给了刚看的friend 就因为这减一星 还有所有除了感情戏意以外的逼逼扯扯 家庭关系 crush 其实没什么兴趣哈哈

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just for Practice is a sexual awakening, taboo, stepbrothers to lovers read about Emmett and Kade. I really enjoyed this short story and the characters.

[Ge Rielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

✅✅✅

Just completely and utter adorableness that makes me tear up. I kinda wanted this to be longer. I love them

[Ken Terp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does a novella need 2 epilogues? The characters weren’t really flushed out… Copied a lot of things from other similar books (Stepbrother Situation, Rock).

[A🦄🌻🌙 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤 Emmett and Kade 🖤

Stepbrother mm romance, yes please!! 💗

When it was just supposed to be practice, but it turned into real feelings. 😍😈

[Hannah Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75/5 ⭐️
Okay so this was SO close to being a 5 star!!! I just wish they would’ve said “I love you” to each other 😩. I loved them both together and the ending with them being so domestic?? Ugh adorable🥹

[Megan Key · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

[Moomicorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

Cute, quick read. Can't really complain about it. Enjoyed both characters and would have read something longer to have them written about in more depth.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just didn’t feel the chemistry between the 2 mcs but it was a cute short story

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little palate cleanser. :)