Doors & Windows

Liam & Jonah's Story #1.5

by A.J. Barlowe

Doors & Windows is a followup novella to A Series of Rooms and is not intended to be read as a standalone.

In a new city, free from the circumstances that tried to keep them apart, Liam Cassidy and Jonah Prince finally have a chance to kindle the love that has blossomed between them-this time on even footing.

Liam has always dreamed of a bigger, brighter life. Now he has everything he needs to build new friends, a college in his dream city, and Jonah Prince only a subway ride away.

Out of the grasp of the people who hurt him, Jonah has been given a second chance at life-and love. He only wants to prove himself worthy of it. But scars don't fade overnight, and some baggage can't be dropped at the door.

Set between the final chapter & the epilogue of A Series of Rooms, this is the story of Liam & Jonah taking their first unsteady steps into a relationship they can call by name.

Genres: LGBT, M M Romance, Romance, Novella, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers

145 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2025

Reviews

[Teru · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the companion novella to A Series Of Rooms, and it’s everything I wanted and needed - the heartfelt payoff after all the angst and hurt we had to suffer through with Liam and Jonah. And it makes it all WORTH IT!

I’m not usually one for overly mushy romantic moments in love stories but fuck me sideways I swooned HARD for these two! Probably because their soft, gentle moments were so hard-won. Liam and Jonah deserve everything they want, and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise.

And what they want is each other and a shared life in NYC. As such, this novella was not only a love letter to the boys, but also to New York City - the author’s feelings for the place shine through (and while it’s not appealing to me personally, it was lovely to see it through their eyes).

Oh my god but their love for each other is all-encompassing and so damn pure, my heart aches in the best way possible. Seeing them being absolutely smitten with each other brought tears to my eyes. I mean - Jonah borrowing Liam’s favorite books from the library to have a piece of him in his room, that’s the kind of love language that speaks directly to my soul ❤️

There are also the hard times that make you hurt and sob, of course. Jonah is desperate not to let his trauma taint the relationship with Liam, and Liam is desperate not to cause Jonah any further discomfort, so they’re fumbling in the dark, trying to show their adoration for each other in the ways they’re able to.
It’s NOT all sunshine and rainbows, especially when it comes to physical intimacy. Jonah was through way too much. But what truly matters are those blissful moments that give hope for better days, for progress, for getting better in general. Together.
So, Jonah may have ripped my heart to shreds, but then he and Liam put it back together, piece by piece, like kintsugi ❤️‍🩹
Prepare for some emotional whiplash!

The actual rating is 4,5⭐ BUT I’m rounding up because I appreciate that Barlowe didn’t just make Jonah’s trauma disappear for the sake of a fluffy novella, and wasn’t afraid to show the aftermath that hurt despite all the love present and given. Because that’s how reality is. Every setback feels like a complete failure despite the otherwise obvious progress, like for every step forward, there are two steps back. But I genuinely believe Liam and Jonah will make it. That’s what makes me smile even when shedding tears.

I would love to share my favorite quotes and highlights, but I would infringe on the rights because it’s basically a third of the book 🥰

The party went on around them, oblivious to the strange, cosmic feeling of rightness that settled over Liam. Like this moment had been written in history long before they arrived at it. Like no matter how unlikely it might have seemed a year ago, they were always meant to find each other. They were exactly where they were meant to be, and happiness stretched out like an open road before them, theirs for the taking.

(One thing, though. If someone who partook in my year-long traumatic experience as an extorted and abused sex worker then suggested I go find a therapist, I would lose my shit and scratch their eyes out with a rusted fork. Just saying. The particular character may mean well now, but it’ll never sit well with me.)

[Noah]

"...not intended to be read as a standalone."

Watch me.

[Valen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was perfect. There are no quick fixes, the healing takes time and it’s difficult and painful, Jonah’s trauma is still very present and will have long-term repercussions, but this novel was full of HOPE.

It did help me feel a bit less bruised, but I’m still really sad lol

[Miki_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

IM FUCKING SICK YOU GUYS 🥹🥹🥹 GET ABSOLUTELY FUCKED I LOVE THEM SO BAD😭😭😭😭(rtc its 330am here and i wont survive trying to write a coherent thought)

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I continue to be amazed by this author’s ability to evoke the kind of emotion in me that sticks around and leaves me wanting more. The difficult and heavy subject matter was approached with such careful sensitivity and gentle love and respect. It was refreshing and lovely and I just love Jonah and Liam with my whole chest.

[erika🪻]

it's missing my babies o'clock

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5! i’m always blown away by how beautiful the author writes emotions :') the pacing was nice, it didn’t feel rushed at all despite how short the read was. the wrap up was perfect. god i miss them already!!! <3

***

tbr:
can’t wait to crack this bad boy open!!!

[JonathanSamuelReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘For months, they had built castles out of shabby hotel rooms, crafted a kingdom in places where the light should never have reached. After that, Liam thought, they could make a home anywhere.’

No notes at all. I love them forever. A series of Rooms was my first book of the year and this sweet little novella was a perfect follow up.

Liam,
Happy Birthday.
Your boyfriend,
Jonah


🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Liam & Jonah. So. Much.

This novella has me wanting another novella for after the novella. Whatever magic AJ Barlowe has given these boys has me feeling all the things you feel with your first love. The butterflies, the giggles, the soft moments. It is such a beautiful story.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

To paraphrase a line from the book - “this was great” feels too casual and “I would literally die for them” too extreme. But I actually would, I would die for them.

“Lean on me, I can handle it.” I MEAN. Bury me.

Honestly this was flawless. The writing is sublime. The tenderness is excruciating in the best possible way. There’s so much care shown in the handling of trauma and in how powerful soft love can be. The perfect sequel.

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently devoured A Series of Rooms, and while that book already felt like a really satisfying standalone story, I was honestly so happy to get more Liam and Jonah in Doors & Windows. Like, the moment I realized there was a follow up novella, I jumped on it, and somehow it ended up being exactly what I didn’t even know I needed.

This story sits between the final chapter and the epilogue of the main book, and it really does feel like an extended epilogue in the best way. Liam and Jonah are in a new city, finally away from the circumstances that kept them apart, and they’re trying to figure out what it actually means to be together. They’re just so sweet, a little awkward, and completely adorable, which had me smiling through a lot of this novella.

Still, while this is lighter than the main book, I loved that A.J. Barlowe didn’t just hand them an easy happily ever after, because I think that would have felt really disingenuous after everything they have been through together. The story still deals with trauma, PTSD, and the complicated reality of intimacy after abuse, and I appreciated how honest that felt. Healing takes time, and watching them work through that together was painful at times but also really powerful.

At the same time, I really enjoyed seeing Liam thriving in his creative element. His journey didn’t get overshadowed by Jonah’s emotional healing, which I appreciated a lot. And the New York summer setting was such a nice backdrop for all of it, the whole vibe just worked for me.

I’m really glad Barlowe gave us this extra glimpse into their lives, so if you loved A Series of Rooms, please do yourself a favour and don't sleep on this one. Also highly recommend the audiobooks for this series, the feels are feeling so good!

[Asia · Rating 5 out of 5]

mamy swój odpowiednik Goodreads, nazywa się lubimyczytać;) oni maja tam rozszerzona skalę do 10 gwiazdek. te 10 gwiazdek to arcydzieło. 9 gwiazdek to książka wybitna. całą serie bym oceniła na wybitną. złamała mi serce i zaczęła je powoli naprawiać tym dodatkiem. dużo ludków czytaczy ma trochę... pretensje? może złe słowo... nie czai dlaczego zostało to tak przez autorkę potraktowane. ale ja to widzę wyraźnie. wyraźnie widać, że nie można było tych metaforycznych drzwi i okien wsadzić do tych ciemnych, brudnych... pełnych bolesnych wspomnień, a także, dzięki Liamowi, przynoszących nadzieję i ukojenie chwilowe, pokoi hotelowych... te drzwi i okna, zarówno realne jak i metaforyczne są w innej czasoprzestrzeni mentalnej, umysłowej, emocjonalnej. jestem w team Jonah i Liam do końca świata i jedne dzien dłużej. nawet Elias mnie przestał... wkuriwać. nie żebym mu kiedykolwiek wybaczyła... ale to on też musi sam sobie wybaczyć... jeśli będzie mógł, potrafił i w ogóle. rodzice... z jednej takiej strony, gdy usiłuję tę matke zrozumieć... bo o ojcu to w ogóle nie będę rozmyślać, to rozumiem, że ciężko te jest sie samemu zmierzyć z tragedią która dotyka twoje dziecko. taką tragedią, gdy potem jeszcze patrzysz na wyniszczające efekty tego... że nie potrafi sobie ten dzieciak z tym poradzić, mimo że jest dorosły przecież, ale dziecko to wciaż dziecko, zawsze będzie dziecko.... i kuźwa... nie wiem ja bym poruszyła niebo i ziemię, psycholodzy, szpitale, cokolwiek, wszytsko... wciąż nie mogę pojąć schematu winienia ofiar. skąd to się w ogóle bierze, żeby winić ofiarę naprawdę do mnie nie dochodzi. kończę. bo tak. wybitna seria.

[Tess Carletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a year of feeling hopeless and like things would never get better, I wanted to start 2026 with something that would give me hope. This book was JUST what I needed. I really can't articulate how much I love these characters, how wonderful A.J. Barlowe's writing is, and how much this book spoke to the parts of my heart that are still healing. I usually have a really hard time picturing scenes in a book in my head, but there were so many moments of this I could see clear as day.

AND I would be remiss if I did not send praises to the audiobook narrators. The first book in this series is one of my favorite audiobooks because of the narrators' performances, and this one was even better.

Overall, if you've read book 1 already and are hesitant to pick up a novella, don't be. You won't be disappointed.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Series of Rooms" was one of my most loved, favorite reads of 2025- and when AJ told us they were working on a novella for these precious boys- well, I knew it would be healing and romantic. And it was both of those things--but it was SO MUCH MORE. It was such a beautifully written portrayal of Liam and Jonah's journey to where they ended up at the end of ASOR.

"I want to give you the world," Liam thought. "I want to give you back every soft moment that was stolen from you."

This novella could easily have been written in a manner that glossed over Jonah's trauma, now that he was safe and had found his partner in Liam. But that wouldn't have been an accurate portrayal of Jonah's past, or his current mental health state- and in order to do his character justice, the author really had to showcase the scars his trauma had left on him, and how that trauma affected his ability to open himself up to a relationship.

Gosh, these two boys were so damn PURE. Jonah, my sweet baby, trying so hard to ignore and repress all of his feelings because he didn't want to ruin anything with Liam. And Liam, so desperate to hold on to Jonah that he puts off the hard discussions and tough confrontations for so long just to hold tight to their delicate connection.

I couldn't have asked for more tender, careful consideration to be paid when it came to Jonah's mental health- and that is a testament to this author's success, and a big reason why I loved "A Series of Rooms." Their writing is incredibly empathetic and heartfelt- while also managing to stay romantic in this novella, and true to the fact that at the root of everything, these boys carry strong feelings for one another and want desperately to be together and in a relationship.

And damn. The romance here was the stuff of literal dreams. I cannot begin to tell you how I felt reading about Jonah's stack of library books in his bedroom, checked out because they made him feel close to Liam. Or about the date in the city. Or the frantic searching for Jonah in the rain, when Liam refuses to let him go even though it would be easier to do just that. The mural-- everything about that mural, beginning with Jonah's unfailing confidence in Liam's skill as an artist, and ending with his utter awe over the finished product (and the shenanigans that ensue)- literally, I was swooning SO VERY HARD.

"They had loved each other for so long now without needing to speak the words. The things they'd done for each other, the gentle handling of each other's hearts, had always spoken louder. But tonight, there was a power in saying it out loud."

It couldn't have been better written, in my eyes- thank you so much, AJ, for bringing us this peek into Liam and Jonah's journey, and letting us see them as they found their way to happiness. Your writing is an absolute gift, and I can't wait to read whatever it is you come up with next!

[angry axolotl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not ask me why it took me an entire month to read a mere 134 pages, it really wasn't this novella's fault xD But this might also have been a tick too fluffy for my tastes (yes, I'm sorry and I know they've had to suffer through so much already).

Call me a hypocrite (again), but I found the scenes where Liam and Jonah had to confront each other about their fears and insecurities to be the most intimate- even if things proceeded to go sideways. I mean, just look at this:
“You’re the only one who ever deserved any part of me,” Jonah said. “And now I don’t have anything left to give. What if they took it all before I met you?”
“They didn’t,” Liam whispered. “You’re still here. You survived despite them all. That’s what matters.”
See??
...well, and let's not forget about the fact that Jonah borrowed Liam's favorite books from the library to feel closer to him ;-; This little tidbit felt so much more special to me than them going on their first proper date together (which... I can't really remember much about) or them exchanging 'I love you's (...or was it only Liam?).

The thing is that I might've been a bit... disappointed? when I started feeling like therapy was made out to be the big 'solution' to everything. Not to say that I'm against Jonah going to therapy to deal with his trauma and get the support he needs- not at all! Maybe I'm just a bit too sensitive when it comes to this topic, but... therapy seemed like a very passive activity here. It's probably because this is only a novella and this sort of thing wasn't supposed to be handled in-depth here, so I'd really like to overlook it even though it's left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I'm sure that everything will work out for them in the end, but that doesn't mean that everything will always be great from now on just because Jonah has a therapist. And I think that it really doesn't have to be ;-;

That being said- I'm pretty sure now that Liam is somewhere on the asexual spectrum and I was definitely pleasantly surprised by that! I think it was a good decision not to explore his sexuality in A Series of Rooms- it just... would've felt out of place there given everything else that went on around them.

[Vinnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

JUST when I thought I had processed everything from A Series of Rooms, this gift lays itself upon my lap.

Doors & Windows is exactly the continuation of Liam and Jonah's story that my brain needed to cement why they are meant to be together. There's simply too much to get into with this novella and I'd end up spoiling way to much, so I'll just say that this story takes the logical steps our boys would need to have a healthy relationship, not just a happy one. There are moments of seriousness and the prompt for growth, but it also has enough joy and silliness to make you feel good about it all.

To anyone who read the original, do yourself a favor and be sure to read this. Maybe after you've had your time recovering... :)

*Another worthy recipient of my Book Bite Award for being so cute I definitely left some marks from cuteness aggression.

[Zainab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's be fr for a bit AJ, okay? You wrote these soul shattering, heart devouring, emotional wreck of a hundredish pages and genuinely thought i’d just casually read it and not emotionally combust? I NEED MOOORRREEE OF LIAM AND JONAH! PLEEEAAAASSSEEEE!!!

[Bethany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Liam and Jonah’s original story A Series of Rooms and immediately fell in love with these two characters. I was lucky enough to originally read it on audio and it is FLAWLESS yall. Absolutely flawless.

When I heard that @claywalks and @joshkachnycz were coming back to do the novella that @aj_barlowe gifted to us, I put my reading on hold because I wanted to experience the raw emotion of the story in audio form and it was literally everything I ever wanted.

The way that both Clayton and Joshua but their whole hearts into their performances had me crying with them. The voice breaks and cracking, the laughter, the haunted feelings, the incredible display of voice acting - feels like a master class from these two. The emotions are raw and the duet narration ties this all together.

The end once again had me so hopeful for Liam and Jonah and I’m so grateful that AJ gave us this beautiful gift. They outdid themselves with this story and I’ll be listening to it again in the future. AJ - thanks for letting me gush to you. I love them so much.

Clayton and Joshua - thank you for your incredible work on this book. I’m in awe of you both. (Clay fr thanks for putting up with me 🩷🩷)

Please go read this and A Series of Rooms and do both books on audio! You’re welcome in advance!!!!

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

A continuation of the most pure and heartbreaking love. Jonah and Liam will always have an incredibly special place in my heart and I refuse to believe their story is over.

Liam is sunshine is human form and the way he loves Jonah is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. The care and attention he gives is so beautiful. And our sweet sweet Jonah. Just trying to make it to the next day and start his new life. His inner turmoil and his battle with his head and his body is so heartbreaking but very real.

The writing as usual is spectacular and I feel these two in my bones. Jonah and Liam forever 🤍

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what I thought a series of rooms would be like. Doors & windows is all about recovery and learning to live with the trauma and moving on in spite of it.
I loved it, it was everything I wanted it to be.

[Ren Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection. Zero notes.

A Series of Rooms was one of my top reads last year, and when AJ announced the follow up novella I knew it would end up being one of my top reads this year.

Seeing Jonah and Liam living their lives in New York, together, and free, after everything that happened, healed parts of me I didn’t know needed healing.

The writing is superb again, and these characters will hold a very special place in my heart forever.

[clara ✧･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

a beautiful and tender sequel to A Series Of Rooms... i adored every second of this. Liam and Jonah share such a heartwarming bond—i love their love and the way they speak about each other in their inner monologues. it was a delight to see them explore their relationship in all the ways the initial novel left us yearning for. their more intimate scenes were particularly moving to read, as much for their softness as for their emotional complexity. healing isn't linear and, despite it being so short, i think the novella did a really great job of portraying that!

[Emily H · Rating 5 out of 5]

“For months, they had built castles out of shabby hotel rooms, crafted a kingdom in places where the light should never have reached. After that, Liam thought, they could make a home anywhere.”

❤️❤️❤️


This story and these characters are so very special to me, so getting to see a little more of them was wonderful.

[Kristel (hungryandhappy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart, my fragile heart crying.

[Jason Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m president of the Jonah & Liam Fan Club.

[az ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed A Series of Rooms, so getting to see more of Jonah and Liam's story was sweet! There wasn't anything wrong with this novella, but it didn't really evoke the emotions the main story did in me (to be fair, I hadn't expected it to.) As this story focuses on the aftermath of the events of their story, not much happened (again, not that I expected anything to.) Still, I enjoyed getting to read about these two again.

[Érica´s chapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s said that when god closes a door, he opens a window. God has no space here so I would like to rephrase it to “when a door is closed, cause you are afraid of letting it open for everyone to see and be seen, letting yourself be vulnerable, you can always let the window half way down, half way up. You protect yourself, while giving a chance to be seen, and to see you too. Slowly, you’ll open it up a bit more, or maybe close it a bit. It’s okay. Do it on your own time.”

A very long rephrasing!

That’s their story. One that I’ve cried rivers. From hotel rooms to two houses in Queens and New York. A house by the sea, a place to be free. A space metaphorically without doors and windows. The space to be vulnerable.

This novella shows how love is necessary, and healing is something not linear. It’s not your story that defines you, but the person you are in face of all that. Liam fell in love with the Jonah he saw in that bathroom, and one year later, they walk hand in hand in a mission to learn how to be there (Liam) and how to let yourself be vulnerable because you want it, not because you are forced to see it (Jonah).

[juli✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

dear a.j. barlowe,

i will read any story featuring jonah and liam you deign to write. they are such fleshed out, charming, and sweet characters that i will even read about them going grocery shopping. i want only the best for jonah, he deserves the entire universe.

please and thank you,

julia <3

p.s.
not this quote almost making me cry at 2:00am…

“This could be enough for me,” Liam said, placing his palm over Jonah’s heart. “You are enough for me, just as you are.”

[Technikolore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krótka historia dodatkowa do "Series of rooms" i nie oszukując - coś, czego brakowało mi w głównej książce, stąd taka ocena. Rozdziały o tym jak wyglądała relacja bohaterów i jak układali sobie życie po wszystkich wydarzeniach z książki stanowi dla mnie kluczowy punkt zwrotny - tu pokazanie tej traumy i tego, jak ciężko wyjść ze swojej głowy, chociaż pierwszy raz w życiu dostaje się wsparcie było wisienką na torcie, której zabrakło w "Series of rooms" i bardzo się cieszę, że ten dodatek powstał.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful, heart warming, and very sad novella following a series of rooms. I appreciate how the author shared their lives with us after such a traumatic time. These two will always have my heart. 🩵