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Bend or Break #2
Nothing Like Paris
Humble pie wasn’t supposed to taste this sweet.
Jack Tarkington’s life is in the toilet. He was supposed to be spending his junior year studying someplace cool like Paris or Rome. Instead, after taking out his anger on the campus “golden boy”, whose dad ripped off his parents, Jack is facing possible expulsion.
Sure, it’s all his own fault, but coming back to the small Iowa town he thought he’d escaped, after crowing about his admission to a prestigious school, has been a humbling experience.
When he runs into Miguel, Jack braces for backlash over the way he lorded it over his old friend and flame. Instead, Miguel offers him friendship—and a job at his growing farm-to-table store and café.
Against the odds, both guys bond over broken dreams and find common ground in music. But when Jack’s college gives him a second chance, he’s torn between achieving a dream that will take him far from home, and a love that strikes a chord he’ll never find anywhere else.
Warning: This book contains a humbled guy who’s on the brink of losing it all, a determined entrepreneur who seems to have it all together, apologies issued through banjo-picking duets, and two lovers who can play each other’s bodies like virtuosos.
Jack Tarkington’s life is in the toilet. He was supposed to be spending his junior year studying someplace cool like Paris or Rome. Instead, after taking out his anger on the campus “golden boy”, whose dad ripped off his parents, Jack is facing possible expulsion.
Sure, it’s all his own fault, but coming back to the small Iowa town he thought he’d escaped, after crowing about his admission to a prestigious school, has been a humbling experience.
When he runs into Miguel, Jack braces for backlash over the way he lorded it over his old friend and flame. Instead, Miguel offers him friendship—and a job at his growing farm-to-table store and café.
Against the odds, both guys bond over broken dreams and find common ground in music. But when Jack’s college gives him a second chance, he’s torn between achieving a dream that will take him far from home, and a love that strikes a chord he’ll never find anywhere else.
Warning: This book contains a humbled guy who’s on the brink of losing it all, a determined entrepreneur who seems to have it all together, apologies issued through banjo-picking duets, and two lovers who can play each other’s bodies like virtuosos.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2015
43 people are currently reading
984 people want to read
About the author
Amy Jo Cousins
46 books623 followersTo get updates on Amy Jo's new releases, sign up for her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/YdVW1.
Amy Jo Cousins lives in Chicago, where she writes queer romance, tweets more than she ought, and sometimes runs way too far. She loves her boy and the Cubs, who taught her that being awesome doesn't necessarily have anything to do with winning.
Amy Jo Cousins lives in Chicago, where she writes queer romance, tweets more than she ought, and sometimes runs way too far. She loves her boy and the Cubs, who taught her that being awesome doesn't necessarily have anything to do with winning.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
December 28, 2014
4.5 stars
Jack, harassing Tom to the brink of despair, was such a quintessential villain in book 1 of Cousins' Bend or Break series, I wanted to stomp on him and then spit for good measure.
But I suspected there was more to Jack's defensive posturing than met the eye.
Jack suffered when his parents lost their life savings to Tom's scheming father. His dreams of reinventing himself in Paris flew out the window.
Angry, carrying a boulder on his skinny, hipster shoulders, Jack, the bullied in high school, became the bully.
Jack is the kid of an alcoholic mother and indifferent father. The only power he had was leaving small town Iowa behind.
Forced to come home with his tail between his legs, Jack seeks out Miguel: his ex best friend, ex boyfriend, ex everything.
Miguel was lost when Jack left for college without saying goodbye. But Miguel was never going to leave, choosing his Mexican-American family, their farm, the familiar road.
Now that Jack's back, Miguel puts a shield around his heart. He's not ready to have it shattered again.
Only Jack calls Mike, "Miguel." Jack likes to show the world that Mike is HIS. These two have many wounds to heal, but the road to redemption is paved with more than good intentions.
I am totally in love with Amy Jo's characters. They are imperfect. And real. They hide and blaze. They strut and cry.
Both MCs carry a torch; both are angry. And their struggle to pull and push and give and punish is pretty fucking angsty.
There are kisses in Miguel's farm-to-table cafe, a Batman on a roof, a high school counselor who gets it, pranks and laughter, a sexy game of pool during lesbian night, and gazing at the stars.
There's the guitar. And the banjo. And the MUSIC.
These two . . . they make beautiful music together.
Jack has to come to terms with his resentment and jealousy toward Tom, the "golden boy" Jack tried so hard to be. He comes to see that he is blameless for his mother's addiction and that he can give, even when it doesn't serve him.
And Miguel realizes that he can't save Jack, and that he isn't entirely blameless; he needs to be needed, but maybe he needs Jack as much as Jack needs him.
There's some serious passion here, a connection, a LOVE buried but not forgotten: two boys becoming men who know they are only complete when they're together.
And there's a HEA, the kind that will make you sing at the top of you lungs and whip out your banjo, even if you don't know how to play.
Jack, harassing Tom to the brink of despair, was such a quintessential villain in book 1 of Cousins' Bend or Break series, I wanted to stomp on him and then spit for good measure.
But I suspected there was more to Jack's defensive posturing than met the eye.
Jack suffered when his parents lost their life savings to Tom's scheming father. His dreams of reinventing himself in Paris flew out the window.
Angry, carrying a boulder on his skinny, hipster shoulders, Jack, the bullied in high school, became the bully.
Jack is the kid of an alcoholic mother and indifferent father. The only power he had was leaving small town Iowa behind.
Forced to come home with his tail between his legs, Jack seeks out Miguel: his ex best friend, ex boyfriend, ex everything.
Miguel was lost when Jack left for college without saying goodbye. But Miguel was never going to leave, choosing his Mexican-American family, their farm, the familiar road.
Now that Jack's back, Miguel puts a shield around his heart. He's not ready to have it shattered again.
Only Jack calls Mike, "Miguel." Jack likes to show the world that Mike is HIS. These two have many wounds to heal, but the road to redemption is paved with more than good intentions.
I am totally in love with Amy Jo's characters. They are imperfect. And real. They hide and blaze. They strut and cry.
Both MCs carry a torch; both are angry. And their struggle to pull and push and give and punish is pretty fucking angsty.
There are kisses in Miguel's farm-to-table cafe, a Batman on a roof, a high school counselor who gets it, pranks and laughter, a sexy game of pool during lesbian night, and gazing at the stars.
There's the guitar. And the banjo. And the MUSIC.
These two . . . they make beautiful music together.
Jack has to come to terms with his resentment and jealousy toward Tom, the "golden boy" Jack tried so hard to be. He comes to see that he is blameless for his mother's addiction and that he can give, even when it doesn't serve him.
And Miguel realizes that he can't save Jack, and that he isn't entirely blameless; he needs to be needed, but maybe he needs Jack as much as Jack needs him.
[Miguel] would be needed for as long as Jack to stay . . . and that would be enough. It had to be. Because staying angry at Jack had been hard when Jack had left him. It was impossible when Jack needed him.
There's some serious passion here, a connection, a LOVE buried but not forgotten: two boys becoming men who know they are only complete when they're together.
And there's a HEA, the kind that will make you sing at the top of you lungs and whip out your banjo, even if you don't know how to play.
"I learned a new song for you."
"Yeah? What is it?" [Jack] couldn't wait to sing with this man once more. A million times more.
"The chorus goes something like this," Miguel said and sang in his ear about coming home.
January 11, 2016
I didn’t find this installment of the bend or break series nearly as enjoyable as the first one; it was mostly a miss for me. I found myself skimming past the sex scenes, because I was only interested in the drama. I just couldn’t get myself to fully forgive Jack, even after finding out all the gory details about his life.
The story annoyed me a few times when it mirrored book one just a little too closely for my taste. There is a scene in Off Campus where Tom breaks his cell phone in a fit of rage, and in this one Miguel breaks his credit card machine when he gets pissed off at Jack. By itself it I would have been okay with it, but I just had too many déjà vu moments. Also what is with the calling people kid Jack, dude he is like three years younger than you. I understood Tom doing it to Reese as a coping mechanism in book one, but enough already. You come across as a condescending prick….oh wait you are a condescending prick.
Maybe if I read this book first I could have liked Jack more, so if you have issues with forgiving bullies I recommend doing so.
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book for an honest review.
The story annoyed me a few times when it mirrored book one just a little too closely for my taste. There is a scene in Off Campus where Tom breaks his cell phone in a fit of rage, and in this one Miguel breaks his credit card machine when he gets pissed off at Jack. By itself it I would have been okay with it, but I just had too many déjà vu moments. Also what is with the calling people kid Jack, dude he is like three years younger than you. I understood Tom doing it to Reese as a coping mechanism in book one, but enough already. You come across as a condescending prick….oh wait you are a condescending prick.
Maybe if I read this book first I could have liked Jack more, so if you have issues with forgiving bullies I recommend doing so.
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book for an honest review.
March 11, 2015
After reading Five Dates and Off Campus and loving them- I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. I was very curious to see if Amy Jo Cousins would be able to change my opinion of Jack, whom we first met in Off Campus. To say he came across as a douche is putting it mildly. I'm happy to say she did.
In this story, we are shown his home life and we meet his best friend and lover, Miguel. We find out the reasons why the decisions that were made were done. I love how Amy Jo showed all sides to their story. Things were not just black and white- there was lots of gray in their story. It was heartbreaking on both accounts because of their intense connection. These two men were made for each other, and it was evident in every word, paragraph, page of this book.
Steam...hmm, as passionate and hot for each other as these two were- I'd say steam level was low. I would have liked some more smexy scenes. *Don't judge me* :P
Another thing I wanted to address- the fact that this is book 2 in a series. Do you have to read book 1 first? I would say yes. In order to see the full transformation in Jack- you definitely should. Plus, book 1 is awesome so you don't want to miss out.
Overall, really enjoyed this one. It's a great friends to lovers, second chance at love story. I highly recommend this series. Can't wait to read more from this author. 4 Stars ♥
February 17, 2015
IMO, better than Off Campus, which I enjoyed quite a bit. Nicely paced reunited lovers story (a trope I adore, BTW) with some serious examination of the issue of Jack's treatment of Tom in OC.
You do NOT need to read Off Campus to follow or enjoy this book, however, if you, like me, enjoy seeing an antagonist redeemed, you'll love having read OC first.
One thing I like the most about this book is that the characters are realistic. M/M romance is filled to the brim as a genre with sexy gary stus and over the top alphaholes. AJ Cousins's books are not. Her characters are real, genuine, flawed people, not caricatures. They fuck up, like real people do. And while I realize there will be people who don't like Jack or Miguel because they aren't fluffy perfect gary stus, to those people I say "MOAR FOR ME!!!!" Because these guys are my catnip.
Thank you, Amy Jo, for this brilliant, beautiful redemption story.
April 1, 2015
Jack was the bully in the first book in the series, and he got a well-deserved set-down, sent home to the small town he thought he'd escaped. There he encounters Mike, his high-school boyfriend and the guy he'd thought he'd be with forever, until he left home and Mike stayed. They might have a second chance, if they can move past all the anger they've been nursing since that break-up.
One thing I appreciated here was that the author didn't swiftly redeem Jack. He's a flawed character, and this story shows him slowly discovering, recognizing, and learning how to move past those flaws. He's not suddenly or fully redeemed, and that makes him more human.
Mike at first seems too good - the dutiful son and brother taking care of his family - and at the same time too bitter. Jack's past with him is messy and hard to get over, and there is a lot of pain lingering on both sides. I liked eventually seeing Mike forced to drop his victim's mantle and become aware he was equally at fault for their past break-up. There are some fun moments in the glimpses of their teen past, and the use of music to bridge the gap between them worked for me. I had minor quibbles and I was never quite convinced that Jack really understood or respected Mike's choices, which gave me a little concern for the HEA. But I mostly enjoyed the story and look forward to Cash next.
One thing I appreciated here was that the author didn't swiftly redeem Jack. He's a flawed character, and this story shows him slowly discovering, recognizing, and learning how to move past those flaws. He's not suddenly or fully redeemed, and that makes him more human.
Mike at first seems too good - the dutiful son and brother taking care of his family - and at the same time too bitter. Jack's past with him is messy and hard to get over, and there is a lot of pain lingering on both sides. I liked eventually seeing Mike forced to drop his victim's mantle and become aware he was equally at fault for their past break-up. There are some fun moments in the glimpses of their teen past, and the use of music to bridge the gap between them worked for me. I had minor quibbles and I was never quite convinced that Jack really understood or respected Mike's choices, which gave me a little concern for the HEA. But I mostly enjoyed the story and look forward to Cash next.
January 26, 2015
Personal note, Amy Jo Cousins seems to have penchant to use some words (in this series anyway, since it's VERY noticeable for me) that just irk me -- namely "kid" or "kids" (seriously, it has probably become my second hatred word, because it sounds condescending and should not be used for people with small age-gap!) and baby as endearment (GAH!). So I did my own editing by deleting those words in order to enjoy my reading reading. Yep, I was reading the heavily redacted version!
....
Anyway, I still wanted to give this book a chance mainly because of the theme: second chance (a.k.a. reunited with old lovers) and redemption. I mean, Jack returned home with his tail behind his legs to finally face the only one who only meant anything for him felt right up my alley! Besides, I didn't finish Off Campus. I stopped after around 2/3rd because it had too many of my personal pet peeves. So I don't really know this Jack Tarkington. He comes to me in a blank state, only by reputation that I gathered from this story.
I was having back and forth moments while reading this book, between enjoying it, wanting to knock these characters' heads against in other, and feeling rather bored in the middle... I did think that Jack and Miguel's history as pretty compelling to read. There was once sentence that Cousins wrote here that just 'spoke volumes' to me -- it had something to do with a little short story I wrote years and years ago with similar situation of the hero leaving the heroine behind --
Jack had his own baggage (an alcoholic mother, anger because Mike didn't want to follow their dream to get out of the town). And Mike wasn't exactly happy (content maybe, happy, not so much) because there were some things that happened in his own personal life. All in all, I was sucked in the drama, even if at times I thought their arguments were repetitive. Both had their reasons to be upset with one another.
In the end, I felt that Jack was the one who learned the most about this situation, the one willing to compromise and finding solutions to work things out. While Mike was stubbornly clinging to being able to get angry with Jack for leaving and to get the upper hand. At that moment, I was pretty annoyed with Mike and I almost at the end of my patience. I loved that scene where Mike was being confronted by his father -- a scene that was a bit predictable but I welcomed it nonetheless.
So, yes I have my issues and pet peeves ... but I was also able to finish this (unlike book #1) which should count for something. Some scenes shine, some scenes feel like fillers -- especially those that were written as excuses for sexy times. What can I say, I am not one who demands sex scenes. Most of the times I skim those anyway, especially when I feel that they're just there as 'compliments' and not as 'reward'. But yes, I'm a sucker for reunited lovers trope, and extra kudos must be given since this story made me found " Wagon Wheel " by Old Crow Medicine Show on Youtube which had quickly becoming my most played song of the week.
I thought that Amy Jo Cousins wrote two shorter stories that I enjoyed a lot ... however in terms of her full length novels, sadly to say I haven't been that impressed.
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
....
Anyway, I still wanted to give this book a chance mainly because of the theme: second chance (a.k.a. reunited with old lovers) and redemption. I mean, Jack returned home with his tail behind his legs to finally face the only one who only meant anything for him felt right up my alley! Besides, I didn't finish Off Campus. I stopped after around 2/3rd because it had too many of my personal pet peeves. So I don't really know this Jack Tarkington. He comes to me in a blank state, only by reputation that I gathered from this story.
I was having back and forth moments while reading this book, between enjoying it, wanting to knock these characters' heads against in other, and feeling rather bored in the middle... I did think that Jack and Miguel's history as pretty compelling to read. There was once sentence that Cousins wrote here that just 'spoke volumes' to me -- it had something to do with a little short story I wrote years and years ago with similar situation of the hero leaving the heroine behind --
"“What for? I was never going to stay, and you? You were never going to leave, were you?”"
Jack had his own baggage (an alcoholic mother, anger because Mike didn't want to follow their dream to get out of the town). And Mike wasn't exactly happy (content maybe, happy, not so much) because there were some things that happened in his own personal life. All in all, I was sucked in the drama, even if at times I thought their arguments were repetitive. Both had their reasons to be upset with one another.
In the end, I felt that Jack was the one who learned the most about this situation, the one willing to compromise and finding solutions to work things out. While Mike was stubbornly clinging to being able to get angry with Jack for leaving and to get the upper hand. At that moment, I was pretty annoyed with Mike and I almost at the end of my patience. I loved that scene where Mike was being confronted by his father -- a scene that was a bit predictable but I welcomed it nonetheless.
So, yes I have my issues and pet peeves ... but I was also able to finish this (unlike book #1) which should count for something. Some scenes shine, some scenes feel like fillers -- especially those that were written as excuses for sexy times. What can I say, I am not one who demands sex scenes. Most of the times I skim those anyway, especially when I feel that they're just there as 'compliments' and not as 'reward'. But yes, I'm a sucker for reunited lovers trope, and extra kudos must be given since this story made me found " Wagon Wheel " by Old Crow Medicine Show on Youtube which had quickly becoming my most played song of the week.
I thought that Amy Jo Cousins wrote two shorter stories that I enjoyed a lot ... however in terms of her full length novels, sadly to say I haven't been that impressed.
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
September 18, 2015
No lengthy review for this one because I'm le tired, but I just wanted to go on records as saying that I really enjoyed Nothing Like Paris (maybe not quite as much as Off Campus, but it was still damn good).
Cousins has a talent for creating rich, complex stories and characters that have weight (yet don't feel weighty), and her rather straightforward writing style seems to demand that her readers examine her characters' actions, think about their motivations, and consider what is being left unsaid as much as what is being said.
It's not hard to understand why Amy Jo's books have become some of my most anticipated releases in 2015. Can't wait to see what 2016 brings as well!
My only real disappointment was that Cousins dangled butt sex (with Jack bottoming) in front of me and then didn't deliver. In the immortal words of Stephanie Tanner: "How rude!"
Cousins has a talent for creating rich, complex stories and characters that have weight (yet don't feel weighty), and her rather straightforward writing style seems to demand that her readers examine her characters' actions, think about their motivations, and consider what is being left unsaid as much as what is being said.
It's not hard to understand why Amy Jo's books have become some of my most anticipated releases in 2015. Can't wait to see what 2016 brings as well!
My only real disappointment was that Cousins dangled butt sex (with Jack bottoming) in front of me and then didn't deliver. In the immortal words of Stephanie Tanner: "How rude!"
March 17, 2016
Meet Jack.
He is thedouchebag who harassed Tom Worthington in book one. He comes from a small town in Iowa, where he is forced to return to. Jack is angry at everyone and everything, but mostly at himself. His life becomes hell when he has to live with his alcoholic mother and his indifferent father again. The only bright thing is that he meets Mike again, or Miguel as he calls him.
Mike.
He is the boyfriend that Jack left behind without saying goodbye when he left for college. He chose to stay home to help his family, although he had a bright future ahead of him. Mike still loves Jack, but he's afraid he will get hurt again.He guards his heart and tries to resist but the chemistry between them is too much to ignore.
What I liked most about the book, was Jack's change. It happened gradually and it was a beautiful thing to watch. From this arrogant, petulant boy he becomes a mature guy who sees his mistakes and owns them. He works towards redemption, making peace with all those things that changed his life. And he does get redeemed. Somewhere along the way he breaks down. And Mike, protective and caring as always, is there to catch him.
Mike has made mistakes too and now it's time to face them. As hard as he tries to be there for Jack, the truth is that they both saved each other.
Jack and Mike are amazing together, and their HEA left me grinning like an idiot.
We also get to see Tom and Reese in a brief but hilarious scene.
Beautifully done Amy Jo Cousins.
He is the
Mike.
He is the boyfriend that Jack left behind without saying goodbye when he left for college. He chose to stay home to help his family, although he had a bright future ahead of him. Mike still loves Jack, but he's afraid he will get hurt again.He guards his heart and tries to resist but the chemistry between them is too much to ignore.
What I liked most about the book, was Jack's change. It happened gradually and it was a beautiful thing to watch. From this arrogant, petulant boy he becomes a mature guy who sees his mistakes and owns them. He works towards redemption, making peace with all those things that changed his life. And he does get redeemed. Somewhere along the way he breaks down. And Mike, protective and caring as always, is there to catch him.
“Please. Don’t let me go.” Jack was chanting under his breath. “Don’t let go. Don’t let go. Don’t let go.”
Mike has made mistakes too and now it's time to face them. As hard as he tries to be there for Jack, the truth is that they both saved each other.
Jack and Mike are amazing together, and their HEA left me grinning like an idiot.
“I want to run from the cops with you forever, Jack Tarkington.”
We also get to see Tom and Reese in a brief but hilarious scene.
Beautifully done Amy Jo Cousins.
Read
March 3, 2015I have a thing for angry, banjo-playing hipster boys, apparently. And a thing for redeeming antagonists... ;)
ETA: The first excerpt has gone up on the blog today! http://amyjocousins.com/2015/02/20/no... #AngryBanjoBoyIsFlirty
Excerpt #2 went up at I Love YA Fiction today!
ETA: The first excerpt has gone up on the blog today! http://amyjocousins.com/2015/02/20/no... #AngryBanjoBoyIsFlirty
Excerpt #2 went up at I Love YA Fiction today!
March 4, 2015
Wonderful
I laughed, cried several times, got cross, melted, felt their pain and happiness in every word.
These guys overcame their issues, worked together and I really got invested in their story
I laughed, cried several times, got cross, melted, felt their pain and happiness in every word.
These guys overcame their issues, worked together and I really got invested in their story
December 21, 2014
4.5 stars. This was such a gem of a story, beautifully written, I really enjoyed reading it.
Jack and Michael/Miguel have grown up together in a small town in Iowa. They were best friends then later first loves. But Jack was always the more adventurous, daring one of the couple, determined to see the world so when he managed to get a free ride to a prestigious, out of state uni, he didn't look back, leaving his parents, his life and Michael far behind.
At the start of the story Jack has returned to his home town with his tail between his legs. Sent down from uni in disgrace, he's simmering with anger, bitterness and regret for the mistakes he's made and for the opportunities he's squandered (including spending one term in Paris, hence the title). His first stop is Michael's cafe business, built up during Jack's absence.
Gradually we learn more about Jack's childhood and Michael's childhood as they spend time together. Michael is determined at first not to let Jack back in to destroy him again and boy does he hold out, resulting in some of the best sizzling sexual tension I've read in a long time. It really kept me glued to my kindle.
This story was so much more than sexual tension and smut (although fear not, there was plenty of that and it was H-O-T). Both Michael and Jack have had issues with their families, and Jack's parents are emotionally absent. I felt so desperately sorry for poor Jack at the start of the story, lost hurt and alone:
Both Jack and Michael have also had to cope with bigotry and hatred from some because of their sexuality. Michael has chosen to live quietly, making do with anonymous hook ups out of town, determined not to draw attention to himself or his sexuality for fear that it may affect his business. He's tired of pushing against other people's expectations and prejudices - those of his customers, his family, particularly his father:
Gradually we see Jack's bitterness and anger against the world begin to ebb away as he befriends a young gay guy - Wilson - in the cafe. He recognises and empathises with the difficulties Wilson is experiencing and steps in to do something to help him. Jack is still angry, but he channels that anger in a positive way, and in doing so, he begins to understand his own behaviour and find forgiveness. Michael too is trapped in a life of duty, he's spent so long complying with the wishes of others, he's forgotten what he really wanted to do with his life. In spending time with Jack, he too glimpses the life he really wants.
I loved reading about Jack and Michael's relationship, and watching both of them change and grow through all of the difficulties that were thrown at them. At its heart, this was a sweet love story, but realistically and sensitively told. Its understated, thoughtful tone reminded me of a couple of my favourite authors, Jane Harvey-Berrick and A Meredith Walters so if you enjoy reading their books, you'll probably love this one too. The only reason it's not quite a five star read for me is that the pace was perhaps a little slower than I'd have liked early on, but once it picked up, it really made up for it.
It is a complete, standalone story, but there are others in the series with recurring characters. This is the first book I've read by this author, but I'll definitely be reading more. This one is highly recommended if you're looking for a quality, sweet and sexy read.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in return for my honest opinion. Thanks!**
Jack and Michael/Miguel have grown up together in a small town in Iowa. They were best friends then later first loves. But Jack was always the more adventurous, daring one of the couple, determined to see the world so when he managed to get a free ride to a prestigious, out of state uni, he didn't look back, leaving his parents, his life and Michael far behind.
At the start of the story Jack has returned to his home town with his tail between his legs. Sent down from uni in disgrace, he's simmering with anger, bitterness and regret for the mistakes he's made and for the opportunities he's squandered (including spending one term in Paris, hence the title). His first stop is Michael's cafe business, built up during Jack's absence.
Gradually we learn more about Jack's childhood and Michael's childhood as they spend time together. Michael is determined at first not to let Jack back in to destroy him again and boy does he hold out, resulting in some of the best sizzling sexual tension I've read in a long time. It really kept me glued to my kindle.
This story was so much more than sexual tension and smut (although fear not, there was plenty of that and it was H-O-T). Both Michael and Jack have had issues with their families, and Jack's parents are emotionally absent. I felt so desperately sorry for poor Jack at the start of the story, lost hurt and alone:
He reached out and grabbed Jack's wrist, squeezing hard until it almost hurt. It was the first time someone had touched him in months. His mother never hugged anyone and his dad was so far withdrawn he barely acknowledged Jack.
Both Jack and Michael have also had to cope with bigotry and hatred from some because of their sexuality. Michael has chosen to live quietly, making do with anonymous hook ups out of town, determined not to draw attention to himself or his sexuality for fear that it may affect his business. He's tired of pushing against other people's expectations and prejudices - those of his customers, his family, particularly his father:
"Being around those people all the time..."
"Those people?"
"White people. Straight people. Old people. Everyone who looks at me and sees that brown kid who's kind of faggy instead of a business owner. Another taxpayer. A fucking human being...It's tiring."
Gradually we see Jack's bitterness and anger against the world begin to ebb away as he befriends a young gay guy - Wilson - in the cafe. He recognises and empathises with the difficulties Wilson is experiencing and steps in to do something to help him. Jack is still angry, but he channels that anger in a positive way, and in doing so, he begins to understand his own behaviour and find forgiveness. Michael too is trapped in a life of duty, he's spent so long complying with the wishes of others, he's forgotten what he really wanted to do with his life. In spending time with Jack, he too glimpses the life he really wants.
I loved reading about Jack and Michael's relationship, and watching both of them change and grow through all of the difficulties that were thrown at them. At its heart, this was a sweet love story, but realistically and sensitively told. Its understated, thoughtful tone reminded me of a couple of my favourite authors, Jane Harvey-Berrick and A Meredith Walters so if you enjoy reading their books, you'll probably love this one too. The only reason it's not quite a five star read for me is that the pace was perhaps a little slower than I'd have liked early on, but once it picked up, it really made up for it.
It is a complete, standalone story, but there are others in the series with recurring characters. This is the first book I've read by this author, but I'll definitely be reading more. This one is highly recommended if you're looking for a quality, sweet and sexy read.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in return for my honest opinion. Thanks!**
February 10, 2017
BR with Elsbeth.
3.5 stars
This one is difficult to review for me.
There were parts I loved and there were parts I really didn’t like.
What I loved most but never expected to love, was Jack. I disliked him fiercely in Off Campus, but once I gotten to know him, I just wanted to hug him and never let go.
That brings me to Mike/Miguel. I had a hard time liking him. I understood he was hurt deeply by Jack. But I still thought it unfair how he treated Jack at times. Especially after the two of them got closer. Because as it later on turns out . That’s why I had trouble with Mike’s attitude towards Jack. Like Jack was the problem and Mike was holier than thou.
Then there was the sex. Boy, that was hot. There was sex in public, angry sex, phone sex. I liked it! Well, not a big fan of angry sex, but here it somehow worked.
My main problem with this book was that the guys made it so hard on themselves in life. I know that it is because of personal experience that I don’t have a lot of respect for people who whine about things in their lives, and don’t choose to be happy. Because yes, happiness is a choice. A hard one at times, but it still is a path you can choose. The good thing about happiness is that no one can take it away from you. You can be happy at all times, with yourself, with the things you choose to do.
I did have a lot of respect for Jack and the way he dealt with things. He tried to make something out of it and when he realized he had been a dick, he tried to fix it. This did not happen overnight, but he eventually got there.
I felt as if Mike was the blind one there. He kept blaming Jack for the way his life turned out, but never realized he could do something to change his own situation.
But even though this bothered me, both Jack and Mike grew on me and I was surprised to find myself enjoying this book more than I thought I would.
3.5 stars
This one is difficult to review for me.
There were parts I loved and there were parts I really didn’t like.
What I loved most but never expected to love, was Jack. I disliked him fiercely in Off Campus, but once I gotten to know him, I just wanted to hug him and never let go.
That brings me to Mike/Miguel. I had a hard time liking him. I understood he was hurt deeply by Jack. But I still thought it unfair how he treated Jack at times. Especially after the two of them got closer. Because as it later on turns out . That’s why I had trouble with Mike’s attitude towards Jack. Like Jack was the problem and Mike was holier than thou.
Then there was the sex. Boy, that was hot. There was sex in public, angry sex, phone sex. I liked it! Well, not a big fan of angry sex, but here it somehow worked.
My main problem with this book was that the guys made it so hard on themselves in life. I know that it is because of personal experience that I don’t have a lot of respect for people who whine about things in their lives, and don’t choose to be happy. Because yes, happiness is a choice. A hard one at times, but it still is a path you can choose. The good thing about happiness is that no one can take it away from you. You can be happy at all times, with yourself, with the things you choose to do.
I did have a lot of respect for Jack and the way he dealt with things. He tried to make something out of it and when he realized he had been a dick, he tried to fix it. This did not happen overnight, but he eventually got there.
I felt as if Mike was the blind one there. He kept blaming Jack for the way his life turned out, but never realized he could do something to change his own situation.
But even though this bothered me, both Jack and Mike grew on me and I was surprised to find myself enjoying this book more than I thought I would.
January 25, 2016
This was one of those book where I wanted to bash both of the heroes over the head and say WILL YOU JUST TALK ALREADY? Not only to each other, but to their respective parental units. Okay, so the novel would have been about fifteen pages long if that had happened....
It was worth it, though, to see Jack Tarkington redeem himself from the previous book in the series.
It was worth it, though, to see Jack Tarkington redeem himself from the previous book in the series.
January 31, 2015
Well, thank God Jack redeemed himself in this one...MORE than redeemed himself, I even shed a tear or two for him!! And when he thought no-one else was there for him, up stepped Miguel...once again. Full review to follow nearer to publication date, no kink and nowhere near as much sex as Off Campus, but a deep bond and 'twu wuv' between the two guys who had been together practically since the year dot!! I loved Andie, and hope she can feature in future stories in some way....4.5 stars from me.
Thanks to Samhain for the ARC via Netgalley.
September 27, 2018
DNF at 60%
I tried.
This angsty, overly descriptive and repetitive writing style combined with dragging plot progression just confirmed that Cousins is not my cup of tea. (-_-)
March 12, 2015
4.5
LOVED IT! Sweet and fun and deep and heartbreaking and sexy but mostly it felt real.
This full review is also posted on my blog - Ellie Reads Fiction
We met Jack in book 1, Off Campus, and he was a total jerk there, compeltely unlovable and plain mean. I wasn't sure how and if at all Ms Cousins will manage to redeem him. But boy, did she redeem him.
At the beginning, I was all about Mike (Miguel). He was perfect. He appeared all calm and collected, a responsible grown-up, business owner, yet he was as confused and misguided as any young person. I loved his relationship with his family and Andie.
The greatest strength of the story for me is the way the author protrayed that awkward stage when you are no longer a teenager and everybody expects you be a grwn up and act like it, yet you are a confused boy/girl, making mistakes, struggling to be a responsible adult. As someone in her mid 30s who still sometimes doesn't feel much different from her confused, misguided, naive teenage self, I can relate so well and easily to that.
Jack and Miguel's is a second-chance love story and first-love and friends-to-lovers all in one. They both had some grwoing up to do, time to figure how to be together and still chase their dreams (and deal with one harsh reality).
Jack was really bad initially, angry, hurting everybody who tried to help him, mostly Miguel. Years of neglect at home, emotional abuse, lack of love, support and understanding from anyone besides Miguel and his family have make prickiness and verbal agression his way of protecting himself. He had to learn how some pretty harsh lessons, saying sorry, trying to correct some of your mistakes didn't come easily or naturally to him.
Their getting back together was slow, sexy and intense. They both had some difficulty opening up about their feelings. Jack's journey was a fascinating one, he really did learn how to deal with the bad things in life in a better way.
I loved how the issue of bullying was presented in a rather unique way. We see a gay guy who was bullied high school turning into a bully himself in college. There are many social issues woven intricately into the text without sounding preachy.
The story doesn't show a perfect good/bad guy - just normal (young) people learning to be grown up by making mistakes, doing stupid things, but ultimately doing the right things. Things are no black and white, all the charaacters we meet, were complex real people with real feelings and real issues. Andie was fantastic (I hope she will get her book too, she soooo deserve some lvoe in her life).
Miguel was dealing difficult issues of his own. He was acepted and loved by his family, yet his relationship with them was a complex one - he needed to be needed and I understand this very well. His was having his own fight between responsiblity and desire to follow his dreams/heart.
This is an intense story with some funny times, teary times and sexy times, a lot of anger, resentment, tenderness, passion. A highly recommended read!
LOVED IT! Sweet and fun and deep and heartbreaking and sexy but mostly it felt real.
This full review is also posted on my blog - Ellie Reads Fiction
We met Jack in book 1, Off Campus, and he was a total jerk there, compeltely unlovable and plain mean. I wasn't sure how and if at all Ms Cousins will manage to redeem him. But boy, did she redeem him.
At the beginning, I was all about Mike (Miguel). He was perfect. He appeared all calm and collected, a responsible grown-up, business owner, yet he was as confused and misguided as any young person. I loved his relationship with his family and Andie.
The greatest strength of the story for me is the way the author protrayed that awkward stage when you are no longer a teenager and everybody expects you be a grwn up and act like it, yet you are a confused boy/girl, making mistakes, struggling to be a responsible adult. As someone in her mid 30s who still sometimes doesn't feel much different from her confused, misguided, naive teenage self, I can relate so well and easily to that.
Jack and Miguel's is a second-chance love story and first-love and friends-to-lovers all in one. They both had some grwoing up to do, time to figure how to be together and still chase their dreams (and deal with one harsh reality).
Jack was really bad initially, angry, hurting everybody who tried to help him, mostly Miguel. Years of neglect at home, emotional abuse, lack of love, support and understanding from anyone besides Miguel and his family have make prickiness and verbal agression his way of protecting himself. He had to learn how some pretty harsh lessons, saying sorry, trying to correct some of your mistakes didn't come easily or naturally to him.
Their getting back together was slow, sexy and intense. They both had some difficulty opening up about their feelings. Jack's journey was a fascinating one, he really did learn how to deal with the bad things in life in a better way.
I loved how the issue of bullying was presented in a rather unique way. We see a gay guy who was bullied high school turning into a bully himself in college. There are many social issues woven intricately into the text without sounding preachy.
The story doesn't show a perfect good/bad guy - just normal (young) people learning to be grown up by making mistakes, doing stupid things, but ultimately doing the right things. Things are no black and white, all the charaacters we meet, were complex real people with real feelings and real issues. Andie was fantastic (I hope she will get her book too, she soooo deserve some lvoe in her life).
Miguel was dealing difficult issues of his own. He was acepted and loved by his family, yet his relationship with them was a complex one - he needed to be needed and I understand this very well. His was having his own fight between responsiblity and desire to follow his dreams/heart.
This is an intense story with some funny times, teary times and sexy times, a lot of anger, resentment, tenderness, passion. A highly recommended read!
March 18, 2015
BR, March 17th with Susan.
We met Jack in the first book Off Campus. He was the asshole bullying Tom Worthington for blaming him for losing all his college money.. His only chance to get away from his former life and be free….
He gets suspended from college and is forced to return home. He meets his former best-(boy)friend Miguel again after being away from home for three years. Miguel holds a grudge because they were supposed to have gone to college together and Jack just left him behind.
This was me while reading this book:
It was good, bad and everything in between… It was just weird writing sometimes.
This story was really a coming-of-age story. Two guys growing up by owning their mistakes and understanding that their behavior had consequences for the other!! It was not so much them coming to grip with being gay… I loved that actually.
Jack was never happy without Mike/Miguel and had been bitter that Miguel quite easily gave up on their dream of “seeing the world together”.
”It had felt like freedom, finding a new crowd and making friends. But the whole thing had been a sham, with him pretending to be something he wasn’t and always faking it, in conversations, fucking guys be barely knew and then nodding at them when he saw them on campus later. Sarcasm and superiority he didn’t feel, weren’t exactly a way to connect with people.”
Miguel is scared to open up his heart again to Jack.. He needs to learn that he can’t save Jack for making mistakes.
In the end I liked the sequel better than “Off Campus” I really came to love Jack and Mike.
“Home would always be where Jack was from now on.”
June 25, 2015
BR with Julie 3/23
Did you hear?
Phone sex and public sex
Unfortunately, this did not work for me.
I like this author, I really do. Five Dates was spectacular. Off Campus started fantastically fantastic (I loved the hell out of the first 70%--it did take a bad turn, but overall, I liked it.) But this...I feel like I enjoyed about 20% of this and had to trudge through the rest of it.
Even the sex could not save it for me. I did not find it hot. Not the public sex. Not the phone sex.
I know its hard to believe but its true.
I feel like a heavy portion of the book we have to listen to Mike just not liking Jack. And I get it, okay? He's kind of a selfish douchebag. But its not fun being in someone's head when they are constantly thinking badly about someone else. He had such negative thoughts. And I can handle a bit, but it was too much. I would have preferred much less of that. Jack was a jerk in his own right at times, but even when he managed to not be, Mike had to take the shine off of it. :(
There were some sweet moments in there. There were times when I "aw"ed or giggled...but mostly...I was bored or disinterested.
So, sadly this was just not for me.
Did you hear?
Phone sex and public sex
Unfortunately, this did not work for me.
I like this author, I really do. Five Dates was spectacular. Off Campus started fantastically fantastic (I loved the hell out of the first 70%--it did take a bad turn, but overall, I liked it.) But this...I feel like I enjoyed about 20% of this and had to trudge through the rest of it.
Even the sex could not save it for me. I did not find it hot. Not the public sex. Not the phone sex.
I know its hard to believe but its true.
I feel like a heavy portion of the book we have to listen to Mike just not liking Jack. And I get it, okay? He's kind of a selfish douchebag. But its not fun being in someone's head when they are constantly thinking badly about someone else. He had such negative thoughts. And I can handle a bit, but it was too much. I would have preferred much less of that. Jack was a jerk in his own right at times, but even when he managed to not be, Mike had to take the shine off of it. :(
There were some sweet moments in there. There were times when I "aw"ed or giggled...but mostly...I was bored or disinterested.
So, sadly this was just not for me.
June 19, 2015
3.5
I found this book frustrating. I did not like Jack in Book 1 but I liked him here. His previous actions were so horrible that it was hard for him to come back from that in my eyes even though I understood his reasons and his anger. Not trying to divorce myself from who Jack was before this book was difficult but possible because he did address his problems and try to fix them so I had to respect that read this story with that in mind. Still, bro was an asshole though.
At it’s core though this is a story of first love and the best and worst that brings out in people. Jack and Mike had plans for after high school but the problem with making plans is that sometimes they fall apart and what was the most important thing in the world becomes the most painful.
Jack ended up leaving Mike behind but moving on without the boy he loved made life more than a little bittersweet and while new experiences were interesting they were coloured with that edge of bitter. But Jack is back and Mike doesn’t know if he’s ready to forgive that. These two hurt each other and you could see that pain was still a living thing between them.
Old memories win over the boys try again but it’s a slow, slow burn. As the story moved on I began to understand why Mike once loved Jack and why he was struggling with having him back in his life again and I understood why Jack had to leave.
This is a bit of a redemption story as well as Jack recognizes what he did at college was bullying and he acted was no better than the boys who did the same to him growing up. He redeem himself in my eyes, I liked him here and I wanted him to be better than he was the first time I read about him. He’s still damaged but much more sympathetic and the chemistry that he and Mike share really works. They’re each others firsts and the break they had allowed them to both grow up a bit and see each other as adults. I liked the journey for both of them and while they are struggling they are trying to do the right thing. I wasn’t sure going in if this was a book for me but it was and I’m glad to have read it. Nice addition to the series.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I found this book frustrating. I did not like Jack in Book 1 but I liked him here. His previous actions were so horrible that it was hard for him to come back from that in my eyes even though I understood his reasons and his anger. Not trying to divorce myself from who Jack was before this book was difficult but possible because he did address his problems and try to fix them so I had to respect that read this story with that in mind. Still, bro was an asshole though.
At it’s core though this is a story of first love and the best and worst that brings out in people. Jack and Mike had plans for after high school but the problem with making plans is that sometimes they fall apart and what was the most important thing in the world becomes the most painful.
Jack ended up leaving Mike behind but moving on without the boy he loved made life more than a little bittersweet and while new experiences were interesting they were coloured with that edge of bitter. But Jack is back and Mike doesn’t know if he’s ready to forgive that. These two hurt each other and you could see that pain was still a living thing between them.
Old memories win over the boys try again but it’s a slow, slow burn. As the story moved on I began to understand why Mike once loved Jack and why he was struggling with having him back in his life again and I understood why Jack had to leave.
This is a bit of a redemption story as well as Jack recognizes what he did at college was bullying and he acted was no better than the boys who did the same to him growing up. He redeem himself in my eyes, I liked him here and I wanted him to be better than he was the first time I read about him. He’s still damaged but much more sympathetic and the chemistry that he and Mike share really works. They’re each others firsts and the break they had allowed them to both grow up a bit and see each other as adults. I liked the journey for both of them and while they are struggling they are trying to do the right thing. I wasn’t sure going in if this was a book for me but it was and I’m glad to have read it. Nice addition to the series.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
March 10, 2017
4.5 Stars
So, all through Off Campus I absolutely hated Jack Tarkington. Hated. So, when I saw that he would be the protagonist in this story I was just a little bit upset. See, I don't like skipping books in a series; but honestly, I was completely prepared to do so and I wouldn't have even batted an eye at it because, well, I Don't Like Jack.
But then Spellapalooza happened and I needed As, Ss, Is & Ns for my reads. This book has both an N and an A; it was also available via Hoopla so I wouldn't have even had to pay for it, so if I hated it then no big because all I'm out is time I also spent cleaning toilets, washing dishes and folding clothes.
Yeah, I listened straight through - rarely stopping and I'm still sitting here with a pile of laundry I didn't finish because I was completely enthralled with the story of Jack absolutely redeeming himself. Gawd, it's a truly talented author who can do that and make it believable to me. So good. Seriously.
Now I don't even care who's up in the series next (except that MF title, which will sit on my "maybe" shelf till I can deal with het sex again) I am definitely going to be reading or listening to them.
So, all through Off Campus I absolutely hated Jack Tarkington. Hated. So, when I saw that he would be the protagonist in this story I was just a little bit upset. See, I don't like skipping books in a series; but honestly, I was completely prepared to do so and I wouldn't have even batted an eye at it because, well, I Don't Like Jack.
But then Spellapalooza happened and I needed As, Ss, Is & Ns for my reads. This book has both an N and an A; it was also available via Hoopla so I wouldn't have even had to pay for it, so if I hated it then no big because all I'm out is time I also spent cleaning toilets, washing dishes and folding clothes.
Yeah, I listened straight through - rarely stopping and I'm still sitting here with a pile of laundry I didn't finish because I was completely enthralled with the story of Jack absolutely redeeming himself. Gawd, it's a truly talented author who can do that and make it believable to me. So good. Seriously.
Now I don't even care who's up in the series next (except that MF title, which will sit on my "maybe" shelf till I can deal with het sex again) I am definitely going to be reading or listening to them.
Read
March 9, 2018I love this author and I loved Five Dates and I really liked (most) of Off Campus, but this one just did not work for me.
I felt like we listened to Mike say how much he did not like Jack, and Jack's a jerk, yeah, I know, but Mike took the shine off of everything and totally depressed me and it took far too long for those feelings he was harboring to go away.
The sex wasn't hot to me...Off Campus sex was HOT, this did nothing for me, but that's probably a reflection of the characters.
I will be reading Cash's book because he was hella fantastic in the first. Several people enjoyed this much more than Off Campus, so I am probably in the minority here. I would recommend it to fans of Cousins work
I felt like we listened to Mike say how much he did not like Jack, and Jack's a jerk, yeah, I know, but Mike took the shine off of everything and totally depressed me and it took far too long for those feelings he was harboring to go away.
The sex wasn't hot to me...Off Campus sex was HOT, this did nothing for me, but that's probably a reflection of the characters.
I will be reading Cash's book because he was hella fantastic in the first. Several people enjoyed this much more than Off Campus, so I am probably in the minority here. I would recommend it to fans of Cousins work
March 22, 2015
3.5 stars
June 11, 2015
2.5 stars rounded up
March 27, 2022
Small town Iowa (!!!)
Second chance for love, freedom,
redemption, college.
Second chance for love, freedom,
redemption, college.
September 7, 2015
3.5 STARS
I actually am super late at reading this and most of my thoughts are already written by other reviews. I really think Dani's review and Eleftheria's review are a really good representation of my thoughts. Although there were some things I was a bit disappointed at.
It was really good. I thought it was kind of boring at first and then the next thing I know, I was halfway through the book. I really liked the MCs really well. I also loved the plot. There were small bits of paragraphs were it was dragging a little bit but that was fine. I loved how they progressed from trying to rebuild their friendship to their relationship.
I was kind of disappointed that I felt like the ending was rushed IF you compared it to the whole book/beginning. Yeah, I didn't know why I felt that way but yeah. The epilogue was really not satisfying to me too. I was very hard to please I guess when I read this book. Also, . It did have great lines though. Amy Jo writes really great lines without it becoming purple prose.
Yeah, that's all I can say about it. Overall, a good read but could've been better.
I actually am super late at reading this and most of my thoughts are already written by other reviews. I really think Dani's review and Eleftheria's review are a really good representation of my thoughts. Although there were some things I was a bit disappointed at.
"When he exhaled, he let it go. All of it. The rage, the coldness, the what id's and the if only's. His breath trailed away until he was empty and clean, if not new, at least willing to consider a clean start."
It was really good. I thought it was kind of boring at first and then the next thing I know, I was halfway through the book. I really liked the MCs really well. I also loved the plot. There were small bits of paragraphs were it was dragging a little bit but that was fine. I loved how they progressed from trying to rebuild their friendship to their relationship.
I was kind of disappointed that I felt like the ending was rushed IF you compared it to the whole book/beginning. Yeah, I didn't know why I felt that way but yeah. The epilogue was really not satisfying to me too. I was very hard to please I guess when I read this book. Also, . It did have great lines though. Amy Jo writes really great lines without it becoming purple prose.
Yeah, that's all I can say about it. Overall, a good read but could've been better.
"Whenever they went, no matter where they landed, suitcase-free or still hauling around busted-ass luggage, Jack knew that would be all he'd ever need.
Miguel's voice, singing him home."
March 16, 2020
I was surprised by how much I liked this book especially after what I saw of Jack in the first book. I didn't start with much love for Jack, and his thoughts and actions at the start of the book didn't make me any more inclined to like him, but once I got into it I was invested in his personal journey. I saw what he cam from, and where he came from, and began to understand him a bit better. Seeing him through Mike's eyes also gave me a better perspective on Jack as well. I loved that Mike never let Jack off of the hook, and wasn't afraid to tell him when he was being an ass. He's mad, but I liked watching them learn to trust each other again, and I appreciated that they needed time to fall in love again. It made for a much more honest story, and didn't feel like a fairy tale. Both men changed, and they needed time to get to know each other. The secondary cast worked well with the story, and I liked the depth they had. The plot was well paced, and I liked how the ending worked out. Happy, but not sappy or completely improbable. A nice addition to a great series. I love it when an author can make me change my mind about a character so completely.
July 4, 2021
2.75 stars
Jack Tarkington comes home to his hometown in Iowa, dragging his suitcase and banjo and other personal baggage along behind him, fresh off of being expelled for the rest of the semester of college for bullying (book 1 in this series). He's embarrassed and angry and desperate to go back. However, before he can go back he's got a lot of growing up to do and he needs to work his way through some childhood/teenage trauma with his own family, as well as find a new balance with the guy he left behind to go to college.
The set up is great, this story had sooo much potential. Unfortunately, Ms. Cousins is so busy trying to get Jack and his high school boyfriend, Mike Vargas, bed as often as possible, she only tells us about the tension between Mike and his father, or the tensions between Jack and his mom and his father. I felt disconnected from the characters and honestly found the ending of the story to be the opposite of uplifting (though it was meant to be uplifting, I'm sure).
I don't think Ms. Cousins' writing is for me. Absolute minimum character development and way too many pages dedicated to having sex of some kind or another. One scene took 13 pages of text to get through. The phone sex scene took up 9. I did not go back and count earlier scenes.
Yes, these guys are 21, but they both act like they're in high school when they're together. I get they're young and horny, but both are good at avoidance. It's so frustrating to read. Usually I like second chance romance, but this one just fell flat on its face. >splat< Ultimately, the author totally failed to prove that these characters have what it takes to have an actual adult relationship - that is she failed to show how these guys are good for each other outside the bedroom.
Jack Tarkington comes home to his hometown in Iowa, dragging his suitcase and banjo and other personal baggage along behind him, fresh off of being expelled for the rest of the semester of college for bullying (book 1 in this series). He's embarrassed and angry and desperate to go back. However, before he can go back he's got a lot of growing up to do and he needs to work his way through some childhood/teenage trauma with his own family, as well as find a new balance with the guy he left behind to go to college.
The set up is great, this story had sooo much potential. Unfortunately, Ms. Cousins is so busy trying to get Jack and his high school boyfriend, Mike Vargas, bed as often as possible, she only tells us about the tension between Mike and his father, or the tensions between Jack and his mom and his father. I felt disconnected from the characters and honestly found the ending of the story to be the opposite of uplifting (though it was meant to be uplifting, I'm sure).
I don't think Ms. Cousins' writing is for me. Absolute minimum character development and way too many pages dedicated to having sex of some kind or another. One scene took 13 pages of text to get through. The phone sex scene took up 9. I did not go back and count earlier scenes.
Yes, these guys are 21, but they both act like they're in high school when they're together. I get they're young and horny, but both are good at avoidance. It's so frustrating to read. Usually I like second chance romance, but this one just fell flat on its face. >splat< Ultimately, the author totally failed to prove that these characters have what it takes to have an actual adult relationship - that is she failed to show how these guys are good for each other outside the bedroom.
June 21, 2017
I had been hesitant to read this book since I loathed Jack from the first book. I gave it a try and I'm glad I did. This book did redeem Jack for how he acted against Tom in Off Campus, although it did not excuse his actions.
Here we follow Jack back to his hometown in Iowa after his expulsion from college for harassing Tom. He's still very much an ass for the first part of this book, but we slowly see him change. Part of that is due to Miguel, his ex boyfriend and ex best friend.
I liked Miguel, and although he fought the attraction he felt for Jack he soon succumbed. I just don't know why. I didn't feel much of a spark between them. This was the main reason for the 3 star rating. Good writing, but I never felt that the characters' HEA was inevitable.
I'll read the rest of the books In the series (I even skipped forward and read the next one, an MF story, that I enjoyed). I'm not sure if any of them will beat Off Campus, but I'll give them a go!
Here we follow Jack back to his hometown in Iowa after his expulsion from college for harassing Tom. He's still very much an ass for the first part of this book, but we slowly see him change. Part of that is due to Miguel, his ex boyfriend and ex best friend.
I liked Miguel, and although he fought the attraction he felt for Jack he soon succumbed. I just don't know why. I didn't feel much of a spark between them. This was the main reason for the 3 star rating. Good writing, but I never felt that the characters' HEA was inevitable.
I'll read the rest of the books In the series (I even skipped forward and read the next one, an MF story, that I enjoyed). I'm not sure if any of them will beat Off Campus, but I'll give them a go!
September 23, 2018
Let me start by saying the narration was good and wasn't a factor in my rating. I've enjoyed this narrator before and will do so again. It's the story that was I kinda bored with. I've enjoyed several stories in this series, but this one was just average for me. Not sure if it's because I didn't particularly care about Jack after what he did in book 1, or if it's because it's been so long since I've read this series that the energy I had with it initially wore off. Whatever the reason this just didn't hold my interest as much as others in the series, or other books period.
I will continue with the series but I think I already have my favorites and the rest won't measure up. I know this one will appeal to lots of people so if you've like the author and the plot, I say go for it and happy reading! 3 stars for the story; 4.25 for narration.
I will continue with the series but I think I already have my favorites and the rest won't measure up. I know this one will appeal to lots of people so if you've like the author and the plot, I say go for it and happy reading! 3 stars for the story; 4.25 for narration.
March 4, 2015
My Review:
While I did enjoy reading this book overall, there was one major flaw in it for me...Jack. I just never felt like he truly reformed. While I absolutely understood him better after this book and could feel for him and his struggles, I didn't feel like he truly grew when it came to his relationship with Miguel. At the end of the book, he was still making the same mistakes when it came to Mike.
But back to my review...I rate my books based upon how much I enjoy a book and I did enjoy reading this one. I liked the romance in that the guys were such good friends and have such a long history between them. Friends to lovers almost always works for me.
It was good to get to read Jack's background and watching him grow as a person and discover a bit more about his potential. I loved his realization about bullying and the steps that brought him to that.
I also liked Mike's story line with the family farm and how that separated him and Jack originally. I really did enjoy the way Mike's story played out with his father. A father wants what's best for his child so that worked, although the miscommunication was idiotic...all it took was a few simple sentences and the fact that his father let that fester for so long simply didn't make any sense.
With the addition of Jack's Al-Anon meetings, something should be said about co-dependency. There's a definite bit of that to their relationship that bordered on unhealthy. Mike needs to be able to save Jack from himself, which just enables Jack's unhealthy choices. It's not a good mix.
So there were a few highs and lows with this book. On the surface, it was a good read, but thinking back on things, there were a few things that bugged me. The worst though was that I can't see Miguel and Jack working once the purely physical attraction fades and real stress of life gets in the way. I just can't see their HEA lasting long-term. That may just be me, but I needed more from Jack that showed he understood and respected Miguel's choices, even if he didn't like them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
While I did enjoy reading this book overall, there was one major flaw in it for me...Jack. I just never felt like he truly reformed. While I absolutely understood him better after this book and could feel for him and his struggles, I didn't feel like he truly grew when it came to his relationship with Miguel. At the end of the book, he was still making the same mistakes when it came to Mike.
But back to my review...I rate my books based upon how much I enjoy a book and I did enjoy reading this one. I liked the romance in that the guys were such good friends and have such a long history between them. Friends to lovers almost always works for me.
It was good to get to read Jack's background and watching him grow as a person and discover a bit more about his potential. I loved his realization about bullying and the steps that brought him to that.
I also liked Mike's story line with the family farm and how that separated him and Jack originally. I really did enjoy the way Mike's story played out with his father. A father wants what's best for his child so that worked, although the miscommunication was idiotic...all it took was a few simple sentences and the fact that his father let that fester for so long simply didn't make any sense.
With the addition of Jack's Al-Anon meetings, something should be said about co-dependency. There's a definite bit of that to their relationship that bordered on unhealthy. Mike needs to be able to save Jack from himself, which just enables Jack's unhealthy choices. It's not a good mix.
So there were a few highs and lows with this book. On the surface, it was a good read, but thinking back on things, there were a few things that bugged me. The worst though was that I can't see Miguel and Jack working once the purely physical attraction fades and real stress of life gets in the way. I just can't see their HEA lasting long-term. That may just be me, but I needed more from Jack that showed he understood and respected Miguel's choices, even if he didn't like them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
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