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A Time For Love #2
After All This Time
We were never meant to run away from this.
Liam
At seven, he became my best friend.
At sixteen, he made my heart skip for the first time.
And at eighteen, my control slipped for just one moment and I ruined our friendship.
Now, years later, I’m back at my hometown, and my need for him is stronger than ever.
But I hurt him badly when I left, and he’s straight, he would never see me differently.
Right?
Cooper
For more than ten years, we were inseparable.
He was my best friend and the one person I’ve always needed the most.
But then on our last summer together, he ran away from me.
It was supposed to be for a little while, but it wasn’t.
Now, years later, he’s back, and I realize what’s been missing all this time.
Him. My best friend.
Or perhaps, something more?
After All This Time is an MM romance and it is book 2 in the A Time For Love series, but it can be read as a complete standalone. It features two best friends who were always meant to be more than that, high spice, low angst, and all the feels.
Liam
At seven, he became my best friend.
At sixteen, he made my heart skip for the first time.
And at eighteen, my control slipped for just one moment and I ruined our friendship.
Now, years later, I’m back at my hometown, and my need for him is stronger than ever.
But I hurt him badly when I left, and he’s straight, he would never see me differently.
Right?
Cooper
For more than ten years, we were inseparable.
He was my best friend and the one person I’ve always needed the most.
But then on our last summer together, he ran away from me.
It was supposed to be for a little while, but it wasn’t.
Now, years later, he’s back, and I realize what’s been missing all this time.
Him. My best friend.
Or perhaps, something more?
After All This Time is an MM romance and it is book 2 in the A Time For Love series, but it can be read as a complete standalone. It features two best friends who were always meant to be more than that, high spice, low angst, and all the feels.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2025
85 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Marina Pirlimpou
5 books39 followersMarina Pirlimpou is a self-proclaimed book lover and a proud introvert who lives for dreary, autumn days, cozy blankets, and hot beverages.
You can find her reading in her favorite nook, listening to music, or writing about all things romance.
If you want to know all about her new releases or just looking for some new book recs, follow her on Instagram as @marinas_readingcorner.
You can find her reading in her favorite nook, listening to music, or writing about all things romance.
If you want to know all about her new releases or just looking for some new book recs, follow her on Instagram as @marinas_readingcorner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
August 25, 2025
Rating: 3
⭐️
Objectively, I liked this book. Some parts were very enjoyable.
But Liam Carter, one of the main character, said it best: "the intention was good. It was just the execution that was lacking.”
•~•~ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 🍃
After All This Time's premise sounded promising, almost everything I enjoyed in a romance. Pining between two best friends? Check. A beautiful friendship that felt realistic? Also check.
We're following the story of Liam Carter and Cooper West, best friends turned lovers. Just with the blurb, you already know something is about to go wrong for those two. And indeed, after an incident that happened during a trip, Liam [18 years old] decided to distance himself from Cooper [18 years old] by leaving town earlier than planned, to prepare himself for college.
Which resulted in an important time-jump where both of them didn't talk to each other for...seventeen years.
The incident that happened was a kiss that Liam initiated, to Cooper's absolute surprise. Liam has been in love with his best friend since he's sixteen, while Cooper was completely clueless to his best friend’s feelings.
Marina Pirlimpou's writing was impressive, considering it's her second book. I'm still moved by some of the book's quotes. She wrote the friendship between Liam and Cooper in a way that made it believable. The banter was pretty funny, with Liam being the level-headed one, and Cooper the reckless and laidback one. Those two loved to tease and annoy each other, and I found them really cute.
The book is separated in two parts. The first one set in the past, where the characters are still teenagers, and the second one set when they reunite as adults.
•~•~ 𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 🍃
I have mixed feelings about the pacing and how the author chose to write the story.
While it was necessary to get the full picture of Liam and Cooper's dynamic as teenagers, I believe the author didn't spend enough time building the characters as adults. Both Liam and Carter still sounded the same, even at thirty-five years old. Sometimes, I was wondering if I wasn’t reading the point of view of their eighteen years old self.
My main issue was how the reunion between the two of them was handled. They didn't see each other for seventeen years. Seventeen years is a pretty long time. And honestly? I do think a time-jump that long was too much. We went from 2007 to 2025 in the blink of an eye, and I won’t lie, I was annoyed when I realized how much time passed. You’re telling me that Liam, amazing best friend that he was, completely ignored Cooper for more than a decade because he was scared of rejection and how Cooper would see him? I'm flabbergasted.
So naturally, I expected a touching reunion, something full of resentment and hurt. Because yes, Cooper was hurt by Liam's actions! Instead, their reunion was lackluster.
Neither adressed their issues and their feelings, acting more like horny teenagers than responsible adults. Cooper was too nice considering the circumstances, and Liam, in my opinion, felt a bit entitled. Where were his apologies?
I'm disappointed in Liam's character. He was such a vulnerable and smart boy, but to see him like that, after the separation, shocked me. It was implied that Liam didn't realize how much hurt he caused Cooper with his absence. I simply cannot believe it. This man needed Cooper's sister to understand the damage he's done. Unbelievable. But, I guess, that's what happens when you ignore someone for seventeen years.
Honestly, I'm not sure I even understand Liam's motivations for his return. Because he missed Cooper? Because he wanted to give them a chance? Because of work? Again, not really clear [or I didn't catch his reasons].
Simultaneously, Cooper ignored his own insecurites. He never shared them with Liam, which in itself was a huge mistake on his part.
Cooper's bi-awakening happened a bit too fast, in my opinion. He has never been interested in men before, but suddenly, with Liam, he felt all kind of things. Cooper wanted to see how things could develop between them; he was pretty open to the idea of starting something romantic with Liam. In a way, it was rather nice. Cooper didn't feel hesitant or unsure, which I appreciated very much.
Despite Cooper's advances, Liam didn’t want them to cross that line. Was it understandable? Yes and no. For someone supposedly obsessed and in love, Liam didn't give enough credit to Cooper. At the same time, I can understand Liam's fears. He always thought that Cooper was straight.
But once again, those insecurites weren't adressed properly.
•~•~ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 🍃
For a kind of second chance romance, After All This Time didn't impact me emotionally. The build-up of their feelings happened only at the 90% mark. And not because they wanted to have a heart-to-heart conversation. But because Cooper's sister spoke to Liam. This part, which should have been the most important one, felt disappointing, and ruined my enjoyment a little.
This part was sad, though. Cooper's sadness really got to me. Finally, both of them acted like adults, and talked freely.
Nonetheless, I still had a good time reading this story. Marina Pirlimpou's writing saved everything. I absolutely loved how she mirrored the prologue [from Liam's point of view] and the epilogue [from Cooper's point of view].
I'm curious to discover more of this author's works.
•~•~ 𝓢𝓪𝓯𝓮𝓽𝔂 𝓭𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓼 🍃
OMD/OWD:
> OMD: 🚫
> OWD: Katie, Cooper's ex-girlfriend/ex-fuckbuddy, made an appearance after Liam and Cooper decided to give their relationship a shot. Nothing major happened; Cooper went to have dinner with her, which made Liam jealous. Cooper wasn’t interested in her.
Separation:
There's a seventeen years separation that happened at the beginning. Both weren't celibate during it. Liam hooked-up with some people, but nothing serious. Same for Cooper, he had an on and off thing going on with his ex, Katie.
No third act break-up.
No other people after reuniting with each other.
"I received an ARC from Nisha's Books and Coffee and Marina Pirlimpou."
“I remember the day I first saw Cooper. It was summer and it was hot and his eyes shone like crystals under the afternoon sun. And I also remember the day, years later, when I looked at him and thought he was mine.”
Objectively, I liked this book. Some parts were very enjoyable.
But Liam Carter, one of the main character, said it best: "the intention was good. It was just the execution that was lacking.”
•~•~ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 🍃
After All This Time's premise sounded promising, almost everything I enjoyed in a romance. Pining between two best friends? Check. A beautiful friendship that felt realistic? Also check.
We're following the story of Liam Carter and Cooper West, best friends turned lovers. Just with the blurb, you already know something is about to go wrong for those two. And indeed, after an incident that happened during a trip, Liam [18 years old] decided to distance himself from Cooper [18 years old] by leaving town earlier than planned, to prepare himself for college.
"And maybe I can one day look at him and not feel like I’m burning. But then, there are other days when I think that being so far away from him, not being able to watch him laugh in his own unrestrained way, or look into his piercing blue eyes whenever I want, will feel like pure agony."
Which resulted in an important time-jump where both of them didn't talk to each other for...seventeen years.
The incident that happened was a kiss that Liam initiated, to Cooper's absolute surprise. Liam has been in love with his best friend since he's sixteen, while Cooper was completely clueless to his best friend’s feelings.
Marina Pirlimpou's writing was impressive, considering it's her second book. I'm still moved by some of the book's quotes. She wrote the friendship between Liam and Cooper in a way that made it believable. The banter was pretty funny, with Liam being the level-headed one, and Cooper the reckless and laidback one. Those two loved to tease and annoy each other, and I found them really cute.
"I can’t tear my eyes off him.
“It’s perfect,” he whispers.
And it is.
It just pales compared to him."
The book is separated in two parts. The first one set in the past, where the characters are still teenagers, and the second one set when they reunite as adults.
•~•~ 𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 🍃
I have mixed feelings about the pacing and how the author chose to write the story.
While it was necessary to get the full picture of Liam and Cooper's dynamic as teenagers, I believe the author didn't spend enough time building the characters as adults. Both Liam and Carter still sounded the same, even at thirty-five years old. Sometimes, I was wondering if I wasn’t reading the point of view of their eighteen years old self.
"A different sort of desperation threatens to engulf me, one that screams for him to never stop what he’s doing, to never let go, to keep touching me. Over. And over. And over again."
My main issue was how the reunion between the two of them was handled. They didn't see each other for seventeen years. Seventeen years is a pretty long time. And honestly? I do think a time-jump that long was too much. We went from 2007 to 2025 in the blink of an eye, and I won’t lie, I was annoyed when I realized how much time passed. You’re telling me that Liam, amazing best friend that he was, completely ignored Cooper for more than a decade because he was scared of rejection and how Cooper would see him? I'm flabbergasted.
So naturally, I expected a touching reunion, something full of resentment and hurt. Because yes, Cooper was hurt by Liam's actions! Instead, their reunion was lackluster.
Neither adressed their issues and their feelings, acting more like horny teenagers than responsible adults. Cooper was too nice considering the circumstances, and Liam, in my opinion, felt a bit entitled. Where were his apologies?
I'm disappointed in Liam's character. He was such a vulnerable and smart boy, but to see him like that, after the separation, shocked me. It was implied that Liam didn't realize how much hurt he caused Cooper with his absence. I simply cannot believe it. This man needed Cooper's sister to understand the damage he's done. Unbelievable. But, I guess, that's what happens when you ignore someone for seventeen years.
"I want to be so deep inside him that he feels my heart beating against his. I want to kiss him until our lips are raw and nothing can separate us but the desperate need for air. I want to take him, own him, make him mine until I’m the only one he wants or will ever want. Until he can’t think when he’s around me. Until he loves me as much as I do."
Honestly, I'm not sure I even understand Liam's motivations for his return. Because he missed Cooper? Because he wanted to give them a chance? Because of work? Again, not really clear [or I didn't catch his reasons].
Simultaneously, Cooper ignored his own insecurites. He never shared them with Liam, which in itself was a huge mistake on his part.
Cooper's bi-awakening happened a bit too fast, in my opinion. He has never been interested in men before, but suddenly, with Liam, he felt all kind of things. Cooper wanted to see how things could develop between them; he was pretty open to the idea of starting something romantic with Liam. In a way, it was rather nice. Cooper didn't feel hesitant or unsure, which I appreciated very much.
"But this need inside me burns because of him. It’s his touch that sets me on fire from the inside out, making my mind blank, my skin buzz, and my body crave for something unknown, perpetually out of reach."
Despite Cooper's advances, Liam didn’t want them to cross that line. Was it understandable? Yes and no. For someone supposedly obsessed and in love, Liam didn't give enough credit to Cooper. At the same time, I can understand Liam's fears. He always thought that Cooper was straight.
But once again, those insecurites weren't adressed properly.
•~•~ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 🍃
For a kind of second chance romance, After All This Time didn't impact me emotionally. The build-up of their feelings happened only at the 90% mark. And not because they wanted to have a heart-to-heart conversation. But because Cooper's sister spoke to Liam. This part, which should have been the most important one, felt disappointing, and ruined my enjoyment a little.
“Because I never stopped believing that you were back because you were finally choosing me.” The lump that is lodged in my throat is distorting my words, but I don’t care. My hands are still cupping his face and I shake him. “I wanted you to choose me. Why didn’t you choose me, Li? Why did you leave and never came back?” There is wetness running down my cheeks, and I realize it’s tears. “You promised it would be just for a little while,” I whisper.
This part was sad, though. Cooper's sadness really got to me. Finally, both of them acted like adults, and talked freely.
Nonetheless, I still had a good time reading this story. Marina Pirlimpou's writing saved everything. I absolutely loved how she mirrored the prologue [from Liam's point of view] and the epilogue [from Cooper's point of view].
I'm curious to discover more of this author's works.
“I cannot tell you how sorry I am, and I will never stop regretting causing you pain,” he pauses, his thumb caressing my cheekbone so tenderly I lean into the touch. “But if you give me the chance, I will do everything in my power to make up for all the hurt you felt.” I watch as he swallows thickly, his eyes burning with emotion. “I love you, Cooper. I’ve loved you for most of my life, and if you let me, I’ll prove it to you for as long as you allow me to.”
•~•~ 𝓢𝓪𝓯𝓮𝓽𝔂 𝓭𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓼 🍃
OMD/OWD:
> OMD: 🚫
> OWD: Katie, Cooper's ex-girlfriend/ex-fuckbuddy, made an appearance after Liam and Cooper decided to give their relationship a shot. Nothing major happened; Cooper went to have dinner with her, which made Liam jealous. Cooper wasn’t interested in her.
Separation:
There's a seventeen years separation that happened at the beginning. Both weren't celibate during it. Liam hooked-up with some people, but nothing serious. Same for Cooper, he had an on and off thing going on with his ex, Katie.
No third act break-up.
No other people after reuniting with each other.
"He became my best friend not long after. My partner in crime. My favorite person. I also remember the day, many years later, when he asked me to spend the rest of our lives together. And in that moment, I knew that after all this time, I was finally home. Because home had always been him."
"I received an ARC from Nisha's Books and Coffee and Marina Pirlimpou."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2025
Liam + Cooper 🖤
Childhood best friends | First times | So sweet
One of those books where you'll finish it while smiling ear to ear.
The first 30% of the book or so is seeing them as kids and teens before they go their separate ways to college. The rest of the book is them reunited after 17 years apart.
The pure innocence and love these boys had for each other as kids without even fully understanding what was happening just had me smiling so big. I could feel the pure love. It's cuteness overload.
Cooper knows he loves his friend. At least platonically. He loves being touched by him, holding hands, getting neck squeezes. It took him years to realize he wasn't straight and actually in love with his best friend the whole time. When they went their separate ways after high school, he was broken, but he didn't fully understand why. Liam always hoped there could be something more.
I really appreciated how they sat down and had an adult conversation exploring the hurt that was caused all those years ago when they were supposed to reunite as friends but never did.
....
“Out with it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is that right?” His pupils are so blown they have eclipsed his green irises. “And here I thought you were finally done running.”
"Who gets a crush on their very male best friend in their mid-30s’? Me, that’s who."
“Is my baby hungry?” Oh fuck. I’m in so much trouble.
"He’s looking at me as if I’m the answer to all his prayers. As if he’s waited for this for an eternity."
"My best friend, the man I'm crazy about, is on his knees for me."
"Yeah, you're so hard, baby. Is that for me?"
"Its all for you, Li. Please, please make it better."
"Now and every day you'll have me."
"I remember that day I first saw you. I saw a little boy with black hair that almost covered his blue eyes, trying to protect something, at risk of being hurt himself. And I remember the day I looked at you, and my heart started beating differently around you, like it still does to this day."
....
⚠️potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content, and warning lists below
Tropes/content:
Childhood friends
Pining and longing
Adorable
They met when Liam came across Cooper, protecting a cat and getting bullied.
Camping as teens - one tent, one mattress, platonic cuddles (at least for one)
"Straight" friend loves all the touches and cuddles even if he doesn't realize why yet
Jealousy (a girl from a neighboring camp talks to Cooper, and Liam gets very jealous. Leads to him walking back to the tent and Cooper following and them having their first kiss. Liam freaks out immediately, thinking that he ruined everything)
17-year span from when they separate as teens to reuiniting as adults
Second chance
Roomates
Kissing in the rain
Clueless idiot roles reverse once they're adults
First times
"DID. SHE. TOUCH. YOU." possessiveness
"Tell me to stop"
He walks in on him jerkin after a shower and starts walking him through it
"What are you doing to me?"
Shower sex
Good boy
"Baby"
"Sweetheart"
"Stay."
💦 in pants while giving head
For their first official date, they went to the arcade where they would hang out as kids. Also, the same place that Liam first discovered his interest in Cooper
Powder blue jock strap
They actually communicate like adults instead of breaking up once they're together
Hands free 💦
Love making
Adorable noatalgic proposal where he took him back where they camped together as kids
Strict roles
No 3rd act breakup
Warnings:
Childhood bullying (not between MCs)
Neither of them are celibate during their years apart at college before reuiniting. But no on-page sex or relationships with other people.
Slight OW drama. Cooper tries to get Liam's attention because hes fighting this thing between them and goes and dances with a woman while they're out at a bar. Nothing happens more than dancing and brief touches.
Childhood best friends | First times | So sweet
One of those books where you'll finish it while smiling ear to ear.
The first 30% of the book or so is seeing them as kids and teens before they go their separate ways to college. The rest of the book is them reunited after 17 years apart.
The pure innocence and love these boys had for each other as kids without even fully understanding what was happening just had me smiling so big. I could feel the pure love. It's cuteness overload.
Cooper knows he loves his friend. At least platonically. He loves being touched by him, holding hands, getting neck squeezes. It took him years to realize he wasn't straight and actually in love with his best friend the whole time. When they went their separate ways after high school, he was broken, but he didn't fully understand why. Liam always hoped there could be something more.
I really appreciated how they sat down and had an adult conversation exploring the hurt that was caused all those years ago when they were supposed to reunite as friends but never did.
....
“Out with it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is that right?” His pupils are so blown they have eclipsed his green irises. “And here I thought you were finally done running.”
"Who gets a crush on their very male best friend in their mid-30s’? Me, that’s who."
“Is my baby hungry?” Oh fuck. I’m in so much trouble.
"He’s looking at me as if I’m the answer to all his prayers. As if he’s waited for this for an eternity."
"My best friend, the man I'm crazy about, is on his knees for me."
"Yeah, you're so hard, baby. Is that for me?"
"Its all for you, Li. Please, please make it better."
"Now and every day you'll have me."
"I remember that day I first saw you. I saw a little boy with black hair that almost covered his blue eyes, trying to protect something, at risk of being hurt himself. And I remember the day I looked at you, and my heart started beating differently around you, like it still does to this day."
....
⚠️potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content, and warning lists below
Tropes/content:
Childhood friends
Pining and longing
Adorable
They met when Liam came across Cooper, protecting a cat and getting bullied.
Camping as teens - one tent, one mattress, platonic cuddles (at least for one)
"Straight" friend loves all the touches and cuddles even if he doesn't realize why yet
Jealousy (a girl from a neighboring camp talks to Cooper, and Liam gets very jealous. Leads to him walking back to the tent and Cooper following and them having their first kiss. Liam freaks out immediately, thinking that he ruined everything)
17-year span from when they separate as teens to reuiniting as adults
Second chance
Roomates
Kissing in the rain
Clueless idiot roles reverse once they're adults
First times
"DID. SHE. TOUCH. YOU." possessiveness
"Tell me to stop"
He walks in on him jerkin after a shower and starts walking him through it
"What are you doing to me?"
Shower sex
Good boy
"Baby"
"Sweetheart"
"Stay."
💦 in pants while giving head
For their first official date, they went to the arcade where they would hang out as kids. Also, the same place that Liam first discovered his interest in Cooper
Powder blue jock strap
They actually communicate like adults instead of breaking up once they're together
Hands free 💦
Love making
Adorable noatalgic proposal where he took him back where they camped together as kids
Strict roles
No 3rd act breakup
Warnings:
Childhood bullying (not between MCs)
Neither of them are celibate during their years apart at college before reuiniting. But no on-page sex or relationships with other people.
Slight OW drama. Cooper tries to get Liam's attention because hes fighting this thing between them and goes and dances with a woman while they're out at a bar. Nothing happens more than dancing and brief touches.
November 8, 2025
4⭐️ 3.25🌶️
📝 REVIEW & THOUGHTS:
Loved the dedication at the beginning of the book 🤭
Started a bit slow, ended with me melting from Li’s dirty mouth. The mouth on that man. And whenever he called him “baby” or “sweetheart”… Coop, I get you… 🫠
Now, I liked everything about the book, it’s not easy to write a low-ish angst childhood best friends to lovers with a second chance-ish trope. But the author nailed it. This was cute, swoon worthy and pretty adorable. Once they got their feelings out of their āsses.
Now the only thing I hoped was… drum rolls… for penetrative sēx to happen sooner. ��� but hey I’m still happy with the book. It’s probably a me thing lol
🏷️ TROPES & TAGS (possible spoilers):
Genre/subgenre: contemporary romance
Pairing: MM
POV: 1st person, dual
Angst: low-ish (a bit angstier in the beginning)
Burn: slow-ish
Vibe/mood: sweet, adorable, swoony
Pet names: baby, sweetheart, love / handsome
Characters’ ages: 18, then mid 30s
HEA: yes
Book type: novel
Series structure: interconnected standalones
Childhood-best-friends-to-lovers
Pining and longing
Second chance-ish
First times
“It’s always been you”
Obsessed MC x needy MC
Touch as a love language
Bi-awakening / kinda GFY
Forced proximity
Unrequited love
One tent
Possessive MC
🌶️ SPICE & K!NKS (possible spoilers):
Strict top/bottom or versatile: top/bottom
Heat: 7 scenes, medium to high heat
Jerking off
Frotting
Phone sēx
Bløwjobs
Rimming
Anāl
Coming untouched
Praise (“good boy”)
Mild degradation
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS (possible spoilers):
Dubcon: no
Noncon: no
OM/OW: when they’re teenagers Cooper briefly has a girlfriend (before he got with Liam) + some jealousy about this ex when they’re older and he’s still friends with her
Breakup: no
Bullying of MC as a chıld (not by other MC)
Mentions of MC’s deceased parent
Mention of MC’s mom dying when he was a baby
💬 QUOTES (possible spoilers):
* Fyi about 🌶️ levels: I rate spice on a combination of quantity, quality, length, intensity and explicitness of the scenes. K!nks are listed separately and generally do not directly affect the steam level to keep it fair for non k!nky books.
📝 REVIEW & THOUGHTS:
Loved the dedication at the beginning of the book 🤭
For those who like to read about boys who kiss on the mouth. And do other stuff, too. Like fall in love. But also other stuff.
Started a bit slow, ended with me melting from Li’s dirty mouth. The mouth on that man. And whenever he called him “baby” or “sweetheart”… Coop, I get you… 🫠
Now, I liked everything about the book, it’s not easy to write a low-ish angst childhood best friends to lovers with a second chance-ish trope. But the author nailed it. This was cute, swoon worthy and pretty adorable. Once they got their feelings out of their āsses.
Now the only thing I hoped was… drum rolls… for penetrative sēx to happen sooner. ��� but hey I’m still happy with the book. It’s probably a me thing lol
🏷️ TROPES & TAGS (possible spoilers):
Genre/subgenre: contemporary romance
Pairing: MM
POV: 1st person, dual
Angst: low-ish (a bit angstier in the beginning)
Burn: slow-ish
Vibe/mood: sweet, adorable, swoony
Pet names: baby, sweetheart, love / handsome
Characters’ ages: 18, then mid 30s
HEA: yes
Book type: novel
Series structure: interconnected standalones
Childhood-best-friends-to-lovers
Pining and longing
Second chance-ish
First times
“It’s always been you”
Obsessed MC x needy MC
Touch as a love language
Bi-awakening / kinda GFY
Forced proximity
Unrequited love
One tent
Possessive MC
🌶️ SPICE & K!NKS (possible spoilers):
Strict top/bottom or versatile: top/bottom
Heat: 7 scenes, medium to high heat
Jerking off
Frotting
Phone sēx
Bløwjobs
Rimming
Anāl
Coming untouched
Praise (“good boy”)
Mild degradation
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS (possible spoilers):
Dubcon: no
Noncon: no
OM/OW: when they’re teenagers Cooper briefly has a girlfriend (before he got with Liam) + some jealousy about this ex when they’re older and he’s still friends with her
Breakup: no
Bullying of MC as a chıld (not by other MC)
Mentions of MC’s deceased parent
Mention of MC’s mom dying when he was a baby
💬 QUOTES (possible spoilers):
“Have you forgotten how we met?” “I couldn’t just let that kitten get hurt, you know that!” “Of course I do, Coop. The intention was good. It was just the execution that was lacking.” “I wouldn’t say that. It brought you to me. I’d say that was one hell of a successful idea.”
The truth is that I’m afraid that once we go our separate ways, things will never be the same again. It’s this feeling I have deep inside that I’m going to lose something precious and that there’s nothing I can do. Which is ridiculous because distance means nothing. Not when it comes to us. Liam would never just move away and forget about me. Right?
“You asked me if I would have room for you.” I nod. He smiles his Liam smile, the kind, reassuring one, the one that never fails to fill me with comfort. “Always, Coop.”
Determination steels my resolve as a plan slowly takes form in my head. I’ve let him run for far too long. Now it’s time I chased him down.
“You may not be the first one, but you’re the first and only one who matters.”
Me: Nah, nothing of the sort, handsome.
Me: I’m pretty sure I was just invited because I told him I needed something to distract me.
Li: Handsome?
My heartbeat stutters.
Me: I’m playing around with a few pet names. Me: Do you like it…?
I watch with bated breath as Liam types and stops, types and stops.
Li: Fuck, Coop. You make me crazy.
Li: Why do you need a distraction, sweetheart? Li: Is something on my baby’s mind?
“I love you, Cooper. I’ve loved you for most of my life, and if you let me, I’ll prove it to you for as long as you allow me to.”
* Fyi about 🌶️ levels: I rate spice on a combination of quantity, quality, length, intensity and explicitness of the scenes. K!nks are listed separately and generally do not directly affect the steam level to keep it fair for non k!nky books.
October 21, 2025
I liked it at first, and I kinda liked it until I was half way through, but then I just completely lost interest and had to skim through after like 65% in. Let me tell you, nothing happened. No buildup, no climax. Nothing. I’m so glad I decided to just fast forward.
I do like this best friends to lovers second chance trope when it’s done right, but this one didn’t hit home unfortunately.
Liam and Cooper are childhood best friends, and right at the start, their whole childhood gets skipped after they meet, then we get a few scenes when they are high school seniors, then Liam leaves and they have kinda a falling out while we fast forward 17 years.
17.
7+10.
SEVENTEEN YEARS.
Under these SEVENTEEN years we barely learn what happened to either of these characters, other than somehow they had a successful life.
Liam returns to town for whatever reason? We never learn.
Then these two just hit it off after 17 years of occasional texting or a phone call.
I can appreciate a low angst story, sure.. but there were so many opportunities to make this emotional; talking about their childhood, talking about how Liam going AWOL affected Cooper, or how Cooper is processing his coming out, or like talking about ANY emotions that does not include these two drooling over each other would have been nice. 🤷♂️
I think one of the most important part of a GFU book is how the MC processes his feelings about his sexuality changing, and how he handles coming out and being public… It just felt off to never process any of these, and just fast forward years to an epilogue. I’m very disappointed.
I do like this best friends to lovers second chance trope when it’s done right, but this one didn’t hit home unfortunately.
Liam and Cooper are childhood best friends, and right at the start, their whole childhood gets skipped after they meet, then we get a few scenes when they are high school seniors, then Liam leaves and they have kinda a falling out while we fast forward 17 years.
17.
7+10.
SEVENTEEN YEARS.
Under these SEVENTEEN years we barely learn what happened to either of these characters, other than somehow they had a successful life.
Liam returns to town for whatever reason? We never learn.
Then these two just hit it off after 17 years of occasional texting or a phone call.
I can appreciate a low angst story, sure.. but there were so many opportunities to make this emotional; talking about their childhood, talking about how Liam going AWOL affected Cooper, or how Cooper is processing his coming out, or like talking about ANY emotions that does not include these two drooling over each other would have been nice. 🤷♂️
I think one of the most important part of a GFU book is how the MC processes his feelings about his sexuality changing, and how he handles coming out and being public… It just felt off to never process any of these, and just fast forward years to an epilogue. I’m very disappointed.
February 1, 2026
˚˖𓍢ִ໋🍃˚.⛰️⋆☁️ Clingy best friends that go everywhere together are MY ULTIMATE FAVORITE TROPE ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🍃˚.⛰️⋆☁️
I've had this book in my kindle for a while and I realized yesterday I did. I'm always game for a clingy best friends to strangers to lovers romance with bisexual awakening, so I was pretty sure I was going to love this. And I did.
I read this in a DAYYYYYY or less. It was insane the level of brainrot this book has on me. I still can't forget anything and I finished it last night. I want to go back and reread it and have more stories in this world too. I loved Liam and Cooper, their friendship and the development to lovers. When they were 17 they parted ways and they didn't reunite until 17 years later! The yearning, the sadness, the learning to open their hearts again - oooof this book had me BY THE THROAT.
It's also a pretty low on angst romance books - nothing major happens. They're some jealousy scenes that I always enjoy to read! And there's even one where Coop knowingly makes Liam jealous so he finally realizes that Coop feels the same way lmao. I also love the pet names and how Liam calls Coop "baby" "sweetheart" - I'm such a sucker for the og pet names aka baby and sweetheart.
I've never read anything by Marina, so maybe I should remedy this now that I've read After All This Time. I saw Marina has other books out there, so I'm so ready to become a fan! Definitely everyone needs to read this one <3
I've had this book in my kindle for a while and I realized yesterday I did. I'm always game for a clingy best friends to strangers to lovers romance with bisexual awakening, so I was pretty sure I was going to love this. And I did.
I read this in a DAYYYYYY or less. It was insane the level of brainrot this book has on me. I still can't forget anything and I finished it last night. I want to go back and reread it and have more stories in this world too. I loved Liam and Cooper, their friendship and the development to lovers. When they were 17 they parted ways and they didn't reunite until 17 years later! The yearning, the sadness, the learning to open their hearts again - oooof this book had me BY THE THROAT.
It's also a pretty low on angst romance books - nothing major happens. They're some jealousy scenes that I always enjoy to read! And there's even one where Coop knowingly makes Liam jealous so he finally realizes that Coop feels the same way lmao. I also love the pet names and how Liam calls Coop "baby" "sweetheart" - I'm such a sucker for the og pet names aka baby and sweetheart.
I've never read anything by Marina, so maybe I should remedy this now that I've read After All This Time. I saw Marina has other books out there, so I'm so ready to become a fan! Definitely everyone needs to read this one <3
August 26, 2025
Oh this book felt like a warm hug, there is no better way to describe it 🥹 Liam and Cooper are friends since their early childhood.
Liam is gone for Cooper pretty early on, and the pining starts 🙈
When they spent some time alone together, sharing a tent, their chemistry changes and things take turns.
The way this story was build was amazing, it really hooked me from the early chapters, needing more of these two. There also is some obsession and neediness, and I am always a fan of that 🥰
This book is for everyone loving to read about two childhood friends falling in love with each other. For the ones who love their characters longing and a bit jelaous. Definitely for the ones who love some spicy time in a tent 😏
Liam is gone for Cooper pretty early on, and the pining starts 🙈
When they spent some time alone together, sharing a tent, their chemistry changes and things take turns.
The way this story was build was amazing, it really hooked me from the early chapters, needing more of these two. There also is some obsession and neediness, and I am always a fan of that 🥰
This book is for everyone loving to read about two childhood friends falling in love with each other. For the ones who love their characters longing and a bit jelaous. Definitely for the ones who love some spicy time in a tent 😏
September 20, 2025
not sure if this is a 3.5 or 4 star…
this was sweet and i enjoyed a good handful of it, the smut was hot hot hot… but definitely felt like it came up short in quite a few of the scenes. would have definitely loved more detail & maybe even some more groveling. what do you mean he left for years and broke your heart only to come back and you immediately take him back and tell him to move in? not a single grovel in sight.💀
also, there was so much potential in many of the scenes for a jealousy/ “mine” moment, perfect set ups and then bam nothing happened. that’s a personal preference tho, so ignore me 😂
this was sweet and i enjoyed a good handful of it, the smut was hot hot hot… but definitely felt like it came up short in quite a few of the scenes. would have definitely loved more detail & maybe even some more groveling. what do you mean he left for years and broke your heart only to come back and you immediately take him back and tell him to move in? not a single grovel in sight.💀
also, there was so much potential in many of the scenes for a jealousy/ “mine” moment, perfect set ups and then bam nothing happened. that’s a personal preference tho, so ignore me 😂
August 30, 2025
After All This Time is book two in the A Time For Love series; however it is a complete standalone. This MM best friends to lovers romance story is about Liam and Cooper.
Liam and Cooper were childhood best friends. They had such a sweet friendship. As they got older, Liam developed feelings for Cooper. He didn’t want to ruin their friendship so he kept it to himself. On a camping trip before they leave to go their separate ways to college, Liam gives into his secret desire for Cooper, and it ends up changing everything.
Their story continues many years later when Liam returns home and finally reunites with Cooper. It isn’t long before they fall back into their close friendship and it soon becomes so much more. Cooper was needy and had always been a sucker for physical touch, and when it came to Liam’s he felt safe and loved. Liam was just so in love with Cooper and would do anything for him. Liam and Cooper were sweet together, but I definitely enjoyed when things turned spicy. I was a huge fan of Liam’s dirty talk, and I loved how these two would get so turned on by each other. Liam and Cooper’s chemistry was amazing.
I do have to say Liam and Cooper’s separation was way too long for me. I was frustrated they didn’t talk about what happened and how it affected them until the end of the book. They were best friends with such a strong connection, so I struggled with their lack of communication, especially when they reunited as men in their 30’s. I do appreciate there was no third act break up. I really enjoyed seeing them get their HEA, but I felt like Liam and Cooper’s relationship was still a secret and I would have liked to see them share it with their family and friends. Overall I did really enjoy Liam and Cooper’s story.
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
Liam and Cooper were childhood best friends. They had such a sweet friendship. As they got older, Liam developed feelings for Cooper. He didn’t want to ruin their friendship so he kept it to himself. On a camping trip before they leave to go their separate ways to college, Liam gives into his secret desire for Cooper, and it ends up changing everything.
Their story continues many years later when Liam returns home and finally reunites with Cooper. It isn’t long before they fall back into their close friendship and it soon becomes so much more. Cooper was needy and had always been a sucker for physical touch, and when it came to Liam’s he felt safe and loved. Liam was just so in love with Cooper and would do anything for him. Liam and Cooper were sweet together, but I definitely enjoyed when things turned spicy. I was a huge fan of Liam’s dirty talk, and I loved how these two would get so turned on by each other. Liam and Cooper’s chemistry was amazing.
I do have to say Liam and Cooper’s separation was way too long for me. I was frustrated they didn’t talk about what happened and how it affected them until the end of the book. They were best friends with such a strong connection, so I struggled with their lack of communication, especially when they reunited as men in their 30’s. I do appreciate there was no third act break up. I really enjoyed seeing them get their HEA, but I felt like Liam and Cooper’s relationship was still a secret and I would have liked to see them share it with their family and friends. Overall I did really enjoy Liam and Cooper’s story.
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
August 22, 2025
This one felt disjointed to me. There was an abrupt time jump that just felt off, and honestly, I would have liked a little bit of both the guys coping with the separation instead of an immediate 17-year time jump. I also was very frustrated that these two were supposedly best friends but did not communicate at all. Like the conversation about the separation was at the end of the book. What? And they were hiding their relationship but then jumped to engagement. Is this still hidden? What is even happening? This was not for me. I loved the premise but never connected with either character.
I received an ARC of this, and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC of this, and this is my honest review.
September 5, 2025
In love with Cooper and Liam forever and ever. ❤️
January 20, 2026
Did anyone edit this book? Jesus Christ.
September 6, 2025
If you are need of a lighthearted, fast-paced, swoony read with mild angst and some delicious spice in the end, this is the perfect book to pick up. It was exactly what I needed.
I absolutely adored Coop! What a sweet, green flag of a man and best friend. And so forgiving. Ugh. He deserves all the good things. And the neediness and touch love language was so cute 😩🫠 Liam was great, too, but I guess it’s clear I have a bit of a soft spot for Cooper. 🤭
I enjoyed the chemistry and the banter between Cooper and Liam, and their spicy scenes were very fun.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a fast-paced, cozy read that was much needed.
And of course I love the PNW vibes. 🌲🌊
Looking forward to reading more by Marina Pirlimpou! Thank you for the ARC opportunity!
I absolutely adored Coop! What a sweet, green flag of a man and best friend. And so forgiving. Ugh. He deserves all the good things. And the neediness and touch love language was so cute 😩🫠 Liam was great, too, but I guess it’s clear I have a bit of a soft spot for Cooper. 🤭
I enjoyed the chemistry and the banter between Cooper and Liam, and their spicy scenes were very fun.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a fast-paced, cozy read that was much needed.
And of course I love the PNW vibes. 🌲🌊
Looking forward to reading more by Marina Pirlimpou! Thank you for the ARC opportunity!
August 24, 2025
This story was such a breath of fresh air.I enjoyed every single page. Best friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and this book is a perfect example of why. Liam and Cooper’s friendship was so sweet and raw.Liam pined over Cooper, and one night he gave in to his attraction. Thinking he ruined years of friendship & out of fear he decided to leave town.Years later,he returns only to have all those feelings come rushing back.The emotions-love,longing,fear, and guilt that they both harbored,unfolded beautifully.Such a sweet story about two men finding their way back to each other and realizing their love was always meant to be.
I received an ARC from Nisha's Books and Coffee and Marina Pirlimpou.
I received an ARC from Nisha's Books and Coffee and Marina Pirlimpou.
September 7, 2025
This was cute and I liked both characters. However, it just felt like something was missing. For a quick light read it works but nothing about it stands out from any other childhood best friends to lovers story. It almost needed more conflict, maybe?
September 2, 2025
After All This Time
A time for love book 2
Marina Pirlimpou
Liam & Cooper
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Childhood best friends to lovers
Pining / Longing
It's always been you
Obsessed MC / Needy MC
Close proximity
Touch as a love language
First times
No 3rd act break up
I'm such a sucker for a needy pining second chance friends to lovers romance.
This was fantastic
I loved it.
Liam has loved Cooper since he was 16. He believed he had to move away and distance himself after a kiss they shared when they were 18.
Liam leaving Cooper broke him. Many years later Liam is back in town and wants to rekindle their friendship.
Only Cooper is hoping for more. Liam knows at first glance he is still very much in love with Cooper.
“Liam won’t fully believe me if I just tell him I want him. Mere words won’t remove the doubt from his mind.”
This was so sweet and swoony. So spicy too.
“This is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. You, on your knees for me, with your mouth wrapped around me.”
I love how the progression of their friendship evolved into lovers.
I really enjoyed their story.
“I love you. I love you so fucking much, Coop. You’re my dream come true.”
So thankful for this arc
A time for love book 2
Marina Pirlimpou
Liam & Cooper
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Childhood best friends to lovers
Pining / Longing
It's always been you
Obsessed MC / Needy MC
Close proximity
Touch as a love language
First times
No 3rd act break up
I'm such a sucker for a needy pining second chance friends to lovers romance.
This was fantastic
I loved it.
Liam has loved Cooper since he was 16. He believed he had to move away and distance himself after a kiss they shared when they were 18.
Liam leaving Cooper broke him. Many years later Liam is back in town and wants to rekindle their friendship.
Only Cooper is hoping for more. Liam knows at first glance he is still very much in love with Cooper.
“Liam won’t fully believe me if I just tell him I want him. Mere words won’t remove the doubt from his mind.”
This was so sweet and swoony. So spicy too.
“This is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. You, on your knees for me, with your mouth wrapped around me.”
I love how the progression of their friendship evolved into lovers.
I really enjoyed their story.
“I love you. I love you so fucking much, Coop. You’re my dream come true.”
So thankful for this arc
September 15, 2025
DNF. I tried, but got bored and went looking around the non-narrative parts of the book and say the warnings. And that helped me make my decision to stop reading.
When an author has a content warning for “Mature content with explicit scenes between male MCs, intended for an adult audience,” and then also has the first book in the series is an MF romance with explicit sex and no content warning for that… that pretty much tells me what’s what. No thank you.
When an author has a content warning for “Mature content with explicit scenes between male MCs, intended for an adult audience,” and then also has the first book in the series is an MF romance with explicit sex and no content warning for that… that pretty much tells me what’s what. No thank you.
Read
January 2, 2026DNF at 33% what do you mean there’s a 17 year time jump and they both act like nothing happened when they supposedly “reunited” with little to no communication during the time they were apart. I truly think that more angst would’ve been better with sone conflict to make it more realistic.
August 21, 2025
5 Stars!⭐️
4🌶️
GUYS!!!! Omg This Is Definitely A New Comfort Read And One Of My New Favorite Best Friends To Lover Romances I’ve Ever Read, And Definitely A New Favorite Book And Definitely One Of My Favorites This Year. Liam And Cooper Y’all, OMG!!!!! I Just Love Them So Much Y’all. They Were Just Absolutely Everything To Me And They Reminded Me Why I Love This Trope So Much. This Book Also Felt So Comforting And So Beautiful And I Just Loved How These Two Came Together. To How They Talked Out There Feeling To Starting To Fall For Each Other And Being In Love Like It Was All Just Everything I Ever Wanted And So Much More. Also Guys I Can’t Believe This Is The Authors Debut MM Book Cause Now I Need More MM Books From Here Because This Was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! I Highly Recommend Y’all Read This Book On September 2nd Because This Is Just The Perfect MM Low Angst Yet A Beautiful MM Romance I See Myself Rereading So Much Because I’m Never Getting Over These Cuties. Marina, This Book Was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!! And I Need More From You Girl Because This Was Fabulous And I Cannot Wait To See What You Come Up With Next 💕🫶
Thank You So Much @nisha For Giving Me The Arc I Appreciate You So So Much💕🫶
4🌶️
GUYS!!!! Omg This Is Definitely A New Comfort Read And One Of My New Favorite Best Friends To Lover Romances I’ve Ever Read, And Definitely A New Favorite Book And Definitely One Of My Favorites This Year. Liam And Cooper Y’all, OMG!!!!! I Just Love Them So Much Y’all. They Were Just Absolutely Everything To Me And They Reminded Me Why I Love This Trope So Much. This Book Also Felt So Comforting And So Beautiful And I Just Loved How These Two Came Together. To How They Talked Out There Feeling To Starting To Fall For Each Other And Being In Love Like It Was All Just Everything I Ever Wanted And So Much More. Also Guys I Can’t Believe This Is The Authors Debut MM Book Cause Now I Need More MM Books From Here Because This Was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! I Highly Recommend Y’all Read This Book On September 2nd Because This Is Just The Perfect MM Low Angst Yet A Beautiful MM Romance I See Myself Rereading So Much Because I’m Never Getting Over These Cuties. Marina, This Book Was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!! And I Need More From You Girl Because This Was Fabulous And I Cannot Wait To See What You Come Up With Next 💕🫶
Thank You So Much @nisha For Giving Me The Arc I Appreciate You So So Much💕🫶
September 1, 2025
This is my first book from this author, and wow, what a ride. Even though it’s book two in the *A Time for Love* series (I haven’t read book one yet), I had no problem diving right in and completely enjoying it.
This story wrecked me in the best way. Liam and Cooper owned me from the very beginning. Best-friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and this book reminded me exactly why I love it so much. Their friendship felt real and tender, their connection emotional and deep, and the slow shift into love was just beautiful to read.
Liam had me wanting to hug him and yell at him all at once, while Cooper was the sweetest, most endearing kind of needy that made my heart ache. The way they found their way back to each other, after all the years and all the distance, was so satisfying and emotional.
I laughed, I cried, and I felt every single page.
This story wrecked me in the best way. Liam and Cooper owned me from the very beginning. Best-friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and this book reminded me exactly why I love it so much. Their friendship felt real and tender, their connection emotional and deep, and the slow shift into love was just beautiful to read.
Liam had me wanting to hug him and yell at him all at once, while Cooper was the sweetest, most endearing kind of needy that made my heart ache. The way they found their way back to each other, after all the years and all the distance, was so satisfying and emotional.
I laughed, I cried, and I felt every single page.
August 27, 2025
Arc Review- After All This Time @marinas_readingcorner … Out September 2nd.. Liam & Cooper are the cutest Childhood Best friends and I loved how we saw them first meet to their growing connection over the years.. they go on cute little camping trips and try to fit in as much as possible before they go their separate ways to start their careers before planning on coming back together. Liam has been pining over Cooper since they were 16 years old and I actually enjoyed how hard it was getting for him to just be his best friend because I love the pining. After Slipping up Liam can’t take it any longer and pulls away and literally years go by.. that’s all I say heheheh.. a great connection between these boys and I suppose you could say the time was right when they finally get their HEA.. sweet and easy read with the best spice and the right amount of pining.. Thankyou for the arc.. it was a pleasure
September 10, 2025
Sweet Low Angst Book
Dee’s Grade: A-
This book is really sweet and low angst. So it’s an easy read. It also feels low stakes because of that. Everything just came together so easy. On the one hand it’s what makes the book so sweet. One the other it also meant there was no real tension. There was no real conflict to resolve. Even what should have been conflict was just swept aside with one conversation. Which then begs the question of it was that simple there was no point in the almost twenty years that’s passed that the conversation could have occurred.
The sweetness of the book and the adorableness of the characters make up for this though. You will enjoy reading it.
Dee’s Grade: A-
This book is really sweet and low angst. So it’s an easy read. It also feels low stakes because of that. Everything just came together so easy. On the one hand it’s what makes the book so sweet. One the other it also meant there was no real tension. There was no real conflict to resolve. Even what should have been conflict was just swept aside with one conversation. Which then begs the question of it was that simple there was no point in the almost twenty years that’s passed that the conversation could have occurred.
The sweetness of the book and the adorableness of the characters make up for this though. You will enjoy reading it.
August 26, 2025
This book was so cute and it’s my first one for this author. I love Cooper and Liam so much they are so perfect together but all that lost time between them kind of hurt especially for Cooper. I’m glad Liam got his second chance and that they were able to find their way back to each other. Such a great story.
August 27, 2025
After all this time is a sweet BFFs to lovers romance, with pining and spice. I love how sweet and tender Liam and Cooper are towards each other when we get to see the younger versions of them.
There is so much longing, fear, love and guilt they both have to deal with during the years apart, to be able to find each other again.
Thank you for the opportunity to read an arc of After all this time! This review is honest and voluntary.
There is so much longing, fear, love and guilt they both have to deal with during the years apart, to be able to find each other again.
Thank you for the opportunity to read an arc of After all this time! This review is honest and voluntary.
September 2, 2025
This was my first book from this Author, and I really enjoyed the story of Liam and Cooper. While this is book 2 in the series, it can be read as a standalone with no problems.
I always love a good best friends to lovers story and I really enjoyed how this was done. I loved the peeks into their childhood, and how we got to see some important momenta for them. I got emotional and I might have shed some tears as well. Not gonna lie, that time jump was rough. I understand why it happened, but it broke my heart for both Cooper and Liam. I really enjoyed the rekindling of their friendship, I just felt like some discussions should have been had sooner. I really enjoyed seeing Liam take care of Cooper. It was also great to see Cooper be assertive and go after what he wanted. I loved their playfulness and banter quite a lot, and I really enjoyed their dynamic.
If you are someone who loves best friends to lovers stories, then this book is definitely for you. Throw in a main character with a filthy mouth and it's a great time all around.
I always love a good best friends to lovers story and I really enjoyed how this was done. I loved the peeks into their childhood, and how we got to see some important momenta for them. I got emotional and I might have shed some tears as well. Not gonna lie, that time jump was rough. I understand why it happened, but it broke my heart for both Cooper and Liam. I really enjoyed the rekindling of their friendship, I just felt like some discussions should have been had sooner. I really enjoyed seeing Liam take care of Cooper. It was also great to see Cooper be assertive and go after what he wanted. I loved their playfulness and banter quite a lot, and I really enjoyed their dynamic.
If you are someone who loves best friends to lovers stories, then this book is definitely for you. Throw in a main character with a filthy mouth and it's a great time all around.
September 13, 2025
4.25⭐️
C'était trop bien 🥰
C'était trop bien 🥰
November 29, 2025
I love a good childhood best friends to lovers story. So much longing and hiding feelings. Cooper and Liam’s story is so devastatingly beautiful. Cooper’s insecurities made me want to give him a big hug and I completely understand Liam’s need to take care of him, even from the beginning. Liam’s dirty talk and praise…holy hotness! I read it in one sitting!
September 3, 2025
Tells the story of 2 best friends who after one fateful night many MANY years ago both reunited and become more than and find true happiness and understanding with one another and with themselves.
I could not put this book down and it was such a heart warming story of coming together when you are supposed to.
I could not put this book down and it was such a heart warming story of coming together when you are supposed to.
August 29, 2025
“And in that moment, I knew that after all this time, I was finally home. Because home had always been him."
This was so sweet! This was my first book by this author and I would definitely read another! I was invested from the very beginning and I couldn’t wait to see how it played out! Best friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes so I knew I’d be all in on this one!
Liam and Cooper are best friends and when they turn 16.. Liam realizes he has feeling for Cooper that are more than just ‘friends’. The summer before they leave for college Liam slips - and kisses Coop. He runs away from Cooper and doesn’t return until 17 years later - where he realizes his feelings never went away. Coop and Liam rekindle their friendship which quickly turns into more and I was here for every moment of Cooper’s awakening and Liam finally getting to love his best friend like he dreamed.
Cooper was a needy little thing and I loved it so much. The chemistry between the two of them was so spicy and I loved how much they drove the other one crazy. This one was so emotional - between the spicy scenes and how they had to heal one another from the hurt of being separated for so long. But they healed each other in the best ways.
What you’re getting:
Bi awakening
Best friends to lovers
Second chance-ish
Unrequited love
First times
Close proximity
Obsessed MC x needy MC
Low angst
HEA
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
*ARC Review*
This was so sweet! This was my first book by this author and I would definitely read another! I was invested from the very beginning and I couldn’t wait to see how it played out! Best friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes so I knew I’d be all in on this one!
Liam and Cooper are best friends and when they turn 16.. Liam realizes he has feeling for Cooper that are more than just ‘friends’. The summer before they leave for college Liam slips - and kisses Coop. He runs away from Cooper and doesn’t return until 17 years later - where he realizes his feelings never went away. Coop and Liam rekindle their friendship which quickly turns into more and I was here for every moment of Cooper’s awakening and Liam finally getting to love his best friend like he dreamed.
Cooper was a needy little thing and I loved it so much. The chemistry between the two of them was so spicy and I loved how much they drove the other one crazy. This one was so emotional - between the spicy scenes and how they had to heal one another from the hurt of being separated for so long. But they healed each other in the best ways.
What you’re getting:
Bi awakening
Best friends to lovers
Second chance-ish
Unrequited love
First times
Close proximity
Obsessed MC x needy MC
Low angst
HEA
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
*ARC Review*
September 17, 2025
Unfortunately a no and I really wanted to like this one.
This *felt* like it was written as an MF story heavy with gender stereotypes but the FMC was just swapped out with Cooper to make it MM. It didn’t feel like an MM romance at all. It actually made me really sad.
Kinda spoilers-
A lot of telling and not showing 😭 The MANY years of separation and just jump right back into being besties, no big deal? What? We don’t get to see any of the 17 years they were apart.
The bi awakening was basically non-existent, again making this feel like an unauthentic MM story. Would have loved to see the coming out moments and getting to see them happily together in front of their friends and families.
Two stars because I liked the beginning. 🥲
This *felt* like it was written as an MF story heavy with gender stereotypes but the FMC was just swapped out with Cooper to make it MM. It didn’t feel like an MM romance at all. It actually made me really sad.
Kinda spoilers-
A lot of telling and not showing 😭 The MANY years of separation and just jump right back into being besties, no big deal? What? We don’t get to see any of the 17 years they were apart.
The bi awakening was basically non-existent, again making this feel like an unauthentic MM story. Would have loved to see the coming out moments and getting to see them happily together in front of their friends and families.
Two stars because I liked the beginning. 🥲
January 25, 2026
What a whole lot of nothing.
I’ve honestly never been so simultaneously bored and frustrated with a book before. It has a good premise, but literally nothing happens! It felt like the author had bullet points of what they wanted to happen and then blandly went through and hit them all with absolutely zero effort.
The characters are boring with little to no personality and pretty much indistinguishable from each other, the plot is so thin, it’s honestly generous to even call it a plot, and once we get into them having sex, the rest of the book is pretty much just them screwing.
I think one of the biggest problems with the book (and trust me, there’s a lot!) is that the time jump seems totally and completely unnecessary. There is no difference between their characters at 18 versus them in their thirties. They talk and act exactly the same except for now they have jobs. We get absolutely no glimpse into their lives from the SEVENTEEN YEAR (I believe) time jump! Except that Cooper was on and off with his high school girlfriend and that Liam works with athletes. For some reason, Liam decides to come back into town and we’re given literally no explanation as to why he’s decided to come back, and Cooper, who apparently felt so insecure/devastated/confused by Liam just up and leaving him when they were 18, decides to immediately let Liam move in with him. They have absolutely no discussion about Liam effectively ending their friendship and more or less ghosting him for the last seventeen years, and they immediately jump back into a friendship. It’s confusing, it’s dumb, and it makes no sense.
We later on find out from one of Cooper’s sisters, (not even Cooper himself), that he was absolutely destroyed by Liam leaving, and yet we never see that. They never really talk about it, except for Liam apologizing for it basically one time and then they immediately have sex. I’m fine with low angst, and I’m fine with them not having a fight about it, but that behavior warrants, at the very least, a discussion. Especially because apparently Cooper was devastated by Liam leaving, we should’ve seen them have a discussion about it more than just Liam saying sorry and then saying I love you and then Cooper immediately forgiving him and then they have sex.
Also, Liam‘s decision to leave Cooper didn’t even feel that angsty because we barely got to know their characters before we were switched into this 18 year time zone. We got a couple of chapters of establishing that Liam has feelings for Cooper and Cooper has no idea, and then they share one little kiss and suddenly that warrants Liam just abandoning his best friend for how many years. And Cooper didn’t even react badly to the kiss, he was just super confused! Again, I understand that they were only 18 and 18-year-olds are rash, and Liam was scared that it would ruin the friendship, but I genuinely don’t understand why he needed to be away from Cooper for 17 years. And then, to just show back up randomly 18 years later with no explanation as to why he’s back! He’s gone for 17 years because he kissed Cooper and then he just randomly decides to come back into Cooper’s life. It just doesn’t make any sense and it’s so freaking dumb.
And again, I don’t mind low angst, but when you have a story that has this kind of set up, you have to expect some angst and there was literally none. When I say that the story literally had no plot, I genuinely mean that. It has no plot. We’re basically just jumping from event to event to event.
We got a couple of chapters of Liam and Cooper when they’re 18, and then Cooper and Liam meet back up when they’re in their 30s, and then Liam moves in with Cooper, and then they kiss, and then they start to have sex with each other, and not even become boyfriends, they’re just having sex, and then Liam goes on a work trip to basically just be able to move permanently back to Oregon, and then they meet up with Cooper’s family, and then they have the blandest conversation about Liam leaving Cooper and they profess their love to one another, and then they get engaged. THAT’S IT. That’s literally the entire book. I wish that was an exaggeration.
And maybe if they had this amazing chemistry, I could overlook all of that, but I can’t. I could not tell you their personalities because they had no personalities. Liam always talked about how goofy and wild Cooper was and I never got any of that. And I think the only thing I know about Liam is that he works with athletes and he has blonde hair. Also, Cooper was established to have had a girlfriend in their high school days and didn’t have a problem with Liam, kissing him, but never expressed attraction to another guy as far as we know. Who knows what happened during the 18 years because we were never told about that because why would that be relevant to the story???, and then Liam comes back into his life and he’s just immediately OK with having sex with him. A low angst story is fine, but the lack of even a little questioning of his own sexuality is very odd. We didn’t get any sort of bi awakening, or questioning why he’s attracted to Liam, he just is. When I say that the story is literally nothing from stem to stern, it is literally nothing.
There’s no connection, there is honestly no love story, there are no character arcs, there’s no character personality, there’s no angst, there’s no resolution. All there is, is sex. I honestly want to stop reading about halfway through, but it was such a short read that I just slogged through it because I was hoping maybe they’d have a discussion about why Liam left and they did… AT 90 PERCENT OF THE STORY. After that, I just skimmed the rest of the book because I was so over it.
I’m honestly shocked at how many good ratings this book has because this was one of the worst books I’ve ever read in my life.
I’ve honestly never been so simultaneously bored and frustrated with a book before. It has a good premise, but literally nothing happens! It felt like the author had bullet points of what they wanted to happen and then blandly went through and hit them all with absolutely zero effort.
The characters are boring with little to no personality and pretty much indistinguishable from each other, the plot is so thin, it’s honestly generous to even call it a plot, and once we get into them having sex, the rest of the book is pretty much just them screwing.
I think one of the biggest problems with the book (and trust me, there’s a lot!) is that the time jump seems totally and completely unnecessary. There is no difference between their characters at 18 versus them in their thirties. They talk and act exactly the same except for now they have jobs. We get absolutely no glimpse into their lives from the SEVENTEEN YEAR (I believe) time jump! Except that Cooper was on and off with his high school girlfriend and that Liam works with athletes. For some reason, Liam decides to come back into town and we’re given literally no explanation as to why he’s decided to come back, and Cooper, who apparently felt so insecure/devastated/confused by Liam just up and leaving him when they were 18, decides to immediately let Liam move in with him. They have absolutely no discussion about Liam effectively ending their friendship and more or less ghosting him for the last seventeen years, and they immediately jump back into a friendship. It’s confusing, it’s dumb, and it makes no sense.
We later on find out from one of Cooper’s sisters, (not even Cooper himself), that he was absolutely destroyed by Liam leaving, and yet we never see that. They never really talk about it, except for Liam apologizing for it basically one time and then they immediately have sex. I’m fine with low angst, and I’m fine with them not having a fight about it, but that behavior warrants, at the very least, a discussion. Especially because apparently Cooper was devastated by Liam leaving, we should’ve seen them have a discussion about it more than just Liam saying sorry and then saying I love you and then Cooper immediately forgiving him and then they have sex.
Also, Liam‘s decision to leave Cooper didn’t even feel that angsty because we barely got to know their characters before we were switched into this 18 year time zone. We got a couple of chapters of establishing that Liam has feelings for Cooper and Cooper has no idea, and then they share one little kiss and suddenly that warrants Liam just abandoning his best friend for how many years. And Cooper didn’t even react badly to the kiss, he was just super confused! Again, I understand that they were only 18 and 18-year-olds are rash, and Liam was scared that it would ruin the friendship, but I genuinely don’t understand why he needed to be away from Cooper for 17 years. And then, to just show back up randomly 18 years later with no explanation as to why he’s back! He’s gone for 17 years because he kissed Cooper and then he just randomly decides to come back into Cooper’s life. It just doesn’t make any sense and it’s so freaking dumb.
And again, I don’t mind low angst, but when you have a story that has this kind of set up, you have to expect some angst and there was literally none. When I say that the story literally had no plot, I genuinely mean that. It has no plot. We’re basically just jumping from event to event to event.
We got a couple of chapters of Liam and Cooper when they’re 18, and then Cooper and Liam meet back up when they’re in their 30s, and then Liam moves in with Cooper, and then they kiss, and then they start to have sex with each other, and not even become boyfriends, they’re just having sex, and then Liam goes on a work trip to basically just be able to move permanently back to Oregon, and then they meet up with Cooper’s family, and then they have the blandest conversation about Liam leaving Cooper and they profess their love to one another, and then they get engaged. THAT’S IT. That’s literally the entire book. I wish that was an exaggeration.
And maybe if they had this amazing chemistry, I could overlook all of that, but I can’t. I could not tell you their personalities because they had no personalities. Liam always talked about how goofy and wild Cooper was and I never got any of that. And I think the only thing I know about Liam is that he works with athletes and he has blonde hair. Also, Cooper was established to have had a girlfriend in their high school days and didn’t have a problem with Liam, kissing him, but never expressed attraction to another guy as far as we know. Who knows what happened during the 18 years because we were never told about that because why would that be relevant to the story???, and then Liam comes back into his life and he’s just immediately OK with having sex with him. A low angst story is fine, but the lack of even a little questioning of his own sexuality is very odd. We didn’t get any sort of bi awakening, or questioning why he’s attracted to Liam, he just is. When I say that the story is literally nothing from stem to stern, it is literally nothing.
There’s no connection, there is honestly no love story, there are no character arcs, there’s no character personality, there’s no angst, there’s no resolution. All there is, is sex. I honestly want to stop reading about halfway through, but it was such a short read that I just slogged through it because I was hoping maybe they’d have a discussion about why Liam left and they did… AT 90 PERCENT OF THE STORY. After that, I just skimmed the rest of the book because I was so over it.
I’m honestly shocked at how many good ratings this book has because this was one of the worst books I’ve ever read in my life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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