Accidentally Living With The Captain

Chicago Awakenings #3

by Lexi Amber

Hudson

I thought I was living the dream—captain of my NHL team, married to a model, planning to finally become a dad—the last thing I was expecting was to be served divorce papers.

All the plans I’d been making, all the ideas of what our family would look like, gone, just like that.

Thank God for Adrian, he always knows what to do. My ex kicked me out and Adrian offered to let me stay in his spare room while I figure out what comes next. My future hasn’t felt this uncertain since I entered the draft, but with Adrian offering to help, I feel like I can breathe again, like the unknown might not be the worst thing after all.


Adrian

Living with the perfect man is a cruel and unusual sort of torture.

Hudson walks around half-naked all the time, showing off his perfect hockey body, it’s obscene. And then there’s the teasing. It isn’t new, but I'd assumed he would stop now that we’re roommates and there’s no one else around. He hasn’t.

He’s straight, and I don’t know how much more platonic flirting my little gay heart can take.

I know that our time together is limited. Hudson wants to be a dad more than anything, and he deserves the family he’s always wanted, the future he’d dreamed of. I know that future won’t include me, and I want Hudson to be happy. Even if that means giving up our time together, helping him move on.

He was never mine, so why does the thought of saying goodbye feel like it might break me?

I’m screwed.

Genres: M M Romance, Hockey, Friends To Lovers, Sports, Romance, Forced Proximity, Contemporary

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 12, 2026

About the author

Lexi is an American author who is obsessed with queer happily ever afters. Most of her time is spent with her two kids, but if they’re asleep then she is either reading, writing, or watching hockey.

Professionally trained as a nurse, Lexi decided to start writing when she became a stay at home mom and the characters in her head haven’t stopped talking since.

Lexi also loves Diet Coke, traveling, and Halloween. Her house is probably obnoxiously decorated for whatever holiday is next because she thinks that little things that make people smile are important.

You can find her attempting to stay up to date with all social media under the name Lexi Amber.

Reviews

[martina (the life of a chaotic reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

so stinking cute

[Evelyn Bella (there WILL be spoilers) · Rating 3 out of 5]

These men looooove themselves a hurdle. I know I'm going to sound like Goldilocks on this one but listen, there's such a thing as resisting for the sake of resistance.

This was turn based combat. First Hudson finds a hurdle, then Adrian finds a hurdle, repeat x3, then when all is resolved, one of them revisits an earlier hurdle.

Guys. Do you or do you not want to be together?

This was the slowest of burns, except not really. Even without the platonic cuddling, these two were interested in each other and by 70% they both knew it but they still had reasons why not.

Then they started fucking, could not stop fucking, and they STILL had reasons why not.

I'm very vocal about complaining when the MCs get together too early and now I'm here to complain that they got together too late. Together in the romance sense.

On the bright side, when they did finally stop pussyfooting around, it made sense that the love declarations were immediately at hand, so there's that. And believable too, because by 30%, they'd started falling, so if 90% in they're ready to call it, I can't complain.

Otherwise very frustrating. It's like they were trying to be politically correct about the relationship. They each had a very specific set of factors to be met before they could date and were sticklers about enforcing them.

Which would have made sense. If they weren't already living and working together and fucking and spending all their limited free time together and pretty much doing adoption together even though they were telling themselves it's just a 'very good friendship'.

FRIENDS ARE NOT THIS INTRUSIVELY UP EACH OTHER'S ASSES. I don't even mean that in the fun way.

Am I complaining that two guys, one of whom thought he was straight for 32 years, took time to really build a good friendship and solid foundation for a relationship before they added commitment and a baby to the mix?

Yes. It appears that I am.

Like I said. Goldilocks.

[JonathanSamuelReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensitivity read!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this, and it probably could’ve been a 5 star up until they actually started sleeping together. I was not a fan of the way Adrian made their relationship a “situationship” after literally pining after Hudson the entireeeee book. It was so frustrating. It was like he adopted completely different character traits than the ones he showed during the first 70% of the book. It sucked that it took until the last chapter for them to actually get together.

[Seraphina Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accidentally Living With The Captain
Chicago Awakenings book 3
Lexi Amber

Hockey Captain / team Management
First Times
Mutual Pining
Roommates to lovers
Size Difference
Low Angst
Friends Friends
Slow Burn

Hudson & Adrian

This was so sweet and wholesome.

Just a beautiful friends to lovers romance.

“Having Adrian at my side makes anything better.”

Low angst, sweet and fun.

These two truly are perfect for each other.

They just fit so well and complicated each other beautifully

“It’s real, this family of mine, and it’s so much better than I could have ever dreamed.”

Perfect read.

So thankful for this arc

[Lionelle Pmuls (That's Slump Backwards & It's What I Do) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 Chocolate Stars ⭐ 4 🌶️
ARC Read: 10/01/2026
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you Lexi Amber for this gift. 🥰

What to expect from this book? 🤔
🫶 MM Hockey Romance
🏒 Slow Burn
❤️ Co-Workers To Lovers
🖤 Unexpected Roommates
🧨 Forced Proximity
🧲 Opposites Attract
💕 Size Difference
🏒 Hockey Captain x Team Management ✍️
🫂 Friends First
🤫 Secret Crush
🐕 Oblivious Golden Retriever x Closed-Off Black Cat 🐈‍⬛
🥵 Fantasy Comes To Life
😳 First Times
🫂 Caretaking
🔥 Light D/s Dynamic
❤️‍🔥 "Good Boy"
🔥 Praise Kink
🍆 Sex Toys
🥵 "Tell Me What To Do"
🔥 Rimming
😳 Light Exhibitionism
😳 Slutty Gray Sweatpants
👑 "Prince"
🥰 "Charming"
🫂 Codependent
💬 So Much Texting
🍫 Obsessed W/ Chocolate
❤️‍🩹 Trust Issues
🌈 Queer Awakening
❤️ Low Angst
💖 HEA

Format: Ebook/ARC
Cover: 5/5

✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨

"Adrian: Can I die from swooning too many times? God, I wish that there were cameras in here to record this perfect moment. Pretty sure my heart stopped there for a second. And how does breathing work again? Right, okay. Focus. In. Out. I’m a responsible adult man fully capable of not freaking out at that comment."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

I love getting to know Hudson & Adrian so much!

This story was so cute and funny. Super low angst.
Adrian's crush and swooning for Hudson was very cute and funny.
So many funny moments this book had!

The cherry on top for me was Hudson puppy attitude and himbo vibes.
That was everything for me! And the pinnig 🤭.

Series: Chicago Awakenings Series #3
Story: 5/5
POV: Dual - 1st Person
Plot: 5/5

✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨

Hudson: “In your bed this morning?” I prompt, but that only makes his eyes go even wider.
“There is no way you were in my bed this morning promising to cuddle me! I would absolutely remember that.”
“Maybe you were more asleep than I thought,” I suggest with a shrug. “You’re strong in your sleep then; it took some effort for me to untangle you from me.”

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Main Characters:
5/5 - Adrian: he/him, cis-male, nickname: Prince, Charming
5/5 - Hudson: he/him, cis-male
Side Characters: 5/5
Steam Level: 4/5
Romance: Medium High Focus

✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨

"Adrian: The idea of such a stereotypically masculine man, this professional athlete with his big muscles and a full beard, submitting so easily to my pleasure has me fighting a moan of my own. Unlike him, though, I actually need to remain quiet so he never finds out I’m jerking off to the sound of him doing the same thing on the other side of the wall."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Humor: High Focus
Angst: Low Focus
Cheating? No
The Ending: 5/5
HEA/HFN/Cliffhanger: HEA

Favorite character? Hudson
Enjoyment: 5/5

✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨

Hudson: “Only you,” I agree easily. He finally drags his gaze from my ass to meet mine before saying, “Good boy.” Fuuuuuck, why was that so hot? He better pick up the pace before I finish from his dirty talk alone. I swear Adrian knows exactly what to say to have me absolutely wild for him."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

This is my 7th book by Lexi Amber

Chicago Awakenings Series:
1. Accidentally Joining His Cult - Beckett & Cody's Story - 5,0 stars
2. Accidentally Falling For My Best Friend - Oakley & Parker's Story - 5,0 stars
2,5. Accidentally Falling For Her - Aspen & Sage's Story - 5,0 stars
3. Accidentally Living With The Captain - Adrien & Hudson's Story - 4,5 stars

Hope this review was helpful.
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!!Please remember that all my reviews are a matter of my personal taste. Your opinion and what you are willing or want to tolerate in the books you read is your own. We all have different opinions and preferences when it comes to the kind of books we enjoy, so it's important to respect that. It's just a book... but reading is still political!
No AI was used to make this review. These are my own words. And I support real artists.

[angie_bookrecs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me feeling all the damn emotions...

Hudson getting served divorce papers in front of the media? I was already tearing up and I barely started.
His grief over the life he thought he was going to have, especially the kids...that hurt to read.
That kind of loss is so specific and Lexi wrote it painfully well.

Adrian though…Adrian ruined me. The yearning. The competence kink. The caretaking without expecting anything back. The way he loves Hudson quietly, patiently, without entitlement. The domestic tension. The living together. The shared routines. The coffee orders. The food. The "I’ll take care of it" energy. I was screaming internally the entire time.

And Hudson realizing, slowly, gently, that the safest place he’s ever been is with Adrian? That his future doesn’t look like what he planned, but it might actually be better? Yeah. That did some emotional damage.

This wasn’t about sex.
It was about intimacy.
About being chosen when you’re at your worst.
About finally being seen.

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, these two adorable idiots have been the highlight of my less than stellar week (I have the flu).

Hudson and Adrian were just too cute for words, and their story was so sweet and swoony—even when I wanted to smack Adrian for dragging his feet.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- hockey captain + team management
- friends to roommates to lovers
- mutual pining
- queer awakening + first times
- size difference
- low angst + slow burn

[anna_79_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this! It’s so sweet and swoony! Low angst and a fast read, but it still has a deep connection between the two MMCs and makes you feel all the feels 🥰

Beta read this, and read it again as an arc.

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Also, when are you going to stop being so shocked that I want to spend time with you?” He laughs again.
“Probably never. But if you want me there, I’m there.”
Always. I’ll always want him there.

Excuse you? Friends to roommates to lovers with mutual pining and two perfect sunshine/sunshine MMC's? Take my money. Take my kidney. Take my first born.

My god. I absolutely adored Accidentally Living With The Captain. There isn't a single thing I single like about it. And it was hands down my favourite book in January and I would say a solid contender for favourite book of the year. Seriously, I had everything I love in a roommates to lovers romance - friends first, size difference, mutual pining, first times, slow burn, low to no angst, queer awakening. Bonus points for it being an athlete/team management romance too because I am feral for those.

Hudson and Adrian are the absolute sweetest characters ever. They're both literal sunshine and I was so taken with both of them right from the get-g0. Honestly I don't even know if I'd call them opposites attract because they were so similar in the things things that they love and value, and the way that they go out of their way to be kind, and I think that's why I loved them so much. The only real opposites attract thing about them is their Type A vs Type B personalities.

Adrian had my heart. His people-pleasing Type A personality is so similar to my own that I couldn't help but take his hopes and dreams and fears on board as I got to know him.
As the assistant to the president of the Werewolves hockey team, Adrian is friendly and flirty with all of the players, but the little crush he's been harbouring for their captain, Hudson, sees sweet Adrian jump at the chance to help Hudson out of a predicament. Purely to minimise PR damage, of course, nothing to see here. However, having the man of his dreams move into his apartment for the better part of a year ends up being a little harder to manage than he thinks it will be when Hudson turns out to be not only the perfect roommate, but potentially the perfect partner too. Honestly, don't know how Adrian managed for all those months without blurting out his feelings every time Hudson smiled at him or walked around shirtless or wanted to cuddle on the couch. He's a better man than me with far more restraint because I wouldn't have been able to keep my big gob shut.

Hudson also somehow managed to keep his own gob shut for ten whole months, despite the sexuality 180 his mind was doing. To be fair, the poor guy had just had his near-future retirement hopes and dreams crushed by his ex-wife who had him publicly served. If you can survive that, what's a little sexuality crisis brought on by your very gay, very attractive, very perfect-for-you temporary roommate? Look, Hudson and his easy-going, patient, Type B personality absolutely deserves the world. He's so kind and considerate, and when he realises that he's fallen hard for Adrian, he actually stops to think about what would be best for both of them - instead of just barrelling ahead with a declaration of love and damning the consequences. I absolutely loved that and it was so clear that Adrian did too. His thoughts and feelings, career and the life he'd already built for himself were considered before Hudson changed their lives irrevocably.

Adrian and Hudson are just so damn cute together. They had so much chemistry and I appreciated the slow burn of their relationship so much. A lot of their feelings and thoughts were internalised, rather than spoken aloud to each other, and that made the pining absolutely top notch. By the halfway mark I was genuinely starting to think I'd also been pining for a hot hockey captain for years of my life. I was so invested. And the spice... *chefs kiss*. I think the spice was so hot because the intimacy dial was turned up to 100. Every spicy scene had a build up and enough anticipation that I was left desperate, but not so much that I got annoyed by it. It really was the perfect balance. I loved their dirty talk and the way Hudson gave up so much control - Adrian was the perfect man to take over in the bedroom because he knew them both so well he could anticipate Hudson's needs before they were spoke. And if that ain't the epitome of devotion, I don't know what is.

“Being with Adrian physically has only made it more obvious that I want there to be a long term for us. I won’t give up, and I’m ready to prove to him that he is my future and to fight for us until he believes me.”

I absolutely adored everything about Accidentally Living With The Captain. The whole Chicago Awakenings series has me in a violent chokehold and honestly I hope it doesn't let go. 5/5 stars. Would scream about from the rooftops.

[Gül Türkay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accidentally Living With the Captain – Lexi Amber

Accidentally Living With the Captain is a low-angst but emotionally rich MM romance that follows a friends to roommates to lovers path in the softest way. Hudson and Adrian’s relationship doesn’t rush anything; it truly builds step by step, through trust and comfort. Once they start living together, that quiet attraction, the small gestures, and the constant “something is happening but no one is saying it out loud” energy become the strongest part of the story.

Hudson is a total green flag, and not because of big declarations, but because of the things he does for Adrian. Adrian’s long-held feelings and Hudson’s journey of questioning and understanding his own emotions are handled in a very natural way. If you love slow burn, this is truly slow slow burn—yes, it will make you think “just talk to each other already” at times, but that’s exactly what makes the relationship feel more real.

Sweet, calm, and emotionally satisfying; if you enjoy friends-to-lovers dynamics and are looking for a low-angst MM romance, this one is definitely worth picking up. 💜

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hudson + Adrian

-mm romance
-hockey captain x team management
-roommates to lovers
-opposites attract
-size difference

oof this was a rocky road to the end here! haha i loved that hudson was so accepting of his new feelings about adrian…when adrian had been in love with him forever hahah but then him trying to accept hudson having any real feelings was like incomprehensible 😂😂 thank goodness he figured it all out!

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Naz.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️ 3/5 🌶️

- Roommates
- Queer awakening
- NHL player MMC
- Adopting a baby
- Size difference
- Slow burn

[Lore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely. Swoony. Low Angst 💕

ARC read

[m (voidxrat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hudson & Adrian

Hudson is just about to happily retire from pro hockey and settle down with his wife to start a family - until she publicly issues him divorce papers. Completely blindsided and desperate to hide from the media he ends up temporarily moving in with the openly queer and ultra flirty assistant manager of his team. It's a slow, slow burn from friends to lovers with lots of hesitation and insecurity but the HEA is so worth the journey.

[Kaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was pretty dang adorable!!! Oakley and Parker still hold my top spots for this series but these two are a close second, especially Hudson. In a way, I think he was very similar to Cody with the enthusiasm and all-in mentality when it came to recognizing he had actual feelings Adrian. While it could be defined as TOO excited, I loved that he knew what he wanted. Once he realized that Adrian was his favorite person in the world and that he always wanted to spend time with, that coming to that conclusion was easy. Living with Adrian showed him how nice it feels to have someone who truly wants the best for you and wants you to be happy even if it was in the expense of not having those feelings reciprocated. And the way Hudson took care of him too?? Like could the feelings be any more obvious!!!

I so appreciated Adrian for all he did for Hudson, whether that be helping with the dating profiles (that he hated doing), helping him with his house, helping with the adoption process, going to classes with him, etc. Basically all the things that made a couple without actually defining it. And THAT is what had me with Adrian… Hudson was so clear and honest with his feelings and Adrian was still convinced that it was just a convenience, and that he was there for Hudson to experiment with. It gets to be even more because Adrian had been yearning for him for so long too 😭 Like yeah, I can understand the boundaries of not moving into a relationship so fast, but why was it so hard to believe Hudson wanted him even with all his words and actions? I found the “arrangement” kind of silly because Adrian mentioned that they would reevaluate where they stand after Hudson moved out but like what do you mean?? There was nothing for Hudson to evaluate like he said multiple times he was all in 😂

Anyway, I do think the ending was super sweet and I did manage to cry over Hudson’s love confession 🥹 Not sure why it took so long for Adrian to understand how true Hudson’s words were but I’m so happy he let go of all that doubt, letting himself love and be loved. And seeing them be parents together? I can’t. It may have seemed fast, but it all felt so natural after all they went through together. What a perfect HEA!

— quotes

“All I know is, with Adrian at my side, I no longer feel like my life is over.”

“Hudson has spent every moment since he moved in proving to me that he isn’t just a good guy, he isn’t just exactly my type—he’s truly the perfect man. The gold standard, and no one else will ever compare. That little crush has evolved into something I no longer have any control over.”

“I've never thought about another man that way before. But I’ve also never met another man like Adrian.”

“I know I want Adrian to continue to be in my life and not just in it peripherally as a friend. I want him front and center. I want to have some sort of claim over him beyond his title of my roommate. I just want him to be mine.”

“You’re looking for someone who doesn’t have to be in your life but chooses you as their favorite person anyway. That’s me.”

“But if you want me there, I’m there.” — “Always. I’ll always want him there.”

“I’m finally kissing Adrian, and somehow, it’s so much better than I’d imagined.” — “I knew I wasn’t making up our connection. All the hope I’ve been holding on to wasn’t for nothing.”

“You said if any of it was real, if I ever wanted to kiss you again, I would need to apologize and ask you nicely. You accepted my apology, so, please, Adrian, can I kiss you?”

“But with you, just being friends isn’t enough. I want more.” — “You want to kiss me?” — “Very much.”

“I’ve wanted him by my side through everything the last few months because his presence makes everything better, because being around him in general makes me happier. I hope he hasn’t felt like I was taking advantage of his kindness. I’m determined to prove to him that I want him without him having to do anything to earn that.”

““I want us to be a family. You said this kid is lucky to have me? Well, I think they would be even luckier to have you. You’re the very best thing that’s happened to me, and I wouldn’t be here today, about to become a dad, if it wasn’t for you.” (Stop 🥹)

“Being with someone isn’t about big grand gestures. I think it’s about all the boring little moments that aren’t actually boring because you’re with the other person, and being with them makes everything better. You make everything better, Adrian.”

“Well, now I’m asking if you think you don’t deserve to be loved? Because I’m here, begging you to let me be that person, and I’m telling you that you deserve it. That I would like to spend the rest of my life proving to you that you’ll always be my number one choice. You are so much more than a convenient option. You’re the only option for me. Other than this baby, you’re it for me, Adrian. Whether you believe me today or five years from now, my answer won’t change, because I’m completely in love with you.” (Yup crying!!!)

“Of course I love you, Adrian. I’ve been calling you Prince Charming for years, and I’m sorry it took me so long to realize I wanted you to be my happily ever after.”

“I love you too, Hudson. I’m sorry I ever doubted you. I’ve just been so afraid to hope for that future if it could be taken away.” — “It’s yours if you want it. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I trust Hudson, and if he says he loves me, then I think it’s okay to admit how much I love him too. If he says that I deserve to be happy, then maybe I do. Maybe I can have everything I’ve ever dreamed about.”

“Kissing Hudson makes everything he’s promising feel real. Like I can really have my very own happily ever after.”

“Baby Em got to sit in the Stanley Cup. Hudson insisted I be the one holding her so he could get a picture of “all of his favorite things.” It’s proudly displayed in multiple rooms in our house. And every time I see it, it’s another one of those little reminders that he loves me. That I’m one of his favorite things, and all of this—the perfect man, the dream house, the sweetest baby in the world, are mine. That I’m a part of this family. That I deserve to be happy.” (😭😭)

“It’s real, this family of mine, and it’s so much better than I could have ever dreamed.”

[Mikaela (risqué.romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accidentally Living With The Captain - Lexi Amber
5/5✨🌟

* SPOILERS *

I absolutely love this whole series. Each book gets better and better. I don’t know how Lexi does it but each book just draws me in like a moth to a flame. It was simply perfection.

Hudson. I loved him from beginning to end. He was literally such a cinnamon roll and I was here for the sweetest moment. The beginning made me really hate his ex because she really bombarded him with that whole situation. Thank goodness for Adrian who helped him when things get tough.

I really love queer awakenings, especially if the are done right and Lexi just did it top notch. It was just so natural for Hudson like it was his way of breathing.

I loved how Adrian finally got his dream man. I loved how these two got what they wanted and Emily kind of gave them that push from her little comment.

I also liked how we got to know about both their childhoods growing up because even if it was different, it was how they became the people they were.

All in all, this book was super sweet and I was here for every moment of these two. The found family, Hudson’s parents, Emily, and just all the fun side characters, I was here for it.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.

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

This is a best friends to more sports romance, featuring Hudson and Adrian, and is book three in the Chicago Awakenings series.

After his wife leaves him, Hudson moves in with his best friend Adrian while he figures out his future. But as they live together, Adrian struggles with his feelings for the straight man he loves, knowing Hudson’s dream of having a family might not include him.

I absolutely loved this one. Hudson and Adrian had such a beautiful relationship. The roommates-to-more tension, the half-dressed Hudson walking around, the secret crush Adrian tried hard to hide, and how their relationship develops. So Good!!!!

Things to expect in this book are:
Book 3 in series
MM sports romance
Slow burn
Best friends to more
Coworkers
Hockey captain x exe assistant
Size difference
Oblivious Himbo MC
Forced proximity
Roommates
Hurt / Comfort
Divorce / fresh start
Secret crush
Unrequited love
Carries him
Platonic cuddles
Bi awakening
Voyeurism / exhibitionism
Spicy times
Roleplaying fantasies
Calls him Charming
Adoption
Found family
HEA

[Nati Rei · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are romance stories that revolve around falling in love. And then there are the ones that are really about building a home. Accidentally Living With the Captain clearly belongs to the second category.

What I enjoyed the most was the development of Hudson and Adrian’s relationship. They both have a very special energy that complements each other naturally, without falling into the typical golden retriever/black cat or grumpy/sunshine dynamic. There’s no forced contrast — they’re both bright in their own way, and together they work beautifully.

Even though it’s a slow burn (usually not my favorite trope) in their case it feels organic and true to who they are as characters. The relationship evolves so smoothly that it never becomes frustrating or heavy; instead, it follows the emotional rhythm of the story.

I also appreciated how the topic of adoption was handled, with care and sensitivity. And something I especially want to highlight is the message about separating the desire to parent from romantic love, without one invalidating the other.

In the end, more than a story about falling in love, it’s a story about choosing: choosing to stay, choosing to care, and choosing to build something together even before naming what they feel. And that’s why, when love finally appears, it doesn’t feel surprising… it simply feels inevitable.

I recived an ARC copy of this book

[Swoony and Spicy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ⭐️
3 Spice 🌶️

Tropes and Tags:
- 1st Person, Dual POV
- Low Angst
- Size Difference
- Slowwwww burn
- Opposites Attract
- Mutual Pining
- Friends to Lovers
- Queer Awakening

Adrian and Hunter have the biggest case of yearning and pining, while desperately trying not to let the other person know how they feel.

This is a slowwwwwww burn and these two have you absolutely praying and begging for them to get together long before their first kiss! So if you’re a lover of the build up, this is definitely a book for you.

I really enjoyed how much Hunter wanted to be a parent, it was so sweet to read about his journey with adoption and becoming a dad. Adrian was such a supportive pillar the whole time, it was lovely to read.

This series is such a fun time and I’m super excited to see what comes next!✨

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that has you smiling from start to finish. Adrian and Hudson were both walking green flags. They were absolutely adorable, fit perfectly together, and had me feeling all the feels. This was such a sweet story that had me swooning. I love a good romance where the nice guys get their perfect love story. Such a great comfort read.

[Zephyr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5

I thought this book was so sweet and a great palette cleanser. There were times where I was visibly cringing or cheering the characters on.
I will say the pacing was hard. There were times I wanted to spend more time in that place and it felt brushed past (and vice versa).

[Llleane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75/5
Very cute but the slow burn was a bit too long for me

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this entire series! Full RTC

[DeeReads412 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not have loved this book anymore. Adrian and Hudson were so freaking sweet, slightly clueless about their relationship status 🤣🤣, but So.Freaking. Sweet! Hudson is a literal walking green flag and I am so here for it. Adrian has such an amazing heart! Seriously these two were so cute you can't help but swoon!

Lexi Amber always manages to write books and characters that I immediately relate to. It's her ability to make the little details relatable that make her an auto-read author for me! Whether she's writing solo or with Bec Benson I know I am going to read a story that will make my heart happy.

From National Park Road trips (which i do also-see relatable) to couch cuddles and adoptive daddies, I LOVED Everything about this book! It filled my heart with so much joy, which is exactly what I want when I read a book!

I really hope we get Ollie's story next! You know I will be reading it!!

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accidentally Living With the Captain is the kind of low‑angst MM romance that feels like a warm blanket—gentle, steady, and quietly emotional. It leans into the friends‑to‑roommates‑to‑lovers arc with a softness that makes every small moment matter. Hudson and Adrian’s relationship unfolds with patience; nothing is rushed, and that deliberate pacing becomes one of the book’s biggest strengths. Once the two start living together, the story thrives on subtlety: lingering glances, unspoken feelings, and the kind of everyday gestures that say more than any grand confession could. Hudson is a complete green flag—not because he’s flashy or dramatic, but because he shows up for Adrian in all the ways that count. Adrian’s long‑held affection and Hudson’s gradual self‑discovery are written with a natural, believable tenderness.
This is a true slow burn—the kind that will have you muttering “please just talk to each other” while simultaneously savoring every step of the journey. The emotional payoff feels earned precisely because the story lets the characters grow into their feelings rather than rushing them.
Sweet, calm, and deeply satisfying, Accidentally Living With the Captain is a perfect pick for readers who love friends‑to‑lovers dynamics, low‑angst romance, and character‑driven emotional intimacy.

[Toddles]

I beta read the novel at the author's requested feedback.

I will rate and review once the final novel is published and I have conpletee a re-read.

[Brooke Greathouse · Rating 1 out of 5]

So repetitive! Way way too much inner dialogue. Some inner dialogue repeated several times. I hated the first two books so I don’t know why I even thought I’d like this one. The writing is just way too childish for me. These are two grown ass adult men that act like they are 14 year olds! The whole book annoyed the shit out of me. I’m done with this author. I haven’t liked a single book that I’ve read by her.

And honestly Adrian was dumber than Cody was which is saying something because Cody was pretty fucking dumb!

[Theodore · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 27%

I know the author said to suspend disbelief in the story, but I think Hudson and his wife being on completely different wavelengths on what they wanted from their futures was too much to suspend disbelief on. You're seriously asking me to believe that Hudson thought the woman (who so easily told him that she was basically with him for his money) was the love of his life and future parent to his children? Ima need a whole lot more than just "Hudson thought his wife and life were perfect" to justify such a drastic disconnect between what Hudson thought vs reality.

The writing suddenly pivoting from Hudson almost having a panic attack to him being calm enough to tell us readers about how he thought it was funny that Adrian got the Prince Charming haircut was whiplashy. If he really was on the verge of panic, the writing shouldn't have suddenly had him feeling enough at ease to even think about Shrek 2 or where Adrian's nickname came from.

Him asking to stay with Adrian felt similarly unjustified considering "Adrian always knew what to do" wasn't shown to us AND "I can't stay with the other guys! I need to set an example for them" made it sound like Hudson was more worried about how he was going to look to his teammates as opposed to being worried about his life being shattered. Again, if he truly was so concerned about his wife leaving him, then I feel like he shouldn't have had the emotional capacity to care about anything else other than that.

The book needed to do a better job of establishing that Hudson was basically a himbo at the start imo since that was the only way I could even start to believe how quickly Hudson had dropped his anxiety of a supposedly life ruining moment.

We should've seen Hudson and Adrian's first few days living together so we could see them establish a status quo. It was super lazy to skip over the first few days of their new situation. It was equally lazy just hearing through a conversation with Adrian's friend Beck about how Hudson and Adrian apparently already spent so much time with each other like Hudson taking Adrian to dinner, walking him to his car, watching HGTV together. Why exactly didn't we see these romantic moments and the MCs' POVs during them?

This story needed you to suspend so much disbelief, it was insane. First, you had to just believe that Hudson really was blindsided by his ex wanting a divorce (and that she was basically the opposite of what he wanted in a person but was still shocked when she pointed that out); then we needed to believe that Hudson was able to quickly get over that and be ok with moving in with Adrian despite not knowing each other well (but somehow also knowing that Adrian was super dependable despite zero evidence shown to us prior); then when they did get to know each other, Hudson was more than ok with platonic touching and cuddling. Was I just supposed to believe all that without being given explanations for why Hudson was ok with it? Those aren't particularly unbelievable things to do but they also weren't normal so I needed some justification as to why he was so a-ok with doing all of them with zero hesitation.

Between all that + some lazy scene skipping + the fact that Adrian basically didn't exist as a character outside of "I'm gay and attracted to Hudson", I had to DNF.