The Bad Idea: A Frenemies-to-Lovers MM Romance with Banter and Heart

by M. Anderson

Sharp banter. Slow burn tension. A frenemies-to-lovers MM romance novella with heart and heat.

EliAubrey drives me insane. He talks too loud, laughs too hard, and somehow manages to get under my skin every damn time. I tell myself it’s because he’s obnoxious—because he’s the last person I’d ever want to spend time with. But then he lets me show up for movie nights, sitting too close, tossing popcorn at my face, and suddenly the silence between us starts feeling heavier than the noise. I should know better. I probably do. But every time he smiles, it stops mattering.

AubreyEli’s impossible. Broody, stubborn, and allergic to admitting he cares about anyone. I swore I’d never fall for someone like him, and yet here I am watching horror movies just to make him laugh, picking fights just to keep him talking. Somewhere between all the snark and late nights, something shifted. Now I’m stuck wondering if we’re still pretending to hate each other, or if his bad idea might actually be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

Part of the Warner Park CollectionThe Bad Idea is part of the Warner Park Collection, a set of interconnected romances set in Los Angeles. Each book can be read on its own, but together they weave a larger story of friendship, found family, and love in all its messy, complicated forms.

Warner Park — Andrew & Vincent (slow burn, strangers-to-lovers, Hollywood romance)The Bad Idea — Aubrey & Eli (frenemies-to-lovers, banter, hurt/comfort novella)Perfect for readers who to lovers gay romanceShort MM romance novellasHurt/comfort queer love storiesSlow burn LGBTQ+ romanceMessy friendship dynamicsSpicy but sweet gay rom-coms

Genres: M M Romance

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2025

About the author

M. Anderson is an independent author and illustrator of emotional, character-driven queer romance. Known for blending heartfelt storytelling with a touch of humor and spice, her books explore themes of self-acceptance, second chances, and the quiet chaos of everyday life in Los Angeles.

Her collections follow interconnected friend groups, each book offering a new point of view and a standalone reading experience, while rewarding readers who love to follow character arcs across multiple stories. With a background in art and a love for nostalgic, slice-of-life narratives, M. Anderson’s work invites readers into soft, intimate worlds where love feels personal.

When she’s not writing or drawing, she can be found at her 9-5, digging around in her garden, and spending quiet days at home with her husband and their dog, Charlie.

Website: https://authormanderson.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.m.an...
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/m20anderson
Email: authormanderson@gmail.com

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aubrey & Eli
Rating: 3.7⭐

- Frenemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Hurt/Comfort
- Movie Dates
- Barista/Car Mechanic
- Found Family
- Bilingual Bonding
- Chaos

These two have been apart of the same friend group for like ten years. From the start, these two were attracted to each other but start off on the wrong foot due to their crushes on two of the other friends in the group. Stepping on toes and all that.

Their crushes end up in a relationship together, throwing both of them into a funk. There was a big blowout between these two on Aubrey's 25th birthday, which creates even more tension in the group for the next two years. Eli, in his intoxicated state, decides that him and Aubrey are going to get over their crushes together. He forces his way into Aubrey's space so they can have weekly movie nights where they grumble together over their losses. This story is about these two finding friendship and comfort in each other, which baffles them both.

There are some really sweet moments in here, especially the dancing in the living room scenes. That twist at the end came out of left field, not sure how I feel about it really.

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Explicit language
- Mentions physical/mental/emotional abuse
- Toxic best friend
- Emotional manipulation
- Drug and alcohol use
- Betrayals and secrets

Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No
Cheat: No
OM/OW Drama: Yes, both are getting over their previous crushes in the friend group.
Ages: 27 & 28

[Sissa]

"Son, do you know why romantic shit is even romantic in the first place? Because you're puttin' yourself on the line for someone. It's supposed to feel fuckin' dumb. It's supposed to feel stupid, and unnecessary, and over the top. You're showin' someone that they matter more to you than the risk of bein' made fun, of or gettin' rejected.
You're puttin' your heart on the line.
That's exactly what makes it romantic for them. So just fuckin' do it."
—————————-
“Your crazy is what my crazy always needed”

[unhingedreaderaunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

M. Anderson very kindly gave me an ARC of her upcoming holiday romance Snow for the Holidays (review to come!) featuring these two MC’s, so of course I had to read up on where they got started! I loved this. I really vibe with Em’s writing style, and her characters are lifelike, messy, and real. Highly recommend!

Join me on IG @unhingedreaderaunt for more MM reviews and reccs 💕

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

No you accidentally started this wattpad book in the middle of the workday and maybe have been reading it all day. Thought it was awesome, except for the “twist” at the very end but otherwise perf. Great pining! And great art!

[Syd · Rating 3 out of 5]

What in the Wattpad was that…