Thorn Kiss

Whynot #2

by Clio Evans

Book 2 in Whynot! Blurb coming soon

Genres: Why Choose, Romance, Friends To Lovers, BDSM, LGBT, Small Town Romance, Found Family

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2026

Reviews

[De Rijdende Boekenwurm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Grey’s Promotions for providing the eARC. This is my honest opinion.

Heat Meets Heart

Whynot, Texas, comes alive like a sun-drenched town where quiet streets and familiar faces wrap the characters in a warm embrace. In ‘Thorn Kiss’, a story unfolds that is playful, passionate, and deeply emotional all at once. The attraction between the characters sparks from the very first moment, and every encounter, glance, and touch carries a tension that almost feels tangible. Clio Evans writes in a way that goes straight to the heart of emotions: joy, doubt, desire, and the vulnerability that comes with them.

The humor, sometimes subtle, sometimes sharp, lightens the intensity of the romance, preventing it from feeling too heavy. The dialogue feels natural and gives insight into the characters’ bonds, while the town of Whynot serves as a gentle backdrop, adding warmth and a sense of familiarity. Yet the story is not just about romance; moments of hesitation and insecurity make the characters feel human and give the love story extra depth.

At times, however, the plot feels predictable. It leans on familiar tropes, and some emotional beats are presented so quickly that there is little room to fully explore the characters’ inner struggles. What the story lacks in plot complexity, it makes up for in chemistry and the intensity of the scenes. The narrative moves swiftly, occasionally feeling rushed, yet the strength of the connection between the main characters keeps the reader firmly invested.

‘Thorn Kiss’ is a book that blends comfort and desire. It invites readers to immerse themselves in a world where small towns hold grand emotions, and love can be both fierce and tender, always tangible. For anyone who enjoys romance that is intense, immediate, and sprinkled with humor, set in a vibrant and welcoming setting, this book delivers exactly what it promises. It is a journey full of sparks and warmth, with moments that linger long after the last page.

Small-town romance | Friends-to-lovers | Slow-burn chemistry | Instant attraction | Playful banter | Light angst | Swoon-worthy romance | Heat & sensuality | Emotional connection | Holiday/special setting vibes

[Shannai · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐

Totally not bawling my eyes out over their ending, how dare Clio trump cactus heart with this! 😩😭😭 to say this exceeded my expectations would be an understatement, because omgg this had no business making me tear up the way I did at how tender the love shown with Dallas, June and Madi.

I was so excited to head back to WhyNot for my first FFM romance, and I had an absolute blast! I adore this series so much; Clio has such a refreshing and captivating way with writing an emotionally gripping story and she has blended it with the small town charm that I love.

I absolutely loved these three; Madi, June and Dallas were so authentic in their desires and insecurities; I really loved getting to know them individually, and together as a throuple. My heart broke multiple times for June and the relationship she had with her family. Dallas and June have their own unresolved tension after a kiss that left things tense between them, and with how June was so against pursuing things with him, Dallas was at a crossroads with how he felt, as he just wanted to be there for June. Madi was truly living her best life, getting to know both June and Dallas before they all came together. Clio done a fantastic job portraying them three. Circling back to Dallas really quickly, where to I even begin with Dallas WhyNot, he is the book boyfriend of dreams!! The hunting scene between him and June was criminally good, I was blushing SO HARD lmaoo!!

When they all came together, they were so electric on page, their chemistry was sizzling hot, kinky and I just had the best time with them.

This smalltown series has truly captivated my heart, it's become such a comfort read for me because I adored Cactus Heart, as much as I did this and I cannot wait for what is in store for Prickly Pair!!

Thank you, Greys Promo, for the review copy.

Tropes

FFM
Small town
Found family
Best friend's older brother
Friends to lovers
Mechanic/florist/animator
Primal play

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this being my first FFM, it’s not bad! I had a few tears at the end. I like seeing the connection with all three of them. Looking forward to more from this series!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I am obsessed with Clio Evans’ books and Thorn Kiss is another hit! This is the second book in the Whynot series and so beautiful. A beautiful FFM story with a nerdy MMC who has a kinky side, a FMC who is down on her luck and comes to a small town to find herself, and the local florist FMC who doesn’t believe she deserves love! I loved watching these characters learn, grow and explore different sides of themselves. Although you don’t need to read Cactus Heart to appreciate Thorn Kiss, I would say do it! (It’s also amazing and gives more insight to the characters). I can’t wait for Evie’s book!

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review

Thanks so much to Clio Evans and Gray’s Promotions for the eARC. This is my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I’ve said it before, and I know I’ll say it again - absolutely no one writes kink positive, queer normative, consensual and loving poly relationships like Evans. The fact that this series is set in small town Texas? Chef’s kiss.

Madi, recently single and fired animator, comes to Whynot, TX for an artist’s residency while she gets herself back together. She’s looking for inspiration and is open to a fling and is instantly attracted to mechanic Dallas and florist June. These two have their own past and relationship dynamics starting with the fact that Dallas is June’s best friend’s brother and they shared a kiss on New Year’s Eve that June refuses to discuss. Can Madi bring them together and can they find forever happiness?

I cannot emphasize enough how well done this kinky polyamorous romance is. The individuality of each character and their emotions are so well established. They have different needs and separate dynamics with each other and each is depicted so skillfully. The kink is so beautifully handled, from the discussions and boundaries set beforehand to the constant consent and love behind every interaction. This is so delicate in relationships with power dynamics.

* FFM
* small town TX
* primal play, breeding, impact play, dominance and submission
* parental abuse (verbal, emotional)
* found family

This book is perfect for a reader looking for examples of healthy kink in a polyamorous relationship. I will read it again. And I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorn Kiss ARC Review

4⭐️
4🌶️

I think Clio Evans writes some of the best polyamorous romances ever! The characters always feel so distinctive and vibrant.

Thorn kiss was no exception to this. I loved this adorable little threesome and their journey of love and getting over mental scars.

June was the character I was the most worried about honestly. I am someone who often self destructs and so I could relate to her struggles in an almost uncomfortable way. Because of this I was worried she would be too similar to myself therefore I would judge her as harshly as I do me. Luckily I managed to separate that and see her inner trauma and her desperation for a love she herself does not think she deserves. She was a beautiful character and I loved seeing the flaws as well as the beauty.

Now after all the Madi and Dallas are quite a bit more simple!

Madi was just a ball of sunshine wrapped in a Morticia Addams style shell (ironic considering June is the one who favors darker colors!!) She was just a lovely artistic soul who had every reason to be hesitant but jumped head first into a relationship that really ended up paying off.

Dallas was truly the glue of this relationship. He was so dashing and understanding. He had so much maturity about him both mentally and emotionally and this allowed him to be the voice of reason quite a bit, especially with June. I love his family’s connection to the town and his last name never failed to crack me up a bit!

Well I am throughly entertained by the town of Whynot, I can’t wait to go back for Prickly Pear and see what other dynamic pairing will be next.

[devon | dee_tbr]

A romance with a delicious mix between soft and spicy, and characters who are full of heart, love and determination.

I loved that this story was able to deliver characters that had such strong and independent personalities, allowing for a very satisfying breakdown of their barriers between each other, and seeing them allow themselves to be open to receive love and care was so sweet. I also definitely appreciated that we got more insight into their histories as I think it really helped to lay the foundations for the motivations and fears of the characters

It's not a surprise that I think I enjoyed Madi the most, I loved the determination she had throughout the story and the care she showed to the other leads! I liked the backstory development we got between June and Dallas, I may have also been shouting "Kiss Already!" during some of their scenes... (Evans definitely delivers the emotional slow burn romance you crave )

And you know we have to talk about the romance... Loved it, loved the soft, sweet & the generous spicy scenes that we got 🤭 If you enjoy why choose romances, then go pick this one up because I won't be spoiling any of the behind the bedroom door (& outdoors 👀) fun!

A big thank you to Grey’s Promotions for sending me an eARC, I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bonnie Klurfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorn Kiss gets 5⭐️ and 1👟

Folks, we are back in Whynot and having a grand ol time 🤠

June??? The cutest little black cat (and brat omg) FMC who I just want to hug. Dallas, who is so sweet and also Dom Extraordinaire. And Madi, who wants them all to smush their faces together so badly. We love to see it.

Woooo doggies we have:
FFM
Best friend’s brother
PRIMAL CLINK
Found family
Small town in Texas
Pan and bi rep!!!

TW:
Toxic mom who I really want to punch in the face

Thank you so much Grey’s Promotions for the ARC!!

[Kimberly Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
A fast paced novel about taking chances with yourself and with your heart. I really enjoyed the continuation of the town of Why Not. The quips about different people throughout the town as well as learning more about the MC's from the first story was really heartwarming. I enjoyed how they tied this together for the third book. Some scenes felt out of place or really short. I understand they were meant to give conflict, but it felt random. Overall, a fun easy to read book that I recommend if you enjoyed the first one.

[Nayja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh I loved the “But Justin and Veronica can suck the tip of my imaginary d!ck” LIKE YESSSS GIRLIEEEEEEE!! i loved how each character fit each other but still had their own individuality. It was like each character was the same person, but severely different. So their character development overtime was impeccable. TOP TIER SPICY SCENES!! As a fruity little bisexual I love when a FF spicy scene gives EVERYTHING you need and more but even the FFM scene and the FM scene was giving!!! overall a great book!!

[Arianne Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute, heartwarming, and also very spicy. It's an FFM romance where each character was well developed. I loved seeing this relationship evolve from just hookups to something more, especially as the characters delt with past traumas and learned to be honest and open about what they wanted (and what they deserved).

Big thank you to the author and to Grey's Promotions for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Vivien Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good FFM story. It seems like this combination of threesome is harder to find in romance books so I was glad to have found this one. This story is about Madi who moves to a small Texas town and meets Dallas and June. I loved the spicy scenes in this story and the primal play k!nk was quite fun. This is definitely an author I'm going to read again.

[Petra Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought June was insufferable, so the triad never worked for me. June’s lack of self worth is supposed to have been caused by her insanely nasty mom, but the mom is so psychotic about everything that it’s hard to believe that June believes anything that she says. It’s so over the top that both of them end up being caricatures.

[izzie kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️

i adored the first book but knew the moment the blurb of book two dropped, that this would be my favourite.

seeing the vulnerability of june & madi alongside the love dallas holds for them both was genuinely so emotional and i’ve never related to a book character as much as what i related to june (especially the way she thinks she can’t be loved and everything along that path).

and my fav returning characters too <333

had this been longer it would have been a 5⭐️

[stackedwithsteph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have like the plot to be flushed out a little more, and just a bit more spice.

[Korra Kalaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cutsie and normal

[Ez · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*
🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

[The.SmuttyBookClub · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Please note that this review is mainly for my benefit as it is more of a summary of the book and may contain spoilers.***

🌶🌶🌶🌶
[v] Abduction
[v] Actor M
[v] Addiction (M
[v] Adopted Siblings
[v] Adoption of neice
[v] Adult breastfeeding
[v] Age Gap ( 25 F & 40 M
[v] Age play
[v] Airplane Sex
[v] Alien M
[v] Alpha/Bega/Omega (omega F, omega M, Alpha M)
[v] Amnesia
[v] Anal
[v] F to F anal
[v] F to M anal
[v] M to F anal
[v] M to M anal
[v] NB to M anal
[v] Anal Beads
[v] Anal Felching
[v] Anal Fisting
[v] F to F anal fisting
[v] M to F anal fisting
[v] M to M anal fisting
[v] Anal Gaping
[v] Anal Hook
[v] Anal Knotting
[v] Anal Play
[v] F to F anal play
[v] F to M anal play
[v] M to F anal play
[v] M to M anal play
[v] Anal Rimming
[v] F to F anal rimming
[v] F to M anal rimming
[v] M to F anal rimming
[v] M to M anal rimming
[v] Anthology
[v] Anxiety Attacks
[v] Arranged Marriage (marriage contract)
[v] Arrangement
[ ] Artist F (
[v] Assault
[v] Auction
[v] Auralism Kink (sounds and voices)
[v] Author F
[v] "Baby Boy"
[v] "Baby Girl "
[v] Bar Sex
[v] Baseball/MLB, MLB player
[v] Bath Sex
[v] Bathroom Sex
[ ] Begging
[v] Ben Wa Balls
[v] Belt
[ ] Best Friend's Brother
[v] Best Friend's Dad
[v] Best Friend's Daughter
[v] Best Friend's Mom
[v] Best Friend's Son
[v] Bi-Awakening
[v] Billionaire M
[v] Birth Control Tampering
[ ] Biting
[v] Blackmail
[v] Blood Kink
[v] Blood-Play
[ ] Blue Collar (mechanic M
[v] Body Guard
[v] Boat sex
[v] Bookstore Sex
[v] Branding ( cutting
[v] Brat
[v] Breast Binding
[v] Breath-Play
[v] Breeding Bench
[ ] Breeding Kink
[v] Brother's Best Friend
[v] Bully to Lover
[v] Butt Plug
[v] CSA (Child Sexual Assault) in M's past, off page
[v] Cage
[v] Candaulism Kink (desire to show off one's partner)
[v] Cane
[v] Car Sex
[v] Carriage sex
[v] Cat of Nine Tails
[v] Chastity Cage
[v] Cheating (M cheats on his wife with other M
[v] Chef M
[v] Child Abuse (in F's past)
[v] Childbirth (off page)
[v] Childhood Friends
[v] Choking
[v] Christmas
[v] Church Sex
[v] Classroom sex
[v] Claws
[v] Clit Clamp
[v] Closet Sex
[v] Cock and Balls Harness
[v] Cock Piercing(s)
[v] Cock Ring
[v] Cock Sleeve
[v] Cock Warming
[v] CNC (Consensual Non-Consent)
[ ] Collar
[v] College Romance
[v] Communication Barrier
[v] Cousins (not blood related)
[v] Cowboy M
[v] Cozy
[v] "Crawl to Me"
[v] Crime (mafia
[v] Cuckhold
[v] Cult (she escaped religious cult
[v] Cum Kink
[v] Cumming in his pants
[v] "Daddy "
[v] Dad's Best Friend
[v] DADVP (Double Anal and Double Vaginal Penetration)
[v] DAVP (Double Anal and Vaginal Penetration) with fist (P) and anal hook and cock (A)
[v] Dark Romance
[v] Daughter's Boyfriend
[v] Death of a Child (in M's past, off page)
[v] Death of a Parent (M, off page)
[v] Death of a Sibling (F, off page)
[v] Death of a Spouse (F's husband in past, off page)
[v] Degradation
[v] Demisexual M
[v] Dentist F
[v] Dildo
[v] Dining Room Sex
[v] Disability (M, cant feel pain due to nervous system damage
[v] Dissociation
[v] Divorced F
[v] Doctor F
[v] Doll play
[ ] Dom and Sub
[ ] Dom and Subs
[v] Doms and Sub
[v] Doms and Subs
[ ] Domme and Sub
[v] Domme and Subs
[v] Dommes and Sub
[v] Dommes and Subs
[v] Domestic Voilence (F's ex slaps her
[v] DP (double penetration) with fingers
[v] DP (Double Penetration) with cock (P) and vibrator (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with dildo (P) and fingers (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with cock (P) and butt plug (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with cock (P) and finger (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with two cocks
[v] DP (double penetration) with fingers (P) and buttplug (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with cock (P) and anal hook(A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with vibrator (P) and cock (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with dildo (P) and butt plug (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with fingers (P) and cock (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with fist (P) and anal hook (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with dildo (P) and cock (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with cock (P) and knife hilt(A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with tongue (P) and tentacle (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with fingers (P) and Tail (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with tail (P) and fingers (A)
[v] DP (double penetration) with cock (P) and bed footboard spindle (A)
[v] Drinking Blood
[v] Drug Use (weed)
[v] Drugging
[v] DUBCON (Dubious Consent)
[v] DVAP (Double Vainal and Anal Penetration) with cock and Vibrating bulb (P) and butt plug (A)
[v] DVP (Double Vaginal Penetration) with cock and fingers
[v] DVP (Double vaginal penetration) with vibrator and fingers
[v] DVP (Double vaginal penetration) with vibrator and cock
[v] DVP (Double Vaginal Penetration) with cock and dildo
[v] DVP (Double Vaginal Penetration) with two cocks
[v] DVP (Double Vaginal Penetration) with fingers and tentacle
[v] Eating Disorder
[v] Edging
[v] Electrical Stimulation
[v] Elevator Sex
[v] Enema
[v] Enemies to Lovers
[v] Ex's Dad
[v] Ex's Uncle
[v] Ex-Convict M, he escapes prison
[v] Exhibitionism
[ ] F Masturbation
[v] F Virgin
[ ] FF
[ ] F to F oral
[v] FFF
[ ] FFM
[ ] FMF
[v] FFFF
[v] FFFM
[v] FFMF
[v] FFMM
[v] FMFM
[v] FMMF
[v] FMMM
[v] FFMMM
[v] FMMMF
[v] FMMMM
[v] Face Fucking
[v] FaceTime Sex
[v] Fairy
[v] Fairytale Retelling (nightmare before christmas
[v] Fake dating
[v] Fall/Autumn
[v] Fangs
[v] Fantasy
[v] Fated Mates
[v] Feeding Kink
[v] Feet Fucking
[ ] Flogger
[v] Food Play (
[v] Foot Fetish
[v] Football/NFL NFL player
[v] Forced Marriage
[v] Forced Orgasms
[v] Forced Proximity
[v] Four cocks
[v] Free Use
[v] Friends-to-Lovers
[ ] Friends with Benefits
[v] Frotting (Jacking off two dicks together with one hand)
[v] Fucking machine
[v] G-Spot Stimulator
[v] Garage Sex
[v] Gaslighting
[v] Gay awakening
[v] Glory Hole
[v] "Goddess"
[v] Gods (Dragon shifter god M)
[v] Golden retriever M
[v] Golden Shower (peeing on someone)
[v] Grumpy and Sunshine
[v] Gun-Play
[v] Gym Sex
[ ] Hair-Pulling
[v] Halloween
[v] Harness
[v] He didnt know she was a virgin
[v] He falls first
[v] Heat/Rut
[v] Hidden Cameras
[v] Hidden Identity
[v] Hockey/NHL NHL player
[v] Hood
[v] Horns
[v] Horror
[v] Hospital Sex
[v] Hot Tub Sex
[v] Hotel Sex
[v] HUCOW
[v] Humiliation
[v] Imprisonment
[v] Incest, CSA in M's past, off page
[v] Infertility F
[v] Interracial (Mexican/Italian M & white F's)
[v] Jacob's Ladder Piercings
[v] Kendo Sticks
[v] Kinging (face-sitting)
[v] Kitchen Sex
[v] Knife-Play (he fucks her with knife hilt
[v] Knot
[v] Labia Clamps
[v] Lactation Kink
[v] Lake Sex
[v] Laundry Room Sex
[v] Lawyer M
[v] Leash
[v] Library Sex
[v] Limo Sex
[v] Lip Piercing
[v] "Little Girl"
[v] Locker Room Sex
[v] Love triangle
[ ] M Masturbation
[v] M Virgin (inexperienced)
[ ] MF
[ ] F to M oral
[ ] M to F oral
[v] MM
[v] M to M oral
[v] M to NB oral
[v] MFM
[v] MMF
[v] MMM
[v] MFFM
[v] MFMM
[v] MMMF
[v] MMMM
[v] MMFMF
[v] "Ma'am"
[v] Make-a-Baby Arrangement
[v] Marriage of Convenience
[v] Married couple
[v] "Madame"
[v] "Master"
[v] Mask
[v] Mating Mark
[v] Medical condition (diabetic M
[v] Medical experiments
[v] Medical play
[v] Mental illness (D.I.D. M)
[v] Military (veteran M
[v] Milking Machine
[v] Miscarriage (in M's past, on page)
[v] "Mistress"
[v] Mistaken identity
[v] "Mommy"
[v] Mom's best friend
[v] Monster (wizard M
[v] Motel Sex
[v] Motorcycle Club
[v] Mouth Gag (O ring
[v] Mummification
[v] Murder
[v] Mutual Masturbation
[v] Muzzle
[v] Nanny
[v] NBF
[v] F to NB oral
[v] NB to F oral
[v] NBM
[v] M to NB oral
[v] NB to M oral
[v] NBFM
[v] NBMM
[v] Necrophilia kink
[v] Needle Play/Kink
[v] Neighbors
[v] Neurodivergent M, can't process or name emotions
[v] Nipple Clamps
[v] Nipple Enlargers
[ ] Nipple Piercing(s) F
[v] No Happily Ever After
[v] Non-Binary (NB)
[v] NC (non-consent)
[v] Novella
[v] Nurse F
[v] Office Sex
[v] One Night Stand
[v] Orgy
[v] Outdoor Sex
[v] Overdose
[v] Paddle
[v] Panic attack(s)
[v] Pansexual
[v] Paralytic Poison
[v] Pegging
[v] Period Sex
[v] "Pet"
[v] Pet Play (Cow)
[ ] Phone Sex
[v] Piercing
[v] Pillory
[v] Pleasure Dom
[v] Plus Sized FMC
[v] Plus Sized MMC
[v] Pocket Pussy
[v] Police Officer F
[v] Politics (president M, first lady F, and vice president M)
[v] Polyamory (MFMM
[v] Pool Sex
[v] Postapolyptic
[ ] Praise
[v] Pregnancy
[v] Pregnancy Sex
[v] Prehensile Cock
[v] Prehensile Tail
[v] Priest M
[ ] Primal Play/Kink
[v] Prince Albert Piercing
[v] Professional domme
[v] Professor F
[v] Prostate Massager
[v] Psychosis
[v] PTSD F
[v] Public Bathroom Sex
[v] Public Sex (dance floor
[v] Punishment
[v] "Pup"
[v] Pussy Pump
[v] "Queen"
[ ] Queening (face sitting)
[v] Reincarnation
[v] Remote Controlled Vibrator
[v] Restaurant Sex
[v] Restraints (rope
[v] Reverse Age Gap (20s Ms & 40s? F)
[v] Reverse Harem (1 F & 3 M's)
[v] Riding Crop
[v] Rock Star M
[v] Role Playing
[v] Roommates
[v] Rose Toy
[v] Royalty (king
[v] Rugby (former player M
[v] SA (Sexual Assault) in F's past, off page
[v] Saw Horse
[v] Schizophrenia
[ ] Scissoring
[ ] Scratching
[v] Second Chance Romance
[v] Secret baby
[v] Secret Society
[v] Selective Mutism
[v] Self harm (in F's past)
[v] Sentient Object(s)
[v] Serial Killer M
[v] Sex Club
[v] Sex in a Corm Maze
[v] Sex in the Woods
[v] Sex lessons
[v] Sex on a Carousel
[v] Sex on a Motorcycle
[v] Sex on a Piano
[v] Sex Swing
[v] Sex Tape
[v] Sex trafficking (not MCs
[v] Sex Worker (content creator F
[v] Sexting
[v] Shape-Shifting
[v] Shaving kink
[v] Shibari
[v] Shock Collar
[v] Shower Sex
[v] Single Dad
[v] Single Mom
[ ] "Sir"
[v] Sissy Man
[ ] Size Difference
[v] Slapping (breasts, pussy
[v] Slit
[v] Slow burn
[v] Small Town
[v] Snowballing (passing cum from one mouth to another)
[v] Soccer (pro team owner)
[v] Social Media Influencer
[v] Somnophilia
[v] Son's best friend
[v] Sounding
[ ] Spanking
[v] Spanking Bench
[v] Spitting (on pussy
[v] Spreader Bar
[ ] Squirting
[v] St. Andrew's Cross
[v] Stalking
[v] Stepdad
[v] Strap-On Dildo
[v] Step Cousins
[v] Step Siblings
[v] Stepbrothers
[v] Stepsisters
[v] Stockade
[v] Suicide (not a main character)
[v] Suicide Attempt (in F's past, off page)
[v] Suspension
[v] Swingers
[v] Tail
[v] Tangy Dinger (giving blow job after doing anal)
[v] Tattoo Artist
[v] Teacher F & Student M
[v] Teenagers
[v] Temperature Play (hot wax, ice
[v] Tentacles
[v] Terminal Illness
[v] Thanksgiving
[v] Therapist
[v] Titty Fucking
[v] Tongue Ring M
[v] Torture
[v] TVP (Triple Vaginal Penetration) with three tentacles
[v] Two Cocks
[v] Unplanned Pregnancy (
[v] Vaccuum Play
[v] Vaginal Felching
[v] Vaginal Fisting
[v] Vaginal Gaping
[v] Vaginal Knotting
[v] Vaginal penetration with tequila bottle
[v] Vaginal Piercings (clit hood
[v] Vanilla
[v] Vibrating bullet
[v] Vibrating cock
[v] Vibrating egg
[v] Vibrating Tongue
[v] Vibrating Wand
[v] Vibrator
[v] Vision Deprivation (blindfold
[v] Voyeurism
[v] War
[v] Watching Porn
[v] Wedding
[v] Wet Dreams
[v] Whip
[v] Why choose
[v] Widow
[v] Wings
[v] Workplace Romance
[v] Yacht

2 F
3 M
8 FF
19 MF
6 FFM
3 FMF

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

[I was provided an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.]

•FFM
•small town romance
•so gay
•friends to lovers
•mechanic x florist x animator
•MMC has a tiny library
•primal play😏

now I am going to say something crazy, but I think this is my favorite Clio book to date.
this is crazy because Clio is my favorite author, and I have read every single book of her’s, some multiple times, so saying I have a new fav is really something!!

these three had me kicking my feet and giggling!!!
I genuinely had the best time reading this book, even when I was crying (from my eyes and my thighs).

I am also a wh*re for reading primal play, it really gets me every time.😌

read this book and feel some queer joy.🙂‍↕️🏳️‍🌈🩷


5/5 ⭐️
3/5 spice rating🌶️

[Katie&Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

JUNE JUST NEEDS A BIG OLE HUG OKAY!

The immediate chemistry between Dallas and Madi had us readyyyy for this book. This was actually our first FFM and holy shit, Clio! We loved it. The growth between all the characters, June realizing that she DOES deserve love, the 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭 kink. All of it was beautiful and we love this little fictional town!

[Kennedy Yowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madi arrives in Whynot, Texas as a recently dumped, newly unemployed animator in desperate need of both inspiration and a reset. An artist’s residency seems like the perfect place to rebuild her life and maybe have a little fun while she’s at it. What she doesn’t expect is to be instantly drawn to two people at once: Dallas, the quietly devoted mechanic, and June, the guarded florist with a complicated past. Dallas happens to be June’s best friend’s brother, and the two share unresolved tension after a New Year’s Eve kiss that June would very much like to pretend never happened. Enter Madi, chaos gremlin, emotional catalyst, and accidental matchmaker. The question isn’t just whether she can bring them together, it is whether all three of them are brave enough to admit what they actually want.

This kinky polyamorous romance is handled with impressive care and intention. Each character feels fully realized, with distinct emotional needs and different dynamics depending on who they are interacting with, which makes the relationship feel layered rather than gimmicky. The kink elements are approached thoughtfully, with clear communication, negotiated boundaries, and enthusiastic consent at the center of every interaction. That is exactly what you want in a story that plays with power dynamics. It is intimate, vulnerable, and surprisingly tender beneath all the heat.

Watching the three of them learn how to fit together, emotionally and otherwise, is deeply satisfying, especially as they begin to anticipate what the others need without losing themselves in the process. My only complaint is that June could have grovelled harder, I said what I said. Still, this was a wildly compelling read and an easy 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Surrender2silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

book two in the Whynot series. Madison got bad news. her boyfriend just left her for another girl. now she lots her job to. she moves in to a small town. New town, new her she gonna make sure what ever happens is for her. to make her fell good not another person. then she meets june and dallas. each ones has their own demons. they over past them. together they are stronger.

[Shelby Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

i am once again saying, how many times can one book have the work “kink” in it? this made me break my reading streak

[Haleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfinished Ending

Only rated it 3⭐️ because I loved the story line but the end felt unfinished.
Did she turn down the job?I assume so? So did she get the remote animation job?
What winded up happening with Ethan and Laura?
So many questions tha never got answered and instead we got time skips to years later.

Besides the ending I enjoyed the smut and the romance, this is definitely love at first sight and I LOVED it!

[Soph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre - Contemporary Romance/Why Choose
Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice - 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Multiple POV's
FFM

Main Characters
> June Moore (26/5’2)- Tattooed Florist/Owner of Whynot Bloom/Pansexual
> Madison “Madi” Fletcher (30)- Animator
> Dallas Whynot (30)- Mechanic/Owns a Garage/Volunteer Fireman

Side Characters
> Avery Anne Whynot (5’4) - Painter/Owns a Art Studio/Mateo & Levi’s Girlfriend/June’s Best Friend/Dallas’ Younger Sister
> Austin Whynot (35)- Runs a Library/Owner of Whynot Stay Hotel/Head of City Council/Dallas’ Older Brother
> Mateo Jimenez - Firefighter/Avery & Levi’s Boyfriend
> Levi Rayburn - Retired NFL Hockey Player/Avery & Mateo’s Boyfriend
> Ethan Moore - June’s Younger Brother
> Laura Anne Moore - Ethan’s Daughter/June’s Niece
> Evie - Owns a Bakery/June’s Best Friend

For me, I got on better with the first book "Cactus Heart" than this one. Only because I felt that the first half of the book dragged on. Once we reached the second half, the story started to pick up and we got more scenes of the MC's being together.

If I'm being completely honest, we never saw much of them being "Friend with Benefits", quite a lot of it was fast forwarded. For example, Madi says that she only has 3 and a half weeks left until she leaves but then suddenly a few chapters go by and she only has 9 days left 🤔 It was a bit disappointing in that aspect because we never actually saw the moment when they went from being "Friend with Benefits" to "Wanna be Lovers". I was hoping that we could see the build up of "I can keep my feelings in check, I'll be able to control myself, it's just sex" to "Oh shit, I'm in love and I have this many days left to convince them that we should be together". I do feel a bit robbed because we never saw any of this 😞

In my opinion, the star of the book was Dallas. He knew from the start that agreeing to June's proposal would most likely end up with him having his heart broken x2 but what other choice did he have. If he had said no then that was it, he wouldn't get another chance to be with June and Madi again. Madi was leaving in a couple of weeks to go back to L.A and he knew the moment she left, June would go back to pushing him away and pretending that nothing ever happened between them. I literally cheered when Madi admitted that she wanted to stay in Whynot (Even though the moment was ruined by June saying that she only saw them for sex and that she was never interested in having a relationship with them 🙄 even though she was lying, I still thought "what a fucking dumbass"). At least Dallas expressed his feeling towards Madi and even went to her hotel room to make sure that she was okay after what June had said to them. Dallas really was the glue that held all of them together 😊 Without Dallas, I believe Madi would have left and taken the job offer.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Mostly because it's Austin's book and I've been wanting to know more about his character since the moment we met him in book 1. I'm interested in the new relationship dynamic for the next book because it advertises that 2 of the male love interests are actually rivals (There are 3 MMC's altogether) 🫣🤭 As it's also advertised as a MMMF, does that mean the rivals are going to 🍑🍆💦🤔 I'm trying to figure out if Austin will be the top or bottom... I'm going to bet that he's going to be a bottom to the rival (Nick) and a top to the other MMC (Dr Jacob). I'll guess we'll just have to wait and see 😁

This story ends with a HEA for this Throuple ☺️ Up next is "Prickly Pair", featuring our first quad relationship in the series - Evie, Austin, Dr Jacob and Nick. We've briefly met Dr Jacob when he stitched up Laura's hand after she had accidentally cut herself whiles using some scissors. If you read the preview for "Prickly Pair", you would've caught a glimpse of the new character Nick saving Evie from a bad date.
Due to be released March 31st 2026 😁

Triggers/Tropes
▫️BDSM
▫️Best Friend’s Older Brother/Sister's Best Friend
▫️Birth Control (Both FMC’s are on birth control)
▫️Biting
▫️Breeding Kink
▫️CNC Dynamic
▫️Condoms/No Condoms
▫️Discussions of Cheating (Madi’s ex cheated on her)
▫️Dom/Switch/Sub Dynamics (Dallas - Dom/Madi - Switch/June - Sub)
▫️Flogging
▫️Found Family
▫️Friends To Lovers
▫️FF Scene’s
▫️Group/Solo Scene’s
▫️Hurt/Comfort
▫️Insta-Attraction
▫️Insta-Lust
▫️Mentions of Alcoholism (June’s younger brother is an alcoholic that's trying to get better)
▫️Nicknames (Dallas calls June "Junebug" and Madi "Princess")
▫️No Cheating
▫️No OW/OM Drama
▫️No Pregnancy
▫️No Virgins
▫️Oral
▫️Outdoor Sex
▫️Praise
▫️Primal Chasing/Kink
▫️Push and Pull (June)
▫️Scissoring
▫️Sharing (Only between the MC’s)
▫️Small Town
▫️Spanking
▫️Squirting
▫️Verbal Parental Abuse (FMC mother)

▫️Why Choose

[Monica (switching platforms) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Welcome back to Whynot, Texas, for this second installment in the Whynot series. This time we follow Dallas (Avery’s brother) and the town’s golden-hearted mechanic; June, the tattooed florist and Avery’s best friend, and Madi, an animator who escapes to Whynot to reinvent herself after a breakup and losing her dream job.

From the very first pages, I could tell this book would bring something different compared to the first one. Not only because of the FFM dynamic, which adds a fresh and delicate balance, but also because of the way the characters connect and open up to each other.

One of the biggest differences from book one is the pacing. Here, the spicy elements are developed much more slowly. The tension builds gradually, leaving room for doubts, conversations, and emotional vulnerability. In the first book, the sexual tension exploded almost immediately. In this one, everything feels more intentional and emotionally layered, and I really appreciated that.

Among the three characters, I really love Madi for her personality and the fact that she doesn’t hold back when it comes to her sexual side. Dallas is sweet and charming as a person, but he really shines during his dominant moments. June, despite her hesitations about being in a relationship, was a character I genuinely liked — her fears and insecurities made her feel real and relatable. And even she doesn’t hold back during her kink moments, which are fewer than in the first book, but no less intense.

I adored Madi from the start. She’s a protagonist who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to explore it, even though she’s only in town temporarily. That “I’m only here for a short time” dynamic actually makes everything more intense and focused on the present moment. Her connection with Dallas is sweet, playful, and passionate in just the right balance. I loved how she gently nudges him regarding his long-standing feelings for June.

And then there’s the spark between Madi and June. Their first kiss is sudden and electric — you can feel the shift instantly. June, who is usually guarded and tough, completely melts in Madi’s presence. When they finally allow themselves to truly connect, you can practically hear the gears of this relationship starting to turn.

However, the most complex dynamic is definitely between June and Dallas. June struggles deeply with her feelings and with the idea that she deserves love at all. Watching her resist vulnerability was both tender and frustrating. At times I wanted to hug her; at others, I wanted to shake her and remind her that she is worthy of being loved without conditions.

Whynot itself continues to shine as the perfect backdrop — a warm, sun-soaked small town that wraps around the characters like a comforting embrace. However, in this second installment, we also get to explore a different side of Whynot: its nighttime atmosphere, which becomes the perfect chase.

Because all of the main characters enjoy a chased as a kink, the town after dark takes on a new energy — quieter, charged, and almost electric. Personally, this kink isn’t really my thing, but I appreciated how it was used as a tool for emotional and phyical closeness. It became a way for June and Dallas to reconnect, break down walls, and meet each other in a space of trust and vulnerability.

If I had to point out a small weakness — and the reason why I couldn’t give it five stars — it would be that some parts of the plot needed a bit more development. Certain emotional conflicts are resolved a little too quickly, and I would have loved more time spent truly diving into the characters’ inner struggles. Especially in the final moments, everything wraps up quite fast. While the resolution is satisfying, it feels slightly rushed compared to the emotional buildup that came before. A slower, more layered ending would have made the payoff even stronger and more impactful.

Overall, though, this story beautifully blends comfort and passion, sweetness and desire. It’s engaging, emotional, and full of sparks — proving once again that Whynot is a town capable of delivering big feelings in a small-town setting.

I’m definitely excited to return and see what dynamic awaits us next.

Thanks to Grey’s Promotions for providing the eARC. This is my honest opinion.

[Sarah Slusarczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

🪷💕 Why Not fall in love 💕🪷


Thorn Kiss is book two in the Why Not series by the ever talented Clio Evans. As always, I recommend reading the series in order, book one is so good and a great introduction to the characters in book two. Thorn Kiss is a why choose, MFF, small-town romance, no major trigger warnings, just goodness.

We are welcomed back to the small-town of Why Not, Texas and the residents that have made it their home. In book one we meet Dallas, Avery’s brother, and June, her best friend, these two have had feelings for one another for years, but even more so since their “accidental” New Years Eve kiss last year. Alas neither of them have had the courage to act on their feelings. However, when Madi rolls into their small-town, they both start to develop feelings for her, and maybe, just maybe this will give them the push they need. Madi is from LA and is in town for an art internship through Avery. After losing her dream job and breaking up with her long term boyfriend, she needs a change, and the small-town of Why Not may just yet be that change. When Dallas comes to Madi’s rescue not once, but on two different occasions, their relationship quickly sparks to life. They want each other, but when Madi meets June, she wants her too. What is a girl to do? When Madi learns that Dallas has a major crush on June, they agree to keep all roads open to all three of them and see what happens. June is a little more of a mystery, she keeps her feelings for Dallas under lock and key, but with Madi, she is more open and willing to try with her. When the trio agree to “friends with benefits” while Madi is in town, they think it will be a wild time of sex and kink, little did they know that everything is about to change for them.

((Happy Dance))

I love this series! I love the characters, I love the writing. There is a lot to unpack with Thorn Kiss and I am not one to spoil a good read. However, June had me very frustrated with so much of this book. She needs some deep therapy, her issues with her Mother and brother leak into her life and control her choices far too much. Towards the end of the book, the way she treats Dallas and Madi had me fuming! That and her lack of open communication with Dallas and Madi was completely frustrating, but in the end, things did work out. The spice in this book was outstanding, the primal play, (chefs kiss) the communication about boundaries, safe words and the like, just perfect. I think Dallas needs partners that are able to give him this type of outlet, allow him to feel safe to explore it with him, but also enjoy it as well. Madi had to be my favorite, she was able to be what Dallas and June both needed, but they were both able to give her what she needed as well. With Madi, she was able to find a place and people that finally felt like family, that felt like home. Not just with Dallas and June, but with the people of Why Not. The big grand gesture at the end of the book was by far the sweetest thing I have read, and it just made the ending that much better. I can not WAIT to see what Ms. Clio has in store for the oldest Why Not brother. Austin, we are coming for you next!

5 ⭐️
4 🌶️

Tropes:

🪷 Why Choose (MFF)
💕 Small-Town Romance
🪷 Found Family
💕 BDSM/Primal Play
🪷 Queer Rep

[Reyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ REVIEW ~
I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. Thorn Kiss is book 2 in the #WhynotSeries by Clio Evans. To start, I always preface that this entire series I stumbled upon because I feel that makes my reactions more authentic lol. I’m not a whychoose kind of person in the slightest, I am beyond jealous for that. That being said this series has broadened my horizons. My only poly romance was #GiveMeMore by Sara Cate. As much as I enjoyed the Salacious series, what Clio is able to do is something different with her poly romances. She develops the relationships between her characters.
Dallas, my cinnamon roll who loves to read and is a mechanic and volunteer firefighter. He has a Free Little Library on his property and if that wasn’t enough, he’s so in tune with his feeling. We met him in #CactusHeart as he’s Avery’s older brother. He is such a good man, he is always ready to help anyone and expects nothing in return. Him and June (one of our FMCs) have known each other forever. They had an “accidental” kiss on New Years and ever since then it’s like they’re just ships passing by each other. He is so patient with her and waiting for her to talk ab that night whenever she’s ready while making sure she knows he’s still there for her in whatever way she needs, whether as a friend or more. With Madi (our second FMC) he’s a bit more playful and it was nice to see how their relationship stemmed from banter and laughs. We got to see such a range of emotions from him.
June, is Avery’s best friend and the resident florist of Whynot. She is my baby and deserves to be protected at all costs. Out of all the MCs, she has the saddest backstory. Her mom sucks and so does her brother. The
only person in her family worth anything is her sweet niece, Laura. She is a mother figure to her and would drop anything if she needs her. June and Dallas have the most history as they’ve known each other their whole lives. Seeing both of them step out of their friend zone and develop into something more was nice. She had me rooting for her bc she deserves all the things good in life. I was pleasantly surprised to her relationship with Madi. Madi brought out a side of her that I don’t even think June realized was a part of her. She flourished into her own self and I loved her storyline the most.
Madi, our animator queen. She’s artistic and has come to Whynot through Avery (Avery really was working overtime lowkey) as she has accepted a temporary art job. Madi our suppressed girlie. She hasn’t been treated right AT all. I found myself having to really find a way to like her I’m sorry😭😭it’s. Nothing personal other than I found my real life tendencies wanting Dallas and June together. However, she did win me over because they both needed her. June needed her to show her how she is enough and brought her out of her shell. Dallas needed her for the same reason too. She brought out in both of them the things they were scared to admit. In return, she needed both of them to remember that she is in fact, that girl!
Overall, I’m so glad the Whynot series accidentally made its way to me. It’s a testament to Clios writing style that has taken me not only out of my comfort zone but that has made me coming back for more. Cactus Heart was an accident but I purposely wanted to get my hands on #ThornKiss because I just had to read more from her. So sad there’s one more book left but can’t wait for Austin in #PricklyPair
Congrats on your new release queen 🫶🏽

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hot Take: Ok ok ok.... I will admit, it was WAY better that the first one. The character development and engagement was significantly better. That said, the plot felt a little loose this time. Problems were made out way bigger than I thought they were. Also, when you have parental trauma like June does, it is rare to be able to trace it back to that. "I can't love you because I can't love myself because ultimately my mom didn't love me". That is a level of self awareness that only comes when you have HEALED so you can define it, and when you have healed, you no longer feel that way. So, that part felt a little contrived to me. I will also say, I typically do not love FF romances. But I was wanting to take a chance on FFM, and I was pleasantly surprised. Of course, I identified with June way more than Madi... not a whiff of dominance over here. lol But I liked that Madi was a switch. I will definitely give the 3rd book a try. I have high hopes.
Main Characters: Dallas, June, Madi
Other Characters of Note: Dr. Jacobs (town doctor), Austin (oldest whynot and runs the hotel), and Evie (town baker)
Setting: Whynot, TX
Spice level: 3/5
Summary: Madi is an animator that was just cheated on and dumped, and then fired from her job. She get a residency offer from Avery in Whynot, and on a whim, takes it. She meets Dallas and June separately and is attracted to them both. Coincidentally, they have also been attrtacted to each other for a while. June is a florist with a toxic mother who doesn't accept love. She is also helping with her niece since her brother is a recovering addict. Dallas is the town mechanic and one of 3 whynot siblings. He also has a primal kink. June proposes that they have a friends with benefits situation between the 3 of them. It takes all of 14 seconds, but they all get together separately and all 3. June is constantly apprehensive about being loved and all of them claim its not love, when it so obviously is. June is in the midst of homecoming mum season, fighting with her mom, and watching Laura, so she is already stressed. It all comes to a head when Madi gets a job offer in CA, but said she would like to stay. June freaks out, and pushes them both away. Obviously they make up in a grand way at the homecoming game where Madi reveals her animation which is of the 3 of them together and how great whynot is. They decide to give it a go. After 10 years, they are getting married and very happy.No kids.

[Another librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

✍️ 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾 ✍️
“THORN KISS” CLIO EVANS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Well, damn.

In the small town of Whynot, West Texas, Madison arrives with a broken heart and a life she needs to rebuild. After a painful breakup and losing her dream job, she decides to give herself another chance with an art residency far away from everything and everyone, in a place where no one knows her past. She has only two promises to keep: stop hiding who she really is and stop letting opportunities pass her by.
Unfortunately, those very promises might end up complicating her life all over again.
Dallas Whynot is the kind, muscular mechanic with a little free library in his yard and desires far less innocent than his smile suggests.
June Moore is a pink haired, heavily tattooed florist, tough as steel but capable of a sweetness that takes you by surprise.
Madison never planned on getting involved. Not with one person, and definitely not with two. So when an irresistible connection sparks between them, they set clear rules: six weeks, no attachments, no feelings. Just pleasure, complicity, and freedom.
A simple deal. If only Madi were not already starting to fall for both of them.

This was fun, and cute, and spicyyy and sad. Yes, all of the above.
Fun and cute because I love small towns. I find them fascinating, and the stories that grow around them always feel unique and special.

I really enjoyed Cactus Heart, the first book in this kinky and polyamorous series. Dallas had already caught my attention there, and the fact that he is a book lover like us gives him extra points in my eyes.
My heart broke for June. What she went through, and what she still deals with every day, genuinely hurt to read. Laura, her niece, is such a cute and funny kid. She adds that extra spark that children can bring to a story without ever taking over.
Madi is a true badass, even if she does not fully realize it at first. She discovers her strength slowly, and also thanks to her new “lovers”.

Clio Evans’ writing is very engaging. At times it slows down a little, and I struggled through a few filler scenes, but overall it is enjoyable and flows well.

I cannot wait to read the third book. Some of the characters have me very curious.