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Missed By Myles: An MM Coming-of-Age Romance Novel
A heartfelt and emotional coming-of-age gay romance about first love, mistakes, and the courage to be true to yourself.
Jake’s life has always been about swimming, keeping his head down, and most importantly hiding the parts of himself he isn’t ready to face. Haunted by loss and weighed down by secrets, he counts the days until he can finally escape and start afresh, far away from his past.
Then Myles walks into his world, and Jake is torn: should he risk it all on a hunch and finally trust someone, or stick to the plan? Curiosity and the urge to be himself make his carefully ordered life quickly unravel and his secrets become harder to keep when he shares them with the wrong person.
Tender, funny, and achingly honest, Missed by Myles is a slow-burn MM romance about friendship, trust and the terrifying, beautiful leap into becoming who you really are.
Jake’s life has always been about swimming, keeping his head down, and most importantly hiding the parts of himself he isn’t ready to face. Haunted by loss and weighed down by secrets, he counts the days until he can finally escape and start afresh, far away from his past.
Then Myles walks into his world, and Jake is torn: should he risk it all on a hunch and finally trust someone, or stick to the plan? Curiosity and the urge to be himself make his carefully ordered life quickly unravel and his secrets become harder to keep when he shares them with the wrong person.
Tender, funny, and achingly honest, Missed by Myles is a slow-burn MM romance about friendship, trust and the terrifying, beautiful leap into becoming who you really are.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2025
About the author
Maki Faulkner
1 book4 followersAfter working with people for many years and seeing lots of different characters, plus struggling with my own sexuality. I felt I had a story to tell. I’d come up with my original idea, but as the story developed and I grew to know the characters, it took on a life of its own. I’m looking forward to writing book 2 and 3, as I have a rough idea in my head where I want the story to go and develop. I’ve also planted some Easter eggs in book one, which will gradually become clear over the years of writing. Hope you can follow me on this journey.
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok.
Search Maki Faulkner
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok.
Search Maki Faulkner
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 15, 2026
Great Coming of Age Story
I really enjoyed Maki’s writing style and ability to tell a story. I couldn’t put it down! Jake and Myles were very relatable characters, and Maki did a great job of detailing what gay kids struggle with growing up and figuring themselves out. I really hope there’s a part two!
I really enjoyed Maki’s writing style and ability to tell a story. I couldn’t put it down! Jake and Myles were very relatable characters, and Maki did a great job of detailing what gay kids struggle with growing up and figuring themselves out. I really hope there’s a part two!
February 16, 2026
I've given very few 5 stars
Amazing for a first effort. Inventive plot and very believable characters. If you're terrified of coming out, this is a must read
Amazing for a first effort. Inventive plot and very believable characters. If you're terrified of coming out, this is a must read
April 26, 2026
This was a sweet coming of age story, a really cute slow burn coupled with internal gay panic.
This felt like a true story, focused on the sometimes crushing realisation that the straightforward life that you’d always imagined (wife and kids) might not be possible. I think the panic is all too real for lots of people, and this was explored well with Jake’s story.
Myles was really sweet, and the real highlight! He got braver with Jake as the story progressed, with some cute moments like his after-sun massage, hands-on surf training, or cupcakes.
The dramatic turn in the car after Jake’s panic was unexpected, and not explored in much depth, but does allude to just how terrifying it can be when you lose control of your own narrative.
Overall, I loved reading their story and seeing them inch closer and closer together.
PS. It was a little annoying we didn’t find out who cheese guy was!
🩲🏄🏼♂️🧁
This felt like a true story, focused on the sometimes crushing realisation that the straightforward life that you’d always imagined (wife and kids) might not be possible. I think the panic is all too real for lots of people, and this was explored well with Jake’s story.
Myles was really sweet, and the real highlight! He got braver with Jake as the story progressed, with some cute moments like his after-sun massage, hands-on surf training, or cupcakes.
The dramatic turn in the car after Jake’s panic was unexpected, and not explored in much depth, but does allude to just how terrifying it can be when you lose control of your own narrative.
Overall, I loved reading their story and seeing them inch closer and closer together.
PS. It was a little annoying we didn’t find out who cheese guy was!
🩲🏄🏼♂️🧁
March 13, 2026
4 longing stars.
Please see my full review on Amazon under this book's name.
Please see my full review on Amazon under this book's name.
October 28, 2025
Really slow burn
This is a slow burn kind of sorry that has a great payoff at the end but takes the entire book to get there. You'll love Jake and Myles and their stories, and the depth to which the author is able to take their journey. Buy the book and read it.
This is a slow burn kind of sorry that has a great payoff at the end but takes the entire book to get there. You'll love Jake and Myles and their stories, and the depth to which the author is able to take their journey. Buy the book and read it.
September 12, 2025
Jake and Myles . . .
Jake’s brother, at the age of 15, committed suicide because he thought that was what he deserved. Now his brother goes to the cemetery each year to celebrate his birthday with him and to share the news this year that he was starting a new job as a lifeguard since swimming was his best talent and he asked his brother to wish him luck. He is nervous about being himself. He had always tried blending in and following the crowd, afraid of standing out. In 6 months, he will go somewhere distant where nobody knows him and will have the chance to be himself in a swimming competition! He is excited… or at least thinks he is? But it could be fear. He began to step through the automatic door to his new job when the door jammed and he walked right into it. Knowing the door was defective, the girl behind the counter looked up to make sure he wasn’t hurt, then went back to what she was doing. (At this point, this reader would be delighted if someone, anyone, would just try a tiny smile to give me hope! So far, this is not heading into a HEA kind of story.)
As Jake sits down, thinking about a stranger he had been texting with as they played with words to tease each other, Rowan Thatcher came up behind him and grabbed his shoulders, asking who he was texting. He squeezed hard, actually seeming to be impressed by Jake’s muscles. Jake knew Rowan worked out at this gym that Jake is now employed by. Rowan is also a talented swimmer. But Rowan’s family is wealthy and he would never want to get a job here. Rowan’s friend Finn then told Jake that Rowan has a girlfriend, even though their coach at school doesn’t permit it. Rowan was angry that Finn mentioned the girlfriend and the two of them left. Jake then noticed the guy he had seen earlier that he had pretended could be the same guy he had just texted with. It turns out that guy was also going to be one of the new lifeguards too. He tries to seat himself so the guy would sit next to him, but a girl by herself at the next table starts to talk with him. Myles, who is the mystery guy, walks into the room as Jake’s nerves have him acting odd. Will he even have the courage to try to start a relationship with Myles? Will Rowan see an opportunity to harass Jake? There are awkward moments and difficulties trying to figure out who to trust. But will things finally work out as intended? Or will he let his insecurities prevent him from opening up to new relationships and being able to trust his instincts?
Jake’s brother, at the age of 15, committed suicide because he thought that was what he deserved. Now his brother goes to the cemetery each year to celebrate his birthday with him and to share the news this year that he was starting a new job as a lifeguard since swimming was his best talent and he asked his brother to wish him luck. He is nervous about being himself. He had always tried blending in and following the crowd, afraid of standing out. In 6 months, he will go somewhere distant where nobody knows him and will have the chance to be himself in a swimming competition! He is excited… or at least thinks he is? But it could be fear. He began to step through the automatic door to his new job when the door jammed and he walked right into it. Knowing the door was defective, the girl behind the counter looked up to make sure he wasn’t hurt, then went back to what she was doing. (At this point, this reader would be delighted if someone, anyone, would just try a tiny smile to give me hope! So far, this is not heading into a HEA kind of story.)
As Jake sits down, thinking about a stranger he had been texting with as they played with words to tease each other, Rowan Thatcher came up behind him and grabbed his shoulders, asking who he was texting. He squeezed hard, actually seeming to be impressed by Jake’s muscles. Jake knew Rowan worked out at this gym that Jake is now employed by. Rowan is also a talented swimmer. But Rowan’s family is wealthy and he would never want to get a job here. Rowan’s friend Finn then told Jake that Rowan has a girlfriend, even though their coach at school doesn’t permit it. Rowan was angry that Finn mentioned the girlfriend and the two of them left. Jake then noticed the guy he had seen earlier that he had pretended could be the same guy he had just texted with. It turns out that guy was also going to be one of the new lifeguards too. He tries to seat himself so the guy would sit next to him, but a girl by herself at the next table starts to talk with him. Myles, who is the mystery guy, walks into the room as Jake’s nerves have him acting odd. Will he even have the courage to try to start a relationship with Myles? Will Rowan see an opportunity to harass Jake? There are awkward moments and difficulties trying to figure out who to trust. But will things finally work out as intended? Or will he let his insecurities prevent him from opening up to new relationships and being able to trust his instincts?
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews