Swallow

Sugar Pill Duet #2

by Risa Cruise

Luca
Months ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life. I abandoned Noel.

And since then I’ve been desperately looking for him, haunting all the places I expect him to be. He’s nowhere. A ghost. I have no way to contact him anymore. My life is falling apart, but all I can think of is him.

One more night. One more club. One more chance to beg for his forgiveness...because without him, I'm nothing at all.

Noel
I broke the night Luca left me. I’ve got the scars to prove it.

But somehow, life goes on. I have a new apartment, a new job, and I’m back in therapy, too. I’m not better, but I'm trying. And even though it hurts like hell, I’m determined to prove I don’t need him.

So when a good friend needs a night out after a bad breakup, I’m happy to oblige—until I run into a different ex-boyfriend at the same club where everything began, and my whole world fractures once more.

SWALLOW is a heartfelt MM romance about fighting for happiness and finding solace in a second-chance. Featuring a very hard-won HEA, it is the second book in the Sugar Pill Duet and should be read after SUCKER LOVE.

Genres: M M Romance, Second Chance

410 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2025

Reviews

[patrícia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review:Swallow (Sugar Pill Duet Book 2) by Risa Cruise
MC: Noel & Luca 5⭐

“Noel.” Luca’s moved in close again, his chin coming to rest on my knees where I’ve drawn them up and looking into my face like he needs it to breathe, like he will wither and die without it. “Do you want to do this again?”[…]
All I want is him. I only ever feel good here with him.
“I’m yours,” I say to him. “Luca.”
He wraps me up in a big hug, the tight ones I adore, with my face crushed into the side of his neck right where it’s meant to fit. “Mine,” he agrees, softly, against my ear.

Tropes & tags
Age Gap
Second-Chance
Groveling
Mental health
Found Family
Healing Love
Redemption ARC

Swallow is Book 2 in the Sugar Pill Duet. It must be read after Sucker Love.

After finishing Sucker Love, I said I needed Luca to crawl, to grovel, to lick the floor Noel walked on.
And guess what?
He did. He really, really did. 🤍

The first book made me so mad — furious at Luca’s cowardice and the way he tore Noel apart with his selfishness. I didn’t stop thinking about it. I needed Swallow to make it all worth it.
And it was. Every ounce of pain finally paid off.

This wasn’t some lazy “I’m sorry, take me back” redemption arc. It was real. Flawed. Messy. Human. Luca didn’t just say he was sorry — he lived it. Every action screamed how much he loved Noel, how much he regretted hurting him. And Noel, bless him, didn’t just forgive — he saw Luca, the good and the broken parts, and loved him anyway.

Like Noel said:
“Big feelings,” […] “Big big feelings.” 🥹🫶🤍🖤
That line sums up this book perfectly. Big feelings — love, guilt, forgiveness, fear, healing. Everything.

💫 What Worked
*The groveling. Honestly? The best I’ve ever read. Luca didn’t just suffer; he changed. He confronted his father, his shame, his patterns, and rebuilt everything from scratch. It was powerful, emotional, earned.

*The mental health rep. Noel’s struggles are still there, but they’re portrayed with so much compassion. His growth feels honest, not romanticized — he goes to therapy, takes his meds, and keeps putting in the work. Healing isn’t linear, and Risa Cruise captures that perfectly.

*The found family. Dani and Jamil — patronizing and irritating at first — actually came through in the end. Their presence added balance and grounding, even when they drove me crazy.

*The honesty. There’s a moment where Luca finally stands up to his father:
“I’m gay,” I say. […] “And if he ever takes me back, I’m going to be with him again.”
I swear I held my breath. That scene broke me in the best way. Fucking finally, Luca.

The Dom/sub and club scene from book1 and 2 with the leather and exhibitionism didn’t really fit their vibe, it felt slightly misplaced. Still, it didn’t ruin anything — just a tonal hiccup in an otherwise perfect conclusion.

Also? Huge thank you to Risa Cruise for keeping both sets of terrible parents exactly that — terrible. Not everyone deserves redemption, and I love that consistency. 👏 And, very important for dealing with Jordan like he deserved, what a piece of shit!

I ended Sucker Love hating Luca from the depths of my soul.
I finished Swallow loving him just as fiercely.This was redemption done right — not manipulative, not rushed, but earned. Raw, emotional, imperfectly perfect.

All that pain from Sucker Love finally found its purpose here.
I’m speechless. Big feelings, indeed. 🥰

Nothing’s perfect. Nothing ever will be.
But whatever happens now, I can face it. Because I have Noel, who is the strongest and bravest person I’ve ever met, who has endured hardship beyond imagining and still come out on the other side somehow; wounded, yes, but proud and beautiful and capable. Who has a heart so big and encompassing and full of love that I don’t know how he can contain it all in that petite body of his. He is gorgeous, he is wild, and there is nothing in this world I would trade him for. I know that now. There’s no life worth living without him.
He catches my sidelong glance and smiles, his amber eyes burnished gold in the late summer sun.
He is my heart.
My beautiful boy.
My stunt girl.

Luca.
My fiancé, future husband, former ex, love of my fucking life and eternal pain in my ass. Oh, I adore him so, even after everything he put me through and he more than made up for it in the end. No, there’s not a thing I would change, not if it couldn’t guarantee me this, and this—oh, and this.
Now I can truly say I want for absolutely nothing.
“Mine,” he whispers against my ear, spreading my thighs apart.
Yours.

I received a free copy of this book from Risa and am voluntarily leaving a review.

⚠️Author TWs
Depictions of mental illness and self-harm
Sexual assault (not between MCs)
Homophobia / homophobic language
Drug abuse
Emotional abuse
Pregnancy / childbirth
Elements of Domination / submission
Ableism / ableist language
Child neglect (mentioned)
Domestic violence (mentioned)
Death of a parent (mentioned


❣️Book Safety & Content
Cheating: No
OM/OW Drama: No, but before they got together again Noel goes on a date/hookup. They kiss and are in bed but nothing other than kissing happens.
Sharing: No
Third-Act Breakup: No
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 1st person (dual)
Format: Duet (book 2)
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Medium / High

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 ⭐
3.5 🌶️

First of all I’m a sucker for a good book dedication and this one is no different: “For those who are reaching for sunlight.”

Noel and Luca finished me in the best way possible. I sat with my feels for a few days before I could actually try to formulate any sort of thought about them.

Risa writes their characters in such a way that I couldn’t help but have such visceral feelings for them. I fell hard for Noel in Sucker Love. I didn’t think my love for him could grow any bigger but I was wrong. The growth he had in this duet is absolutely stunning. And Luca, I can’t forget about Luca, jfc that man. He has been redeemed. There is no more side-eye from just heart eyes.

From the caretaking, the tender moments, the snuggles, every time Luca called Noel “his stunt girl”, every single solitary moment of this book was just everything.

How soon is too soon for a re-read? Asking for a friend. 😅

WHAT TO EXPECT
🩵Second chance
🩵Soft D/s
🩵Hurt/comfort
🩵Age gap
🩵Size difference
🩵BPD rep
🩵A hard-won HEA

Cheating: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Luca and Noel against the world baby!!

Ate this up the day after I read the first book in the series. These boys are still dumb but they are dumb figuring out the world together.

As someone who just started their mental health journey with antidepressants, seeing Noel doing so well on meds + therapy made me so happy. If that little firecracker can do it, so can I!

Luca is still daddy in this and I'm glad he is trying to get his shit together.

A wonderful ending for these boys, they worked so hard for it.

Thank you again Risa for fucking me up.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review 🩵

Swallow by Risa Cruise

“The truth is that no one has ever loved me the way he did. And I’ve never loved anyone the way I love him.”
.
.
When I finished Sucker Love back in July, I was left with a Luca and Noel-sized hole in my heart. Would these two get their HEA, and what would the journey to do so look like? In Risa Cruise’s follow-up, Swallow, I got everything I could hope for and then some.

We pick up several months after Sucker Love’s ending. Noel is trying to get his life back on track, but the ghost of Luca’s love and presence continues to haunt him. Meanwhile, the vibrance that is Luca’s “stunt girl” is gone, and he struggles to navigate his new situation.

Going into Swallow, I knew Luca and Noel’s path to healing wouldn’t be easy. Between Noel’s mental health struggles, Luca’s homophobic father, and the impending bundle of joy, these two were in for one hell of a ride. Furthermore, Luca had some major groveling to do.

Swallow is what I call a redemption arc done right. When Luca decides to get his stunt girl back, it’s not some half-hearted effort. It’s raw, difficult, vulnerable, and visceral. He finds the courage to stand up for himself and simultaneously defend the love he and Noel share. At the same time, we get to experience Noel’s growth. Not just has he navigates his mental health, but his willingness to embrace Luca’s new familial situation with maturity.

To Risa, I want to give the utmost praise for the love/reverence she created and evoked in Luca and Noel’s relationship. Their situation can sometimes be messy, all-consuming, and tumultuous. However, the love and wholeness they experience with/in one another transcends all the other horrible things that seek to tear them apart. It’s fierce, imperfectly perfect, and beautiful.

So as I closed the chapter on Noel and Luca’s story, the hole I started with was filled. In 345 pages, Risa put me back together and gave me the closure I needed. Was it perfect? No. Did it take some time to get here? Yes. Would I encourage someone else to take this journey with Noel and Luca and give the Sugar Pill Duet a try? The answer is a loud, irrevocable, yes!

[unhingedreaderaunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect end to Noel and Luca’s story. I absolutely loved this, 10/10.

In the conclusion to the Sugar Pill Duet, we return to Luca and Noel three months after the events in Sucker Love. Our boys have been through the wringer, and now it’s time for them to find their way back to each other.

Quite simply, Swallow is everything I hoped it would be. Risa Cruise’s ability to create authentic and realistically flawed characters that tug on the reader’s heart strings is one of things I love most about their books, and there is no shortage of emotion here.

Noel and Luca’s story is about two broken boys finding themselves through love and healing, and this conclusion delivers all the pining, obsession, hurt/comfort vibes I was hoping for. And that epilogue? Has to be one of the best and most satisfying epilogues I’ve ever read.

I think those looking for grovelling from Luca will be very happy, although I have to say I was surprised at the amount of hate he received from book one. Luca’s trauma from his father’s violence and homophobia ran deep, and the coping mechanisms he developed centred around keeping the status quo. His father’s actions taught him that the people he loved would get hurt if he lived authentically, so he learned to put himself last, burying his sexual identity down deep so that nobody else had to suffer for his happiness.

Firmly entrenched coping mechanisms formed from such traumatic, formative experiences aren’t so easy to walk away from, and certainly not in the space of two months—which was the time span of book one. I’m not sure how some expected Luca to get over his trauma and stand up to his abusive father in such a short span of time, especially when he was already making huge life changes and on the rebound. Luca’s actions were just as steeped in trauma as Noel’s, but for some reason only Noel’s problematic behaviour got a pass.

But whichever side of the Luca fence you’re on, I think you’ll agree after reading Swallow that Luca fully redeemed himself, and I’m so happy he got the resolution he needed and was able to move past his trauma to find happiness.

This duet is simply wonderful, and highly recommended for fans of Alex Cross and CS Autumn who enjoy angsty, emotional and heart wrenching reads with hard-won HEA’s. Luca and Noel will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I think they will find a place in yours, as well.

I received an ARC from the author and am leaving this review voluntary because this duet stole my heart.

[Lore · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I couldn’t wait to get started on this one as Sucker Love truly kept me on edge until the final page.

Risa Cruise writes characters with such layered interiority that you feel every conflicting emotion right along with them. You understand them. You root for them. And occasionally, you want to shake them.

After the way book one ended, Luca definitely owed us some substantial grovelling. I did enjoy the way his attempts to win Noel back were written, though I personally would’ve liked just a bit more of it. (I won’t pretend I didn’t want a few extra scenes of him working harder for it.)

One thing that resonated with me was Noel’s recurring feeling of “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” I genuinely shared that tension. I kept bracing for something to go wrong, but it never happened the way I thought it would.

I also appreciate that their happy ending isn’t a polished, fairy-tale version of one. Neither of them is perfect. Their pasts still leave marks. And their love doesn’t magically erase all of that, but it does help them carry it.

A deeply satisfying conclusion, even if, just quietly, I would have welcomed a touch more grovelling.

Tropes:
Second chance
Soft D/s vibes
Age gap
Size difference
BPD rep
Hurt x comfort

[Lore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swallow is Book 2 in the Sugar Pill Duet. These book need to be read in order, so make sure you start with Sucker Love.

Now, most of you guys know by now I’m an absolute sucker for book 1 😜, so I totally devoured Luca and Noel’s hard won HEA.
And boy, what a ride that was !
Risa’s writing touches perfection, once more delivering everything this girl wants : the pining , the longing , the heartbreak , characters that are raw and full of flaws, as any humans should be.
Now listen, I don’t want to give up too much, because everybody needs to experience this love story by themselves .. but.. let’s just say that for those of you who were waiting for a certain favorite of mine to grovel , you should know our man pulls himself together and fights for our boy.

And my god, I was there for every second of this duet’s conclusion!
That being said, this duet is definitely in my top reads this year, which absolutely makes me one of Risa’s most enthusiastic fans. ❤️

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am unwell, I am obsessed, I am never getting over Luca and Noel.

I knew by the end of Sucker Love this would be a duet I would need to revisit. I’m not ready to leave this world and its beautifully messy characters behind.

In part 2 of this duet the drama seems to mostly be external from Noel and Luca’s relationship, which frankly I was relived about because I don’t know how much more heartbreak I could’ve taken. So thank you to the author for not completely ripping my heart out this time around.

We left the pair at the end of Sucker Love in an awful situation. I was truly devastated for them both and anxious for their well being.
This is the story of them finding their way back to each other. Rebuilding their love and trust and finding a way to exist in each other’s lives on their terms.

We find Noel having made leaps and bounds in his mental health journey. While he seems to resent some aspects of his recovery, he is in general much more balanced.
And Luca finds Noel after spending months searching for him after realising he should’ve never let him go.

While the ending of book one was completely heartbreaking. I think these two really did need the time apart to heal themselves and sort their priorities.
Neither of them was really in a position to support each other before.

I loved that neither of these two is perfect and never will be. They are absolutely products of their environment and upbringing. They’re just two messy people out there trying to do their best.

I spent most of this book hating Noel’s friends. Why couldn’t they have been more supportive of him? Why couldn’t just one person have his back?
I very much enjoyed Danika’s redemption near the end. She charges in to battle like a handbag swinging whirlwind. And not a moment too soon.

This duet is going to live forever in my heart.
Never before have I felt such a connection to two characters.
So thank you, Risa Cruise, for writing realness and vulnerability and proving that even the most damaged people deserve their happy ending.

[✶ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Noel and Luca's second change romance! I love rooting for them because they are just meant to be, they fit and complete each other so well. I love how utterly obsessed they are with each other.
With the way the first book ended, I was a bit concerned how things would play out and how Luca would redeem himself, because I was truthfully very upset with him, but he grovelled good and I do see where his choices were coming from, so he's redeemed in my eyes.

The main conflict that basically fuelled the story is a trope I don't enjoy very much, but it was actually done in way even I could find tolerable and in the end I didn't even resent it! 😅
There was a loooot of drama that was entertaining to read but my god was it messy. These poor characters deserve a break. Also, I wish Noel had better friends because Dani and Jamil kinda suck, I'm sorry 😭 I guess it's realistic and all, and Dani's heart was in the right place (not Jamil, he just sucks), but I didn't like how she acted like Noel having BPD means he must be under supervision when making life choices.

I also really liked the mental health rep in this duet, I think it was done very realistically and honest and I appreciate that the author didn't shy away from showing the ugly sides. Noel is medicated in this book and you can see the difference in him, not necessarily in the way he acts as a person but in the way he reacts to and handles his emotions. He mentions feeling "tamped down", like he's not really himself anymore, and it's terribly relatable, because antidepressants really do make you feel like you got a personality transplant sometimes. He's internally struggling if he should or shouldn't get off his meds because he kinda misses the "extremes" and that's also terribly relatable. What I'm trying to say is, Noel is a relatable character (for some of us I'm sure) and I love him dearly.
I felt for Luca too, the things he went through are no easy feat. His relationship with his father… yeah, ouch. 🥲 His character development was great to see in this book. And he's such a sucker for Noel it's adorable!!
Thank you to the author for an ARC! 🫶

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:
〰️ Second Chance
〰️ Hurt / Comfort
〰️ Found Family
〰️  Groveling
〰️ Mental Health Awareness

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒅. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎.


ARC Review: This is exactly what I needed in the second book. Luca had me wanting to reach through my kindle and smack him in the end of Sucker Love. That man needed to work hard and grovel like no man has before and he did exactly that!!

This was such a beautiful second chance romance. We actually get to see Luca work for a chance to be apart of Noels life again. Not a simple I'm so sorry forgive me and he does. No Luca put in the work to show him hes sorry and once he got him he continued to show him he is all in for Noel and wont hide anymore. I loved Noel and Luca already but seeing them grow in Swallow just gave me a full circle for them. Watching Noel work on his mental health and work on his emotions while was beautifully done. Seeing Luca navigate with fully coming out of the closet I truly felt for him. His dad and uncle are just pure scum.

Luca and Noel put on so much work for their relationship. Watching Noel to trust Luca again, watching Noel learn to better communicate with Luca, watching them get their HEA gave me all the happiness I could for these two.

Overall I absolutely LOVED this book would definitely recommend and adding to my to read again list.


Also 🖕🏼 Jordan!

[Noa Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Luca has made a home in me and he is never going to go away." - Noel

"He’s everything, and he’s right here, my heart that I’ve been stumbling along without" - Luca

After they haven't seen each other for 3 months, they finally see each other again. Noel has been trying to heal in those months and trying to adapt to a life without Luca; he's going to therapy, started a new job, and moved. Luca has been looking for him all that time and is trying to figure himself out in this new situation. Noel is doing so much better; he has learned that he deserves to feel loved, and he also has learned to validate his own feelings more with a little bit of help from Luca. And Luca has taken responsibility and made a lot of steps as well; he has done the things that he was very afraid to do in the first book. But he did it for himself and because he realized that he would do anything for his second chance with Noel, the love of his life. Luca has learned to talk more about his feelings and prioritize himself more; it's his life, and he deserves to be happy with himself too. He has lived his life how others wanted him to for way too long. The fact that Amelia, Luca's dog, was so happy to see Noel again had me in tears.

They both made a lot of progress and worked on themselves. There were a lot of hard and painful moments, but instead of keeping it to themselves, they talked about it together, and most importantly, they created a space where they could really be there for each other; they helped each other heal. And they really didn't have it easy in this book either; it was one thing after the other, but they had each other in every good and bad moment. They had the difficult conversations, and Luca knew actually when Noel needed him, and Noel could be there more for Luca as well. Their relationship is so much stronger now; they are building a future together. They finally have a loving family that they created, and they deserve it all!!! They just never had a healthy role model, so it's just hard to figure out how they could heal and form a healthy relationship. That takes a lot of time, and they have made mistakes and worked on being better in the way that they treated each other. Maybe time apart was necessary to get those realizations.

I love this duet so much; they finally have their well-earned happy ending! I'm so glad that I've read their messy journey and all their character developments from Noel, Luca, and some side characters as well. They all feel so real, and their emotions were not only sometimes relatable, but they also felt realistic. And I mostly cried about happy moments this time. Risa is a wonderful author! I love how the deep feelings were portrayed by also showing different sides and explaining why they felt like that. I mean, I love them so much that I woke up early on my birthday so I could start my day with them, and it was actually hard to not read this all in 3 days. I took my sweet time with this book! And of course this is a 5-star as well, just like the first book!!!

I received an ARC copy of this book.

[Sussu {Romance Obsessed} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ty GRR for the arc!!

After the heartbreak of the previous book, I was desperate to get a resolution to their story.

I want to first praise Risa Cruise, they are a talented author, not scared to make bold decisions that can crush your heart, yet keep you reading and wanting more. I wish more authors took risks and pushed the boundaries in the romance space.

That being said, Luca and Noel get the best ending in this book.
Thank goodness!

Luca is obsessed and stalks all the nightclubs in the area, desperate to find Noel.
He knows that he fucked up, and he's determined to find him again. Maybe then he can get one more chance.

He gets his wish, but it's when he sees a guy getting handsy with his man, then putting something in his drink.
Oh hell no.

Luca beats the guy up, which is why we love him, bc he's so gone for Noel.
He listens to him, making sure he's comfortable and heard.

These two are so messy, but you can't help but root for them.
This time, they're both so invested and Luca is doing everything in his power to make it work.

Whereas the first one focused more on Noel, the second focuses more on Luca and everything on his plate.

He's fighting for his man, and them as a couple. We love to see it, Noel deserves all the romance and wooing in the world.🥺

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sequel with fewer tears, happier endings

After the first book, I was prepared to cry my heart out over this one. In the end, the romance returns quite quickly, and most of the book is spent on healing. It is messy and angsty and sweet in equal measure.

[Ella Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty impressed with this one, because I wasn't sure I'd be able to get over Luca from the first in this duet. But the way this was written was really well done, and Luca and Noel are honestly wonderful together and their messy, heartbreaking story to get their HEA made for an amazing story. I loved that it wasn't easy. I loved that Luca wasn't perfect and had to change himself. I was so happy that Noel still had his mental health struggles and had to put in the work too. And that crappy parents were still crappy. Life isn't perfect and ending with neat bows, it's sometimes a train wreck, but finding the right person to ride along with you like Noel and Luca did makes it all worthwhile.

[Sandy Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep. New auto-buy author found. LOVED the conclusion to the Sugar Pill duet. Thanks to @patrícia
for the info and support! This is book 2 of a duet and you should read book 1 first. This review will not do justice to how much I wound up loving this duet, but...here goes.

Age gap, roommates to lovers to nothing… Book 1 ended in a sad bleak place for these two, but book 2 starts on a poignantly triumphant note for my favorite MC Noel, who, instead of spiraling, somehow managed to pick himself up, get therapy, get medication, excel at the perfect job he got at the end of book 1 before everything fell apart, and…take charge of his life. He is so brave and so admirable. He made his mental health and gaining a sense of self-worth his priority, and he’s thriving. Well, as much as you can when you’re walking around with your heart ripped from your chest. But, he told Luca, if you walk away? That’s it. And he stuck to it!!! I cheered, I was so proud of him. He blocked that sucker, moved away, truly cut Luca from him life and focused on himself and his healing. Well done, author!

Luca, whom I wanted to drop-kick in book 1 for his condescending, gaslighting bullshit, in between hoping he’d wake up and do better (because, when he was good for Noel? He was so good for Noel! It’s just that when he was bad, he was unforgivably awful…). Luca has…actually realized what a colossal, unfixable, life-altering mistake he made at the end of book 1. And Luca proceeds to…yes…do everything he can to make up for it over the course of this book. This man…learned. And I eventually—eventually!—forgave him and rooted for the two of them to claim the happiness they so very much deserved. Knowing Luca had been scouring the city night after night for months in search of Noel, ready to beg for a second chance, all that time soothed some of my salty attitude.

The journey to get to their HEA was emotional, fraught with pitfalls, riveting, and so rewarding. Luca truly does the work. Noel, thank god, does NOT bend over and forgive him. Nuh-uh. But as they find their way back to each other, you can see the difference in Luca’s attitude and choices. This IS it for both of them. They are a wonderful complementary pair.

Luca (who, ironically, is the 10 years older hero) has so much maturing to do, and he does, finally standing up to his family, speaking his (gay) truth, and putting Noel first when it matters most. His situation makes it so that Noel literally can’t be his top priority every moment, but, he very clearly was, and Luca stepped up every time Noel needed him. It felt balanced and right. I’m still salty over the entire Luca situation with his ex-wife, but…it grew on me because it wasn’t a throwaway, contrived situation, and the way it evolved and was dealt with actually worked. I still don’t love that they’ll always HAVE to be connected to his ex wife forevermore, and, I still had some QUITE salty moments. But. Even I was happy in the end, and seeing Noel step up and be amazing when, yet again, EVERYONE underestimated him, including Luca, was so satisfying.

The intense and addictive connection between Noel and Luca nearly singed my e-reader and kept on delivering. I loved them together so much in this book. They’re romantic, and OTT with the intenseness of their need for each other, and that is absolutely my book crack. Could not look away. I loved that Noel in no way made anything easy for Luca. But that when he looked in himself and admitted he just loved him and wanted him, that the door opened for repairing what had been so badly broken. As chaotic and emotional as Noel is, he also continued to be so brave and, most important, stood up for himself time and again, and it was beyond satisfying.

What happened to Noel in the opening, with his original slimy ex boyfriend (Jordan), was maddening and heartbreaking, and I loved the way the author wove that thread throughout the narrative and finally got justice for the situation. It does involve drugging without consent and intended SA. But Luca is there and gets Noel to safety. Rest assured. Still, note that trigger.

I enjoyed Noel's changing relationship with his two friends, Danika and Jamil, and how the plot tested their friendship and eventually strengthened it in the end. I am not so fond of Luca’s friends, including his longtime best friend Killian, who never could seem to grasp how not to be a dick toward Noel, and Luca’s soon-to-be-ex-wife Demi, who pulled some shady shit, but then also did Noel a solid toward the end. But, they all made the story ever more fascinating and added layers and depth. This author knows what she’s doing.

Only one issue for me in this one, involving OM action and while I still consider the book mostly safe for me, the reason this bothered me so much isn’t what I expected. Very early, Noel tries very hard to hook up with a stranger via a hookup app. His medications have lowered his libido and he isn’t feeling sexual desire and isn’t turned on at all by this guy, but he keeps trying, even when the rando stranger says stop, I can tell you aren’t into it.

Due to the end of book 1, I wouldn’t have dnf’d even if he had gone through with it, because Luca messed up SO bad in book 1, I could have cheered for Noel to move on. But the problem was, Noel didn’t actually want to, and really wasn’t into it, but he kept trying in part because of the message he kept getting from friends/society that you should have sex with someone new, to get over or to prove you’re over someone, even if you don’t feel like it/your body is saying no. It felt so icky and wrong, and I’m pissed that as a society, we keep putting that message out there. It is okay not to have sex if you don’t feel like it, people! It’s okay to not be ready, or to not desire someone and stop! There’s nothing wrong with you! That entire scene showed Noel feeling otherwise, the message he’d gotten was that he just had to go through with it to prove…I can’t even articulate what, but, it felt very wrong. He definitely would have done it, if the other guy hadn’t gotten squicked out and stopped it. Which was too bad/a dangerous message.

Overall, though, this duet was fantastic and I can’t wait to see what this author does next. Here’s hoping whatever it is, is soon!

HEA, hard won. Estranged lovers, reunited, with much groveling needed from 1 of them. OM drama/danger from Noel’s previous ex before Luca. OM action when Noel tries to hookup (but can’t, but, he would have if he physically could have—he was not the one to call it off, the hookup was). That happens before he lets Luca back into his life, but after Luca finds him again, FYI. It danced the border of unsafe for me, but because of the attitude/pressure around it, not so much that Luca would have done it. This duet is highly recommended.

More please, Risa Cruise!

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.

[Sara Husser · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤🤍He Is My Heart. My Beautiful Boy. My Stunt Girl🤍🖤

"It's never enough, though. It'll never be enough. There is only him, and him, and him."

"I'm clinging to him like I'm drowning. Because I am drowning, and he is a life raft, and this is it, all I have right now, the man who discarded me the minute I became inconvenient."

"He's got a wild, unfettered sort of beauty, nymph-like; he's how I imagine some mischievous demigod in a myth would appear."

"This is all I want, just to touch him, and there's something restless in me that goes quiet when I do."

"The truth is that no one has ever loved me the way he did. And I've never loved anyone the way I love him."

"I want him in a way that transcends carnal; I want all of him on me and in me and around me. I want him as my absolute f****** everything even as I hate him because I love him and I never, ever stopped loving him."

"I just want to mean something to someone. Enough that they'd put me first, and they'd introduce me to their family and friends, and they'd take me to dinner and let me on their arm and there wouldn't be any shame."

"You aren't a dirty secret, Noel. You're my everything. Living without you is like trying to live without a vital organ."

"It's like he's made for this. Being hurt. And I was made for hurting him."

"Nooo," he protests. "I like you little. You're so cute."
"I'm not cute. I'm a demon."
"Not to me. You're my sweet little baby angel. Who may or may not have rabies."
"I definitely have rabies."

What an amazing ending to this duet 🥹🥹. After the cliffhanger ending left me screaming, I had to read this second book asap. The author did such a fantastic job portraying the characters' emotions, struggles, and trauma. This was such an emotional journey and it was worth it in the end. The spice in this was 🔥🔥🔥🔥. This is probably one of my favorite duets of 2025. I will definitely be reading anything this author writes.

This story leaves off 3 months after the last book. Noel has moved on and tried to better his life. He's back in therapy and on meds. Luka is stuck in the same situation, with the same generational trauma. He can't seem to break free and be himself. After a month of trying, Luka starts to look for Noel to get him back. He realizes the huge mistake he made. He eventually finds Noel in an alley being attacked by his abusive POS ex Jordan. From there, these two reconnect and try to heal their relationship. There are so many obstacles that stand in the way of their happiness. Demi, the baby, Luka's family especially his father, Noel's friends and ex. Will these two be able to rekindle what they once had? Will Noel be able to forgive Luka for leaving? Can Luka finally confront his father and be who he was meant to be?

This couple is everything 😭. Both of these boys are so broken but strong. I loved how we got more glimpses into their past trauma. I love how they both protect, understand, and support each other. There was so much healing and growth in this second book. Despite so many things being thrown at these two, they came out stronger together. I loved the little family they created at the end 🥹. I loved seeing Noel become the caretaker and support for Luka. One of my favorite things about this book was how different their upbringings were, but they still had the same pain. They were still able to understand and support each other from different view points. These two are everything. Seeing them finally get that hard earned HEA was everything! On a side note: I hate Jordan and I wanted to reach in my kindle and punch him. I highly recommend this duet, especially if you love a good hurt/comfort with broken boys who eventually heal.

"He is my heart. My beautiful boy. My stunt girl."

[Jessie J melka · Rating 4 out of 5]

{Swallow}
Arc review by Jessie Melka
___________•___________

An amazing emotional rollercoaster ride!

Swallow is the second book in the amazing debut duet suger pill by Risa Cruise I read the books back to back so I wouldn’t miss or forget a thing and I have the first book. My heart was well and truly broken but that is the best part of getting the HEA it puts our heart back together and leaves us with a good feeling after all thats happened
And let me tell you a HEA we get! Noel and Luca went through some tough shit so seeing them finally happy AND together was just the sprinkles on top we needed

Swallow is sit approximately three months after the events in the first book and continues Luca and Noel’s nerve racking heartbreaking and emotional story, the prologue introduces us into Luca’s life after realising what a big fucking mistake he made trying to find Noel who is nowhere to be found, trying to get the love of his life back.

Never have I ever resented side characters as much as I absolutely resent Danika and Jamil I know they made up at last with Noel but I can’t look past how they treated him
Danika like a little child she didn’t want and Jamil like he was just another person in his live when they were supposed to be best friends, I hope I never get friends like this and if I did, I would cut them off immediately

Back to who the story actually is about some might find their relationship toxic but I love the dynamic. They have the love they have for each other. I think it’s just right besides nothing can be good without the bad.

Small notes:

•The epilogue healed all the hurt I felt through the duet

•I think this is a very well representative of a BPD rep

•their age gap was not that bad. I don’t know what Danika was all about.

I raised this book a 4 out of five stars and I would like to recommend this to you who seek a anxious read and it’s down for it duet full of Second chances hurt/comfort and a world of emotions
but remember to form your own opinions and not just listen to me
Until next time, my loves…

Rating: 4/5
Spice: 3,5/5
Angst: 2,5/5
Would I read again: yes

(I received an advance copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily)

* Second Chance
* Soft D/s
* MM Romance
* Found Family
* Mental Health Rep
* Hurt/Comfort
* Size Difference
___________•___________

[Kata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this was an ARC, I want to share my honest thoughts as spoiler-free as possible.
First, I’ll start with the side characters before I move on to the main ones.

So. Danika, Jamil, Demi… none of them were likable. Honestly, not a single side character was — and that says a lot, because I rarely read a book (maybe never) where I got this irritated every time one of them appeared on the page. Not only in this book, but in the previous one too. They were way too much at times — especially Danika. I can somewhat understand her behavior (if I really dig deep), but still, I just can’t stand people like that.

And even though Danika apologized in the end, that wasn’t nearly enough for me after how she acted throughout both books.
As for Jamil, I honestly felt like he didn’t have a single original thought of his own, and Demi… yeah, let’s not even go there. The same goes for Noel’s and Luca’s parents — absolutely awful.

Now, onto Noel and Luca.
I’ll be honest — I understood why Luca left. He thought it was the right thing to do. And Noel… well, he was just being Noel.
But I still wanted to hug them both, because they loved each other so deeply, and that’s exactly why I loved them so much 🥹

And Jordan finally got what he deserved… that jerk 😒

Overall, this book was amazing.
There’s actually just one thing I missed at the end — I won’t say what it was to avoid spoilers, but after it was mentioned several times, I was really hoping for it to happen… sadly, it didn’t 🥺

Thank you @gay.romance.reviews and @risa.cruise.author for the opportunity

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤⛓️ Sugar Pill Duet ⛓️🖤

If chaos had a love language, it would sound a lot like Luca and Noel.

This duet absolutely wrecked me, in the best and worst ways. Sucker Love and Swallow are messy, raw, and painfully human. The kind of books that don’t shy away from mental illness, self-destruction, and the desperate, consuming need to be loved.

Noel is… everything. He’s dramatic, self-aware, impulsive, and so heartbreakingly real. Risa Cruise beautifully captures what it feels like to feel too much. To live inside your own head when it isn’t a safe place. And Luca? The man made me scream, cry, and somehow still root for his redemption. His fear, his guilt, his shame… they’re all so tangible it hurts.

The BDSM exploration isn’t just about kink. It’s about trust. About learning what it means to be wanted for who you are, not what you can give. Luca and Noel don’t just explore each other’s bodies, they unravel each other’s trauma.

By the time I finished Swallow, I felt gutted and healed all at once. Noel fighting for himself was one of the most powerful storylines I’ve read, maybe ever.

Risa Cruise didn’t write a “pretty” love story. She wrote a brutally honest one. A story about two men clawing their way toward the belief that they’re worthy of love, even when it hurts.

This duet now lives rent-free in my head, I cannot recommend it enough. Please read the author’s note at the beginning to ensure you’re protecting your peace! 🫶🏽

I received an ARC of Swallow, these are my honest feelings and opinions about both Sucker Love and Swallow.

[Tashyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

For better and worse, this duet devastated me. Both Swallow and Sucker Love are unfiltered, unfiltered, and achingly human. Such literature does not sugarcoat themes such as mental illness, suicidal ideation, or the overwhelming, overwhelming longing for love. Everything is Noel. He's tragically genuine, impetuous, self-aware, and dramatic. The sensation of having too many emotions is exquisitely depicted by Risa Cruise. To live inside your own head when it isn’t a safe place. Luca, too? He made me want to shout and cry, and I still hope he can find salvation. It aches to feel his terror, his shame, his guilt, because they are so real. Kink isn't the only thing that the BDSM is looking at. Confidence is key. Being valued for one's identity rather than one's abilities is a lesson to be learned. In their intimate encounters, Luca and Noel uncover each other's hidden traumas. Swallow left me feeling gutted and healed all at once. I don't think I've ever read a plot as compelling as Noel standing up for himself. This is not a "pretty" love story that Risa Cruise wrote. A brutally honest one was written by her. In this heartbreaking love story, two men muster the strength to believe, despite the pain, that they are deserving of love. I can't sing this duet's praises enough; it currently occupies my thoughts without payment. To be sure you're safeguarding your tranquility, read the author's note that is included at the beginning."I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swallow absolutely broke me and healed me in equal measure. This is a second-chance romance that refuses to shy away from the messiness of real love, and it made Noel and Luca’s journey feel incredibly intimate and meaningful.

Noel’s growth is nothing short of remarkable. He is hurting, but he keeps pushing forward, building a new life piece by piece even while the past still aches. His vulnerability and determination made him such a powerful character to follow, and I found myself completely invested in his healing.

Luca’s return is heartbreaking in a different way. His regret, his longing, and his absolute devotion to making things right all come through so vividly. It is impossible not to feel for him as he tries to earn back Noel’s trust. Their reconnection is painful, raw, and beautifully honest, and that honesty is what makes their eventual hope feel so well won.

The tenderness between them, the quieter moments, the emotional care they give each other, and the way they slowly rebuild something worth keeping all made this an unforgettable read. The writing handles trauma, love, and redemption with sensitivity, allowing both men to shine in their own ways.

If Sucker Love left you craving closure, Swallow delivers it with a depth and emotional clarity that lingers long after the final page.

I received an ARC copy and this is my honest review.

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A REDEMPTION ARC AND SECOND CHANCE LOVE!💕

The second book of the Sugar Pill Duet that we have been waiting for with bated breath is absolutely amazing!

“We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.”

In my review of the first book I mentioned that Luca has a lot of grovelling to do to redeem himself at what he did to Noel and this is his redemption ARC that showcases his character growth and how he proved to Noel that he sees him, knows him and accepts him by living his true self finally!

Demi came across as a bit of a selfish person when it came to her and Luca’s co-habitation and plans to co-parent but beware there is a twist..

Noel showed a lot of mental growth and how strong his character really was by his actions and reactions to all the messes that occurred during their journey to find their ultimate happiness!

I loved the epilogue which showed how far they had come in their journey and how much their emotional growth evolved!

I love this authors writing style and can definitely recommend this book!

I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR and the author for an honest non biased review.

[Rachel Harrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


❗️Spoilers Below ❗️

Warning: this book contains the happy ending of your dreams. After the emotional rollercoaster of Sucker Love, it’s absolutely imperative you don’t become complacent and expect Swallow to be all rainbows and sunshine. The story is equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming so brace yourself.

Swallow follows on from the bombshell that was dropped at the end of Sucker Love so it’s an absolute necessity to read this before you read Swallow - not only because it’s part one of the story of Luca and Noel but it’s a d*nm good book!

Noel has started healing after being left by Luca to live with his pregnant (soon-to-be) ex-wife; he has a proper mental health diagnosis and is taking regular medication. But none of it fills the chasm left in his heart at not being with Luca anymore. Luca is in his own heartbroken state. Trapped by circumstance and desperately still missing Noel. The journey of their second chance will completely turn you inside out.

✨MM
✨Second chance
✨Age gap
✨Mental health rep
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully complex and emotional book but you must read the first book in the series to fully appreciate and grasp this one. the first book ended on cliffhanger and I was so ready for some resolution for Luca and Noel, and book two provides that. Luca walked away from Noel, breaking Noel. But in book two Noel is picking up the pieces and remaking his life, while Luca realizes his mistakes and sees to find Noel, to no avail. Suddenly by chance he finds Noel is bad situation with his ex boyfriend and he comes to Noel's rescue. I love how both me grew up so much from book one. As hey start to spend time together they decide on a second change at love, buy life before, the second time has many issues making it hard for them. Fortunately they work thru them to find love. The dialogue in this book was spot on..at times I laughed and at times I got teary eyed. I did receive an ARC and live this honest review.

[Amanda Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely perfect conclusion to Noel and Luca’s story. 💙
This sequel had everything I hoped for—redemption, growth, hurt/comfort, and a love that feels so hard-won it sticks with you.

Noel and Luca are messy, complicated, and so painfully real. There were moments that broke me and others that pieced me back together again. Risa Cruise writes them with such heart that every touch, every bit of caretaking, every “stunt girl” moment hit deep.

This is a true redemption arc done right. Luca’s groveling? Flawless. Noel’s growth? Stunning. Together, they prove that love can survive the messiest of circumstances.

If you love second chances, soft D/s dynamics, and emotional healing wrapped in tenderness and spice...Swallow will absolutely wreck you (in the best way).

🩵 Hurt/comfort
🩵 Age gap & size difference
🩵 BPD rep
🩵 Redemption arc
🩵 HEA that feels earned

[ReadswithGroot · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s all falling away. It’s just us now, really and truly, and nothing else. Barriers down, both of us laid open before each other. It is raw and awful and wonderful. It’s everything.”

First things first- Risa I’m sending you the bill for my next therapy session.

Second thing- 5 stars, absolutely LOVED this story and the mental health representation. Not just the inner thoughts and behaviours of someone with BPD but how it affected their friendships and the people around them. While I don’t have BPD, I do have autism, PTSD and depression and have been in a few abusive relationships. So, I was able to resonate a lot with Noels mental health journey. I’m glad that we got to see him put in the work to be a healthier version of himself.

“But there’s a peculiar kind of grief that can’t be explained when you “get better,” just because it doesn’t feel like the real you. You’re mourning that old self, that person who dragged themselves through fire and over broken glass and persevered anyway, fucked up as they were.”

So, so many times, I could just feel Risa slapping me in the face with quotes like this one. ^

Noel and Luca go on an emotional and healing journey through the two books Sucker Love and Swallow in the Sugar Pill duet and deserve the happy ever after they fight for.

5 3
“Good boy”
Soft Dom/Sub
Mental Health Rep
- BPD
Age Gap
Good boy
Daddy
Broken Boys
Hurt X Comfort

“We’re going to have an amazing life together”

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leaving was the wrong thing to do for them both. But that is what Luca did and it wound up leaving both him and Noel in a bit of disrepair. So he looks for Noel while Noel tries to pull the pieces of his life back together after the devastating break. This was the second book in the series. This was their second chance to see if this time, with a lot of begging and pleading to get back into his good graces, Luca could have a chance to get back with Noah, the guy that he now realizes he really wants to be with. That was well done and this pair was able to get back on track. After the first one left me raw, I appreciated them getting the healing both really needed.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[annas.bookcase · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

This is the awaited conclusion to the sugar pill duet and after that cliffhanger in book one I’m glad we wasted no time jumping back into Noel and Luca’s story again. It was definitely a hard earned happily ever after but I was very pleased with the ending of their story and to see how far they’ve both grown, separately and together. And the drama had me on the edge of my seat! This book picked up where Sucker Love left off so you do have to read the first book before this one. Just like in the first book we got major hurt/comfort, mental health rep and sort of a second chance romance vibes.





annas.bookcase

[Precious · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm satisfied (in the best way possible)

Yeah, well, we've made it comrades.
I can't believe how far we've come. I went through so many emotions in the span of what? 4 days? that I officially deserve a good nap.

Noel and Luca have more than my heart. The progress from book 1 to book 2 was formidable yet worth it. After Luca left Noel I was upset and needed him to do some deep grovelling before getting back with my baby, Noel. And grovel he did.

It was lovely seeing the growth these two went on and how their love had a level of depth to it since Luca's leaving.

I am going to think about these two for a while.

[Samantha Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swallow is an emotional and beautifully written second-chance MM romance that explores healing, forgiveness, and the slow, fragile process of rebuilding trust. Noel’s journey to open his heart again feels raw and real, while Luca’s struggle with family expectations adds depth and tension.

I really enjoy Risa’s writing style their prose is heartfelt, immersive, and full of quiet intensity that pulls you in from the start. Swallow is a touching, hopeful conclusion that proves love is messy, imperfect, and absolutely worth fighting for. Noel deserves nothing less and Luca, in stepping up, takes the kind of growth that feels earned.