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Mythical Mishaps #2
The Good Boys Club: Mythical Mishaps, Book 2
Mash Cassidy, smooth-talking werewolf and notorious ladies' man, has been running from his responsibilities and his pack for fifteen years. But with Harvest Fest only weeks away, Alpha's ordering him to return home, and she won't take no for an answer. It's time for him to grow up and mate with a nice werewolf girl. In fact, Alpha already has one in mind.
But Mash wasn't built for settling down, and in a desperate move to keep Alpha off his back, he drags his wolf shifter best friend Cian into another of his harebrained pretend to be a werewolf and pose as his fake-mate for two whole months.
What could go wrong? They're just friends, and Mash definitely hasn't been developing unusual feelings for him.
Cian Barker, hipster wolf shifter and tech whiz, has been in love with his best friend since the day they met at uni. It doesn't matter that Mash is straight and completely unobtainable; Cian is just happy to have him in his life.
But when Mash asks him to be his fake-mate during the family's Harvest Fest celebration, Cian might have reached his limits with how far he'll go for Mash, at least until he's faced with his favourite pair of puppy-dog eyes. The ones he just can't seem to resist.
It'll be fine. Cian can pretend—he's been pretending for their entire friendship. Besides, it's not like Mash will ever love him back.
The Good Boys Club is an MM best-friends-to-lovers paranormal romance, and the second in the Mythical Mishaps series of interconnected standalones. Expect the usual silliness, slow burn, lots of pining, plenty of scent marking, and a ton of praise for the bestest boy in the Eight and a Half Kingdoms.
But Mash wasn't built for settling down, and in a desperate move to keep Alpha off his back, he drags his wolf shifter best friend Cian into another of his harebrained pretend to be a werewolf and pose as his fake-mate for two whole months.
What could go wrong? They're just friends, and Mash definitely hasn't been developing unusual feelings for him.
Cian Barker, hipster wolf shifter and tech whiz, has been in love with his best friend since the day they met at uni. It doesn't matter that Mash is straight and completely unobtainable; Cian is just happy to have him in his life.
But when Mash asks him to be his fake-mate during the family's Harvest Fest celebration, Cian might have reached his limits with how far he'll go for Mash, at least until he's faced with his favourite pair of puppy-dog eyes. The ones he just can't seem to resist.
It'll be fine. Cian can pretend—he's been pretending for their entire friendship. Besides, it's not like Mash will ever love him back.
The Good Boys Club is an MM best-friends-to-lovers paranormal romance, and the second in the Mythical Mishaps series of interconnected standalones. Expect the usual silliness, slow burn, lots of pining, plenty of scent marking, and a ton of praise for the bestest boy in the Eight and a Half Kingdoms.
Audible Audio
First published March 14, 2025
215 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jemma Croft
9 books289 followersJemma is a regular human author living in Bristol, UK, with her husband, daughters and an anxiety-ridden Brussels Griffon.
She writes funny, smutty, very British stories about humans falling in love with non humans.
She loves dick jokes, foods where sugar is the first listed ingredient, and ignoring all her grown up problems.
You can find her on Instagram @jemma_croft
On tiktok (if she can figure it out) @jemma_croft
Or on her newsletter www.jemmacroft.com (cool free stuff)
She writes funny, smutty, very British stories about humans falling in love with non humans.
She loves dick jokes, foods where sugar is the first listed ingredient, and ignoring all her grown up problems.
You can find her on Instagram @jemma_croft
On tiktok (if she can figure it out) @jemma_croft
Or on her newsletter www.jemmacroft.com (cool free stuff)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
March 13, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Or how Jemma made me love butt-sniffing and peeing on your loved one in the shower.
Let's start with the obvious. This book is a fucking masterpiece and I went through a whole range of emotions while reading it: I laughed (because Jemma cannot write unfunny), I got exasperated (because these two idiots are in love but they're idiots), I swooned (because they take care of each other and support each other as bff), I cried (because, again, that's Jemma's magic), and I had to stop and take a cold shower (because, yes, there isn't THAT much spice but the one we get is HOT AF)...
So...we get Cian's and Mash's story, from the time they met at uni till the present. It's not done chronologically, because the chapters in the past give insight to what's happening in the present. We witness them become best friends, share their life and be together in a very platonic way (except that one night they are both kind of denying). Cian has been in love with Mash since they met, and Mash has been a womaniser that long too. So much that his life gets affected by that. And in his kind of endearing bordering on himboish way, he ropes Cian into a fake relationship to get out of his obligations. Which seems to be his modus operandi, most of the time. And Cian, being the good besoted friend that he is, can't say no.
I loved Mash's family, especially all the strong female types we get as secondary characters. It was amazing how much they loved each other and how caring they were. The whole pack gets together and Cian has to wrangle his emotions, Mash being Mash, and not being discovered as a shifter (because everyone else is a werewolf).
There were MANY hilarious moments, with wolf noses in anuses (ani?), using piss as eau de toilette. There were also many endearing and intimate moments between our MCs, in that way that the author can weave so masterfully: it's tender but it also hurts, because the characters are flawed and hiding their feelings, and trying to do their best. And that's something I loved here. They've been friends forever, but they struggle to communicate because they are idiots in love.
From the 72% onwards I kind of cried/sobbed/got teary-eyed and I was there for ever single moment of that third act. The ending was beautiful and I love them and I want them to be happy with their babies and their butt sniffing and their super sexy golden showers and their oak trees and their shared tattoos and with EVERY single lovely thing they share. *sighs dreamily*
I always think Jemma Croft can't write a better book than the last I've read by her. I thought Rookie Recovery was incredible, then By the Pint was the best, then it was Shroom for Improvement, and now it's The Good Boys Club. I'm starting to believe she's got a magical brain and I will always be in awe of her storytelling.
Read this book. Please. I'll even beg.
Then DM me on insta so we can talk non stop about it
Or how Jemma made me love butt-sniffing and peeing on your loved one in the shower.
Let's start with the obvious. This book is a fucking masterpiece and I went through a whole range of emotions while reading it: I laughed (because Jemma cannot write unfunny), I got exasperated (because these two idiots are in love but they're idiots), I swooned (because they take care of each other and support each other as bff), I cried (because, again, that's Jemma's magic), and I had to stop and take a cold shower (because, yes, there isn't THAT much spice but the one we get is HOT AF)...
So...we get Cian's and Mash's story, from the time they met at uni till the present. It's not done chronologically, because the chapters in the past give insight to what's happening in the present. We witness them become best friends, share their life and be together in a very platonic way (except that one night they are both kind of denying). Cian has been in love with Mash since they met, and Mash has been a womaniser that long too. So much that his life gets affected by that. And in his kind of endearing bordering on himboish way, he ropes Cian into a fake relationship to get out of his obligations. Which seems to be his modus operandi, most of the time. And Cian, being the good besoted friend that he is, can't say no.
I loved Mash's family, especially all the strong female types we get as secondary characters. It was amazing how much they loved each other and how caring they were. The whole pack gets together and Cian has to wrangle his emotions, Mash being Mash, and not being discovered as a shifter (because everyone else is a werewolf).
There were MANY hilarious moments, with wolf noses in anuses (ani?), using piss as eau de toilette. There were also many endearing and intimate moments between our MCs, in that way that the author can weave so masterfully: it's tender but it also hurts, because the characters are flawed and hiding their feelings, and trying to do their best. And that's something I loved here. They've been friends forever, but they struggle to communicate because they are idiots in love.
From the 72% onwards I kind of cried/sobbed/got teary-eyed and I was there for ever single moment of that third act. The ending was beautiful and I love them and I want them to be happy with their babies and their butt sniffing and their super sexy golden showers and their oak trees and their shared tattoos and with EVERY single lovely thing they share. *sighs dreamily*
I always think Jemma Croft can't write a better book than the last I've read by her. I thought Rookie Recovery was incredible, then By the Pint was the best, then it was Shroom for Improvement, and now it's The Good Boys Club. I'm starting to believe she's got a magical brain and I will always be in awe of her storytelling.
Read this book. Please. I'll even beg.
Then DM me on insta so we can talk non stop about it
April 7, 2025
4,25 stars.
I had loved the first installment a lot. This second installment can be read as a standalone, there's next to no connection between the two books.
The plot and the story's vibes are very different from book 1. While the first book was completely bonkers (and I mean that in the best way!), in this book two bff's, the man-slut werewolf Mash and the wolf shifter Cian (who's been for 15 years in love with Mash), get into a fake relationship. There's lots of miscommunication, but for once I didn't mind that.
The last chapters fell a bit flat for me. After all the build up for over 400 pages I longed for MORE. More closeness, more intimacy, simply more.
Overall I had a great time with Mash and Cian. But I loved the first book and its lovely characters more.
I had loved the first installment a lot. This second installment can be read as a standalone, there's next to no connection between the two books.
The plot and the story's vibes are very different from book 1. While the first book was completely bonkers (and I mean that in the best way!), in this book two bff's, the man-slut werewolf Mash and the wolf shifter Cian (who's been for 15 years in love with Mash), get into a fake relationship. There's lots of miscommunication, but for once I didn't mind that.
The last chapters fell a bit flat for me. After all the build up for over 400 pages I longed for MORE. More closeness, more intimacy, simply more.
Overall I had a great time with Mash and Cian. But I loved the first book and its lovely characters more.
April 8, 2025
I picked this up on the basis of Shonee's awesome review (IT PUTS THE CAKE IN ITS FACE!!) and I'm not sorry about it. I do have a couple of random observations and one big whinge, though.
Observations, random:
So the author writes in the preface that this book is written in British English and stg, I did a full-on double take, all "wolf shifters aren't British!!", so apparently I have some heretofore unknown xenophobia towards wolf shifters particularly, because werewolves are obviously British but wolf shifters are at most Canadian, I said what I said.
(All this despite the fact that the story is not set in Britain but in some mythical realm, so I'm out here showing my xenophobic ass and it's not even germane to the story, 2025 has made us all dumber, friends.)
I'm on the record for loathing fake dating but I may have to modify this to "fake dating, contemporary" because it didn't bother me at all in this story. I guess because once we're in the land of werewolves and shifters and knots and fluffy tails then a bit of fake dating doesn't really break the disbelief bank? Like, if we're expected to buy fake dating as a trope in a world roughly resembling our own, it's a pretty tough sell; but fake dating in a world where the shifter has to learn how to, ahem, un-fore his skin is much easier to swallow (yes, I went for the low-hanging joke) (oops, I did it again)
But! I was today years old when I realized that my underlying issue with the fake dating trope isn't just the ridiculousness but its necessary reliance on mis- or non-communication, another of my struggle tropes. Here Mash and Cian's miscommunication was built on actual conversations that they had that were grossly misinterpreted and/ or not remembered for various reasons; that is to say, they were based on something, even if that something was fucked up. But it still went on a wee bit too long
Final random observation: these wolves/ shifters seemingly talk with their human voices while in wolf form, why the fuck does that creep me out so much???
Big whinge:
I sincerely appreciate the author's extensive content notes, but why was not on it???? Ugh. Ugh. UGH!!!! It just pops up at the end of the story like an unwanted guest, and really kills the mood while also being . Indeed, I would advise people to just not read the epilogue because, and there's no sugarcoating this, it suuuuuuuuuuuucks: . A real shitshow of an ending that took some of the sheen off an otherwise hugely enjoyable book.
(Note that )
Ending aside, though -- no seriously, skip the epilogue -- this was a fun, if slightly long-winded, read by an author that writes with a light touch and a lot of imagination (British wolf shifters, what will they think of next??).
Observations, random:
So the author writes in the preface that this book is written in British English and stg, I did a full-on double take, all "wolf shifters aren't British!!", so apparently I have some heretofore unknown xenophobia towards wolf shifters particularly, because werewolves are obviously British but wolf shifters are at most Canadian, I said what I said.
(All this despite the fact that the story is not set in Britain but in some mythical realm, so I'm out here showing my xenophobic ass and it's not even germane to the story, 2025 has made us all dumber, friends.)
I'm on the record for loathing fake dating but I may have to modify this to "fake dating, contemporary" because it didn't bother me at all in this story. I guess because once we're in the land of werewolves and shifters and knots and fluffy tails then a bit of fake dating doesn't really break the disbelief bank? Like, if we're expected to buy fake dating as a trope in a world roughly resembling our own, it's a pretty tough sell; but fake dating in a world where the shifter has to learn how to, ahem, un-fore his skin is much easier to swallow (yes, I went for the low-hanging joke) (oops, I did it again)
But! I was today years old when I realized that my underlying issue with the fake dating trope isn't just the ridiculousness but its necessary reliance on mis- or non-communication, another of my struggle tropes. Here Mash and Cian's miscommunication was built on actual conversations that they had that were grossly misinterpreted and/ or not remembered for various reasons; that is to say, they were based on something, even if that something was fucked up. But it still went on a wee bit too long
Final random observation: these wolves/ shifters seemingly talk with their human voices while in wolf form, why the fuck does that creep me out so much???
Big whinge:
I sincerely appreciate the author's extensive content notes, but why was not on it???? Ugh. Ugh. UGH!!!! It just pops up at the end of the story like an unwanted guest, and really kills the mood while also being . Indeed, I would advise people to just not read the epilogue because, and there's no sugarcoating this, it suuuuuuuuuuuucks: . A real shitshow of an ending that took some of the sheen off an otherwise hugely enjoyable book.
(Note that )
Ending aside, though -- no seriously, skip the epilogue -- this was a fun, if slightly long-winded, read by an author that writes with a light touch and a lot of imagination (British wolf shifters, what will they think of next??).
July 5, 2025
Y’all, I don’t even know how to put my feelings into words for how much I loved this book. I thought book one was amazing, but this one… I cried. Happy tears and multiple times. I just don’t do that. I’ve cried at sad stuff, but never happy stuff!! I had a feeling early on the book was gonna make me tear up but I didn’t know it was gonna happen during a funny yet heartwarming bathroom scene. Or literally the last third of the book. I can’t even explain it other than the fact that the interaction between these two felt so unbelievably real and just so fucking pure.
So that’s pretty much my review. I cried 😅
Seriously though, this is an angst filled, best friends to lovers story that spans so many years. A lifetime of almosts. It’s not so much miscommunication (there is some though, no doubt) as it’s fear of rejection and not believing in themselves…and it’s beautiful and so heartbreaking at the same time. Cian and Mash are a couple of good boys that love so hard, but are so scared to take that leap. Luckily they have some backup with Mash’s amazing family and pack and some forced situations to spur them on. Such a funny, heartfelt story.
I’m so in love with Jemma Croft’s writing.
So that’s pretty much my review. I cried 😅
Seriously though, this is an angst filled, best friends to lovers story that spans so many years. A lifetime of almosts. It’s not so much miscommunication (there is some though, no doubt) as it’s fear of rejection and not believing in themselves…and it’s beautiful and so heartbreaking at the same time. Cian and Mash are a couple of good boys that love so hard, but are so scared to take that leap. Luckily they have some backup with Mash’s amazing family and pack and some forced situations to spur them on. Such a funny, heartfelt story.
I’m so in love with Jemma Croft’s writing.
April 2, 2025
This book is just viiiibes
I laughed so hard, I spit - I (nearly) cried - and, best of all, I contemplated he smell and taste of wolf asshole. This was an experience I'll not forget.
Could have been a teeny bit shorter, but I guess that's like looking at the party host and saying "you could have given me a smaller piece of cake." It puts the cake in its face, or else it has to read a boring book.
I laughed so hard, I spit - I (nearly) cried - and, best of all, I contemplated he smell and taste of wolf asshole. This was an experience I'll not forget.
Could have been a teeny bit shorter, but I guess that's like looking at the party host and saying "you could have given me a smaller piece of cake." It puts the cake in its face, or else it has to read a boring book.
April 18, 2025
I have to say watersports are just not for me!! When you have a kid in nappies who consistently pees on you it's kinda hard to see this as a kink and not everyday parent life 😂😂 I did appreciate Mash's enthusiasm for it though!
Mash and Cian were idiots in love with this paralysing fear that they'd lose the other if they admitted their feelings. It was definitely entertaining seeing them with Mash's pack, but yes I did want to shout at them to just have a bloody conversation already!
I am very intrigued for Giddy the moth to get a book though - presumably he's next with his genie after the setup in this book?! I haven't read anything with a genie before so I'm very curious.
Mash and Cian were idiots in love with this paralysing fear that they'd lose the other if they admitted their feelings. It was definitely entertaining seeing them with Mash's pack, but yes I did want to shout at them to just have a bloody conversation already!
I am very intrigued for Giddy the moth to get a book though - presumably he's next with his genie after the setup in this book?! I haven't read anything with a genie before so I'm very curious.
March 6, 2025
Mash was such a chaotic himbo and I adored him. I also frequently wanted to smack him upside the head. Cian was such an emotionally repressed but fiercely loyal person and I loved their dynamic. They both had a journey of building communication skills as individuals and becoming a healthy couple. Cian’s parents were so difficult to read, not because they weren’t well written, but because they were. I hated them but also understood their complexity. Excellent book
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: classicism, speciesism, toxic parents, mentions of parent death, description of killing and prepping animals and fish for food, blood, alcohol and drugs, vomiting, discussion of pool, incident of nonconsensual intimate touching/sniffing (nonsexual, not malicious), mention of underage drinking, MCs illegally access private data
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: classicism, speciesism, toxic parents, mentions of parent death, description of killing and prepping animals and fish for food, blood, alcohol and drugs, vomiting, discussion of pool, incident of nonconsensual intimate touching/sniffing (nonsexual, not malicious), mention of underage drinking, MCs illegally access private data
October 21, 2025
“Leash me, please. Tell me I’m a good boy, and piss on me.”
The narration of this book is INSANE. I took an edible and had thee best time. I cackled so hard. Bangers and Mash forever.
🐺
The narration of this book is INSANE. I took an edible and had thee best time. I cackled so hard. Bangers and Mash forever.
🐺
March 15, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
- shifter + were
- best friends to lovers
- fake dating
- fated mates
- sexual awakening
- knotting
Jemma Croft continues the silliness that is her Mythical Mishaps series with Mash and Cian. These two idiots were absolutely precious! While I really did love their story, I’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope (even if it did sort of make sense here), and felt like their story was just overly long as well.
- shifter + were
- best friends to lovers
- fake dating
- fated mates
- sexual awakening
- knotting
Jemma Croft continues the silliness that is her Mythical Mishaps series with Mash and Cian. These two idiots were absolutely precious! While I really did love their story, I’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope (even if it did sort of make sense here), and felt like their story was just overly long as well.
March 24, 2025
This was such a fun read! I enjoyed this more than the first book in the series, it’s a totally different book and feel to it. I love unrequited love and best friends yo lovers and this was both of those. The wolf pack part was done well and was different from a lot of other shifter books.
I hope Gideon’s story is next!!!! He intrigues me!
This can be read as a total standalone. I read the first book and I felt like that was not part of this story at all.
I hope Gideon’s story is next!!!! He intrigues me!
This can be read as a total standalone. I read the first book and I felt like that was not part of this story at all.
July 11, 2025
Good but way longer than it needed to be. Also hella miscommunication.
August 28, 2025
2 Stars
So this book would have ranked higher up until the last few chapters. Surprise mpreg is not my thing. I truly don't mind reading an mpreg book if I know going in it will be mpreg but when it comes out of nowhere and adds nothing to the story at all I am actively opposed. The other things that lost Stars for me was the constant time jumps. Some added context but most just slowed the pacing and I found myself skimming large sections because it felt forced and slow. The complete lack of communication also honestly detracted from my enjoyment.
So this book would have ranked higher up until the last few chapters. Surprise mpreg is not my thing. I truly don't mind reading an mpreg book if I know going in it will be mpreg but when it comes out of nowhere and adds nothing to the story at all I am actively opposed. The other things that lost Stars for me was the constant time jumps. Some added context but most just slowed the pacing and I found myself skimming large sections because it felt forced and slow. The complete lack of communication also honestly detracted from my enjoyment.
July 26, 2025
The best vibes! Mash and Cian are the sweetest 😍
I really love this series - it's very good for mental health, because again, good vibes only 🥹
I really love this series - it's very good for mental health, because again, good vibes only 🥹
January 19, 2026
Character- 4.5/5
Plot- 4/5
Pacing- 4/5
Entertainment- 4.5/5
Rating- 4.25/5
This was a really enjoyable sequel and I'm glad I decided to revisit this series in 2026. The idea of going back to the sex obsessed Mash for the 2nd book was a great choice, as he really gave off those hopeless jock vibes in the first book.
We pick back up with him in this book, having now suffered the consequences of his impropriety with the many MANY female staff and students at his college. He's gotten the boot, is essentially jobless and to top it off he isn't 100% sure he isn't in love with his best friend.
These two guys are ride or die with each other, and it gives their dynamic a believability that's fully supported by the amazing banter between one another. This friendship quickly turns into an out of control fake boyfriend situation with a spicy werewolf shifter elements added into it.
The grow in both their characters is really engaging to watch, but can be a little dragged out and meandering at times, with a little too much miscommunication for my tastes sprinkled throughout. But ultimately you really root for them to be together, as their friendship is so well communicated, and the love comes across as legitimate and real.
Now some of the spice in this book can be a little...out there. It starts off relatively simple, but towards the end of the book becomes pretty wild. Its not really something I personally would be into, but plenty of readers of werewolf and shifter romances would have a lot to enjoy from this aspect of things. I on the other hand, don't find it particularly enjoyable, which is also fine.
But besides that, this is a really entertaining and lovely romance between two best friends that you couldn't imagine being with anyone else but each other. My biggest compliment to any romance author is to say they have written a moving and believable couple you can root for, and Jemma Croft has certainly done that. Can't wait to move on to another one of her books.
Plot- 4/5
Pacing- 4/5
Entertainment- 4.5/5
Rating- 4.25/5
This was a really enjoyable sequel and I'm glad I decided to revisit this series in 2026. The idea of going back to the sex obsessed Mash for the 2nd book was a great choice, as he really gave off those hopeless jock vibes in the first book.
We pick back up with him in this book, having now suffered the consequences of his impropriety with the many MANY female staff and students at his college. He's gotten the boot, is essentially jobless and to top it off he isn't 100% sure he isn't in love with his best friend.
These two guys are ride or die with each other, and it gives their dynamic a believability that's fully supported by the amazing banter between one another. This friendship quickly turns into an out of control fake boyfriend situation with a spicy werewolf shifter elements added into it.
The grow in both their characters is really engaging to watch, but can be a little dragged out and meandering at times, with a little too much miscommunication for my tastes sprinkled throughout. But ultimately you really root for them to be together, as their friendship is so well communicated, and the love comes across as legitimate and real.
Now some of the spice in this book can be a little...out there. It starts off relatively simple, but towards the end of the book becomes pretty wild. Its not really something I personally would be into, but plenty of readers of werewolf and shifter romances would have a lot to enjoy from this aspect of things. I on the other hand, don't find it particularly enjoyable, which is also fine.
But besides that, this is a really entertaining and lovely romance between two best friends that you couldn't imagine being with anyone else but each other. My biggest compliment to any romance author is to say they have written a moving and believable couple you can root for, and Jemma Croft has certainly done that. Can't wait to move on to another one of her books.
March 11, 2025
Good Boys Club is full of the best boys you will ever meet! For all you waggily tail, grumpy/sunshine knot lovers out there, this is the book for you!
Cian and Mashew are so cute. They go together like their nicknames - Bangers and Mash. They really complement each other so well and I absolutely bought into their friendship and their love for one other straight away. Their banter was amazing and filled the book with joy. They’re also incredibly touchy feely and soppy right the way through and it’s SO sweet, it absolutely melted my heart how adorable they are together.
Mash spends a lot of time acting like a totally oblivious himbo and I love his himbo ways. He is total sunshine and a very Good Boy. He has no idea Cian is desperately in love with him (ahhhh). Meanwhile emo boy Cian just wants to be around Mash in whatever way he can. I loved Cian so much, he was so loyal and loving and willing to sacrifice his own happiness for Mash because he loved him so much. Cue crying!
The whole romance plot is brilliant. Friends to fake mates to For Science to lovers? Sign me up! I devoured it. Get ready for a whole load of scenting, possessive growliness, mild obsession because they’re so obviously each other’s Person, mutual pining because they’re idiots and only one bed deliciousness. Oh and tail wagging. So much tail wagging. CUTE.
There isn’t a huge amount of spice in Good Boys Club but the tension is rife and what spice scenes we get are brilliant! Prepare yourself for some amazing kink and some fully shifted fun. I loved it!
And of course the whole book is full of Jemma’s signature humour and moving writing. I laughed, I cried, I felt a bit like chasing a stick… What can I say? Brilliant as always. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy romance, shifter romance, fake dating, or friends to lovers. Or anyone!
Cian and Mashew are so cute. They go together like their nicknames - Bangers and Mash. They really complement each other so well and I absolutely bought into their friendship and their love for one other straight away. Their banter was amazing and filled the book with joy. They’re also incredibly touchy feely and soppy right the way through and it’s SO sweet, it absolutely melted my heart how adorable they are together.
Mash spends a lot of time acting like a totally oblivious himbo and I love his himbo ways. He is total sunshine and a very Good Boy. He has no idea Cian is desperately in love with him (ahhhh). Meanwhile emo boy Cian just wants to be around Mash in whatever way he can. I loved Cian so much, he was so loyal and loving and willing to sacrifice his own happiness for Mash because he loved him so much. Cue crying!
The whole romance plot is brilliant. Friends to fake mates to For Science to lovers? Sign me up! I devoured it. Get ready for a whole load of scenting, possessive growliness, mild obsession because they’re so obviously each other’s Person, mutual pining because they’re idiots and only one bed deliciousness. Oh and tail wagging. So much tail wagging. CUTE.
There isn’t a huge amount of spice in Good Boys Club but the tension is rife and what spice scenes we get are brilliant! Prepare yourself for some amazing kink and some fully shifted fun. I loved it!
And of course the whole book is full of Jemma’s signature humour and moving writing. I laughed, I cried, I felt a bit like chasing a stick… What can I say? Brilliant as always. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy romance, shifter romance, fake dating, or friends to lovers. Or anyone!
July 23, 2025
DNF 41%
This was so overwritten, but then at the same time it was so much tell and not show. So many chapters started with the author just telling us what the characters had done before we got to the point we were at now. Oh the conversation about what happens when werewolves change compared to when shifters change and how to avoid other werewolves knowing you aren’t a werewolf? Nah don’t need to see that, instead just a detailed description of walking to the marquee and being told the conversation had happened.
The story was also told in a couple timelines, so in the past timeline you would think we’d be seeing maybe crucial moments in their lives or in their friendship? Also no. Even the flashback chapters were entire pages upon pages of just a summary of a bunch of stuff that had happened. It’s too much and not enough. Too much about alot of different things instead of focusing in on an important moment and letting us fully enjoy it.
The miscommunication trope in this is also horrendous. It’s only able to be miscommunication because one character is keeping things from the other, and the other knows things are being kept from them and just brushes over it. Oh I know he’s lying or I know he’s not telling me everything or he didn’t finish his sentence and instead of asking his FRIEND OF 15 YEARS to just be honest or whatever, instead he’s like I’ll just let it drop or I ignore that or I pretend not to have heard that because he’s in a happy mood right now or because I’m enjoying the moment etc. it’s just stupid and I couldn’t go on any further.
This was so overwritten, but then at the same time it was so much tell and not show. So many chapters started with the author just telling us what the characters had done before we got to the point we were at now. Oh the conversation about what happens when werewolves change compared to when shifters change and how to avoid other werewolves knowing you aren’t a werewolf? Nah don’t need to see that, instead just a detailed description of walking to the marquee and being told the conversation had happened.
The story was also told in a couple timelines, so in the past timeline you would think we’d be seeing maybe crucial moments in their lives or in their friendship? Also no. Even the flashback chapters were entire pages upon pages of just a summary of a bunch of stuff that had happened. It’s too much and not enough. Too much about alot of different things instead of focusing in on an important moment and letting us fully enjoy it.
The miscommunication trope in this is also horrendous. It’s only able to be miscommunication because one character is keeping things from the other, and the other knows things are being kept from them and just brushes over it. Oh I know he’s lying or I know he’s not telling me everything or he didn’t finish his sentence and instead of asking his FRIEND OF 15 YEARS to just be honest or whatever, instead he’s like I’ll just let it drop or I ignore that or I pretend not to have heard that because he’s in a happy mood right now or because I’m enjoying the moment etc. it’s just stupid and I couldn’t go on any further.
May 20, 2025
4 stars
I was slightly apprehensive given the author warns of miscommunication, but I found this to be a bearable form of it. That said, that's an awful lot of forgotten or otherwise misunderstood conversations for 2 people to have, and the paranormal aspect only makes it slightly more believable.
I really enjoyed all of Mash’s family and their time spent there, everyone is so good and supportive.
The epilogue was totally unnecessary - or at least the reappearance of Cian’s parents was. It's like the author suddenly realised she'd forgotten to tie up that plot element and just crammed it in at the end. It kind of ended the book on a sour note for me to be honest.
I also think this didn't need to be quite as drawn out as it was, at nearly 500 pages it's big for romance and I don't think it had quite enough plot to merit it.
But anyway, they're cute as pie together and I definitely buy it.
I was slightly apprehensive given the author warns of miscommunication, but I found this to be a bearable form of it. That said, that's an awful lot of forgotten or otherwise misunderstood conversations for 2 people to have, and the paranormal aspect only makes it slightly more believable.
I really enjoyed all of Mash’s family and their time spent there, everyone is so good and supportive.
The epilogue was totally unnecessary - or at least the reappearance of Cian’s parents was. It's like the author suddenly realised she'd forgotten to tie up that plot element and just crammed it in at the end. It kind of ended the book on a sour note for me to be honest.
I also think this didn't need to be quite as drawn out as it was, at nearly 500 pages it's big for romance and I don't think it had quite enough plot to merit it.
But anyway, they're cute as pie together and I definitely buy it.
May 6, 2025
⭐️ARC REVIEW⭐️ (4.5⭐️)
This silly and wonderful story me laughing from start to finish and asking myself how does Jemma do it!? Making butt sniffing and golden showers sound like the most intimate and emotionally vulnerable moments. The pining had me in a chokehold and I couldn't get enough of these two dumb dumbs trying to figure things out!
This silly and wonderful story me laughing from start to finish and asking myself how does Jemma do it!? Making butt sniffing and golden showers sound like the most intimate and emotionally vulnerable moments. The pining had me in a chokehold and I couldn't get enough of these two dumb dumbs trying to figure things out!
March 13, 2025
i lovedddd this book 😭😭😭😭😭💗
Mash and Cian were soooo cute together, even tho there was so much miscommunication with each other !!! i love how they have been best friends for years and they didn’t want to give each other up in so many ways even if they didn’t realize to what extent.
I enjoyed this book, definitely a 5⭐️ read
Mash and Cian were soooo cute together, even tho there was so much miscommunication with each other !!! i love how they have been best friends for years and they didn’t want to give each other up in so many ways even if they didn’t realize to what extent.
I enjoyed this book, definitely a 5⭐️ read
Read
March 15, 2025Overall I enjoyed the book till 96% when it suddenly became mpreg
Wtf why 😭
Wtf why 😭
March 25, 2025
The Good Boys Club by Jemma Croft- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I actually love wolves and shifters books like there is just something about them and this one was incredible. It was the perfect best friends to lovers & lots of pining and steamy scenes but also a great family in which you connect with every character.. Love both Mash and Cian their personalities just suited one another so perfectly but I could have butted their heads together that they took so long 😂… did i realise it was book 2 in the series no so I’m off to read book 1 very soon because I loved this one so much!
May 16, 2025
so much miscommunication that could've easily been solved. not really a fan of fuckbois but it was still good
August 1, 2025
I feel like I have to do two reviews for this book, before they arrive at Howling Pines and after.
I kinda dislike this book before they arrive in Howling Pines. It's just so sad to me, it feels heavy. I read this book the first time, when it came out and I felt the same. I love, like looove a good pining, but pining for this big man whore for 15 years? It's depressing, tragic, just incredibly heart breaking.
Mash would be my perfect (I mean perfect!!!) character, if he wouldn't be such a slut. I'm sorry, I'm really not a slut shamer, have fun, enjoy sex and do what feels good but it gets to a point, you know. He slept with 50 women in the first 6 months he knew Cian, that would make 1500 women after 15 years, sure he probably wasn't as active, as he was in uni but, it is save to say he slept with over 1000 people, ew.
It sounds like he shares all kinds of things and details with Cian, so Cian had to listen, to the guy he fell in love with instantly, describe all the sex and intimacy with randos, that is so heartbreaking!!! I can't find any other words for it and I can't enjoy it. I also have to confess though, while reading it, I listened to quite a few ballads, especially Un-break my heart by Tony Braxton on repeat and I just got even sadder.
BUT after they arrived the Howling Pines it gets way better to me. I can try to ignore Mash's sexcapades and focus on this adorable man, that's crushing so hard on his emo friend. I loved how they both bloomed into better version of themselves, while being there. When Cian was happy, I really enjoyed him and when he was sad, I just wanted to bundle him in an blanket and hug him. The side characters are amazing. Love Clem, she is such a great person, makes me wish, we were friends. Though I'm annoyed that nobody told Mash years ago that he should open his eyes and realize what's in front of him. It could have saved a lot of heartbreak for everybody involved.
The love declaration though? Ugh LOVED it.
What really brought tears into my eyes though, was when Mash became Alpha, I don't know why, but it made me really emotional.
Special shout-out to wagging tails. LOVE IT WHEN THEY ARE HAPPY AND WAG THEIR TAIL. Ughhh they are my Kryptonite.
I kinda dislike this book before they arrive in Howling Pines. It's just so sad to me, it feels heavy. I read this book the first time, when it came out and I felt the same. I love, like looove a good pining, but pining for this big man whore for 15 years? It's depressing, tragic, just incredibly heart breaking.
Mash would be my perfect (I mean perfect!!!) character, if he wouldn't be such a slut. I'm sorry, I'm really not a slut shamer, have fun, enjoy sex and do what feels good but it gets to a point, you know. He slept with 50 women in the first 6 months he knew Cian, that would make 1500 women after 15 years, sure he probably wasn't as active, as he was in uni but, it is save to say he slept with over 1000 people, ew.
It sounds like he shares all kinds of things and details with Cian, so Cian had to listen, to the guy he fell in love with instantly, describe all the sex and intimacy with randos, that is so heartbreaking!!! I can't find any other words for it and I can't enjoy it. I also have to confess though, while reading it, I listened to quite a few ballads, especially Un-break my heart by Tony Braxton on repeat and I just got even sadder.
BUT after they arrived the Howling Pines it gets way better to me. I can try to ignore Mash's sexcapades and focus on this adorable man, that's crushing so hard on his emo friend. I loved how they both bloomed into better version of themselves, while being there. When Cian was happy, I really enjoyed him and when he was sad, I just wanted to bundle him in an blanket and hug him. The side characters are amazing. Love Clem, she is such a great person, makes me wish, we were friends. Though I'm annoyed that nobody told Mash years ago that he should open his eyes and realize what's in front of him. It could have saved a lot of heartbreak for everybody involved.
The love declaration though? Ugh LOVED it.
What really brought tears into my eyes though, was when Mash became Alpha, I don't know why, but it made me really emotional.
Special shout-out to wagging tails. LOVE IT WHEN THEY ARE HAPPY AND WAG THEIR TAIL. Ughhh they are my Kryptonite.
March 12, 2025
"He . . . we smelled . . . well, it was impossible to say what we smelled of. There weren’t any notes like flowers or oranges or whatever humans used in their perfumes. It was more like a feeling. Like it transcended smell. Even though my heart was beating a million miles a minute, the smell was calmness, and rightness, and belonging."
The Good Boys Club is my first solo read by Jemma Croft, although I have read her co-write, but it won't be my last! This is book 2 in her Mythical Mishaps series and it can absolutely be read as a standalone, which I did, although I will be picking up Shroom for Improvement as sooon as I can!
This was Mash and Cian's story and they were adorable - but if you're not a big fan of the miscommuniation trope be warned - it's all over this one! The banter was hilarious too! 😁
What To Expect:
🐺MM PNR (shifter/werewolf)
🐺Best friends to more
🐺Fated mates
🐺Forced proximity
🐺Soooo much miscommunication
🐺All the steam (and marking!)
🐺First times
🐺"It was always you"
🐺HEA
Loved it!
4.25 stars
The Good Boys Club is my first solo read by Jemma Croft, although I have read her co-write, but it won't be my last! This is book 2 in her Mythical Mishaps series and it can absolutely be read as a standalone, which I did, although I will be picking up Shroom for Improvement as sooon as I can!
This was Mash and Cian's story and they were adorable - but if you're not a big fan of the miscommuniation trope be warned - it's all over this one! The banter was hilarious too! 😁
What To Expect:
🐺MM PNR (shifter/werewolf)
🐺Best friends to more
🐺Fated mates
🐺Forced proximity
🐺Soooo much miscommunication
🐺All the steam (and marking!)
🐺First times
🐺"It was always you"
🐺HEA
Loved it!
4.25 stars
August 8, 2025
4.25⭐️
Mash and Cian have been friends forever. Cian has been in love with Mash since they met in college, but Mash is a serial womanizer. Mash has pressure on him to mate from his werewolf pack..what better way to get them off his back than to pretend that Cian is his mate! What could go wrong??
Tropes include:
-best friends to lovers
- miscommunication (omg.. so much)
- fake dating
- werewolf / wolf shifter (yes there’s a difference. Yes it’s confusing. But don’t worry, everything is explained)
- supportive family
- wild sexy scenes (like, they do it as wolves and there’s crazy water sports shenanigans. And mpreg. So like.. brace yourself)
Jemma Croft’s writing style is so excellent. You always know you’re going to get good-quality writing when you pick up one of her books. The pacing and characters are always solid, and this book was no exception. Though I didn’t really vibe with some of the content (it was a lot for me, haha), it still had a lot of cute moments. However, this is 100% personal preference about the subject matter. I bet for people who are more into the tropes I listed above would EAT THIS UP!
Mash and Cian have been friends forever. Cian has been in love with Mash since they met in college, but Mash is a serial womanizer. Mash has pressure on him to mate from his werewolf pack..what better way to get them off his back than to pretend that Cian is his mate! What could go wrong??
Tropes include:
-best friends to lovers
- miscommunication (omg.. so much)
- fake dating
- werewolf / wolf shifter (yes there’s a difference. Yes it’s confusing. But don’t worry, everything is explained)
- supportive family
- wild sexy scenes (like, they do it as wolves and there’s crazy water sports shenanigans. And mpreg. So like.. brace yourself)
Jemma Croft’s writing style is so excellent. You always know you’re going to get good-quality writing when you pick up one of her books. The pacing and characters are always solid, and this book was no exception. Though I didn’t really vibe with some of the content (it was a lot for me, haha), it still had a lot of cute moments. However, this is 100% personal preference about the subject matter. I bet for people who are more into the tropes I listed above would EAT THIS UP!
November 22, 2025
This review I think sums it up well https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
This book was much much weaker than the first book. Mash legit had a sex addiction I swear how do you sleep with this many people? It was kind of gross. I also felt like they did a lot of drugs and this book overall leaned very heavily into bodily humor (pee, poop) that I personally find more gross than funny.
This book was also about 100pgs longer than it needed to be. Seriously the only conflict, the absolute only conflict in the book, is that they’re both scared if they confess they’ll lose the friendship and that is simply not enough to base a 500pg book on. It just dragged so much. Also this is just a personal thing but I really don’t like flashback chapters. I think they just take you out of the story and ruin the flow.
On the plus side I enjoyed the side characters a lot and the world building is quite fun.
This book was much much weaker than the first book. Mash legit had a sex addiction I swear how do you sleep with this many people? It was kind of gross. I also felt like they did a lot of drugs and this book overall leaned very heavily into bodily humor (pee, poop) that I personally find more gross than funny.
This book was also about 100pgs longer than it needed to be. Seriously the only conflict, the absolute only conflict in the book, is that they’re both scared if they confess they’ll lose the friendship and that is simply not enough to base a 500pg book on. It just dragged so much. Also this is just a personal thing but I really don’t like flashback chapters. I think they just take you out of the story and ruin the flow.
On the plus side I enjoyed the side characters a lot and the world building is quite fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2025
Will say miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes but with these two all the miscommunication made sense with them tbh. I rather enjoyed this book. The longing and angst was chef's kiss. Two idiots in love fake dating what could possibly go wrong.
Thank you to Jemma for sending me an ARC of this. Loved every second of it.
Thank you to Jemma for sending me an ARC of this. Loved every second of it.
December 12, 2025
2025: 3.75
This was cute, but there were just a few things that I’m not a huge fan of including the water sports and MPREG, which took this down .5 points for me
This was cute, but there were just a few things that I’m not a huge fan of including the water sports and MPREG, which took this down .5 points for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2025
This book was SO FREAKING DELIGHTFUL! Hilariously funny, incredibly endearing, I could go on and on about how much I loved The Good Boys Club. SO MANY wolfy antics, the very definition of idiots to lovers, and a fake mating that wasn't really fooling anyone, I think I've found a new favorite wolf shifter/werewolf book my friends! If you are looking for a low angst read with minimal world building that will literally have you rolling with laughter, I HIGHLY recommend you get this on your TBR.
Once again, you really cannot go wrong with friends to lovers with YEARS of pining. Mashew (just his name makes me laugh) and Cian are both convinced that the other could NEVER return their hopeless crush. When Mash suggests they attend his family's Harvest Fest as fake mates to hold off a potential arranged match, Cian goes despite his reservations because he's THAT good of a friend. These guys do EVERYTHING together - how they don't realize that they are in love with each other is really pretty funny on it's own (and EVERYONE else sees it). I really enjoyed the quick flashbacks that explain their history together and give more context to WHY they are both hiding things from each other. I was SO relieved when they finally figure things out gosh the YEARNING was starting to hurt, even though you can really tell that they've got fated mates vibes going on.
I laughed out loud SO MUCH reading this book, as did the rest of the friends reading it for my Spooky Season Group Reads. It has TONS of canine puns (which I always find hilarious in a shifter book), goofy teenage boy humor, and some slapstick romcom moments. The story is incredibly engaging in itself, but I was really invested because I wanted to see what shenanigans Mash and Cian got up to next. This book is my first of Jemma's solo written books and it WILL NOT be the last.
Once again, you really cannot go wrong with friends to lovers with YEARS of pining. Mashew (just his name makes me laugh) and Cian are both convinced that the other could NEVER return their hopeless crush. When Mash suggests they attend his family's Harvest Fest as fake mates to hold off a potential arranged match, Cian goes despite his reservations because he's THAT good of a friend. These guys do EVERYTHING together - how they don't realize that they are in love with each other is really pretty funny on it's own (and EVERYONE else sees it). I really enjoyed the quick flashbacks that explain their history together and give more context to WHY they are both hiding things from each other. I was SO relieved when they finally figure things out gosh the YEARNING was starting to hurt, even though you can really tell that they've got fated mates vibes going on.
I laughed out loud SO MUCH reading this book, as did the rest of the friends reading it for my Spooky Season Group Reads. It has TONS of canine puns (which I always find hilarious in a shifter book), goofy teenage boy humor, and some slapstick romcom moments. The story is incredibly engaging in itself, but I was really invested because I wanted to see what shenanigans Mash and Cian got up to next. This book is my first of Jemma's solo written books and it WILL NOT be the last.
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