What do you think?
Rate this book
Men Of Porth Luck #2
Just This Heart
Love hurts. Love heals. Love stays.
Just This Heart – Men of Porth Luck, #2
A wounded soldier. A devoted fisherman. A love lost to memory and yet…
“There’s nothing about you I don’t want.”
Boyhood best friends. Closer than brothers until one night changed everything.
And then it was gone.
Jack doesn’t remember.
Sol can’t forget.
Now they share a life in Porth Luck, holding everything together with silence and sacrifice, while Sol hides heartache and memories in the ocean…and Jack finds it all in his dreams. In charged moments and stolen touches, and the pull his gut he can’t explain.
Those bronze-brown eyes.
That sun-stained skin.
An inexplicable feeling he’s reaching for something they never got to finish.
Give me his mouth over air in my lungs.
Jack’s mind may be broken, but his heart remembers the love it lost. But what if the sea swallows them whole before they get their second chance?
Expect:
Steamy MM romance
Best friends to lovers & bi awakening/first times
Hurt/comfort & wounded hero
Small town, found family, emotional angst
Second chance & memory loss
The Men of Porth Luck series is a steamy, gritty, and emotional MM small-town romance packed with angst, deep connection, and healing soulmate love.
Just This Heart – Men of Porth Luck, #2
A wounded soldier. A devoted fisherman. A love lost to memory and yet…
“There’s nothing about you I don’t want.”
Boyhood best friends. Closer than brothers until one night changed everything.
And then it was gone.
Jack doesn’t remember.
Sol can’t forget.
Now they share a life in Porth Luck, holding everything together with silence and sacrifice, while Sol hides heartache and memories in the ocean…and Jack finds it all in his dreams. In charged moments and stolen touches, and the pull his gut he can’t explain.
Those bronze-brown eyes.
That sun-stained skin.
An inexplicable feeling he’s reaching for something they never got to finish.
Give me his mouth over air in my lungs.
Jack’s mind may be broken, but his heart remembers the love it lost. But what if the sea swallows them whole before they get their second chance?
Expect:
Steamy MM romance
Best friends to lovers & bi awakening/first times
Hurt/comfort & wounded hero
Small town, found family, emotional angst
Second chance & memory loss
The Men of Porth Luck series is a steamy, gritty, and emotional MM small-town romance packed with angst, deep connection, and healing soulmate love.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2026
About the author
Garrett Leigh
126 books2,491 followersShe/Her
Bonus Material available for all books on Garrett's Patreon account. Includes short stories from Misfits, Slide, Strays, What Remains, Dream, and much more. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/garrettleigh
Facebook Fan Group, Garrett's Den... https://www.facebook.com/groups/garre...
Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British romance author and artist. Her debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and she is a 4 time LAMBDA finalist.
In 2017, she won the EPIC award in contemporary romance with her military novel, Between Ghosts, and the contemporary romance category in the Bisexual Book Awards with her novel What Remains.
Garrett is also an award winning cover designer, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com
Bonus Material available for all books on Garrett's Patreon account. Includes short stories from Misfits, Slide, Strays, What Remains, Dream, and much more. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/garrettleigh
Facebook Fan Group, Garrett's Den... https://www.facebook.com/groups/garre...
Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British romance author and artist. Her debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and she is a 4 time LAMBDA finalist.
In 2017, she won the EPIC award in contemporary romance with her military novel, Between Ghosts, and the contemporary romance category in the Bisexual Book Awards with her novel What Remains.
Garrett is also an award winning cover designer, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
May 13, 2026
This story punched into my chest, grabbed a firm and solid hold on my heart, tore it out and then presented it to me on a plate with a delighted smile and waited for me to say thank you (spoiler alert I did).
I loved Mal and Skylars story in book 1, but I had a few reservations about how Leigh would manage to pull off Jack and Sol’s romance, but I shouldn’t have because this was a beautifully executed story of friendship, devotion and love.
Jack and Sol have been best friends since childhood, until they share one intimate drunken night together which has the potential to change everything between them. However, the following day Jack is deployed into an active war zone and thanks to an IED comes back critically wounded and with a brain injury that means he not only doesn’t remember their shared night together, but that Jack will never be the same man again. But they still have each other, still love each other as brothers and hold each other steady, however Sol has never been able to forget that night. Slowly though, as their life starts to find a new routine, Jack starts to question the charged moments that exist between him and his best friend and what this may mean for their relationship and Sol has to wonder if there isn’t a possibility of a second chance with the man he loves.
The way that Leigh has managed to convey the complexities of loving someone while simultaneously grieving the loss of who that person could have been, was beautifully done. Jacks TBI felt genuine and authentically portrayed and I am not surprised at all to read that Leigh has personal experience of caring for someone with a TBI because you can feel the love and respect for Jack and his condition oozing off the page.
It was an unexpected gift to also get to spend more time with Mal and Skyler. This household is one of my favourite found families. I adore them all and the way they care and support each other. I am so excited (but also sad) to see that Oscars book will be the third and final in this series because I would love to read about these guys forever.
I maintain that you don’t HAVE to read Leighs previous works to jump into this series (although you miss the Easter eggs) but you do have to read this series in order to get the most out of it. Garrett Leigh does traumatised men in love better than anyone else in the game as far as I am concerned and I wont hear an argument to the contrary lol.
Thank you to GRR for the ARC of this release and the opportunity to read this book
Consider following my instagram
I loved Mal and Skylars story in book 1, but I had a few reservations about how Leigh would manage to pull off Jack and Sol’s romance, but I shouldn’t have because this was a beautifully executed story of friendship, devotion and love.
Jack and Sol have been best friends since childhood, until they share one intimate drunken night together which has the potential to change everything between them. However, the following day Jack is deployed into an active war zone and thanks to an IED comes back critically wounded and with a brain injury that means he not only doesn’t remember their shared night together, but that Jack will never be the same man again. But they still have each other, still love each other as brothers and hold each other steady, however Sol has never been able to forget that night. Slowly though, as their life starts to find a new routine, Jack starts to question the charged moments that exist between him and his best friend and what this may mean for their relationship and Sol has to wonder if there isn’t a possibility of a second chance with the man he loves.
The way that Leigh has managed to convey the complexities of loving someone while simultaneously grieving the loss of who that person could have been, was beautifully done. Jacks TBI felt genuine and authentically portrayed and I am not surprised at all to read that Leigh has personal experience of caring for someone with a TBI because you can feel the love and respect for Jack and his condition oozing off the page.
It was an unexpected gift to also get to spend more time with Mal and Skyler. This household is one of my favourite found families. I adore them all and the way they care and support each other. I am so excited (but also sad) to see that Oscars book will be the third and final in this series because I would love to read about these guys forever.
I maintain that you don’t HAVE to read Leighs previous works to jump into this series (although you miss the Easter eggs) but you do have to read this series in order to get the most out of it. Garrett Leigh does traumatised men in love better than anyone else in the game as far as I am concerned and I wont hear an argument to the contrary lol.
Thank you to GRR for the ARC of this release and the opportunity to read this book
Consider following my instagram
May 13, 2026
Arc Review: Just This Heart [Men Of Porth Luck #2] by Garrett Leigh
Release date » May 13, 2026
MC:Jack&Sol 5 ✨ ✨✨✨✨
Tropes & tags
🌊 Best friends to lovers & bi awakening/first times
✨Hurt/comfort & wounded hero
🌊Small town, found family, emotional angst
✨Second chance & memory loss
I genuinely don’t think I have proper words for what this book did to me 😭 This wasn’t a story I could rush through either. I actually slowed my reading down because it demanded that I feel everything Garrett Leigh wanted me to feel, every ounce of longing, grief, devotion and love packed into these pages. And listen… when the blurb says “steamy, gritty, and emotional MM small-town romance packed with angst, deep connection, and healing soulmate love”? She absolutely meant every single word of it.
Jack and Sol completely consumed me. Best friends since childhood, closer than brothers, until one drunken night changes everything between them… and then before they can even process it, Jack gets deployed overseas. After an IED explosion, he comes home critically injured with a traumatic brain injury that not only changes parts of who he is, but completely erases any memory of that night with Sol. Meanwhile Sol is left carrying all of it alone. The love, the hope, the grief, the what if. GOD the emotional damage this caused me 🫠
This has to be one of the most intense yearning/pining books I’ve ever read. And what makes it even crazier is how their relationship almost needs that level of codependency to survive. Normally dynamics like this could feel unhealthy, but here it never does because Jack genuinely needs so much care and support after his injury, and Sol gives it so naturally, so selflessly, that it just feels like breathing to him. But what I loved most is that Garrett never lets the story become emotionally one-sided despite that imbalance. In that chaotic house with Mal, Skylar, Jack and Sol, everyone matters. Everyone carries each other. Everyone protects each other 🥹 This found family dynamic felt so warm and genuine and honestly became one of my favourite parts of the book.
And the writing?? My GOD this writing works for me. Especially Jack’s POV. The fragmented style, the choppy thoughts, the way his narration sometimes feels unfinished or scattered—it perfectly mirrors his TBI and the struggle he has trying to organise his feelings and thoughts. It made his POV feel incredibly raw and authentic instead of polished for readability. You can tell Garrett Leigh approached Jack’s condition with so much care and respect, and knowing she has personal experience caring for someone with a TBI honestly makes complete sense because that compassion bleeds through every page.
And Sol… what a man 😭 He gives every single piece of himself to the people he loves, but what he feels for Jack goes beyond devotion at this point. It’s soulmate-level love. Quiet, patient, painful, unwavering love. Even when Jack doesn’t remember, even when Sol is grieving the version of Jack that was lost after the war, he never stops loving him.
But honestly? The real third main character in this book is the YEARNING because JESUS CHRIST 😩 The tension here nearly killed me. All the unspoken feelings, the stolen touches, the charged silences, Jack instinctively reaching for Sol without fully understanding why… Garrett Leigh dragged this slow burn across broken glass and made every second of it hurt so good. And this is exactly my favourite kind of slow burn too, because when it finally catches fire it’s not a tiny spark, it’s an absolute wildfire 🔥 The intimacy between them felt enormous, not just because of the sex, but because every touch carried years of history, longing, grief and love underneath it.
Also, a quick moment of hate for Sol’s parents because wow 🙃
And I loved getting more time with Mal and Skylar too. This entire household owns my heart at this point ❤️
There’s also lots of little Rebels connections and familiar faces lurking around, which made me ridiculously happy since I’m reading the Rebel Kings books too 👀 But Garrett balances it really well because even if you haven’t read the previous series, it never feels overwhelming or confusing. You just get some extra little treats if you have.
At this point I fully believe Garrett Leigh has a special talent for writing traumatised men in love 💔 The way she captures damaged people loving each other, leaning on each other, grieving each other while still healing together… it just hits different every single time.
I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.
❣️Book Safety & Content
Other Person Drama: No
Third-Act Breakup: No
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 1st person (dual)
Format: Different couple Series
Ending: HFN
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Medium
Communication: Heavy miscommunication
Pining: Intense
Release date » May 13, 2026
MC:Jack&Sol 5 ✨ ✨✨✨✨
“We’re together.
Best friends. Lovers. Soulmates.”
Tropes & tags
🌊 Best friends to lovers & bi awakening/first times
✨Hurt/comfort & wounded hero
🌊Small town, found family, emotional angst
✨Second chance & memory loss
I genuinely don’t think I have proper words for what this book did to me 😭 This wasn’t a story I could rush through either. I actually slowed my reading down because it demanded that I feel everything Garrett Leigh wanted me to feel, every ounce of longing, grief, devotion and love packed into these pages. And listen… when the blurb says “steamy, gritty, and emotional MM small-town romance packed with angst, deep connection, and healing soulmate love”? She absolutely meant every single word of it.
Jack and Sol completely consumed me. Best friends since childhood, closer than brothers, until one drunken night changes everything between them… and then before they can even process it, Jack gets deployed overseas. After an IED explosion, he comes home critically injured with a traumatic brain injury that not only changes parts of who he is, but completely erases any memory of that night with Sol. Meanwhile Sol is left carrying all of it alone. The love, the hope, the grief, the what if. GOD the emotional damage this caused me 🫠
This has to be one of the most intense yearning/pining books I’ve ever read. And what makes it even crazier is how their relationship almost needs that level of codependency to survive. Normally dynamics like this could feel unhealthy, but here it never does because Jack genuinely needs so much care and support after his injury, and Sol gives it so naturally, so selflessly, that it just feels like breathing to him. But what I loved most is that Garrett never lets the story become emotionally one-sided despite that imbalance. In that chaotic house with Mal, Skylar, Jack and Sol, everyone matters. Everyone carries each other. Everyone protects each other 🥹 This found family dynamic felt so warm and genuine and honestly became one of my favourite parts of the book.
And the writing?? My GOD this writing works for me. Especially Jack’s POV. The fragmented style, the choppy thoughts, the way his narration sometimes feels unfinished or scattered—it perfectly mirrors his TBI and the struggle he has trying to organise his feelings and thoughts. It made his POV feel incredibly raw and authentic instead of polished for readability. You can tell Garrett Leigh approached Jack’s condition with so much care and respect, and knowing she has personal experience caring for someone with a TBI honestly makes complete sense because that compassion bleeds through every page.
And Sol… what a man 😭 He gives every single piece of himself to the people he loves, but what he feels for Jack goes beyond devotion at this point. It’s soulmate-level love. Quiet, patient, painful, unwavering love. Even when Jack doesn’t remember, even when Sol is grieving the version of Jack that was lost after the war, he never stops loving him.
But honestly? The real third main character in this book is the YEARNING because JESUS CHRIST 😩 The tension here nearly killed me. All the unspoken feelings, the stolen touches, the charged silences, Jack instinctively reaching for Sol without fully understanding why… Garrett Leigh dragged this slow burn across broken glass and made every second of it hurt so good. And this is exactly my favourite kind of slow burn too, because when it finally catches fire it’s not a tiny spark, it’s an absolute wildfire 🔥 The intimacy between them felt enormous, not just because of the sex, but because every touch carried years of history, longing, grief and love underneath it.
Also, a quick moment of hate for Sol’s parents because wow 🙃
And I loved getting more time with Mal and Skylar too. This entire household owns my heart at this point ❤️
There’s also lots of little Rebels connections and familiar faces lurking around, which made me ridiculously happy since I’m reading the Rebel Kings books too 👀 But Garrett balances it really well because even if you haven’t read the previous series, it never feels overwhelming or confusing. You just get some extra little treats if you have.
At this point I fully believe Garrett Leigh has a special talent for writing traumatised men in love 💔 The way she captures damaged people loving each other, leaning on each other, grieving each other while still healing together… it just hits different every single time.
“Jackie?” Sol draws me away, leading me to the tiny beach so we can have a moment alone under the stars.
We don’t kiss.
Instead we press our foreheads together and let the love we’ve fought so hard for flow between us. A primal connection. A love that doesn’t need words, but for my best friend, I find them anyway. “I’m sorry I forgot you. Thank you for saving me and giving me your heart.”
Sol smiles as the moon breaks cover. “I didn’t give it you, love. It was made to be yours, and so was I.”
I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.
❣️Book Safety & Content
Other Person Drama: No
Third-Act Breakup: No
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 1st person (dual)
Format: Different couple Series
Ending: HFN
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Medium
Communication: Heavy miscommunication
Pining: Intense
May 24, 2026
Hell yeah this is friends to lovers DONE RIGHT! Oodles of hurt/comfort, chemistry and wistful pining. All the things I love in a book. This had believable friendship evolving into romance. I never doubted their attraction to one another nor their devotion as deep friends for many years.
Solid found family. I definitely recommend reading the Rebel Kings motorcycle series before starting this spin off. Technically it’s not needed to have read the RK but I think it would add a lot to the experience.
Genuine and sensitive portrayal of a character with a traumatic brain injury and how it affects their life long term.
I’m so keen for Oscar’s story, love that guy.
4.5 rounded up - I prefer Garret Leigh’s older writing style but not picky enough to rate it lower for it.
Solid found family. I definitely recommend reading the Rebel Kings motorcycle series before starting this spin off. Technically it’s not needed to have read the RK but I think it would add a lot to the experience.
Genuine and sensitive portrayal of a character with a traumatic brain injury and how it affects their life long term.
I’m so keen for Oscar’s story, love that guy.
4.5 rounded up - I prefer Garret Leigh’s older writing style but not picky enough to rate it lower for it.
May 15, 2026
5⭐️♾️ Loved this more than I can explain. The pining, the yearning, the devastation, the pain—the LOVE—between these two men was profound and overwhelming. Jack’s horrendous struggle with traumatic brain injury and Sol’s unwavering devotion to him, despite everything and everyone, was so powerful. My heart bled for them. I cried for them. I couldn’t put this book down. Easily one of the best MM books I’ve read. The writing is stellar. I love how Garrett Leigh created the gritty, melancholy ambiance with these men living in a small fishing town in England. I’m in awe of the beautiful writing.
I highly recommend reading book one first, as Sol and Jack’s story starts there. But heed the TW about eating disorder content—it’s a rough ride with Skyler’s mental health, but totally worth the uphill journey.
I highly recommend reading book one first, as Sol and Jack’s story starts there. But heed the TW about eating disorder content—it’s a rough ride with Skyler’s mental health, but totally worth the uphill journey.
May 20, 2026
So this is the story of Jack and Sol who are best friends. Sol has been in love with his straight best friend for so long, until one night Jack reciprocates the feelings and they hook up. But that doesn't last as Jack is injured and suffers from TBI. So, he doesn't remember things, including that night with his best friend. But Sol, although suffering because of his love, is always there for his best friend.
I definitely liked this better than book 1. Best friends to lovers trope will always feel special to me.
"Jack’s my world. He’s the blood in my veins and the air in my lungs. He’s every emotion I’ve ever had, and sometimes loving him tears me apart because I can’t fix what broke him. I can’t make him remember. And so I stand here with the solid warmth of him at my back, and for a moment, it has to be enough."
My heart felt for sol. Cause imagine being in love with your best friend for forever and finally got a chance of living that love before being ripped away from you😩 But Sol never backed down. Despite his powerful love and hurt of losing his chance with Jack, he continued to be there for his best friend, to be his pillar.
The relationship between Jack and Sol is so tender and their connection is so deep. You can feel how much these two love each other. How much they are each other support system. Yes, there was lots of poor communication between the two, but despite that, you never doubt that they genuinely care for each other.
From book 1, you get to experience Sol calling Jack "love" and that's what he calls him throughout this book, and my heart melts every time🥹
Still, some things bothered me a bit:
Some of their inner monologues felt repetitive to me. For example, every time they kissed, touched, or did anything more, we spent time stuck in their inner monologues about that until they do it again, and the cycle goes on. Also, they would be thinking about those moments in interesting times and out of nowhere. Like Jack is mid conversation with Folk and suddenly we are in his inner monologue about how Sol's hand felt on his dick😂
I, personally, am having trouble with MMC being in love with the other MMC and it's "always been you" while hooking up so much during that. There is nothing on page but it is mentioned that Sol used to hook up a lot. Also, Sol lost his dude virginity to Cam O'Brian, a side character very much present in both books. Around 64%, Sol says that he can't forget the nights he spent in Cam O'Brian's bed, but only because, for as long as it lasted, that long hot summer was the closest he'd ever been to how he'd felt about Jack for years by then.
As I said in my review for book 1, they need therapy, a live-in therapist to be exact😂 I don't think one session a week would suffice. Everyone in that house need 24/7 therapy sessions.
I knew the next book would be about Oscar, but some reason, I thought it will be him and Sev, but it's not. So maybe Sev will have his own book.
Although, I didn't connect to book 1 as much as I did this book, I still recommend this series. Although, if you hate inner monologue, then I would say steer away from these books.
I definitely liked this better than book 1. Best friends to lovers trope will always feel special to me.
"Jack’s my world. He’s the blood in my veins and the air in my lungs. He’s every emotion I’ve ever had, and sometimes loving him tears me apart because I can’t fix what broke him. I can’t make him remember. And so I stand here with the solid warmth of him at my back, and for a moment, it has to be enough."
My heart felt for sol. Cause imagine being in love with your best friend for forever and finally got a chance of living that love before being ripped away from you😩 But Sol never backed down. Despite his powerful love and hurt of losing his chance with Jack, he continued to be there for his best friend, to be his pillar.
The relationship between Jack and Sol is so tender and their connection is so deep. You can feel how much these two love each other. How much they are each other support system. Yes, there was lots of poor communication between the two, but despite that, you never doubt that they genuinely care for each other.
From book 1, you get to experience Sol calling Jack "love" and that's what he calls him throughout this book, and my heart melts every time🥹
Still, some things bothered me a bit:
Some of their inner monologues felt repetitive to me. For example, every time they kissed, touched, or did anything more, we spent time stuck in their inner monologues about that until they do it again, and the cycle goes on. Also, they would be thinking about those moments in interesting times and out of nowhere. Like Jack is mid conversation with Folk and suddenly we are in his inner monologue about how Sol's hand felt on his dick😂
I, personally, am having trouble with MMC being in love with the other MMC and it's "always been you" while hooking up so much during that. There is nothing on page but it is mentioned that Sol used to hook up a lot. Also, Sol lost his dude virginity to Cam O'Brian, a side character very much present in both books. Around 64%, Sol says that he can't forget the nights he spent in Cam O'Brian's bed, but only because, for as long as it lasted, that long hot summer was the closest he'd ever been to how he'd felt about Jack for years by then.
As I said in my review for book 1, they need therapy, a live-in therapist to be exact😂 I don't think one session a week would suffice. Everyone in that house need 24/7 therapy sessions.
I knew the next book would be about Oscar, but some reason, I thought it will be him and Sev, but it's not. So maybe Sev will have his own book.
Although, I didn't connect to book 1 as much as I did this book, I still recommend this series. Although, if you hate inner monologue, then I would say steer away from these books.
June 14, 2026
Listen i’m a creature of very simple taste, when I saw that this book is a small town romance with a fisherman and also includes best friends to lovers and a wounded hero, I was so sold. And you know what, I truly just know myself so well, because this was 100% a perfect read for me.
I loved the premise of Sol and Jack being best friends for years and then Jack got hurt and has a traumatic brain injury that made him forget a lot of his past (and his day to day life) and Sol has spent his entire life yearning for Jack but he resolved himself to them never being able to be more.
If I had to pin point one book this book that completely rearranged my entire brain chemistry and rocked my world as I was reading, my answer would be this book, no questions asked. This book was just everything I wanted it to be, and also so much more. This was all of my favorite tropes wrapped up in the nicest package I could have imaged and I had the most wonderful time reading this book.
This book had some of the best descriptions of yearning and devotion I have read in a very long while; which says I love because it’s my favourite thing to read about so I seek it out, a lot. But the way it was done in this book was just so remarkable. The way Jack and Sol always wanted to do right by the other even if it kills them to do so, because their first goal was to always see the other happy was just the best to read about. I just adored how they always looked for each others everywhere they went and how they only felt better when they were in each others presence was so lovely to read. Their gravitational pull to each other was just so enjoyable to read.
The connection between Jack and Sol was just so well done and explored. I loved how all of their actions and thoughts showed how much they cared about each other and I adored how every action they made showed that they had been best friends for years and knew each other inside out.
Side note, I adored the descriptions of Jack’s traumatic brain injury and how it affects every aspects of his day to day life, I thought that they were very wonderfully done.
Also, I think I cried out my entire body’s supplies of tears while reading this book. This book just hit me in the feels, very deeply.
I loved the premise of Sol and Jack being best friends for years and then Jack got hurt and has a traumatic brain injury that made him forget a lot of his past (and his day to day life) and Sol has spent his entire life yearning for Jack but he resolved himself to them never being able to be more.
If I had to pin point one book this book that completely rearranged my entire brain chemistry and rocked my world as I was reading, my answer would be this book, no questions asked. This book was just everything I wanted it to be, and also so much more. This was all of my favorite tropes wrapped up in the nicest package I could have imaged and I had the most wonderful time reading this book.
This book had some of the best descriptions of yearning and devotion I have read in a very long while; which says I love because it’s my favourite thing to read about so I seek it out, a lot. But the way it was done in this book was just so remarkable. The way Jack and Sol always wanted to do right by the other even if it kills them to do so, because their first goal was to always see the other happy was just the best to read about. I just adored how they always looked for each others everywhere they went and how they only felt better when they were in each others presence was so lovely to read. Their gravitational pull to each other was just so enjoyable to read.
The connection between Jack and Sol was just so well done and explored. I loved how all of their actions and thoughts showed how much they cared about each other and I adored how every action they made showed that they had been best friends for years and knew each other inside out.
Side note, I adored the descriptions of Jack’s traumatic brain injury and how it affects every aspects of his day to day life, I thought that they were very wonderfully done.
Also, I think I cried out my entire body’s supplies of tears while reading this book. This book just hit me in the feels, very deeply.
May 20, 2026
4 stars
Just This Heart is the story of Sol, whom we met in the first book of the Rebel Kings series as one of Cam's close friends, and Jack, a former soldier with TBI, Sol's best friend and forever love.
Jack's story is heavy and difficult: his TBI robbed him of memories and left a void that he's unable to replace. It was hard to see him trying to search his own brain for fragments of faces, voices, events that he has no recollection of.
And his condition is not easy for Sol either, his heart breaks every time he sees his best friend struggling. Moreover, he feels alone with his love, because Jack forgot that they made love before he got injured. So, for a good part of the book, Sol wonders if they ever get a second chance.
Luckily, the author loves her boy so much that she couldn't avoid giving them the love they deserve!
And as usual, Garrett Leigh writes physical scenes with that kind of intimacy that fills your heart with all the feelings and leaves you begging for more.
What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
Throughout the book I had the feeling that the story already started somewhere and I didn't have the full knowledge of it.
It was so so good to see some of the Rebel Kings again, I'll never get tired of them!
Definitely recommended (but better reading Just This Once first).
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
Just This Heart is the story of Sol, whom we met in the first book of the Rebel Kings series as one of Cam's close friends, and Jack, a former soldier with TBI, Sol's best friend and forever love.
Jack's story is heavy and difficult: his TBI robbed him of memories and left a void that he's unable to replace. It was hard to see him trying to search his own brain for fragments of faces, voices, events that he has no recollection of.
And his condition is not easy for Sol either, his heart breaks every time he sees his best friend struggling. Moreover, he feels alone with his love, because Jack forgot that they made love before he got injured. So, for a good part of the book, Sol wonders if they ever get a second chance.
Luckily, the author loves her boy so much that she couldn't avoid giving them the love they deserve!
And as usual, Garrett Leigh writes physical scenes with that kind of intimacy that fills your heart with all the feelings and leaves you begging for more.
What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
Throughout the book I had the feeling that the story already started somewhere and I didn't have the full knowledge of it.
It was so so good to see some of the Rebel Kings again, I'll never get tired of them!
Definitely recommended (but better reading Just This Once first).
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
October 18, 2026
I shouldn't have been so worried, this book landed so much better than Mal and Sky's!!
I think the biggest difference is that neither Jack nor Sol were self-destructive in the same way. They both felt their pain deeply and found coping strategies that may not have been the most healthy, but neither of them were so intent on sinking the ship just so they could go down with it. There's so much grief involved around Jack's TBI and all of the ways it negatively impacts his memory and life. His seizures were especially hard. And Sol stood rock-steady by his side for all of it, being the port in the storm even as it sent him further and further adrift (ooh that metaphor actually worked, did not think I would stick the landing lmao). That said, they still got in their own way more than I would've liked, particularly around the back half of it all. That was still quite the frustrating sequence, but I like where and how they landed so it wasn't as negative of an experience to get there. I do want to give credit where I can to the author for all of the side characters from past books and series. I'm usually super critical on having too much inclusion from past series, sometimes it works, but especially if you've gone to the effort of making a spinoff series, it shouldn't feel like I NEED to have read the last series to have any grip of what's going on here. These two books still had a lot of Rebel Kings business in them, and the characters kept showing up, but it felt very rooted in them also being features of Porth Luck, rather than the main characters of this series, and that's hard to do.
Thank you to GRR for an eARC of this title, this is my honest review.
I think the biggest difference is that neither Jack nor Sol were self-destructive in the same way. They both felt their pain deeply and found coping strategies that may not have been the most healthy, but neither of them were so intent on sinking the ship just so they could go down with it. There's so much grief involved around Jack's TBI and all of the ways it negatively impacts his memory and life. His seizures were especially hard. And Sol stood rock-steady by his side for all of it, being the port in the storm even as it sent him further and further adrift (ooh that metaphor actually worked, did not think I would stick the landing lmao). That said, they still got in their own way more than I would've liked, particularly around the back half of it all. That was still quite the frustrating sequence, but I like where and how they landed so it wasn't as negative of an experience to get there. I do want to give credit where I can to the author for all of the side characters from past books and series. I'm usually super critical on having too much inclusion from past series, sometimes it works, but especially if you've gone to the effort of making a spinoff series, it shouldn't feel like I NEED to have read the last series to have any grip of what's going on here. These two books still had a lot of Rebel Kings business in them, and the characters kept showing up, but it felt very rooted in them also being features of Porth Luck, rather than the main characters of this series, and that's hard to do.
Thank you to GRR for an eARC of this title, this is my honest review.
September 3, 2026
There was a lot to unpack and to call this an angsty ride would be a total understatement. The characters are broken and my heart breaks for them. But there are a lot of broken characters and side characters and side side characters I couldn't keep up with. One of the reasons I hate reading series with crossovers to other series 🤷🏻♀️
May 13, 2026
I have no words left .. this was BEAUTIFUL. I love my family so much!!!
May 20, 2026
6 star read for me.
I thought Skylar and Mal were it for me and yes they are but Sol and Jack??? Yeah they got heart and soul. Wow. GL's writing just hits so different, and I knew that when I read Rebel Kings series but this series just feels so different and hits harder. I will be thinking about these two to days end.
I thought Skylar and Mal were it for me and yes they are but Sol and Jack??? Yeah they got heart and soul. Wow. GL's writing just hits so different, and I knew that when I read Rebel Kings series but this series just feels so different and hits harder. I will be thinking about these two to days end.
June 10, 2026
4.5/5.0. Loved Jack and Sol. Beautiful friends to lovers romance.
Reread audiobook format 9/23/26.
Reread audiobook format 9/23/26.
![Profile Image for ash[hearts]angst.](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1787864178i/164504656._UY200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
May 19, 2026
MY HEART. Wow this book had me staying up way too late and all up in my feels. it was exactly what I needed to get out of the slump I've been in.
Jack was such a fascinating character to me in Just This Once and I couldn't wait to get inside his head. He's so similar to his brother Mal, yet so incredibly different. Very logical, but not stiff. Quite the complex character indeed. I couldn't figure him out and I LOVED that. He surprised me many times throughout the book and it was such a rush. I loved his acceptance of the love he had for Sol. Never quite questioning it, just questioning how long it had been there.
"𝑺𝒐𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂. 𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔. 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆."
Sol is sweet angel baby and he deserves to be protected at all costs! Our sweet and lovely 35 year old boy, taking on everyone's problems at the detriment of his own heart and soul. We see his tender love and care for Jack but diving into his perspective clued us in to just how selfless this amazing man really is, even when certain people don't deserve it.
"𝑶𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑱𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘. 𝑴𝒚 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝒑𝒂𝒅. 𝑴𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒘."
This book was everything that I look for in hurt/comfort. Flashbacks that don't take over the current timeline, honest and real reactions and conversations, and broken boys. Give them some accents and we have the perfect recipe for a 5 star read. Foaming at the mouth for the next book!
May 19, 2026
Garrett Leigh is firmly one of my favorite authors. She always delivers on beautiful, dreamy writing, and this is no exception. Sol and Jack are the type of codependent best friends I adore, those lovable dopes who are the only people around who haven’t noticed they are basically married. Friends since childhood, Jack is a veteran with a traumatic brain injury, meaning there’s a boatload of hurt/comfort and caretaking to be found. All that said, there were some things that didn’t click for me.
This series is an offshoot of the Rebel Kings, and it felt like we were dropped into the relationship without enough setup or believable conflict. The Garrett-branded juxtaposition of highly masculine men behaving vulnerably is still there, and it’s an enjoyable experience, but the emotional payoff was muted compared to her other work.
Fans of Garrett and the Kings will not want to miss this, but I wouldn’t recommend it as the best starting point for her work - most of which is interconnected, but not always as closely as the Porth Luck and RK series. This is book two in the series, and I highly recommend prior reading of both Rebel Kings and book one.
*I received an advanced reader copy and am voluntarily leaving my review*
This series is an offshoot of the Rebel Kings, and it felt like we were dropped into the relationship without enough setup or believable conflict. The Garrett-branded juxtaposition of highly masculine men behaving vulnerably is still there, and it’s an enjoyable experience, but the emotional payoff was muted compared to her other work.
Fans of Garrett and the Kings will not want to miss this, but I wouldn’t recommend it as the best starting point for her work - most of which is interconnected, but not always as closely as the Porth Luck and RK series. This is book two in the series, and I highly recommend prior reading of both Rebel Kings and book one.
*I received an advanced reader copy and am voluntarily leaving my review*
July 7, 2026
This is a best friends to more romance, featuring Sol and Jack, and is book one in the Men of Porth Luck series.
Jack can’t remember the love he once shared with his best friend, Sol, but Sol has never forgotten. As old feelings begin to return, they get a chance to find their way back to each other.
I this was a heartfelt read with a bit of angst, a mutual crush, lots of pining and a moment of suspense that will grab a hold of your heart. Sol and Jack reconnecting was everything!
Things to expect in this book are:
Book 2 in series
MM romance
Small town
Best friends to more
Military veteran
Hurt / Comfort
Amnesia & PTSD
Codependency
Mutual crush & pining
Bi awakening
Spicy times
First times
Second chance
Suspense
Found family
HEA
Jack can’t remember the love he once shared with his best friend, Sol, but Sol has never forgotten. As old feelings begin to return, they get a chance to find their way back to each other.
I this was a heartfelt read with a bit of angst, a mutual crush, lots of pining and a moment of suspense that will grab a hold of your heart. Sol and Jack reconnecting was everything!
Things to expect in this book are:
Book 2 in series
MM romance
Small town
Best friends to more
Military veteran
Hurt / Comfort
Amnesia & PTSD
Codependency
Mutual crush & pining
Bi awakening
Spicy times
First times
Second chance
Suspense
Found family
HEA
Did Not Finish
June 25, 2026I really tried, but the writing style just drove me up the wall. It’s SO choppy. Hard to follow. Next to no dialogue so it’s all explosion but somehow still wasn’t laid out in a way that was easy to understand. Totally feels like there’s so much missing information. I think the story will be sweet and if you can handle this style, maybe you’ll love it. I think this author is a big no for me.
May 13, 2026
the way i am fucking dry heave sobbing as i finish this holy shit dude I LOVE THIS UNIVERSE SOOO SO SO MUCHHHHHH. these men are something DIFFERENT. i want to live above the joker with my family!!!
November 6, 2026
Well, this book definitely did some things to my heart that I did not expect. From the blurb I could tell it be something that will play with my feelings, but I feel like it grabbed me by the throat and shook me to my core. Well, thanks. This was unexpected in the best way.
June 4, 2026
Ugh. Something is happening to me. I do not like this series. It’s just not working for me. I’m a HUGE GL fan, she’s one of my favorite authors, I LOVE the Rebel Kings books (I don’t reread many books but I will absolutely reread those) and these books are a kind of spin off from that world so this sucks for me. I couldn’t finish the first book and I skimmed most of this one after about 30’ish percent in. It feels like wayyyy too much internal dialogue and that’s a thing I just don’t enjoy in stories. I love Sol and Jack. And all the others - their love for each other, Mal and Sky, too.
What. Is. Happening. To. Me.
What. Is. Happening. To. Me.
May 26, 2026
If you want to die from frustration that your favorite characters are self-destructive dicks. If you want to scream at them throughout the whole book to have one single f-ing conversation, then read this. Hits the spot.
Review of advance copy received from Author
B+ / 4.5 stars
Garrett Leigh returns to the small Cornish town of Porth Luck for Just This Heart, the second book in the Men of Porth Luck series and another beautifully written and deeply emotional romance with more than a dash of hurt/comfort and a shed-load of yearning and angsty longing. It’s a gorgeous slow-burn friends-to-lovers story featuring two intensely loveable, complex characters who are more than a little broken but who are nonetheless perfect for each other in all the ways that count.
We met Sol and Jack in the previous book ( Just This Once ). Jack Gallagher is Mal’s older brother, and like him, was injured while on deployment and invalided out of the military. Jack sustained a TBI when an IED blew up in his face, and it has left him subject to seizures, balance issues and with holes in his memory. Sol Bosanko scrapes together a living fishing off the Cornish coast and has been Jack’s best friend since childhood; the two of them, together with Mal and Mal’s boyfriend Skylar, live in the flat above The Joker, the pub in Porth Luck that Jack runs and owns. The four of them are tight – which is not to say there are no tensions or issues between them all – but they’re the best kind of family; they show up for one another repeatedly and would do anything for each other.
Sol and Jack have been friends for years and their abiding love for each other is present in their quiet intimacy, the way they truly see and know each other and in every word and action. That they’re in love with each other is obvious, but neither of them is prepared to acknowledge it; life - Jack’s injury and complex medical condition, Sol’s difficult family situation and tendency to self-effacement - has got in the way of their doing anything that might damage or change the one solid, certain thing in their lives. More than that, though, Jack doesn’t remember much about his life before his injury; he doesn’t remember that he and Sol had a drunken hook-up immediately before he was deployed, leaving Sol, who has never been able to forget that night, to carry the memory, the love, the emotional devastation, and the grief for what might have been, alone ever since. He has never found the right time or the right words to tell Jack the truth, and isn’t at all sure that he should.
Jack and Sol are superbly written, three-dimensional characters who feel like real people with real lives and real struggles, and the setting is really well done – Porth Luck feels gritty and a bit shabby but home-y. The way Jack’s dialogue and inner monologue feel a bit choppy and fragmented is the perfect way to depict the struggle he sometimes has to organise his thoughts and feelings. Sol is one of a kind – he’s one of life’s caretakers and gives so much of himself to the people he loves, but he’s pulled in so many different directions and tries so hard to look after everyone around him that he forgets to look after himself. He and Jack are utterly devoted to each other in a true soulmate kind of way, and while it could seem unhealthy in a different context (or in the hands of a lesser author), it works here because Jack does genuinely need the care and support that Sol provides selflessly and as though it’s second nature to him. (Which it is.) Their romance is beautifully done and their emotional connection leaps off the page – especially in those lingering touches and the quiet moments of instinctive closeness that speak to the kind of love that is ingrained into their very DNA. This description in the blurb:
Jack’s mind may be broken, but his heart remembers the love it lost.
- is perfect, because as I watched Jack slowly piece together feelings and flashes of subconscious memory he can’t explain, I saw exactly that – a love that is so deeply entrenched that the heart recognises it even if the memory of it no longer exists. And watching Sol care for Jack so tenderly and devotedly, loving him silently and (he believes) unrequitedly while believing he will never be more than Jack’s friend is truly heartbreaking.
I really enjoyed this book. The yearning is top-tier, and the depth of the love Jack and Sol share permeates every page; and although the road to their eventual happy ending is not an easy one, that just makes it feel all the more earned and deserved. They’re both carrying a lot of baggage, they’ve been hurt in so many different ways, and there’s so much going on in their lives, yet they don’t stop choosing each other, no matter how hard or messy it is.
The romance is heartfelt and I loved the chosen family aspect of the story, but I do have a couple of niggles. The main one is that Sol is so resistant to asking for help or explaining what’s going on with his PoS dad; I get that he’s trying to do the best for everyone without dragging the people he loves through the mire as well, but the situation was so clearly insoluble and getting worse, that it was frustrating to watch him being so overwhelmed by it all. And the other is that the pacing in the first half is a tad slow and I found some parts a bit repetitive.
But otherwise, Just This Once is a gorgeously romantic addition to the Men of Porth Luck series, and I’ll be back for book three (Oscar’s story) next year.
Garrett Leigh returns to the small Cornish town of Porth Luck for Just This Heart, the second book in the Men of Porth Luck series and another beautifully written and deeply emotional romance with more than a dash of hurt/comfort and a shed-load of yearning and angsty longing. It’s a gorgeous slow-burn friends-to-lovers story featuring two intensely loveable, complex characters who are more than a little broken but who are nonetheless perfect for each other in all the ways that count.
We met Sol and Jack in the previous book ( Just This Once ). Jack Gallagher is Mal’s older brother, and like him, was injured while on deployment and invalided out of the military. Jack sustained a TBI when an IED blew up in his face, and it has left him subject to seizures, balance issues and with holes in his memory. Sol Bosanko scrapes together a living fishing off the Cornish coast and has been Jack’s best friend since childhood; the two of them, together with Mal and Mal’s boyfriend Skylar, live in the flat above The Joker, the pub in Porth Luck that Jack runs and owns. The four of them are tight – which is not to say there are no tensions or issues between them all – but they’re the best kind of family; they show up for one another repeatedly and would do anything for each other.
Sol and Jack have been friends for years and their abiding love for each other is present in their quiet intimacy, the way they truly see and know each other and in every word and action. That they’re in love with each other is obvious, but neither of them is prepared to acknowledge it; life - Jack’s injury and complex medical condition, Sol’s difficult family situation and tendency to self-effacement - has got in the way of their doing anything that might damage or change the one solid, certain thing in their lives. More than that, though, Jack doesn’t remember much about his life before his injury; he doesn’t remember that he and Sol had a drunken hook-up immediately before he was deployed, leaving Sol, who has never been able to forget that night, to carry the memory, the love, the emotional devastation, and the grief for what might have been, alone ever since. He has never found the right time or the right words to tell Jack the truth, and isn’t at all sure that he should.
Jack and Sol are superbly written, three-dimensional characters who feel like real people with real lives and real struggles, and the setting is really well done – Porth Luck feels gritty and a bit shabby but home-y. The way Jack’s dialogue and inner monologue feel a bit choppy and fragmented is the perfect way to depict the struggle he sometimes has to organise his thoughts and feelings. Sol is one of a kind – he’s one of life’s caretakers and gives so much of himself to the people he loves, but he’s pulled in so many different directions and tries so hard to look after everyone around him that he forgets to look after himself. He and Jack are utterly devoted to each other in a true soulmate kind of way, and while it could seem unhealthy in a different context (or in the hands of a lesser author), it works here because Jack does genuinely need the care and support that Sol provides selflessly and as though it’s second nature to him. (Which it is.) Their romance is beautifully done and their emotional connection leaps off the page – especially in those lingering touches and the quiet moments of instinctive closeness that speak to the kind of love that is ingrained into their very DNA. This description in the blurb:
Jack’s mind may be broken, but his heart remembers the love it lost.
- is perfect, because as I watched Jack slowly piece together feelings and flashes of subconscious memory he can’t explain, I saw exactly that – a love that is so deeply entrenched that the heart recognises it even if the memory of it no longer exists. And watching Sol care for Jack so tenderly and devotedly, loving him silently and (he believes) unrequitedly while believing he will never be more than Jack’s friend is truly heartbreaking.
I really enjoyed this book. The yearning is top-tier, and the depth of the love Jack and Sol share permeates every page; and although the road to their eventual happy ending is not an easy one, that just makes it feel all the more earned and deserved. They’re both carrying a lot of baggage, they’ve been hurt in so many different ways, and there’s so much going on in their lives, yet they don’t stop choosing each other, no matter how hard or messy it is.
The romance is heartfelt and I loved the chosen family aspect of the story, but I do have a couple of niggles. The main one is that Sol is so resistant to asking for help or explaining what’s going on with his PoS dad; I get that he’s trying to do the best for everyone without dragging the people he loves through the mire as well, but the situation was so clearly insoluble and getting worse, that it was frustrating to watch him being so overwhelmed by it all. And the other is that the pacing in the first half is a tad slow and I found some parts a bit repetitive.
But otherwise, Just This Once is a gorgeously romantic addition to the Men of Porth Luck series, and I’ll be back for book three (Oscar’s story) next year.
October 24, 2026
Every once in a while, a book comes along that stays with you long after you've finished reading it. **This was definitely one of those books for me.**
I loved Mal and Skylar's story in the first book, but I wasn't quite sure how Garrett Leigh was going to handle Jack and Sol's relationship. There was so much history between these two, along with some pretty serious challenges. I wondered how she would bring everything together in a way that felt believable.
Well, I shouldn't have worried. She did a beautiful job.
Jack and Sol have been best friends since childhood. They know each other better than just about anyone, and their friendship has always been an important part of both their lives. Then one night, after a little too much to drink, they cross a line that could change their relationship forever.
Unfortunately, they never get the chance to talk about what happened.
The next day, Jack is deployed to an active war zone, where an IED leaves him critically injured. He survives, but the traumatic brain injury changes his life permanently. He also has no memory of that night with Sol.
And that's where this story really gets to you.
Sol remembers everything. He remembers what they shared, what it meant to him, and the possibility of something more. But now he's trying to help his best friend adjust to a life that neither of them expected.
Through it all, their friendship remains. They continue to care for each other, support each other, and find their way through the changes in Jack's life.
But feelings don't simply disappear because circumstances change.
As Jack begins to notice that there's something more beneath the surface of their friendship, he starts questioning what those feelings mean. And Sol has to decide whether he can allow himself to hope for a second chance with the man he's loved for so long.
**What I appreciated most about this book was the way Leigh handled Jack's traumatic brain injury.**
She doesn't pretend that love is going to make everything better. Jack's challenges are real, and they affect his daily life, his relationships, and the way he sees himself.
There's also something particularly moving about loving someone while grieving the life you thought they might have had. Sol loves Jack, but he also has to come to terms with the changes in their lives and what their future might look like.
Leigh handles all of this with compassion and respect.
I wasn't surprised to learn that she has personal experience caring for someone with a traumatic brain injury. There's a level of understanding in her writing that makes Jack feel like a real person rather than a character defined by his medical condition.
And I appreciated that. Jack is still Jack. His life has changed, but he is still deserving of love, independence, happiness, and a future of his own.
Another thing I really enjoyed was spending more time with Mal and Skylar.
**I absolutely love this little found family.**
The way these men look after one another, sometimes without even having to say a word, is one of my favorite parts of the series. They aren't perfect, and they certainly have their share of problems, but they show up for each other. There's something special about that kind of family, especially when it's one you've built for yourself.
I'm looking forward to Oscar's story, although I have to admit I'm disappointed that his book will be the third and final installment. I've become attached to these characters, and I would happily keep reading about their lives for several more books.
Now, as far as reading order goes, I still don't think you need to read all of Garrett Leigh's earlier books before starting this series. You'll miss a few connections and little surprises, but the stories can stand on their own.
**However, I do recommend reading this particular series in order.** The relationships and family dynamics build from one book to the next, and I think you'll appreciate the characters much more if you follow their stories from the beginning.
Garrett Leigh has a real gift for writing complicated men who have been through difficult experiences and are still trying to figure out how to love and be loved.
Her characters aren't magically healed by their relationships. They still struggle, have bad days, and face decisions to make. But they also find people willing to stand beside them while they work through those challenges.
For me, that's what makes these stories worth reading.
**I loved Jack and Sol's journey.** It was emotional, sometimes heartbreaking, but ultimately a beautiful story about friendship, patience, devotion, and finding love when life hasn't turned out the way you planned.
I'm definitely looking forward to Oscar's book, even if I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to this group.
Thank you to GRR for providing an advance reader copy (ARC) and giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
I loved Mal and Skylar's story in the first book, but I wasn't quite sure how Garrett Leigh was going to handle Jack and Sol's relationship. There was so much history between these two, along with some pretty serious challenges. I wondered how she would bring everything together in a way that felt believable.
Well, I shouldn't have worried. She did a beautiful job.
Jack and Sol have been best friends since childhood. They know each other better than just about anyone, and their friendship has always been an important part of both their lives. Then one night, after a little too much to drink, they cross a line that could change their relationship forever.
Unfortunately, they never get the chance to talk about what happened.
The next day, Jack is deployed to an active war zone, where an IED leaves him critically injured. He survives, but the traumatic brain injury changes his life permanently. He also has no memory of that night with Sol.
And that's where this story really gets to you.
Sol remembers everything. He remembers what they shared, what it meant to him, and the possibility of something more. But now he's trying to help his best friend adjust to a life that neither of them expected.
Through it all, their friendship remains. They continue to care for each other, support each other, and find their way through the changes in Jack's life.
But feelings don't simply disappear because circumstances change.
As Jack begins to notice that there's something more beneath the surface of their friendship, he starts questioning what those feelings mean. And Sol has to decide whether he can allow himself to hope for a second chance with the man he's loved for so long.
**What I appreciated most about this book was the way Leigh handled Jack's traumatic brain injury.**
She doesn't pretend that love is going to make everything better. Jack's challenges are real, and they affect his daily life, his relationships, and the way he sees himself.
There's also something particularly moving about loving someone while grieving the life you thought they might have had. Sol loves Jack, but he also has to come to terms with the changes in their lives and what their future might look like.
Leigh handles all of this with compassion and respect.
I wasn't surprised to learn that she has personal experience caring for someone with a traumatic brain injury. There's a level of understanding in her writing that makes Jack feel like a real person rather than a character defined by his medical condition.
And I appreciated that. Jack is still Jack. His life has changed, but he is still deserving of love, independence, happiness, and a future of his own.
Another thing I really enjoyed was spending more time with Mal and Skylar.
**I absolutely love this little found family.**
The way these men look after one another, sometimes without even having to say a word, is one of my favorite parts of the series. They aren't perfect, and they certainly have their share of problems, but they show up for each other. There's something special about that kind of family, especially when it's one you've built for yourself.
I'm looking forward to Oscar's story, although I have to admit I'm disappointed that his book will be the third and final installment. I've become attached to these characters, and I would happily keep reading about their lives for several more books.
Now, as far as reading order goes, I still don't think you need to read all of Garrett Leigh's earlier books before starting this series. You'll miss a few connections and little surprises, but the stories can stand on their own.
**However, I do recommend reading this particular series in order.** The relationships and family dynamics build from one book to the next, and I think you'll appreciate the characters much more if you follow their stories from the beginning.
Garrett Leigh has a real gift for writing complicated men who have been through difficult experiences and are still trying to figure out how to love and be loved.
Her characters aren't magically healed by their relationships. They still struggle, have bad days, and face decisions to make. But they also find people willing to stand beside them while they work through those challenges.
For me, that's what makes these stories worth reading.
**I loved Jack and Sol's journey.** It was emotional, sometimes heartbreaking, but ultimately a beautiful story about friendship, patience, devotion, and finding love when life hasn't turned out the way you planned.
I'm definitely looking forward to Oscar's book, even if I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to this group.
Thank you to GRR for providing an advance reader copy (ARC) and giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy
I didn't think Garrett would be able to gut me harder than she did with Skylar & Mal's story but I should know better!
Each time she finds a new way to make you utterly entwined with the emotional journey two broken men are going on and draws you into their world like it's the easiest thing to do.
It's not. This level of realness, of tasting the salt off the sea, of hearing the waves, smelling the mackerel frying, of knowing the bone deep love that exists between the found families who inhabit this part of Cornwall and Devon, it's a skill that shines brighter the more she writes.
For Just This Heart you need to know what you're going into. The disordered way Jack lives since a mortar took his life with the Regiment and forced him into a new reality that he struggles to keep a hold on.
The lapses in awareness, the lack of clarity in his thoughts, his painful knowledge that he's lost something from before that sits tantalisingly close at the edge of his brain, all of these instances are clearly shown to the reader through clever use of narrative choice and formatting language.
There wasn't a single thing I didn't love about this book. Even when my heart was being gutted out of my chest and the adrenaline was pumping as nature's worst threatens to take everything.
Because even with the struggles Sol and Jack go through, the love that tethers them together is a palpable thread that runs alongside each stumble, each obstacle that Sol's deadbeat dad puts in his way, each time Jack loses the echo of a memory of something different between him and his best friend.
Skylar and Mal are obviously a constant too, as well as Oscar and some of the Rebel Kings, and I loved that this book is so solidly grounded in the expansive universe Garrett's created.
You won't see any plot spoilers here, let's just say there's plenty of tensions to drive things forward without it ever having to come down to trite tropes.
There's life in all its messy realities, the struggles of knowing your dad's mistakes aren't yours but you can't escape from them, the fall out of a Traumatic Brain Injury that won't ever get better because the damage was too great.
But you also get hope.
You get support born from decades of living in a small fishing town where everyone looks out for the other, you get loyalty, whether that's from within the Military life you once led or from a gang of bikers who're trying to do better.
You get friendship, the kind that's ride or die no matter what. You get family, those of blood and those who you chose, who'll stand by in silent support or lift you up with a few hard words.
But most of all, you're going to get love. The kind that's rooted so deep nothing can break it because it's been there all the time, even when you didn't know it.
Now bring on book three and Oscar's chance at love!
#ARC kindly received from the author via GRRTours, I am voluntarily leaving a review
Each time she finds a new way to make you utterly entwined with the emotional journey two broken men are going on and draws you into their world like it's the easiest thing to do.
It's not. This level of realness, of tasting the salt off the sea, of hearing the waves, smelling the mackerel frying, of knowing the bone deep love that exists between the found families who inhabit this part of Cornwall and Devon, it's a skill that shines brighter the more she writes.
For Just This Heart you need to know what you're going into. The disordered way Jack lives since a mortar took his life with the Regiment and forced him into a new reality that he struggles to keep a hold on.
The lapses in awareness, the lack of clarity in his thoughts, his painful knowledge that he's lost something from before that sits tantalisingly close at the edge of his brain, all of these instances are clearly shown to the reader through clever use of narrative choice and formatting language.
There wasn't a single thing I didn't love about this book. Even when my heart was being gutted out of my chest and the adrenaline was pumping as nature's worst threatens to take everything.
Because even with the struggles Sol and Jack go through, the love that tethers them together is a palpable thread that runs alongside each stumble, each obstacle that Sol's deadbeat dad puts in his way, each time Jack loses the echo of a memory of something different between him and his best friend.
Skylar and Mal are obviously a constant too, as well as Oscar and some of the Rebel Kings, and I loved that this book is so solidly grounded in the expansive universe Garrett's created.
You won't see any plot spoilers here, let's just say there's plenty of tensions to drive things forward without it ever having to come down to trite tropes.
There's life in all its messy realities, the struggles of knowing your dad's mistakes aren't yours but you can't escape from them, the fall out of a Traumatic Brain Injury that won't ever get better because the damage was too great.
But you also get hope.
You get support born from decades of living in a small fishing town where everyone looks out for the other, you get loyalty, whether that's from within the Military life you once led or from a gang of bikers who're trying to do better.
You get friendship, the kind that's ride or die no matter what. You get family, those of blood and those who you chose, who'll stand by in silent support or lift you up with a few hard words.
But most of all, you're going to get love. The kind that's rooted so deep nothing can break it because it's been there all the time, even when you didn't know it.
Now bring on book three and Oscar's chance at love!
#ARC kindly received from the author via GRRTours, I am voluntarily leaving a review
Review of advance copy
ARC Review
*mild spoilers ahead*
I’ve been obsessed with Jack and Sol ever since I read Just This Once (book 1).
I loved Mal and Skylar’s story. But Jack and Sol were quietly calling me from the background, because they hit all my buttons: childhood best friends, trauma and loyalty so intense it hurts.
So, the second I got my hands on Just This Heart I was delighted. What I wasn’t prepared for was how completely this book would wreck my emotions.
This was everything I hoped for, and some more.
Jack is Mal’s brother, an Irish soldier who’s been discharged after a traumatic brain injury. He’s dealing with seizures, chronic pain, memory loss, the whole brutal aftermath, and it’s written in a way that feels grounded and raw without turning him into a cliche. He’s still Jack: stubborn, sharp, scared, and trying too hard to be okay.
Sol is his ride-or-die best friend. He’s a crab fisherman who works himself into the ground because other people’s screw-ups always seem to land on his shoulders. And on top of that, he’s basically built his whole life around keeping Jack safe, in a way that’s beautiful but sometimes quietly heartbreaking.
Sol has been in love with Jack for so long it feels like part of his DNA. Jack has forgotten a lot of his past life, but he knows that there’s more of his bond with Sol than just friendship, he just can’t pinpoint what.
That push-pull of devotion vs. fear vs. forgotten history had me in a chokehold.
Their love story is gorgeous. They’re both carrying so much baggage and they’ve both been hurt in different ways, but never stop choosing each other, even when it’s messy. The slow shift from friendship into something deeper is handled with so much care. And Sol, sweet kind Sol is a walking green flag. He’s steady and soft, protective without being controlling, and watching Jack fall for him (again) is a blast.
Garrett Leigh is so, so good at writing complicated, broken characters.They feel real. The struggles in her books don’t only move the plot, they shape the people. And her writing always has this achey, poetic vibe that makes everything feel a little bigger than the page. Her stories aren’t always easy. The road to the happy ending can be rough. But when you get there, it feels earned, and it hits in a very satisfying way.
And if you’re a fan of Garret’s “extended universe”, it’s extra fun seeing familiar faces pop up again, there’s some Mal/Skylar tie ins, plus a bunch of Rebel Kings floating around.
I can’t recommend this one enough. If you’re into emotional, character-driven romance with flawed people, heavy themes handled with care, and hard-earned HEAs, you’re probably going to fall for Jack and Sol the way I did.
*mild spoilers ahead*
I’ve been obsessed with Jack and Sol ever since I read Just This Once (book 1).
I loved Mal and Skylar’s story. But Jack and Sol were quietly calling me from the background, because they hit all my buttons: childhood best friends, trauma and loyalty so intense it hurts.
So, the second I got my hands on Just This Heart I was delighted. What I wasn’t prepared for was how completely this book would wreck my emotions.
This was everything I hoped for, and some more.
Jack is Mal’s brother, an Irish soldier who’s been discharged after a traumatic brain injury. He’s dealing with seizures, chronic pain, memory loss, the whole brutal aftermath, and it’s written in a way that feels grounded and raw without turning him into a cliche. He’s still Jack: stubborn, sharp, scared, and trying too hard to be okay.
Sol is his ride-or-die best friend. He’s a crab fisherman who works himself into the ground because other people’s screw-ups always seem to land on his shoulders. And on top of that, he’s basically built his whole life around keeping Jack safe, in a way that’s beautiful but sometimes quietly heartbreaking.
Sol has been in love with Jack for so long it feels like part of his DNA. Jack has forgotten a lot of his past life, but he knows that there’s more of his bond with Sol than just friendship, he just can’t pinpoint what.
That push-pull of devotion vs. fear vs. forgotten history had me in a chokehold.
Their love story is gorgeous. They’re both carrying so much baggage and they’ve both been hurt in different ways, but never stop choosing each other, even when it’s messy. The slow shift from friendship into something deeper is handled with so much care. And Sol, sweet kind Sol is a walking green flag. He’s steady and soft, protective without being controlling, and watching Jack fall for him (again) is a blast.
Garrett Leigh is so, so good at writing complicated, broken characters.They feel real. The struggles in her books don’t only move the plot, they shape the people. And her writing always has this achey, poetic vibe that makes everything feel a little bigger than the page. Her stories aren’t always easy. The road to the happy ending can be rough. But when you get there, it feels earned, and it hits in a very satisfying way.
And if you’re a fan of Garret’s “extended universe”, it’s extra fun seeing familiar faces pop up again, there’s some Mal/Skylar tie ins, plus a bunch of Rebel Kings floating around.
I can’t recommend this one enough. If you’re into emotional, character-driven romance with flawed people, heavy themes handled with care, and hard-earned HEAs, you’re probably going to fall for Jack and Sol the way I did.
May 13, 2026
Just this heart
By: Garrett Leigh
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚
So much deep emotion!
Oh my Garrett Leigh took me apart again. What would you do if someone who mattered more than you could explain no longer knew you? What if the reason was trauma? Could you still matter and bring something meaningful to the other persons world. You’ll find out when go all in with Jack and Sol’s intense story of love and rediscovering love.
The author writing is flawless, and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some have quick witted story lines that are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.
Authors blurb: wounded soldier. A devoted fisherman. A love lost to memory and yet…
“There’s nothing about you I don’t want.”
Boyhood best friends. Closer than brothers until one night changed everything. And then it was gone.
Jack doesn’t remember. Sol can’t forget.
Now they share a life in Porth Luck, holding everything together with silence and sacrifice, while Sol hides heartache and memories in the ocean…and Jack finds it all in his dreams. In charged moments and stolen touches, and the pull his gut he can’t explain.
Those bronze-brown eyes. That sun-stained skin. An inexplicable feeling he’s reaching for something they never got to finish.
Give me his mouth over air in my lungs.
Jack’s mind may be broken, but his heart remembers the love it lost. But what if the sea swallows them whole before they get their second chance?
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know you’re 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.
By: Garrett Leigh
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚
So much deep emotion!
Oh my Garrett Leigh took me apart again. What would you do if someone who mattered more than you could explain no longer knew you? What if the reason was trauma? Could you still matter and bring something meaningful to the other persons world. You’ll find out when go all in with Jack and Sol’s intense story of love and rediscovering love.
The author writing is flawless, and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some have quick witted story lines that are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.
Authors blurb: wounded soldier. A devoted fisherman. A love lost to memory and yet…
“There’s nothing about you I don’t want.”
Boyhood best friends. Closer than brothers until one night changed everything. And then it was gone.
Jack doesn’t remember. Sol can’t forget.
Now they share a life in Porth Luck, holding everything together with silence and sacrifice, while Sol hides heartache and memories in the ocean…and Jack finds it all in his dreams. In charged moments and stolen touches, and the pull his gut he can’t explain.
Those bronze-brown eyes. That sun-stained skin. An inexplicable feeling he’s reaching for something they never got to finish.
Give me his mouth over air in my lungs.
Jack’s mind may be broken, but his heart remembers the love it lost. But what if the sea swallows them whole before they get their second chance?
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know you’re 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.
October 29, 2026
This one hurt. My heart broke for Jack and Sol. Their love story ended before it even began. Jack’s injury took away the little progress they had made, breaking Sol’s heart in two.
Sol and Jack had been best friends for a long time, but one night changed everything for them in the most devastating way. Their feelings grew beyond friendship, and the possibility of a relationship was finally within reach until everything went wrong.
Jack’s injury took some of his memories, but the feeling of missing something important wouldn’t let him go. He felt the void in his heart but couldn’t pinpoint what was causing it. The feeling of being lost could only be soothed whenever Sol was near.
Sol always managed to bring him back whenever he got lost in his head and lost track of time. He could feel their connection at a cellular level but couldn’t explain it. All he knew was that Sol was all he needed for the world to feel right again.
Sol’s life consisted of two parts: before Jack’s injury and after it. Before, Jack was a man full of life who loved what he did in the military. His job and his brother were the most important things for him. Now, he wasn’t always fully present. There were times when the weight of his injury made Sol want to break.
For just one night, Sol had everything he ever wanted. Now he had to live with the knowledge that he remembered everything, but Jack remembered nothing. Every day that went by, his heart seemed to break a little more, especially when he and Jack were as close as two people can be without being a couple.
Jack didn’t know why being around Sol made him feel safe. He also couldn’t understand why his heart seemed to recognize him as something more than just his best friend. Jack wasn’t sure at what point the way he looked at Sol changed or why he wanted him in a way he’d never wanted anyone before. He just knew that he liked the way it made him feel.
Finally having Jack the way he always wanted seemed like a dream to Sol. He had waited so long for this moment, and now that it was finally here, he was scared. Especially since he was keeping secrets from Jack.
There were things they needed to figure out, but what really mattered was that he finally could be with the love of his life. It had always been Jack and Sol would be by his side like he’d always been.
“ᴍʏ ᴡɪʟᴅᴇꜱᴛ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍꜱ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴍɪꜱꜱᴇᴅ ɪᴛ.”
“ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴍɪꜱꜱ ɪᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴛᴡɪᴄᴇ.”
Sol and Jack had been best friends for a long time, but one night changed everything for them in the most devastating way. Their feelings grew beyond friendship, and the possibility of a relationship was finally within reach until everything went wrong.
Jack’s injury took some of his memories, but the feeling of missing something important wouldn’t let him go. He felt the void in his heart but couldn’t pinpoint what was causing it. The feeling of being lost could only be soothed whenever Sol was near.
Sol always managed to bring him back whenever he got lost in his head and lost track of time. He could feel their connection at a cellular level but couldn’t explain it. All he knew was that Sol was all he needed for the world to feel right again.
Sol’s life consisted of two parts: before Jack’s injury and after it. Before, Jack was a man full of life who loved what he did in the military. His job and his brother were the most important things for him. Now, he wasn’t always fully present. There were times when the weight of his injury made Sol want to break.
For just one night, Sol had everything he ever wanted. Now he had to live with the knowledge that he remembered everything, but Jack remembered nothing. Every day that went by, his heart seemed to break a little more, especially when he and Jack were as close as two people can be without being a couple.
Jack didn’t know why being around Sol made him feel safe. He also couldn’t understand why his heart seemed to recognize him as something more than just his best friend. Jack wasn’t sure at what point the way he looked at Sol changed or why he wanted him in a way he’d never wanted anyone before. He just knew that he liked the way it made him feel.
Finally having Jack the way he always wanted seemed like a dream to Sol. He had waited so long for this moment, and now that it was finally here, he was scared. Especially since he was keeping secrets from Jack.
There were things they needed to figure out, but what really mattered was that he finally could be with the love of his life. It had always been Jack and Sol would be by his side like he’d always been.
“ᴍʏ ᴡɪʟᴅᴇꜱᴛ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍꜱ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴍɪꜱꜱᴇᴅ ɪᴛ.”
“ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴍɪꜱꜱ ɪᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴛᴡɪᴄᴇ.”
May 15, 2026
This was my second book by Garrett Leigh, and I’m quickly falling in love with his writing style. It reminds me a little of Tal Bauer — descriptive, emotional, and almost poetic in the way it captures relationships and longing.
Longtime best friends-to-lovers is probably my favorite trope, and when you add second chances into the mix, it’s basically a perfect setup for me. Sol and Jack’s story checked every box.
We got a glimpse of Sol and Jack in the first book in the series, so I was excited to dive deeper into their relationship. These two are absolute soulmate material. They’ve been best friends for years and hooked up once the night before Jack deployed. During his deployment, Jack suffered a traumatic brain injury that stole many of his memories — including that night. Sol never told Jack what happened after he recovered, and ever since, he’s been quietly yearning for the person he’s always loved.
Sol was such an interesting character to read about because he’s constantly taking care of everyone around him while never letting anyone truly take care of him. He struggles to ask for help and tends to suffer in silence, which was honestly frustrating at times because you just want him to let people in and for someone to look after him for once. But the way he cares for Jack is incredibly sweet, and the emotional intimacy between them ended up being my favorite part of the book.
Watching Jack slowly fall in love with his best friend all over again while recovering pieces of his memory was genuinely heartwarming. Their connection felt so deep and natural, which made all of the romance — and the spice — hit even harder.
I also really loved all the side storylines woven throughout the book. The arcs involving Mal and Skylar, Folk and Cam, Sol’s parents, and his boat business with Oscar all helped make the world feel rich and lived in. None of it felt unnecessary, and I liked how everything eventually came full circle alongside Sol and Jack’s relationship. The found family aspect was especially well done, and I loved seeing everyone rally around them by the end.
If you love poetic love stories, lifelong best friends-to-lovers, second chances, yearning, angst, and emotionally intimate romances with a strong supporting plot, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up.
Longtime best friends-to-lovers is probably my favorite trope, and when you add second chances into the mix, it’s basically a perfect setup for me. Sol and Jack’s story checked every box.
We got a glimpse of Sol and Jack in the first book in the series, so I was excited to dive deeper into their relationship. These two are absolute soulmate material. They’ve been best friends for years and hooked up once the night before Jack deployed. During his deployment, Jack suffered a traumatic brain injury that stole many of his memories — including that night. Sol never told Jack what happened after he recovered, and ever since, he’s been quietly yearning for the person he’s always loved.
Sol was such an interesting character to read about because he’s constantly taking care of everyone around him while never letting anyone truly take care of him. He struggles to ask for help and tends to suffer in silence, which was honestly frustrating at times because you just want him to let people in and for someone to look after him for once. But the way he cares for Jack is incredibly sweet, and the emotional intimacy between them ended up being my favorite part of the book.
Watching Jack slowly fall in love with his best friend all over again while recovering pieces of his memory was genuinely heartwarming. Their connection felt so deep and natural, which made all of the romance — and the spice — hit even harder.
I also really loved all the side storylines woven throughout the book. The arcs involving Mal and Skylar, Folk and Cam, Sol’s parents, and his boat business with Oscar all helped make the world feel rich and lived in. None of it felt unnecessary, and I liked how everything eventually came full circle alongside Sol and Jack’s relationship. The found family aspect was especially well done, and I loved seeing everyone rally around them by the end.
If you love poetic love stories, lifelong best friends-to-lovers, second chances, yearning, angst, and emotionally intimate romances with a strong supporting plot, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Achingly Beautiful, Raw, and Full of Quiet Devastation
Just This Heart by Garrett Leigh absolutely wrecked me in the softest, most painful way possible. Jack and Sol’s story carries this constant undercurrent of grief, longing, love, and unfinished emotion that settles into your chest almost immediately and never really lets go.
What hit me hardest was the intimacy between them even before either of them fully says the words out loud. Garrett Leigh writes emotional connection so beautifully, especially in all the quiet moments — lingering touches, instinctive closeness, shared routines, the kind of love that exists so deeply it survives even when memory doesn’t. Jack may not consciously remember what they were to each other, but his heart absolutely does, and that emotional pull through the entire story was devastating in the best way.
Sol completely broke my heart. The way he carries years of love, sacrifice, silence, and grief while still putting Jack first at every turn made him impossible not to love. There’s such tenderness in the way he cares for Jack, even while believing parts of their relationship may never truly come back to him.
And Jack’s journey was equally emotional. Watching him slowly piece together feelings he can’t explain while fighting through trauma, memory loss, and identity made every breakthrough feel deeply earned. The hurt/comfort in this book was honestly top tier.
The setting itself added so much atmosphere too. Porth Luck feels gritty, weathered, intimate, and alive in that very Garrett Leigh way where the town becomes part of the emotional landscape of the story. The sea, the fishing life, the found family dynamics — all of it wrapped around Jack and Sol’s relationship perfectly.
This is one of those romances that feels heavy with love from beginning to end. Messy, painful, deeply human love that survives fear, silence, trauma, and time.
If you love emotional MM romance, best friends-to-lovers, memory loss, wounded heroes, second chances, small-town grit, and soul-deep devotion, this book absolutely delivers.
Just This Heart by Garrett Leigh absolutely wrecked me in the softest, most painful way possible. Jack and Sol’s story carries this constant undercurrent of grief, longing, love, and unfinished emotion that settles into your chest almost immediately and never really lets go.
What hit me hardest was the intimacy between them even before either of them fully says the words out loud. Garrett Leigh writes emotional connection so beautifully, especially in all the quiet moments — lingering touches, instinctive closeness, shared routines, the kind of love that exists so deeply it survives even when memory doesn’t. Jack may not consciously remember what they were to each other, but his heart absolutely does, and that emotional pull through the entire story was devastating in the best way.
Sol completely broke my heart. The way he carries years of love, sacrifice, silence, and grief while still putting Jack first at every turn made him impossible not to love. There’s such tenderness in the way he cares for Jack, even while believing parts of their relationship may never truly come back to him.
And Jack’s journey was equally emotional. Watching him slowly piece together feelings he can’t explain while fighting through trauma, memory loss, and identity made every breakthrough feel deeply earned. The hurt/comfort in this book was honestly top tier.
The setting itself added so much atmosphere too. Porth Luck feels gritty, weathered, intimate, and alive in that very Garrett Leigh way where the town becomes part of the emotional landscape of the story. The sea, the fishing life, the found family dynamics — all of it wrapped around Jack and Sol’s relationship perfectly.
This is one of those romances that feels heavy with love from beginning to end. Messy, painful, deeply human love that survives fear, silence, trauma, and time.
If you love emotional MM romance, best friends-to-lovers, memory loss, wounded heroes, second chances, small-town grit, and soul-deep devotion, this book absolutely delivers.
May 13, 2026
4.75 Stars!
I loved every heartbreaking moment of this book and was beyond relieved that Jack and Sol found their way. If you're a fan of the author and have been reading this series, you'll have some idea of what Jack lives with on a daily basis; his health has been damaged in ways that made me truly awed by his resilience. Sol is his best friend and the one that has always been there for Jack. This story has a hard fought happy ending, one that I almost wasn't sure would be possible. On that note, have tissues ready; you will likely need them.
It was hard to watch Jack struggle at times. While it was clear from Just This Once, that life was not easy, seeing it through his own eyes was hard. Sol is such a beautiful soul and he would bleed himself dry to take care of anyone he cared for, even those he maybe shouldn't. Sol carried way too much on himself. While I understood why, I hated every minute that he didn't ask for help or explain the situation he found himself in through the actions of others. There was so much going on in their lives and finding time to just be together in any capacity was tough. I liked that Jack didn't shy away from the different ways he was feeling toward Sol and worked his way to understanding it. I loved that Sol was always there and knew when Jack needed time to get his thoughts together. These two were soulmates and it was beautiful to see Jack realize that and embrace it.
I love this found family. Mal and Jack are brothers, but Sol, Skylar, and Oscar round out a family that would do anything for each other. In some ways, their complicated history with the Rebel Kings is a blessing and curse, but as always, it was good they had those connections. I loved seeing so many of the Rebel Kings around and trying their best to be a good force in the world, even as things occur that bring them close to their old ways. I loved the support that the Rebel Kings leant, even when not asked for. Now, I can't wait for Oscar's story.
*Copy provided to me by the author for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement.*
I loved every heartbreaking moment of this book and was beyond relieved that Jack and Sol found their way. If you're a fan of the author and have been reading this series, you'll have some idea of what Jack lives with on a daily basis; his health has been damaged in ways that made me truly awed by his resilience. Sol is his best friend and the one that has always been there for Jack. This story has a hard fought happy ending, one that I almost wasn't sure would be possible. On that note, have tissues ready; you will likely need them.
It was hard to watch Jack struggle at times. While it was clear from Just This Once, that life was not easy, seeing it through his own eyes was hard. Sol is such a beautiful soul and he would bleed himself dry to take care of anyone he cared for, even those he maybe shouldn't. Sol carried way too much on himself. While I understood why, I hated every minute that he didn't ask for help or explain the situation he found himself in through the actions of others. There was so much going on in their lives and finding time to just be together in any capacity was tough. I liked that Jack didn't shy away from the different ways he was feeling toward Sol and worked his way to understanding it. I loved that Sol was always there and knew when Jack needed time to get his thoughts together. These two were soulmates and it was beautiful to see Jack realize that and embrace it.
I love this found family. Mal and Jack are brothers, but Sol, Skylar, and Oscar round out a family that would do anything for each other. In some ways, their complicated history with the Rebel Kings is a blessing and curse, but as always, it was good they had those connections. I loved seeing so many of the Rebel Kings around and trying their best to be a good force in the world, even as things occur that bring them close to their old ways. I loved the support that the Rebel Kings leant, even when not asked for. Now, I can't wait for Oscar's story.
*Copy provided to me by the author for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement.*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews