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Hearts of Willowrun #1
Shelved Hearts
GABE
After the relationship I escaped, safety means keeping my life small: Evergreen Books, my apartment above it, and the people I trust. Then Noah Richards needs a place to stay. My younger brother’s best friend is all grown up now—steady, warm, and impossible to ignore. He sees me in ways I can't see myself, and suddenly I’m wondering if trust, and maybe love, could feel safe again.
But is love enough to save me from my own mind?
NOAH
Coming back to Willowrun was supposed to be simple: open Anchor Strength, reconnect with my best friend, settle down. Then I move in with Gabe Shaw. Gabe, who doesn’t realize how beautiful he is, or how easy he is to want. I can see he’s hurting, but I also see the man beneath it—someone who deserves patience, laughter, and a love that stays. He might never want me back, but if being his safe place is all I get, I’ll take it… even if my heart wants more.
Shelved Hearts is a slow-burn MM romance about healing from past abuse, rediscovering trust, and finding love in an unexpected place. With themes of recovery, vulnerability, and chosen family, Shelved Hearts balances emotional depth with heartfelt, swoony spice.
*This story contains heavy topics that could potentially be triggering. A content warning list will be available in the book. Prior to release please visit the author's Instagram for more information/details.
601 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2026
About the author
Laura Kain
1 book108 followersLaura Kain is an author based in Ireland. She writes queer romance with a focus on realistic mental health representation, found family and swoon-worthy moments.
*Some cheesiness may be included
Check out her Instagram if you'd like to see what she's working on next.
(@laurakainauthor)
*Some cheesiness may be included
Check out her Instagram if you'd like to see what she's working on next.
(@laurakainauthor)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
June 3, 2026
”I would take a thousand of your hardest days over a single one without you.”
4.5 🌟 - my booksta edit
gabe and noah 😭 oh this book made my heart so full. a beautiful, emotional and heartwarming read. these two are genuinely the sweetest, most precious and kindest souls, mixed with some hot as hell moments too, like damn. these two were so smitten and love sick & i loved it. im so happy i finally picked this up!
the hurt/comfort trope will always get me. there is something about seeing someone receive the care and love they always deserved whilst slowly healing. it feels so vulnerable and soft. ’He’s my whole world—my sun, my moon, my universe. Everything else falls away until there’s only him.’ 🥺
gabe is too precious for words. my heart squeezes thinking of this man. his trauma and mental health struggles hit deep, this beautiful soul really had the light taken from him, but underneath it all he was always the genuinely beautiful person. his anxiety and depression was portrayed in such a vulnerable and raw way, i definitely had tears a few times. his struggles were deep and made me so sad to read about. he truly deserves all the healing and love that the universe has to offer. watching him realise his self worth and how incredible he was, ugh it has me feeling so emotional. he’s so perfect 🥺
noah oh, he is an absolute angel!! a patience, caring and loving soul. the way he always cared so gently for gabe, he never pushed or made him uncomfortable. he just genuinely wanted him to feel safe and happy. the fact he would take even a tiny part of him, and would be happy if that’s all he ever got. the comfort he showed gabe makes me want to sob, because this is the kind of love everyone deserves! to be loved so deeply and unconditionally. not to mention this guy is the king of consent 🙂↕️ topped with a dirty mouth. it was so freakin hot!!! “Now, be a good boy and fuck my throat.” 🥵
a cute little small town vibe isn’t something i’d typically say is always me, but something about this just completely sucked me into their lives. the setting was so fresh in my mind and i feel like i could move there and slot into this perfect found family and live the happiest life ever.
talking of found family, this was executed so well. the friendships are the kind that you can only be so lucky to say you have. friends who stand by you through every step of life and make living feeling a bit lighter on the bad days. abbie and ciarán gave gabe a friendship that never stopped grounding him, and made him feel seen and loved.
i will say this is definitely a bit cheesy towards the end but i don’t care, i love them so much!!!! it was like reading about the two most precious people having the biggest crush on eachother and it was the cutest thing ever!!! it was like a warm hug that i never wanted to end. the little things these two did for eachother was so freakin adorable. they were made for eachother.
i genuinely had the best time with this book. the combo of best friends brother, years of pining, hurt/comfort, mental health rep and flithy smut (yeah it was hot af) - it just worked so well. i love them so much. i will reserve a little place in my heart for these two to stay forever 🥰🥰
also, i won’t say much because if you pick this up, then you’ll figure it out but book 2. oh yeah i am SEATED for that development cus well, damn yeah 😏😏😏
quotes 🤍
He tilts his head as it happens, like he’s trying to hide it from me. And still, I can’t breathe. Can’t move. Just watch, wide-eyed, hoping I don’t do something stupid to make it vanish. But it stays, lingering for a few heartbeats, and in those few seconds, I see the man beneath the sadness.
He goes still. I shouldn’t kiss him, it’s a terrible idea. Whatever this is, it can’t be real. He’s sunlight, and I’m the storm that could swallow him whole.
“Been wanting you to do this all week,” I rasp against his lips. All week, twelve years, same thing.
But I know I’m not going anywhere. I’ll hold space for him. I’ll keep the light on. I’ll kiss his scar every day until it becomes a distant memory. I’m determined to be whatever he needs. For as long as he needs it. I’d take his nightmares if I could. Every single one. Because Gabe deserves nothing but peace. And I’d tear the world apart helping him find it.
We fit like we’ve done this across lifetimes—like the shape of him has always lived inside me, waiting to be remembered. I melt into him. It’s as if my heart finally understands what it’s been searching for all along.
“Can I taste you, Gabe?”
“Ask nicely,”
“Please, baby. I need to taste you. Please.” 🫢
mm slump cured!!!!!
______
repeat after me, this book is going to cure laura’s mm slump 🙂↕️ 🙏🏻
4.5 🌟 - my booksta edit
gabe and noah 😭 oh this book made my heart so full. a beautiful, emotional and heartwarming read. these two are genuinely the sweetest, most precious and kindest souls, mixed with some hot as hell moments too, like damn. these two were so smitten and love sick & i loved it. im so happy i finally picked this up!
the hurt/comfort trope will always get me. there is something about seeing someone receive the care and love they always deserved whilst slowly healing. it feels so vulnerable and soft. ’He’s my whole world—my sun, my moon, my universe. Everything else falls away until there’s only him.’ 🥺
gabe is too precious for words. my heart squeezes thinking of this man. his trauma and mental health struggles hit deep, this beautiful soul really had the light taken from him, but underneath it all he was always the genuinely beautiful person. his anxiety and depression was portrayed in such a vulnerable and raw way, i definitely had tears a few times. his struggles were deep and made me so sad to read about. he truly deserves all the healing and love that the universe has to offer. watching him realise his self worth and how incredible he was, ugh it has me feeling so emotional. he’s so perfect 🥺
noah oh, he is an absolute angel!! a patience, caring and loving soul. the way he always cared so gently for gabe, he never pushed or made him uncomfortable. he just genuinely wanted him to feel safe and happy. the fact he would take even a tiny part of him, and would be happy if that’s all he ever got. the comfort he showed gabe makes me want to sob, because this is the kind of love everyone deserves! to be loved so deeply and unconditionally. not to mention this guy is the king of consent 🙂↕️ topped with a dirty mouth. it was so freakin hot!!! “Now, be a good boy and fuck my throat.” 🥵
a cute little small town vibe isn’t something i’d typically say is always me, but something about this just completely sucked me into their lives. the setting was so fresh in my mind and i feel like i could move there and slot into this perfect found family and live the happiest life ever.
talking of found family, this was executed so well. the friendships are the kind that you can only be so lucky to say you have. friends who stand by you through every step of life and make living feeling a bit lighter on the bad days. abbie and ciarán gave gabe a friendship that never stopped grounding him, and made him feel seen and loved.
i will say this is definitely a bit cheesy towards the end but i don’t care, i love them so much!!!! it was like reading about the two most precious people having the biggest crush on eachother and it was the cutest thing ever!!! it was like a warm hug that i never wanted to end. the little things these two did for eachother was so freakin adorable. they were made for eachother.
i genuinely had the best time with this book. the combo of best friends brother, years of pining, hurt/comfort, mental health rep and flithy smut (yeah it was hot af) - it just worked so well. i love them so much. i will reserve a little place in my heart for these two to stay forever 🥰🥰
also, i won’t say much because if you pick this up, then you’ll figure it out but book 2. oh yeah i am SEATED for that development cus well, damn yeah 😏😏😏
quotes 🤍
He tilts his head as it happens, like he’s trying to hide it from me. And still, I can’t breathe. Can’t move. Just watch, wide-eyed, hoping I don’t do something stupid to make it vanish. But it stays, lingering for a few heartbeats, and in those few seconds, I see the man beneath the sadness.
He goes still. I shouldn’t kiss him, it’s a terrible idea. Whatever this is, it can’t be real. He’s sunlight, and I’m the storm that could swallow him whole.
“Been wanting you to do this all week,” I rasp against his lips. All week, twelve years, same thing.
But I know I’m not going anywhere. I’ll hold space for him. I’ll keep the light on. I’ll kiss his scar every day until it becomes a distant memory. I’m determined to be whatever he needs. For as long as he needs it. I’d take his nightmares if I could. Every single one. Because Gabe deserves nothing but peace. And I’d tear the world apart helping him find it.
We fit like we’ve done this across lifetimes—like the shape of him has always lived inside me, waiting to be remembered. I melt into him. It’s as if my heart finally understands what it’s been searching for all along.
“Can I taste you, Gabe?”
“Ask nicely,”
“Please, baby. I need to taste you. Please.” 🫢
mm slump cured!!!!!
______
repeat after me, this book is going to cure laura’s mm slump 🙂↕️ 🙏🏻
April 25, 2026
First things first, the writing is extremely melodramatic and sappy. There were times I had to turn off my phone and take a break because of how utterly cringe parts were 😭 like lines like this:
"The lake shimmers. The world holds its breath... I stare, memorizing every angle of this version of him, the one wrapped in sunset, unguarded and radiant."
ughhhh. like please stop. you're so cringe.
Definitely could've cut down the 600 pages and gotten rid of the unnecessary text.
Noah and the friends are too perfect. Too understanding, too affectionate; it would be nice to see their own personalities.
This veers into preachy territory. Like we know it's hard to be friends with someone with mental health issues. We know people have good and bad days. Give me a story, not a lecture.
This book sets up the next two couples. And that was another annoying thing. Don't give me half of Ciaran and Aidan's story when it's not even their book.
I simultaneously have a lot of complaints but also loved this.
The sex was hot afffff. It tapered off and I found myself skimming at the end tho.
The pacing of their relationship felt natural. I wanted to know more about the abusive ex and what he did-I feel like that was skimmed over.
If you want an angsty hurt/comfort read, read this.
"The lake shimmers. The world holds its breath... I stare, memorizing every angle of this version of him, the one wrapped in sunset, unguarded and radiant."
ughhhh. like please stop. you're so cringe.
Definitely could've cut down the 600 pages and gotten rid of the unnecessary text.
Noah and the friends are too perfect. Too understanding, too affectionate; it would be nice to see their own personalities.
This veers into preachy territory. Like we know it's hard to be friends with someone with mental health issues. We know people have good and bad days. Give me a story, not a lecture.
This book sets up the next two couples. And that was another annoying thing. Don't give me half of Ciaran and Aidan's story when it's not even their book.
I simultaneously have a lot of complaints but also loved this.
The sex was hot afffff. It tapered off and I found myself skimming at the end tho.
The pacing of their relationship felt natural. I wanted to know more about the abusive ex and what he did-I feel like that was skimmed over.
If you want an angsty hurt/comfort read, read this.
May 29, 2026
Shelved Hearts is a slow burn MM romance about Gabe and Noah.
This was a tough story to read. There are some heavy topics so please make sure to check out the content warnings. My heart hurt for Gabe and the past abuse he suffered. Noah was the greenest flag and so incredibly patient. Gabe’s brother, friends, and especially Noah were so supportive of what he was going through. We see Gabe trying to recover and heal, and I appreciate that love wasn’t a quick fix for it.
I don’t want to seem insensitive and I feel bad for saying this, but I started to get a little frustrated with Gabe. It was tough to see him struggling, but it got to a point where I felt things started to drag on. It was a pretty lengthy book. What kept me going was Noah and his unending love and patience. Gabe and Noah had so many sweet moments that made me swoon. I also really enjoyed their spicy times, especially Noah’s dirty talk. Gabe and Noah’s chosen family was amazing and I hope we get more of these characters in the future.
In the end, Gabe finally gets professional help. I was so happy to see how things turned out for Gabe and Noah. Noah was Gabe’s safe place, and it was wonderful to see Gabe learn to trust and find love. Noah is definitely a top tier book boyfriend. These two definitely deserved all the happiness. Absolutely loved the epilogue!
This was a tough story to read. There are some heavy topics so please make sure to check out the content warnings. My heart hurt for Gabe and the past abuse he suffered. Noah was the greenest flag and so incredibly patient. Gabe’s brother, friends, and especially Noah were so supportive of what he was going through. We see Gabe trying to recover and heal, and I appreciate that love wasn’t a quick fix for it.
I don’t want to seem insensitive and I feel bad for saying this, but I started to get a little frustrated with Gabe. It was tough to see him struggling, but it got to a point where I felt things started to drag on. It was a pretty lengthy book. What kept me going was Noah and his unending love and patience. Gabe and Noah had so many sweet moments that made me swoon. I also really enjoyed their spicy times, especially Noah’s dirty talk. Gabe and Noah’s chosen family was amazing and I hope we get more of these characters in the future.
In the end, Gabe finally gets professional help. I was so happy to see how things turned out for Gabe and Noah. Noah was Gabe’s safe place, and it was wonderful to see Gabe learn to trust and find love. Noah is definitely a top tier book boyfriend. These two definitely deserved all the happiness. Absolutely loved the epilogue!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Some books are written, not for entertainment, but to change something in the reader. This book is one of those for me.
Gabe's trauma is handled with so much care, and I couldn’t look away for one second.
The small things hurt the most - like the Oreo cookies he couldn’t buy for so long because they were tied to bad memories. The fact that something so ordinary could hold so much pain. And then Noah quietly putting them in the basket for him?
That moment meant EVERYTHING.
The panic attack in the bookstore had me in literal tears. Noah talking him through it so gently. Not touching him, just talking to him, bringing him back to himself.
The first hug - the first time Gabe chose to reach out and touch someone.
Yes, tears again. This book did that a lot to me.
The side characters, their little family...but especially Abbie and Ciarán, felt like real, lived-in friendships. The kind that hold you together when you're falling apart. Gabe couldn't have asked for better friends.
This story doesn't rush healing. It shows how nonlinear and terrifying it can be.
Gabe self-sabotages. He spirals. He believes he's too broken to be loved. And yet Noah NEVER wavers. He doesn't try to fix him. He just stays.
The intimacy in this book isn't just physical.
It's emotional reclamation.
Gabe choosing to hold Noah's hand. To touch him.
Choosing to share a bed because he wants to.
Choosing therapy.
Choosing to stay.
When the ex shows up…it's...devastating.
The aftermath nearly broke me 😭
The suicide attempt was handled with raw honesty, and Noah's quiet devastation afterward - checking Gabe's breathing at night, barely sleeping - was just as heartbreaking 😭
But this book is ultimately about hope. About love that doesn't give up. EVER.
About building a life after surviving something horrific.
Choosing to trust, and to love again with everything you have.
The epilogue - ten years later, married, two little girls - felt so hard earned.
This was soft. Brutal. Healing. Absolutely beautiful.
Gabe's trauma is handled with so much care, and I couldn’t look away for one second.
The small things hurt the most - like the Oreo cookies he couldn’t buy for so long because they were tied to bad memories. The fact that something so ordinary could hold so much pain. And then Noah quietly putting them in the basket for him?
That moment meant EVERYTHING.
The panic attack in the bookstore had me in literal tears. Noah talking him through it so gently. Not touching him, just talking to him, bringing him back to himself.
The first hug - the first time Gabe chose to reach out and touch someone.
Yes, tears again. This book did that a lot to me.
The side characters, their little family...but especially Abbie and Ciarán, felt like real, lived-in friendships. The kind that hold you together when you're falling apart. Gabe couldn't have asked for better friends.
This story doesn't rush healing. It shows how nonlinear and terrifying it can be.
Gabe self-sabotages. He spirals. He believes he's too broken to be loved. And yet Noah NEVER wavers. He doesn't try to fix him. He just stays.
The intimacy in this book isn't just physical.
It's emotional reclamation.
Gabe choosing to hold Noah's hand. To touch him.
Choosing to share a bed because he wants to.
Choosing therapy.
Choosing to stay.
When the ex shows up…it's...devastating.
The aftermath nearly broke me 😭
The suicide attempt was handled with raw honesty, and Noah's quiet devastation afterward - checking Gabe's breathing at night, barely sleeping - was just as heartbreaking 😭
But this book is ultimately about hope. About love that doesn't give up. EVER.
About building a life after surviving something horrific.
Choosing to trust, and to love again with everything you have.
The epilogue - ten years later, married, two little girls - felt so hard earned.
This was soft. Brutal. Healing. Absolutely beautiful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Shelved Hearts
Laura Kain
Gabe & Noah
Brothers best friend
Forced Proximity
Pining
Care taking / Soft traumatized love interest
Slow burn
Trauma recovery / Self worth arc
Found Family
Protective sunshine / Anxious introvert
So, I’m not crying, you’re crying. This was absolutely fantastic. What a beautiful, tender, romantic, sweet love story. Two people finding home in each other.
This was written so well, the pacing felt perfect. Sweet, funny, tender, emotional, spicy… this hit all the boxes.
Gabe and Noah were literally perfect for each other. They saw each other, truly saw each other, for who they really were. Ugh my heart this was beautiful.
A slow burn romance but it felt so right. The intimacy, safety, and vulnerability felt so perfect.
Gabe had been through a horrible trauma, I don’t think he had ever really dealt with it, he tried to hide it, but these things never truly stay in the dark.
Noah had never really felt like anywhere, but Gabe was his home, Gabe made him feel seen and loved. Ugh these two, what a stunning beautiful romantic book.
Now there are some very challenging scenes in here, definitely check your triggers, they are clearly labelled.
I also think the way these sensitive topics were handled was done well. I just wanted to wrap these two in a protective bubble.
The friend group in this was everything, truly loving and supportive. I cannot wait for the next book … C!!!! EEK I loved all of them.
Once these two felt comfortable to have spicy times … shooooottt, phew, so hot, wow, fantastic scenes. I think they were so good, because they had such trust and love for each other that they could be free and comfortable. They had such a solid foundation. So good.
I adored this world. I loved these two. I am so excited to read more from this author and this world!
This is absolutely going into my top books of the year for sure
So thankful for this arc.
Laura Kain
Gabe & Noah
Brothers best friend
Forced Proximity
Pining
Care taking / Soft traumatized love interest
Slow burn
Trauma recovery / Self worth arc
Found Family
Protective sunshine / Anxious introvert
So, I’m not crying, you’re crying. This was absolutely fantastic. What a beautiful, tender, romantic, sweet love story. Two people finding home in each other.
This was written so well, the pacing felt perfect. Sweet, funny, tender, emotional, spicy… this hit all the boxes.
Gabe and Noah were literally perfect for each other. They saw each other, truly saw each other, for who they really were. Ugh my heart this was beautiful.
A slow burn romance but it felt so right. The intimacy, safety, and vulnerability felt so perfect.
Gabe had been through a horrible trauma, I don’t think he had ever really dealt with it, he tried to hide it, but these things never truly stay in the dark.
Noah had never really felt like anywhere, but Gabe was his home, Gabe made him feel seen and loved. Ugh these two, what a stunning beautiful romantic book.
Now there are some very challenging scenes in here, definitely check your triggers, they are clearly labelled.
I also think the way these sensitive topics were handled was done well. I just wanted to wrap these two in a protective bubble.
The friend group in this was everything, truly loving and supportive. I cannot wait for the next book … C!!!! EEK I loved all of them.
Once these two felt comfortable to have spicy times … shooooottt, phew, so hot, wow, fantastic scenes. I think they were so good, because they had such trust and love for each other that they could be free and comfortable. They had such a solid foundation. So good.
I adored this world. I loved these two. I am so excited to read more from this author and this world!
This is absolutely going into my top books of the year for sure
So thankful for this arc.
March 6, 2026
i will stand by that the hurt-comfort paired with genuine care taking and soft love in this might just have me in a chokehold that i never wanna be free from.
these characters were effortlessly beautiful and felt truly authentic in every sense of the word — i have said this before but if a piece of writing can feel like i am reading a personal diary, seeing their private, intimate and vulnerable thoughts, then this is the writing for me, it seals in such an experience that you are captivated in and that’s simply how i felt while reading this book.
for this to be a debut is extraordinary and i am 100% keeping track on future books from this author because she has set up the most beautiful friendship group and found family that i am on my knees for and need their books immediately.
this book focuses on quite heavy and emotional themes, healing from trauma, mental health rep, touch avoidance but desperately starved for it, finding yourself again - and it delivered ten fold. the surrounding support system that our gabe has is everything and i am just in love with them all, like can i move to willowrun? just let me live my slow and steady, soft life with these angels and enjoy book club and breakfast coffee dates and cooking for eachother, it’s everything you want from a small town romance.
i highly recommend this read, if you want emotional depth, real authentic soft love with all the big and deep feelings with men who are totally obsessed with each other then this is all you.
it’s gotta be said though, the spice hits so fcking good — do not be fooled by this review, as much as these boys are the sweetest of souls, gentle with love and care, they are down right filthy and i ate every single crumb.
ty for the ARC
run don’t walk okayyyyy OUT MARCH 6 🖤
these characters were effortlessly beautiful and felt truly authentic in every sense of the word — i have said this before but if a piece of writing can feel like i am reading a personal diary, seeing their private, intimate and vulnerable thoughts, then this is the writing for me, it seals in such an experience that you are captivated in and that’s simply how i felt while reading this book.
for this to be a debut is extraordinary and i am 100% keeping track on future books from this author because she has set up the most beautiful friendship group and found family that i am on my knees for and need their books immediately.
this book focuses on quite heavy and emotional themes, healing from trauma, mental health rep, touch avoidance but desperately starved for it, finding yourself again - and it delivered ten fold. the surrounding support system that our gabe has is everything and i am just in love with them all, like can i move to willowrun? just let me live my slow and steady, soft life with these angels and enjoy book club and breakfast coffee dates and cooking for eachother, it’s everything you want from a small town romance.
i highly recommend this read, if you want emotional depth, real authentic soft love with all the big and deep feelings with men who are totally obsessed with each other then this is all you.
it’s gotta be said though, the spice hits so fcking good — do not be fooled by this review, as much as these boys are the sweetest of souls, gentle with love and care, they are down right filthy and i ate every single crumb.
ty for the ARC
run don’t walk okayyyyy OUT MARCH 6 🖤
May 11, 2026
First of all, I can say that this book is 100% worth the hype. I really loved this read. It’s definitely one of my top 10 reads this year. Gabe broke me, and Noah put me back together again. I saw so much of myself in Gabe. There were some things he had said in the book that I have said lately, and that hit really hard. Mental health rep plays a huge role in this story, so there is a lot of hurt/comfort. I love how Noah was such a rock for Gabe and that he came back into his life when he needed him the most. How he made Gabe realize that he didn’t have to live with the hurt and the terror all by himself. That he soon came to realize that he had people to lean on and didn’t have to shoulder his trauma all on his own and how he finally looked at himself as a survivor and not as a victim. Gabe is such a brave character with stepping out of his comfort zone — going out with friends and seeking help — to find himself the sense of normalcy he had before he went through his trauma. If you love all the hurt/comfort, brother’s best friend, roommates, and all the pining, you could ask for, then you will love Gabe and Noah’s story.
April 28, 2026
ARC REVIEW
MY HEART HURTS:.. I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCHH
6⭐️
I need this injected into my veins it feels so freaking real. Every page, every chapter I felt everything. It felt more than a book it felt like real emotions real life that was panning out infront of you, it felt soo real I can’t even explain it. Gabe’s story I felt a connection to him and he was experiencing with his severe anxiety. I feel like this book expresses true emotions so phenomenally. Noah and Gabe my freaking precious beans.
This has become of my favorite books of all time right now, the way I kept crying, the way I felt everything on each page, the way it smoothly flowed, the way I laughed at Noah’s sticky notes and his overall character being there for Gabe had my entire heart we all need a man like Noah!!
And Noah and Gabe their relationship my beans I love them they were so sweet and so amazing together and their journey throughout the book and how gentle Noah was ughhh I love these men so much!!
I also wanna mention how all characters in this story I fell in love with, every single one. And I really can’t wait for Aiden and Ciarán their chemistry and their banter was everything and Ciarán calling Aiden “daddy” had me laughing I love them and I can’t wait for their storyyyyy!!! However I’m excited just for more of everyone like I didn’t want this story to end cause I feel like I got so invested I dint want it to end right away like I love that aspect a lot.
this story was needed to be told, the trauma gabe went though of abuse and the severe anxiety attacks was so heartbreaking to watch and have it pan out but Noah being there to help him get through that and he is safe space really makes me love them because of how much stuff they both went though they had each other it help get them through things and ughh my heart.
I highly highly recommend this book for so many reasons but one of them is how it is so needed right now and how relatable this book can be and Noah and gave should be shown to the world I love them so much.
If you relate to this book I just want to say I’m sorry you had to go through what you did and I hope you are at a place of love and you found your Noah. You found your person, your safe space. If you did I’m so proud of you. If you haven’t you will find your person and you are enough and you are strong in ever domineer. And just keep pushing, keep going
MY HEART HURTS:.. I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCHH
6⭐️
I need this injected into my veins it feels so freaking real. Every page, every chapter I felt everything. It felt more than a book it felt like real emotions real life that was panning out infront of you, it felt soo real I can’t even explain it. Gabe’s story I felt a connection to him and he was experiencing with his severe anxiety. I feel like this book expresses true emotions so phenomenally. Noah and Gabe my freaking precious beans.
This has become of my favorite books of all time right now, the way I kept crying, the way I felt everything on each page, the way it smoothly flowed, the way I laughed at Noah’s sticky notes and his overall character being there for Gabe had my entire heart we all need a man like Noah!!
And Noah and Gabe their relationship my beans I love them they were so sweet and so amazing together and their journey throughout the book and how gentle Noah was ughhh I love these men so much!!
I also wanna mention how all characters in this story I fell in love with, every single one. And I really can’t wait for Aiden and Ciarán their chemistry and their banter was everything and Ciarán calling Aiden “daddy” had me laughing I love them and I can’t wait for their storyyyyy!!! However I’m excited just for more of everyone like I didn’t want this story to end cause I feel like I got so invested I dint want it to end right away like I love that aspect a lot.
this story was needed to be told, the trauma gabe went though of abuse and the severe anxiety attacks was so heartbreaking to watch and have it pan out but Noah being there to help him get through that and he is safe space really makes me love them because of how much stuff they both went though they had each other it help get them through things and ughh my heart.
I highly highly recommend this book for so many reasons but one of them is how it is so needed right now and how relatable this book can be and Noah and gave should be shown to the world I love them so much.
If you relate to this book I just want to say I’m sorry you had to go through what you did and I hope you are at a place of love and you found your Noah. You found your person, your safe space. If you did I’m so proud of you. If you haven’t you will find your person and you are enough and you are strong in ever domineer. And just keep pushing, keep going
March 12, 2026
Okay, this wasn't quite for me, unfortunately. There is slow burn and then there's just... slow. I’m not saying that the book is bad, because I'm sure many people like it, and it is a beautiful, heartwarming story about love and healing. But for my taste, it was too repetitive, cliché, sappy and a bit too melodramatic in some places.
It feels like the author wanted to include everything that should appeal to readers in this book. Meaning, that one of the MMCs is traumatized, timid, shy and really sweet, and the other is this perfect, patient, white knight without any flaws. All of Gabe and Noah's interactions are really cautious and overly sweet, and then when spice comes up, they suddenly go straight to talking about big, fat 🍆, and of course all the usuals “good boy” and “you’re mine” are thrown in there fairly quickly too. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good staple, same as the next person, but here, with everything else, the end result was that it tried too hard, and because of that I was a little put off.
As for the plotline involving Gabe's ex, it was a little poorly executed, there could have been more to it. Since it was such a big part of this the whole time.
In the end, I ended up skimming through quite a lot of it, especially the last 20%. Overall it was quite repetitive —considering that it's about 600 pages long, it didn't offer much.
This book does have a lot of good as well, funny and heartwarming moments, good banter and great supporting characters—I assume that Ciarán and Aiden will get their own book, which could be more captivating.
It feels like the author wanted to include everything that should appeal to readers in this book. Meaning, that one of the MMCs is traumatized, timid, shy and really sweet, and the other is this perfect, patient, white knight without any flaws. All of Gabe and Noah's interactions are really cautious and overly sweet, and then when spice comes up, they suddenly go straight to talking about big, fat 🍆, and of course all the usuals “good boy” and “you’re mine” are thrown in there fairly quickly too. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good staple, same as the next person, but here, with everything else, the end result was that it tried too hard, and because of that I was a little put off.
As for the plotline involving Gabe's ex, it was a little poorly executed, there could have been more to it. Since it was such a big part of this the whole time.
In the end, I ended up skimming through quite a lot of it, especially the last 20%. Overall it was quite repetitive —considering that it's about 600 pages long, it didn't offer much.
This book does have a lot of good as well, funny and heartwarming moments, good banter and great supporting characters—I assume that Ciarán and Aiden will get their own book, which could be more captivating.
March 21, 2026
2+
Mam mieszane uczucia 👀
Początek poszedł szybko i myślałam, że reszta pójdzie w takim samym tempie. Ale gdzieś coś się zacięło i nie było już ani tak dobrze, ani tak szybko. Przeczytanie jej zajęło mi 11 dni (choć krótka to ona nie była) - momentami wydawała mi się dobra, jednak w większości się dłużyła i nudziła, miałam wrażenie, że przez długi czas kręcimy się w kółko i gonimy własny ogon z historią. A potem zrobiła się ckliwa i przesłodzona i oczy zaczęły mi wypadać od przewracania na teksty, które padały. Sceny seksu - jak już się pojawiły - były długie i było ich za dużo. Rozumiem traumę Gabe'a, ale czytałam świetne książki dotyczące uwolnienia się z toksycznego, przemocowego i kontrolującego związku, z traumą dotyczącą właściwie wszystkiego, w tym wszelkiego dotyku (nie mówiąc już o seksie), ale ta niestety do nich nie należy 🫤
I oczywiście rozumiem, że to slow-burn. Ale jest slow-burn i jest slow-burn, przy którym ma się ochotę w coś kopnąć i osobiście coś popchnąć, żeby przyspieszyć historię...
Tak naprawdę mocno się zmęczyłam podczas czytania i odetchnęłam z ulgą, kiedy już skończyłam... zdecydowanie czterech liter nie urywa.
Zaokrągliłam w górę, ale nie mam pewności, czy dobrze zrobiłam 👀
Choć nie ukrywam, że pewnie sięgnę po następne części, bo jestem ciekawa pozostałych historii...
Mam mieszane uczucia 👀
Początek poszedł szybko i myślałam, że reszta pójdzie w takim samym tempie. Ale gdzieś coś się zacięło i nie było już ani tak dobrze, ani tak szybko. Przeczytanie jej zajęło mi 11 dni (choć krótka to ona nie była) - momentami wydawała mi się dobra, jednak w większości się dłużyła i nudziła, miałam wrażenie, że przez długi czas kręcimy się w kółko i gonimy własny ogon z historią. A potem zrobiła się ckliwa i przesłodzona i oczy zaczęły mi wypadać od przewracania na teksty, które padały. Sceny seksu - jak już się pojawiły - były długie i było ich za dużo. Rozumiem traumę Gabe'a, ale czytałam świetne książki dotyczące uwolnienia się z toksycznego, przemocowego i kontrolującego związku, z traumą dotyczącą właściwie wszystkiego, w tym wszelkiego dotyku (nie mówiąc już o seksie), ale ta niestety do nich nie należy 🫤
I oczywiście rozumiem, że to slow-burn. Ale jest slow-burn i jest slow-burn, przy którym ma się ochotę w coś kopnąć i osobiście coś popchnąć, żeby przyspieszyć historię...
Tak naprawdę mocno się zmęczyłam podczas czytania i odetchnęłam z ulgą, kiedy już skończyłam... zdecydowanie czterech liter nie urywa.
Zaokrągliłam w górę, ale nie mam pewności, czy dobrze zrobiłam 👀
Choć nie ukrywam, że pewnie sięgnę po następne części, bo jestem ciekawa pozostałych historii...
March 7, 2026
I think a lot of this book is the before… before you realise you deserve to feel better, have more, be happy! Before that it’s just so much harder not that the healing itself isn’t hard but the resistance the doubt makes everything so so much harder. It makes this book hard to read in parts. Not that Noah isn’t looking to belong and has his own struggles in book but god Gabe, Gabe just breaks my heart.
Thank fully the author gives him a support system and resources and Noah. Sweet kind all in Noah. and in the end I love how Gabe chooses more for himself chooses to seek help he needs to make his journey earsier
This is a tough book to review because the author parses through all the naked parts of trauma.
And it’s not like there isn’t beautiful light and laughter in this book.
So here are some reasons I think you should read this story
- non linear healing
- It’s a story of hope at the end of it
- Learning to lean
- Finding your person and learning to trust
- Exceptional family and found found family
- Hilarious notes
- Small wins and big breakthroughs which are cathartic
- Great cheeky banter
- Exceptional side characters which need their own stories
- Fiery chemistry
- It’s a bookstore
- Some of you love soup
- There are cookies
- And Italian food
- 80’s movies and music
- Tattoos
the only thing is, coffee didn’t get the limelight so you’ll have to make do with tea
I loved the pacing of this book, it takes it’s time but it’s gripping and it deserves time to be read and absorbed.
I highly recommend reading it, the trigger warning have been carefully detailed by the author so take care of yourself.
Thank fully the author gives him a support system and resources and Noah. Sweet kind all in Noah. and in the end I love how Gabe chooses more for himself chooses to seek help he needs to make his journey earsier
This is a tough book to review because the author parses through all the naked parts of trauma.
And it’s not like there isn’t beautiful light and laughter in this book.
So here are some reasons I think you should read this story
- non linear healing
- It’s a story of hope at the end of it
- Learning to lean
- Finding your person and learning to trust
- Exceptional family and found found family
- Hilarious notes
- Small wins and big breakthroughs which are cathartic
- Great cheeky banter
- Exceptional side characters which need their own stories
- Fiery chemistry
- It’s a bookstore
- Some of you love soup
- There are cookies
- And Italian food
- 80’s movies and music
- Tattoos
the only thing is, coffee didn’t get the limelight so you’ll have to make do with tea
I loved the pacing of this book, it takes it’s time but it’s gripping and it deserves time to be read and absorbed.
I highly recommend reading it, the trigger warning have been carefully detailed by the author so take care of yourself.
April 20, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
format: ebook
very cute and sweet.
unfortunately about 150+ pages too long.
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
format: ebook
very cute and sweet.
unfortunately about 150+ pages too long.
April 17, 2026
I cannot believe I didn't cry at this book, because it is so beautifully heartbreaking! There is so much hurt, and eventual healing that this story covers... and it goes deep too, at a slow pace that feels real. I think anyone that deals with mental health issues, or has a loved one that does, can truly relate to a lot of this story. There is no amount of cheerleading or positive attitude that can help a person through their trauma/depression, unless they are able to help themselves. And that's the essence of this story. Love helps, but it cannot heal on its own.
Gabe & Noah. Oh these two are wonderful together. Gabe has had a traumatic past that basically becomes his identity. It affects everything, at every moment, and he is struggling. His brother's best friend Noah is back in town and in need of a place to stay. Noah, unknown to poor Gabe, has pretty much loved him since he was a young teen, so when the chance to become roommates with Gabe is offered, he is all in. Right from the start Noah is committed to being a calming and positive light in Gabe's life and its a beautiful slow burn build of a friends to lovers relationship.
This is a slow burn, but when that switch is flipped, hold on because it gets spicy! Noah is a dirty talking, praise giving, beefcake of a man that makes it his life goal to please Gabe. Whoo, yea. That second half, while still full of emotions and turmoil, packs the heat. This book will definitely stick in my head for a while, and I am excited to see this is the beginning of a series, because the side characters (which are VERY prominent through out the story) will be getting their stories too.
Contemporary MM
Brother's Best Friend
Its Always Been You
Greenest Flag MC
Found Family
Hurt/Comfort/Healing
Dirty Talking MC
Slow Burn
Praise Kink
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Gabe & Noah. Oh these two are wonderful together. Gabe has had a traumatic past that basically becomes his identity. It affects everything, at every moment, and he is struggling. His brother's best friend Noah is back in town and in need of a place to stay. Noah, unknown to poor Gabe, has pretty much loved him since he was a young teen, so when the chance to become roommates with Gabe is offered, he is all in. Right from the start Noah is committed to being a calming and positive light in Gabe's life and its a beautiful slow burn build of a friends to lovers relationship.
This is a slow burn, but when that switch is flipped, hold on because it gets spicy! Noah is a dirty talking, praise giving, beefcake of a man that makes it his life goal to please Gabe. Whoo, yea. That second half, while still full of emotions and turmoil, packs the heat. This book will definitely stick in my head for a while, and I am excited to see this is the beginning of a series, because the side characters (which are VERY prominent through out the story) will be getting their stories too.
Contemporary MM
Brother's Best Friend
Its Always Been You
Greenest Flag MC
Found Family
Hurt/Comfort/Healing
Dirty Talking MC
Slow Burn
Praise Kink
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
April 30, 2026
Heavy spoilers ahead so don't read unless you truly don't care for spoilers or you've already read the book. ~
Noah completely stole the show in this book. He literally could not have been more perfect. 💖
He is confident and a ray of sunshine but SO down bad for Gabe from the start. He's obsessed, never wavers, just gets more obsessed and feels sooooo lucky to have Gabe. He's seriously got tunnel vision for his man. PERFECT. He's just absolutely perfect. 🥰
And Gabe, I loved that he didn't push Noah away because he considered himself broken, he soaked up that connection and fully embraced it even if he was terrified and unsure of how long he'd be able to have it. His constant blushing because of Noah was absolutely adorable. I'm so glad he was just as smitten with Noah, and recognized what a treasure he had.
The steam? I don't think i've ever read the person bottoming praising and sorta talking the top through it? Noah's filthy mouth felt a little out of place but then it seemed to fit him perfectly 😂
The book is loooooong and at times it felt like it dragged for me, lot of time spent on inner monologuing.
Did I wish that the third act incident happened earlier on? Yes, I do. The first half of the book was gloomy but it kept steadily getting more positive and light hearted and then once the incident happened it became so heavy that I didn't feel like I was able to fully rebuild that lightness that was there before. It makes perfect sense to showcase how trauma recovery isn't linear and how a trigger can easily cause a spiral even after a lot of positive progress BUT I felt like that message could've still held while having it happen earlier. Maybe it's because big dramatic third acts as so expected nowadays that I feel like most of them they don't really bring anything of value to a story. I wished that afterwards the recovery had felt more organic instead of feeling like it was just going through the motions of what's expected after something like that. I dunno, I still feel heavy after reading even though we do get to see them have a settled peace and a beautiful proposal/epilogue afterwards.
Thanks to Sarah💗 I was aware that there was going to be a lot of focus on the next pairing but I didn't know how heavy handed it was actually going to be, I felt so angsty every time they were on page because I kept getting worried the author was going to have them be hooking up with other people even though it was obvious they were going to be the next couple.😭
I prefer to get small glimpses with future MCs otherwise I already build up an idea of their character which leaves a 50/50 chance that their book would lean into that or have them turn out completely different then how they're shown in other books. 😫
I can't rate this any lower than 4 because I really realllyyyy loved this couple. There's some instalove going but the declarations don't come till later and there's a slow heat progression that was done just right. This had some good ol' longing and a lot of non sexual but still romantic intimacy and it's cheesy! Love me some cheese. 🧀🥰
Up next is Aiden and C's book that is most likely going to be enemies to lovers 🙃
And then we'll probably get Theo's second chance romance with the person we got breadcrumbed when he got a new follower for his shop and he knew the exact time that had passed since last hearing from them🤔
I'm really curious about the florist!Hopefully that won't be an MMM situation with Theo because I'd have to skip it. Selfishly hoping that's another sweet hurt/comfort but this time with a stranger. 🤞🏻
Also, omg pls don't make Kyle an MC. 😫 that apology was suspicious! It takes more than drinking to turn someone into an abusive pos. 😭
Noah completely stole the show in this book. He literally could not have been more perfect. 💖
He is confident and a ray of sunshine but SO down bad for Gabe from the start. He's obsessed, never wavers, just gets more obsessed and feels sooooo lucky to have Gabe. He's seriously got tunnel vision for his man. PERFECT. He's just absolutely perfect. 🥰
And Gabe, I loved that he didn't push Noah away because he considered himself broken, he soaked up that connection and fully embraced it even if he was terrified and unsure of how long he'd be able to have it. His constant blushing because of Noah was absolutely adorable. I'm so glad he was just as smitten with Noah, and recognized what a treasure he had.
The steam? I don't think i've ever read the person bottoming praising and sorta talking the top through it? Noah's filthy mouth felt a little out of place but then it seemed to fit him perfectly 😂
The book is loooooong and at times it felt like it dragged for me, lot of time spent on inner monologuing.
Did I wish that the third act incident happened earlier on? Yes, I do. The first half of the book was gloomy but it kept steadily getting more positive and light hearted and then once the incident happened it became so heavy that I didn't feel like I was able to fully rebuild that lightness that was there before. It makes perfect sense to showcase how trauma recovery isn't linear and how a trigger can easily cause a spiral even after a lot of positive progress BUT I felt like that message could've still held while having it happen earlier. Maybe it's because big dramatic third acts as so expected nowadays that I feel like most of them they don't really bring anything of value to a story. I wished that afterwards the recovery had felt more organic instead of feeling like it was just going through the motions of what's expected after something like that. I dunno, I still feel heavy after reading even though we do get to see them have a settled peace and a beautiful proposal/epilogue afterwards.
Thanks to Sarah💗 I was aware that there was going to be a lot of focus on the next pairing but I didn't know how heavy handed it was actually going to be, I felt so angsty every time they were on page because I kept getting worried the author was going to have them be hooking up with other people even though it was obvious they were going to be the next couple.😭
I prefer to get small glimpses with future MCs otherwise I already build up an idea of their character which leaves a 50/50 chance that their book would lean into that or have them turn out completely different then how they're shown in other books. 😫
I can't rate this any lower than 4 because I really realllyyyy loved this couple. There's some instalove going but the declarations don't come till later and there's a slow heat progression that was done just right. This had some good ol' longing and a lot of non sexual but still romantic intimacy and it's cheesy! Love me some cheese. 🧀🥰
Up next is Aiden and C's book that is most likely going to be enemies to lovers 🙃
And then we'll probably get Theo's second chance romance with the person we got breadcrumbed when he got a new follower for his shop and he knew the exact time that had passed since last hearing from them🤔
I'm really curious about the florist!Hopefully that won't be an MMM situation with Theo because I'd have to skip it. Selfishly hoping that's another sweet hurt/comfort but this time with a stranger. 🤞🏻
Also, omg pls don't make Kyle an MC. 😫 that apology was suspicious! It takes more than drinking to turn someone into an abusive pos. 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2026
⋆˙⟡Pre-read⋆˙⟡: (technically this is after I read it) -- THIS TOOK SO LONG FOR ME TO FINISH, BUT IT WAS SO GOOD, WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG *ahem* please continue
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I love this one sm, and you will be hearing about it
✧˖°.Post-read✧˖°.: Recently released and just stop, because this was so good. Which I say a lot. But. It. Just. Was. And guys, this book made me cry, from the love they felt for Gabe, to just.. Gabe. I loved him so much. And Noah was just so perfect, but not too perfect, just the right perfect. And together they were the most adorable couple, with the power of books and Oreos at their side. The book also brought up the struggles with mental health beautifully; my heart was stabbed repeatedly because I felt very seen in this book. Like it's not often that I've read where the character genuinely doesn't want to.. You know, but their head just gets so loud and *import my hands trying to explain the rest for me*
Also, the side characters are beautifully written. Aiden, Ciaran, Abbie, and Theo. (Oh and Aiden's daughter Rose) I love them all. So much I want their own stories, please and thank you. LIKE I NEED AIDEN AND CIARAN TO HAVE THEIR OWN BOOK BECAUSE YOU CANNOT GASLIGHT ME INTO BELIEVING THERE'S NOT SOMETHING THERE.
⋆˙⟡Favorite Quote⋆˙⟡: This man gives me half an Oreo, and suddenly I’m planning our retirement fund. Someone slap me. - this was 21% in guys, it gets so much better
✧˖°.Final Thoughts✧˖°.: I want a full sleeve of Oreos now. ALSO THAT ENDING WAS PERFECT AND ADORABLE, THEY ARE SUCH GOOD (SPOILER IDC) DADS. 💋💋
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I love this one sm, and you will be hearing about it
✧˖°.Post-read✧˖°.: Recently released and just stop, because this was so good. Which I say a lot. But. It. Just. Was. And guys, this book made me cry, from the love they felt for Gabe, to just.. Gabe. I loved him so much. And Noah was just so perfect, but not too perfect, just the right perfect. And together they were the most adorable couple, with the power of books and Oreos at their side. The book also brought up the struggles with mental health beautifully; my heart was stabbed repeatedly because I felt very seen in this book. Like it's not often that I've read where the character genuinely doesn't want to.. You know, but their head just gets so loud and *import my hands trying to explain the rest for me*
Also, the side characters are beautifully written. Aiden, Ciaran, Abbie, and Theo. (Oh and Aiden's daughter Rose) I love them all. So much I want their own stories, please and thank you. LIKE I NEED AIDEN AND CIARAN TO HAVE THEIR OWN BOOK BECAUSE YOU CANNOT GASLIGHT ME INTO BELIEVING THERE'S NOT SOMETHING THERE.
⋆˙⟡Favorite Quote⋆˙⟡: This man gives me half an Oreo, and suddenly I’m planning our retirement fund. Someone slap me. - this was 21% in guys, it gets so much better
✧˖°.Final Thoughts✧˖°.: I want a full sleeve of Oreos now. ALSO THAT ENDING WAS PERFECT AND ADORABLE, THEY ARE SUCH GOOD (SPOILER IDC) DADS. 💋💋
Read
December 10, 2025Beta read, I will rate and review the published version at a later date
May 20, 2026
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It’s not simple. But it’s worth it. We are worth it.”
Laura Kain has done such a beautiful job in Shelved Hearts, book one of the Hearts of Willowrun series.
I have not cried so much reading a story before! Not because it's a tragic read. Shelved Hearts just has so much beautiful sentiment and is full of so much healing and heart that it absolutely cracked open something in me that I didn’t even know needed soothed. I was actually ugly crying at one point just because of how beautiful the book was.
This is a story of healing through hard-fought battles in quiet rooms, where every tiny step is a victory to be celebrated. Laura paints healing in such a beautifully realistic way, too. It’s never a linear progression. Sometimes people stumble along the path, and sometimes they regress. The realism she brought to Gabe and Noah is honestly incredible to me.
Shelved Hearts is the story of two men who are a little broken in their own ways but try to keep their heads up and go about each day as best they can. Childhood friends from years before, they’re reunited when Noah is given an offer to lodge with Gabe in his apartment above the charming queer bookstore he runs. They find strength in each other as their friendship begins to rekindle… into something even more.
Speaking of the bookstore, too—this book is also a multilayered love story to queer literature and the importance it carries in society. In helping people be themselves. In inspiring them. In showing the joy and necessity in queer books being a part of this world, all while being, itself, one of those very same beautiful books.
Thank you so much for writing this, Laura, and for gifting me with an ARC. Gabe and Noah will be haunting my thoughts for a long, long time to come. I can’t wait to read Ciarán and Aiden’s story next. They were such a delight in this book.
If you love your romances full of heartfelt moments of understanding, patience, and healing, I cannot recommend this one enough!!
Oh, and it'll give you a newfound appreciation of Oreos.
“It’s not simple. But it’s worth it. We are worth it.”
Laura Kain has done such a beautiful job in Shelved Hearts, book one of the Hearts of Willowrun series.
I have not cried so much reading a story before! Not because it's a tragic read. Shelved Hearts just has so much beautiful sentiment and is full of so much healing and heart that it absolutely cracked open something in me that I didn’t even know needed soothed. I was actually ugly crying at one point just because of how beautiful the book was.
This is a story of healing through hard-fought battles in quiet rooms, where every tiny step is a victory to be celebrated. Laura paints healing in such a beautifully realistic way, too. It’s never a linear progression. Sometimes people stumble along the path, and sometimes they regress. The realism she brought to Gabe and Noah is honestly incredible to me.
Shelved Hearts is the story of two men who are a little broken in their own ways but try to keep their heads up and go about each day as best they can. Childhood friends from years before, they’re reunited when Noah is given an offer to lodge with Gabe in his apartment above the charming queer bookstore he runs. They find strength in each other as their friendship begins to rekindle… into something even more.
Speaking of the bookstore, too—this book is also a multilayered love story to queer literature and the importance it carries in society. In helping people be themselves. In inspiring them. In showing the joy and necessity in queer books being a part of this world, all while being, itself, one of those very same beautiful books.
Thank you so much for writing this, Laura, and for gifting me with an ARC. Gabe and Noah will be haunting my thoughts for a long, long time to come. I can’t wait to read Ciarán and Aiden’s story next. They were such a delight in this book.
If you love your romances full of heartfelt moments of understanding, patience, and healing, I cannot recommend this one enough!!
Oh, and it'll give you a newfound appreciation of Oreos.
April 18, 2026
Well....... This was unexpected in all the very best possible ways! An amazing debut by an author I am now following, and a book that I kept feeling like it *should* feel too long, but didn't. 😊 I love every single one of the friends in this group, and will be here with bells on when the author is ready to give is Ciarán's book (or anything else!)
April 17, 2026
DNF @ 39%
The book manages to do exposition right and wrong for the two characters. Gabe's first chapter being a conversation that told us his history and showed his fears + relationships with those around him was good. Noah's first chapter giving us a long-winded internal monologue about his time in the city + history with his parents was so dull. Idk why we couldn't have gotten that through convos with Gabe since they would've needed to catch up anyways.
The first 15% was sweet, if a little repetitive and wordy at points. I liked how the author characterized both Gabe and Noah. Gabe actually showing his trauma and not having it easily dissipate helped emphasize the gravity of it. Noah being considerate was a good way of creating a nice foundation for a relationship. My only complaint about the start was that the internal monologuing got a bit much for both MCs, particularly with regards to Gabe's quietness. I'm not sure we needed to read either of their thoughts every time Gabe acted timid or Noah showing he was a safe space. At some point, the actions could've spoken for themselves and didn't need two paragraphs worth of internal dissection/curiosity to come after it. Also, the story repeated Gabe and Noah's history a bit too often. We already knew that they were friendly when they were kids but Gabe was more of Aiden's friend, so it coming up every so often felt unnecessary when it didn't add anything new to that dynamic.
The story did a good job showing Gabe slowly warming up to Noah. I especially like that one chapter where Gabe thinks the house is too quiet when Noah is gone. The dichotomy of his earlier fears about feeling unsettled when Noah was moving in to more feeling unsettled when he was gone was a nice touch.
I get that the author wanted to make all the characters feel fleshed out, but giving so much focus to Ciarán and Aiden was a mistake imo considering this book was 600+ pages.
Gabe not realizing he was attracted to Noah after that whole "put your forehead on mine, run your hands through my hair, call me 'Blue'" scene was dumb. Could that level of intimacy be anything other than attraction? It was fine when we saw it happen through Noah's POV because it seemed like that was Gabe expressing his attraction but then Gabe acting all shocked at the realization that he was attracted to Gabe made that scene retroactively make no sense.
The author uses the word "charged" too much to describe tension. It got on my nerves the third time particularly because it had already been pointed out twice before and nothing came of it. The author needed to differentiate how they described the tension if they were going to have this "it feels like something is different in the air (but nothing happens)" scene occur multiple times.
WHAT. Why did the author cut after the first kiss??? You're telling me that the culmination of Gabe slowly building up the courage to do something he actually wanted wasn't important enough to show??? I didn't even want smut there, I needed to see the emotional decompression of achieving something that was previously unthinkable. So what exactly happened? They kissed then Gabe went "Thanks. Goodnight!" and went to bed without talking about it?
God, I was already a little annoyed at how slow and wordy this book was with all the internal monologues and repetitive emphasis on Gabe's trauma (the writing was straddling the line between making him look sympathetic and making him look whiny, and he started looking whiny to me more often than not since there were just so many wordy instances of Gabe doing the "woe is me" schtick). The author choosing to cut a such an important scene to create unnecessary melodrama sealed the deal for me and I finally ran out my patience. I'm not reading another 350+ pages only to get annoyed the next time this book does something like that.
TL;DR: Has nice characterization but takes way too long to get to the point. Way way too much internal monologuing that slows down an already long and slow story. Longer and more descriptive is not always better, and this book is a good example of that principle. 1.5 stars rounded up.
The book manages to do exposition right and wrong for the two characters. Gabe's first chapter being a conversation that told us his history and showed his fears + relationships with those around him was good. Noah's first chapter giving us a long-winded internal monologue about his time in the city + history with his parents was so dull. Idk why we couldn't have gotten that through convos with Gabe since they would've needed to catch up anyways.
The first 15% was sweet, if a little repetitive and wordy at points. I liked how the author characterized both Gabe and Noah. Gabe actually showing his trauma and not having it easily dissipate helped emphasize the gravity of it. Noah being considerate was a good way of creating a nice foundation for a relationship. My only complaint about the start was that the internal monologuing got a bit much for both MCs, particularly with regards to Gabe's quietness. I'm not sure we needed to read either of their thoughts every time Gabe acted timid or Noah showing he was a safe space. At some point, the actions could've spoken for themselves and didn't need two paragraphs worth of internal dissection/curiosity to come after it. Also, the story repeated Gabe and Noah's history a bit too often. We already knew that they were friendly when they were kids but Gabe was more of Aiden's friend, so it coming up every so often felt unnecessary when it didn't add anything new to that dynamic.
The story did a good job showing Gabe slowly warming up to Noah. I especially like that one chapter where Gabe thinks the house is too quiet when Noah is gone. The dichotomy of his earlier fears about feeling unsettled when Noah was moving in to more feeling unsettled when he was gone was a nice touch.
I get that the author wanted to make all the characters feel fleshed out, but giving so much focus to Ciarán and Aiden was a mistake imo considering this book was 600+ pages.
Gabe not realizing he was attracted to Noah after that whole "put your forehead on mine, run your hands through my hair, call me 'Blue'" scene was dumb. Could that level of intimacy be anything other than attraction? It was fine when we saw it happen through Noah's POV because it seemed like that was Gabe expressing his attraction but then Gabe acting all shocked at the realization that he was attracted to Gabe made that scene retroactively make no sense.
The author uses the word "charged" too much to describe tension. It got on my nerves the third time particularly because it had already been pointed out twice before and nothing came of it. The author needed to differentiate how they described the tension if they were going to have this "it feels like something is different in the air (but nothing happens)" scene occur multiple times.
WHAT. Why did the author cut after the first kiss??? You're telling me that the culmination of Gabe slowly building up the courage to do something he actually wanted wasn't important enough to show??? I didn't even want smut there, I needed to see the emotional decompression of achieving something that was previously unthinkable. So what exactly happened? They kissed then Gabe went "Thanks. Goodnight!" and went to bed without talking about it?
God, I was already a little annoyed at how slow and wordy this book was with all the internal monologues and repetitive emphasis on Gabe's trauma (the writing was straddling the line between making him look sympathetic and making him look whiny, and he started looking whiny to me more often than not since there were just so many wordy instances of Gabe doing the "woe is me" schtick). The author choosing to cut a such an important scene to create unnecessary melodrama sealed the deal for me and I finally ran out my patience. I'm not reading another 350+ pages only to get annoyed the next time this book does something like that.
TL;DR: Has nice characterization but takes way too long to get to the point. Way way too much internal monologuing that slows down an already long and slow story. Longer and more descriptive is not always better, and this book is a good example of that principle. 1.5 stars rounded up.
May 27, 2026
It’s a 6. The way that the Noah and Gabe built their relationship through trust, communication, and all those small moments was absolutely amazing. Their love shined throughout the whole book and I can’t wait to read all the books that come next.
April 1, 2026
This is a very pleasantly surprised 4.75 rating from me! Finding stories on Instagram can be hit or miss, and this was very much so a hit!
This book was super sweet and very impactful, and I love character driven stories that don’t have a ton of plot, and that’s exactly what this was. And I personally don’t think it needed a big plot. It’s very clear Gabe and Noah were characters at this author really took their time in making and creating and spending time with them, so they felt very real and it was nice to follow them and their journey together. Was this book a little too long? Yes it was. I would’ve easily shaved off 100/150 pages of it. Was the last 10% a little too saccharine and sweet — bordering on schmaltzy? Yes, very much so. But not every story needs to be all action and drama, and tension, and angst. I like that this was a sweet, cozy little book, full of nice characters and character development.
Gabe and Noah were good people, and they were good characters to follow. I found myself smiling at their growing bond, I loved their banter and how much they cared for one another and it was honestly a very healing read. I have a lot of similarities to Gabe, especially in my romantic history, and it was very healing for me to read a romance where he was loved and accepted without any judgment. Was it a little hard to read, and did it hit a little too close to home for me? Of course it did, but it was a little cathartic in a way that was good for me. I liked the progression of their romance/relationship, and I like that it took a while for the spice to begin. And I really love that Gabe did not make a miraculous recovery as soon as he and Noah got together. I like that being in a loving/healthy relationship wasn’t just a fix all for him. He still had good days and he still had bad days and there was still some miscommunication between them because they were learning how to navigate not only a relationship together, but navigating a relationship after trauma.
I’ve read a couple of books where there’s mental health representation and trauma from a past relationship, and a lot of the mental health focus is on the person who’s experienced that trauma. I really liked/appreciated. The author diving into how this affects Noah too. Obviously he’s not the one who endured the trauma, but he is in love with someone who has and some of Gabe‘s action/reactions affect Noah, and I liked that we got a little glimpse of that. I honestly wish we had seen more of it, because I found it very interesting and I liked that the author touched upon it.
I just really found myself very engaged in this whole book. I’ve seen people say it’s a little boring, but I never felt bored. I loved watching them grow closer and fall in love, and I loved all of their little moments together from the dancing, to the Oreos, to the nicknames, which I absolutely adored. And I loved their friend group and watching Gabe slowly grew into himself and Noah finally find a friend/family that he’s always wanted. It was a very sweet, comforting read and I’m really glad I found this book.
And I’m very very excited/curious about the second book in the series, because it sounds like it’s going to be a complete 180 from this book in both subject matter/tone and I’m very excited!
This book was super sweet and very impactful, and I love character driven stories that don’t have a ton of plot, and that’s exactly what this was. And I personally don’t think it needed a big plot. It’s very clear Gabe and Noah were characters at this author really took their time in making and creating and spending time with them, so they felt very real and it was nice to follow them and their journey together. Was this book a little too long? Yes it was. I would’ve easily shaved off 100/150 pages of it. Was the last 10% a little too saccharine and sweet — bordering on schmaltzy? Yes, very much so. But not every story needs to be all action and drama, and tension, and angst. I like that this was a sweet, cozy little book, full of nice characters and character development.
Gabe and Noah were good people, and they were good characters to follow. I found myself smiling at their growing bond, I loved their banter and how much they cared for one another and it was honestly a very healing read. I have a lot of similarities to Gabe, especially in my romantic history, and it was very healing for me to read a romance where he was loved and accepted without any judgment. Was it a little hard to read, and did it hit a little too close to home for me? Of course it did, but it was a little cathartic in a way that was good for me. I liked the progression of their romance/relationship, and I like that it took a while for the spice to begin. And I really love that Gabe did not make a miraculous recovery as soon as he and Noah got together. I like that being in a loving/healthy relationship wasn’t just a fix all for him. He still had good days and he still had bad days and there was still some miscommunication between them because they were learning how to navigate not only a relationship together, but navigating a relationship after trauma.
I’ve read a couple of books where there’s mental health representation and trauma from a past relationship, and a lot of the mental health focus is on the person who’s experienced that trauma. I really liked/appreciated. The author diving into how this affects Noah too. Obviously he’s not the one who endured the trauma, but he is in love with someone who has and some of Gabe‘s action/reactions affect Noah, and I liked that we got a little glimpse of that. I honestly wish we had seen more of it, because I found it very interesting and I liked that the author touched upon it.
I just really found myself very engaged in this whole book. I’ve seen people say it’s a little boring, but I never felt bored. I loved watching them grow closer and fall in love, and I loved all of their little moments together from the dancing, to the Oreos, to the nicknames, which I absolutely adored. And I loved their friend group and watching Gabe slowly grew into himself and Noah finally find a friend/family that he’s always wanted. It was a very sweet, comforting read and I’m really glad I found this book.
And I’m very very excited/curious about the second book in the series, because it sounds like it’s going to be a complete 180 from this book in both subject matter/tone and I’m very excited!
May 20, 2026
I would've given this more stars if it was shorter. Definitely dragging a bit to finish this
April 16, 2026
I almost didn’t want to rate this because I didn’t really give it a fair chance. I made it to about 20% before getting the sense that this was a very slow burn (heavy on the “slow”). So I did what I usually do — I searched for “lube” (because I am who I am), and it didn’t show up until the 400s.
And honestly, any romance over 350 pages needs to have me on the edge of my seat or be ridiculously horny, or I’m just not interested. This was neither. (Also… even the lube scenes were boring.)
That said, if you like low angst, low-ish steam, slow burns, you’ll probably love this. I could tell it was a sweet story. I’m just not the target audience for a book like this.
And honestly, any romance over 350 pages needs to have me on the edge of my seat or be ridiculously horny, or I’m just not interested. This was neither. (Also… even the lube scenes were boring.)
That said, if you like low angst, low-ish steam, slow burns, you’ll probably love this. I could tell it was a sweet story. I’m just not the target audience for a book like this.
March 29, 2026
Disappointing
I really tried to like this book…. But the monologues going and on. MC speaks and other MC has inner thoughts that go on for pages and pages. There’s a lot of repetition! I know there is trauma experienced by Gabe, but I just didn’t feel it. I found him whiny. I also didn’t feel the romantic connection…. Ciaran was the most authentic character. I’d definitely read his story.
I really tried to like this book…. But the monologues going and on. MC speaks and other MC has inner thoughts that go on for pages and pages. There’s a lot of repetition! I know there is trauma experienced by Gabe, but I just didn’t feel it. I found him whiny. I also didn’t feel the romantic connection…. Ciaran was the most authentic character. I’d definitely read his story.
April 30, 2026
⭐ - 5
⊹ | 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 by Laura Kain is an emotional but adorably sweet M/M Romance. It is the first book in the 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘳𝘶𝘯 series and follows Gabe Shaw and Noah Richards. This story explores themes that readers may find triggering.
This book was definitely a hidden five star read!! I quickly fell in love with it, and the characters definitely grew on me. After reading 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘜𝘴 𝘛𝘸𝘰, this book was the perfect read to continue on my emotional damage reading journey, HAHA 😂.
Gabe Shaw is a quiet bookstore owner hiding more than people realize. After fleeing from his abusive ex, he closed himself off, and still, a year later, he feels like he's running. Almost every day feels like a struggle, but at least his life is predictable and safe. But then Noah, his brother's best friend and the boy he grew up with, needs a place to stay.
Noah Richards came back to Willowrun after years away, and things were supposed to be easy. Reconnect with his best friend, open up the business they dreamed of in college, and settle down. That was the plan. Simple. Moving in with his best friend's brother? The boy he's been crushing on since he was fifteen? That was not part of the plan, but it's also something he can't refuse, even if he ends up with a broken heart.
I'm undeniably sad I'm finished with this book because it was genuinely so good. The characters were written so well, and the story was so heartbreaking but also beautiful. Gabe's growth through the book genuinely made me so happy, especially knowing how deeply his trauma and depression went.
Overall, if you enjoy reading books that have a strong mental health storyline, then this book is definitely a great candidate. Also, this book really set up the next book for Aiden and Ciarán!! They were so funny throughout the story that I'm seriously looking forward to reading their book next.
— 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒃𝒚 𝑷.𝑹.
⊹ | 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 by Laura Kain is an emotional but adorably sweet M/M Romance. It is the first book in the 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘳𝘶𝘯 series and follows Gabe Shaw and Noah Richards. This story explores themes that readers may find triggering.
This book was definitely a hidden five star read!! I quickly fell in love with it, and the characters definitely grew on me. After reading 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘜𝘴 𝘛𝘸𝘰, this book was the perfect read to continue on my emotional damage reading journey, HAHA 😂.
Gabe Shaw is a quiet bookstore owner hiding more than people realize. After fleeing from his abusive ex, he closed himself off, and still, a year later, he feels like he's running. Almost every day feels like a struggle, but at least his life is predictable and safe. But then Noah, his brother's best friend and the boy he grew up with, needs a place to stay.
Noah Richards came back to Willowrun after years away, and things were supposed to be easy. Reconnect with his best friend, open up the business they dreamed of in college, and settle down. That was the plan. Simple. Moving in with his best friend's brother? The boy he's been crushing on since he was fifteen? That was not part of the plan, but it's also something he can't refuse, even if he ends up with a broken heart.
I'm undeniably sad I'm finished with this book because it was genuinely so good. The characters were written so well, and the story was so heartbreaking but also beautiful. Gabe's growth through the book genuinely made me so happy, especially knowing how deeply his trauma and depression went.
Overall, if you enjoy reading books that have a strong mental health storyline, then this book is definitely a great candidate. Also, this book really set up the next book for Aiden and Ciarán!! They were so funny throughout the story that I'm seriously looking forward to reading their book next.
— 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒃𝒚 𝑷.𝑹.
Read
June 22, 2026Overall this was a pretty good slow burn hurt comfort romance and I appreciated the lack of drama around the brother's best friend aspect. It was a bit too long, the final epilogue was unnecessary, and there were some odd choices made around comma usage, but I can live with those if we hopefully get Aiden and Ciarán's book next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Once again I'm speechless. What a debut novel! Right off the bat, I was already in love with sweet baby Gabe. Seeing him grow into who wanted to be was beautiful. Noah didn't help per se but he was there every step of Gabes journey. These two are adorable and I loved how Noah was with Gabe.
I'm still thinking about how the last chapter ended right before the even more wonderful epilouge. It was beautiful
oh and we definitely cant forget about the delicious spice and the mouth that Noah has.
Overall, wonderful! I loved it so much and definitely will be eating up every little bread crumbs you give because I can not wait for Ciaran's book!
I'm still thinking about how the last chapter ended right before the even more wonderful epilouge. It was beautiful
oh and we definitely cant forget about the delicious spice and the mouth that Noah has.
Overall, wonderful! I loved it so much and definitely will be eating up every little bread crumbs you give because I can not wait for Ciaran's book!
May 21, 2026
3⭐️
First and foremost, this book is WAY too long. We could have cut 150 pages easily.
I felt like the book was repetitive and a lot of things were told to me instead of me feeling them. And it just felt like this book was trying too hard. I felt like the mental health representation was kind of preachy and I just didn’t connect to Gabe the way I wanted to.
I also hate when the next book is shoved down your throat in the current book. The intro to those characters should be natural, not obvious.
I almost DNFed at 66% and I kind of wish I had just because of how long this book was and how little payoff I got at the end.
First and foremost, this book is WAY too long. We could have cut 150 pages easily.
I felt like the book was repetitive and a lot of things were told to me instead of me feeling them. And it just felt like this book was trying too hard. I felt like the mental health representation was kind of preachy and I just didn’t connect to Gabe the way I wanted to.
I also hate when the next book is shoved down your throat in the current book. The intro to those characters should be natural, not obvious.
I almost DNFed at 66% and I kind of wish I had just because of how long this book was and how little payoff I got at the end.
March 15, 2026
May everyone find a Noah. The world would heal.. We could collectively find solutions to the world’s problems if we all had a Noah. The tears I cried reading this book. They were plentiful and healing. Restorative. *Sigh* Loved it. 👏
Also cannot wait for Aiden and Ciaran’s book. We all know that’s going to be GOOD AS HELL.
Also cannot wait for Aiden and Ciaran’s book. We all know that’s going to be GOOD AS HELL.
March 8, 2026
I could search dictionaries in every language, and there still wouldn’t be enough words to encompass how much this book means to me.
I refuse to believe that this is Laura’s debut novel because this is one of the most heartfelt, beautiful, captivating pieces of writing I have ever read.
On one hand, it sucks being able to relate so heavily to a traumatized character, but seeing Gabe live and to be loved while we share those similarities fills my heart with the best ache. Because how lovely is it to love and accept love when the world tries to make you frightened of it.
And my sweet, darling, patient Noah. Honestly he’s THE book boyfriend. My dream man, (other than the fact that he’s blond but I’ll let it slide) and the way he treats Gabe is so special to me.
This book was just incredible. I laughed, I cried, I threatened Laura with my lawyer. (Do you know how many times I cried over OREOS?! TOO MANY)
It was just one of those special ones that you’re gonna hold in your heart forever. It’s officially added to one of my favorite books.
I refuse to believe that this is Laura’s debut novel because this is one of the most heartfelt, beautiful, captivating pieces of writing I have ever read.
On one hand, it sucks being able to relate so heavily to a traumatized character, but seeing Gabe live and to be loved while we share those similarities fills my heart with the best ache. Because how lovely is it to love and accept love when the world tries to make you frightened of it.
And my sweet, darling, patient Noah. Honestly he’s THE book boyfriend. My dream man, (other than the fact that he’s blond but I’ll let it slide) and the way he treats Gabe is so special to me.
This book was just incredible. I laughed, I cried, I threatened Laura with my lawyer. (Do you know how many times I cried over OREOS?! TOO MANY)
It was just one of those special ones that you’re gonna hold in your heart forever. It’s officially added to one of my favorite books.
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