Avery

Billionaire Bad Boys & Blue Collar Men

by Evie Riley

An old-money billionaire.
A blue-collar boy from his past.
A new spark that changes everything.

Avery McAllister never planned on returning to Ellington Heights—not after escaping to Europe, building a high-profile life in the city, and doing everything possible to forget the small town that never felt like home. But his father’s death drags him back, forcing him to face the past he left behind… including the best friend he abandoned without a goodbye.

Brandon Carmichael isn’t the boy Avery remembers. He’s older now, broader, steadier—and when Avery looks at him, something stirs in him he’s never felt for any man before. A spark. A pull. A heat he doesn’t know what to do with.

Settling his father’s estate should have been simple. Instead, every encounter with Brandon leaves Avery questioning everything—his choices, his future, and his own desires. Brandon makes him want to stay, want to explore a side of himself he’s never dared to name.

But Avery’s life is still in the city. And Brandon’s heart is on the line.
If Avery walks away again, it might break them both… this time for good.

504 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2025

About the author

Evie Riley believes too much time spent at the beach is barely enough. She enjoys spending time puttering in the garden, cooking yummy things for her family, and has a quirky personality, described by her partner as ranging from cute to deadly, depending on her blood-chocolate levels.

Evie crafts steamy gay male romance filled with all the edgy angst, or dark and gritty romantic suspense where her men must overcome difficult obstacles and may find love along the way while dishing out their own brand of justice.

Evie spends her nights writing bad boys in love, and her days wrangling the sweet boys she loves.

Reviews

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Avery is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant MM romance that balances self-discovery, second chances, and class contrast with real tenderness. Evie Riley delivers a story that feels intimate and authentic, driven by character rather than tropes alone.

Avery McAllister is a compelling, sometimes frustrating, but deeply human protagonist. His return to Ellington Heights is layered with grief, guilt, and unfinished business—not just with his father’s legacy, but with the part of himself he’s avoided for years. His internal struggle with identity and desire feels honest and thoughtfully explored rather than rushed.

Brandon Carmichael is the emotional anchor of the story. Grounded, steady, and quietly strong, he represents everything Avery never allowed himself to want. The shift from childhood friendship to adult attraction is handled with subtlety and care, and the chemistry between them builds naturally—charged with longing, restraint, and vulnerability.

The contrast between old-money privilege and blue-collar loyalty adds depth without overshadowing the romance. Small-town atmosphere, unresolved history, and the weight of “what could have been” give the story emotional gravity that lingers well past the final page.

If you enjoy MM romance with second chances, slow emotional awakening, class differences, and characters forced to confront who they truly are versus who they pretend to be, Avery is a heartfelt and satisfying beginning to the Billionaire Bad Boys & Blue Collar Men series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Manuela Molteni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery by Evie Riley is a masterclass in why familiar romance elements work best when treated with respect—and a little bite. This MM romance delivers self-discovery and second chances without theatrics, trusting its characters to do the heavy lifting.

Avery McAllister has money, secrets, and an Olympic-level talent for avoiding his own feelings. His return home cracks that carefully maintained polish, forcing him to face grief, desire, and a life path chosen more out of habit than truth. He’s frustrating, yes—but in that deeply human, can’t-look-away way.

Brandon Carmichael is the quiet flex of the story: steady, grounded, emotionally fluent, and gloriously unimpressed by wealth. Watching Avery finally realise that this—not the money, not the image—is what he’s always wanted is deliciously inevitable. The shift from old friends to something sharper simmers with restrained chemistry and yearning that actually earns its payoff.

Class contrast and small-town history add texture without hijacking the romance, and the emotional weight lingers long after the last page.

If you enjoy MM romance with slow-burn tension, sharp character work, and billionaires being gently but firmly brought back down to earth, Avery is a polished, satisfying start to the Billionaire Bad Boys & Blue Collar Men series.

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read
Avery never planned to come back to Ellington Heights but after his father‘s death, he had matters that needed taken care of. His father had some classic cars and when he went to a garage to see if they could work on them, he came face-to-face with a face from his past. And that was Brandon Carmichael.
Brandon had had feelings for Avery since they were younger and he never really got over him so now that Avery was back could Brandon hide his feelings??

I’ve got to say I really liked Avery and Brandon and the way that they reconnected. Brandon never believes that Avery would ever want him so what changed when he helped him when he turned up drunk to the garage?? Such a good read I couldn’t put it down. A fantastic start to a new series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dilemma of new choices! Avery, escaped his hometown and ran to Europe building a successful life. He left his best friend Brandon without a word, without looking back. Avery, returns home because his Father died and he needs to settle his estate. He contacts Brandon about assessement estimates. Brandon, has changed, he's grown into his man body to which Avery is attracted. Evie, has given us a story where Avery, has to dig deep into his life, his thoughts, his desires and where he wants to go next. Brandon, is wary of Avery and his choices. Hot cover art, great story, nicely done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery, a billionaire, came home when his Dad died and saw his BF Brandon. Brandon and he lost touch over the years but now Avery can't get the gay man out of his mind. I loved Brandon's desperation trying to avoid his forever crush. And I loved Avery's jealousy and possessive vibe over Brandon. It's steamy with a scam scheme running through it. I look forward to Marlowe's book. I received a copy of this through BookSprout and this is my voluntary opinion.

[stardragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery comes back home to settle his father’s affairs. In a separate storage place he has some classic cars. When Avery contacts the restoration garage to see what they are worth he runs into Brandon, his best friend before Avery was sent to Europe. Avery is a billionaire whereas Brandon is more blue collar. This story is sweet and heartwarming. The beginning of a new series I look forward to reading.

[Shannon Janssen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Avery" is book one in a new series by Evie Riley. I really enjoy books by this author and "Avery" did not disappoint. Avery and Brandon are great characters and their story is relatable, even if we aren't billionaires :-) The story flowed right from the start and I enjoyed watching these guys reconnect. I am looking forward to more books in this series, it is off to a great start.

[Akasha721 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these Cinderella stories with a HEA. Avery finds he has some unfinished business when he comes settle his father's estate. Running into Brandon was all it took to spark a flame. This author never disappoints.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author, I really enjoyed this book. Avery and Brandon are awesome characters and I found myself so engrossed in this book that I struggled to put it down before I was finished. I am looking forward to book two.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cynthia Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery never wanted to return to his home town but his father's death brings him back. When he sees Brandon the best friend he left behind, he realizes he want his best friend back. He sees Brandon out on a date and realizes he wants more than friendship. Brandon is afraid to let Avery in because he hurt him when he left all those years ago. I really enjoyed this book.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one in a new series called Billionaire Bad Boys and Blue Collar Men and I really enjoyed the story of how Avery and Brandon reconnect when Avery comes back after his father’s death to sort out his estate. I’m looking forward to reading more from this series in the future.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery is the first book in the new Billionaire Bad Boys & Blue Collar Men. I absolutely loved the way Avery and Brandon come together after so many years. This story had my attention from start to finish and I can't wait to read Marlowe's book.

[Sarah☀️ Somerville]

DNF @ 5% - I know I'm not far in, but the errors are just so off-putting.

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good start to this series. I liked reading along as Avery and Brandon reconnected and made their way to a happily ever after.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion