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Crossed Lines #1
Off Script
Two men. One script. And the role that changes their lives.
Liam Hart has it all. He’s Hollywood’s golden boy, with a loving wife and a baby on the way. When he signs on for a risky, intimate role in a gay love story, it feels like just another professional challenge.
Until Jacob Wolfe walks in—brooding, magnetic, and untouchable. A legendary actor with a presence that strips Liam bare.
On screen, their chemistry is electric.
Off screen… it’s something else entirely.
Rehearsals blur the lines. One kiss shatters everything Liam thought he knew—about the role, about Jacob, and about himself. Somewhere between scripted lines and silent looks, something real ignites. Something raw, hungry and impossible to ignore.
OFF SCRIPT is a medium-burn, high-heat MM romance packed with forbidden longing, emotional intensity, and a love story that hits hard, aches deep, and leaves nothing untouched.
Tropes & Themes: Double Bi Awakening ∣ Cheating ∣ Age Gap ∣ Forbidden Love ∣ Co-stars to Lovers ∣ HEA
Content Warning: This story contains explicit themes of cheating and infidelity throughout the plot. Please only continue if this is a trope you are comfortable reading.
Liam Hart has it all. He’s Hollywood’s golden boy, with a loving wife and a baby on the way. When he signs on for a risky, intimate role in a gay love story, it feels like just another professional challenge.
Until Jacob Wolfe walks in—brooding, magnetic, and untouchable. A legendary actor with a presence that strips Liam bare.
On screen, their chemistry is electric.
Off screen… it’s something else entirely.
Rehearsals blur the lines. One kiss shatters everything Liam thought he knew—about the role, about Jacob, and about himself. Somewhere between scripted lines and silent looks, something real ignites. Something raw, hungry and impossible to ignore.
OFF SCRIPT is a medium-burn, high-heat MM romance packed with forbidden longing, emotional intensity, and a love story that hits hard, aches deep, and leaves nothing untouched.
Tropes & Themes: Double Bi Awakening ∣ Cheating ∣ Age Gap ∣ Forbidden Love ∣ Co-stars to Lovers ∣ HEA
Content Warning: This story contains explicit themes of cheating and infidelity throughout the plot. Please only continue if this is a trope you are comfortable reading.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 19, 2025
10 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Ivy Vera Gray
1 book11 followersIvy Vera Gray writes emotional, high-heat MM romance novels. Her stories are driven by unexpected connections, messy love, and flawed characters with chemistry that burns. She’s obsessed with creating tension that keeps you turning pages.
Find her on Instagram @ivyveragray.author.
Find her on Instagram @ivyveragray.author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 9, 2025
My goodness, I couldn't get enough of this forbidden romance. The premise of two strangers, who are actors, falling for each other instantly during their first audition together, was something I knew I would become obsessed with, and this story did not disappoint.
Liam and Jacob immediately have incredible chemistry. From their audition to their first meeting with the intimacy coordinator, to their first kiss scene, every moment intensifies their forbidden attraction, and the line between acting and real feelings quickly blurs into something neither can ignore or stop.
Overall, the forbidden feelings and yearning for each other, while trying to stay professional without destroying their careers or their families, were perfectly executed, making the slow-burning tension even more intense and captivating. The journey Liam and Jacob undertake is full of heart within such a forbidden environment, creating a fantastic story I couldn’t get enough of.
I look forward to the next forbidden entry in this series.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Liam and Jacob immediately have incredible chemistry. From their audition to their first meeting with the intimacy coordinator, to their first kiss scene, every moment intensifies their forbidden attraction, and the line between acting and real feelings quickly blurs into something neither can ignore or stop.
Overall, the forbidden feelings and yearning for each other, while trying to stay professional without destroying their careers or their families, were perfectly executed, making the slow-burning tension even more intense and captivating. The journey Liam and Jacob undertake is full of heart within such a forbidden environment, creating a fantastic story I couldn’t get enough of.
I look forward to the next forbidden entry in this series.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Currently reading
December 20, 2025this book better have good tension because otherwise what’s the point
December 4, 2025
This *debut*... whew! I have so much highlighted. I could not put it down!
Ivy Vera Gray is going to be an author I will be sure to devour, because if every work is going to be this epic, look out. I ate this book UP!
I love a good forbidden romance, and this delivers that throughout. So much rawness and realness. I felt the torture both men were going through, warring with their betrayal- yet still yearning for them to fall into that love they both needed.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to advance read this. It was truly an honor. Loved this book, and will hype it up 💯. Congrats on a stellar debut.
Ivy Vera Gray is going to be an author I will be sure to devour, because if every work is going to be this epic, look out. I ate this book UP!
I love a good forbidden romance, and this delivers that throughout. So much rawness and realness. I felt the torture both men were going through, warring with their betrayal- yet still yearning for them to fall into that love they both needed.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to advance read this. It was truly an honor. Loved this book, and will hype it up 💯. Congrats on a stellar debut.
December 19, 2025
A rare, precious gem of a book!
An outstanding debut novel by Ivy Vera Gray.
Ivy displays true writing artistry with this novel - vivid characterisation, evocative storytelling and ALL the feels.
Both Jacob and Liam captured my interest from the outset and I adored the portrayal of these very different but complimentary souls.
Two men who seemingly have it all. Living “content” family lives but always with something missing…until they meet each other.
Jacob: Brooding, intense and deeply focused. A well established and successful actor with a wife and two children. Outwardly living a perfect life but beneath the carefully manicured surface he feels lonely and incomplete.
Liam: Warm and joyful, like literal sunshine. A young actor with a career built on “golden retriever roles”. Recently married with a baby on the way, he is living the comfortable and happy life that he always expected he would live. He has a restless energy (ADHD) and is looking for a challenge.
The role: A risky, erotic MM love story.
From the moment they meet, Jacob and Liam’s attraction is electric. The tension between them is palpable. They are drawn to each other like magnets and the pull between them feels powerful and inescapable.
The want, the need, the longing...
But they face a desperate battle to try to resist it. To be professional. To stay faithful to their wives, their families and their safe and comfortable lives.
Jacob and Liam’s forbidden love story aches and it burns. It is raw, intense and messy and their journey is captured perfectly in every beautiful word of this incredible novel.
Spicy yet sensual - I had goosebumps and butterflies throughout.
My book of the year!
Read it and read it again and fall in love with Jacob and Liam as they fall in love with each other.
An outstanding debut novel by Ivy Vera Gray.
Ivy displays true writing artistry with this novel - vivid characterisation, evocative storytelling and ALL the feels.
Both Jacob and Liam captured my interest from the outset and I adored the portrayal of these very different but complimentary souls.
Two men who seemingly have it all. Living “content” family lives but always with something missing…until they meet each other.
Jacob: Brooding, intense and deeply focused. A well established and successful actor with a wife and two children. Outwardly living a perfect life but beneath the carefully manicured surface he feels lonely and incomplete.
Liam: Warm and joyful, like literal sunshine. A young actor with a career built on “golden retriever roles”. Recently married with a baby on the way, he is living the comfortable and happy life that he always expected he would live. He has a restless energy (ADHD) and is looking for a challenge.
The role: A risky, erotic MM love story.
From the moment they meet, Jacob and Liam’s attraction is electric. The tension between them is palpable. They are drawn to each other like magnets and the pull between them feels powerful and inescapable.
The want, the need, the longing...
But they face a desperate battle to try to resist it. To be professional. To stay faithful to their wives, their families and their safe and comfortable lives.
Jacob and Liam’s forbidden love story aches and it burns. It is raw, intense and messy and their journey is captured perfectly in every beautiful word of this incredible novel.
Spicy yet sensual - I had goosebumps and butterflies throughout.
My book of the year!
Read it and read it again and fall in love with Jacob and Liam as they fall in love with each other.
December 19, 2025
This was a very hard read for me because of the triggers but I decided to take a chance and I'm glad I did because the writing is amazing and can't believe this is a debut! Ivy handled the emotions and the story brilliantly and I had to find out what happened next. I really can't wait for the next in the series. Even though not my normal trope or story to read about this deserves the five stars and more.
December 4, 2025
Off Script
Crossed Lines Book 1
Ivy Vera Gray
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Double B! Awakening
Grumpy/ Sunshine
Medium Burn
Cheating (not between MC’s)
Co-Stars to lovers
Angsty tension
Oh, my word, I loved this. I cannot believe this was a debut book.
The angst, tension, passion, intensity, spice … phenomenal
I was at the edge of my seat at page 20 and sat there the whole time 😂 I ate this book up.
But honestly incredible writing and story.
Both men are married, one has 2 children, one with one on the way.
Liam and Jacob are both cast in a new MM series and from the moment they meet there was just something between them. Undeniable.
“The pull between them was insane, raw and consuming, sparking hotter each time they circled a scene.”
Ugh I know the cheating trope is controversial, but I love it. It creates some of the best true love stories. The angst and tension and heartache. I love that stuff. The neediness and passion.
This was so good. The spice between these two was fantastic. The pull between them was inevitable.
They did not want to blow up their lives but they also could not continue as things were before they met.
“The cruelest truth was knowing that eventually he’d have to give him up— just not yet. For now, Liam was his.”
I don't even know what to say, this was so good.
The writing was so well done. The push and pull, the angst. The whimpers lol. The hand necklaces. The “you're mine” 🤭🫠
All the stars. I loved every word of this book. I ate it up. I honestly highlighted half the book. I was shook with the quotes and how great this was written. So hot, filled with passion, angst and tension.
I cannot wait for the next book 👀
Possible Spoilers: .........
Some Favorite Quotes:
There he was, Jacob Wolfe. All six- foot- five of masculine severity in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. No tie. Black shirt unbuttoned just enough to be indecent. His hair was perfectly styled, not a strand out of place. There wasn’t a wrinkle on him, like he was carved, not born. His eyes were already scanning the room like it had personally offended him.
“You ruined me,” Jacob hissed into Liam’s skin. “You— fucking— ruined me.”
“I’m not letting you go again. I’ll burn the fucking world down to keep you.”
“I don’t kiss her,” Jacob went on, each word deliberate. “Her mouth feels all wrong. I can’t touch her— she doesn’t make those desperate little sounds you make. She doesn’t claw at me. And she never falls apart in my hands the way you do.”
Crossed Lines Book 1
Ivy Vera Gray
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Double B! Awakening
Grumpy/ Sunshine
Medium Burn
Cheating (not between MC’s)
Co-Stars to lovers
Angsty tension
Oh, my word, I loved this. I cannot believe this was a debut book.
The angst, tension, passion, intensity, spice … phenomenal
I was at the edge of my seat at page 20 and sat there the whole time 😂 I ate this book up.
But honestly incredible writing and story.
Both men are married, one has 2 children, one with one on the way.
Liam and Jacob are both cast in a new MM series and from the moment they meet there was just something between them. Undeniable.
“The pull between them was insane, raw and consuming, sparking hotter each time they circled a scene.”
Ugh I know the cheating trope is controversial, but I love it. It creates some of the best true love stories. The angst and tension and heartache. I love that stuff. The neediness and passion.
This was so good. The spice between these two was fantastic. The pull between them was inevitable.
They did not want to blow up their lives but they also could not continue as things were before they met.
“The cruelest truth was knowing that eventually he’d have to give him up— just not yet. For now, Liam was his.”
I don't even know what to say, this was so good.
The writing was so well done. The push and pull, the angst. The whimpers lol. The hand necklaces. The “you're mine” 🤭🫠
All the stars. I loved every word of this book. I ate it up. I honestly highlighted half the book. I was shook with the quotes and how great this was written. So hot, filled with passion, angst and tension.
I cannot wait for the next book 👀
Possible Spoilers: .........
Some Favorite Quotes:
There he was, Jacob Wolfe. All six- foot- five of masculine severity in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. No tie. Black shirt unbuttoned just enough to be indecent. His hair was perfectly styled, not a strand out of place. There wasn’t a wrinkle on him, like he was carved, not born. His eyes were already scanning the room like it had personally offended him.
“You ruined me,” Jacob hissed into Liam’s skin. “You— fucking— ruined me.”
“I’m not letting you go again. I’ll burn the fucking world down to keep you.”
“I don’t kiss her,” Jacob went on, each word deliberate. “Her mouth feels all wrong. I can’t touch her— she doesn’t make those desperate little sounds you make. She doesn’t claw at me. And she never falls apart in my hands the way you do.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had to verify Off Script by Ivy Very Gray was actually a debut novel because it's so well written.
We follow two actors as they audition and subsequently star in a brand new mm limited series. They're both married and have, or are starting, families. But...the chemistry between the costars is unreal, simply undeniable. Over several months both MMCs have an affair, fall in love, and have to deal with the consequences of their actions.
This novel was unputdownable. I was locked in - every time I had time to read, this is what I was reaching for.
My only criticism is that sometimes I wish there was just *more*. The specifics of the scenes and lines from the show weren't discussed, just that they were running scenes, lines, etc. I'm a nosy Nelly and I want all the information, haha.
I'm so excited to see what else Ivy Vera Gray comes out with in the future!
We follow two actors as they audition and subsequently star in a brand new mm limited series. They're both married and have, or are starting, families. But...the chemistry between the costars is unreal, simply undeniable. Over several months both MMCs have an affair, fall in love, and have to deal with the consequences of their actions.
This novel was unputdownable. I was locked in - every time I had time to read, this is what I was reaching for.
My only criticism is that sometimes I wish there was just *more*. The specifics of the scenes and lines from the show weren't discussed, just that they were running scenes, lines, etc. I'm a nosy Nelly and I want all the information, haha.
I'm so excited to see what else Ivy Vera Gray comes out with in the future!
December 18, 2025
Rating 5⭐️
Emotion 2🥹
Spice 3🌶️
Off Script is centered on two actors who are cast in a gay love story. From the first meeting sparks fly and the lines between performance and reality for Jacob & Liam quickly blur.
With a secret affair, sneaking around, and plenty of lust, doubt, guilt and passion, the journey for their HEA is anything but simple.
Off Script is an outstanding debut that delivers all the messy, emotional intensity you want and expect from a romance with a cheating trope.
If you love forbidden romance, cheating (not between the MCs), bi-awakenings, an age gap, and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, this book is for you.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from Ivy and cannot wait for Knox’s story!
Emotion 2🥹
Spice 3🌶️
Off Script is centered on two actors who are cast in a gay love story. From the first meeting sparks fly and the lines between performance and reality for Jacob & Liam quickly blur.
With a secret affair, sneaking around, and plenty of lust, doubt, guilt and passion, the journey for their HEA is anything but simple.
Off Script is an outstanding debut that delivers all the messy, emotional intensity you want and expect from a romance with a cheating trope.
If you love forbidden romance, cheating (not between the MCs), bi-awakenings, an age gap, and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, this book is for you.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from Ivy and cannot wait for Knox’s story!
December 1, 2025
Intense, taboo, tons of longing and absolutely perfect. A definite MUST read!
📚Book = Standalone,
💕Burn = Med,
🎭OW/OM Drama = No,
🔥Heat/spice = 10/10,
😬Angst = Low,
🍆🌮 MM/FF = Yes, MM,
🔹POV = 3rd Person, MPV,
🔸Genre = Contemporary Romance
🔹Tropes = MM✨Co-stars to Lovers✨Grumpy x Sunshine✨Age Gap✨Førbídden Love✨Double Bi-äwakėning✨Emøtíonal & Pħysícal Īnfídelity (not between MCs)✨Märítal strain during pregnancy✨Morally Complex Decisions✨HEA✨
‼️Check TW’s before reading‼️
The intense longing between Jacob & Liam, was so däm hot, it caught my attention and sucked me into their story from the very first time their eyes locked onto each other across the stage…….I mean, it was just….wow!! It was just perfectly written and even though they were both married (to woman nonetheless) and should have been a totally taboo trope, I was so totally invested in them making it together.
The double bí-äwakėning and their inner battle to fight their scorchingly høt chėmistry, just got more intense as their feelings grew. It was an intense, forbidden attraction they both fought as they tried to stay professional, in a bid to save their families and their careers. And yet with every explosive interaction, lines were blurred and it was inevitable someone would be hurt, it was just the case of who would that be in the end.
Jacob had two kids and Liam had a baby on the way, and I must say I shed a few tears as Liam fought to hold onto his family, it honestly broke my heart for everyone involved. With that being said, the ending was just perfect. 🥰
I have to say I‘m totally smitten with Ivy’s writing style and the plot was brilliant. For Ivy’s very first book and I am absolutely a fan and can highly recommend this book, I am really excited for the her next endeavour.
📚Book = Standalone,
💕Burn = Med,
🎭OW/OM Drama = No,
🔥Heat/spice = 10/10,
😬Angst = Low,
🍆🌮 MM/FF = Yes, MM,
🔹POV = 3rd Person, MPV,
🔸Genre = Contemporary Romance
🔹Tropes = MM✨Co-stars to Lovers✨Grumpy x Sunshine✨Age Gap✨Førbídden Love✨Double Bi-äwakėning✨Emøtíonal & Pħysícal Īnfídelity (not between MCs)✨Märítal strain during pregnancy✨Morally Complex Decisions✨HEA✨
‼️Check TW’s before reading‼️
The intense longing between Jacob & Liam, was so däm hot, it caught my attention and sucked me into their story from the very first time their eyes locked onto each other across the stage…….I mean, it was just….wow!! It was just perfectly written and even though they were both married (to woman nonetheless) and should have been a totally taboo trope, I was so totally invested in them making it together.
The double bí-äwakėning and their inner battle to fight their scorchingly høt chėmistry, just got more intense as their feelings grew. It was an intense, forbidden attraction they both fought as they tried to stay professional, in a bid to save their families and their careers. And yet with every explosive interaction, lines were blurred and it was inevitable someone would be hurt, it was just the case of who would that be in the end.
Jacob had two kids and Liam had a baby on the way, and I must say I shed a few tears as Liam fought to hold onto his family, it honestly broke my heart for everyone involved. With that being said, the ending was just perfect. 🥰
I have to say I‘m totally smitten with Ivy’s writing style and the plot was brilliant. For Ivy’s very first book and I am absolutely a fan and can highly recommend this book, I am really excited for the her next endeavour.
November 28, 2025
What a debut novel!! 🤩
The moment I saw this pop up : the tropes, the blurb , I just knew I was going to love it.
And yes. I loved it!! ♥️
Two actors: Jacob, a 43-year-old established icon, and Liam, a 25-year-old rising star.
They take on a role that will change their lives forever.
Both married . Jacob with kids,Liam with a baby on the way.
They try to resist the temptation… but they just can’t stay away from each other.
That inner battle of not wanting to hurt anyone, constantly putting yourself last, while you’re slowly dying inside. 💔
And then there’s that one person who brings you back to life, who makes you want again…
Everything is on the line : their marriages, their careers…
But the pull between them is just too strong…
Wow, what a debut!!♥️
I was immediately sucked into the story and needed to know how things would play out.
The longing between these two, fighting their feelings, wanting to be together… or to walk away.
To stop, or to go all in.
My heart ached for them , in the best possible way.
A beautiful book!
5⭐️
����️🌶️,5
The moment I saw this pop up : the tropes, the blurb , I just knew I was going to love it.
And yes. I loved it!! ♥️
Two actors: Jacob, a 43-year-old established icon, and Liam, a 25-year-old rising star.
They take on a role that will change their lives forever.
Both married . Jacob with kids,Liam with a baby on the way.
They try to resist the temptation… but they just can’t stay away from each other.
That inner battle of not wanting to hurt anyone, constantly putting yourself last, while you’re slowly dying inside. 💔
And then there’s that one person who brings you back to life, who makes you want again…
Everything is on the line : their marriages, their careers…
But the pull between them is just too strong…
Wow, what a debut!!♥️
I was immediately sucked into the story and needed to know how things would play out.
The longing between these two, fighting their feelings, wanting to be together… or to walk away.
To stop, or to go all in.
My heart ached for them , in the best possible way.
A beautiful book!
5⭐️
����️🌶️,5
December 20, 2025
I found this a little hard to get into at first, but once they gave in to each other I liked it so much more. TBH when I read books where the mc’s cheat together, I prefer much less resistance. There was sooo much resisting by Jacob in the beginning that I was getting frustrated with him and how cold/aloof he was being. Also, maybe unpopular opinion, but I didn’t want or need chapters in their wives pov’s 😭 I’m literally rooting for them to get cheated on, so I obviously don’t care about their feelings meaning I don’t need to read their thoughts 😭
December 8, 2025
This is an outstanding debut MM romance between two celebrities, Jacob and Liam.
They are two straight, married men who take on the roles of gay men for a television show. The chemistry between them is off the charts from the first moment they meet. They definitely blur the lines between what is acting and what is real.
I thought that this story of trying not to destroy their families and their careers while battling their feelings was so real and intense. The added POVs from their wives was an excellent choice, too. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Read this if you like:
Double bi-awakening
Age gap (43/25)
Forbidden
Celebrities
Cheating
Grumpy/Sunshine
Spicy
3rd Person POV/Multiple POVs
Thank you to the author for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
They are two straight, married men who take on the roles of gay men for a television show. The chemistry between them is off the charts from the first moment they meet. They definitely blur the lines between what is acting and what is real.
I thought that this story of trying not to destroy their families and their careers while battling their feelings was so real and intense. The added POVs from their wives was an excellent choice, too. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Read this if you like:
Double bi-awakening
Age gap (43/25)
Forbidden
Celebrities
Cheating
Grumpy/Sunshine
Spicy
3rd Person POV/Multiple POVs
Thank you to the author for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 5, 2025
Off Script ARC REVİEW📖💫
What would you do for love?🖤
You’re a Hollywood star… and at the most crucial point of your career, you take on a gay role.🤭
Then you see him for the first time — your co-star. In that moment, the world goes silent, and time stops.😲
And this is exactly what Off Script portrays.
Both the characters discovering their own awakening and the deep inner conflicts they experience are depicted so beautifully…
While reading, you can feel both the tension of the scenes and the heartbreak in their chests down to your bones.
Off Script tells the story of a rising actor in the dazzling world of Hollywood, who accepts a role far beyond what is considered “normal” for his career. Playing a gay love story forces him to confront both societal norms and his own inner world.
The book questions deep themes such as love, identity, courage, and self-acceptance.
Off Script is a journey that breaks the mold for the sake of a glittering career… Choosing a life beyond the role takes courage; Ivy Vera Gray portrays this courage beautifully.🫶🏻🤌🏼
@ivyveragray.author
What would you do for love?🖤
You’re a Hollywood star… and at the most crucial point of your career, you take on a gay role.🤭
Then you see him for the first time — your co-star. In that moment, the world goes silent, and time stops.😲
And this is exactly what Off Script portrays.
Both the characters discovering their own awakening and the deep inner conflicts they experience are depicted so beautifully…
While reading, you can feel both the tension of the scenes and the heartbreak in their chests down to your bones.
Off Script tells the story of a rising actor in the dazzling world of Hollywood, who accepts a role far beyond what is considered “normal” for his career. Playing a gay love story forces him to confront both societal norms and his own inner world.
The book questions deep themes such as love, identity, courage, and self-acceptance.
Off Script is a journey that breaks the mold for the sake of a glittering career… Choosing a life beyond the role takes courage; Ivy Vera Gray portrays this courage beautifully.🫶🏻🤌🏼
@ivyveragray.author
December 18, 2025
Wow wow wow!!!!!
What an incredible debut by Ivy Vera Gray!!! Off Script was amazing!
It’s well written, emotional, and steamy, with characters you will fall in love with. Jacob and Liam’s love story is everything. It’s beautiful. A forbidden affair that leads to a love so strong they can’t live without each other. Ivy does an amazing job of making us feel for the characters, of having us root for them. I couldn’t put it down and read it in less than 2 days.
A must read!!
Thank you to Ivy for the arc.
What an incredible debut by Ivy Vera Gray!!! Off Script was amazing!
It’s well written, emotional, and steamy, with characters you will fall in love with. Jacob and Liam’s love story is everything. It’s beautiful. A forbidden affair that leads to a love so strong they can’t live without each other. Ivy does an amazing job of making us feel for the characters, of having us root for them. I couldn’t put it down and read it in less than 2 days.
A must read!!
Thank you to Ivy for the arc.
November 27, 2025
Prepare to be absolutely devastated every step of the way in this one.
I’m not sure what else to say? I’m crushed. Fully ruined by all of it.
I’m not sure what else to say? I’m crushed. Fully ruined by all of it.
December 20, 2025
I was provided with an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review. These are my real sentiments about the story and everything written here is respectful, without meaning to harm anyone, but to offer my opinion as constructive criticism/compliments. Thank you, Ivy, for the opportunity! I'm truly honored!
⭐⭐⭐.75 / 5 (this was a more technical rating for me, but I think it deserves 4 stars for many reasons, so rounded up to it))
🔥🔥🔥.75 / 5
Structure: Dual POV, 3rd person, past tense. First book of a series.
This is gonna be a quite long review with some (hidden) spoilers LOL
First, I'd like to start saying that if the cheating trope isn't for you, you won't be able to read this book. This is no spoiler, and the author is very clear on her notes about it. While the MCs do not cheat on each other, both of them have an affair and cheat on their wives (one who's pregnant and another who's been with one of the MCs for over a decaded and with whom he has two little kids). I think this is an important warning, so no one will go into the story hoping for something it isn't and then go blaming the plot for not liking it.
Second, I need to talk about the fact that this is a debut book. Ivy Vera Gray, WHAT a writer you are! As a fellow author who's aspiring to publish her first book sometime next year, I can only admire and respect the hell out of you for the job you have done with this book.
The writing style is different from what I'm used to. At first, I kept trying to identify what were the differences. For one, I think the structure of the book looks a bit like a script, which fits the theme of the story. While the breaks and change in scenes could've been more fluid and left me wanting to see more what happened during the time that wasn't shown, it also somehow made sense for the theme, as I said. I don't know if it was intentional or if it really is a writing preference, but it didn't bother like it would have in other books because I did keep thinking it was kind of like experiencing the MCs own experiences with their scripts.
What I loved the most was the poetic sound to the writing. The way Ivy chooses to structure phrases is on point and the words are so clearly well-thought, they have a true impact when you read them. That is not an easy thing to do, so it shows me how talented a writer she is. I have highlighted so much because I felt truly touched by simple things that were described so beautifully. Infinite kudos to that!
Now regarding the plot/characters/pacing.
The plot is phenomenal. A refreshing idea (at least for me, who haven't really had anything similar before) that caught my interest as soon as I read the blurb. All the characters were very well-structured and depicted. They were so human in their thoughts, feelings and actions, each one of them has moved me in different ways and brought up a whole spectrum of emotions in me. Each POV was able to make me angry and disappointed in a character, who would win me over again when their own POV came along. Their personalities, backstories, decisions and feelings are so raw, and the gray area in which they find themselves made them even more interesting.
On a more personal note, while I loved the complexity of the MCs, it was their wives who touched my heart the most. Emma's story particularly moved me the most, and I do wish we could've seen more of her although I think I'd be left in pieces if we had LOL
While I don't condone the MCs actions and would probably judge them in real life had I not known their story from their own POVs, they were extremely complex. There were two sides to their relationship that caught to me: one of them that was very well done, and another one that felt more lacking to me.
Their physical attraction and interactions were absolutely wonderfully written. The tension, the want, the longing... We can feel it so deeply, I swear my heart sped up every time I witnessed all that. I did get a bit of second-hand embarrassment as well hahaha But their chemistry was really palpable and believable. They wanted each other. A lot. It was an inevitable pull, and I do love that inevitability aspect, even though it hurt me that they were hurting other people.
What I felt that lacked was seeing more of their emotional connection and falling in love. I do think the physical aspect of their relationship was the one we saw the most, and so I had a bit of a hard time feeling they were actually in love. The parts where they connected and talked and learned more about the other were only told, not shown, and I think that did take a lot from the emotional aspect. That's the one thing I think could've changed so much of my experience with experiencing their journey.
Another thing I would've liked to see a bit more was the I did love the best friends, though.
Mason and Cassie were fundamental for the story, especially in reminding the MCs that their feelings also mattered in the middle of the storm. As much as I do think they were in the wrong for a lot of reasons, and l I'm also a believer that we cannot see anything in black and white. They were suffering too, and they are not bad people for the way they behaved. They are messed up people who made their decisions based on what they felt and acted on them in a wrong way. But they do not deserve to be condemned forever by the people who were not hurt by those actions. They matter too, and they can't set that aside because they're feeling guilty.
One thing I have got to highlight it Jacob and his past. I absolutely LOVED how Ivy was able to show the wounds of his inner child through his impenetrable-image as an adult. Yes, he grew up and learned how to protect himself from everything that happened to him, but that doesn't mean he isn't hurting anymore. That psychological aspect of his was very well done in the story. I do wish we had seen at least
Well, to shorten (LMAO), I think it was a great debut book. It does have some improving points so that the story could've felt precisely on point for me, but it was a very interesting journey that I loved going on. It could also totally have more pages to give us some of the points I explored here, if it made sense for the author. It's not a plot that's for everyone, but I do believe that most people who read it won't regret it. I'm looking forward to seeing more from Ivy, and I hope her journey as a writer is only beginning 💚
⭐⭐⭐.75 / 5 (this was a more technical rating for me, but I think it deserves 4 stars for many reasons, so rounded up to it))
🔥🔥🔥.75 / 5
Structure: Dual POV, 3rd person, past tense. First book of a series.
This is gonna be a quite long review with some (hidden) spoilers LOL
First, I'd like to start saying that if the cheating trope isn't for you, you won't be able to read this book. This is no spoiler, and the author is very clear on her notes about it. While the MCs do not cheat on each other, both of them have an affair and cheat on their wives (one who's pregnant and another who's been with one of the MCs for over a decaded and with whom he has two little kids). I think this is an important warning, so no one will go into the story hoping for something it isn't and then go blaming the plot for not liking it.
Second, I need to talk about the fact that this is a debut book. Ivy Vera Gray, WHAT a writer you are! As a fellow author who's aspiring to publish her first book sometime next year, I can only admire and respect the hell out of you for the job you have done with this book.
The writing style is different from what I'm used to. At first, I kept trying to identify what were the differences. For one, I think the structure of the book looks a bit like a script, which fits the theme of the story. While the breaks and change in scenes could've been more fluid and left me wanting to see more what happened during the time that wasn't shown, it also somehow made sense for the theme, as I said. I don't know if it was intentional or if it really is a writing preference, but it didn't bother like it would have in other books because I did keep thinking it was kind of like experiencing the MCs own experiences with their scripts.
What I loved the most was the poetic sound to the writing. The way Ivy chooses to structure phrases is on point and the words are so clearly well-thought, they have a true impact when you read them. That is not an easy thing to do, so it shows me how talented a writer she is. I have highlighted so much because I felt truly touched by simple things that were described so beautifully. Infinite kudos to that!
Now regarding the plot/characters/pacing.
The plot is phenomenal. A refreshing idea (at least for me, who haven't really had anything similar before) that caught my interest as soon as I read the blurb. All the characters were very well-structured and depicted. They were so human in their thoughts, feelings and actions, each one of them has moved me in different ways and brought up a whole spectrum of emotions in me. Each POV was able to make me angry and disappointed in a character, who would win me over again when their own POV came along. Their personalities, backstories, decisions and feelings are so raw, and the gray area in which they find themselves made them even more interesting.
On a more personal note, while I loved the complexity of the MCs, it was their wives who touched my heart the most. Emma's story particularly moved me the most, and I do wish we could've seen more of her although I think I'd be left in pieces if we had LOL
While I don't condone the MCs actions and would probably judge them in real life had I not known their story from their own POVs, they were extremely complex. There were two sides to their relationship that caught to me: one of them that was very well done, and another one that felt more lacking to me.
Their physical attraction and interactions were absolutely wonderfully written. The tension, the want, the longing... We can feel it so deeply, I swear my heart sped up every time I witnessed all that. I did get a bit of second-hand embarrassment as well hahaha But their chemistry was really palpable and believable. They wanted each other. A lot. It was an inevitable pull, and I do love that inevitability aspect, even though it hurt me that they were hurting other people.
What I felt that lacked was seeing more of their emotional connection and falling in love. I do think the physical aspect of their relationship was the one we saw the most, and so I had a bit of a hard time feeling they were actually in love. The parts where they connected and talked and learned more about the other were only told, not shown, and I think that did take a lot from the emotional aspect. That's the one thing I think could've changed so much of my experience with experiencing their journey.
Another thing I would've liked to see a bit more was the I did love the best friends, though.
Mason and Cassie were fundamental for the story, especially in reminding the MCs that their feelings also mattered in the middle of the storm. As much as I do think they were in the wrong for a lot of reasons, and l I'm also a believer that we cannot see anything in black and white. They were suffering too, and they are not bad people for the way they behaved. They are messed up people who made their decisions based on what they felt and acted on them in a wrong way. But they do not deserve to be condemned forever by the people who were not hurt by those actions. They matter too, and they can't set that aside because they're feeling guilty.
One thing I have got to highlight it Jacob and his past. I absolutely LOVED how Ivy was able to show the wounds of his inner child through his impenetrable-image as an adult. Yes, he grew up and learned how to protect himself from everything that happened to him, but that doesn't mean he isn't hurting anymore. That psychological aspect of his was very well done in the story. I do wish we had seen at least
Well, to shorten (LMAO), I think it was a great debut book. It does have some improving points so that the story could've felt precisely on point for me, but it was a very interesting journey that I loved going on. It could also totally have more pages to give us some of the points I explored here, if it made sense for the author. It's not a plot that's for everyone, but I do believe that most people who read it won't regret it. I'm looking forward to seeing more from Ivy, and I hope her journey as a writer is only beginning 💚
December 4, 2025
Review: Off Script by Ivy Vera Grey
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is something really unique about this book. The premise two "straight" men acting as gay lovers is a brilliant setup for the forced proximity trope. It felt completely refreshing because it shifted the dynamic from a stressful "will they/won't they" to a much more satisfying "when will they."
The Characters
Liam is just lovable from page one. He starts off as this cute fanboy who tends to overshare, but honestly, that just makes him more precious. Then you have Jacob, who comes off as the recluse who has it all together. Watching his layers peel back to reveal how deeply he actually cares just in a different way was satisfying.
Jacob’s possessiveness is healthy, but it definitely plays on the line of going into dark romance territory, which I found really interesting.
The Romance
Because of the acting plot, the attraction is written incredibly well. It feels totally believable. It’s a raw, tender kind of love or as Jacob calls it, an "epic romance."
Highlight: The intimacy scenes were perfect. There is a specific moment involving holding pinkies with knees pressed together that was just so cute.
The Vibe: Surprisingly, despite the drama, the book feels low-angst and almost "cozy."
The Messy Stuff (Spoiler-ish)
This story actually tiptoes the line of being a dark romance because of the cheating aspect. The characters are in relationships, and while they never deny their feelings for each other (which I loved no miscommunication frustration!), they definitely cross lines.
The Good: The "baby mama drama" was handled nicely and didn't take focus away from the main romance.
The Nitpicks: There was a drunk cliché scene that felt a little weak for Liam (giving a bit of "insta love"), and some of the logistics like the girlfriend not waking up during a panic attack phone sex scene. Despute liam being in the living required some suspension of disbelief which I'm always prepared to give.
The Verdict
If you look at this story at a base level, the cheating might turn you off. But if you look deeper, this is a story about true, life changing love. It’s about the kind of soulmates that show up once in a lifetime messy, raw, and inseparable.
For a debut novel, this is incredibly polished. It’s a refreshing find in a sea of romance novels.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is something really unique about this book. The premise two "straight" men acting as gay lovers is a brilliant setup for the forced proximity trope. It felt completely refreshing because it shifted the dynamic from a stressful "will they/won't they" to a much more satisfying "when will they."
The Characters
Liam is just lovable from page one. He starts off as this cute fanboy who tends to overshare, but honestly, that just makes him more precious. Then you have Jacob, who comes off as the recluse who has it all together. Watching his layers peel back to reveal how deeply he actually cares just in a different way was satisfying.
Jacob’s possessiveness is healthy, but it definitely plays on the line of going into dark romance territory, which I found really interesting.
The Romance
Because of the acting plot, the attraction is written incredibly well. It feels totally believable. It’s a raw, tender kind of love or as Jacob calls it, an "epic romance."
Highlight: The intimacy scenes were perfect. There is a specific moment involving holding pinkies with knees pressed together that was just so cute.
The Vibe: Surprisingly, despite the drama, the book feels low-angst and almost "cozy."
The Messy Stuff (Spoiler-ish)
This story actually tiptoes the line of being a dark romance because of the cheating aspect. The characters are in relationships, and while they never deny their feelings for each other (which I loved no miscommunication frustration!), they definitely cross lines.
The Good: The "baby mama drama" was handled nicely and didn't take focus away from the main romance.
The Nitpicks: There was a drunk cliché scene that felt a little weak for Liam (giving a bit of "insta love"), and some of the logistics like the girlfriend not waking up during a panic attack phone sex scene. Despute liam being in the living required some suspension of disbelief which I'm always prepared to give.
The Verdict
If you look at this story at a base level, the cheating might turn you off. But if you look deeper, this is a story about true, life changing love. It’s about the kind of soulmates that show up once in a lifetime messy, raw, and inseparable.
For a debut novel, this is incredibly polished. It’s a refreshing find in a sea of romance novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2025
Wow where to start… guess by saying Ivy Vera Wang killed her debut book in the best way and I’m def a fan who can’t wait for the next book!
I slammed through this one reading any minutes I could, even while cooking last night, at red lights when I had to leave and between work breaks. It hooked me hard from the first chapters and never let go.
Double bi awakening, with both in very committed relationships is never! going to be an easy thing to get through. This had patches where I questioned what I was ok with cause cheating for me is hard to read, but the author detailed this and kept it slow. The story unfurled in the most natural way possible and I understood how it could all happen. Jacob and Liam didn’t set out for this.. it was part of their path in life. Messy AF and damn did I feel for the wives, but how could it have been avoided. They were put together for a part and never expected as ‘straight’ men to feel how they felt. Chemistry and the heart wants what it wants. They had to work together and fought hard to ‘chill’ things down and away but yeah, it just wasn’t gonna happen.
I also really enjoyed a plot that was so unique with two actors and basically ‘close proximity’ going. They literally could not avoid one another.
Chemistry? Heat? 🥵 yeah it was all there. The scenes for two bi baby’s made sense. Nothing was rushed at first but these aren’t new the world adults either and both knew what they wanted and how to get it. Jacob with his dominant ways that slowly came out, was perfect for Liam.
Lastly.. I am never usually a 3rd POV fan (just being honest for others who feel the same and might think not to read), however this one flowed so well it didn’t bother me at all! I actually really enjoyed how it was written when done how this author did it. Most times I’m tripped up constantly with too many names, or recalling who’s pov or just too much inner thoughts. Not here, it flowed very well. 👏
Can’t wait for the next book!!!!! I need Knox’s story cause it sounds fabulous also.
** ARC reader
I slammed through this one reading any minutes I could, even while cooking last night, at red lights when I had to leave and between work breaks. It hooked me hard from the first chapters and never let go.
Double bi awakening, with both in very committed relationships is never! going to be an easy thing to get through. This had patches where I questioned what I was ok with cause cheating for me is hard to read, but the author detailed this and kept it slow. The story unfurled in the most natural way possible and I understood how it could all happen. Jacob and Liam didn’t set out for this.. it was part of their path in life. Messy AF and damn did I feel for the wives, but how could it have been avoided. They were put together for a part and never expected as ‘straight’ men to feel how they felt. Chemistry and the heart wants what it wants. They had to work together and fought hard to ‘chill’ things down and away but yeah, it just wasn’t gonna happen.
I also really enjoyed a plot that was so unique with two actors and basically ‘close proximity’ going. They literally could not avoid one another.
Chemistry? Heat? 🥵 yeah it was all there. The scenes for two bi baby’s made sense. Nothing was rushed at first but these aren’t new the world adults either and both knew what they wanted and how to get it. Jacob with his dominant ways that slowly came out, was perfect for Liam.
Lastly.. I am never usually a 3rd POV fan (just being honest for others who feel the same and might think not to read), however this one flowed so well it didn’t bother me at all! I actually really enjoyed how it was written when done how this author did it. Most times I’m tripped up constantly with too many names, or recalling who’s pov or just too much inner thoughts. Not here, it flowed very well. 👏
Can’t wait for the next book!!!!! I need Knox’s story cause it sounds fabulous also.
** ARC reader
December 10, 2025
This is going to be a polarizing book. I usually like cheating in books if the leads are cheating to be together but make sure you are very comfortable with that trope before reading this.
Liam and Jacob are cast as the leads in a gay romance movie. They have an instant connection that they can’t deny. The catch? Jacob is married with two young children. Liam is also married and his wife is pregnant. Both men identify as straight. The have an instant connection and they can’t resist each other. They find themselves tangled in a mess where no one walks away unscathed.
I enjoyed the movie set part of this book and getting to know these characters. There was angst and a forbidden element that kept my attention the entire book.
Spoilers ahead so proceed at your own risk.
Liam and Jacob were liked overall good guys who tried to fight their attraction but I didn’t find myself rooting for them like I wanted too. Emma is pregnant, this resulted in me getting the ick towards Liam. Usually in these type of books the marriage is already in trouble and there are problems prior to the affair, but here both guys were happily married. That didn’t change until they fell for each other.
It leads to a hard earned HEA. If you enjoy this trope this book is worth checking out.
Liam and Jacob are cast as the leads in a gay romance movie. They have an instant connection that they can’t deny. The catch? Jacob is married with two young children. Liam is also married and his wife is pregnant. Both men identify as straight. The have an instant connection and they can’t resist each other. They find themselves tangled in a mess where no one walks away unscathed.
I enjoyed the movie set part of this book and getting to know these characters. There was angst and a forbidden element that kept my attention the entire book.
Spoilers ahead so proceed at your own risk.
Liam and Jacob were liked overall good guys who tried to fight their attraction but I didn’t find myself rooting for them like I wanted too. Emma is pregnant, this resulted in me getting the ick towards Liam. Usually in these type of books the marriage is already in trouble and there are problems prior to the affair, but here both guys were happily married. That didn’t change until they fell for each other.
It leads to a hard earned HEA. If you enjoy this trope this book is worth checking out.
December 11, 2025
Okay this book has me obsessed.
It’s the first book from this author and it’s soo good.
It’s about 2 actors who sign up to a gay love story. From the start there is this instance connection.
But they are both married to woman and never felt anything for another men before.
I was sucked in from the beginning. I read it in 1,5 hour because I could not stop.
If you love a good MM romance story. Go read this one!!!
It’s the first book from this author and it’s soo good.
It’s about 2 actors who sign up to a gay love story. From the start there is this instance connection.
But they are both married to woman and never felt anything for another men before.
I was sucked in from the beginning. I read it in 1,5 hour because I could not stop.
If you love a good MM romance story. Go read this one!!!
December 20, 2025
Loved this, the tension!! The jeopardy!! I kept waiting for them to be caught out! thank god they finally got their HEA
December 1, 2025
Wow! Wow! Wow! What a debut novel by Ivy Vera Gray. Liam and and Jacob were amazing to read about. The quality of this book took me back about 5 years to the caliber of books, with the connection and writing quality. I love double-bi awakening and this author nailed it! I was sad to see this book end. I finished it in a day and stayed up all night to finish it. I only wished for more of Knox's character in the book and hoped that he and Jacob would get to know each other. I also would have loved to see how the kids/ex-wives interacted with each other later on. The romance, longing, and love interests were so well-developed. I was nervous given that this was a debit novel but author knocked it out of the park! I cannot wait to read the second book, I am salivating for it, and I will sign up to be an ARC reader for that one as well!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2025
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this up as it’s not my typical read but I’m happy to report that I had a good time reading this. The questionable choices made by the main characters are largely why I didn’t know what to expect when it came to how I’d feel during this read however with the way this was written there is a part of you that roots for Liam and Jacob from the beginning. Their chemistry is well established and you understand that they are overall good men who do truly love the women in their lives however the dynamics have changed and navigating how to move forward left things a bit messy. I would never condone cheating in real life but when it comes to Liam and Jacob as characters I did enjoy their story. I’m excited for book 2.
💛ARC REVIEW💚
☑️ Trigger Warnings.
💛ARC REVIEW💚
☑️ Trigger Warnings.
December 16, 2025
I don’t even know where to start with this book.
I nearly DNF’d before the end of the first chapter because it paints Jacob as so inherently unlikeable I honestly wasn’t sure if I could continue. I know sometimes we need to see the worst in a character to build them back up to being lovable, but Lord, give me something to hang on to. I don’t know if my first impression of an MC needed to be that he was a narcissistic wanker.
Then we meet Liam, the happy go lucky, pretty boy whose whole character initially hangs on him being the social butterfly in the room, the human ray of sunshine if you will.
This is where I started to feel like these men aren’t really characters, they’re just a handful of tropes dressed up in human clothing.
It definitely becomes more apparent later on in the story when (eye roll) the dark and moody, brooding, strong silent, alpha energy, older man automatically assumes he’s going to top the sweet, sunshine, younger guy. And when I say assumes, I mean it literally. Their first penetrative sex scene, involves bare minimum prep (which is done to Liam without prior knowledge that this is the role he wants to take), zero consent - there is no conversation about prior experience, wants, needs, expectations AT ALL. AND, when the issue of not having condoms comes up Jacob proudly states (I paraphrase) ‘don’t worry, I’m clean and I only fuck my wife’. I’m sorry my dude but fidelity does not mean you don’t need protection.
I am always slightly nervous when reading a double bi-awakening because my first thought is always ‘but who the hell is gonna know what’s going on’, I’ve seen most authors handle this by showing them learning together and it’s often a very sweet, intimate moment of them being vulnerable together. Not whatever non consensual, assumptive thing this was.
Don’t get me started on the aftermath of this scene. So these two have penetrative sex for the first time (and their first time with a man), sleep in their own fluids all night, then get up for work the next day, don’t shower, go off to their film set and do a days filming (subjecting countless people who work there to god knows what), THEN go off on a hike together in their costumes after.
There are countless mentions throughout of Jacob ‘marking’ Liam, usually with bite marks and hickies and I’m just supposed to believe two professional actors at (supposedly) the top of their game didn’t once stop and think about the continuity? I know it’s supposed to symbolise how feral for each other they are but none of the character work actually leads me to believe that they are. They genuinely seem like two men who want to do their best work and I just couldn’t suspend belief enough to get on board with the idea that at no point did they stop and think about the whole reason they are there. Jacob seems to display a lot of possessive energy towards Liam and there’s just no character work to make me believe this is how he would behave. I found lots of elements like this to be just too far on the side of unbelievability. They were able to get off together while filming, I don’t believe that for a second. These are both seasoned pro’s who would have 101 things going on in their heads while at work, not to mention that they’re in a room full of people and Jacob even mentions in his inner monologue that he’s not into exhibitionism.
This now brings me to a phone call Liam makes to Jacob while he’s having a panic attack. Suddenly Jacob decides he’s going to Dom Liam out of his panic attack using sex. I know that these dynamics exist and that for some people this would actually work. But….they do not have a d/s dynamic, at no point have they set up rules or boundaries for this lifestyle. The fact that it’s not mentioned in the TW’s suggests that the author doesn’t find this to be odd behaviour. This is dangerously misleading information about a lifestyle that is built almost exclusively on enthusiastic consent.
The less said about the fact that Jacob suddenly can deep throat without prior experience the better. I don’t even wanna touch that tbh.
Then we get chapters from both the wives?! I don’t feel like I particularly want the POV of the woman being cheated on during their break up. It felt like a cop out to get away with not writing the MC’s emotions during these scenes. And seriously? Jacob asks his wife not to tell Liam’s wife what they’re doing ‘cos she’s pregnant’ and his wife just goes along with it. What happened to sisterhood? It’s disgusting enough the way men cover for each other in these sorts of situations and call it ‘bro code’ but the author just had to take the innocent women down with them. I already knew I would question my morals slightly reading a book about two men cheating together, at least the women could have been written as decent humans. Not to mention that Liam’s wife’s whole POV is basically ‘I’m ok if he leaves me cos I got a baby out of it’ totally gross. Like motherhood is the consolation prize for losing your husband.
Oh and an honourable mention to Jacob’s wife who decides she’s going to hop on her husbands (previously mentioned massive) d*ck with no foreplay - not even kissing - and just ride it dry. RIP her vagina I guess.
Once again the d/s lifestyle rears its head between these two men in the bedroom when they suddenly start discussing colours. I feel like a bit of basic character building could’ve solved a lot of these issues. Just something, anything, to explain why they know these things and feel comfortable using them.
I felt like the author finally remembered to give them some personality beyond ‘I’m a cheating cheater who cheats’ in the epilogue but it was too little too late for me. They finally became likeable people just as the book was ending.
All in all I found this book to be bordering on perpetuating dangerous stereotypes of
1. Bisexual men, ie all bisexual men will cheat.
2. Big Dom, older guy must top and smaller, pretty boy, younger guy must bottom.
This book feels like it was written for the ‘must be strict roles’ crowd. It’s very trope heavy to the point where these don’t feel like real men. When people talk about gay men being fetishised, this is the sort of thing they mean. These don’t feel like well rounded characters, they feel like a handful of plot lines thrown together to string the story along between sex scenes. Jacob’s obsessive, possessive energy feels like it was lifted from another character and added here because it makes everything ‘more sexy’ when none of his character motivations have lead me to believe he posses this sort of energy. Liams submissive nature seems to come out of nowhere. At no point did he strike me as someone looking to hand over the reigns of control. He seemed perhaps a little chaotic (because let’s not forget he has ADHD) but he had already managed to build a successful and happy life for himself.
I would briefly like to mention that I don’t think this author is a bad writer. The emotional moments during the third act break actually mostly hit for me. They are clearly skilled at portraying emotion, I only wish they had used that skill more during the rest of their writing. Also the sex scenes later in the book were actually pretty hot. It made me wonder if this complete work was perhaps a few scenes the author had written previously and attempted to string them together into a complete story, because while they were good writing, often times they felt slightly disconnected from the rest of their story, almost formulaic like (insert sex scene here).
Needless to say I won’t be rushing to read book two in this series, which, after a glance at the trope list is going to be all the same tropes except make it mafia x small town bad boy.
I am writing this honest review in exchange for an arc from the author. All thoughts are my own.
I nearly DNF’d before the end of the first chapter because it paints Jacob as so inherently unlikeable I honestly wasn’t sure if I could continue. I know sometimes we need to see the worst in a character to build them back up to being lovable, but Lord, give me something to hang on to. I don’t know if my first impression of an MC needed to be that he was a narcissistic wanker.
Then we meet Liam, the happy go lucky, pretty boy whose whole character initially hangs on him being the social butterfly in the room, the human ray of sunshine if you will.
This is where I started to feel like these men aren’t really characters, they’re just a handful of tropes dressed up in human clothing.
It definitely becomes more apparent later on in the story when (eye roll) the dark and moody, brooding, strong silent, alpha energy, older man automatically assumes he’s going to top the sweet, sunshine, younger guy. And when I say assumes, I mean it literally. Their first penetrative sex scene, involves bare minimum prep (which is done to Liam without prior knowledge that this is the role he wants to take), zero consent - there is no conversation about prior experience, wants, needs, expectations AT ALL. AND, when the issue of not having condoms comes up Jacob proudly states (I paraphrase) ‘don’t worry, I’m clean and I only fuck my wife’. I’m sorry my dude but fidelity does not mean you don’t need protection.
I am always slightly nervous when reading a double bi-awakening because my first thought is always ‘but who the hell is gonna know what’s going on’, I’ve seen most authors handle this by showing them learning together and it’s often a very sweet, intimate moment of them being vulnerable together. Not whatever non consensual, assumptive thing this was.
Don’t get me started on the aftermath of this scene. So these two have penetrative sex for the first time (and their first time with a man), sleep in their own fluids all night, then get up for work the next day, don’t shower, go off to their film set and do a days filming (subjecting countless people who work there to god knows what), THEN go off on a hike together in their costumes after.
There are countless mentions throughout of Jacob ‘marking’ Liam, usually with bite marks and hickies and I’m just supposed to believe two professional actors at (supposedly) the top of their game didn’t once stop and think about the continuity? I know it’s supposed to symbolise how feral for each other they are but none of the character work actually leads me to believe that they are. They genuinely seem like two men who want to do their best work and I just couldn’t suspend belief enough to get on board with the idea that at no point did they stop and think about the whole reason they are there. Jacob seems to display a lot of possessive energy towards Liam and there’s just no character work to make me believe this is how he would behave. I found lots of elements like this to be just too far on the side of unbelievability. They were able to get off together while filming, I don’t believe that for a second. These are both seasoned pro’s who would have 101 things going on in their heads while at work, not to mention that they’re in a room full of people and Jacob even mentions in his inner monologue that he’s not into exhibitionism.
This now brings me to a phone call Liam makes to Jacob while he’s having a panic attack. Suddenly Jacob decides he’s going to Dom Liam out of his panic attack using sex. I know that these dynamics exist and that for some people this would actually work. But….they do not have a d/s dynamic, at no point have they set up rules or boundaries for this lifestyle. The fact that it’s not mentioned in the TW’s suggests that the author doesn’t find this to be odd behaviour. This is dangerously misleading information about a lifestyle that is built almost exclusively on enthusiastic consent.
The less said about the fact that Jacob suddenly can deep throat without prior experience the better. I don’t even wanna touch that tbh.
Then we get chapters from both the wives?! I don’t feel like I particularly want the POV of the woman being cheated on during their break up. It felt like a cop out to get away with not writing the MC’s emotions during these scenes. And seriously? Jacob asks his wife not to tell Liam’s wife what they’re doing ‘cos she’s pregnant’ and his wife just goes along with it. What happened to sisterhood? It’s disgusting enough the way men cover for each other in these sorts of situations and call it ‘bro code’ but the author just had to take the innocent women down with them. I already knew I would question my morals slightly reading a book about two men cheating together, at least the women could have been written as decent humans. Not to mention that Liam’s wife’s whole POV is basically ‘I’m ok if he leaves me cos I got a baby out of it’ totally gross. Like motherhood is the consolation prize for losing your husband.
Oh and an honourable mention to Jacob’s wife who decides she’s going to hop on her husbands (previously mentioned massive) d*ck with no foreplay - not even kissing - and just ride it dry. RIP her vagina I guess.
Once again the d/s lifestyle rears its head between these two men in the bedroom when they suddenly start discussing colours. I feel like a bit of basic character building could’ve solved a lot of these issues. Just something, anything, to explain why they know these things and feel comfortable using them.
I felt like the author finally remembered to give them some personality beyond ‘I’m a cheating cheater who cheats’ in the epilogue but it was too little too late for me. They finally became likeable people just as the book was ending.
All in all I found this book to be bordering on perpetuating dangerous stereotypes of
1. Bisexual men, ie all bisexual men will cheat.
2. Big Dom, older guy must top and smaller, pretty boy, younger guy must bottom.
This book feels like it was written for the ‘must be strict roles’ crowd. It’s very trope heavy to the point where these don’t feel like real men. When people talk about gay men being fetishised, this is the sort of thing they mean. These don’t feel like well rounded characters, they feel like a handful of plot lines thrown together to string the story along between sex scenes. Jacob’s obsessive, possessive energy feels like it was lifted from another character and added here because it makes everything ‘more sexy’ when none of his character motivations have lead me to believe he posses this sort of energy. Liams submissive nature seems to come out of nowhere. At no point did he strike me as someone looking to hand over the reigns of control. He seemed perhaps a little chaotic (because let’s not forget he has ADHD) but he had already managed to build a successful and happy life for himself.
I would briefly like to mention that I don’t think this author is a bad writer. The emotional moments during the third act break actually mostly hit for me. They are clearly skilled at portraying emotion, I only wish they had used that skill more during the rest of their writing. Also the sex scenes later in the book were actually pretty hot. It made me wonder if this complete work was perhaps a few scenes the author had written previously and attempted to string them together into a complete story, because while they were good writing, often times they felt slightly disconnected from the rest of their story, almost formulaic like (insert sex scene here).
Needless to say I won’t be rushing to read book two in this series, which, after a glance at the trope list is going to be all the same tropes except make it mafia x small town bad boy.
I am writing this honest review in exchange for an arc from the author. All thoughts are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Off Script
By Ivy Vera Gray
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️ Please read the trigger warnings! Some things are not for everyone one, but please remember it's fiction⚠️
Two straight men get cast as the leads in a show 👀 what could go wrong?
I absolutely loved all the tension and push and pull in this book!
Jacob and Liam go through every emotion possible in their journey of falling in love.
Something that was supposed to be nothing ends up exploding into everything they wanted.
P.s. Yes, I feel terrible for Caroline and Emma. I'm not a terrible person. But this is fiction.
Off Script
By Ivy Vera Gray
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️ Please read the trigger warnings! Some things are not for everyone one, but please remember it's fiction⚠️
Two straight men get cast as the leads in a show 👀 what could go wrong?
I absolutely loved all the tension and push and pull in this book!
Jacob and Liam go through every emotion possible in their journey of falling in love.
Something that was supposed to be nothing ends up exploding into everything they wanted.
P.s. Yes, I feel terrible for Caroline and Emma. I'm not a terrible person. But this is fiction.
December 3, 2025
Arc read - (all opinions are my own)
A beautifully written debut from Ivy. The flow of the writing and delivery of tension was excellent. I was hooked from the start, especially those first staged kisses, that consumed both men to the point neither could control themselves. 👌🏻
If you enjoy insta-lust, possessive, obsessive, forbidden love and dominance, then this one’s for you.
A beautifully written debut from Ivy. The flow of the writing and delivery of tension was excellent. I was hooked from the start, especially those first staged kisses, that consumed both men to the point neither could control themselves. 👌🏻
If you enjoy insta-lust, possessive, obsessive, forbidden love and dominance, then this one’s for you.
December 19, 2025
Honestly amazing. A beautifully written, enthralling story that doesn’t shy away from the realities of the affair and all the people who get hurt by it. The love between Jacob and Liam is authentic, honest, and completely unapologetic, without ever needing to paint the women as villains in order to justify it. Absolutely loved it. Can’t believe it’s the authors debut novel.
December 17, 2025
I’m wrecked … I think I fell as much in love with Jacob and Liam as they did each other. This story is raw and poignant, messy and hot.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"With Liam there was no choosing. It was a storm, sudden and merciless, ripping through him whether he opened the door or not." - Jacob
"Around Jacob, his easy charm kept faltering. Something about this man kept unraveling him." - Liam
I've never read a romance about two actors before, and I definitely love that kind of setting. I really enjoyed the behind the-scenes of their work. This book is fully in third person with POVs, and there is also a POV from each of their wives, which I really loved but also made me think about what Jacob and Liam really did and for such a long time as well. My first impression of Jacob is just bad; he simply expected to get the role because he's successful, while Liam really wanted to have the role. There is an age gap, and that, with Jacob's background, explains a bit more why he wanted to create a stable career and household. This is also a double bi-awakening, and that is just a lot for both of them, but especially Liam. He's very stressed at times, and Jacob can help in those moments.
I have a few reasons why I gave this book 3 stars. I don't like Jacob for the most part. This is new for both of them, and it felt like Jacob just assumed that Liam wanted things in a certain way; he didn't ask. Liam is my favorite out of the two; he's thinking more about what they are doing and saying what he thinks. And I also wonder if they are good actors or if they are just ignoring the script half of the time because they are so into each other that the world disappears when the cameras are on. They aren't lying to each other, but they are also not really doing anything about the situation or talking to each other. It said that they talked nightly on the phone about everything, and I just wanted to read more about that for me to feel connected. And I wanted moments with the children and getting to know each other. I know that this is a romance book about a secret relationship and that it isn't about the children, but they are a big part of them and they are in each other's future. It was definitely messy, and they just felt alone in their newfound situation and feelings; that was sad, especially with the pressure of the rest of the world watching. I enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. The second book sounds interesting, and I'm definitely reading that as well.
I received an ARC copy of this book.
"Around Jacob, his easy charm kept faltering. Something about this man kept unraveling him." - Liam
I've never read a romance about two actors before, and I definitely love that kind of setting. I really enjoyed the behind the-scenes of their work. This book is fully in third person with POVs, and there is also a POV from each of their wives, which I really loved but also made me think about what Jacob and Liam really did and for such a long time as well. My first impression of Jacob is just bad; he simply expected to get the role because he's successful, while Liam really wanted to have the role. There is an age gap, and that, with Jacob's background, explains a bit more why he wanted to create a stable career and household. This is also a double bi-awakening, and that is just a lot for both of them, but especially Liam. He's very stressed at times, and Jacob can help in those moments.
I have a few reasons why I gave this book 3 stars. I don't like Jacob for the most part. This is new for both of them, and it felt like Jacob just assumed that Liam wanted things in a certain way; he didn't ask. Liam is my favorite out of the two; he's thinking more about what they are doing and saying what he thinks. And I also wonder if they are good actors or if they are just ignoring the script half of the time because they are so into each other that the world disappears when the cameras are on. They aren't lying to each other, but they are also not really doing anything about the situation or talking to each other. It said that they talked nightly on the phone about everything, and I just wanted to read more about that for me to feel connected. And I wanted moments with the children and getting to know each other. I know that this is a romance book about a secret relationship and that it isn't about the children, but they are a big part of them and they are in each other's future. It was definitely messy, and they just felt alone in their newfound situation and feelings; that was sad, especially with the pressure of the rest of the world watching. I enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. The second book sounds interesting, and I'm definitely reading that as well.
I received an ARC copy of this book.
December 20, 2025
ARC Review
Jacob + Liam
Release Date : December 19 2025
First things first is that this book does contain cheating so if that’s not your thing this book is not for you. Now if you don’t mind it this story is about two married men who fall in love that’s forbidden. Forbidden because of the simple fact they are both married. Jacob has a family and Liam is just starting a family with his wife being currently pregnant. I think what most drew me to this book was the double bi awakening. I hadn’t read one with this trope in a long time. There is just something about a person finding a new part of themselves. This book also has push and pull throughout. Do I like cheating no but I have to respect that these two men had no malice and that they also didn’t like cheating hence why their was so much push and pull. But their comes a point and this book shows it perfectly that you can’t hide what your feeling for long. Out of both of the men I understood Jacob more and how he ended up with a family and having this attraction at 46 years old. One thing I really did appreciate about Ivy was that we got the wives point of views. So many other authors when writing cheating tropes never show the partners getting cheated on point of view. For this to be a debut and to have included that made me like this book more. Because while this book is about Liam and Jacob discovering themselves we should not forget about the spouses and what they feel.
Jacob + Liam
Release Date : December 19 2025
First things first is that this book does contain cheating so if that’s not your thing this book is not for you. Now if you don’t mind it this story is about two married men who fall in love that’s forbidden. Forbidden because of the simple fact they are both married. Jacob has a family and Liam is just starting a family with his wife being currently pregnant. I think what most drew me to this book was the double bi awakening. I hadn’t read one with this trope in a long time. There is just something about a person finding a new part of themselves. This book also has push and pull throughout. Do I like cheating no but I have to respect that these two men had no malice and that they also didn’t like cheating hence why their was so much push and pull. But their comes a point and this book shows it perfectly that you can’t hide what your feeling for long. Out of both of the men I understood Jacob more and how he ended up with a family and having this attraction at 46 years old. One thing I really did appreciate about Ivy was that we got the wives point of views. So many other authors when writing cheating tropes never show the partners getting cheated on point of view. For this to be a debut and to have included that made me like this book more. Because while this book is about Liam and Jacob discovering themselves we should not forget about the spouses and what they feel.
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