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Altered Paths #2
Just Us Two
Oliver
My parents let me down. They should have loved me. Put me first. Protected me. But they didn’t, so I protect myself by shutting people out, never letting them see the real me. They see what I want them to. The cold asshole who is there for a good time. All smiles and charm hiding an aching heart.
When a phone call brings up feelings I thought I’d buried, old habits have me seeking a friend from my past. But when the door to his flat swings open, it’s a stranger that answers. A stranger with dimples, a bright smile, and blue eyes that truly see me. He quickly becomes my friend, my safe space, and the one man I want to let in, no matter how much it scares me. In the moments we spend together, where I open up like I never have before, where his touches linger and the silence is comforting, we fall in love.
It’s real, and it’s perfect, and it’s the happiest I’ve ever been.
But I should have known it wouldn’t last.
Darius
He needs a friend. I see it in his sad eyes the moment I open the door. I know who he is before he says his name, and though befriending him is betrayal; I want to be the person he leans on. So I show him he can trust me. That he means something to me.
Oliver gives me the affection, love, and attention I felt was missing from life with a father who gave me a wealth of material possessions but little of his time, and in return, I love Oliver the way he deserves - with my whole heart. We’re made for each other. A perfect fit.
But when a secret is revealed, I have to make a choice with consequences that sting either way: love or family. Whether the choice I make is the right one or not, it’s the one I have to live with.
My parents let me down. They should have loved me. Put me first. Protected me. But they didn’t, so I protect myself by shutting people out, never letting them see the real me. They see what I want them to. The cold asshole who is there for a good time. All smiles and charm hiding an aching heart.
When a phone call brings up feelings I thought I’d buried, old habits have me seeking a friend from my past. But when the door to his flat swings open, it’s a stranger that answers. A stranger with dimples, a bright smile, and blue eyes that truly see me. He quickly becomes my friend, my safe space, and the one man I want to let in, no matter how much it scares me. In the moments we spend together, where I open up like I never have before, where his touches linger and the silence is comforting, we fall in love.
It’s real, and it’s perfect, and it’s the happiest I’ve ever been.
But I should have known it wouldn’t last.
Darius
He needs a friend. I see it in his sad eyes the moment I open the door. I know who he is before he says his name, and though befriending him is betrayal; I want to be the person he leans on. So I show him he can trust me. That he means something to me.
Oliver gives me the affection, love, and attention I felt was missing from life with a father who gave me a wealth of material possessions but little of his time, and in return, I love Oliver the way he deserves - with my whole heart. We’re made for each other. A perfect fit.
But when a secret is revealed, I have to make a choice with consequences that sting either way: love or family. Whether the choice I make is the right one or not, it’s the one I have to live with.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
May 10, 2026
I was debating since yesterday on what to rate this book. I did like it and her writing style is so easy to read, it’s engaging and before you know it you finished the book.
I was going to rate 4⭐️ but the more I thought about it the more I saw this was a 3⭐️ book which for my ratings means I liked the book but it wasn’t anything special.
Ultimately I wanted MORE ! I wanted a more complex story, more emotions, more depth into the characters, more more more ….I was left a little unsatisfied. “That One Moment” which is the first book was SO PACKED FULL of emotions, drama, grief, addiction that I was expecting this to be same level. In here I was left to imagine the grooming and abuse Oliver suffered, I wanted that to be explored, explained, I wanted to see his struggles in a deeper way. I wanted to feel with him and it was so glanced over that I barely remembered he was abuse until he mentioned, we could’ve had a deep amazing story just like we had with Caiden in the first book. Darius was a character with not much to unpack, he was the golden retriever and I liked him but again I wanted more , and when he finally had a story that could’ve had been fully explored in the domestic abuse/violence side again I was left unsatisfied….. i wanted to fully feel the betrayal, the control, the manipulation, abuse and for that to happen we needed more time with Darius and stupid Floyd , yes he was the villain but I wanted to see that side explored and not that lukewarm relationship and then BAM and it was over…. I wanted that to simmer for a while. I wanted the rift between Darius and Oliver to be bigger and harder to repair and more painful, this way when they repaired their relationship I would be kicking my feet and crying tears of happiness for them.
The ending was a rushed. I did like it the constant presence of Caiden and Jamie (when I actually realized who they were, because I had a real amnesia trope here ) 😂! I like Darcey a LOT and I like that Oliver had a chance to show us a little of who he was and not the unreliable jerk from book 1. The operative word here was MORE in case you did not get it by now ….
Overall it was good, not life changing but good.
I was going to rate 4⭐️ but the more I thought about it the more I saw this was a 3⭐️ book which for my ratings means I liked the book but it wasn’t anything special.
Ultimately I wanted MORE ! I wanted a more complex story, more emotions, more depth into the characters, more more more ….I was left a little unsatisfied. “That One Moment” which is the first book was SO PACKED FULL of emotions, drama, grief, addiction that I was expecting this to be same level. In here I was left to imagine the grooming and abuse Oliver suffered, I wanted that to be explored, explained, I wanted to see his struggles in a deeper way. I wanted to feel with him and it was so glanced over that I barely remembered he was abuse until he mentioned, we could’ve had a deep amazing story just like we had with Caiden in the first book. Darius was a character with not much to unpack, he was the golden retriever and I liked him but again I wanted more , and when he finally had a story that could’ve had been fully explored in the domestic abuse/violence side again I was left unsatisfied….. i wanted to fully feel the betrayal, the control, the manipulation, abuse and for that to happen we needed more time with Darius and stupid Floyd , yes he was the villain but I wanted to see that side explored and not that lukewarm relationship and then BAM and it was over…. I wanted that to simmer for a while. I wanted the rift between Darius and Oliver to be bigger and harder to repair and more painful, this way when they repaired their relationship I would be kicking my feet and crying tears of happiness for them.
The ending was a rushed. I did like it the constant presence of Caiden and Jamie (when I actually realized who they were, because I had a real amnesia trope here ) 😂! I like Darcey a LOT and I like that Oliver had a chance to show us a little of who he was and not the unreliable jerk from book 1. The operative word here was MORE in case you did not get it by now ….
Overall it was good, not life changing but good.
won-t-read-bc-nopes
May 21, 2026Just noting to avoid. There's a breakup in which one hooks up with others. It's described as having "no cheating" but for me...that would be cheating on me. Author always sounds interesting, but I think is too sex positive for my tastes. Alas.
May 10, 2026
To begin with, this book had a different vibe than That One Moment. Not that they needed to be the same, just an observation.
Second, it was almost like I’d read two different books?! The first half of the book was what I liked: I liked the demi-rep and the fact that their relationship built slowly, on a genuine foundation through friendship. It was nice to read about their moments together and the transition of their relationship from friendship to something more was nicely written.
I also liked both MMCs, especially Darius—loved him. This first half also dealt with Oliver’s past—though too briefly—as well as the eating disorder that resulted from his trauma (because let’s face it, that’s what it was, even though it was not stated at any point)—but again, too briefly.
Then came the second part of the book. I knew what to expect, but I was still disappointed with the direction the plot took. A completely new character was suddenly introduced who played a major role in the plot, but at the same time remained a minor character—if that makes sense. This second part was also really OTT drama, which I don’t really care for and didn’t fit with this book. There was also some behavior and events here that I could rant about further, but I’ll leave those out.
Why did the plot have to introduce a completely new character and take the story in a totally different direction? Why didn’t this book focus on, say, Oliver and his past and Alister—since he was featured here anyway. This could (and should) have delved deeper into Oliver’s trauma anyway; it felt like it was a major part of the book but somehow still got overlooked.
The first half of the book deserves a higher rating, but the second half brought it down to 3 stars.
Second, it was almost like I’d read two different books?! The first half of the book was what I liked: I liked the demi-rep and the fact that their relationship built slowly, on a genuine foundation through friendship. It was nice to read about their moments together and the transition of their relationship from friendship to something more was nicely written.
I also liked both MMCs, especially Darius—loved him. This first half also dealt with Oliver’s past—though too briefly—as well as the eating disorder that resulted from his trauma (because let’s face it, that’s what it was, even though it was not stated at any point)—but again, too briefly.
Then came the second part of the book. I knew what to expect, but I was still disappointed with the direction the plot took. A completely new character was suddenly introduced who played a major role in the plot, but at the same time remained a minor character—if that makes sense. This second part was also really OTT drama, which I don’t really care for and didn’t fit with this book. There was also some behavior and events here that I could rant about further, but I’ll leave those out.
Why did the plot have to introduce a completely new character and take the story in a totally different direction? Why didn’t this book focus on, say, Oliver and his past and Alister—since he was featured here anyway. This could (and should) have delved deeper into Oliver’s trauma anyway; it felt like it was a major part of the book but somehow still got overlooked.
The first half of the book deserves a higher rating, but the second half brought it down to 3 stars.
May 27, 2026
This was so sweet and emotional.
C.S.autumn always knows how to write emotionally, gripping stories that leave an impact on the reader.
Oliver and Darius go from strangers to friends to lovers and I love how Darius really helped Oliver with his trauma and be there for him when nobody else was. Oliver’s entire family, let him down in the worst way possible for speaking his truth on his trauma. No one believed him, but Darius saw Oliver heard Oliver and believed Oliver. As time goes on they grow closer and ultimately they fall for one another hard and the love that blooms is so sweet.
Towards the end of the book you kinda get a parallel moment where Darius is forced to endure abuse and pay for the consequences of his father‘s misdeeds and Oliver sees Darius hurting and instead of staying quiet he chooses to fight for Darius and to make Darius‘s father see what his actions have done and asks him if it’s worth losing a child over, so it was very much a full circle moment. In a way Oliver never got that closure with his family but because these two fought for each other Darius and Oliver were finally able to get their happily ever after and ultimately heal together.
Tropes
Strangers to friends to lovers
Puppy nickname
SA Rep
Abuse rep
Demi rep
Caretaking and hurt/ comfort
Angst
C.S.autumn always knows how to write emotionally, gripping stories that leave an impact on the reader.
Oliver and Darius go from strangers to friends to lovers and I love how Darius really helped Oliver with his trauma and be there for him when nobody else was. Oliver’s entire family, let him down in the worst way possible for speaking his truth on his trauma. No one believed him, but Darius saw Oliver heard Oliver and believed Oliver. As time goes on they grow closer and ultimately they fall for one another hard and the love that blooms is so sweet.
Towards the end of the book you kinda get a parallel moment where Darius is forced to endure abuse and pay for the consequences of his father‘s misdeeds and Oliver sees Darius hurting and instead of staying quiet he chooses to fight for Darius and to make Darius‘s father see what his actions have done and asks him if it’s worth losing a child over, so it was very much a full circle moment. In a way Oliver never got that closure with his family but because these two fought for each other Darius and Oliver were finally able to get their happily ever after and ultimately heal together.
Tropes
Strangers to friends to lovers
Puppy nickname
SA Rep
Abuse rep
Demi rep
Caretaking and hurt/ comfort
Angst
May 8, 2026
Ollie and Darius, my sweet babies, I loved them both so so much 🥹
It’s been almost a year for me since That One Moment, so I had to do a quick skim-through it to restore my context of where we stood with both of them. And while I’m glad I did, I guess it can be read as a standalone - though, why would you, That One Moment is perfect 🫢
I don’t know why am I surprised, but I was genuinely crazy about this couple almost instantly 💗 Their connection was immediate, but the way their relationship grew was so beautiful and precious, I can’t even remember when I last read something like this 🌻
🐧 “Melting into his embrace, I lay my head on his shoulder, thankful that while I opened the door to him that night, he’s the one that let me in.” 🐧
We have a very gentle Demi-representation here, and maybe because of this everything felt so tender and with so much love I felt like I was overflowing. It was all so beautiful, the way Darius cared and supported and had zero judgment towards Oliver. The way Oliver was fully understanding and gentle with Darius. How trust overcame the walls around hearts 💗
🌻 “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, Oliver Cross. You’re my beautiful storm and I am going to love you today, tomorrow and in every lifetime that comes after.” 🌻
That said, it probably wouldn’t be C.S. Autumn if we didn’t get a proper amount of heartbreak. Considering how much love was there, trust me that you’ll get a decent amount of hurt too 🫠
I won’t pretend the whole drama was unpredictable, it totally was, and it could be handled differently, BUT just as I was beginning to get disappointed that it would all get too-obvious, several years gaps and all that, the story actually took a very nice turn of events 🙃
Also, am I the only one - I kind of got the Head Above Water (CE Ricci) vibe from the prologue 🤔
So no, I won’t complain, I felt it, I loved it, and I really hope for some more books in this series 🙌
It’s been almost a year for me since That One Moment, so I had to do a quick skim-through it to restore my context of where we stood with both of them. And while I’m glad I did, I guess it can be read as a standalone - though, why would you, That One Moment is perfect 🫢
I don’t know why am I surprised, but I was genuinely crazy about this couple almost instantly 💗 Their connection was immediate, but the way their relationship grew was so beautiful and precious, I can’t even remember when I last read something like this 🌻
🐧 “Melting into his embrace, I lay my head on his shoulder, thankful that while I opened the door to him that night, he’s the one that let me in.” 🐧
We have a very gentle Demi-representation here, and maybe because of this everything felt so tender and with so much love I felt like I was overflowing. It was all so beautiful, the way Darius cared and supported and had zero judgment towards Oliver. The way Oliver was fully understanding and gentle with Darius. How trust overcame the walls around hearts 💗
🌻 “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, Oliver Cross. You’re my beautiful storm and I am going to love you today, tomorrow and in every lifetime that comes after.” 🌻
That said, it probably wouldn’t be C.S. Autumn if we didn’t get a proper amount of heartbreak. Considering how much love was there, trust me that you’ll get a decent amount of hurt too 🫠
I won’t pretend the whole drama was unpredictable, it totally was, and it could be handled differently, BUT just as I was beginning to get disappointed that it would all get too-obvious, several years gaps and all that, the story actually took a very nice turn of events 🙃
Also, am I the only one - I kind of got the Head Above Water (CE Ricci) vibe from the prologue 🤔
So no, I won’t complain, I felt it, I loved it, and I really hope for some more books in this series 🙌
May 10, 2026
4⭐️ 3🌶️ Ollie & Darius were wholesome and cute asf
This is book 2 in an interconnected standalone series—book 1 being That One Moment. Book 1 destroyed me and made me bawl my eyes out. It was five stars. Going into this book, I expected the emotions to be around the same height, but they weren’t for me ONLY BECAUSE a lot of the pain/trauma was not explicit and even the healing was mostly off-page. While having that trauma be more detailed would’ve killed me, I think that it would’ve helped readers understand the brutality the character(s) went through and why they may act a certain way or make particular decisions, ya know? That’s just my opinion. I felt like this book was much more vague compared to details in book 1. But I still loved the characters, their stories, and the outcome.
I will say, I thought the ending was rushed and I wanted so much more out of it, but the entire book I devoured and was obsessed with them and getting their HEA. I just wanted more details in justice being achieved and not having their HEA be essentially the last 5 pages.
Darius in lace being Ollie’s weakness is my favorite thing ever. Darius is demisexual and I think it was represented very well and it played a great part in seeing them be strangers to FRIENDS to lovers—very important 🩵 Oliver learning to go slow with Darius and to find that gentleness and connection that he never thought he’d be able to give was also done SO WELL. Ugh, I loved them. I feel like if there’s a 3rd book, I feel like it’ll be Finch? We’ll see!
This is book 2 in an interconnected standalone series—book 1 being That One Moment. Book 1 destroyed me and made me bawl my eyes out. It was five stars. Going into this book, I expected the emotions to be around the same height, but they weren’t for me ONLY BECAUSE a lot of the pain/trauma was not explicit and even the healing was mostly off-page. While having that trauma be more detailed would’ve killed me, I think that it would’ve helped readers understand the brutality the character(s) went through and why they may act a certain way or make particular decisions, ya know? That’s just my opinion. I felt like this book was much more vague compared to details in book 1. But I still loved the characters, their stories, and the outcome.
I will say, I thought the ending was rushed and I wanted so much more out of it, but the entire book I devoured and was obsessed with them and getting their HEA. I just wanted more details in justice being achieved and not having their HEA be essentially the last 5 pages.
Darius in lace being Ollie’s weakness is my favorite thing ever. Darius is demisexual and I think it was represented very well and it played a great part in seeing them be strangers to FRIENDS to lovers—very important 🩵 Oliver learning to go slow with Darius and to find that gentleness and connection that he never thought he’d be able to give was also done SO WELL. Ugh, I loved them. I feel like if there’s a 3rd book, I feel like it’ll be Finch? We’ll see!
June 9, 2026
After That One Moment wrecked my soul, I was excited to jump right into Just Us Two but also slightly terrified my heart was going to be torn apart again.
I loved the sweet, gentle, and considerate dynamic between Oliver and Darius. After meeting Oliver in the first book, his behavior here took me by surprise. He came off as a careless jerk before, but it turns out he just needed the right person to feel safe enough to give up control and be vulnerable. Watching his rawest, most vulnerable self be met with such patience and kindness from Darius was incredibly sweet.
The dynamic switching between these two kept me hooked. Darius picking up the pieces of Oliver and putting him back together, then Oliver doing the same for Darius. You never know when you'll need support. Anything can change at any moment, and suddenly you're the one who needs help. These two help each other stop protecting people who don't deserve it and start protecting themselves.
A solid addition to the series. This is still a heavier read, but I'm grateful my soul didn't get crushed this time.
I loved the sweet, gentle, and considerate dynamic between Oliver and Darius. After meeting Oliver in the first book, his behavior here took me by surprise. He came off as a careless jerk before, but it turns out he just needed the right person to feel safe enough to give up control and be vulnerable. Watching his rawest, most vulnerable self be met with such patience and kindness from Darius was incredibly sweet.
The dynamic switching between these two kept me hooked. Darius picking up the pieces of Oliver and putting him back together, then Oliver doing the same for Darius. You never know when you'll need support. Anything can change at any moment, and suddenly you're the one who needs help. These two help each other stop protecting people who don't deserve it and start protecting themselves.
A solid addition to the series. This is still a heavier read, but I'm grateful my soul didn't get crushed this time.
April 29, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from author
If CS writes it, I will read it.
Oliver Cross does not let anyone in after he was wronged by the two people who should have been there for him no matter what. Leaving Devon and his home behind, he becomes a tough cookie and tries to forget his past, until a phone call changes everything. Needing to talk to someone, anyone, he goes to Caiden (That One Moment) who is a reoccurring hookup. Knocking on his apartment door, he finds someone else.
Darius Thorne-Sutton is helping out his best friend, Caiden by feeding his cat while he is out of town. When he hears a knock at the door he comes face to face with Oliver. He chats to Oliver and finds conversation comes very easily. The more they talk, the more Oliver, slowly lets Darius in, explaining his past.
When things between Oliver and Darius are so beautiful, an encounter threatens to destroy everything they have. Darius has to make a decision.
CS Autumn has gone and done it yet again. CS has such a beautiful unique writing style, that draws you in and doesn’t let you go until you have been through the ringer. It is testament to what a phenomenal author she is.
That One Moment, the first book in the ‘Altered Paths’ series was my read of last year. This, the second book, is equally as good.
The writing is nothing short of spectacular, the story flows seamlessly and broke me. I cried tears, as my heart broke, but slowly those tears fell away and a warm hug enveloped me.
I felt every emotion from pain, to hate, to heartbreak and love. The felt visceral hate for two particular characters, they made me feel genuinely angry.
Oliver is such a beautiful character who has been hurt in the worst possible way. He made sure he gave himself a hard exterior, so he can protect his heart. Darius is an amazing, warm man, who puts Oliver in the centre of his world. Even when he was faced with an impossible decision, he never stopped loving. He is tender, caring and very sexy with his lace. The demi-sexual aspect was beautifully described.
I loved hearing from Caiden and Jamie again, Darcey is a fantastic friend to Darius and a great side character.
The epilogue was everything I needed and more.
If CS writes it, I will read it.
Oliver Cross does not let anyone in after he was wronged by the two people who should have been there for him no matter what. Leaving Devon and his home behind, he becomes a tough cookie and tries to forget his past, until a phone call changes everything. Needing to talk to someone, anyone, he goes to Caiden (That One Moment) who is a reoccurring hookup. Knocking on his apartment door, he finds someone else.
Darius Thorne-Sutton is helping out his best friend, Caiden by feeding his cat while he is out of town. When he hears a knock at the door he comes face to face with Oliver. He chats to Oliver and finds conversation comes very easily. The more they talk, the more Oliver, slowly lets Darius in, explaining his past.
When things between Oliver and Darius are so beautiful, an encounter threatens to destroy everything they have. Darius has to make a decision.
CS Autumn has gone and done it yet again. CS has such a beautiful unique writing style, that draws you in and doesn’t let you go until you have been through the ringer. It is testament to what a phenomenal author she is.
That One Moment, the first book in the ‘Altered Paths’ series was my read of last year. This, the second book, is equally as good.
The writing is nothing short of spectacular, the story flows seamlessly and broke me. I cried tears, as my heart broke, but slowly those tears fell away and a warm hug enveloped me.
I felt every emotion from pain, to hate, to heartbreak and love. The felt visceral hate for two particular characters, they made me feel genuinely angry.
Oliver is such a beautiful character who has been hurt in the worst possible way. He made sure he gave himself a hard exterior, so he can protect his heart. Darius is an amazing, warm man, who puts Oliver in the centre of his world. Even when he was faced with an impossible decision, he never stopped loving. He is tender, caring and very sexy with his lace. The demi-sexual aspect was beautifully described.
I loved hearing from Caiden and Jamie again, Darcey is a fantastic friend to Darius and a great side character.
The epilogue was everything I needed and more.
May 1, 2026
Oliver carries deep, dark secrets—ones he’s never shared with anyone, especially after his own parents refused to believe him. His walls are sky-high, his mask always firmly in place. Even after years of knowing Caiden, he’s never let him see his true self.
But one night, shaken by unexpected news, Oliver finds himself at Caiden’s doorstep—despite knowing he shouldn’t be there. Caiden has moved on. He has a life with Jamie, and he made it clear Oliver shouldn’t come back. Still, Oliver shows up.
Except it’s not Caiden who answers the door—it’s Darius, Caiden’s best friend.
In Darius, Oliver finds something he didn’t realize he needed: a quiet sense of peace, acceptance, and emotional safety. Though fear still lingers, Darius gently gives him space to open up. Bit by bit, Oliver begins to let him in, sharing pieces of himself he’s never trusted anyone with before. What starts as an unexpected connection grows into a genuine friendship—and neither of them is prepared for the depth of feelings that follow.
Just when it seems like they might finally have a chance at something real, everything changes. A life-altering moment forces Darius into an impossible choice—one that threatens any hope of a happy ending.
This story absolutely wrecked me. Oliver carries so much pain, and just as he begins to feel safe, it all comes crashing down. Truly heartbreaking.
A hard-earned HEA—and completely worth it.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book.**
But one night, shaken by unexpected news, Oliver finds himself at Caiden’s doorstep—despite knowing he shouldn’t be there. Caiden has moved on. He has a life with Jamie, and he made it clear Oliver shouldn’t come back. Still, Oliver shows up.
Except it’s not Caiden who answers the door—it’s Darius, Caiden’s best friend.
In Darius, Oliver finds something he didn’t realize he needed: a quiet sense of peace, acceptance, and emotional safety. Though fear still lingers, Darius gently gives him space to open up. Bit by bit, Oliver begins to let him in, sharing pieces of himself he’s never trusted anyone with before. What starts as an unexpected connection grows into a genuine friendship—and neither of them is prepared for the depth of feelings that follow.
Just when it seems like they might finally have a chance at something real, everything changes. A life-altering moment forces Darius into an impossible choice—one that threatens any hope of a happy ending.
This story absolutely wrecked me. Oliver carries so much pain, and just as he begins to feel safe, it all comes crashing down. Truly heartbreaking.
A hard-earned HEA—and completely worth it.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book.**
May 23, 2026
2.5 ⭐️ Unfortunately did not enjoy this one bit. Didn’t love the dynamic between Oliver and Darius, they had 0% chemistry or depth to their relationship and overall this just missed the mark for me.
May 10, 2026
Another disappointing sequel
This review will be harsh… but I’m so tired of disappoint sequels. This is #3 in two weeks… this was not good. Period. The story started with so much potential, with Oliver and Darius’ chance meeting and the added (somewhat) forbidden aspect of Oliver being Caiden’s ex-fling, but then it went downhill after 50%.
The random plot point of Floyd, stupid. The unfinished and unaddressed plot point of Ollie and his family, ridiculous. The random ruining of Darius’ relationship with his father and domestic violence to boot, unnecessary. The forced conflict between Ollie and Darius at the end? - Unbelievable. I enjoy C.S. Autumn’s books, but sometimes, I wish authors would just quit while they’re ahead and for readers to also call a spade a spade. That One Moment was phenomenal, this? Nowhere the same level of quality.
This review will be harsh… but I’m so tired of disappoint sequels. This is #3 in two weeks… this was not good. Period. The story started with so much potential, with Oliver and Darius’ chance meeting and the added (somewhat) forbidden aspect of Oliver being Caiden’s ex-fling, but then it went downhill after 50%.
The random plot point of Floyd, stupid. The unfinished and unaddressed plot point of Ollie and his family, ridiculous. The random ruining of Darius’ relationship with his father and domestic violence to boot, unnecessary. The forced conflict between Ollie and Darius at the end? - Unbelievable. I enjoy C.S. Autumn’s books, but sometimes, I wish authors would just quit while they’re ahead and for readers to also call a spade a spade. That One Moment was phenomenal, this? Nowhere the same level of quality.
May 8, 2026
4.5 ⭐ rounded up because I was definitely feeling this one.
Darius and Oliver where so good for each other! I loved their official meeting (they knew OF each other but had never met in person) and the relationship build up, and it did have my heart hurting for a bit there! But the only thing that dropped this rating down for me was the way the plot wrapped up... And I would have liked Darius and his father to have made more of a repair on their relationship.
But overall I had a great time 💖
Darius and Oliver where so good for each other! I loved their official meeting (they knew OF each other but had never met in person) and the relationship build up, and it did have my heart hurting for a bit there! But the only thing that dropped this rating down for me was the way the plot wrapped up... And I would have liked Darius and his father to have made more of a repair on their relationship.
But overall I had a great time 💖
May 9, 2026
The second half was a little over the top and those just aren’t my personal favorite. I really enjoyed the first half where we watch the relationship slowly build in such a sweet way. But then the vibe completely changes and it just didn’t work for me. However, I usually love this author and would definitely recommend the first book in this series. :)
Read
March 25, 2026Beta read - I will rate and review once I read it again after release 🙂
April 27, 2026
Darius + Oliver
-mm romance
-strangers to friends to lovers
-lace/lingerie
-heavy angst
-slow burn
-hurt/comfort
-demi rep
these boys were just soooo special! i went in COMPLETELYYY blind & did NOT expect darius to go thru with everything he had to & ollie's past! it was so heart wrenching but getting their hea was so well deserved for them both!
-mm romance
-strangers to friends to lovers
-lace/lingerie
-heavy angst
-slow burn
-hurt/comfort
-demi rep
these boys were just soooo special! i went in COMPLETELYYY blind & did NOT expect darius to go thru with everything he had to & ollie's past! it was so heart wrenching but getting their hea was so well deserved for them both!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beta read.
They are perfect for each other and perfect together. Absolute babies! <3
They are perfect for each other and perfect together. Absolute babies! <3
May 21, 2026
Hit and Miss
I adored ‘That One Moment’ from this author and was looking forward to ‘ Just Us Two’ which just hasn’t got the same depth to it.
The first half of the story was excellent, the way Oliver and Darius met, how Darius patiently waited for Oliver to open up and tell his story. He helped him through an extremely rough situation early on and notices something about Oliver that raises some concerns. After they become more than friends there quite a few steamy scenes, and after a while I was skimming over them.
While it was odd the way Darius’s father engaged with his son, Darius was glad to accept all the advantages that came from his father’s wealth. He always did what his father asked of him, even going on blind dates.
There is a contentious relationship between Oliver and the two MC’s in book 1 ‘That One Moment’ Caiden and Jamie, who feature strongly here, both are friends with Darius, and although Caiden was Oliver’s best friend growing up in Devon, he now behaves like his worst enemy.
The second half of the story I didn’t see coming. That scene when Darius is called to his father’s office and he was introduced to that creep Floyd and the reason for his presence.🤮 I wished that Darius could have shown more backbone. But I hated even more the way his father hurt his son, his only child.
The fallout of that meeting drained some of the emotional engagement I had developed especially in regard to Darius at this point. Afterwards the story has some very dark and violent scenes.
I liked that character Darcy, Darius’s friend, who always had his back, but my favourite was Oliver, such a broken man at the start and becoming that roaring lion protecting what was his. Roaring loud enough for Darius to eventually get his act together.
This author’s books have always rated highly with me, and I’ve got a few more of hers on my TBR, this one just didn’t create the usual spark with me.
I adored ‘That One Moment’ from this author and was looking forward to ‘ Just Us Two’ which just hasn’t got the same depth to it.
The first half of the story was excellent, the way Oliver and Darius met, how Darius patiently waited for Oliver to open up and tell his story. He helped him through an extremely rough situation early on and notices something about Oliver that raises some concerns. After they become more than friends there quite a few steamy scenes, and after a while I was skimming over them.
While it was odd the way Darius’s father engaged with his son, Darius was glad to accept all the advantages that came from his father’s wealth. He always did what his father asked of him, even going on blind dates.
There is a contentious relationship between Oliver and the two MC’s in book 1 ‘That One Moment’ Caiden and Jamie, who feature strongly here, both are friends with Darius, and although Caiden was Oliver’s best friend growing up in Devon, he now behaves like his worst enemy.
The second half of the story I didn’t see coming. That scene when Darius is called to his father’s office and he was introduced to that creep Floyd and the reason for his presence.🤮 I wished that Darius could have shown more backbone. But I hated even more the way his father hurt his son, his only child.
The fallout of that meeting drained some of the emotional engagement I had developed especially in regard to Darius at this point. Afterwards the story has some very dark and violent scenes.
I liked that character Darcy, Darius’s friend, who always had his back, but my favourite was Oliver, such a broken man at the start and becoming that roaring lion protecting what was his. Roaring loud enough for Darius to eventually get his act together.
This author’s books have always rated highly with me, and I’ve got a few more of hers on my TBR, this one just didn’t create the usual spark with me.
May 7, 2026
Well, C.S. has done it again! She's made me cry while also loving every moment of this book. We met Darius and Oliver in book 1, and I'm glad that we got their story as well. Poor Ollie has so much trauma, but he's also so strong, getting through everything and moving away to build his life on his terms. Darius has had a fairly good life with no major hiccups, but what he needs to do to protect his father and what he goes through is very far from his normal life.
My heart broke for Oliver with every little tidbit of information we got about his past and learning the whole story had me sobbing. My heart broke for Darius and for them as a couple when Darius was forced to save his Father from ruin.
I loved how their story was built on a foundation of friendship and turned into more while they got to know each other. I loved seeing Oliver open up and drop his nonchalant persona that everyone else saw. Darius is just pure sunshine and such a loving and caring person. I loved how Darius set Oliver at ease instantly. Their love was so beautiful! I loved seeing them stand up for each other and be the rock the other person needed. I loved their quiet moments together when they could just exist together in happiness.
It was great to get some Jamie and Caiden cameos as well, I've missed them.
This book was emotional, and angsty and I loved every moment. The writing was beautiful as always and I felt their pain and frustration in certain scenes, I also felt their powerful connection. This is a beautiful story of inner strength and the power of choosing yourself.
My heart broke for Oliver with every little tidbit of information we got about his past and learning the whole story had me sobbing. My heart broke for Darius and for them as a couple when Darius was forced to save his Father from ruin.
I loved how their story was built on a foundation of friendship and turned into more while they got to know each other. I loved seeing Oliver open up and drop his nonchalant persona that everyone else saw. Darius is just pure sunshine and such a loving and caring person. I loved how Darius set Oliver at ease instantly. Their love was so beautiful! I loved seeing them stand up for each other and be the rock the other person needed. I loved their quiet moments together when they could just exist together in happiness.
It was great to get some Jamie and Caiden cameos as well, I've missed them.
This book was emotional, and angsty and I loved every moment. The writing was beautiful as always and I felt their pain and frustration in certain scenes, I also felt their powerful connection. This is a beautiful story of inner strength and the power of choosing yourself.
May 3, 2026
Thank you to the author, CS Autumn, for the ARC of Just Us Two.
Just Us Two follows the story Oliver and Darius from That One Moment. The story opens with Oliver who is struggling with past trauma and the end of his situationship with Caiden. When he turns to Caiden in a difficult moment, he instead finds Darius. The two characters develop a quick friendship that progresses into romantic feelings as they get to know one another. They seem like the perfect couple until Darius’ father is blackmailed with his past and Darius has to make a choice.
The cast of characters in this book were a highlight for me. I also I appreciated that the author didn’t use the “love cures all” approach and instead showed how healing has to be a choice you make for yourself. The first half of the books seems too good to be true as far as Darius and Oliver’s relationship goes and you are hit hard with reality for sure. There is one character in the book that I think everyone will collectively despise.
Overall I would give this book a 4.25⭐️!
Just Us Two follows the story Oliver and Darius from That One Moment. The story opens with Oliver who is struggling with past trauma and the end of his situationship with Caiden. When he turns to Caiden in a difficult moment, he instead finds Darius. The two characters develop a quick friendship that progresses into romantic feelings as they get to know one another. They seem like the perfect couple until Darius’ father is blackmailed with his past and Darius has to make a choice.
The cast of characters in this book were a highlight for me. I also I appreciated that the author didn’t use the “love cures all” approach and instead showed how healing has to be a choice you make for yourself. The first half of the books seems too good to be true as far as Darius and Oliver’s relationship goes and you are hit hard with reality for sure. There is one character in the book that I think everyone will collectively despise.
Overall I would give this book a 4.25⭐️!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Just Us Two by C.S. Autumn is lightly connected to the author’s book, That One Moment, but you could start with this book. Oliver used to hook up with Caiden and also knew Cooper from that first book and Caiden is on page here for a few moments.
Oliver is just trudging along. He has a job and a place to live, but his mental health suffers and his eating is disordered. This all relates back to abuse from his childhood where his parent didn’t believe him and he has not addressed his issues at all. When Oliver receives bad news from home, he goes to see Caiden, but finds Darius instead.
There is a lot of intense drama in this book, first through Oliver’s eyes and then on Darius’ side. If you are looking for a large serving of angst, this is the book for you, as Darius and Oliver have a lot to overcome to be together forever.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Just Us Two by C.S. Autumn is lightly connected to the author’s book, That One Moment, but you could start with this book. Oliver used to hook up with Caiden and also knew Cooper from that first book and Caiden is on page here for a few moments.
Oliver is just trudging along. He has a job and a place to live, but his mental health suffers and his eating is disordered. This all relates back to abuse from his childhood where his parent didn’t believe him and he has not addressed his issues at all. When Oliver receives bad news from home, he goes to see Caiden, but finds Darius instead.
There is a lot of intense drama in this book, first through Oliver’s eyes and then on Darius’ side. If you are looking for a large serving of angst, this is the book for you, as Darius and Oliver have a lot to overcome to be together forever.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
May 11, 2026
I just hate when authors do this! Like I hate when grown ass men (26 years here) let their parents dictate their life! Especially marrying someone because your dad told you to? Come the fuck on!
And I hate the pet name of “puppy”. I’ve read other books with that stupid as fuck pet name and I hated those too!
As far as I’m concerned, this book ended on page 178, 50%. It was just stupid ass shit after that!
I would have taken any other plot point over whatever this shit was!
1. Darius really does have a stalker and gets kidnapped. Alister maybe? That could have been interesting!
2. One of them gets in an accident and gets amnesia.
3. One of them gets a life threatening disease but miraculously gets cured in the end.
4. One of them has a hidden musical talent and becomes a famous rockstar that turns into a slutty asshole!
He’ll I would have taken one of them gets bitten and turned into a vampire over whatever the fuck this was!
So sad since I loved the first book! Read it twice and gave it 5 ⭐️! Was this even the same author?!
And I hate the pet name of “puppy”. I’ve read other books with that stupid as fuck pet name and I hated those too!
As far as I’m concerned, this book ended on page 178, 50%. It was just stupid ass shit after that!
I would have taken any other plot point over whatever this shit was!
1. Darius really does have a stalker and gets kidnapped. Alister maybe? That could have been interesting!
2. One of them gets in an accident and gets amnesia.
3. One of them gets a life threatening disease but miraculously gets cured in the end.
4. One of them has a hidden musical talent and becomes a famous rockstar that turns into a slutty asshole!
He’ll I would have taken one of them gets bitten and turned into a vampire over whatever the fuck this was!
So sad since I loved the first book! Read it twice and gave it 5 ⭐️! Was this even the same author?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2026
This author did not disappoint. This was an emotional love story between two men who are broken and need to find each other.
We briefly met these two in the first book of the series - That One Moment. They were both connected to Caiden.
When they meet, it’s an instant attraction, but it takes a while for the two of them to get together. Once they do, fireworks ensue. However, the author puts obstacles in the way of their relationship that they need to navigate. These obstacles bring so much emotion and angst to the story that you need to keep the tissues close.
They work out their issues and you get a wonderful happily ever after. I highly recommend this book. The story is told well and the writing is superb. My only slight criticism is that I felt the story dragged in a few places. However, when it did pick up, boy did it ever pick up.
Don’t hesitate to read this one.
We briefly met these two in the first book of the series - That One Moment. They were both connected to Caiden.
When they meet, it’s an instant attraction, but it takes a while for the two of them to get together. Once they do, fireworks ensue. However, the author puts obstacles in the way of their relationship that they need to navigate. These obstacles bring so much emotion and angst to the story that you need to keep the tissues close.
They work out their issues and you get a wonderful happily ever after. I highly recommend this book. The story is told well and the writing is superb. My only slight criticism is that I felt the story dragged in a few places. However, when it did pick up, boy did it ever pick up.
Don’t hesitate to read this one.
May 5, 2026
After reading “That One Moment” I was very excited to read more Oliver and Darius and boy they didn’t disappoint! I was all in up until the 50% mark and then some things happened that I didn’t love but I kept powering through and it made sense later! I loved their relationship and I loved the strong relationships between the friends
This book was so beautiful and heartbreaking but loved that they got their HEA!!
This book was so beautiful and heartbreaking but loved that they got their HEA!!
May 7, 2026
This was a beautiful and tragic story of connection, impossible choices, and lots of hurt and comfort.
Oliver meets Darius by mistake, but a deep friendship grows out of it, and it transitions into love after plenty of tension, yearning and angst on both sides. I loved how they both supported each other through the dark times, and that they didn't give up despite the obstacles they face. I loved Oliver's character growth, and seeing Darius find his person.
Oliver meets Darius by mistake, but a deep friendship grows out of it, and it transitions into love after plenty of tension, yearning and angst on both sides. I loved how they both supported each other through the dark times, and that they didn't give up despite the obstacles they face. I loved Oliver's character growth, and seeing Darius find his person.
May 10, 2026
I agree with all the people who said the second half of the book was a complete letdown. It sure was. I wanted to get it over with but it wasn’t a one star read at that point.
D. put their relationship through hell, lied and broke O. heart. Ollie forgives him and stands up for their future and all he gets is silent treatment for days. Darius has the audacity to ice Ollie out, D. knows he is wrong and is petty anyway. That doesn’t suit the characters from the first half. It destroyed the complete relationship for me.
D. put their relationship through hell, lied and broke O. heart. Ollie forgives him and stands up for their future and all he gets is silent treatment for days. Darius has the audacity to ice Ollie out, D. knows he is wrong and is petty anyway. That doesn’t suit the characters from the first half. It destroyed the complete relationship for me.
April 30, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC copy of this! I absolutely fell in love with these boys 🥹
May 11, 2026
Wow… I completely fell in love with Oliver and Darius. After reading That One Moment, my first impression of Oliver honestly wasn’t great, so I wasn’t expecting to adore him the way I did here. But seeing the gentleness, devotion, and care he had for Darius was absolutely swoon-worthy.
What I thought would be the “villain” of the story ended up breaking my heart the most. Oliver was struggling so deeply just trying to find someone who truly saw him and made him feel worthy of love. And then there’s Darius — full of light, compassion, and so much heart. He completely changed everything Oliver believed about himself and about love. I loved that Darius never let Oliver hide behind excuses or convince himself he was unworthy.
Both of them carried broken pieces that needed healing, and watching them mend together was honestly so precious. Their relationship felt tender, emotional, and deeply genuine.
I definitely recommend this one, and if you haven’t read That One Moment yet, you absolutely should because the storyline connecting these books is so good.
What I thought would be the “villain” of the story ended up breaking my heart the most. Oliver was struggling so deeply just trying to find someone who truly saw him and made him feel worthy of love. And then there’s Darius — full of light, compassion, and so much heart. He completely changed everything Oliver believed about himself and about love. I loved that Darius never let Oliver hide behind excuses or convince himself he was unworthy.
Both of them carried broken pieces that needed healing, and watching them mend together was honestly so precious. Their relationship felt tender, emotional, and deeply genuine.
I definitely recommend this one, and if you haven’t read That One Moment yet, you absolutely should because the storyline connecting these books is so good.
May 10, 2026
Oliver was not my favorite character in book one but once I got into his story awww my whole heart goes out to him he’s so sweet and deserves nothing but good🥺
The way Darius falls in love with him had me swooning and so happy they are so so good for each other🩵🩵
The way this book completely ripped my freaking heart out 😭😭 such a well fought for and deserved HEA 🥹
The way Darius falls in love with him had me swooning and so happy they are so so good for each other🩵🩵
The way this book completely ripped my freaking heart out 😭😭 such a well fought for and deserved HEA 🥹
June 9, 2026
Mucho mejor que el primero, amé mal la pareja
May 17, 2026
Not as good as the first book but still a quick weekend read.
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