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Queer Ways to Fall in Love #0.5
Moderating Love
What happens when your biggest critic turns out to be your perfect match?
Devin:
I've spent two years defending true love against the internet's biggest cynic.
I'm a moderator for a forum for queer love stories, and my fellow moderator TruthGuardian has been the thorn in my optimistic side. He debunks every romantic meet-cute with spreadsheets, statistics, and enough cynicism to drain the romance from a Nicholas Sparks marathon.
He calculates the exact cost of hoarded grocery items. He fact-checks power outages at Trader Joe's. He thinks love at first sight is just "compatible pheromone profiles." We've turned arguing into an art form, and I know more about this stranger than some of my real-life friends.
But when a cute guy approaches me in a coffee shop, I'm about to learn that sometimes the most improbable love stories are the ones we're already living...
Moderating Love is an 18,000-word grumpy/sunshine MM romance about falling for your complete opposite, one snarky message at a time.
Devin:
I've spent two years defending true love against the internet's biggest cynic.
I'm a moderator for a forum for queer love stories, and my fellow moderator TruthGuardian has been the thorn in my optimistic side. He debunks every romantic meet-cute with spreadsheets, statistics, and enough cynicism to drain the romance from a Nicholas Sparks marathon.
He calculates the exact cost of hoarded grocery items. He fact-checks power outages at Trader Joe's. He thinks love at first sight is just "compatible pheromone profiles." We've turned arguing into an art form, and I know more about this stranger than some of my real-life friends.
But when a cute guy approaches me in a coffee shop, I'm about to learn that sometimes the most improbable love stories are the ones we're already living...
Moderating Love is an 18,000-word grumpy/sunshine MM romance about falling for your complete opposite, one snarky message at a time.
100 pages, ebook
Published January 16, 2026
18 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Jax Calder
30 books1,088 followersJax's stories are all about light-hearted conversations and deeply-felt connections. She loves exploring exactly why two characters are the only ones who’ll make the other truly happy, and the journey they take to reach their happily-ever-after.
Jax lives in New Zealand and is a rabid sports fan, a hiking enthusiast and has a slightly unhealthy addiction to nature documentaries. As an extrovert who spends way too much time in her own head, she loves to connect with readers. To read her exclusive novella Being Set Up, sign up to her newsletter: https://jaxcalder.com/newsletter-sign.... You can also join her Facebook group Jax's Crew (www.facebook.com/groups/jaxcaldercrew) for bonus stories plus exclusive excerpts from her upcoming books.
Jax lives in New Zealand and is a rabid sports fan, a hiking enthusiast and has a slightly unhealthy addiction to nature documentaries. As an extrovert who spends way too much time in her own head, she loves to connect with readers. To read her exclusive novella Being Set Up, sign up to her newsletter: https://jaxcalder.com/newsletter-sign.... You can also join her Facebook group Jax's Crew (www.facebook.com/groups/jaxcaldercrew) for bonus stories plus exclusive excerpts from her upcoming books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 23, 2026
I giggled and giggled and giggled.
I have no idea how I could see the text, as tears were streaming down my face from giggling.
To say that I was well entertained would be a cheeky understatement.
It's cute and sexy too, but the giggling and grinning won out for me.
I've also marked a ton, I don't even know which ones to choose.
Read at your own risk.
Now, when I’m having a particularly bad day at work, dealing with architects who think load-bearing walls are suggestions and clients who want to remove columns because they’re “blocking the feng shui,” I actually find myself looking forward to seeing what ridiculous story SunshineGuy is defending.
[…]
I’ve even found myself saving his best comebacks in a file I definitely didn’t label “SunshineIdiot.txt.” It’s purely for research purposes because I need to study his argument patterns for weaknesses. 🤭🫣🤭
TruthGuardian: Of course I do. The formulas are perfectly reasonable.
(Specificity of details × consistency of timeline) ÷ number of convenient coincidences + likelihood of documentation = bullshit factor.
SunshineGuy: I’m printing this out and framing it. “Bullshit Factor: A Mathematical Approach to Romance by TruthGuardian” 🤭🫣🤭
“Ah, hi,” he says.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I’m so impressed by how I manage to keep my voice neutral. Especially given I’m basically a human sparkler inside, shooting off in twenty-one different emotional directions. 🤭🦄🤭
“You went vegetarian because of math?”
“Environmental math. It’s compelling.”
“I went vegetarian because baby cows have sad eyes,” I admit. 🫠🫠🫠
I have no idea how I could see the text, as tears were streaming down my face from giggling.
To say that I was well entertained would be a cheeky understatement.
It's cute and sexy too, but the giggling and grinning won out for me.
I've also marked a ton, I don't even know which ones to choose.
Read at your own risk.
Now, when I’m having a particularly bad day at work, dealing with architects who think load-bearing walls are suggestions and clients who want to remove columns because they’re “blocking the feng shui,” I actually find myself looking forward to seeing what ridiculous story SunshineGuy is defending.
[…]
I’ve even found myself saving his best comebacks in a file I definitely didn’t label “SunshineIdiot.txt.” It’s purely for research purposes because I need to study his argument patterns for weaknesses. 🤭🫣🤭
TruthGuardian: Of course I do. The formulas are perfectly reasonable.
(Specificity of details × consistency of timeline) ÷ number of convenient coincidences + likelihood of documentation = bullshit factor.
SunshineGuy: I’m printing this out and framing it. “Bullshit Factor: A Mathematical Approach to Romance by TruthGuardian” 🤭🫣🤭
“Ah, hi,” he says.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I’m so impressed by how I manage to keep my voice neutral. Especially given I’m basically a human sparkler inside, shooting off in twenty-one different emotional directions. 🤭🦄🤭
“You went vegetarian because of math?”
“Environmental math. It’s compelling.”
“I went vegetarian because baby cows have sad eyes,” I admit. 🫠🫠🫠
January 24, 2026
3.5 stars
Very insta-love and very sweet. I enjoyed the banter and the messages the most.
It felt rushed in the second part with the bedroom scenes, even for a short story.
Very insta-love and very sweet. I enjoyed the banter and the messages the most.
It felt rushed in the second part with the bedroom scenes, even for a short story.
January 22, 2026
If it has to be insta-love, let it always be like this.
Another absolutely delightful addition to Jax Calder‘s novella catalogue including anonymous texting with so much snark and banter, the sweetest meet-cutes, two polar-opposite guys who’re just made for each other and recognise that in an instant, wonderful steam full of connection and intimacy and a big fat HEA. Very romantic, very feel good. And I’m all about that right now.
Loved it. A lot.
4,5⭐️
Another absolutely delightful addition to Jax Calder‘s novella catalogue including anonymous texting with so much snark and banter, the sweetest meet-cutes, two polar-opposite guys who’re just made for each other and recognise that in an instant, wonderful steam full of connection and intimacy and a big fat HEA. Very romantic, very feel good. And I’m all about that right now.
Loved it. A lot.
4,5⭐️
‚I don’t believe in soulmates. I don’t believe in fate or destiny or any of that nonsense I spend my time debunking. But I can’t explain this. The way being with him feels less like meeting someone new and more like finally finding someone I’ve been searching for.‘
January 24, 2026
Light and charming novella.
I read with a constant smile on my face.
No drama nor was it sappy or over-sweet.
This has all the feel-good and positive vibes one could wish for, combined with silly banter.
Ps it's free via the author's newsletter and the "Fresh start giveaway" at bookfunnel:
books.bookfunnel.com/afreshstart
(12 freebies from different mm authors!)
I read with a constant smile on my face.
No drama nor was it sappy or over-sweet.
This has all the feel-good and positive vibes one could wish for, combined with silly banter.
Ps it's free via the author's newsletter and the "Fresh start giveaway" at bookfunnel:
books.bookfunnel.com/afreshstart
(12 freebies from different mm authors!)
January 24, 2026
4.5 stars!
A fun novella that has one of my favourite tropes. Not sure what the trope is called, but it's when the couple don't know that they've been anonymously chatting online.
__
Moderating Love is a romance between two people who moderate a queer love story form. One is cynic and is always trying to debunk the story while the other is the complete opposite and believes in all the stories no matter how far-fetched.
And then a situation arrises where they meat irl, without knowing about their online counterparts and... well it's a romance so you can tell what happens next.
A fun novella that has one of my favourite tropes. Not sure what the trope is called, but it's when the couple don't know that they've been anonymously chatting online.
__
Moderating Love is a romance between two people who moderate a queer love story form. One is cynic and is always trying to debunk the story while the other is the complete opposite and believes in all the stories no matter how far-fetched.
And then a situation arrises where they meat irl, without knowing about their online counterparts and... well it's a romance so you can tell what happens next.
January 21, 2026
This was a super sweet and funny, low-angst novella. I had the best time reading this cute story, Devon and Travis were incredibly adorable together.
January 22, 2026
This has anonymity (think, You Have Mail, vibes) and laugh-out-loud moments.
A really fun, absolutely charming read!
I loved it and cannot wait for the next book 📚
A really fun, absolutely charming read!
I loved it and cannot wait for the next book 📚
January 26, 2026
This was pure serotonin in literary form. I smiled the entire way through. No lie. Giggling was also involved. Adorable and so sweet. Loved every minute of this.
January 21, 2026
jax calder is still the only author in the world that makes me read short stories and novellas
January 26, 2026
Very cute and very sweet!
January 22, 2026
Super cute with great banter!
January 27, 2026
Absolutely adorable!
I smiled the whole way through this and I loved how their love story was as improbable as the posts they were moderating.
Can't wait for the rest of the series!
I smiled the whole way through this and I loved how their love story was as improbable as the posts they were moderating.
Can't wait for the rest of the series!
January 30, 2026
I loved this way more than I thought I would based on the cover.
Super cute!
Super cute!
January 27, 2026
3.5⭐️ Very cute little novella. Heartwarming and sweet. I like that Jax writes so many short stories. They’re always good quality for the length and perfect palate cleansers. This one is only available on her website.
January 23, 2026
Moderating Love by Jax Calder was a sweet, enjoyable novella, and yes, I know it’s short by design, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t want more. I really loved the story and thought the couple was super cute, which honestly just made the ending feel a little too soon. It did what it set out to do, but I would’ve happily spent more time with these characters.
January 22, 2026
I read a review that this author is so good at writing short novellas and I agree 100%. 100%!!! :)
This was such a cute idea and I love their banter. I am so excited that there is going to be a series spinning off from this! Can't wait! (Absolutely love reading epistolary works such as these, I want more!)
This was such a cute idea and I love their banter. I am so excited that there is going to be a series spinning off from this! Can't wait! (Absolutely love reading epistolary works such as these, I want more!)
January 24, 2026
This short story was so so so cute! I loved every second of it. I personally don't just like insta-love stories, I also believe in them, so to read about a cynic who experiences it was *chefs kiss.
The story had me smiling, giggling and kicking my feet.
I really love Jax Calder's short stories and this one might be my favorite. I totally loved the meet cutes and I'm excited for this series!
The story had me smiling, giggling and kicking my feet.
I really love Jax Calder's short stories and this one might be my favorite. I totally loved the meet cutes and I'm excited for this series!
January 20, 2026
3.8⭐️ 1.5🌶️
February 1, 2026
4.5 Stars
Jax Calder writes the best novellas! She packs so much goodness into very few pages.
Devin and Travis were the sweetest together. I loved the set up with them both being moderators for the same online forum for queer love stories. One was a hopeless romantic and the other was a cynic and they spent many hours messaging back and forth about the validity of the submissions.
Then they're set up on a blind date with each other and immediately hit it off. But the fun part is that they don't know that they've actually been talking through this forum for years.
It may have been short but I loved how everything played out. I had a dumb smile on my face the whole time I read this. The vibes were perfect. And I'm looking forward to the upcoming novellas in this series!!
Jax Calder writes the best novellas! She packs so much goodness into very few pages.
Devin and Travis were the sweetest together. I loved the set up with them both being moderators for the same online forum for queer love stories. One was a hopeless romantic and the other was a cynic and they spent many hours messaging back and forth about the validity of the submissions.
Then they're set up on a blind date with each other and immediately hit it off. But the fun part is that they don't know that they've actually been talking through this forum for years.
It may have been short but I loved how everything played out. I had a dumb smile on my face the whole time I read this. The vibes were perfect. And I'm looking forward to the upcoming novellas in this series!!
January 23, 2026
Inspiring meet-cutes, snappy banter💻
My favorite parts of this novella were the various meet-cutes described, including the one for starry-eyed Devin and the number-cruncher, "practical" Travis. Their initial text messages defending or critiquing submitted stories of meet-cutes and instalove were entertaining and a good precursor to their actual first IRL meet-up. I guess coffee shops really do still have the power to promote the perfect match!
The journey from first encounter to the bedroom (and a possible proposal!?) seemed a bit rushed, but overall a light, good read.
My favorite parts of this novella were the various meet-cutes described, including the one for starry-eyed Devin and the number-cruncher, "practical" Travis. Their initial text messages defending or critiquing submitted stories of meet-cutes and instalove were entertaining and a good precursor to their actual first IRL meet-up. I guess coffee shops really do still have the power to promote the perfect match!
The journey from first encounter to the bedroom (and a possible proposal!?) seemed a bit rushed, but overall a light, good read.
January 21, 2026
Meet Cutes online are very different to in real life - aren't they?
Fantastic dual pov story of Devin and Travis. They officially only know each other as Moderation mates on an online forum to do with Meet Cutes. Each one in their own way, look forward to the posts they moderate so they can both comment on its authenticity of the post and the banter that goes with it.
Will they get their own Real Life Meet Cute and how would the moderation for it go?
Fantastic dual pov story of Devin and Travis. They officially only know each other as Moderation mates on an online forum to do with Meet Cutes. Each one in their own way, look forward to the posts they moderate so they can both comment on its authenticity of the post and the banter that goes with it.
Will they get their own Real Life Meet Cute and how would the moderation for it go?
January 22, 2026
Hooray, it listed!
This was ADORABLE. Lovely. Rewarding, charming, delicious. I loved it. I love seeing MCs fall in love through words first and then in person. And Jax Calder is so terrific with words that mean more as a whole. A meant-to-be feeling story.
HEA, meeting via moderating an app, setup by brother too, all the cute, steamy first night together....sigh. Could not have been more perfectly what I was in the mood for. Highly recommended.
This was ADORABLE. Lovely. Rewarding, charming, delicious. I loved it. I love seeing MCs fall in love through words first and then in person. And Jax Calder is so terrific with words that mean more as a whole. A meant-to-be feeling story.
HEA, meeting via moderating an app, setup by brother too, all the cute, steamy first night together....sigh. Could not have been more perfectly what I was in the mood for. Highly recommended.
January 21, 2026
Jax Calder is so good at writing short novellas. This one was very fluffy and insta, but with a real connection between Devin and Travis. I loved the messages between them as moderators, the stories on the message boards (which I hope will all become novellas) and the way they instantly fell for each other when they had argued a lot about instalove online. Very sweet!
January 21, 2026
"Does that work with people too?” I ask.
“Not even slightly.” He laughs. “People don’t come with blueprints. Believe me, I’ve looked.”
There’s something achingly familiar about the way he says it. Like I’ve heard this exact brand of self-aware cynicism before, wrapped in dry humor to make it easier to swallow. I can’t place why, but it makes me want to know him even more."
“Not even slightly.” He laughs. “People don’t come with blueprints. Believe me, I’ve looked.”
There’s something achingly familiar about the way he says it. Like I’ve heard this exact brand of self-aware cynicism before, wrapped in dry humor to make it easier to swallow. I can’t place why, but it makes me want to know him even more."
January 26, 2026
This story was so much fun to read. It had me laughing and grinning. I can see some of myself in Travis's character, and to see how easily his quirks are accepted and appreciated gives me hope. Absolutely recommend this novella. I immediately pre-ordered the upcoming book in the series this was a prequel for
January 20, 2026
5 stars
OMG, that was too cute! Excellent flirty banter and two endearing characters with quirks that I could completely relate to. The text messages were hilarious. 😂
Wish it would have been longer!
OMG, that was too cute! Excellent flirty banter and two endearing characters with quirks that I could completely relate to. The text messages were hilarious. 😂
Wish it would have been longer!
January 21, 2026
I loved this novella so much. This was a great opposites attract romance with two people who have an insta-love moment that end with another fun surprise! Just a really cute book that'll make you smile
January 23, 2026
Jax's novellas are always the best and proof that you don't need 400 pages to establish characters and tell a love story. Such a classic trope (I like to call that the shop around the corner / you've got mail trope), but I fall for it every single time. It was cute cute cute, and also pretty funny
January 24, 2026
Really enjoyed this novella about online to irl romance. Wonderful chemistry and banter between the main characters. The story doesn’t stretch over a long period of time, but it’s a great amount to achieve all the feels. Not too spice.
January 21, 2026
This was the cutest thing I’ve ever read in my entire flippin life!!!! Oh my god. I was bouncing up and down on my chair like a goddamn weirdo the entire time I was reading it. A million stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews