Accounting for Love

by Bellamy West

Genres: Contemporary, M M Romance

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2026

Reviews

[unhingedreaderaunt]

This was cute and well-written. A light, fluffy read with some really solid character work. The resolution with the parents (on both sides) felt authentic; sometimes we don’t always get a full resolution with our shitty parents. I’m glad the story didn’t sugar coat it and let it play out realistically.

That being said, I would have accepted Taylor’s parents being hit by inflatable buses in the epilogue :)

Thanks to the author and GRR for the ARC, this is my honest review.

[Kelly||sketchbooksandsoftbacks]

4.5 rounded up!

Holy smokes this was CUTE. I snagged this at a local indie book store, where the author was selling/signing it! The author described it as “closed door volleyball” it’s been one of my favorite book descriptions lol

[Raven and Chris]

Gabriel and Taylor were a lot of fun together. Admittedly Taylor needs to learn how to have fun and not crumble under the weight of everyone else’s burdens, but he tries by the end of the book. He gets better, and Gabriel helps him along the way. I also loved Taylor’s sister Margo. She is awesome and a truly supportive sister, if only he would let her! This story was really good. It involves some healing and realizing that you don’t have to do everything alone. And that family is not always just your blood.

[That One Romance Reader]

*ARC Review* Thank you for the copy!

Intro:
This book is an MM romance between Taylor, an accountant balancing family issues and Gabriel, a gardener and plant lover

Tropes/Highlights:
-Dual POV
-MM
-Open Door
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Found Family
-Opposites Attract
-Sporty/Beachy
-Bi Rep
-HEA


Likes:
-Banter
-Sweet characters
-Supportive friend group
-MC hobbies
-Spicy
-Cute dates
-Loveable characters
-Family drama
-Meet-Cute


Neutrals/Critiques
-Relationship issue near the end was resolved a bit too quickly/easily

Quotes:
-"Wow, ok, plant daddy. You are far too cool for me"
-"I could appreciate a man who took my ridiculousness in stride"
-"I've appointed myself his shenanigans instigator"
-"Taylor was like fire against me, and I went willingly into the flames"
-"I wanted to hug him. To reach inside his heart and patch up all the cracks"
-"Damn it, that man needed to stop running. When was he going to realize that I was going to keep chasing him?"
-I was not going to be jealous of a beverage. I wasn't"


This is the first book I have read from this author and it was such a cute/fun read! I really liked the dynamics between the MCs and how they met was unconventional. This story has a lot of sweetness, but is also mixes in internal conflict/issues that both MCs have to work through. Bellamy does a great job balancing everything to keep the story light and entertaining while mixing in the drama and emotional development. I enjoyed watching these characters grow and experience their journey. You will like this book if you are looking for a fluffy romance between two sweet and caring characters who are trying to navigate through their issues from past relationships to realize their worth and find love.

[Jack Harkness]

duck truck, shenanigans instigator, chaos gremlin, Mother Gaga, goth garden, orchid bouquet, Milky Way freckles, sprinklers, AARP, Britney jock strap

Two men in their early 30s try to find themselves, still trying to define their true and authentic lives. It takes place in LA and the two MCs meet on the freeway while stuck in traffic via a paper airplane from a yellow VW Bug to a Honda Civic. The paper airplane is a clever meet-cute device by author Bellamy West. Thus, the reason for the paper airplane on the book cover. It's Bellamy West's debut novel.

Taylor Thomas is weighed down by the responsibilities he feels he must bear due to his irresponsible, selfish parents. Due to their hateful and horribly spiteful divorce, Taylor eschews romantic relationships. He believes love eventually leads to animosity, and isn't for him. When he's caught in freeway accident traffic, Taylor sees the driver of a yellow VW Bug in the next lane rocking out to whatever he's listening to. A very beautiful and sexy driver.

Gabriel Rivera is a horticulturist, and is content being single and carefree. It's much to his parents' dismay and they have no problem telling him of their disappointment with his life choices. He's stuck in freeway traffic accident singing along with his playlist when he notices the handsome and hot driver in the Honda Civic. Being the impulsive character he is, Gabriel writes down his number, folds the paper into an airplane, and send it flying into the car next to him.

This is wholly entertaining and enjoyable. The characters are wonderful and extremely likeable. I recommend it.

[Pontiki]

Accountant Taylor works too hard, trying to pay his sister’s medical bills since their parents basically abandoned them and selfishly moved on after their divorce. His sister is finally getting married and he’s almost paid the debt and will get his life back.

In traffic he’s stopped and a cutie smiles at him, then sends him a paper airplane with his number. Though Taylor has no time for romance, Gabriel is so fun and easygoing he pulls Taylor out of his seriousness. He needs that because he had a heart palpitations due to stress, and he’s too young to keep going as he is.

Gabriel loves his work in horticulture and his side hustle making bitters. He sees how stressed Taylor is, and they agree to have fun together. Gabriel’s parents don’t like his non traditional work life, but Taylor is impressed with all he’s done.

Dating means fun, but they each share their feelings about their parents. They fall in love, and Gabriel’s parents are happy when they meet Taylor, though still hassle him about his work.

The wedding is amazing, but Taylor’s parents are selfish, his Mom leaving early and his Dad pushing him to pay off the medical loan. His sister overhears this and realizes he’s been paying all along, and Taylor refuses to pay any more.

He’s finally free and starts a life with his boyfriend, his sister and brother in law, and the knowledge he raised his sister and now it’s his turn.

This was a good story, with the paper airplane as a great meet cute. I liked both guys, felt bad for Taylor, but loved the close relationship he had with his sister.

Gabriel was a kind man who learned to be satisfied with his accomplishments and not worry about his parents changing their view of him.

I received this ARC for free and am glad to give it my honest review with thanks.

[Heaterr11]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️


This was such a charming little book!

Taylor is your typical overworked accountant, but juggling a busy client caseload and helping his sister plan a wedding during peak season really takes a toll on him. Meeting Gabriel in a traffic jam was honestly the cutest meet-cute I’ve read in a while. Anyone who’s been to or lived in So Cal will totally get it. Honestly, I wish more people met this way!

Poor Taylor feels like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, but Gabriel is the perfect little chaos gremlin to help Taylor stop going through the motions and start living for himself again. I love a good idiots-in-love trope, and that’s exactly what this was. These guys caught feelings fast, and the denial was pretty impressive. I can’t wait for the rest of the series — the baes have definitely stolen my heart!


I received a free copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Ibiliana]

This book’s epigraph is ‘Whether you’re a spreadsheet freak or a freak in the sheets, this book is for you’. As an actual lover of spreadsheets, I love this to bits. I also loved the rest of the book.

If I didn’t know this was a debut I would probably rate this at 4 - 4.5 stars, just because sometimes I felt the timeline was a bit off and the pacing flagged a little here and there. BUT this is a debut and what a gem it is, so it gets a solid 5 stars from me.
I loved the characters, both main and side, and they felt real to me. The writing was very good, easy to read and with some beautiful sentences. I highlighted some of those fun one-liners, which I rarely do.

Let me share one: My mind, in comparison, was like a collaboration between the sloth who worked at the DMV in Zootopia and the annoying HR lady from Monsters, Inc.

I can’t wait for the next book!

I received this book as an ARC through Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.

[Michelle Muller]

First of all, thank you to Bellamy West for a chance to ARC read this lovely story! I've been reading alot of MM romance lately, so this was right up my alley when I signed up for the ARC. I really enjoyed this wasn't a sports romance - which has seemed to be alot of what MM romances have been. MMC Taylor is an accountant and MMC Gabriel works in horticulture and has a little side business making bitters. The meet cute seems to toally fit the California vibe - they were stuck in traffic! Totally just super cute and a very creative one too! Taylor has been raising his sister - and carrying alot of baggage around that really shouldn't have been his and Gabriel is just the bit of chaos that Taylor needs. There's a great friend group - really found family - which is one of my favorite tropes to read along with such a great opposites attract. I really can't believe this was a debut and I can't wait to read more from Bellamy!

[L H]

​Taylor seriously seems to need to lighten up. He is devoted to his sister Margo. She is getting married and although he is swamped at work and one of those people who does not take a vacation but will take time off to support her, he heads out to meet her to search for a wedding dress. And gets stuck in traffic. Where one car over is a fine man who catches his eye. Taylor is so not the person you would expect to be up for a pick-up literally on the highway. But that is how he and Gabriel get their start. This pair is so different from one another. And essentially what each other needs to figure out how to define for themselves and live their own best lives - together. It seems that they were truly destined to go to better places with one another and the development of their love story and the life they create together made for a lovely read.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashley Carrillo]

Accountant Taylor and botanist Gabiel. Two men with completely opposite jobs and also completely different personalities that usually on paper wouldn't work but in real life, after a traffic jam meet cute brings them together where Gabeiel isn't looking for anytging serious yet shoots his shot when he gets a glimpse at Taylor, they just work. Taylor has a lot on his shoulders and Gabriel is exactly what he needs in more ways than one. Gabeiel gives him fun and relaxation and Taylor grounds Gabriel and they both show each other the things that they're insecure about aren't deal breakers to the right person. Together they balance each other out beautifully and I loved reading about their story and the obstacles they overcame as they flel in love. They accepted each other and were witty, funny, sweet and definitely hot together. I flew through this book and I'm definitely sticking around for the rest of the books in the series.

[Erica Espejo]

I received an advanced copy of this book.

I love reading books that take place where I live. I'm from Orange County, where a majority of the story takes place. I love that the characters do feel real and are like people I have met around Santa Ana and Irvine. You have a meet cute on one of the worst places in Southern California, the dreaded 405. I love how witty and original the author is in this sense. The main characters are an accountant who clearly needs a break from his demanding job. During the busiest times for accountants, he finally takes that break he needs and finds the one who can open him up.

This is a a cute MLM travel read. I was able to read this on Apple Books while traveling. However, be ready because this is one of the spiciest MLM romance books I've read. The yearning between spicy scenes are very strong. Highly recommend to anyone looking for MLM!

[Brit ✨]

Oh my goodness, what a fun story!! I would LOVE to see a movie of this because I loved it so much and its so unique. The 90’s beach vibes were so strong, I can’t tell you enough how much I love this book.

Gabriel was such a vibe! I would love to be friends with him haha. He is just living his life exactly the way he wants even if he has to deal with his parents. Taylor is Gabriels complete opposite, I’d still be friends with him though. Taylor is dealing with a lot and keeping a lot of things close to the chest. They both have problems they have to work through, throughout the book before they get to their HEA. These two were so perfect for each other though, keeping the other balanced.

This was such a fun book and Bellamy’s writing is phenomenal. I will be reading everything she writes.

[Malia Winger]

Taylor and Gabriel are young men weighted down by parental expectations. Taylor's parents passed off raising his younger sister to him when she was diagnosed with cancer and then guilted him into taking financial responsibility for her treatments. Gabriel's parents think he should have a prestigious career, a wife and 2.5 kids instead of working at the botanical gardens that he loves. After a highway meet cute they begin dating. Their chemistry is obvious but traumas from their pasts show up to trip them up. I admired that they were willing to apologize for their mistakes and work on being better for each other. I also enjoyed the supporting characters and I am excited to see them take center stage!

[Abby]

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review

Taylor and Gabriel are kind and sweet. It was impossible to not want the absolute best for them individually and together. I really appreciated that though they both have been hurt/have baggage, that in their relationship when they realize something is wrong they try to make it right by being open and honest. I loved how supporting Taylor and Gabriel were of each other, and the support shown between the MCs and secondary characters. It had a wholesome feel to it, which honestly, I appreciate more as time goes on.

[Juniper]

The sweet and the cute abound here, and it's easy to like Taylor and Gabriel, as both individuals and as a pairing. These two click on pretty much every level, bring the opposites attract energy in the best ways, and have enough going on in their lives that it's easy to see how much they both could use someone in their corner. The characters, main and supporting, are all vividly drawn here, and they anchor a narrative that sometimes feels a little uneven in terms of pacing yet always manages to be both engaging and engrossing. All in all, this is a fun and rewarding read. 4.5 stars.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Emeli Webb]

Oh my goodness, what a fun story!! I would LOVE to see a movie of this because I loved it so much and its so unique. The 90’s beach vibes were so strong, I can’t tell you enough how much I love this book.

Gabriel was such a vibe! I would love to be friends with him haha. He is just living his life exactly the way he wants even if he has to deal with his parents. Taylor is Gabriels complete opposite, I’d still be friends with him though. Taylor is dealing with a lot and keeping a lot of things close to the chest. They both have problems they have to work through, throughout the book before they get to their HEA. These two were so perfect for each other though, keeping the other balanced

[Mir Jak]

Absolutely love love love the meet cute in this one !! Just adorable....swoon ..... These two are total opposites - workaholic and golden retriever. Yet there's more to them as you discover, bit by bit. Loved the hurt/comfort vibe and when you realise the why's and everything, your heart does go out to them. There's found family/friends, the "not-dating" becomes quite a bit more serious than they realise ....and them trying to work out how to do a "relationship" ....it's all very sweet and endearing... and quite steamy !! Overall, a brilliant book - loved it !!!

[RavieReads]

An absolutely cozy, fun, and smutty read. 

We follow Taylor, an accountant set in his ways who believes that love isn't for him, when anything can change on a whim. That is until he meets the lovable Gabriel who also believes love isn't for him, until they go on more and more dates... 

I absolutely loved reading the story of these two going through the process of falling head over heels for one another. The passion, the genuine care, and just the love they have for each other makes you so warm inside. 

[C.B.]

This was Fun!Taylor, is a tightly wound account whose chosen to plan his sister's wedding, so no stress doesn't really have time for fun. Gabriel, is a botonist who has an excellent work life balance and embraces fun. They have a fun, first meeting and their courtship is pure fun.They each drag a bit fo baggage behind them and find a way to prioritize and set the handles down. Delicious men, fun story, cute cover art, great character development, well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise Burris GremoryKohta]

When you see the book cover and read the blurb this sounds like a good story. Once you start reading it though and definitely by the fourth chapter it becomes apparent that this is a gem of a read. Deeply emotional at times and funny with the perfect amount of heat this is amazing. Being that I’ve never read this author before and there doesn’t seem to be many books by them I was blown away. Thank goodness I requested this book from GRR. I would have missed this truly gifted author.

[Ida Umphers]

I enjoyed the California feel of this book so much. The author has also done a good job with developing two characters with very different personalities and approaches to life but showing that they still have some of the same struggles with family and the expectations they place on themselves and that others place on them. It was nicely spicy and romantic but also grounded in a reality that made me care for the characters and want them to find their HEA.

[Amanda Reeves]

Accounting for Love is the first book in the new Aces of Baes series by a new to me author Bellamy West. This is a found family, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract read about Taylor and Gabriel. I really enjoyed this storyline and the wonderful characters, I can't wait to see what comes next in the series.

[Leonie Duncan]

This is such a wonderful pairing. Gabriel is the perfect foil for Taylor. He brings some fun and happiness to his serious life. Taylor's parents are a nightmare and Gabe's mother gives them a run for their money. Taylor puts Gabe's mother in her place and that's the point where Gabe fell. It's so much more than I expected. I loved it! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Tanya]

He is stuck in traffic when he spots them in the next car and a spark lights. They are a vision for him and their plate is full with a wedding to arrange for his sister. A detour is going to bring them both together as they take a chance but will it become more? Follow them to find out

[Deb Kel]

I really enjoyed this book. A nice fun read with some great characters, especially the mc's.
Some angst due to their pasts and dealing with their insecurities give the storyline some depth. Looking forward to more in this new series.
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review

[Mary Mays]

A wonderful read which had me wishing to be best friends with the book characters. I was worried it would be left on a cliffhanger as part of the series, but so pleasantly surprised at the beautiful closure of the story arc. Can’t wait for more from the series!

[Katie]

The characters are so thoughtfully crafted and their emotions come right off the page. I especially enjoyed and related to the bond Taylor has with his sister. He’s almost an eldest daughter. These sweet moments are juxtaposed with steamy love making! Something for everyone. Literally

[Adoraboy]

This book was way better than I thought it would be.

[mchughla]

first time author, well developed characters, hot, delightful