Love & Other Drunken Mistakes

Your Ex or Mine #1

by J.E. Ridge

Alex never expected to wake up married after a botched proposal to his girlfriend.

Especially not to Euan, the handsome stranger he met in a bar.

It was just supposed to be one drink, some mutual commiseration about their exes. But one drink became several, making it a night neither of them remember.

Now Alex and Euan have to navigate an accidental marriage, both their exes, and an attraction that lingers long after the hangover.

Their drunken night together leads to the mistake—or opportunity?—of a lifetime.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2026

About the author

J.E. Ridge is a pen name for Jennifer Ridge to distinguish between Adult and Young Adult fiction. She has her Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University, and her Master's in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University. She wrote her first novel at twelve years old, which--along with several other projects--will probably never again see the light of day. Many of her earliest projects focused on LGBT+ couples and lately she's been revisiting her favorite tropes with a queer spin.

Source: Amazon.com

Reviews

[ancientreader]

Every so often I happen across a book that throws me back to the bad old days of the mid and late 1970s, when many gay men seemed to find it necessary to justify their gayness by disparaging women. Now here we are in 2026 and at loc. 77 of this ebook I wrote "oh not this."

Yep, this.

We're in the POV of Alex, one of the two MCs; he's meeting his girlfriend, Theresa, for dinner and he plans to propose. She arrives a little after him; they greet each other. Then:

"It takes me a second to understand the expectant look in her eye before I remember what I'm supposed to do" -- that is, to pull out her chair for her.

Let's unpack this. Theresa wants Alex to pull out her chair for her, but she hasn't communicated this wish in words, and how many times have you heard the cliche about women wanting men to read their minds? I leave aside the whole chair-pulling-out thing, because I'm not a member of the relevant demographic; maybe this is something straight women enjoy having men do for them. (But if it's customary, then Alex is, actually, being a bit of a dope.)

Incidentally, the restaurant's name is Pedestal, which may strike you as being somewhat on the nose.

Next, Alex orders for Theresa, but he chooses the chicken and she overrides him because she prefers the scallops. "The problem is, she only likes it when I order for her sometimes. Other times, when I choose the wrong thing, it annoys her." Oh look, the mind-reading is back, with an ample serving of fickle unpredictability on top.

Alex proposes, but he's nervous and messes up the script. Theresa: "Did you not write any of this down?" Alex perseveres, drops the ring, and generally makes a mess of things; Theresa accepts his proposal for public purposes, since they're in a restaurant, but afterward she tells him he has to propose "properly" next time and more or less shoves the ring back at him.

Another charge misogynists often level at women is that we have no sense of humor; to be fair, mine had left the building by the time the main course was served.

Anyway, Alex is left wondering what happened to the nice woman who once appreciated him. "All I see is the determined, stubborn look she gives her male coworkers when they’ve stepped out of line." And here we go with the misandry: you know how those domineering women treat men in the workplace, amirite?

I was reading an ARC, and normally I would feel some obligation to persevere past a rough first chapter, but I cannot make myself feel obliged to put up with misogyny in a romance, not when the political climate inundates me with it in real life. Thanks for the ARC, but no thanks.

[Sarah]

Rage DNF at 47%. What’s the mother effing point of them waking up married if they spend the ENTIRE book trying to get an annulment?! (and yes I searched ahead and it was still a topic at the final chapters of the book)

[Julia (bookish.jka)]

"I don’t necessarily believe in love at first sight or ‘one true love’, but I do recognize potential. It’s the difference between wanting to take someone to bed for a night and wanting to wake up next to them in the morning."

Love & Other Drunken Mistakes by new-to-me author J.E. Ridge was a wonderful surprise and such a cute and feel-good read! This was Alex and Euan's story and I loved it. They meet in a bar, having just fallen out of their existing (and not ideal) relationships, drown their sorrows, make a connection and end up married (oops!)

What To Expect:

❣️MM romance
❣️Accidental marriage
❣️Broken (previous) relationships
❣️All the chemistry
❣️Lots of first times
❣️All the steam
❣️Forced proximity
❣️Opposites attract
❣️HEA

4 stars

[Eileen Adams]

Alex is getting ready for take two. He plans to ask Theresa to marry him again, but he is nervous. This will not be the first time he has asked her once before but it was not good enough. So now here he is asking again. He does not go smoothly but it eventually happens and Theresa says yes... that is until they get outside of the restaurant and she gives it back to him. She wants him to ask for a third time, she had no idea he was going to and she was not dressed properly. Not believing he has to do this again Alex says no. This is it if this was not good enough he thinks they are done. Now they are done he needs a drink by himself.

Euan is excited to meet his online boyfriend, Nick, for the first time in person. However once he lands he is ghosted. Now he needs to rent a car and figure out what to do. But as soon as he get the car he receives the one message he never expected.... it's me not you but we are not going to work out. So he heads to a hotel and then the bar. There he sees a man who looks overwhelmed by trying to decide what to drink. When he steps in the man is relieved for the help and before long both men are very drunk. They are sharing their stories and then the proposal comes up and before long Alex is wearing an engagement ring.......

What happens when Euan and Alex wake up in the same bed? Will they realize right away what happened? Will they have to deal with the "mistakes" of the previous night? Will Theresa want Alex back? Will Alex know who dumped Euan? How does Theresa react to the news of Alex and Euan? Does Theresa have her own secret? What happens when Euan week long trip is over?

What a great book. I very much enjoyed it.

[BookaholicallyBridie]

I was delighted to receive an ARC of this book. Here is my honest review:

I started this book and was immediately giggling. I was completely enraptured by the sheer amount of drama contained in this book. The fact that all of the characters knew each other and were connected SOMEHOW and every time one of the connections was revealed, it made it SO MUCH FUNNIER.

Reading this book felt like having the tea spilled in the best way. It was hilarious, and I devoured it!

The fact that they both broke up with their partners, got drunk, and accidentally married each other? And then Alex’s ex is a Family Law Lawyer, so she offers to represent him in the annulment? And Euan’s lawyer is Theresa’s ex??

The drama was right there. I felt like I should have been eating popcorn while reading this book. Definitely one of the funniest rom-coms I have ever read, and it was delightfully steamy too!

[Sarah]

I read this book as an Arc.

This book was everything I hoped it would be.
It was so cute but had hilarious moments.

Euan and Alex were so sweet together, and the moment they met in the bar was so funny I was laughing the whole time.

The angst with Alex’s ex was just enough that I was irritated, I was happy she wasn’t in it any more than she was as she pissed me off.

I was trying to figure out the whole book how they would end up together officially, wondering if it was a real marriage and they would choose to stay together or if they would get remarried after the annulment. I did not expect their actual coming together but I loved it. Alex is a cute drunk.

The spice in it was super well done and I loved their chemistry.

Overall, loved this book, it was a fantastic read and I will definitely read more from this author.

[Olive Erath]

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC!!

Love & Other Drunken Mistakes is a funny and optimistic rom-com about love at first sight and finding that one person who feels like home. This charming, hilarious story narrates how Euan and Alex meet after breaking up with both their partners, get drunk together and get married, all in the same night. What appears to be a huge drunken mistake turns out to be a chance for both men to find true love, to discover new things to learn together and to find out that relationships should be easy.

Even though the story is presented in a cheerful tone, J. E. Ridge’s exploration of toxic love is a powerful reflection on how hurtful expectations can be and a reminder that one’s true love does not demand more than their lover can give. This novel also hints at the idea that, even though two people are not meant to be together as a couple, there still can be alliances and friendship when love is not possible.

Love and Other Drunken Mistakes is a great, feel-good read that leaves you wanting more. Nick, Calder: you’re next!

[Bella]

This book was so hilariously chaotic, and I was here for every word of it! My friend recently read it as an arc, and when I told her I wanted something steamy, she recommended it for me. I am so grateful she did because it definitely delivered on the steamy, but it also had such a fun plot that made it feel as if I were sitting down and gossiping with someone, because there was that much drama! Two strangers meet one night, get drunk, and then get accidentally married, which you would think is the most chaotic thing that could happen, but then, in their efforts to get an annulment, it is revealed that almost everyone in this book knew each other. Alex and Euan (the newlyweds) were strangers, yet Alex is coworkers with Euan's ex, Alex's ex becomes his lawyer, and his ex's ex becomes Euan's lawyer. It all felt too chaotic and too outlandish to possibly be fiction; it felt as if they were real people who were actually going through all this drama. Yet, despite said drama, the relationship between Alex and Euan was the heart of the narrative. They were two men who got it backwards, getting married first and then falling for each other, but they ended up being so perfect as a couple, and had a lot of cute, very romantic moments that had me falling in love with them and their story.

[Britney]

⭐ 4.5–5 stars

Love and Other Drunken Mistakes was exactly the kind of romcom I love getting lost in.

After a night of commiserating over their respective breakups, Alex and Euan wake up pleasantly surprised to still be in each other’s company… and significantly less pleased to discover they apparently found time to get married somewhere between drinks one and twelve.

What follows is a sweet, sexy, low-angst romance as they spend the next week getting to know each other while simultaneously pursuing an annulment. Alex is an absolute cinnamon roll, and Euan’s caretaker instincts made them a really great match. They just.. made sense.

Funny, heartfelt, and delightfully messy in a “well, that escalated quickly” sort of way. A quick, easy read with high heat, plenty of charm, and an accidental marriage trope that simply worked.

[RavieReads]

*ARC Review*

Alex has tried proposing to his girlfriend twice now, but he keeps messing up and he can't take dissapointing her anymore.

Euan has just flied across the country for his long distance boyfriend, only to find out he thinks they won't work and wants to stay friends.

What happens when both Alex and Euan find themselves at an expensive hotel bar looking for some companionship and a stiff drink?

I absolutely loved this little accidental marriage story. I loved how Euan and Alex just seemed to fit with one another and make one another better. It may be a bit unrealistic but all of us want to think it could happen to us.

This book was just such a breath of fresh air compared to some of my other arcs. I highly recommend it.

[Theodore]

Wow, that proposal was a disaster. The writing was decent since it showed us how Theresa treated Alex + gave us examples of their characters without feeling like we were being told it.

The scene did get a bit weird thought when Theresa told Alex to redo the proposal (a third time) which Alex initially refuses, then acquiesces, but then immediately backtracks a paragraph later and ends things. Him going from a resigned "Fine" to "There won't be a next time" needed a bit more explanation and set up showing that Alex was at a breaking point.

The writing in general felt a bit awkward at points. On page 26, Euan wakes up next to Alex and points out that he's in still jeans, something you'd expect to be uncomfortable, yet the very next sentence is him saying he's happy to have fallen asleep in his clothes. I get the implication that he's happy he didn't have drunk sex with Alex but the positioning of that sentence mad it seem contradictory since he literally pointed out how uncomfortable he was. It should've been structured to first emphasize his fear of having slept with Alex first, then showed him finding relief in having woken up not naked (finding the discomfort of the stiff clothes actually comforting).

Same deal with page 27.
Euan: "I relax back into the bed, my eyes drifting shut as my hold tightens on Alex."

Uh what? Why did his hold tighten on Alex when he literally just told us he was relieved over not having had drunk sex? Page 26 implied a repulsion, not a desire to get closer and cuddle.

Page 29:
Euan: "[Never] Gone to a hotel room with a guy?"
Alex: "Technically, that's true, but only because we met in one of our dorm rooms."

The "we" in Alex's sentence made that line confusing since the conversation was only about him and Euan at that point and he hadn't already introduced an explicit other subject. The line should've been something like "That's technically true, but only because the last time I was with a guy, it was in a dorm room, not a hotel" to make it clear that the "we" was about him and another guy, not him and Euan.

Past that, the writing stopped having weird idiosyncrasies. I liked that a good portion of the book focused on trying to find out if their online marriage was legit. I also liked that it developed Alex and Euan's personal conflicts with Theresa and Nick respectively. Wasn't quite a big a fan of how Alex was thinking of he was cheating on either Theresa or Euan because I personally didn't think there was anything beyond the legal definition of just being married between him and Euan at that point to even come close to an emotional betrayal like cheating.

I don't think I really understood what story the book was trying to tell. From the moment Alex asks Euan to stay with him, it felt the the book was meandering. It barely progressed the annulment angle after both Euan and Alex met with their lawyers AND it stopped developing the conflicts with Theresa and Nick after like one scene each, so all that was left was Alex and Euan internally thinking that they needed to separate but then still dealing with their physical attraction (which itself felt like it was going nowhere because it sort of felt like they weren't really addressing what exactly they expected from each other?) They talk about only wanting physical sex and not being ready for a relationship, but then explicitly OK affectionate acts like kissing and cuddling. I guess that was supposed to be an intentional dissonance, but it felt too jarring. I think I needed the story to progress the annulment storyline more and have that be the vehicle to emphasize Alex and Euan's growing feelings. Like as the annulment process got further along, the more their affection grew in contrast, creating an ironic reversal which would've made the story feel like it was moving along instead of the weird middle ground it was currently in.

Theresa certainly felt like a poorly written villain. She was way too one dimensional and the story probably would've been better off if she hadn't been Alex's representative and just fucked off after they broke up (especially since the marriage got invalidated on a technicality anyways).

I did not understand why neither Alex nor Euan talked about their casual sex before Euan left? Seemed melodramatic to have them leave off on words unsaid when there wasn't really a reason for them to not talk (it's not like they were fucking each other in secret. The only thing standing between them was Euan's assumption that Alex didn't want anything to do with him)

Having Euan leave then come back to "visit" like a chapter later was lame. The entire point of a separation is to emphasize how life is lacking without one another. Only seeing a single family dinner from Euan's POV didn't really sell me on the idea that he planned on staying away from Alex. If anything, it was just more melodrama since it felt like he'd only been gone for like a couple of days.

The conclusion was fine, but it just wasn't satisfying since it was the bookend to a story that I was lukewarm on.

The story felt like it needed a clearer focus to make the relationship feel like it was moving along. The whole fake marriage thing sort of took a back seat to sex, which made Alex and Euan's relationship journey feel sort of static since there wasn't anything really changing between them. They stayed in the "idk what he wants from me, but I'm attracted to him" stage for nearly then entire book until the marriage was addressed only then did the dynamic shift, but by then it was way too late. Like I said earlier, I feel like the journey to getting an annulment would've been a great way to control the pacing of it had actually developed beyond Alex and Euan getting lawyers, then finding out those lawyers were incompetent , then finding out their marriage was invalid on a technicality.

It would've been a much more enjoyable read if Alex and Euan had active participation in the annulment attempts but also then started getting closer during that process. The tension between them would've ramped up as they got closer and closer to separating, but they wanted it less and less until it reached an inflection point where the annulment was going to be finalized but they both realize that they no longer wanted it at that point. A dramatic irony showing an evolution between what the characters wanted at the start versus what they realize they wanted all along. A story like that would've felt like it was progressing a plot and the relationship rather than have it feel like nothing was really changing between the MCs until it just suddenly did at the end.

The sex and kink were definitely steamy though, no notes on those.

2.5 stars rounded up because there was potential here and it wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything particularly special either.

[queerromancereads ♡]

I received an advanced copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

“I mean, really, who gets accidentally married outside of a cheesy rom-com?”

Look, if there's ever a time when I'm not biting your hand off at the prospect of an accidental marriage plot, then, please do check me for signs of life. And, this book did not disappoint my queer romcom dreams, it blew my expectations out of the water and set a new standard to live up to.

If it's not going to make me smile, yearn and, somehow, believe in love again like this, then I don't even want to know!

I went into this read expecting a lighthearted romp through a favourite trope, but wholly unprepared for the absolutely exquisite experience of yearning. This chemistry between Alex and Euan (still) has me in a chokehold, but don't rescue me... I'm exactly where I want to be. 

There's a relentless and delicious undercurrent of sexual tension that pulses through this text, as if it has a life of its own, reaching an inevitable peak with some truly unforgettable spicy scenes. You really couldn't ask for more in this department. 

You ever click instantly with a book, because you vibe so hard with the writing style, that it's an oddly comforting experience, like you are listening to your own internal narrator? Immediate rapport! I locked into this book like I just met my new best friend. The voices were strong and the dual perspective really worked here. 

Both Alex and Euan are ridiculously likeable. I mean– Sure– You want to bang their heads together and scream, ‘Just say the thing, you idiots!” But, like, affectionately. 

There's some really great supporting characters too (I'm kind of down bad for Euan’s brother? And for the life of me, I couldn't explain to you why). The characters are layered and nuanced, even the characters that you start off hating on, you feel like you understand by the end. It's incredibly good writing.

The plot was surprisingly gripping and it held my attention throughout. This book is really a lot of fun. Buckle in and don't be too surprised when your face hurts from smiling. 

The queer romcom you've been waiting for - deeply amusing and overflowing with yearning - chaos and joy await you.

[Arcturus170]

I received an advance copy and this is my honest review.
4*
Really enjoyed. The opening chapters set the stage for the book and I kept laughing and groaning out loud at the ridiculous situations poor Alex gets himself into. He’s so sweet with Euan, who is such a gentleman in return. They’re both heartbroken, but unexpectedly hopeful when they find each other.

The UST is fun and keeps things moving mid-book. I love the adult toy store with a gamer theme. Somehow that just feels like the perfect combo of interests. 😂 Gamer stuff AND adult toys. All the fun, one shop!

The spice is great. Caring, playful, and just the right amount of commanding. Euan likes to gently push Alex to the point of desperation and the results are amazing. It’s such a fun dynamic and I found it mesmerizing.

Most of the book is pretty strong, but the ending chapters don’t work as well for me. There’s more miscommunication angst and what I’m calling a T.A.B., but others may look at differently. There’s also a surprise “plan” to fix things that sounds like a terrible idea from the outside, especially after what Nick did to Euan. All of it is just failure to communicate. That said, the romance plot climax is very funny. I agree the MCs need time and space to really date each other, partially just to put the ghosts of past mistakes to rest. I suppose I just don’t love miscommunication to get there. The epilogue is sweet and funny, as all things with Alex & Euan, but it’s quick and then it’s done. I wanted a stronger exit!

Last gripe: the other woman drama / love triangle situation kinda frustrated me. It has a purpose and a scandalous twist later on, but I wasn’t expecting so much love triangle angst in this book and maybe that’s on me.

Overall, I’d recommend the book, with the caveat to expect the love triangle to be prominent in the story. I appreciate how supportive and healing Alex and Euan are for each other. It’s like they both take up more space as themselves and find their old excitements renewed. The spice is also a standout, with Euan crafting gently desperate situations for Alex to endure, and them both reaping the rewards. These guys are a delight and their story is memorable. 🩵

[Sonderous Reads]

Especially after being dumped by his long-distance boyfriend over text. Alex is in the same boat, except he dumped his girlfriend after failing to read her mind and prepare the perfect proposal. Both men thought they would drink away their pain and find comfort in a midnight romp up in Euan’s hotel room. Instead, they wake up married. Not engaged to be, not cuffed at the wrists, but husband and husband until death do them part. Okay, an annulment should set this all straight… but what happens when they start catching feelings for each other? Who knew tying the knot would tie their lives up in knots? 


J.E. Ridge has always told amazingly hilarious and heart-wrenching stories. “The Stolen Groom” series was one of my absolute favorite reads. So, to have all that heart-break, comedy, and edge-of-your-seat-thrills, promised as a contemporary romance with an accidental marriage trope, had me running to the ARC signups… repeatedly. And I was not disappointed. Steamy and sweet and sometimes silly, Alex and Euan’s story was the highlight of my week.


Alex, Euan, Calder, and even Richard were a relatable cast of characters that you can sympathize with. I even empathized with Theresa for a while there. Each of them has their own past that informs their choices now, and while they are the most frustrating decisions a majority of the time, I could see why they did what they did. I've never been one for miscommunication/no communication tropes, but for this novel, it made sense. Thanks for inviting me into Alex and Euan's life! I can't wait to see what happens next!!

[Adeselna]

“Love & Other Drunken Mistakes” may seem like any other queer romantic comedy, but it takes us on a journey through how society really makes one person doubt themselves. Alex is trying to engage his girlfriend for the third time. He never gets it right, and this time he tries to go all in, but it ends up being a disaster, and he breaks up with his fiancee. Euan was going to meet his long distance boyfriend, but when he arrived at the airport, the guy breaks up with him. Alex goes to a bar to forget his terrible night, Euan does the same. Both end up drunk and wake up married. This was all just a mistake, right? They don’t even know each other! So how can Euan be the perfect person for Alex, and Alex is everything Euan ever wanted in a relationship?

First of all, we are a Theresa stan in this house! I loved that she was a strong woman who knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted someone in her life who was chill, she really liked to take matter in her hands. Sometimes a little too much. She wasn’t a bad person, she just wanted stability and to control everything. Maybe she really liked Alex, but they were not compatible as a couple at all. Maybe in the beginning, but as time passed, they both changed. So don’t at me with Theresa. She has issues, we all have, she really thought she was doing what was best for Alex a lot of times.

Alex, on the other hand, is a victim to how we always think life is going to play exactly as we thought. He thought he was going to have a calm life with Theresa, get married, and so on. But that was not what he needed. He needed someone to be there for him. A companion. And he finds that with Euan. He finds that love and a relationship are not hard work, and they’re easy when you’re with the right person, because that’s exactly what a solid relationship is.

Euan wore his heart on his sleeve, and the way he fell for Alex, and their banter is really cute. I swear I was going to pay his brother, Calder, a visit if he didn’t STFU, because he was giving terrible advice. True, Calder was afraid that Alex would break Euan’s heart, since he always felt so much and was a really kind person. I’m an Edna person - confront, fight, WIN!

“Love & Other Drunken Mistakes” is a romantic comedy, and it’s really sweet, full of amazing moments that will leave a smile on your face, but it’s much more than that. It invites us to watch two totally different relationships unfolding: one that never felt right and one that shouldn’t feel right, but it’s the one that will make us happy.

It’s short, cute and fun!

[Bee]

Aww, this was so lovely! I do love the "wake up married" trope every now and then and this book definitely scratched that itch for me. I really need to try and get to this author's other books because so far I've really enjoyed the ones I have read. But let's dive a bit more into this one!

Euan and Alex are so so good together. Alex is a huge people pleaser, which is not always a good thing. (Speaking from experience here...) When he meets Euan, he's just broken up with his long-time girlfriend after his proposal was rejected (twice...). Euan is very much a caretaker, and when he meets Alex, he actually just got dumped as well. The two meet in a bar, get drunk and... well, wake up married. Oops?

Their dynamic was really beautiful, honestly. Their chemistry was off the charts, so much so that a shower in the dark left me breathless. I loved how Euan took care of Alex, instead of letting Alex do his people pleasing thing (and forgetting his own needs in the process). I loved the gentle exploration of Alex's kinks. I just loved these two, period.

And the side characters were entertaining too! (Though I'm sorry, I will probably never like Theresa...) I hope Calder gets his own book, and Nick as well. Really rooting for those two to get their own HEAs.

The vibe of this book really feels like those 90s/early 2000s rom-coms, and I was so here for it. Funny, swoony, full of heart. Realistic? Maybe not really, but who cares? It was really really lovely and if it sounds like your thing, I urge you to give it a chance.

[Nicole]

Review for Love & Other Drunken Mistakes by J.E. Ridge

Tropes

Bdsm
Lawyers
Manipulative ex
Kink
Bondage
Praise
dirty Talk
Sensory Deprivation
Overstimulation
Sex toys
Sensory Deprivation
D/s
Explicit sex, a lot of alcohol drinking


This was a nice change of pace. I have been addicted to anything BDSM or kink for over twenty years now. I have read some that annoyed me and some that made me say, "Hell yes." I can't get enough. I have been reading other genres, but this is my favorite trope. This story starts with Alex waking up married to not a woman but a man he had met the night he had proposed to his girlfriend; that didn't end well. Euan had been a man he had met that night, and got so drunk he didn't remember stuff that had happened. He didn't go into this to get drunk. He had planned just to have a drink and talk to a man who had gone through something similar in his past. Both men had way too many drinks, and it is the next day, and they wake up to find they had gotten married while they were drunk. The story goes into how they handled what they had done, along with the two exes they had. I liked the way their attraction built and built. These types of stories can make you believe they could happen in real life. Will these two men allow the attraction they share to build? Or will they walk away because it is unconventional? I have to say I loved the way J.E. Ridge wrote this story. I live the BDSM lifestyle, so I love books that show some of the things I like or love. I look forward to reading more by this author for sure.

Nicole Harvey

[Tara Bennett]

MY OPINION: I’ve not read any other books by this author. This story was super interesting. Such a great spin, creating a fun story about two MCs who have to figure out how to move forward without looking back.

The book is written around an accidental marriage to a stranger. The old waking up married after a bender is always fun to follow. As they work their way through the process of getting the marriage annulled, they learn more about each other and find they fit well together. Throughout the background, we see what their past relationships were like and how those relationships failed them.

Euan is only in town for a week, but they still have the attraction that led them to get married in the first place. Being intimate with each other is easy and really enjoyable. Alex gets to lean into a side of himself that he hasn’t really explored: his desires, his kinks, and Euan offers to help him explore. The scenes are naughty and explicit. The spice between them builds on the already blossoming feelings. When it’s time for Euan to go home, it hurts them more than they expected.

There are some great moments—out of the bedroom—between them. The feelings are clearly built on as you read, and it’s a lovely romance between the two men. We end up with a happily-ever-after with a few bumps, of course. I am glad I got the chance to read this author. This is the first book in a series, so there is more to come.

[Shawna]

2.5 stars - This book was a mixed bag for me. I am a sucker for a married by mistake and falling in love afterwards because of forced proximity, which is what led me to pick this up. I just think this version felt a bit uneven and improvisational, which probably means it needed more developmental editing.

When women are included/deployed as difficult in bisexual mm romances, it is a tricky thing to pull off, and this book doesn't really succeed. It's tricky because of course there are women who are exacting and prickly and hard to read, but when those traits are overused or caricatured for narrative expediency, it often comes across as misogyny and sometimes just IS misogynistic. This book skirted the line a little too closely.

Our almost-fiancee does return later in the book and there is an attempt to smooth over the initial impression we get of her, but it didn't fully get rid of the bad taste in my mouth.

I do think that Alex and Euan could eventually get to a place where they are in a good relationship, but I didn't fully buy into the speedrun/instalove timeline in this book. Nick was a strange choice, and it was even stranger that he is given a redemption arc of sorts.

I'm rounding my rating up because overall it was a fine entertainment to read before bed for a few nights, but I probably won't pick up more by the author.

[Aleja]

MM romance | Strangers to lovers | Accidental Marriage | Idiots to lovers | Forced proximity | Kink exploration | Mild Dom/sub | Edging | Toys & Handcuffs


OMG, lo amé demasiado! Es todo tan lindo que muero de amor con estos personajes😭😭😭💖💖💖

Euan y Alex son todo lo que está bien en este mundo. Y Alex, I love him so much! Es tan tierno y cute que no podía más. Euan me encantó en todo momento; siento que le daba ese toque de calma y relax que Alex tanto necesitaba.

Al principio pensé: "¿En serio se van a enamorar en una semana?", pero mientras leía, lo entendí todo 🥹💖. Ver cómo su relación crecía día a día y cómo buscaban seguridad el uno en el otro hizo que todo tuviera sentido y que me enamorara aún más de ellos🥹💖💖

El ritmo del libro es muy bueno y ameno, tanto que no te das cuenta y ya estás en el final. Fue un cierre tan lindo que me quedé con ganas de muchísimas más escenas de ellos juntos💖💖✨

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OMG, I absolutely loved it!! Everything is so sweet, and I’m literally dying over these characters😭😭😭💖💖💖

Euan and Alex are everything that is right with this world. And Alex? I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! He’s such a cutie and so sweet that I just couldn’t handle it! I loved Euan every step of the way; I feel like he provided that sense of relaxation and calm that Alex desperately needed.

At first, I thought to myself: "Are they really going to fall in love in just one week?" But as I kept reading, I totally got it🥹💖. Seeing their relationship grow day by day and how they mutually looked for safety in one another made everything click. It made me fall in love with them even more! 🥹💖💖

The pacing was great and very easygoing, so much so that you don't even realize how fast you're reaching the end. It was such a cute and sweet finale; I’m dying for more scenes of them together! 💖💖✨

[Dolly]

Love & Other Drunken Mistakes - J.E Ridge

(Your Ex or Mine Book One)

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️

After breaking up with their significant others
Euan and Alex find themselves in a bar and one drunken night leads to them both waking up married to each other.

This was a fun and sweetly beautiful story. It read like the perfect romcom, the storyline was easy to follow along which made it easy to imagine all the scenes playing out in front of me.

I loved how Euan knew straight of the bat that Alex was uncomfortable and anxious making all the decisions and showed him that was okay to let someone take care of his needs instead of worry what the other person needed or wanted all the time.

This story had me kicking my feet and giggling. I also had me blushing with all the sexy scenes. I loved how Euan made Alex feel comfortable to explore and discover his kinks.

I really empathize and relate with Alex’s people pleasing and how if anything was going to happen or go wrong it would happen Alex. (Murphy’s Law).

I can’t wait to read what comes from this series. I’m secretly hoping Calder gets his own story.

Tropes:
Accidentally Married
Idiot to Lovers
Strangers to Lovers
Low Angst
Kink Exploration

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

[Kayleigh insta: mmbooksl_t]

4⭐️
3.5🌶️
REVIEW: Alex has just proposed to his girlfriend of a year, and it all went horribly wrong. His girlfriend Theresa is - quite frankly - an absolute twat and demands a re-do. Alex heads to a bar to gather his thoughts but he isn't really a drinker so he's a little overwhelmed. Luckily for him, he finds someone else in the bar feeling sorry for themselves
Euan has travelled hundreds of miles to meet his online boyfriend. Unfortunately his boyfriend is a bellend and dumps him by text leaving him stranded At the bar, he and Alex drown their sorrows and wake up the next day together, fully clothed and married!
What comes next is a frantic search to find out who the officiant was, if the online wedding service is ligit or an expensive scam and what actually happened that night. When it appears they are indeed legally. married, they need to find representation to get an annulment. When Euan leaves to head home a week later Alex realises letting his temporary husband walk away may have been a mistake.

This was so sweet! I devoured it in one afternoon, just couldn't put it down. Euan is such a sucker for love and a sweetheart with a filthy filthy mouth, he and Alex were perfect for each other. I really enjoyed this book.

[Babara-Anne]

OH THIS WAS A DELIGHT TO READ!💕💍🤵‍♂️🤵🏻

Imagine waking up married to a stranger the next morning after a heavy night of drinking and moping after a breakup?…

“Lesh get married!”
“And that kiss is the last thing I remember.”

It happened to Alexander Marklin and Euan Blair after their irrespective disastrous breakups and now they have to figure out what happened and who married them but most of all- is it legal?…

“two people seeking a light in the darkness.”

I loved their journey to finding their perfect person with laugh out loud situations, sweet, endearing moments and steamy kink discoveries! 😈

An ex that doesn’t want to let go and demands to be the annulment lawyer while her ex college boyfriend ends up on the opposing side with tongue in the cheek results!…

Lack of communication and jealousy will be their downfall but a surprising side character will come to their assistance…

A funny, sweet, endearing yet poignant epilogue will showcase their future two years later.

I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR for an honest non biased review.

[Charlee Lock]

Idiots to lovers and accidental marriages are very very quickly making it high in my sought after tropes!

This book is so sweet and fun, I had a few giggles and kick my leg and squealing moments reading this charming mm romance!

Alex is an anxiety ridden man with an undiscovered praise kink and Euan is absolutely the calm to his storm, albeit creating the right amount of chaos in his world.

I absolutely loved seeing how both men got to being in the same bar looking to escape their reality all the while creating potentially a terrifying life choice.

Also can I just say I’m so sad that I’ve not come across a gaming adult store in all my travels and is now something I absolutely need to experience (online shopping does not count!)

I also need to know if Euan’s brother was inspired by the author and would love to imagine them listening to their family or friends and squirrelling away story ideas!!

[Maria]

I was provided with an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. These are my real sentiments about the story and everything written here is respectful, without meaning to harm anyone, but to offer my opinion as constructive criticism/compliments. Thank you, J.E., for the opportunity!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
🔥🔥 🔥 / 5

Couple: Alex and Euan.

Structure: 1st person. Present tense. Dual POV.

This was a very cute story. Everything happened in a small amount of time, but also it didn't feel rushed somehow? Of course, you need to consider it is a sweet rom-com in which love happens very fast. But Alex and Euan just fit so well, I just wanted them to be together already haha

They were both adorable characters. I confess I wanted to shake Alex every now end them and tell him to grow a spine, but he learned it eventually lol I'm also glad that Theresa didn't turn out to be a villain. She was annoying most of the story, yes, but she also wasn't an evil character or anything remotely close.

The only thing I wished for more was more scenes of them after they get together. I would love to read a second book about them 🥰

If you're looking for an almost-no-angst rom-com with steamy kink exploration and a funny accidental marriage, I recommend this one!

[Joyfully Jay]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

This book takes the “woke up married” trope and turns it slightly on its head. I was invested in this storyline from the start, both characters endearing themselves to me. And it’s easy to see just how much chemistry Alex and Euan have together. From the jump, I was rooting for them to work it all out and find the HEA they both deserved.

I have to hand it to the author. Ridge created two MCs who mesh so well together that their attraction was off the charts, but never felt forced or as though the author was relying on “instalove.”

I adored these guys and am definitely looking forward to what comes next in the series. This was a great start to a series, and you should check it out.

Read Kris’s review in its entirety here.

[Nina Diab]

I love the 'waking-up-from-a-drunken-night-to-discover-you're-married' trope! This book was such a fun and sweet hurt/comfort romance. I absolutely loved both Alex and Euan. I thought they were very sweet guys. I loved that we actually got to see them connect- even with the alcohol- before they woke up married. And I loved that connection so much! Both were hurting from break-ups and just opened up to each other. Even afterwards they didn't run away from each other or make excuses, they spent more time together and tried to figure things out. And the chemistry was still there! I got so emotionally invested in these two so quickly! Despite their own insecurities and hurts, there's a hopefulness and healing there too. Finding each other really was the best thing to happen to them.

This is the first story I've read by this author and I will definitely be reading more! I'd love for this to become an audiobook someday! I'm dying to listen to it. 5 stars

[J.B. Thwaite]

If the description of the book seems something you'd enjoy, I can vouch that this book delivers. It was just the right amount of sweet, funny and spicy for me, and I love it when a book makes me actually snort and laugh out loud.

Easy to read and follow along (and this is not to imply it's somehow simplistic, it's not. It flows nicely and the author seems to know what they're doing balancing everything. I had no issues of boredom or difficulty understanding what was going on like I all too often do when reading. It stirred up the feels as well. These are something I don't take for granted as someone on the spectrum with adhd). Read it almost in one sitting from start to finish.

Would recommend to anyone who loves a sweet and funny love story where two people are exploring their kinks in a safe but fun way.

[Jen]

Sometimes you fumble a proposal and get rejected. Then you go have a few too many drinks at a bar, meet a stranger commiserate on awful ex's, find an connection and wake up married. This is the predicament Alex and Euan find themselves in and as they try to navigate next steps, the beginning of an unexpected friendship and love story arises.

This book had me cracking up and falling in love with Alex and Euan the entire time It is a light and refreshing almost Hallmark like vibe. The way they are drawn to each other is apparent from their first meeting and how they take the time to get to know each other as they slowly and actually fall in love, while trying to annul their accidental marriage. The banter between Alex and Euan is amazing and this sweet little rom com will have you smiling - highly recommend this feel good book.

[Mia]

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review


Quick and funny, I easily read this in a single day. Two strangers, both dealing with their respective breakups, get blackout drunk and accidentally get married. Now, they must find a way to get unmarried as fast as possible whilst simultaneously falling for each other.

The entire premise is very silly, and the story never takes itself too seriously, though this does not stop the romance from feeling genuine. Their developing feeling for each other, while quick, felt real. Their dynamic was incredibly sweet the way they immediately fell into a married domestic routine, all while trying to get an annulment. The book was also quite smutty, though it was not distasteful as the scenes were well written.

This one is a good read if you're in the mood for a romance that's quick and easy to digest