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The Boys of Elmwood U #2
Double Dared
I'm not the kind of guy who turns down a dare. This is a lifestyle choice. I have committed to it fully, proudly, and without a single second thought.
So when Greg pointed across the bar at a man reading poetry alone in a black turtleneck and said "get him to agree to a date," I was halfway out of the booth before the sentence finished.
Enter film student, built like an athlete, reads like a scholar, and has clearly never once left the house without putting on a fashion show for strangers. He saw through my opening line before I finished delivering it. He said yes to the date before I could ask. He also had his own agenda entirely.
His ex had moved on faster than he was prepared for. I needed a dare to brag about. So we struck a three weeks of convincing, mutually beneficial fake dating. His ex would reconsider. My fraternity brothers would think the dare had backfired so spectacularly that I was, apparently, in love with a man.
Easy.
Except when his hand settled on the small of my back in a crowded market and my brain went somewhere it had no business going. Except when he leaned in close to say something and I forgot what language was. Except when I caught myself watching his mouth and had to physically relocate my eyes.
I never met a dare I couldn't handle. I just never expected one to handle me right back.
Double Dared is the second novel in The Boys of Elmwood U series, but it can be read as a standalone. It features one film student with a broken heart and an ill-advised theory about grand romance, one fraternity jock who has just discovered, somewhat inconveniently, that he has a type, and a fake-dating scenario that will bewilder, boggle, and befuddle its way to an accidentally happy ending.
So when Greg pointed across the bar at a man reading poetry alone in a black turtleneck and said "get him to agree to a date," I was halfway out of the booth before the sentence finished.
Enter film student, built like an athlete, reads like a scholar, and has clearly never once left the house without putting on a fashion show for strangers. He saw through my opening line before I finished delivering it. He said yes to the date before I could ask. He also had his own agenda entirely.
His ex had moved on faster than he was prepared for. I needed a dare to brag about. So we struck a three weeks of convincing, mutually beneficial fake dating. His ex would reconsider. My fraternity brothers would think the dare had backfired so spectacularly that I was, apparently, in love with a man.
Easy.
Except when his hand settled on the small of my back in a crowded market and my brain went somewhere it had no business going. Except when he leaned in close to say something and I forgot what language was. Except when I caught myself watching his mouth and had to physically relocate my eyes.
I never met a dare I couldn't handle. I just never expected one to handle me right back.
Double Dared is the second novel in The Boys of Elmwood U series, but it can be read as a standalone. It features one film student with a broken heart and an ill-advised theory about grand romance, one fraternity jock who has just discovered, somewhat inconveniently, that he has a type, and a fake-dating scenario that will bewilder, boggle, and befuddle its way to an accidentally happy ending.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2026
About the author
Hayden Hall
66 books853 followersGay. Sweet. Steamy.
Hayden Hall writes MM romance novels. He is a boyfriend, a globetrotter, and an avid romance reader.
Hayden's mission is to author a catalog of captivating and steamy MM romance novels which gather a devoted community around the Happily Ever Afters.
His stories are sweet with just the right amount of naughty.
You can get in touch with Hayden on Facebook or through his website at haydenhallwrites.com
Hayden Hall writes MM romance novels. He is a boyfriend, a globetrotter, and an avid romance reader.
Hayden's mission is to author a catalog of captivating and steamy MM romance novels which gather a devoted community around the Happily Ever Afters.
His stories are sweet with just the right amount of naughty.
You can get in touch with Hayden on Facebook or through his website at haydenhallwrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
June 20, 2026
This book is a chameleon. It didn't even really need the meat cute, it was just there to grab the reader's attention. What unfolded at approximately 50% of the book, the character development for Harrison almost a total switch to Taylor. Harrison became the enchanting sun and Taylor became the moth to his flame. Deeply sexy. A burst of romance and emotion that Hayden Hall is a master at conveying.
Happy 50th book Hayden Hall, it was a beauty. I will be here for your next 50🌈♥️✨
And the music... Still getting it on in 2026 to Pink Floyd, yes please✨
Happy 50th book Hayden Hall, it was a beauty. I will be here for your next 50🌈♥️✨
And the music... Still getting it on in 2026 to Pink Floyd, yes please✨
Did Not Finish
June 21, 2026I’m sorry but Harrison being obsessed with his ex isn’t doing it for me.
July 11, 2026
This book is a very much meh. It’s not bad, but unless you really enjoy a lot of smut it isn’t that interesting either. The start is pretty good, both guys start with the same idea: they’re just going to pretend to enjoy dating to convince others. And then of course it’s not pretending anymore. And that’s kind of all that happens. The whole Emma-thing wasn’t very interesting, I didn’t buy Harrison’s feelings. It also all felt a bit stalkerish. And showing up after her new boyfriend cheated on her? “She needs me now!” No she does not. Who needs an ex you dumped because he’s just a boring and pretentious guy to come to your doorstep right after the man you actually loved, cheated on you with your best friend? Let the poor girl alone! Especially since you already found a new love who loves your boring ass?
And Taylor just doing this dare because he needs new stories to tell? They’re college students. How can they be so uneventful? I liked his friend group a lot more in the first book.
I also didn’t really get the cabin in the woods. Why gift your college aged kid something like that close to his school when he has no idea where he’s going to live? And I felt like there was a whole sad back story of lots of money and neglect. But there wasn’t. I was hoping for some sort of misery in his childhood (because I’m horrible like that), but no… Being gay or bi was his childhood trauma (which definitely can be traumatic in its own right, but for him, it really wasn’t.)
Also goatees and mustaches on 20 year olds 🤢 Taylor loves it but it made me dislike Harrison even more, with his snobby taste (if something isn’t from before 1975, don’t even show me” - guess what guys… you’re both from a lot later than that. And as someone actually born in 1975, I know that era wasn’t all that when it comes to fashion or furniture 🤣)
And then the last part of the book is just A LOT OF sex.
Anyway, I’ve read a lot worse books, but a lot better as well. Definitely not worth rereading for me, but I guess it can be an entertaining book for people who just start reading mm romances.
And Taylor just doing this dare because he needs new stories to tell? They’re college students. How can they be so uneventful? I liked his friend group a lot more in the first book.
I also didn’t really get the cabin in the woods. Why gift your college aged kid something like that close to his school when he has no idea where he’s going to live? And I felt like there was a whole sad back story of lots of money and neglect. But there wasn’t. I was hoping for some sort of misery in his childhood (because I’m horrible like that), but no… Being gay or bi was his childhood trauma (which definitely can be traumatic in its own right, but for him, it really wasn’t.)
Also goatees and mustaches on 20 year olds 🤢 Taylor loves it but it made me dislike Harrison even more, with his snobby taste (if something isn’t from before 1975, don’t even show me” - guess what guys… you’re both from a lot later than that. And as someone actually born in 1975, I know that era wasn’t all that when it comes to fashion or furniture 🤣)
And then the last part of the book is just A LOT OF sex.
Anyway, I’ve read a lot worse books, but a lot better as well. Definitely not worth rereading for me, but I guess it can be an entertaining book for people who just start reading mm romances.
June 30, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
This is the second book in the Boys of Elmwood U series, but is easily read as a standalone. In fact, it feels so disconnected from the first book — or even from the idea of either of the characters being college students — that I honestly thought this book was part of a different series. If it wasn’t for Peanut, the frat’s dog, I would have had no idea. The two characters spent almost the whole time with one another, in and out of bed, with no real connection to the world around them. And with the fake dating trope and the “dare” shoehorned in, the whole setup felt messy and manufactured.
It’s just that the story around the romance is so heavy handed, especially the initial setup. And the surrounding world of friends, fraternity, and fellow college students is so invisible. It felt like the whole story took place in an empty gray box, only to occasionally move to the bedroom now and then. But if you’re looking for a low angst college romance for a quick, light read, this is that book.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3 stars
This is the second book in the Boys of Elmwood U series, but is easily read as a standalone. In fact, it feels so disconnected from the first book — or even from the idea of either of the characters being college students — that I honestly thought this book was part of a different series. If it wasn’t for Peanut, the frat’s dog, I would have had no idea. The two characters spent almost the whole time with one another, in and out of bed, with no real connection to the world around them. And with the fake dating trope and the “dare” shoehorned in, the whole setup felt messy and manufactured.
It’s just that the story around the romance is so heavy handed, especially the initial setup. And the surrounding world of friends, fraternity, and fellow college students is so invisible. It felt like the whole story took place in an empty gray box, only to occasionally move to the bedroom now and then. But if you’re looking for a low angst college romance for a quick, light read, this is that book.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
July 13, 2026
2.5⭐️
Kinda boring and I don’t like the fact for a big part of the book Harrison wanted his ex back and was still in love with her. Loved Taylor tho.
Kinda boring and I don’t like the fact for a big part of the book Harrison wanted his ex back and was still in love with her. Loved Taylor tho.
dnf-2026
June 23, 2026I’m sorry I just can’t get behind a goatee being sexy on a 23 year old
June 16, 2026
‼️SPOILERS‼️
When it comes to Hayden’s style of writing, he always knows how to make you want more even when the book is over. I always know his books are low angst and they are everything I need.
I knew I was going to have a good time when Taylor gets dared by his friends to get Harrison’s number but oh my, it’s so much more. What makes it even more interesting was how the date turned into something more when Harrison had an offer for him as well.
When Taylor was willing to give Harrison up because Emma was now single, my goodness, my heart about melted. This man had fallen for Harrison and just wanted him to be happy. If that’s not love, then I don’t know what is. What came afterwards was the best thing in my opinion. Their happily ever after was everything and then some because the love these two have for each other was so stinking beautiful.
Also, I really loved how Jason was really there for Taylor because he truly was the voice of reason. And Peanut is so adorable as usual.
I loved how this fake dating arrangement becomes so much more because they can’t help but wanting to spend time with one another along. Little did they know feelings would be involved.
I’m also a huge lover of a biawakening and these two had me wanting more. From the amazing spice, which Hayden does an amazing job by making it so steamy, from the swooning moments, this book eager for the next page.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
When it comes to Hayden’s style of writing, he always knows how to make you want more even when the book is over. I always know his books are low angst and they are everything I need.
I knew I was going to have a good time when Taylor gets dared by his friends to get Harrison’s number but oh my, it’s so much more. What makes it even more interesting was how the date turned into something more when Harrison had an offer for him as well.
When Taylor was willing to give Harrison up because Emma was now single, my goodness, my heart about melted. This man had fallen for Harrison and just wanted him to be happy. If that’s not love, then I don’t know what is. What came afterwards was the best thing in my opinion. Their happily ever after was everything and then some because the love these two have for each other was so stinking beautiful.
Also, I really loved how Jason was really there for Taylor because he truly was the voice of reason. And Peanut is so adorable as usual.
I loved how this fake dating arrangement becomes so much more because they can’t help but wanting to spend time with one another along. Little did they know feelings would be involved.
I’m also a huge lover of a biawakening and these two had me wanting more. From the amazing spice, which Hayden does an amazing job by making it so steamy, from the swooning moments, this book eager for the next page.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
June 22, 2026
”He would carry that thought for the rest of the day, and it did things to me that I didn't know how to put into words. So I kissed him, because that was the language I still remembered.”
So, I’ve read a lot of Hayden Hall books before and that includes the first book in this series. Hayden’s hockey series is one of best mm hockey series out there in my opinion. But there was something about this book that was so irresistible, like so intriguing and good. I’ve been in a reading slump for the past couple of months, but reading this book reminded me why I love and enjoy reading in the first place. I don’t know if it’s because I love Taylor and Harrison, the found family, my favorite character peanut, or just the mix of it all that makes this book amazing. I went into this not knowing what to expect and from the very beginning I was intrigued with Taylor and how him and Harrison are going to grow into a couple. I loved when Taylor first kissed Harrison not knowing that he wanted to do it outside the dare and getting to see Harrison get jealous over the smallest things not knowing that Taylor is completely infatuated with him. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone looking for a light college romance between two people who blindly in love with each other for the first glance.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
So, I’ve read a lot of Hayden Hall books before and that includes the first book in this series. Hayden’s hockey series is one of best mm hockey series out there in my opinion. But there was something about this book that was so irresistible, like so intriguing and good. I’ve been in a reading slump for the past couple of months, but reading this book reminded me why I love and enjoy reading in the first place. I don’t know if it’s because I love Taylor and Harrison, the found family, my favorite character peanut, or just the mix of it all that makes this book amazing. I went into this not knowing what to expect and from the very beginning I was intrigued with Taylor and how him and Harrison are going to grow into a couple. I loved when Taylor first kissed Harrison not knowing that he wanted to do it outside the dare and getting to see Harrison get jealous over the smallest things not knowing that Taylor is completely infatuated with him. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone looking for a light college romance between two people who blindly in love with each other for the first glance.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
June 21, 2026
Thank you GRR for the arc!
This was such a cute read 😍
The perfect mix of swoony yearning and romance with steam!
I really loved the journey and how it kept switching with the characters in terms of their development.
Initially, Taylor is the focus and you learn about him. He's showing up for Harrison, supporting him and being the best fake boyfriend ever.
He's confident, happy go lucky and just improvising life as he goes along.
Harrison seems to be stuck in a rut, and Taylor is the perfect one to give him a little push, and when he's back on his own two feet, he's able to help Taylor.
I really loved how dazzling Harrison was as a character. He really loves deeply and genuinely. Inviting Taylor into his life and the two get to know each other.
Both of the guys really grow and I love their strong connection 🥺 plus that epilogue??? My heart!! Ahh
This was such a cute read 😍
The perfect mix of swoony yearning and romance with steam!
I really loved the journey and how it kept switching with the characters in terms of their development.
Initially, Taylor is the focus and you learn about him. He's showing up for Harrison, supporting him and being the best fake boyfriend ever.
He's confident, happy go lucky and just improvising life as he goes along.
Harrison seems to be stuck in a rut, and Taylor is the perfect one to give him a little push, and when he's back on his own two feet, he's able to help Taylor.
I really loved how dazzling Harrison was as a character. He really loves deeply and genuinely. Inviting Taylor into his life and the two get to know each other.
Both of the guys really grow and I love their strong connection 🥺 plus that epilogue??? My heart!! Ahh
June 20, 2026
Very cute couple, they are very steamy together.
All taylor's friends come aboard to give a little help...and boy, Taylor really needs some pushing, but so does Harrison
Can't wait for the next book
All taylor's friends come aboard to give a little help...and boy, Taylor really needs some pushing, but so does Harrison
Can't wait for the next book
August 1, 2026
This was just..no. The writing and the characters did not mesh, the dialogue was awkward and stilted; I suppose that was accurate for how stupid 23 year old boys are, but then you get a bunch of prose thrown in and..just..no..
June 20, 2026
Unfortunately, this one just didn't hit for me. Their relationship didn't really evolve so much as take a quantum leap straight to love, which, when the relationship involves a bisexual awakening, just felt really unrealistic. After that, I found it hard to really be invested in them as a couple because Instalove is really not my jam. I really liked the first book in this series and I will for sure continue with the series, but this one just didn't tickle my fancy. Good for if you're looking for a very low angst story though!
***
I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
***
I was provided with an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Double Dared by Hayden Hall is the second book in his The Boys of Elmwood U series. I suggest you read the other book first as characters from it are important in this one. Harrison is a film student at Elmwood U and his girlfriend, Emma, has just broken up with him. He can’t believe it and is willing to do anything he can to make her come back to him. Taylor Jackson, a member of the football team and also in Bel House fraternity is a well-liked friend and student and known to be a prankster who never turns down a dare. When they are at a bar on campus his friends dare him to go to a random guy and get him to go on a date, which is even more interesting because Tayler is straight. So he heads over to Harrison and asks him if he’d like to meet for coffee the next day and he agrees right away because even though he suspects this is a prank and that Taylor isn’t into men, he can use him as a way to make Emma jealous and come back to him. When Taylor hears this, he is all in, especially because it will make him look like he won the dare and since it is going to go on for 3 weeks it will make his friends, Jason, Bennet, Greg, and Finn think they are a secret couple. So they start going to places together that Harrison thinks Emma might show up to, including an arts and crafts fair where Harrison gives him a ceramic stork, an outdoor reading picnic, working out together, and an exhibition on German Expressionism. All this time they are getting to know each other better and learn they both have a love of records and music and are seeing the real people they are. Taylor seems to understand Harrison in a way no one else ever has and Taylor finds Harrison safe and comfortable. They almost stop what they are doing when Taylor questions why Harrison isn’t trying to move on when he knows what they are doing may not work, but Harrison has a nice friendship with Taylor and apologizes for his actions and says he overreacted and appreciates his help. Taylor has not been into men before but he finds himself attracted to Harrison and is jealous when he sees Emma coming to talk to him at the exhibition and kisses him. Emma texts to see Harrison and when they meet he asks her to try one more time but Emma tells him that she can’t match his drive and leaves. Taylor is there for him and asks him to go to the frat cookout and after it’s over they go back to Taylor’s room and have a hot love scene. This is a first for Taylor but he’s very willing because he feels the pull and an attraction to Harrison and knows they have chemistry. Then they go to Harrison’s cabin 3 hours away and have an amazing time and Taylor learns how to be with a man and they realize they are a complete whole made of even halves. But then something happens with Emma that makes Taylor think she may get back with Harrison. But during all this time Harrison has fallen in love with Taylor and when he meets him at the solar eclipse he tells him and Taylor says he loves him too. The epilogue shows all the things they have done together during the next several years and that they are still very much in love. I really enjoyed this book. Taylor is so funny and kind and says what is on his mind. Everyone likes him and he is also a caretaker of his friends. Harrison was devastated when Emma left him and wanted to do whatever he could to get her to come back to him. Taylor’s dare proposition made him think he could do it but the more they were together they more they felt the attraction and liked each other and while it took a little while, Harrison realized that it was Taylor that made him happy and understood him, while Taylor was worried he still wanted Emma and was so relieved when Harrison admitted that it was Taylor he wanted. Throughout the story you could see what a good fit for each other they were and how much they enjoyed being together. Emma and Taylor’s friends played a big part in the story and the different settings like the cabin made the story even more beautiful. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories that involve dares, a straight guy who realizes he isn’t quite straight, another that is trying to win back his girl but ends up falling in love with the man who he’s dared to date, and how they are able to come together and build a wonderful life.
June 24, 2026
Double Dared by Hayden Hall
The Boys of Elmwood U #2
Length: 332 pages
Source: Gay Romance Reviews
Publication date: June 18, 2026
4 ⭐
3.5 🌶️
WHAT TO EXPECT
Dating on a dare
Fake relationship
Strangers to friends to lovers
Sexual awakening
Slow burn
Low angst
Guaranteed HEA
AUTHORS' BLURB
I'm not the kind of guy who turns down a dare. This is a lifestyle choice. I have committed to it fully, proudly, and without a single second thought.
So when Greg pointed across the bar at a man reading poetry alone in a black turtleneck and said "get him to agree to a date," I was halfway out of the booth before the sentence finished.
Enter Harrison: film student, built like an athlete, reads like a scholar, and has clearly never once left the house without putting on a fashion show for strangers. He saw through my opening line before I finished delivering it. He said yes to the date before I could ask. He also had his own agenda entirely.
His ex had moved on faster than he was prepared for. I needed a dare to brag about. So we struck a deal: three weeks of convincing, mutually beneficial fake dating. His ex would reconsider. My fraternity brothers would think the dare had backfired so spectacularly that I was, apparently, in love with a man.
Easy.
Except when his hand settled on the small of my back in a crowded market and my brain went somewhere it had no business going. Except when he leaned in close to say something and I forgot what language was. Except when I caught myself watching his mouth and had to physically relocate my eyes.
I never met a dare I couldn't handle. I just never expected one to handle me right back.
MY THOUGHTS
It took me a long time to get into this book, and I'm still not sure why. I think Harrison and Taylor come across as very different from most Hayden Hall characters. To me, they both felt older than college-aged men, which meant they acted and spoke less like I would expect of two men this age. The dichotomy was a bit much for me to overcome for about 40% of the book.
At that point, I finally felt like I was able to begin to appreciate this book for itself instead of wondering why it reads so differently from what I expected. Taylor is practically pure joy, and I like seeing his journey from jokey, frat-bro guy to a more mature, settled man without losing the playfulness that attracted Harrison in the first place. Harrison is old-world romantic, seeming like he's absolutely from another time in terms of both the way he thinks and the way he presents himself to the world. Their banter is centered a lot around their similar interests (especially music), and they play off of each other very naturally.
BOTTOM LINE
I enjoyed this read. It's well-written, as I always expect with one of Hall's books, and I finished able to appreciate this as a low-angst, kind-of-dreamy romance from an author who often sends me straight for the Kleenex box.
–A🩷
Thanks to GRR and Hayden Hall for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, BlueSky, BookBub, and Fable.
The Boys of Elmwood U #2
Length: 332 pages
Source: Gay Romance Reviews
Publication date: June 18, 2026
4 ⭐
3.5 🌶️
WHAT TO EXPECT
Dating on a dare
Fake relationship
Strangers to friends to lovers
Sexual awakening
Slow burn
Low angst
Guaranteed HEA
AUTHORS' BLURB
I'm not the kind of guy who turns down a dare. This is a lifestyle choice. I have committed to it fully, proudly, and without a single second thought.
So when Greg pointed across the bar at a man reading poetry alone in a black turtleneck and said "get him to agree to a date," I was halfway out of the booth before the sentence finished.
Enter Harrison: film student, built like an athlete, reads like a scholar, and has clearly never once left the house without putting on a fashion show for strangers. He saw through my opening line before I finished delivering it. He said yes to the date before I could ask. He also had his own agenda entirely.
His ex had moved on faster than he was prepared for. I needed a dare to brag about. So we struck a deal: three weeks of convincing, mutually beneficial fake dating. His ex would reconsider. My fraternity brothers would think the dare had backfired so spectacularly that I was, apparently, in love with a man.
Easy.
Except when his hand settled on the small of my back in a crowded market and my brain went somewhere it had no business going. Except when he leaned in close to say something and I forgot what language was. Except when I caught myself watching his mouth and had to physically relocate my eyes.
I never met a dare I couldn't handle. I just never expected one to handle me right back.
MY THOUGHTS
It took me a long time to get into this book, and I'm still not sure why. I think Harrison and Taylor come across as very different from most Hayden Hall characters. To me, they both felt older than college-aged men, which meant they acted and spoke less like I would expect of two men this age. The dichotomy was a bit much for me to overcome for about 40% of the book.
At that point, I finally felt like I was able to begin to appreciate this book for itself instead of wondering why it reads so differently from what I expected. Taylor is practically pure joy, and I like seeing his journey from jokey, frat-bro guy to a more mature, settled man without losing the playfulness that attracted Harrison in the first place. Harrison is old-world romantic, seeming like he's absolutely from another time in terms of both the way he thinks and the way he presents himself to the world. Their banter is centered a lot around their similar interests (especially music), and they play off of each other very naturally.
BOTTOM LINE
I enjoyed this read. It's well-written, as I always expect with one of Hall's books, and I finished able to appreciate this as a low-angst, kind-of-dreamy romance from an author who often sends me straight for the Kleenex box.
–A🩷
Thanks to GRR and Hayden Hall for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, BlueSky, BookBub, and Fable.
Review of advance copy
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
I need Hayden Hall to just focus on this series for his next 50 books, because I am CRAZY IN LOVE WITH THE WAY The Boys of Elmwood U DO THEIR LOVE THING AND I NEVER EVER WANT THIS SERIES TO END!!!
Double Dared was not only ROMANTIC, but Harrison and Taylor's SUPER HOT sexing-up melted my bones with the way they went at each other with a voracious, lick-him-all-over hunger. It's imperative that everyone know that THIS BOOK activated my "oooh gurl😼" chakra like it was sexy-sleeper agent coded❤️🔥🤠.
It was like their bodies always KNEW that they were forever, even before they'd said as much out loud. And because this romance was practically made for me, I have to give props to Hayden Hall's ability to make my toes curl just from reading alone.
💘Harrison and Taylor did kick things off like a couple of college-boi-complicated goofs. But them choosing to date on a dare was like cupid's power move in action, which sparked new energy into how they'd both experienced love and passion, and made their situationship fun and uniquely theirs…ofc I mean AFTER their initial "gfy-fake-relationship + make-ex-jealous" contract was ditched.
Harrison made my e v e r y t h i n g fluttery. And Taylor was a total babe who lived for a wild adventure, so naturally he said YES to everything Harrison gave him. Taylor radiated the wattage of a thousand suns and Harrison was properly captivated by his sultry boogie.
📽️They were such a sexy, delightful couple to read, and this series is honestly making me Crazy, by how sensual and romantic and charismatic and TRUE to the characterizations of the MCs it has been! Harrison and Taylor were wholly interesting as people, and their sexy desperation for each other felt like it came from genuine, emotionally rooted heart-spaces.
And I just could. not. get. enough. of. them discovering love,
in each other,
from a place of easy,
luscious,
fizzy-bubbles type of joy!🥂
💓THEIR HEA WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED IT TO BE!
It was a stunning unfolding of time, and a beautiful energetic capture of the evolution of their love vibration, which I knew was going to make me cry rivers of tears when their happily ever after landed.
YESSSSSSSSSS I'm still teary eyed from how deeply and emotionally impactful I found Double Dared's final pages, and I absolutely cannot wait for everything still to come because this was BRILLIANT and I want more of everything this was in my life rn please and thank youuuu!🙂↕️
I need Hayden Hall to just focus on this series for his next 50 books, because I am CRAZY IN LOVE WITH THE WAY The Boys of Elmwood U DO THEIR LOVE THING AND I NEVER EVER WANT THIS SERIES TO END!!!
Double Dared was not only ROMANTIC, but Harrison and Taylor's SUPER HOT sexing-up melted my bones with the way they went at each other with a voracious, lick-him-all-over hunger. It's imperative that everyone know that THIS BOOK activated my "oooh gurl😼" chakra like it was sexy-sleeper agent coded❤️🔥🤠.
It was like their bodies always KNEW that they were forever, even before they'd said as much out loud. And because this romance was practically made for me, I have to give props to Hayden Hall's ability to make my toes curl just from reading alone.
💘Harrison and Taylor did kick things off like a couple of college-boi-complicated goofs. But them choosing to date on a dare was like cupid's power move in action, which sparked new energy into how they'd both experienced love and passion, and made their situationship fun and uniquely theirs…ofc I mean AFTER their initial "gfy-fake-relationship + make-ex-jealous" contract was ditched.
Harrison made my e v e r y t h i n g fluttery. And Taylor was a total babe who lived for a wild adventure, so naturally he said YES to everything Harrison gave him. Taylor radiated the wattage of a thousand suns and Harrison was properly captivated by his sultry boogie.
📽️They were such a sexy, delightful couple to read, and this series is honestly making me Crazy, by how sensual and romantic and charismatic and TRUE to the characterizations of the MCs it has been! Harrison and Taylor were wholly interesting as people, and their sexy desperation for each other felt like it came from genuine, emotionally rooted heart-spaces.
And I just could. not. get. enough. of. them discovering love,
in each other,
from a place of easy,
luscious,
fizzy-bubbles type of joy!🥂
💓THEIR HEA WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED IT TO BE!
It was a stunning unfolding of time, and a beautiful energetic capture of the evolution of their love vibration, which I knew was going to make me cry rivers of tears when their happily ever after landed.
YESSSSSSSSSS I'm still teary eyed from how deeply and emotionally impactful I found Double Dared's final pages, and I absolutely cannot wait for everything still to come because this was BRILLIANT and I want more of everything this was in my life rn please and thank youuuu!🙂↕️
July 30, 2026
It genuinely pains me to say this because Hayden Hall is usually an automatic read for me... but this one just wasn't it.
This book has a full-on identity crisis. It felt like I was reading two completely different novels stitched together with lube and wishful thinking.
One was shallow, performative, and had me wondering if I accidentally opened the wrong book. The other? Pure Hayden Hall goodness. The chemistry between Harrison and Taylor? Electric. The smut? Absolutely feral. The kind that makes you forget your own name for a minute. That's the Hayden Hall special I keep coming back for.
Unfortunately... getting there felt like driving over speed bumps for 200 pages.
Can someone explain Emma to me? Because I finished the book and I still couldn't tell you what her problem was. If this were an exam and the question was *"Why did the breakup happen?"* I'd leave the page blank and still pass with more confidence than this book gave me.
The way she acted toward Harrison gave me the weirdest vibes. Maybe we're supposed to see her through Harrison's idealized version of her before reality slaps him in the face. Maybe that's brilliant. Maybe I'm giving the book way too much credit. Either way, she isn't even on-page that much, yet somehow managed to become my biggest source of confusion.
Taylor also deserved more emotional build-up. Give me longing. Give me denial. Give me a man internally screaming, *"Why do I suddenly care so much about this idiot?"* Instead, we basically went from Point A to Point Boyfriend, and I was left checking if I'd accidentally skipped a chapter.
Then there's Harrison.
Why did this man sound like every pretentious douchebag who discovered indie coffee shops in 1997? He eventually grew on me, but he spent a good chunk of the book sounding like he'd explain vinyl records to people who didn't ask.
And don't even get me started on the ending.
HE WENT TO EMMA.
AGAIN.
Fucking Emma.
The entire time I was chanting, "Abort mission. Turn around. Trip over a curb. Get abducted by aliens. Literally anything." But no. We committed to the bit.
Even knowing he wasn't in love with her didn't make it any less frustrating. It just made me sigh dramatically.
So yes, I deducted points.
The smut?
Five stars. No notes. Hayden Hall could write two men making eye contact over expired milk and somehow make it the hottest thing I've read all week.
This book has a full-on identity crisis. It felt like I was reading two completely different novels stitched together with lube and wishful thinking.
One was shallow, performative, and had me wondering if I accidentally opened the wrong book. The other? Pure Hayden Hall goodness. The chemistry between Harrison and Taylor? Electric. The smut? Absolutely feral. The kind that makes you forget your own name for a minute. That's the Hayden Hall special I keep coming back for.
Unfortunately... getting there felt like driving over speed bumps for 200 pages.
Can someone explain Emma to me? Because I finished the book and I still couldn't tell you what her problem was. If this were an exam and the question was *"Why did the breakup happen?"* I'd leave the page blank and still pass with more confidence than this book gave me.
The way she acted toward Harrison gave me the weirdest vibes. Maybe we're supposed to see her through Harrison's idealized version of her before reality slaps him in the face. Maybe that's brilliant. Maybe I'm giving the book way too much credit. Either way, she isn't even on-page that much, yet somehow managed to become my biggest source of confusion.
Taylor also deserved more emotional build-up. Give me longing. Give me denial. Give me a man internally screaming, *"Why do I suddenly care so much about this idiot?"* Instead, we basically went from Point A to Point Boyfriend, and I was left checking if I'd accidentally skipped a chapter.
Then there's Harrison.
Why did this man sound like every pretentious douchebag who discovered indie coffee shops in 1997? He eventually grew on me, but he spent a good chunk of the book sounding like he'd explain vinyl records to people who didn't ask.
And don't even get me started on the ending.
HE WENT TO EMMA.
AGAIN.
Fucking Emma.
The entire time I was chanting, "Abort mission. Turn around. Trip over a curb. Get abducted by aliens. Literally anything." But no. We committed to the bit.
Even knowing he wasn't in love with her didn't make it any less frustrating. It just made me sigh dramatically.
So yes, I deducted points.
The smut?
Five stars. No notes. Hayden Hall could write two men making eye contact over expired milk and somehow make it the hottest thing I've read all week.
June 19, 2026
Oh how I love this series and these characters (and Peanut, of course)! These guys are nothing like your typical university frat boys, or the geek boys they find themselves drawn to. This story, this series, reminds us not to stereotype, to remember honesty is always the best course of action and that dares are definitely worth taking!
Taylor is the one who takes the dare, Harrison the one who accepts it. They each have their own reason which, for Taylor, is simply that he never turns down a dare but for Harrison is more complicated. He wants to make his ex girlfriend jealous by showing that he too can move on. What neither of them count on is the other, is realising what an interesting person the other is. There is something held-back about Harrison whilst Taylor is his complete opposite, he talks, he bounces about, he shares, he smiles. Taylor loosens something in Harrison which the other man didn't realise needed to be done. It is beautiful to see this gradually happen through the pages of the story. Then there is Taylor who is learning things about himself which he had never before considered and, being Taylor he doens' overthink anything, simply goes with the flow.
Taking the journey with these two was addictive and also a privilege. They both have so much to offer, to one another, to their friends, to the reader and we need to give their story the time and space it gives us. There is little angst, as is usual with Hayden Hall's stories and that too is perfect, there is of course tension but this is life he is writing about, yes, I know it's fiction but honestly is it - are we not all learning from these two, sharing in their life for a brief time, taking the messages to heart?
I adore Hayden Hall's sweet and steamy stories, I am in love with these Elmwood boys and I can't wait to see where we will all go next - and I mean that literally since the characters from Book 1 were still very much a part of this story too, something I loved.
Taylor is the one who takes the dare, Harrison the one who accepts it. They each have their own reason which, for Taylor, is simply that he never turns down a dare but for Harrison is more complicated. He wants to make his ex girlfriend jealous by showing that he too can move on. What neither of them count on is the other, is realising what an interesting person the other is. There is something held-back about Harrison whilst Taylor is his complete opposite, he talks, he bounces about, he shares, he smiles. Taylor loosens something in Harrison which the other man didn't realise needed to be done. It is beautiful to see this gradually happen through the pages of the story. Then there is Taylor who is learning things about himself which he had never before considered and, being Taylor he doens' overthink anything, simply goes with the flow.
Taking the journey with these two was addictive and also a privilege. They both have so much to offer, to one another, to their friends, to the reader and we need to give their story the time and space it gives us. There is little angst, as is usual with Hayden Hall's stories and that too is perfect, there is of course tension but this is life he is writing about, yes, I know it's fiction but honestly is it - are we not all learning from these two, sharing in their life for a brief time, taking the messages to heart?
I adore Hayden Hall's sweet and steamy stories, I am in love with these Elmwood boys and I can't wait to see where we will all go next - and I mean that literally since the characters from Book 1 were still very much a part of this story too, something I loved.
June 20, 2026
I adored this book. I loved both Harrison and Taylor, they spoke to me with their unusual meeting, the initial agreement and plan, the realization they had more in common than they expected, and the quiet and natural evolution into something so special, an awakening for Taylor, a realization for Harrison, and an attraction and dare that turned into a lasting love. I enjoyed their quiet times together, the way Taylor seemed to get things about Harrison which he didn’t expect, their exploration and changing feelings, the communication and care for each other and what each wanted, and Taylor’s offer to give Harrison what he thought he wanted, only for both to realize what was really important. It is a joyful, thoughtful, introspective, playful, serious, sexual and sensual portrayal of a loving relationship developing slowly and carefully over time, one with a goal which slowly changed for both into something they thought would have an ending date, (even though reluctant at the thought of letting go), but willing to do what would be required when the time came to choose the other over himself. My feelings mirrored theirs many times as I read.
In the acknowledgements at the end of the book, Hayden said two things which really resonated with me and the book.
“The purpose of a romantic story is as simple as this: let yourself be happy for a little while.”
and
“It may seem like the world is not a very joyful place, but it would be a lot worse if we lost the glimmer of optimism. And knowing this, I set out to pour all my optimism into one little tale of dares and love and simmering lust.”
I think he succeeded in a spectacular way, and I find myself smiling as I think back over the tale of these two men, opposites in many ways, but exactly the person each needed to face the future together . If you choose to read it, I hope you will think that, too.
In the acknowledgements at the end of the book, Hayden said two things which really resonated with me and the book.
“The purpose of a romantic story is as simple as this: let yourself be happy for a little while.”
and
“It may seem like the world is not a very joyful place, but it would be a lot worse if we lost the glimmer of optimism. And knowing this, I set out to pour all my optimism into one little tale of dares and love and simmering lust.”
I think he succeeded in a spectacular way, and I find myself smiling as I think back over the tale of these two men, opposites in many ways, but exactly the person each needed to face the future together . If you choose to read it, I hope you will think that, too.
June 23, 2026
Hayden Hall has quickly become one of my favorite authors. His stories are always so inspiring and full of love. This one was no exception.
I loved that everything started with a dare. Taylor was never the type to back down from one, he just never expected for that dare to change his life so spectacularly. He never imagined that by going through with it, he’d find the love of his.
The moment Harrison saw Taylor approach his table, he knew he’d say yes to whatever Taylor offered. Even though he was nursing a broken a heart, he couldn’t deny that Taylor was absolutely beautiful.
He figured they could both use each other to accomplish the same thing. Harrison would make his ex jealous enough to come back to him and Taylor would win against his friends.
Only, Harrison wasn’t counting on the fact that Taylor was exactly the type of partner he wanted. His carefree personality and spontaneity were exactly the things he yearned to have in a relationship.
The more time they spent together, the more the dare took a back seat. Harrison forgot why he even wanted to continue with a silly plan that only made him see he never really wanted his ex back. Taylor had become the one he wanted to keep.
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈,” 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. “𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐 𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
I have so many favorite parts in this book, but I think the epilogue was my most favorite. I love how their relationship evolved into such a beautiful partnership. They really made each other happy. And to think it all started with a dare🥰
I loved that everything started with a dare. Taylor was never the type to back down from one, he just never expected for that dare to change his life so spectacularly. He never imagined that by going through with it, he’d find the love of his.
The moment Harrison saw Taylor approach his table, he knew he’d say yes to whatever Taylor offered. Even though he was nursing a broken a heart, he couldn’t deny that Taylor was absolutely beautiful.
He figured they could both use each other to accomplish the same thing. Harrison would make his ex jealous enough to come back to him and Taylor would win against his friends.
Only, Harrison wasn’t counting on the fact that Taylor was exactly the type of partner he wanted. His carefree personality and spontaneity were exactly the things he yearned to have in a relationship.
The more time they spent together, the more the dare took a back seat. Harrison forgot why he even wanted to continue with a silly plan that only made him see he never really wanted his ex back. Taylor had become the one he wanted to keep.
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈,” 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. “𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐 𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
I have so many favorite parts in this book, but I think the epilogue was my most favorite. I love how their relationship evolved into such a beautiful partnership. They really made each other happy. And to think it all started with a dare🥰
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a free advance copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.
Taylor is a straight student who cannot turn down a dare. Harrison is a bi film student who enjoys reading wherever he may be. One evening, Taylor is out for a beer with his housemates and is dared to approach Harrison to ask him out on a date. Harrison, who has just been dumped by his girlfriend, agrees before Taylor has even finished his pitch since he wants to make his ex jealous so that she’ll want to get back with him. Harrison does his best stalker imitation while trying to be with Taylor at all the places he figures where the ex is likely to show up. Of course, feelings rapidly get involved and the book becomes quite steamy. Both have experienced poor parenting as kids.
This book is quite well-written. The emotions the two MCs go through are very properly described in the first-person POV. Since the plot is aired at the beginning, no-one can have ulterior motives, that is until they develop feelings that neither is willing to name. As is often the case, they quickly get wrapped up in each other and spend a great deal of time together. Each is a considerate lover vis-à-vis the other. The speed with which feelings become involved on the part of the “straight” guy might appear rather fast, I personally know that things can happen that way. I suspect that Taylor’s willingness to deal with gay sex is a bit fast, but it’s important for the story. Taylor is abetted by his housemates, particularly his best friend Jason. Harrison doesn’t appear to have many friends, so he’s left mostly on his own to sort through things. There are no real bad guys in this book (notwithstanding Emma’s new boyfriend Michael’s brief appearance) and that contribution helps make this book a really good read.
Taylor is a straight student who cannot turn down a dare. Harrison is a bi film student who enjoys reading wherever he may be. One evening, Taylor is out for a beer with his housemates and is dared to approach Harrison to ask him out on a date. Harrison, who has just been dumped by his girlfriend, agrees before Taylor has even finished his pitch since he wants to make his ex jealous so that she’ll want to get back with him. Harrison does his best stalker imitation while trying to be with Taylor at all the places he figures where the ex is likely to show up. Of course, feelings rapidly get involved and the book becomes quite steamy. Both have experienced poor parenting as kids.
This book is quite well-written. The emotions the two MCs go through are very properly described in the first-person POV. Since the plot is aired at the beginning, no-one can have ulterior motives, that is until they develop feelings that neither is willing to name. As is often the case, they quickly get wrapped up in each other and spend a great deal of time together. Each is a considerate lover vis-à-vis the other. The speed with which feelings become involved on the part of the “straight” guy might appear rather fast, I personally know that things can happen that way. I suspect that Taylor’s willingness to deal with gay sex is a bit fast, but it’s important for the story. Taylor is abetted by his housemates, particularly his best friend Jason. Harrison doesn’t appear to have many friends, so he’s left mostly on his own to sort through things. There are no real bad guys in this book (notwithstanding Emma’s new boyfriend Michael’s brief appearance) and that contribution helps make this book a really good read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"𝙸'𝚍 𝚖𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚊𝚣𝚎 𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝; 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎; 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚝 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚛 𝚜𝚘 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚠𝚎'𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚡."
This book was a bit different from what I have come to expect from this author. The romance just felt like more, for lack of a better word. It was the major focus of the story. Watching Tyler and Harrison start off as strangers, ones who agreed to date on a dare for their own personal reasons, slowly start to find themselves in an unexpected friendship was lovely. They seemed so different from one another at first, yet as they got to know each other it appeared they had more in common than they thought. Both were just two people looking for someone to love them exactly as they are.
The more Harrison and Taylor spent time together, the more comfortable they became. And then somewhere along the way things began to change. One kiss was all it took for Taylor to open his eyes to the possibility of more. Harrison, though still healing from a broken heart, was all too happy to bask in the sweetness of Taylor's attention. We get to see them both fall, while also simultaneously being terrified to tell the other.
"𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖."
This was a darling romance that ended with my favorite type of epilogue. It spans years, giving us adorable glimpses into Harrison and Taylor as they grow as a couple. The epilogue totally warmed my heart while reading and had me ending this book with a satisfied smile on my face.
This book was a bit different from what I have come to expect from this author. The romance just felt like more, for lack of a better word. It was the major focus of the story. Watching Tyler and Harrison start off as strangers, ones who agreed to date on a dare for their own personal reasons, slowly start to find themselves in an unexpected friendship was lovely. They seemed so different from one another at first, yet as they got to know each other it appeared they had more in common than they thought. Both were just two people looking for someone to love them exactly as they are.
The more Harrison and Taylor spent time together, the more comfortable they became. And then somewhere along the way things began to change. One kiss was all it took for Taylor to open his eyes to the possibility of more. Harrison, though still healing from a broken heart, was all too happy to bask in the sweetness of Taylor's attention. We get to see them both fall, while also simultaneously being terrified to tell the other.
"𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖."
This was a darling romance that ended with my favorite type of epilogue. It spans years, giving us adorable glimpses into Harrison and Taylor as they grow as a couple. The epilogue totally warmed my heart while reading and had me ending this book with a satisfied smile on my face.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Double Dared is book two in the Elmwood U series by Hayden Hall. The story is a low-angst, sweet story with a lovable frat boy and a surprisingly buff looking film student. It has a dare (what could possibly go wrong?), a bi-awakening, some fake-dating, and lots of swoony moments,
Taylor loves a dare. He loves telling a good story. He loves being in the middle of things. He may be straight, but when his buddies dare him to ask the moody looking guy reading a book in the corner on a date, he doesn’t hesitate.
Harrison knows that the guy coming over is doing so on a dare, but he has his own agenda. He has just broken up with his girlfriend, and all he wants to do is convince her that she has made a mistake. But maybe, the mistake is underestimating his draw to Taylor.
These two have far more in common than they originally believed. And what starts as some fake dates around town to catch the eye of Emma quickly turns into both guys wanting to keep the other around. I loved reading the evolution from friendship to feelings. I especially loved how well Taylor handled the new things he was feeling. Their chemistry was perfection from beginning to end. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of emotional depth these characters exhibited. While the story was sweet and romantic, it also tugged at my heartstrings to watch the two of them become so close, to care so much for one another in such a short period of time.
As always, Hall finishes the story up with a fabulous epilogue. It is wonderful to see the characters in the future, together and happy. And I loved the Hudson Burrow mention.
Taylor loves a dare. He loves telling a good story. He loves being in the middle of things. He may be straight, but when his buddies dare him to ask the moody looking guy reading a book in the corner on a date, he doesn’t hesitate.
Harrison knows that the guy coming over is doing so on a dare, but he has his own agenda. He has just broken up with his girlfriend, and all he wants to do is convince her that she has made a mistake. But maybe, the mistake is underestimating his draw to Taylor.
These two have far more in common than they originally believed. And what starts as some fake dates around town to catch the eye of Emma quickly turns into both guys wanting to keep the other around. I loved reading the evolution from friendship to feelings. I especially loved how well Taylor handled the new things he was feeling. Their chemistry was perfection from beginning to end. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of emotional depth these characters exhibited. While the story was sweet and romantic, it also tugged at my heartstrings to watch the two of them become so close, to care so much for one another in such a short period of time.
As always, Hall finishes the story up with a fabulous epilogue. It is wonderful to see the characters in the future, together and happy. And I loved the Hudson Burrow mention.
Review of advance copy
I received a free advance copy from GRR and am voluntarily submitting my review.
I felt like up until about roughly 40% Harrison and Taylor were just caricature versions of themselves. Then the depth of characters started to show up. What Hayden does so well is that once that depth is there it completely sucks you in and you become enamored with the story and characters.
I feel like the characters worked really well together as a couple. They were so different, and yet perfect for each other. They complimented each other so well. I loved watching them enjoy being in each other's worlds. It actually felt like a relationship that could last the ages. There's also something to be said about a couple that just radiates joy in simply being together. It's intoxicating.
As a bisexual myself who had a mini identity crisis when I realized I wasn't straight, I really really appreciate that Taylor didn't have an identity crisis about his sexuality. That he just accepted that he liked Harrison and went with it. Not that there is anything wrong with the other, this is just so refreshing to see and read.
I don't want to spoil it, but 93% is probably one of the most romantic moments. I fully swooned.
I want to say that I rarely highlight sections in books. And if I do, it's one particular part. I ahve 12 highlights from this book. 12. Hayden’s writing is so poignantly beautiful and makes you feel things.
I'll share my favorite one "There was something like jazz between us, something that was solely based on a common rhythm, built purely on our understanding of one another without too much thinking and planning."
I felt like up until about roughly 40% Harrison and Taylor were just caricature versions of themselves. Then the depth of characters started to show up. What Hayden does so well is that once that depth is there it completely sucks you in and you become enamored with the story and characters.
I feel like the characters worked really well together as a couple. They were so different, and yet perfect for each other. They complimented each other so well. I loved watching them enjoy being in each other's worlds. It actually felt like a relationship that could last the ages. There's also something to be said about a couple that just radiates joy in simply being together. It's intoxicating.
As a bisexual myself who had a mini identity crisis when I realized I wasn't straight, I really really appreciate that Taylor didn't have an identity crisis about his sexuality. That he just accepted that he liked Harrison and went with it. Not that there is anything wrong with the other, this is just so refreshing to see and read.
I don't want to spoil it, but 93% is probably one of the most romantic moments. I fully swooned.
I want to say that I rarely highlight sections in books. And if I do, it's one particular part. I ahve 12 highlights from this book. 12. Hayden’s writing is so poignantly beautiful and makes you feel things.
I'll share my favorite one "There was something like jazz between us, something that was solely based on a common rhythm, built purely on our understanding of one another without too much thinking and planning."
Review of advance copy
"I stared at the defined muscles of his arms and torso, at the compact build of his body, at the strength and grace with which he moved, and I felt it in my stomach, this unwavering pull toward him. It had been present for longer than I’d paid it any attention. It had always been there, from the moment I’d come to the table in the corner of my favorite bar, where he looked at me with a dare in his eyes and a challenge on his lips."
Double Dared is the second book in Hayden Hall's The Boys of Elmwood U series of interconnected standalone MM college romances.
This is Harrison and Taylor's story.
You usually know what you're going to get with a Hayden Hall MM romance and whilst this one delivered all those cute and steamy, angst-free moments on demand, it was a whole lot more than that!
The writing was divine, the multi-layered storyline and character development was perfect and Hayden took this one to a whole next level of swoon-worthy romance. Definitely my fave book he's written, which is saying a lot because I love them all!
❣️MM college romance
❣️Frat boy x artist
❣️Opposites attract
❣️Bi-awakening
❣️Steamy first times
❣️Found family
❣️HEA
4.75 stars ⭐
Double Dared is the second book in Hayden Hall's The Boys of Elmwood U series of interconnected standalone MM college romances.
This is Harrison and Taylor's story.
You usually know what you're going to get with a Hayden Hall MM romance and whilst this one delivered all those cute and steamy, angst-free moments on demand, it was a whole lot more than that!
The writing was divine, the multi-layered storyline and character development was perfect and Hayden took this one to a whole next level of swoon-worthy romance. Definitely my fave book he's written, which is saying a lot because I love them all!
❣️MM college romance
❣️Frat boy x artist
❣️Opposites attract
❣️Bi-awakening
❣️Steamy first times
❣️Found family
❣️HEA
4.75 stars ⭐
June 19, 2026
4.75 stars. “I hereby challenge you, as the Bel council is my witness, to get a date with…”
That’s how it started. Taylor accepted a dare from his fraternity brothers to ask the gorgeous intellectual poetry reader sitting across the bar out for a date.
But ha! Harrison turned the tables by taking the initiative and asking Taylor out. Taylor was a bit flabbergasted by Harrison's action.
Harrison has motives. They made a deal: Taylor will be Harrison’s fake boyfriend for the next three weeks, and vice versa.
They will show up wherever Harrison’s ex-girlfriend is, hoping she’ll get jealous.
What they couldn’t foresee was that they both fit and connect perfectly. They have many things in common. The conversations are meaningful, and they have fun together. A wonderful friendship is blooming.
The more time they spend together, the more aware they become of each other. Oops, feelings are getting involved-that wasn’t the plan.
The author took the time to create two wonderful, interesting, and lovable characters. The more I got to know them, the more I loved them. The more they interact, the more convinced I was they were meant for each other.
It’s a super romantic story, with emotional moments that made my heart skip a beat and my eyes blur.
This fake-relationship-to-friends-to-lovers romance had everything I wanted from a story.
Review also on LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews
That’s how it started. Taylor accepted a dare from his fraternity brothers to ask the gorgeous intellectual poetry reader sitting across the bar out for a date.
But ha! Harrison turned the tables by taking the initiative and asking Taylor out. Taylor was a bit flabbergasted by Harrison's action.
Harrison has motives. They made a deal: Taylor will be Harrison’s fake boyfriend for the next three weeks, and vice versa.
They will show up wherever Harrison’s ex-girlfriend is, hoping she’ll get jealous.
What they couldn’t foresee was that they both fit and connect perfectly. They have many things in common. The conversations are meaningful, and they have fun together. A wonderful friendship is blooming.
The more time they spend together, the more aware they become of each other. Oops, feelings are getting involved-that wasn’t the plan.
The author took the time to create two wonderful, interesting, and lovable characters. The more I got to know them, the more I loved them. The more they interact, the more convinced I was they were meant for each other.
It’s a super romantic story, with emotional moments that made my heart skip a beat and my eyes blur.
This fake-relationship-to-friends-to-lovers romance had everything I wanted from a story.
Review also on LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews
June 22, 2026
This was one of the most amazing books I have read this week. Doubled Dared is book 2 in The Boys of Elmwood U Series. If you're looking for a MM Romance that is friends to lovers, Found Family, Fake dating and a Bi Awakening this is most certainly for you. The last of the blurb got me the most, "I never met a dare I couldn't handle. I just never expected one to handle me right back.
In this book we meet Harrison and Taylor. Taylor is one to never back down from a dare no matter what. Taylor's fraternity brothers dared him to go over to this handsome man Harrison and get him to agree to a date. Taylor like always doesn't back down and goes through with it. Taylor just wasn't ready for Harrisons reply.
Harrison is having trouble getting over his ex. So, when Taylor approaches asking for a date, he immediately says yes. So, they set up an agreement to fake date for a couple weeks. So, Harrison can get back at his ex for moving on fast, and Taylor can get back at his fraternity and make it look like a dare backfired on them.
Well, this little arrangement backed fired on them both and they fell hard. This was one of the sweetest books. I did really swoon over when Harrisons ex becomes newly single, Taylor loved Harrsion so much that he was willing to let him go just to see him truly happy.
Overall, Hayden Hall did an amazing job on this book as he did on the first book in this series. I have loved every character in both books and have read them super-fast because they were just that good. Oh and one more thing. I absolutely love me some peanut.
In this book we meet Harrison and Taylor. Taylor is one to never back down from a dare no matter what. Taylor's fraternity brothers dared him to go over to this handsome man Harrison and get him to agree to a date. Taylor like always doesn't back down and goes through with it. Taylor just wasn't ready for Harrisons reply.
Harrison is having trouble getting over his ex. So, when Taylor approaches asking for a date, he immediately says yes. So, they set up an agreement to fake date for a couple weeks. So, Harrison can get back at his ex for moving on fast, and Taylor can get back at his fraternity and make it look like a dare backfired on them.
Well, this little arrangement backed fired on them both and they fell hard. This was one of the sweetest books. I did really swoon over when Harrisons ex becomes newly single, Taylor loved Harrsion so much that he was willing to let him go just to see him truly happy.
Overall, Hayden Hall did an amazing job on this book as he did on the first book in this series. I have loved every character in both books and have read them super-fast because they were just that good. Oh and one more thing. I absolutely love me some peanut.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book surprised me in a good way.
Based on the blurb, I expected a funny, somewhat cute college MM romance story and when I started reading, the plot unfolded slowly and more or less the way I anticipated.
When suddenly, the MMCs Harrison and Taylor started discovering unexpected and profound emotional depth, their interactions and feelings had more substance and their story had me completely invested.
These two went on an unadorned emotional journey of discovery together and were completely liberated from expectations, stereotypes, and preconceived notions. This opened up all possibilities and allowed them to be their true selves around each other. And as a result of the incredibly intense attraction, the intimate scenes were incredibly hot, playful and experimental.
There is just something powerful about intimate interactions between characters when one is experienced and the other an enthusiastic learner, and both end up learning even more about themselves and each other and become enriched by the experiences.
While both MMCs were young men in their early twenties who enjoyed many of the typical college experiences, there were also many scenes in the book where they revealed their "old souls" and shared meaningful experiences, showing great appreciation for the more important things in life.
This was unexpected, but made the story so much more moving. And I really enjoyed the epilogue, because you get a glimpse of what comes after the story is finished.
Based on the blurb, I expected a funny, somewhat cute college MM romance story and when I started reading, the plot unfolded slowly and more or less the way I anticipated.
When suddenly, the MMCs Harrison and Taylor started discovering unexpected and profound emotional depth, their interactions and feelings had more substance and their story had me completely invested.
These two went on an unadorned emotional journey of discovery together and were completely liberated from expectations, stereotypes, and preconceived notions. This opened up all possibilities and allowed them to be their true selves around each other. And as a result of the incredibly intense attraction, the intimate scenes were incredibly hot, playful and experimental.
There is just something powerful about intimate interactions between characters when one is experienced and the other an enthusiastic learner, and both end up learning even more about themselves and each other and become enriched by the experiences.
While both MMCs were young men in their early twenties who enjoyed many of the typical college experiences, there were also many scenes in the book where they revealed their "old souls" and shared meaningful experiences, showing great appreciation for the more important things in life.
This was unexpected, but made the story so much more moving. And I really enjoyed the epilogue, because you get a glimpse of what comes after the story is finished.
June 21, 2026
4.5*s
Aww, idiots in love. My favorite!
Taylor has so much golden retriever energy – charming, loved by everyone, and always up for something fun. It’s so easy to see why he knocks Harrison off kilter, there’s absolutely no way to prepare yourself for the vibrancy of Taylor. And Harrison’s more subdued, old-soul vibe is a good match for it. As they find themselves spending time together as part of their pact, it takes about half a second to develop into something more. They just need a bit to catch on :)
Taylor’s go-with-the-flow attitude is apparent as he starts to realize exactly what his growing feelings for Harrison really means. And Harrison is more than willing to help him discover himself, his desires, and his feelings. It’s spicy, a smidge kinky, but very compelling as they explore their connection. Taylor so trusting & open to exploring everything under Harrison’s guidance & care. It’s a bit insta-lust / insta-love but I don’t know that I even noticed how quickly things happen for them. The progression seemed very natural and Hall paces it well.
Low angst, slow burn, and spicy, I’m loving this series by Hall. They’ve been fun to read with a good mix of humor and heat and characters that just grabbed me from page 1. After this and Extra Credit, I’m definitely putting him on my must read list and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Aww, idiots in love. My favorite!
Taylor has so much golden retriever energy – charming, loved by everyone, and always up for something fun. It’s so easy to see why he knocks Harrison off kilter, there’s absolutely no way to prepare yourself for the vibrancy of Taylor. And Harrison’s more subdued, old-soul vibe is a good match for it. As they find themselves spending time together as part of their pact, it takes about half a second to develop into something more. They just need a bit to catch on :)
Taylor’s go-with-the-flow attitude is apparent as he starts to realize exactly what his growing feelings for Harrison really means. And Harrison is more than willing to help him discover himself, his desires, and his feelings. It’s spicy, a smidge kinky, but very compelling as they explore their connection. Taylor so trusting & open to exploring everything under Harrison’s guidance & care. It’s a bit insta-lust / insta-love but I don’t know that I even noticed how quickly things happen for them. The progression seemed very natural and Hall paces it well.
Low angst, slow burn, and spicy, I’m loving this series by Hall. They’ve been fun to read with a good mix of humor and heat and characters that just grabbed me from page 1. After this and Extra Credit, I’m definitely putting him on my must read list and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
June 21, 2026
A beautiful Read
First let me say I got this book from gay romance review reviews and this is me leaving my honest review.
This book is just a beautiful Read we’ve got two guys Taylor and Harrison.
Taylor cannot pass a dare. So when he is dared by his friend Greg to go over to a guy at the bar and get his number he jumps at the chance. Now Taylor is straight but that means nothing to him when there is a dare involved. But when he goes over to this guy, it is clear that he heard the his friend dare him. Harrison agrees to the dare and gives Taylor his number. Now Taylor is confused by the feelings he’s having talking to Harrison but he doesn’t say anything and they agree to a date.
Harrison heard the group dare Taylor to chat him up. Now Taylor has recently split up with his girlfriend. But he still has feelings for her. And he suggests/dares Taylor that they pretend to date to make her jealous. Harrison has always known that he was bisexual. And more time he spends with Taylor the less time he thinks about his ex.
This is a beautiful read about two men giving into their feelings and seeing where it goes. It is such an easy effortless read it is just a lovely journey they take you on. Taylor is just accepting to his feelings for Harrison. These two have a beautiful connection they both grow together. The passion this year is beautiful and the chemistry is sizzling. I absolutely adore this Read.
First let me say I got this book from gay romance review reviews and this is me leaving my honest review.
This book is just a beautiful Read we’ve got two guys Taylor and Harrison.
Taylor cannot pass a dare. So when he is dared by his friend Greg to go over to a guy at the bar and get his number he jumps at the chance. Now Taylor is straight but that means nothing to him when there is a dare involved. But when he goes over to this guy, it is clear that he heard the his friend dare him. Harrison agrees to the dare and gives Taylor his number. Now Taylor is confused by the feelings he’s having talking to Harrison but he doesn’t say anything and they agree to a date.
Harrison heard the group dare Taylor to chat him up. Now Taylor has recently split up with his girlfriend. But he still has feelings for her. And he suggests/dares Taylor that they pretend to date to make her jealous. Harrison has always known that he was bisexual. And more time he spends with Taylor the less time he thinks about his ex.
This is a beautiful read about two men giving into their feelings and seeing where it goes. It is such an easy effortless read it is just a lovely journey they take you on. Taylor is just accepting to his feelings for Harrison. These two have a beautiful connection they both grow together. The passion this year is beautiful and the chemistry is sizzling. I absolutely adore this Read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a very unlikely college romance with plenty of emotional depth, a discovery of who you are and a love story which leaves you swooning.
It may come over in the beginning as your average fake dating, college romance but this book is so much more.
It all starts with a dare, Taylor being the one who can't resist any dare, regardless how ridiculous but in Harrison he finds his match. Harrison is counter-daring/double-daring Taylor for his own needs but both don't realise that they gain something they never expected to receive.
When fake dating turns to real emotions both are surprised, surprised how well they click, when fake dates turn to wanting to spend time together, both start to embrace it.
Taylor throws himself 150% in, he is surprised and a bit unsure about his feelings but doesn't shy away or second guesses himself, he accepts and embraces. The heat increases fast, the intimate scenes are more than what I would have expected from a bi-virgin. But it feels real, it's beautifully written and their emotions are full on, no hesitation but full acceptance.
When Harrison's counter-dare rears it's head again, it's time to make decisions and I love that the author doesn't use it to great angst for the sake of angst but as a mean to tell that love is not always clean cut but that there is plenty of things to talk and not guess.
It may come over in the beginning as your average fake dating, college romance but this book is so much more.
It all starts with a dare, Taylor being the one who can't resist any dare, regardless how ridiculous but in Harrison he finds his match. Harrison is counter-daring/double-daring Taylor for his own needs but both don't realise that they gain something they never expected to receive.
When fake dating turns to real emotions both are surprised, surprised how well they click, when fake dates turn to wanting to spend time together, both start to embrace it.
Taylor throws himself 150% in, he is surprised and a bit unsure about his feelings but doesn't shy away or second guesses himself, he accepts and embraces. The heat increases fast, the intimate scenes are more than what I would have expected from a bi-virgin. But it feels real, it's beautifully written and their emotions are full on, no hesitation but full acceptance.
When Harrison's counter-dare rears it's head again, it's time to make decisions and I love that the author doesn't use it to great angst for the sake of angst but as a mean to tell that love is not always clean cut but that there is plenty of things to talk and not guess.
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