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The Paradise of Avalon
Not yet published
Expected 21 May 26
In Avalon, love is dangerous.
Choosing each other means going to war.
Tom
My family calls it vacation. I call it exile.
I was sent to this tropical paradise to recover.
Sunsets. Salt air. Yoga before sunrise. Lies after sunset.
I’m in Avalon because my heart gave out, and the scandals needed to do the same.
Then there’s Yosh.
Calm. Patient. Watching me like he can read the parts of me I’m trying to hide.
That should annoy me.
Instead, it makes me want him.
But the island has rules. He’s my therapist. My family is watching. And the past I ran from isn’t done with me yet.
Falling for Yosh could destroy everything I have left.
The problem is… leaving his side might destroy me even more.
Yosh
I’ve spent years carrying other people’s pain so I wouldn’t have to face my own.
Then Tom McKenna walks into Arcadia, and suddenly I’m standing in a room full of mirrors.
I see past his little act. The loneliness. The fear. Trying not to fall apart.
Guiding him is my job.
Wanting him isn’t.
The longer he stays on the island, the harder it becomes to keep my distance.
Every conversation, every look, every stolen touch takes us closer to a line we should never cross.
And outside the walls of Arcadia, forces far more dangerous than desire are closing in.
Because Tom is fighting the people who think they own him.
And choosing him means choosing war.
MM romanceRockstar x Alternative TherapistTropical HeatCaribbean island setting with dark secretsBi awakeningForbidden attractionUs against the world
Choosing each other means going to war.
Tom
My family calls it vacation. I call it exile.
I was sent to this tropical paradise to recover.
Sunsets. Salt air. Yoga before sunrise. Lies after sunset.
I’m in Avalon because my heart gave out, and the scandals needed to do the same.
Then there’s Yosh.
Calm. Patient. Watching me like he can read the parts of me I’m trying to hide.
That should annoy me.
Instead, it makes me want him.
But the island has rules. He’s my therapist. My family is watching. And the past I ran from isn’t done with me yet.
Falling for Yosh could destroy everything I have left.
The problem is… leaving his side might destroy me even more.
Yosh
I’ve spent years carrying other people’s pain so I wouldn’t have to face my own.
Then Tom McKenna walks into Arcadia, and suddenly I’m standing in a room full of mirrors.
I see past his little act. The loneliness. The fear. Trying not to fall apart.
Guiding him is my job.
Wanting him isn’t.
The longer he stays on the island, the harder it becomes to keep my distance.
Every conversation, every look, every stolen touch takes us closer to a line we should never cross.
And outside the walls of Arcadia, forces far more dangerous than desire are closing in.
Because Tom is fighting the people who think they own him.
And choosing him means choosing war.
MM romanceRockstar x Alternative TherapistTropical HeatCaribbean island setting with dark secretsBi awakeningForbidden attractionUs against the world
- GenresAddiction
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 21, 2026
5 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 9, 2026
This book should have been right up my alley, since I love hurt/comfort, mental health rep, and addiction. And honestly, from the very first page, the emotional turmoil pulled me in. I was immediately intrigued by the taboo doctor/patient dynamic. I loved watching our two traumatized boys lean on each other for growth and comfort. For a 650-page book, it never really dragged, which is impressive. There is so much happening, and the core dynamic and plot kept me invested.
That said, a few things pulled me out of the story. Early on, so many side characters are introduced within the first 5% that I got lost, though this did improve as the book went on, but I was having to repeatedly search their names to figure out who they all were. I also struggled at times with unclear dialogue tags. I would have to backtrack to figure out who was speaking, and that took away from the reading experience.
A few plot points felt a bit random, almost like I had missed something that would make them fit better. They were just kind of dropped in without being fully integrated.
Even so, I really enjoyed the idea of this book and the author's voice. I can see so much potential here with this author. I definitely want to see how Yosh's story resolves and what happens with Emily in the next book.
That said, a few things pulled me out of the story. Early on, so many side characters are introduced within the first 5% that I got lost, though this did improve as the book went on, but I was having to repeatedly search their names to figure out who they all were. I also struggled at times with unclear dialogue tags. I would have to backtrack to figure out who was speaking, and that took away from the reading experience.
A few plot points felt a bit random, almost like I had missed something that would make them fit better. They were just kind of dropped in without being fully integrated.
Even so, I really enjoyed the idea of this book and the author's voice. I can see so much potential here with this author. I definitely want to see how Yosh's story resolves and what happens with Emily in the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review (and thank you so much for the ARC).
Okay, there is so much to this book. There’s some mystery, there’s a lot of secrets about these two men and between them, some of them get revealed some not. But at the heart of it is Tom's story of healing and finding his home. He comes to rehab at his brothers orders, thinking it won’t be anything worthwhile but then he sees Yosh. And then he sees it will be worthwhile, in Yosh he sees something he yearns for, peace, safety, home and love. So he goes out to get it. It’s messy, it’s complicated, it’s not a straightforward journey at all but nothing worthwhile is at the end of the day. Their love story is hard won at the end, despite Tom's horribly toxic family. If you enjoy broken men healing each other and finding some peace and love then give this one a read.
Okay, there is so much to this book. There’s some mystery, there’s a lot of secrets about these two men and between them, some of them get revealed some not. But at the heart of it is Tom's story of healing and finding his home. He comes to rehab at his brothers orders, thinking it won’t be anything worthwhile but then he sees Yosh. And then he sees it will be worthwhile, in Yosh he sees something he yearns for, peace, safety, home and love. So he goes out to get it. It’s messy, it’s complicated, it’s not a straightforward journey at all but nothing worthwhile is at the end of the day. Their love story is hard won at the end, despite Tom's horribly toxic family. If you enjoy broken men healing each other and finding some peace and love then give this one a read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥/5
EARLY ARC READING.
Couple: Yosh and Tom.
Structure: First person, present tense, dual POV. First book in a series.
This book is an experience. I had the pleasure of reading it early and following some of its changes, and I've come to admire Loyza as a writer so much. She has a way of telling a story that's so outside the box, of creating characters and situations that just have you hanging to every single word. It never stops surprising you. When you think ou got all the information, there comes something else and BOOM, your mind is a whirlwind again.
I cannot even explain how quickly and intensely my emotions changed while reading this. In the same scene, I was happy, swooning, mad, sad, desperate, all in the space of seconds. When I finished the book, I had to take a deep breath and take a couple of days digesting it to come and write a review. That's how intense it was.
The characters. What impressed me the most was how absolutely nothing is black-and-white with them. There's no pure hero or villain. There are characters I felt more protective of, others that made me wish would disappear from the face of the Earth, but even those also caused confliciting emotions within me at times. They're just so human, and that's probably what messes with our emotions the most.
Tom had me loving him so fast. He can be an asshole and so unhinged (love the latter haha), but once you get to know the slightest glist of information about him and his story, I particularly don't think it's possible not wanting to protect him fiercely. He's just a hurt kid in so many ways, looking for love and validation and to work through his many, excruciatingly painful demons. He elicits that in people when he lets them in. And that's also what builds him his own cages from all sides.
Yosh. So gorgeous and wounded. Mysterious, smart, trying to survive and heal by helping others heal as well. As a therapist, I have some concerns about him doing that when he himself is burying so many things on his own. But he's trying. He genuinely thinks he's doing the best at all times, even when he gets it so, so wrong. Like Tom said, they're just as fucked up, and that brings them together wonderfully in all their fault and beauty.
The side-characters are all mindblowing. Honestly, I still don't have a full opinion formed on some of them. Like I said, nothing is black-and-white, and the grey nuances are so infinite, there comes a time you don't even know what to think anymore. And that's okay. I felt okay knowing I may finish this series with conflicting emotions towards many of them. That's just what makes them so, so human. It's painful and enticing at the same time.
This book is not for everyone, especially if you're looking for a traditional romance formula (nothing wrong with that either). But if you want to read something raw, beautiful, painful, that'll make you love and suffer in equal amounts, then this is for you. TPOA is about all the emotions it elicits. It's for those who want the different. The most profound depth. If you're that person, then dive without fear. I'm sure you'll find yourself loving whats underwater.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥/5
EARLY ARC READING.
Couple: Yosh and Tom.
Structure: First person, present tense, dual POV. First book in a series.
This book is an experience. I had the pleasure of reading it early and following some of its changes, and I've come to admire Loyza as a writer so much. She has a way of telling a story that's so outside the box, of creating characters and situations that just have you hanging to every single word. It never stops surprising you. When you think ou got all the information, there comes something else and BOOM, your mind is a whirlwind again.
I cannot even explain how quickly and intensely my emotions changed while reading this. In the same scene, I was happy, swooning, mad, sad, desperate, all in the space of seconds. When I finished the book, I had to take a deep breath and take a couple of days digesting it to come and write a review. That's how intense it was.
The characters. What impressed me the most was how absolutely nothing is black-and-white with them. There's no pure hero or villain. There are characters I felt more protective of, others that made me wish would disappear from the face of the Earth, but even those also caused confliciting emotions within me at times. They're just so human, and that's probably what messes with our emotions the most.
Tom had me loving him so fast. He can be an asshole and so unhinged (love the latter haha), but once you get to know the slightest glist of information about him and his story, I particularly don't think it's possible not wanting to protect him fiercely. He's just a hurt kid in so many ways, looking for love and validation and to work through his many, excruciatingly painful demons. He elicits that in people when he lets them in. And that's also what builds him his own cages from all sides.
Yosh. So gorgeous and wounded. Mysterious, smart, trying to survive and heal by helping others heal as well. As a therapist, I have some concerns about him doing that when he himself is burying so many things on his own. But he's trying. He genuinely thinks he's doing the best at all times, even when he gets it so, so wrong. Like Tom said, they're just as fucked up, and that brings them together wonderfully in all their fault and beauty.
The side-characters are all mindblowing. Honestly, I still don't have a full opinion formed on some of them. Like I said, nothing is black-and-white, and the grey nuances are so infinite, there comes a time you don't even know what to think anymore. And that's okay. I felt okay knowing I may finish this series with conflicting emotions towards many of them. That's just what makes them so, so human. It's painful and enticing at the same time.
This book is not for everyone, especially if you're looking for a traditional romance formula (nothing wrong with that either). But if you want to read something raw, beautiful, painful, that'll make you love and suffer in equal amounts, then this is for you. TPOA is about all the emotions it elicits. It's for those who want the different. The most profound depth. If you're that person, then dive without fear. I'm sure you'll find yourself loving whats underwater.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
⭐4/5
Honestly? I didn’t expect this one to hit the way it did.
The Paradise of Avalon follows Tom McKenna, a Scottish musician with a self-destructive streak as wide as the Atlantic, who ends up at a luxury Caribbean wellness resort after a cocaine-induced cardiac arrest nearly kills him. His therapist is Yoshiro Aoki, a man built from morning rituals, crystal collections and carefully maintained emotional walls. Forbidden romance incoming, and yes, it delivers. But this isn’t just about the forbidden part.
It’s about two people who learned to survive by keeping everyone at arm’s length, and what happens when someone finally gets through anyway.
Tom is the type of character I usually avoid: chaotic, impulsive, genuinely irritating in the early chapters. And yet author writes him in a way that makes it impossible to get out of his head because underneath all the performance there’s someone who’s been living with a silence that shows up at 2am and doesn’t let go until sunrise. When he finally starts telling the truth about his son, about Emily, about the things he swore he’d never say out loud those scenes land hard.
Yosh is harder to get to, and I think that’s entirely intentional. His chapters are more contained, more controlled, because he is more contained and more controlled but that’s exactly why, when something in him finally cracks, you feel it.
The slow burn is genuinely slow and genuinely earned. The tension builds through conversations, through moments where someone walks out of a room instead of saying what they mean, through small gestures both of them pretend don’t mean what they obviously mean. The spice, when it comes, is woven into the emotional arc rather than dropped in for the sake of it, which always matters to me.
My only real criticism is the final act, which moves a little too fast. The drug raid, the arrest, Terrence’s threats - a lot happens in quick succession and some threads are clearly being saved for Book 2.
Yosh carries secrets the author has barely touched, and if you need full closure for both MCs, you’re not getting it here. Tom’s arc resolves beautifully, but Yosh’s story is only just beginning to open up. That said, the author is upfront about this in the foreword, so I didn’t feel cheated. I just felt like I wanted more.
⭐4/5
Honestly? I didn’t expect this one to hit the way it did.
The Paradise of Avalon follows Tom McKenna, a Scottish musician with a self-destructive streak as wide as the Atlantic, who ends up at a luxury Caribbean wellness resort after a cocaine-induced cardiac arrest nearly kills him. His therapist is Yoshiro Aoki, a man built from morning rituals, crystal collections and carefully maintained emotional walls. Forbidden romance incoming, and yes, it delivers. But this isn’t just about the forbidden part.
It’s about two people who learned to survive by keeping everyone at arm’s length, and what happens when someone finally gets through anyway.
Tom is the type of character I usually avoid: chaotic, impulsive, genuinely irritating in the early chapters. And yet author writes him in a way that makes it impossible to get out of his head because underneath all the performance there’s someone who’s been living with a silence that shows up at 2am and doesn’t let go until sunrise. When he finally starts telling the truth about his son, about Emily, about the things he swore he’d never say out loud those scenes land hard.
Yosh is harder to get to, and I think that’s entirely intentional. His chapters are more contained, more controlled, because he is more contained and more controlled but that’s exactly why, when something in him finally cracks, you feel it.
The slow burn is genuinely slow and genuinely earned. The tension builds through conversations, through moments where someone walks out of a room instead of saying what they mean, through small gestures both of them pretend don’t mean what they obviously mean. The spice, when it comes, is woven into the emotional arc rather than dropped in for the sake of it, which always matters to me.
My only real criticism is the final act, which moves a little too fast. The drug raid, the arrest, Terrence’s threats - a lot happens in quick succession and some threads are clearly being saved for Book 2.
Yosh carries secrets the author has barely touched, and if you need full closure for both MCs, you’re not getting it here. Tom’s arc resolves beautifully, but Yosh’s story is only just beginning to open up. That said, the author is upfront about this in the foreword, so I didn’t feel cheated. I just felt like I wanted more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Paradise of Avalon
Loyza jade
Hurt / Comfort
Touch him and D!e
Forced proximity
Dark Paradise
Only one bed
Us against the world
This was a great debut book. Based on the tropes, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I went in sort of blind. I’m glad I did, I enjoyed this a lot.
This is book 1, this is a HFH, but does leave off sort of abruptly giving a tinge of cliffhanger vibes. We are told in the beginning it is book 1 though. This book focuses more of Tom’s journey and recovery and the next will focus on Yosh’s
This is also a slow burn I'd say. These two take time to heal, connect but also trust each other.
The spicy stuff, well that came a little easier. These two had great chemistry and were super hot.
I appreciated the world building in this. There are a lot of moving characters, past secrets and traumas, and family members to contend with, even staff members at the resort. There is definitely more going on than what we can see, looking forward to figuring it all out.
There are some darker themes, while also some darker characters in this book
We are not told everything up front, so as go through the book, things slowly uncover. I really appreciated that. The book flowed well, almost like a movie because it is a chunky book.
My heart utterly hurts for Tom and what he has been through. We can also clearly see Yosh is barely keeping it together, unravelling at the seams.
The support these two had for each other was incredible. The trust they built was stunning.
I can’t wait to read more about these two.
Really, I can’t wait to see what comes next
So thankful or this arc
Loyza jade
Hurt / Comfort
Touch him and D!e
Forced proximity
Dark Paradise
Only one bed
Us against the world
This was a great debut book. Based on the tropes, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I went in sort of blind. I’m glad I did, I enjoyed this a lot.
This is book 1, this is a HFH, but does leave off sort of abruptly giving a tinge of cliffhanger vibes. We are told in the beginning it is book 1 though. This book focuses more of Tom’s journey and recovery and the next will focus on Yosh’s
This is also a slow burn I'd say. These two take time to heal, connect but also trust each other.
The spicy stuff, well that came a little easier. These two had great chemistry and were super hot.
I appreciated the world building in this. There are a lot of moving characters, past secrets and traumas, and family members to contend with, even staff members at the resort. There is definitely more going on than what we can see, looking forward to figuring it all out.
There are some darker themes, while also some darker characters in this book
We are not told everything up front, so as go through the book, things slowly uncover. I really appreciated that. The book flowed well, almost like a movie because it is a chunky book.
My heart utterly hurts for Tom and what he has been through. We can also clearly see Yosh is barely keeping it together, unravelling at the seams.
The support these two had for each other was incredible. The trust they built was stunning.
I can’t wait to read more about these two.
Really, I can’t wait to see what comes next
So thankful or this arc
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 stars
When I started reading The Paradise of Avolon, it immediately gave me Exiled vibes. The way the resort was portrayed strongly reminded me of that story, and it hooked me right away.
Tom and Yosh both carry their own struggles, even though Yosh is a therapist. I appreciated that aspect, because mental health professionals can struggle with their own issues too. For the most part, I think their brokenness was portrayed well, especially in the way Yosh chose carefully when and how to open up about himself.
I also loved that this was a genuine slow-burn romance. The spice only appeared when it actually made sense for the story and the characters, rather than feeling like filler. It felt meaningful and earned for both Tom and Yosh.
That said, I did struggle a bit with the number of side characters and their roles in the story. Some behaviors and reactions felt overly predictable or exaggerated, which occasionally pulled me out of the reading experience, especially because Yosh and Tom themselves were such well-developed and balanced characters.
Overall, I’m definitely curious to see where Yosh’s story goes after that ending.
When I started reading The Paradise of Avolon, it immediately gave me Exiled vibes. The way the resort was portrayed strongly reminded me of that story, and it hooked me right away.
Tom and Yosh both carry their own struggles, even though Yosh is a therapist. I appreciated that aspect, because mental health professionals can struggle with their own issues too. For the most part, I think their brokenness was portrayed well, especially in the way Yosh chose carefully when and how to open up about himself.
I also loved that this was a genuine slow-burn romance. The spice only appeared when it actually made sense for the story and the characters, rather than feeling like filler. It felt meaningful and earned for both Tom and Yosh.
That said, I did struggle a bit with the number of side characters and their roles in the story. Some behaviors and reactions felt overly predictable or exaggerated, which occasionally pulled me out of the reading experience, especially because Yosh and Tom themselves were such well-developed and balanced characters.
Overall, I’m definitely curious to see where Yosh’s story goes after that ending.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beta Read
Tom has found himself at an all-time low. Finding himself in rehab after a stint in the hospital due to his heart failure. Being a rock star always has its hang-ups, and this one is addiction. He’s set out on his healing journey with his new therapist, Yosh. But the closer they get to one another, the more they realize that their doctor-patient relationship is going far beyond what it is meant to. Both carry deep, dark secrets and regrets. Will that bring them closer together? Or will there always be a divide between them?
To say Yosh is flustered from the first time his eyes land on Tom is an understatement. Working with Tom brings something out in him that he wishes were left in the past. But Tom is set on making things difficult, and antagonizing Yosh seems to be the one thing that works best. But the closer they get, the more they realize that they have a lot more in common than they think. Uncovering one another’s secrets is only the first step. Can they walk this path together, or will their secrets get in the way of their happiness?
Tom and Yosh were absolutely adorable together. I loved how they supported each other through the most challenging moments of their journey. The mystery surrounding Tom’s past is what captivated me in the beginning, but what drew me in even more were Yosh’s secrets. This book was filled with lots of hurt/comfort, and it didn't disappoint. The reasons behind Tom’s spiraling that landed him in rehab had me in tears. No one should endure what he went through. However, with Yosh’s guidance and patience, Tom was able to fully recover and live his best life. If you enjoy hurt/comfort, touch him and die, forbidden attraction, and bi awakening, then you’ll love their story.
Tom has found himself at an all-time low. Finding himself in rehab after a stint in the hospital due to his heart failure. Being a rock star always has its hang-ups, and this one is addiction. He’s set out on his healing journey with his new therapist, Yosh. But the closer they get to one another, the more they realize that their doctor-patient relationship is going far beyond what it is meant to. Both carry deep, dark secrets and regrets. Will that bring them closer together? Or will there always be a divide between them?
To say Yosh is flustered from the first time his eyes land on Tom is an understatement. Working with Tom brings something out in him that he wishes were left in the past. But Tom is set on making things difficult, and antagonizing Yosh seems to be the one thing that works best. But the closer they get, the more they realize that they have a lot more in common than they think. Uncovering one another’s secrets is only the first step. Can they walk this path together, or will their secrets get in the way of their happiness?
Tom and Yosh were absolutely adorable together. I loved how they supported each other through the most challenging moments of their journey. The mystery surrounding Tom’s past is what captivated me in the beginning, but what drew me in even more were Yosh’s secrets. This book was filled with lots of hurt/comfort, and it didn't disappoint. The reasons behind Tom’s spiraling that landed him in rehab had me in tears. No one should endure what he went through. However, with Yosh’s guidance and patience, Tom was able to fully recover and live his best life. If you enjoy hurt/comfort, touch him and die, forbidden attraction, and bi awakening, then you’ll love their story.
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