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Salt
Connor
Getting accepted into the same post-grad university as my girlfriend seemed like a solid reason to stay together. Now that I’m in San Diego, living with Thalia’s family, all I want to do is go back to Sacramento. Back to my family, my friends, and the sport I love like crazy.
When I stumble upon a pickup soccer match on the beach, it stirs something in me. My eyes, and my camera, obsess over the dark-eyed forward with a body straight out of a fashion magazine.
Dane Calvo…tall, untamed, and unabashedly gay. He hits on me, and I reject him. Then I find out he’s Thalia’s younger brother—the one who sleeps in the bedroom next to ours. Maybe it’s a bad idea trying to be friends with a guy who is clearly into me, but I’m straight. At least, I think I am.
Dane
The only thing worse than my sister moving in is that she brought her stupid boyfriend with her. Now I’ve got both of their crap taking up valuable counter space in my bathroom, and my dad is making me eat dinner with the family.
When I discover Thalia’s boyfriend is the same drop-dead cutie who was taking stalker-pics of me at the beach, I know I can have fun with it. The problem is, he knows I’m gay and my family doesn’t. Even worse, he wants to be friends—wants to train me even—but the more time we spend together, the more I want him all to myself.
He keeps saying he’s straight, but I have my doubts. But even if he’s not, how could someone as good as Connor Whitlock ever want a train wreck like me?
SALT is a spicy sports romance that deals with themes related to identity, infidelity, mental health, and family trauma. It is the second book in the Like Teammates series but can be enjoyed as a standalone. This book is intended for readers age 18 and up.
Getting accepted into the same post-grad university as my girlfriend seemed like a solid reason to stay together. Now that I’m in San Diego, living with Thalia’s family, all I want to do is go back to Sacramento. Back to my family, my friends, and the sport I love like crazy.
When I stumble upon a pickup soccer match on the beach, it stirs something in me. My eyes, and my camera, obsess over the dark-eyed forward with a body straight out of a fashion magazine.
Dane Calvo…tall, untamed, and unabashedly gay. He hits on me, and I reject him. Then I find out he’s Thalia’s younger brother—the one who sleeps in the bedroom next to ours. Maybe it’s a bad idea trying to be friends with a guy who is clearly into me, but I’m straight. At least, I think I am.
Dane
The only thing worse than my sister moving in is that she brought her stupid boyfriend with her. Now I’ve got both of their crap taking up valuable counter space in my bathroom, and my dad is making me eat dinner with the family.
When I discover Thalia’s boyfriend is the same drop-dead cutie who was taking stalker-pics of me at the beach, I know I can have fun with it. The problem is, he knows I’m gay and my family doesn’t. Even worse, he wants to be friends—wants to train me even—but the more time we spend together, the more I want him all to myself.
He keeps saying he’s straight, but I have my doubts. But even if he’s not, how could someone as good as Connor Whitlock ever want a train wreck like me?
SALT is a spicy sports romance that deals with themes related to identity, infidelity, mental health, and family trauma. It is the second book in the Like Teammates series but can be enjoyed as a standalone. This book is intended for readers age 18 and up.
437 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
May 13, 2026
ARC REVIEW
i’m particles. skin, sweat, saliva, and nerve endings.
i really loved this book.
it was joy and love and family.
it was sexy, funny, hopeful and i could not put it down.
jonah yorke has a way of writing characters that makes them feel like they are sitting in front of you just talking to you. they are so realistic.
connor and dane
ok, so let me preface this by saying that there is cheating in this book, so if that is a trigger or not your vibe, then please don’t read the damn book, always look at TWs and look after yourselves 💙.
but HOLY FUCKING SHIT MY PRECIOUS BABIES.
connor is the sweetest boy who got hit by the freaking tornado which is dane. i enjoyed connor’s character development, i enjoyed his acceptance of who is he and his feelings for dane. sweat had the uncertainty and internalised homophobia so it was a nice change of pace for connor to be chill with his feelings 🥺
and dane. my poor, damaged, beautiful boy. i fell in love with him. without a doubt one of my favourite MMCs i’ve ever read. he was hilarious and kind and gorgeous and despite his shitty family just full of LOVE.
their relationship was gorgeous, i loved the banter, the i love yous, the activities, the not being able to stay away from eachother. it was PERFECT.
(teeny tiny side point: i would have liked to have seen more of the story beats on page, some of them were glossed over which i get because this book is over 400 pages, but i think there could have been a few more pages for more important events to be described)
thank you jonah for giving me an advanced copy, i am so grateful, this book was incredible and i’m so excited for more.
i think there’s a lot of power in not giving a fuck what anyone thinks
💙
i’m particles. skin, sweat, saliva, and nerve endings.
i really loved this book.
it was joy and love and family.
it was sexy, funny, hopeful and i could not put it down.
jonah yorke has a way of writing characters that makes them feel like they are sitting in front of you just talking to you. they are so realistic.
connor and dane
ok, so let me preface this by saying that there is cheating in this book, so if that is a trigger or not your vibe, then please don’t read the damn book, always look at TWs and look after yourselves 💙.
but HOLY FUCKING SHIT MY PRECIOUS BABIES.
connor is the sweetest boy who got hit by the freaking tornado which is dane. i enjoyed connor’s character development, i enjoyed his acceptance of who is he and his feelings for dane. sweat had the uncertainty and internalised homophobia so it was a nice change of pace for connor to be chill with his feelings 🥺
and dane. my poor, damaged, beautiful boy. i fell in love with him. without a doubt one of my favourite MMCs i’ve ever read. he was hilarious and kind and gorgeous and despite his shitty family just full of LOVE.
their relationship was gorgeous, i loved the banter, the i love yous, the activities, the not being able to stay away from eachother. it was PERFECT.
(teeny tiny side point: i would have liked to have seen more of the story beats on page, some of them were glossed over which i get because this book is over 400 pages, but i think there could have been a few more pages for more important events to be described)
thank you jonah for giving me an advanced copy, i am so grateful, this book was incredible and i’m so excited for more.
i think there’s a lot of power in not giving a fuck what anyone thinks
💙
May 13, 2026
˗ˏˋ ꒰ 𝟑.𝟓/𝟓 ★ ꒱ ˎˊ˗
oh boy... *starts playing Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter*
this was a nice read and i had fun for the most part, even tho i unfortunately struggled with some parts of it..🫠
let me start with the good✨🌊🧂
kinda fitting as the story also started really well & interestingly, i was very hyped & hooked! the MCs meeting was fun, really well-written, and their chemistry was palpable right away - despite the fact that one of them was *straight*.. and in a relationship.. with the other MC's sister..🙊 which unsurprisingly did lead to some scandalous events..🫣🫠 however, the MCs journey was something special, they formed a kinda unlikely but very easy friendship full of banter & support! both of them really needed the other so it was heartwarming to see their bond slowly form & become stronger, irresistibly so🔥
i loved that Connor was obsessed with Dane from the beginning, despite the fact that he was ✨straight✨, Dane lovingly kept calling him his stalker📸🖤🤭 and Dane was pining after Connor since first noticing him too, even when he wasn't aware Connor was "off limits" which didn't last long as they both soon realized they actually share a living space (with Dane's family..) but it was a nice way to establish a little "secret" bond that started before, not *just* because of their forced proximity..👀
📷 Connor was an interesting character (tbf both MCs were, haha), he was a homesick puppy, a golden retriever full of love, sweetness and acceptance. overall he seemed like a good human (a good boy👀). he did have his own character flaws however, some i unfortunately didn't click with so well.. he was very supportive overall, however sometimes i wished he grew a backbone & stood up for his beliefs & loved ones, and owned up to his actions.. i'll add that ik Connor & Dane both were still young, around 20.. so/but some of their behavior & actions felt immature.. c,:
*continues playing Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter*
⚽ Dane was a chaotic mess (i mean this mostly lovingly, kinda), a black sheep who had an awful family.. the tortured sad boy vibes were very apparent but he was still a fun character in a chaotic, messy way, and also mischievously charming! i'm glad he found his person & safe space in Connor who showed him what love truly supposed to be like. Dane deserved so much better tho, so many ppl failed him which i'm quite angry about..
now onto a bit of a rant💫🐑🕳️
despite the fact that this started so well & i got really into it at some parts, other times the story & the characters felt disconnected. i don't really know what happened. i expected another total banger like Sweat (Tommy & Rowan literally own a piece of my heart!) but Connor & Dane were.. well, messy.. and that would've have been a bad thing per se, god i love messy broken characters, that's my absolute jam, but something was lacking here.. and i did struggle with some parts.. regarding the MCs but also other characters.. there were very few likable characters in this story.. i don't think i liked anyone apart from the MCs actually.. which made it a difficult read, surprisingly.. ig it didn't help that sometimes i felt disconnected from the MCs too.. and i admit i could overlook the misogyny in the previous book, but it continued to be a theme in this book too.. which i'm definitely not a fan of..
(btw i wanna make it clear i didn't mind the cheating (even tho i didn't agree with some of the characters' actions, many things could've been avoided or done better, but oh well..), there were some very scandalously hot scenes, the secrecy & pining vibes were on-point! my issues about the misogyny wasn't (exactly/just) regarding the situation with Connor's ex gf & the cheating; more like, i'm just disappointed there weren't any positive portrayal of any female characters..)
really wish there were some badass girl energy & i also couldn't help thinking of this song/music video lol 😬🤷🏻♀️😆
i'll try finishing on a positive note; there were very limited scenes with Tommy & Rowan, basically at the very end which was kinda worth waiting for🥹 i do wish they appeared more but i understand the story worked like this. i still think Jonah Yorke's writing style is great, and i'm hopeful so i'm definitely looking forward to book 3, Honey🍯🤞💛
// i usually round up my ratings but i feel very conflicted about this story overall.. i'm keeping it like this for now but i might change my mind once i really let this story sink in, who knows.. c,: //
【 જ⁀➴ 𝓲 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓻𝓬 𝓲 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻.ᐟ 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝔀𝓷, 𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓾𝓲𝓷𝓮 (𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓬) 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ⊹˙✧ 】
➥ ᴍᴍ {ɢᴀʏ × ʙɪ-ᴀᴡᴀᴋᴇɴɪɴɢ}
➥ ғɪʀsᴛ-ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ, ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ
◌ sᴘᴏʀᴛs ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
◌ sᴏᴄᴄᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀʏᴇʀs (ᴍᴄ ᴛʀᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ)
◌ ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ (ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ)
◌ ᴘɪɴɪɴɢ
◌ ʜᴜʀᴛ/ᴄᴏɴғᴏʀᴛ
◌ ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ, ɪɴғɪᴅᴇʟɪᴛʏ
◌ ɢɪʀʟғʀɪᴇɴᴅ's ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ/sɪsᴛᴇʀ's ʙᴏʏғʀɪᴇɴᴅ
◌ ᴍᴄ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴇᴠᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟʟᴇʀɢʏ (ɴᴇᴇᴅs ᴇᴘɪᴘᴇɴ)
◌ "ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʙᴏʏ", "ᴘᴜᴘᴘʏ" (ɴᴏ ᴘᴇᴛ ᴘʟᴀʏ)
◌ ɴɪᴘᴘʟᴇ ᴘɪᴇʀᴄɪɴɢs
◌ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇs, ғʀᴏᴛᴛɪɴɢ, ғʟɪᴘғᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ
➽ ᴛᴡ: ᴇxᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ & ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ʜᴏᴍᴏᴘʜᴏʙɪᴀ, ɢʀɪᴇғ, ᴅᴇᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ, ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʟ ᴀʙᴜsᴇ ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴍᴇsᴛɪᴄ & ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴀʙᴜsᴇ (ᴘʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ), ᴄʜᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ (ᴍᴄs ᴇɴɢᴀɢɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ & ᴘʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟ ɪɴғɪᴅᴇʟɪᴛʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ), sᴇxᴜᴀʟ sᴄᴇɴᴀʀɪᴏs ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴄs & sᴄs, ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴀʙᴀɴᴅᴏɴᴍᴇɴᴛ (ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ), ᴀɴᴀᴘʜʏʟᴀᴄᴛɪᴄ sʜᴏᴄᴋ (ᴍᴄ, ᴏɴ-ᴘᴀɢᴇ), ʜᴏsᴘɪᴛᴀʟ sᴄᴇɴᴇ, ᴄᴀʀ ᴀᴄᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛ (ɴᴏᴛ ғᴀᴛᴀʟ)
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
i'm highkey hoping for some Tommy & Rowan cameos *pleasepleaseplease* 🥺🫣🧡🧡🧡
oh boy... *starts playing Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter*
this was a nice read and i had fun for the most part, even tho i unfortunately struggled with some parts of it..🫠
let me start with the good✨🌊🧂
kinda fitting as the story also started really well & interestingly, i was very hyped & hooked! the MCs meeting was fun, really well-written, and their chemistry was palpable right away - despite the fact that one of them was *straight*.. and in a relationship.. with the other MC's sister..🙊 which unsurprisingly did lead to some scandalous events..🫣🫠 however, the MCs journey was something special, they formed a kinda unlikely but very easy friendship full of banter & support! both of them really needed the other so it was heartwarming to see their bond slowly form & become stronger, irresistibly so🔥
i loved that Connor was obsessed with Dane from the beginning, despite the fact that he was ✨straight✨, Dane lovingly kept calling him his stalker📸🖤🤭 and Dane was pining after Connor since first noticing him too, even when he wasn't aware Connor was "off limits" which didn't last long as they both soon realized they actually share a living space (with Dane's family..) but it was a nice way to establish a little "secret" bond that started before, not *just* because of their forced proximity..👀
𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒖𝒔𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆.
📷 Connor was an interesting character (tbf both MCs were, haha), he was a homesick puppy, a golden retriever full of love, sweetness and acceptance. overall he seemed like a good human (a good boy👀). he did have his own character flaws however, some i unfortunately didn't click with so well.. he was very supportive overall, however sometimes i wished he grew a backbone & stood up for his beliefs & loved ones, and owned up to his actions.. i'll add that ik Connor & Dane both were still young, around 20.. so/but some of their behavior & actions felt immature.. c,:
*continues playing Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter*
⚽ Dane was a chaotic mess (i mean this mostly lovingly, kinda), a black sheep who had an awful family.. the tortured sad boy vibes were very apparent but he was still a fun character in a chaotic, messy way, and also mischievously charming! i'm glad he found his person & safe space in Connor who showed him what love truly supposed to be like. Dane deserved so much better tho, so many ppl failed him which i'm quite angry about..
𝑰 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒛𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒃 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕. “𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒓,” 𝑰 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆.
“𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐𝒐,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕.
now onto a bit of a rant💫🐑🕳️
despite the fact that this started so well & i got really into it at some parts, other times the story & the characters felt disconnected. i don't really know what happened. i expected another total banger like Sweat (Tommy & Rowan literally own a piece of my heart!) but Connor & Dane were.. well, messy.. and that would've have been a bad thing per se, god i love messy broken characters, that's my absolute jam, but something was lacking here.. and i did struggle with some parts.. regarding the MCs but also other characters.. there were very few likable characters in this story.. i don't think i liked anyone apart from the MCs actually.. which made it a difficult read, surprisingly.. ig it didn't help that sometimes i felt disconnected from the MCs too.. and i admit i could overlook the misogyny in the previous book, but it continued to be a theme in this book too.. which i'm definitely not a fan of..
(btw i wanna make it clear i didn't mind the cheating (even tho i didn't agree with some of the characters' actions, many things could've been avoided or done better, but oh well..), there were some very scandalously hot scenes, the secrecy & pining vibes were on-point! my issues about the misogyny wasn't (exactly/just) regarding the situation with Connor's ex gf & the cheating; more like, i'm just disappointed there weren't any positive portrayal of any female characters..)
really wish there were some badass girl energy & i also couldn't help thinking of this song/music video lol 😬🤷🏻♀️😆
i'll try finishing on a positive note; there were very limited scenes with Tommy & Rowan, basically at the very end which was kinda worth waiting for🥹 i do wish they appeared more but i understand the story worked like this. i still think Jonah Yorke's writing style is great, and i'm hopeful so i'm definitely looking forward to book 3, Honey🍯🤞💛
// i usually round up my ratings but i feel very conflicted about this story overall.. i'm keeping it like this for now but i might change my mind once i really let this story sink in, who knows.. c,: //
【 જ⁀➴ 𝓲 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓻𝓬 𝓲 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻.ᐟ 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝔀𝓷, 𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓾𝓲𝓷𝓮 (𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓬) 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ⊹˙✧ 】
➥ ᴍᴍ {ɢᴀʏ × ʙɪ-ᴀᴡᴀᴋᴇɴɪɴɢ}
➥ ғɪʀsᴛ-ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ, ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ
◌ sᴘᴏʀᴛs ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
◌ sᴏᴄᴄᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀʏᴇʀs (ᴍᴄ ᴛʀᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ)
◌ ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ (ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ)
◌ ᴘɪɴɪɴɢ
◌ ʜᴜʀᴛ/ᴄᴏɴғᴏʀᴛ
◌ ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ, ɪɴғɪᴅᴇʟɪᴛʏ
◌ ɢɪʀʟғʀɪᴇɴᴅ's ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ/sɪsᴛᴇʀ's ʙᴏʏғʀɪᴇɴᴅ
◌ ᴍᴄ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴇᴠᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟʟᴇʀɢʏ (ɴᴇᴇᴅs ᴇᴘɪᴘᴇɴ)
◌ "ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʙᴏʏ", "ᴘᴜᴘᴘʏ" (ɴᴏ ᴘᴇᴛ ᴘʟᴀʏ)
◌ ɴɪᴘᴘʟᴇ ᴘɪᴇʀᴄɪɴɢs
◌ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇs, ғʀᴏᴛᴛɪɴɢ, ғʟɪᴘғᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ
➽ ᴛᴡ: ᴇxᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ & ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ʜᴏᴍᴏᴘʜᴏʙɪᴀ, ɢʀɪᴇғ, ᴅᴇᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ, ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʟ ᴀʙᴜsᴇ ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴍᴇsᴛɪᴄ & ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴀʙᴜsᴇ (ᴘʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ), ᴄʜᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ (ᴍᴄs ᴇɴɢᴀɢɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ & ᴘʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟ ɪɴғɪᴅᴇʟɪᴛʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ), sᴇxᴜᴀʟ sᴄᴇɴᴀʀɪᴏs ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴄs & sᴄs, ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴀʙᴀɴᴅᴏɴᴍᴇɴᴛ (ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ), ᴀɴᴀᴘʜʏʟᴀᴄᴛɪᴄ sʜᴏᴄᴋ (ᴍᴄ, ᴏɴ-ᴘᴀɢᴇ), ʜᴏsᴘɪᴛᴀʟ sᴄᴇɴᴇ, ᴄᴀʀ ᴀᴄᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛ (ɴᴏᴛ ғᴀᴛᴀʟ)
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
i'm highkey hoping for some Tommy & Rowan cameos *pleasepleaseplease* 🥺🫣🧡🧡🧡
won-t-read-bc-nopes
May 7, 2026Totally bummed this one isn't for me. I loved so many things about the author's debut, Sweat (apart from a couple elements, including OP action, that ruined a lot of it for me, grr), and was hoping book 2 would be one I'd love. Greatly appreciate @patrícia's review laying out OP action/one MC getting turned on by seeing the other being intimate w someone else. It's before they start things, so if that won't bother you, this sounds just as juicy, scintillating, incendiary, and emotional as the author's debut, so hope you love it! A very scandalous premise, and I was hoping it might be fore me. Alas, don't think so. Maybe I'll get a wild hair and try it, but honestly, that scenario usually just squicks me out.
Her review is terrific and enthusiastic though, so if you want to see it, here it is:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A few reviews mention the one MC's girlfriend being a horror, and that makes me wonder if the misogynistic/negative depiction of women that was so prevalent in Sweat might continue here though. I don't see mentions of strong women characters, just 2-D bitches or weak women. Hmmm. Well, read for the MCs.
Her review is terrific and enthusiastic though, so if you want to see it, here it is:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A few reviews mention the one MC's girlfriend being a horror, and that makes me wonder if the misogynistic/negative depiction of women that was so prevalent in Sweat might continue here though. I don't see mentions of strong women characters, just 2-D bitches or weak women. Hmmm. Well, read for the MCs.
Currently Reading
May 15, 2026“I sling my arms around Dane’s neck, put my mouth to his ear, and tell him I love him. Not just as friends or even best friends, but as the singular force consuming my heart and soul until nothing in the world matters more than him.”
it always terrifies me when this happens and there’s still 34% of the book remaining 😭
it always terrifies me when this happens and there’s still 34% of the book remaining 😭
May 14, 2026
Connor and Dane sure do like spit.. Why is this book not called Spit? Missed opportunity, if you ask me 😌
I've started this review many times because I don't know how to feel about this book or what to say. Rating is somewhere between 3-4⭐️ Part of the time I was blushing, laughing, and having a good time. The rest of the time, I was just kind of confused what to feel and trying to keep up.
So, the first 30-40%—so good. The way they met and immediately took notice of each other, the forbidden aspect, the tension and the flirting at the beginning, the scene at the party... damn. And the friendship they built—loved it.
But then.. somehow I got disconnected from the story and the characters. I feel like the vibe shifted and I wasn't that invested anymore. I think the transition from that initial tension and flirting to a relationship didn't quite hit the mark for me.
And this whole drama surrounding Dane's family left me confused. Thalia was a total bitch (why didn't anyone say anything about her behavior? It was absolutely despicable), I still don't get why his mom abandoned him (and they never really sorted out their issues??) and what is wrong with Artie? (honestly, I don't even want to know -what a waste of space that man). Was the drama a bit overdone..? Maybe. Unresolved? Definitely.
I thought this would be focused more on Dane’s trauma, but the way it was handled remained on the surface-level. And overall this was a bit jumbled—the plot points, the events, and all the characters.
But like I stated, there were a lot of good things here too—these two were so freaking cute and hot. I loved how Dane talked about Connor, especially in his inner monologue, and how Connor offered Dane that safe place he needed all this time. And Dane calling Connor puppy, cutie pie, and let's not forget good boy 🤭
The book also made me laugh out loud few times.
”Connor is a cherub of a man, angel wings hidden beneath his Under Armour t-shirts and stardust in his blue irises.” 😂🩵🪽
So yeah, some of the writing I absolutely loved but there were things I did not like, too. I was really looking forward to this and I loved Sweat, but overall, sadly Salt (Spit) didn't work for me as well as I'd hoped. I think I will read this again to see if I get a better overall feel of it but these are my thoughts at the moment.
What's great about this author's books is that he writes the characters' behavior and dialogue in a way that feels realistic for MMCs of this age (20 and 23).
⚽️📸
”It’s okay,” I tell him softly. “Stay with me.”
The way Connor quivers like a leaf unnerves me, but he doesn’t leave. He stays right where he is, soothing my worries in the way he holds my gaze and licks his lips. He makes my heart race in the way he plucks open the button of his jeans and drags down the zipper.
”Good boy.”
”I’m sorry things are difficult for you now. I’m sorry I had to go and complicate your life so much. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me.”
”You don’t make things difficult. You’re the best thing about this place. I would be so fucking lonely without you.”
I've started this review many times because I don't know how to feel about this book or what to say. Rating is somewhere between 3-4⭐️ Part of the time I was blushing, laughing, and having a good time. The rest of the time, I was just kind of confused what to feel and trying to keep up.
So, the first 30-40%—so good. The way they met and immediately took notice of each other, the forbidden aspect, the tension and the flirting at the beginning, the scene at the party... damn. And the friendship they built—loved it.
But then.. somehow I got disconnected from the story and the characters. I feel like the vibe shifted and I wasn't that invested anymore. I think the transition from that initial tension and flirting to a relationship didn't quite hit the mark for me.
And this whole drama surrounding Dane's family left me confused. Thalia was a total bitch (why didn't anyone say anything about her behavior? It was absolutely despicable), I still don't get why his mom abandoned him (and they never really sorted out their issues??) and what is wrong with Artie? (honestly, I don't even want to know -what a waste of space that man). Was the drama a bit overdone..? Maybe. Unresolved? Definitely.
I thought this would be focused more on Dane’s trauma, but the way it was handled remained on the surface-level. And overall this was a bit jumbled—the plot points, the events, and all the characters.
But like I stated, there were a lot of good things here too—these two were so freaking cute and hot. I loved how Dane talked about Connor, especially in his inner monologue, and how Connor offered Dane that safe place he needed all this time. And Dane calling Connor puppy, cutie pie, and let's not forget good boy 🤭
The book also made me laugh out loud few times.
”Connor is a cherub of a man, angel wings hidden beneath his Under Armour t-shirts and stardust in his blue irises.” 😂🩵🪽
So yeah, some of the writing I absolutely loved but there were things I did not like, too. I was really looking forward to this and I loved Sweat, but overall, sadly Salt (Spit) didn't work for me as well as I'd hoped. I think I will read this again to see if I get a better overall feel of it but these are my thoughts at the moment.
What's great about this author's books is that he writes the characters' behavior and dialogue in a way that feels realistic for MMCs of this age (20 and 23).
⚽️📸
”It’s okay,” I tell him softly. “Stay with me.”
The way Connor quivers like a leaf unnerves me, but he doesn’t leave. He stays right where he is, soothing my worries in the way he holds my gaze and licks his lips. He makes my heart race in the way he plucks open the button of his jeans and drags down the zipper.
”Good boy.”
”I’m sorry things are difficult for you now. I’m sorry I had to go and complicate your life so much. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me.”
”You don’t make things difficult. You’re the best thing about this place. I would be so fucking lonely without you.”
May 12, 2026
This author has a great talent for creating impactful characters and heart wrenching romantic plot lines. It doesn’t hurt that this book is equal parts emotional and hot, so hot.
I really liked both Connor and Dane. Dane though, the absolute gut wrenching wrong that’s been done to him, the unfairness, his frustration, I could feel it all, fantastically written. I also really liked how Connors bi awakening was handled, it’s a journey for him and it’s made wonderfully apparent. When Connor moves with his girlfriend to her father’s house in San Diego to love with her all sorts of warning signs were going off in my head - they seemed to have no connection or basis to do this, Connor would be completely dependent on her father’s charity and Thalia has all the power. His isolation once he gets there is literally jumping off the pages. It’s heartbreaking.
Dane is perfect for Connor and Connor is perfect for Dane. They need each other.
One of the things that I personally didn’t vibe with are the supporting characters- other than Lori they are very unidimensional as they interact with the main storyline - good or bad. And then stemming from that I think for me a lot felt unresolved or even if a future resolution is there for a Dane I couldn’t see how the chapters closed. While logistical and Career chapters has a resolution , his father, his sister, Lori, Her Family, going back deeper into what played out all those years ago, how he deals with that now it’s all left to be assumed and that made me feel a little adrift.
Having said that, this author’s writing pulls you in and I would love to keep reading his work.
I really liked both Connor and Dane. Dane though, the absolute gut wrenching wrong that’s been done to him, the unfairness, his frustration, I could feel it all, fantastically written. I also really liked how Connors bi awakening was handled, it’s a journey for him and it’s made wonderfully apparent. When Connor moves with his girlfriend to her father’s house in San Diego to love with her all sorts of warning signs were going off in my head - they seemed to have no connection or basis to do this, Connor would be completely dependent on her father’s charity and Thalia has all the power. His isolation once he gets there is literally jumping off the pages. It’s heartbreaking.
Dane is perfect for Connor and Connor is perfect for Dane. They need each other.
One of the things that I personally didn’t vibe with are the supporting characters- other than Lori they are very unidimensional as they interact with the main storyline - good or bad. And then stemming from that I think for me a lot felt unresolved or even if a future resolution is there for a Dane I couldn’t see how the chapters closed. While logistical and Career chapters has a resolution , his father, his sister, Lori, Her Family, going back deeper into what played out all those years ago, how he deals with that now it’s all left to be assumed and that made me feel a little adrift.
Having said that, this author’s writing pulls you in and I would love to keep reading his work.
May 14, 2026
Right off the bat, this book warns for cheating and sex with others. Here's the details under the cut if you want to know exactly what all that means:
And really, it shouldn't even matter because Cooper is with Thalia, not Dane. But early on it's clear these two are emotionally invested in each other, and only each other. I think Cooper and Thalia try to have sex like...once or twice in the several months they're at Dane and Thalia's father's house, but both turn the other down.
With Thalia going to school to become a lawyer, she spends a lot of time away and with her lawyer school friends, and when Dane's asshole father suggests Cooper help train Dane to be better at soccer, these two spend a lot of time together.
Cooper starts this out thinking he's straight, and he has several instances where he might seem uncomfortable with gay people - even though he's outwardly very supportive - but I think it was really his feelings for Dane coming into play (and more broadly, men in general and being bisexual) and him not quite ready to face them when he has those thoughts. He even says a pretty nasty thing to Dane after that scene at the party with that rando, but I think he was just majorly jealous more than anything else and had no idea how to handle that.
Thalia is pretty awful from the start. She seems okay at first, and definitely when it comes to anyone but Dane, she seems like she's perfectly nice, but she is truly awful. Same with Dane's father.
Truly, I didn't mind this. Thalia's reasons for hating Dane from her limited perspective make sense to a point, but she is just nasty as fuck for pretty shitty reasons. But I appreciated that she never got better, and neither did Dane's father. Sometimes people are just nasty, awful people and never improve, and truly this showcased that there was no salvaging any type of relationship between Dane and his sister and father.
I saw misogyny accusations for this, and I have to disagree. Women can be awful, nasty people for barely a justifiable reason, just because that's who they are, and Thalia was that. I know there's a line between a woman being horrible in a dimensional, non-misogynistic way and being villainized for no real reason, but it's not like Thalia did nothing and got treated horribly. No, she was truly awful. No one gets angry at Dane's father being horrible from the start because that's just who he is.
Also the accusation that this had no positive female representation when Dane's mother was right there. No, she was nowhere near perfect - and we never get to learn exactly what Dane's father did to keep Dane from her when they were divorcing - and she fucked up big time, but she was a character who could improve and make up for what she did. And she clearly loved Dane a lot, and wanted to mend their relationship.
Thalia does, though, make it very easy to not feel bad about her being cheated on. It's never confirmed in the book, but there was a scene that heavily hinted at her cheating on Cooper too, before she knew of him cheating on her. Not that it makes Cooper and Dane's actions right, but that's still another thing that made it easy to not feel so bad.
It seems as soon as she and Cooper got to San Diego, their relationship was already well over, but they couldn't admit it to themselves or each other.
Cooper was the sweetest, most adorable puppy 😘 of a character. He's an inherently kind and sweet person, and with having such loving parents and a good life, he turned into a major sweetheart. He's so kind and understanding overall, and sees the good in Dane when Dane doesn't see it in himself.
Dane has had such a hard life, but instead of havinag a good family to show him love, he had no one, really. His mom, kinda, but then she abandoned him and he was left with his emotionally and mentally abusive, and occasionally physically abusive father.
As a kid, Dane was a little volatile, and the book never says it, but I think it's because of his father, and he acted out as a result, and then people didn't show him understanding or kindness in return, but further nastiness. With how Thalia seemed to get along with her dad, it seems like he treated her well and then took out all his awfulness out on Dane.
So Dane goes through it in this book, but he finds love for the first time in Connor, who is the first one to show up for him in ages, since his mother left almost 10 years prior. Underneath his pain, and his snark and sass, he's so broken and needing of love - and he has such a good heart too.
Dane and Cooper were so perfect together, I just absolutely loved them. Their chemistry was SO damn good, the UST high before they finally gave into their desire for each other. They were adorable and sweet too, and I couldn't get enough of all the time Dane thought Cooper was an adorable cutie, and the one or two times Cooper thought the same about Dane. They were just so into each other from the start, falling in love was inevitable.
I'm really excited for the third book, although it didn't say who it will be about - I'm assuming one of the other friends in the friend group of Cooper's from Sacramento. Perhaps Levi? The almost "painfully straight" one? Maybe, maybe...
Until then! I absolutely can't wait for more from this wonderful author! 🥰😍😘
My Ratings for the Like Teammates Series:
✨ Sweat: 5 stars (my review)
✨ Salt: 5 stars
✨ Honey: TBR
And really, it shouldn't even matter because Cooper is with Thalia, not Dane. But early on it's clear these two are emotionally invested in each other, and only each other. I think Cooper and Thalia try to have sex like...once or twice in the several months they're at Dane and Thalia's father's house, but both turn the other down.
With Thalia going to school to become a lawyer, she spends a lot of time away and with her lawyer school friends, and when Dane's asshole father suggests Cooper help train Dane to be better at soccer, these two spend a lot of time together.
Cooper starts this out thinking he's straight, and he has several instances where he might seem uncomfortable with gay people - even though he's outwardly very supportive - but I think it was really his feelings for Dane coming into play (and more broadly, men in general and being bisexual) and him not quite ready to face them when he has those thoughts. He even says a pretty nasty thing to Dane after that scene at the party with that rando, but I think he was just majorly jealous more than anything else and had no idea how to handle that.
Thalia is pretty awful from the start. She seems okay at first, and definitely when it comes to anyone but Dane, she seems like she's perfectly nice, but she is truly awful. Same with Dane's father.
Truly, I didn't mind this. Thalia's reasons for hating Dane from her limited perspective make sense to a point, but she is just nasty as fuck for pretty shitty reasons. But I appreciated that she never got better, and neither did Dane's father. Sometimes people are just nasty, awful people and never improve, and truly this showcased that there was no salvaging any type of relationship between Dane and his sister and father.
I saw misogyny accusations for this, and I have to disagree. Women can be awful, nasty people for barely a justifiable reason, just because that's who they are, and Thalia was that. I know there's a line between a woman being horrible in a dimensional, non-misogynistic way and being villainized for no real reason, but it's not like Thalia did nothing and got treated horribly. No, she was truly awful. No one gets angry at Dane's father being horrible from the start because that's just who he is.
Also the accusation that this had no positive female representation when Dane's mother was right there. No, she was nowhere near perfect - and we never get to learn exactly what Dane's father did to keep Dane from her when they were divorcing - and she fucked up big time, but she was a character who could improve and make up for what she did. And she clearly loved Dane a lot, and wanted to mend their relationship.
Thalia does, though, make it very easy to not feel bad about her being cheated on. It's never confirmed in the book, but there was a scene that heavily hinted at her cheating on Cooper too, before she knew of him cheating on her. Not that it makes Cooper and Dane's actions right, but that's still another thing that made it easy to not feel so bad.
It seems as soon as she and Cooper got to San Diego, their relationship was already well over, but they couldn't admit it to themselves or each other.
Cooper was the sweetest, most adorable puppy 😘 of a character. He's an inherently kind and sweet person, and with having such loving parents and a good life, he turned into a major sweetheart. He's so kind and understanding overall, and sees the good in Dane when Dane doesn't see it in himself.
Dane has had such a hard life, but instead of havinag a good family to show him love, he had no one, really. His mom, kinda, but then she abandoned him and he was left with his emotionally and mentally abusive, and occasionally physically abusive father.
As a kid, Dane was a little volatile, and the book never says it, but I think it's because of his father, and he acted out as a result, and then people didn't show him understanding or kindness in return, but further nastiness. With how Thalia seemed to get along with her dad, it seems like he treated her well and then took out all his awfulness out on Dane.
So Dane goes through it in this book, but he finds love for the first time in Connor, who is the first one to show up for him in ages, since his mother left almost 10 years prior. Underneath his pain, and his snark and sass, he's so broken and needing of love - and he has such a good heart too.
Dane and Cooper were so perfect together, I just absolutely loved them. Their chemistry was SO damn good, the UST high before they finally gave into their desire for each other. They were adorable and sweet too, and I couldn't get enough of all the time Dane thought Cooper was an adorable cutie, and the one or two times Cooper thought the same about Dane. They were just so into each other from the start, falling in love was inevitable.
I'm really excited for the third book, although it didn't say who it will be about - I'm assuming one of the other friends in the friend group of Cooper's from Sacramento. Perhaps Levi? The almost "painfully straight" one? Maybe, maybe...
Until then! I absolutely can't wait for more from this wonderful author! 🥰😍😘
My Ratings for the Like Teammates Series:
✨ Sweat: 5 stars (my review)
✨ Salt: 5 stars
✨ Honey: TBR
April 13, 2026
oh i devoured this. i’m absolutely obsessed with connor and dane, there’s something about a forbidden romance that’s just going to do it for me every time and this was done to PERFECTION 😍
the yearning and pining was so freaking good, i felt feral. their chemistry was jumping off of the pages and i wanted everything for these two
connor and dane are EVERYTHING to me 😩
the yearning and pining was so freaking good, i felt feral. their chemistry was jumping off of the pages and i wanted everything for these two
connor and dane are EVERYTHING to me 😩
May 14, 2026
⚽️
🌊
📸
ARC Review - Salt by @jonahyorkeauthor
Word of warning... this book has cheating, if that's not your thing, this is not your book.
After loving Sweat, I was ridiculously excited for this book! Tommy and Rowan have been living rent free in my head, and now Connor and Dane have taken up residence too!
Connor moves to San Diego with his longtime girlfriend, Thalia, for grad school. While wandering the beach, he stumbles across a pickup soccer game and immediately notices one very attractive player. Connor snaps a photo, and the guy catches him. After the game the guy finds Connor and starts flirting, hard. Flattered, Connor shuts it down quickly with the "Oh, I'm straight" line.
Unfortunately for Connor, that same guy shows up at family dinner later that night and he is introduced as Dane, Thalia’s brother.
And wow does it get messy from here... Connor ends up training Dane in soccer. The two go from reluctant friends, to more. But that makes Connor spiral, and he tries very hard not to think about the fact that he’s definitely into Dane. But the chemistry between them is undeniable. When Connor finally gives into the inevitable, everything implodes.
Watching these two work through so many obstacles together, change old habits, see worth in themselves and choose each other was really incredible. And this is where I think Jonah Yorke excels. The way he writes his stories, the way he develops the characters, it makes you fall so hard for these fictional people!! (When you get to about 55% you will see what I mean. 🥹)
And if the audiobook for Salt will be anything like Sweat, I already know I’m going to be obsessed all over again. The audiobook for Salt will be narrated by Daniel Lewis and Tom Taylorson and comes out October 6th.
Salt by Jonah Yorke released May 12th. Check it out!! You do not want to miss this!!
Started: May 8th, 2026
Finished: May 9th, 2026
Format: Kindle
🌊
📸
ARC Review - Salt by @jonahyorkeauthor
Word of warning... this book has cheating, if that's not your thing, this is not your book.
After loving Sweat, I was ridiculously excited for this book! Tommy and Rowan have been living rent free in my head, and now Connor and Dane have taken up residence too!
Connor moves to San Diego with his longtime girlfriend, Thalia, for grad school. While wandering the beach, he stumbles across a pickup soccer game and immediately notices one very attractive player. Connor snaps a photo, and the guy catches him. After the game the guy finds Connor and starts flirting, hard. Flattered, Connor shuts it down quickly with the "Oh, I'm straight" line.
Unfortunately for Connor, that same guy shows up at family dinner later that night and he is introduced as Dane, Thalia’s brother.
And wow does it get messy from here... Connor ends up training Dane in soccer. The two go from reluctant friends, to more. But that makes Connor spiral, and he tries very hard not to think about the fact that he’s definitely into Dane. But the chemistry between them is undeniable. When Connor finally gives into the inevitable, everything implodes.
Watching these two work through so many obstacles together, change old habits, see worth in themselves and choose each other was really incredible. And this is where I think Jonah Yorke excels. The way he writes his stories, the way he develops the characters, it makes you fall so hard for these fictional people!! (When you get to about 55% you will see what I mean. 🥹)
And if the audiobook for Salt will be anything like Sweat, I already know I’m going to be obsessed all over again. The audiobook for Salt will be narrated by Daniel Lewis and Tom Taylorson and comes out October 6th.
Salt by Jonah Yorke released May 12th. Check it out!! You do not want to miss this!!
Started: May 8th, 2026
Finished: May 9th, 2026
Format: Kindle
May 14, 2026
6⭐️. This was beautiful in and out. If someone told me I’d fall in love with another couple in this series aside from Rowan and Tommy, I’ll side-eye them. But Dane and Connor where just so so easy to love.
Dane deserves the world and Connor deserves to be love the way Dane loves him and Dane Deserves someone to choose him the way Connor chose him.
Dane’s family deserves hell. Thalia was a piece of work, an entitled brat and that and why couldn’t their mom actually tell her the truth?
Anyway, I don’t care about Thalia and she deserves what happened. Glad that my babies got their happy endings and Dane got a chance to have his mom in his life again.
Dane deserves the world and Connor deserves to be love the way Dane loves him and Dane Deserves someone to choose him the way Connor chose him.
Dane’s family deserves hell. Thalia was a piece of work, an entitled brat and that and why couldn’t their mom actually tell her the truth?
Anyway, I don’t care about Thalia and she deserves what happened. Glad that my babies got their happy endings and Dane got a chance to have his mom in his life again.
May 7, 2026
ARC Review! 4.5 ⭐️
Oh my godddd please protect Dane from everyone in this damn book! My sweet boy Dane deserved so much better than life gave him. This was almost a perfect 5⭐️ but I wasn’t satisfied that the shitty people in Dane’s life never got told how shitty they were to him. I was waiting every chapter for someone to finally lose their shit and tell Thalia and her dad off for being so disgusting towards Dane but it never came 😭
But I truly loved reading about Connor and Dane. Such sweet boys. I smiled, laughed and cried while reading about these two. Dane is written the way I absolutely love— a broken / damaged person who has nothing but love to give and deserves that love given back but is also flirty and funny as a defense mechanism. And it was also just so great reading about Connor finding his true self. I absolutely loved the side characters too when they would pop up. Margot had me smiling when she was on page and it was just such a great book to read. I took a long break from physical reading due to a busy life and this book had me hooked from the beginning because of the charisma Dane had and the tension between him and Connor. I almost wish there was more to read about them.
When I requested this ARC I didn’t realize it was book two even though Sweat has been on my TBR for a while now but I went full steam ahead when I was approved anyways and I’m so glad I did. I will be picking Sweat up IMMEDIATELY after I finish my ARC obligations because I really love Jonah’s writing in Salt!
This arc was from Netgalley and these are all my own opinions. It truly was a delight to read and I’m hoping I get a 2.5 novella some time to get my satisfaction of Thalia and Dane’s father getting humbled finally 🤭😭
Oh my godddd please protect Dane from everyone in this damn book! My sweet boy Dane deserved so much better than life gave him. This was almost a perfect 5⭐️ but I wasn’t satisfied that the shitty people in Dane’s life never got told how shitty they were to him. I was waiting every chapter for someone to finally lose their shit and tell Thalia and her dad off for being so disgusting towards Dane but it never came 😭
But I truly loved reading about Connor and Dane. Such sweet boys. I smiled, laughed and cried while reading about these two. Dane is written the way I absolutely love— a broken / damaged person who has nothing but love to give and deserves that love given back but is also flirty and funny as a defense mechanism. And it was also just so great reading about Connor finding his true self. I absolutely loved the side characters too when they would pop up. Margot had me smiling when she was on page and it was just such a great book to read. I took a long break from physical reading due to a busy life and this book had me hooked from the beginning because of the charisma Dane had and the tension between him and Connor. I almost wish there was more to read about them.
When I requested this ARC I didn’t realize it was book two even though Sweat has been on my TBR for a while now but I went full steam ahead when I was approved anyways and I’m so glad I did. I will be picking Sweat up IMMEDIATELY after I finish my ARC obligations because I really love Jonah’s writing in Salt!
This arc was from Netgalley and these are all my own opinions. It truly was a delight to read and I’m hoping I get a 2.5 novella some time to get my satisfaction of Thalia and Dane’s father getting humbled finally 🤭😭
May 13, 2026
This had a lot of great moments! I think overall it made me pretty uncomfortable how everything was handled and dealt with though and reading the last 30-40% kind of made my skin crawl
Some of the stuff that happened to Dane was always heavily implied but then there was a random toss in comment at the end that just never went anywhere and everyone in the house was just like … okay?
The one lady snatching her kid up everytime he was near was super random and didn’t feel necessary like we get it they think he’s evil I promise there is enough hatred in the household plz can I get a break
I also thought there would be a moment where we found out Thalia was also cheating on Connor .. unless I missed a reveal of that but like she was right? Anywho
Any scene with Danes mom I could not read with full focus I genuinely had to skim because what do you MEAN
Connor’s switch to when they started doing stuff was SO immediate that I was like wait had they done this before what is going on right now we are MOVING
I would’ve really liked to see Connor become a bit more social and independent like yeah he made a friend in Margot but with his character background I wish there were even more moments like that with others
Some of the stuff that happened to Dane was always heavily implied but then there was a random toss in comment at the end that just never went anywhere and everyone in the house was just like … okay?
The one lady snatching her kid up everytime he was near was super random and didn’t feel necessary like we get it they think he’s evil I promise there is enough hatred in the household plz can I get a break
I also thought there would be a moment where we found out Thalia was also cheating on Connor .. unless I missed a reveal of that but like she was right? Anywho
Any scene with Danes mom I could not read with full focus I genuinely had to skim because what do you MEAN
Connor’s switch to when they started doing stuff was SO immediate that I was like wait had they done this before what is going on right now we are MOVING
I would’ve really liked to see Connor become a bit more social and independent like yeah he made a friend in Margot but with his character background I wish there were even more moments like that with others
May 6, 2026
⚽️ 𝕊𝕒𝕝𝕥 ⚽️
“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙮. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚.”
📖 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁
✍🏼 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲
🗓️ 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟮
𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝙳𝙴𝚃𝙰𝙸𝙻𝚂
📃 𝟰𝟯𝟵 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
🔎 𝗣𝗢𝗩:𝘔𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘖𝘝’𝘴
“…𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙞𝙜. 𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢.”
𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴
🥅 ꜱᴡᴇᴀᴛ
🥅 ꜱᴀʟᴛ
🥅 ʜᴏɴᴇʏ - ᴛʙᴅ
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧?
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦
🌊 ꜰᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🌊 ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
🌊 ʙɪ-ᴀᴡᴀᴋᴇɴɪɴɢ
🌊 ɢɪʀʟꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ
🌊 ʜᴜʀᴛ/ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛ
🌊 ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
𝙎𝘼𝙇𝙏 can be enjoyed as a standalone but will contain
references to book 1, 𝙎𝙒𝙀𝘼𝙏
📖𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗠𝗠𝗖: Connor
𝗠𝗠𝗖: Dane
I’m so quickly falling in love with Jonah’s work. Connor and Dane were perfect 🥹
Connor is your sweet loving and caring soul. And Dane is blunt, forward but also broken. And if I could cold clock Thalia I’d do it in a heartbeat to protect this sweet boy.
Your heart breaks for everything Dane went through with his family, he deserved so much better. And I love Connor was his rock through it all. I love these two so much!
“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙮. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚.”
📖 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁
✍🏼 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲
🗓️ 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟮
𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝙳𝙴𝚃𝙰𝙸𝙻𝚂
📃 𝟰𝟯𝟵 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
🔎 𝗣𝗢𝗩:𝘔𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘖𝘝’𝘴
“…𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙞𝙜. 𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢.”
𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴
🥅 ꜱᴡᴇᴀᴛ
🥅 ꜱᴀʟᴛ
🥅 ʜᴏɴᴇʏ - ᴛʙᴅ
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧?
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦
🌊 ꜰᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🌊 ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
🌊 ʙɪ-ᴀᴡᴀᴋᴇɴɪɴɢ
🌊 ɢɪʀʟꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ
🌊 ʜᴜʀᴛ/ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛ
🌊 ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
𝙎𝘼𝙇𝙏 can be enjoyed as a standalone but will contain
references to book 1, 𝙎𝙒𝙀𝘼𝙏
📖𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗠𝗠𝗖: Connor
𝗠𝗠𝗖: Dane
I’m so quickly falling in love with Jonah’s work. Connor and Dane were perfect 🥹
Connor is your sweet loving and caring soul. And Dane is blunt, forward but also broken. And if I could cold clock Thalia I’d do it in a heartbeat to protect this sweet boy.
Your heart breaks for everything Dane went through with his family, he deserved so much better. And I love Connor was his rock through it all. I love these two so much!
April 25, 2026
ARC review
This book. Wow. Sweet Connor x "Bad Boy" Dane.
THIS is what I want in a friends-to-lovers 🫦 TENSIONNNNNN, yearning, flirting before even trying anything. I loved Connor SO MUCH, just a normal guy being flirted with at every turn by Dane 😂 I really have a thing for the sweet and caring type. Dane on the other hand is described as being "a lot" or "too much", and I love the types of characters who don’t fit in society’s mold just as much.
Note that this is also pretty taboo (Dane is Connor’s girlfriend’s brother 👀), but I didn’t mind once since it was very well done.
I didn’t finish the first book (DNF’d it around 35%) and it did not impact my experience at all.
-1⭐️ because there was a lot of family drama and I didn’t care about it that much so it could’ve been shortened a bit at the end imo, but Dane and Connor made up for it. They will definitely remain together after their HEA:)
This book. Wow. Sweet Connor x "Bad Boy" Dane.
THIS is what I want in a friends-to-lovers 🫦 TENSIONNNNNN, yearning, flirting before even trying anything. I loved Connor SO MUCH, just a normal guy being flirted with at every turn by Dane 😂 I really have a thing for the sweet and caring type. Dane on the other hand is described as being "a lot" or "too much", and I love the types of characters who don’t fit in society’s mold just as much.
Note that this is also pretty taboo (Dane is Connor’s girlfriend’s brother 👀), but I didn’t mind once since it was very well done.
I didn’t finish the first book (DNF’d it around 35%) and it did not impact my experience at all.
-1⭐️ because there was a lot of family drama and I didn’t care about it that much so it could’ve been shortened a bit at the end imo, but Dane and Connor made up for it. They will definitely remain together after their HEA:)
May 12, 2026
Jonah York did it again. Knocked it out of the park or I googled some soccer terms so this was a Screamer or he just fucking nailed it. This was an amazing follow up to Sweat. There is nothing about this that I didn’t love. Connor and Dane were so perfect for one another. Connor taught Dane that he is worthy of love and deserving of someone to fight for him.
Thank you for picking me to read and review your amazing hard work. I’m cutting it super close with my review but I had shoulder and bicep surgery last week and those pain meds are brutal. I love this so much. I CANNOT wait to see what’s next from you. Bavo!
“This is how I’ll fuck you one day,” Dane says, humid breath tickling my face. “Just like this. So I can look into your eyes.”
Thank you for picking me to read and review your amazing hard work. I’m cutting it super close with my review but I had shoulder and bicep surgery last week and those pain meds are brutal. I love this so much. I CANNOT wait to see what’s next from you. Bavo!
“This is how I’ll fuck you one day,” Dane says, humid breath tickling my face. “Just like this. So I can look into your eyes.”
May 14, 2026
I loved this book!
The entire time I read this I felt so giddy and happy, which is what I’ve been looking for in recent reads but haven’t been able to find. I loved both Connor and Dane and I loved how obsessed they were with each other <3
I read Sweat at the end of 2025, and while I liked that book, I had some issues with it pacing wise, and with the amount of sex (there was so much I lost track). This book was so much better, in every way.
I also enjoyed this book so much I was able to overlook the pet name “puppy”, which was only marginally better than the baby boy/daddy thing going on in Sweat lol.
Definitely one of my favorite reads so far this year! I can’t believe I have to wait until 2027 for the next book :P
The entire time I read this I felt so giddy and happy, which is what I’ve been looking for in recent reads but haven’t been able to find. I loved both Connor and Dane and I loved how obsessed they were with each other <3
I read Sweat at the end of 2025, and while I liked that book, I had some issues with it pacing wise, and with the amount of sex (there was so much I lost track). This book was so much better, in every way.
I also enjoyed this book so much I was able to overlook the pet name “puppy”, which was only marginally better than the baby boy/daddy thing going on in Sweat lol.
Definitely one of my favorite reads so far this year! I can’t believe I have to wait until 2027 for the next book :P
May 3, 2026
ARC SALT REVIEW
Thanks so much to author Jonah Yorke for sending me the ARC for Salt! I loved Sweat so much, I was so excited for Salt, the next book in the Like Teammates series!
“What do you say? You wanna play on my side for a change?”
“Like teammates?” he asks. “Hell yeah.”
I was glued to Salt. The meet-cute, the friendship, the angst, the anguish, the relationship, care, and love. I couldn’t put it down. Connor and Dane are the sweetest characters. I cared for them so much, especially Dane🥹💙 So easy rooting for them. Now I can’t wait to read Honey!🍯
Thanks so much to author Jonah Yorke for sending me the ARC for Salt! I loved Sweat so much, I was so excited for Salt, the next book in the Like Teammates series!
“What do you say? You wanna play on my side for a change?”
“Like teammates?” he asks. “Hell yeah.”
I was glued to Salt. The meet-cute, the friendship, the angst, the anguish, the relationship, care, and love. I couldn’t put it down. Connor and Dane are the sweetest characters. I cared for them so much, especially Dane🥹💙 So easy rooting for them. Now I can’t wait to read Honey!🍯
May 13, 2026
5⭐️ perfection 🫶🏼
—
In my blissful delirium, I fall so hard into my senses that I forget where I am. Sacramento, San Diego, the fucking moon. It doesn’t matter. I’m particles. Skin, sweat, saliva, and nerve endings.. and somehow, he’s touching all of me at the exact same time. Every particle. Like they all belong to him.
That’s the color of love, Connie ♥️
—
In my blissful delirium, I fall so hard into my senses that I forget where I am. Sacramento, San Diego, the fucking moon. It doesn’t matter. I’m particles. Skin, sweat, saliva, and nerve endings.. and somehow, he’s touching all of me at the exact same time. Every particle. Like they all belong to him.
That’s the color of love, Connie ♥️
May 10, 2026
Review soon !
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc Review: Salt [Like Teammates Book #2] by Jonah Yorke
MC:Connor & Dane 4⭐
I'm totally fangirling over them 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 and another perfect cover 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
Tropes & tags
🌊 Forbidden romance⚽ Friends-to-lovers🌊 Bi-awakening⚽ Girlfriend's brother🌊 Forced proximity⚽ Hurt/comfort
I absolutely loved this, probably even a tiny bit more than Sweat and Jonah is on my automatic release automatic read list from now on!
The setup alone had me hooked: Connor is stuck in San Diego, miserable and homesick, living with his girlfriend’s family while trying (and failing) to hold onto the life he had in Sacramento. He’s a football/soccer obsessed disaster trying to stay “straight” and stable… until he sees Dane.
Dane playing pickup soccer on the beach??? Instant obsession. Connor goes full photography-stalker mode and I was SOLD 😭 And then the kicker: Dane is his girlfriend’s younger brother. Living under the same roof. Next door. Absolute chaos.
They are 20yo babies, so expect lots of immaturity and rushed decisions, some bratty actions, but also soooo much emotional dependency 😭 Connor and Dane are so deeply wrapped around each other it hurts. Roommates, teammates, training together every day, sharing routines, sharing space, slowly becoming each other’s safe place… it all felt so natural ad intimate.
And the forbidden aspect? DELICIOUS. Dane clocking Connor immediately, openly flirting, pushing every button, while Connor is still stuck in denial like “I’m straight (I think)”?? The tension, the confusion, the push-pull was SO GOOD.
Underneath it, though, they don’t just hook up and go — they become each other’s person first. Late-night conversations, teasing, training sessions, emotional support, vulnerability… you can literally feel Connor getting addicted to Dane’s presence in his life before he even understands why.
Connor’s bi awakening was SO GOOD. The confusion, denial, jealousy, possessiveness, obsession, panic… delicious 😀 And Dane completely stole my heart. Under all the cockiness and chaos he’s just a lonely disaster who genuinely believes no one like Connor could ever want “a train wreck” like him 😭 PAIN.
Also yes, they are typical horndogs, but also not? Connor muse, swimming lessons, training together, protein shakes that taste like shit 😀, number 14, cherry lube, flip fuck like a porn star. I ate it all up. Theres some OP drama
I also want to add this quote because the banter and sweetness envolver just made me laugh and swoon in equal measure 🥰🥹
I also really loved how sports weren’t just background noise — they actively shaped their connection. The soccer, training, competition, physicality, routines, beach setting… it all added another layer of intimacy between them.
It really captured that overwhelming “first person who truly sees me” feeling, especially for Connor during his identity crisis and for Dane with his loneliness and family trauma. That emotional recognition between them is what made everything hit so hard.
Loved the banter, their connection growing from friendship into something much deeper, the conversations, the vulnerability, them sharing insecurities, the emotional intimacy… god I LOVE THEM!!!!
Now for the rant 😅
I hated Thalia with my whole soul. I’m NEVER this person, but I was genuinely glad she got cheated on with her own brother because this snobby bitch deserved it 😌 Calvo senior is absolutely disgusting and Jess is such a boneless stepmother.
I’m also still not okay with Dane’s mom situation. Dane deserved way more anger, confrontation, and closure from both parents. I don’t understand how Lori could leave him alone with that man for eight years and barely try to contact him, and I think Dane forgave her way too fast, especially without the full story. Christmas was awful and I needed a proper “go fuck yourself” moment directed at his dad.
And I’m sorry… Dane’s first time bottoming for Connor being OFF PAGE???? Criminal behaviour.
Other than these issues this was completely adorable and I loved these two idiots with my whole heart. Connor and Dane felt messy, immature, intense, needy, horny, sweet, loyal, and so deeply gone for each other in that all-consuming first-love way that makes you want to scream into a pillow 😭 Their friendship, trust, and emotional intimacy completely sold me on them, and even with all the chaos, I truly believe these two will fight for each other forever. They’re young and dramatic and absolutely incapable of being normal about one another… exactly how I like them 🩵
Logically this should probably be a 4⭐ read for me because a lot of important emotional issues were rushed, glossed over, or happened off page when I desperately wanted more payoff and confrontation… but unfortunately I am weak 😭 Connor and Dane completely got me emotionally, so here I am throwing five stars at these emotionally dependent disaster idiots anyway 🩵
Edit
I’ve never done this before—lowering a rating after posting a review—but I’ve been thinking about this book more and I can’t ignore some things anymore, so I’ve brought it down to a 4⭐.
The biggest issue for me is the unresolved family drama. We finish the book without any real explanation for why the mother left her son, especially when he was already struggling. There’s no real closure there, just… nothing. And on top of that, the reconciliation felt a bit too easy considering the weight of what happened.
I also kept thinking about how Thalia is never really called out properly or made to take responsibility for her behaviour, which left that whole thread feeling unfinished too.
Overall, there are just too many important emotional beats and conflicts that feel either glossed over or left hanging. I still love Connor and Dane completely 🩵 but I can’t ignore these issues anymore.
2027 and Honey can't come fast enough!!!!!!
I received a copy of this book from Jonah, and this is my honest review.
⚠️Author Note To Reader
Please be aware that this book portrays and/or discusses challenging topics related to external and internal homophobia, grief, depression, and familial abuse. This book is intended for readers age 18 and up. All depicted sexual scenarios are between consenting adults. Related content warnings include but are not limited to:Cheating; the protagonists engaging in emotional and physical infidelity with each other. Sexual scenarios involving the protagonists and other characters.”
❣️Book Safety & Content
Other Person Drama:MC1 has other off-page hookups with a fuckbuddy. There is an on-page scene where MC1 is kissed and given a blowjob by another man, and MC2 catches them, stays to watch, and comes in his pants. At this point, MC1 and MC2 are not together. MC1 has been flirting with MC2 since day one. After this, MC1 is never involved with anyone else again.
Third-Act Breakup: No
Role Dynamics: Versatile
POV: 1st person dual
Format: Series but works as a standalone
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Medium
Communication: Some miscommunication
Pining: Mutual
MC:Connor & Dane 4⭐
“I want to put my arms around him and kiss the stale salt from his neck.”
I'm totally fangirling over them 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 and another perfect cover 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
Tropes & tags
🌊 Forbidden romance⚽ Friends-to-lovers🌊 Bi-awakening⚽ Girlfriend's brother🌊 Forced proximity⚽ Hurt/comfort
I absolutely loved this, probably even a tiny bit more than Sweat and Jonah is on my automatic release automatic read list from now on!
The setup alone had me hooked: Connor is stuck in San Diego, miserable and homesick, living with his girlfriend’s family while trying (and failing) to hold onto the life he had in Sacramento. He’s a football/soccer obsessed disaster trying to stay “straight” and stable… until he sees Dane.
Dane playing pickup soccer on the beach??? Instant obsession. Connor goes full photography-stalker mode and I was SOLD 😭 And then the kicker: Dane is his girlfriend’s younger brother. Living under the same roof. Next door. Absolute chaos.
They are 20yo babies, so expect lots of immaturity and rushed decisions, some bratty actions, but also soooo much emotional dependency 😭 Connor and Dane are so deeply wrapped around each other it hurts. Roommates, teammates, training together every day, sharing routines, sharing space, slowly becoming each other’s safe place… it all felt so natural ad intimate.
And the forbidden aspect? DELICIOUS. Dane clocking Connor immediately, openly flirting, pushing every button, while Connor is still stuck in denial like “I’m straight (I think)”?? The tension, the confusion, the push-pull was SO GOOD.
Underneath it, though, they don’t just hook up and go — they become each other’s person first. Late-night conversations, teasing, training sessions, emotional support, vulnerability… you can literally feel Connor getting addicted to Dane’s presence in his life before he even understands why.
Connor’s bi awakening was SO GOOD. The confusion, denial, jealousy, possessiveness, obsession, panic… delicious 😀 And Dane completely stole my heart. Under all the cockiness and chaos he’s just a lonely disaster who genuinely believes no one like Connor could ever want “a train wreck” like him 😭 PAIN.
Also yes, they are typical horndogs, but also not? Connor muse, swimming lessons, training together, protein shakes that taste like shit 😀, number 14, cherry lube, flip fuck like a porn star. I ate it all up. Theres some OP drama
I also want to add this quote because the banter and sweetness envolver just made me laugh and swoon in equal measure 🥰🥹
“Connor, though, my precious little goldendoodle, may as well be the belle of the ball. I call it bottom bliss—when a dude gets fucked so right that it turns him into a Disney princess for the rest of the day. It’s the starry-eyed smiles and the extra flourish in Connor’s walk, like he’s on the verge of breaking into a song and dance number. I swear, when he comes back to the sofa with a fresh can of Coke, he does a half-twirl before plopping down beside me. It’s absolutely fucking adorable.”
I also really loved how sports weren’t just background noise — they actively shaped their connection. The soccer, training, competition, physicality, routines, beach setting… it all added another layer of intimacy between them.
It really captured that overwhelming “first person who truly sees me” feeling, especially for Connor during his identity crisis and for Dane with his loneliness and family trauma. That emotional recognition between them is what made everything hit so hard.
Loved the banter, their connection growing from friendship into something much deeper, the conversations, the vulnerability, them sharing insecurities, the emotional intimacy… god I LOVE THEM!!!!
Now for the rant 😅
I hated Thalia with my whole soul. I’m NEVER this person, but I was genuinely glad she got cheated on with her own brother because this snobby bitch deserved it 😌 Calvo senior is absolutely disgusting and Jess is such a boneless stepmother.
I’m also still not okay with Dane’s mom situation. Dane deserved way more anger, confrontation, and closure from both parents. I don’t understand how Lori could leave him alone with that man for eight years and barely try to contact him, and I think Dane forgave her way too fast, especially without the full story. Christmas was awful and I needed a proper “go fuck yourself” moment directed at his dad.
And I’m sorry… Dane’s first time bottoming for Connor being OFF PAGE???? Criminal behaviour.
Other than these issues this was completely adorable and I loved these two idiots with my whole heart. Connor and Dane felt messy, immature, intense, needy, horny, sweet, loyal, and so deeply gone for each other in that all-consuming first-love way that makes you want to scream into a pillow 😭 Their friendship, trust, and emotional intimacy completely sold me on them, and even with all the chaos, I truly believe these two will fight for each other forever. They’re young and dramatic and absolutely incapable of being normal about one another… exactly how I like them 🩵
Logically this should probably be a 4⭐ read for me because a lot of important emotional issues were rushed, glossed over, or happened off page when I desperately wanted more payoff and confrontation… but unfortunately I am weak 😭 Connor and Dane completely got me emotionally, so here I am throwing five stars at these emotionally dependent disaster idiots anyway 🩵
Edit
I’ve never done this before—lowering a rating after posting a review—but I’ve been thinking about this book more and I can’t ignore some things anymore, so I’ve brought it down to a 4⭐.
The biggest issue for me is the unresolved family drama. We finish the book without any real explanation for why the mother left her son, especially when he was already struggling. There’s no real closure there, just… nothing. And on top of that, the reconciliation felt a bit too easy considering the weight of what happened.
I also kept thinking about how Thalia is never really called out properly or made to take responsibility for her behaviour, which left that whole thread feeling unfinished too.
Overall, there are just too many important emotional beats and conflicts that feel either glossed over or left hanging. I still love Connor and Dane completely 🩵 but I can’t ignore these issues anymore.
2027 and Honey can't come fast enough!!!!!!
“In a topsy-turvy way, Connor’s nerves ease my own. I guess I like it when he worries for the both of us. It makes his one eye kind of squinty and his mouth pucker small. Adorable.
“Of course I want you to come in with me,” I say. “I want you to come with me everywhere, but I refuse to be that evil of a boyfriend.”
He reaches up to pick a rogue curl off my forehead and fix it back into place. “You’re not evil at all. You’re an angel.”
I don’t know what’s funnier, the notion of me being in any way angelic or that Connor genuinely believes that shit. “You’re the angel, Connor. I’m just a recovering train wreck.”
I received a copy of this book from Jonah, and this is my honest review.
⚠️Author Note To Reader
Please be aware that this book portrays and/or discusses challenging topics related to external and internal homophobia, grief, depression, and familial abuse. This book is intended for readers age 18 and up. All depicted sexual scenarios are between consenting adults. Related content warnings include but are not limited to:Cheating; the protagonists engaging in emotional and physical infidelity with each other. Sexual scenarios involving the protagonists and other characters.”
❣️Book Safety & Content
Other Person Drama:MC1 has other off-page hookups with a fuckbuddy. There is an on-page scene where MC1 is kissed and given a blowjob by another man, and MC2 catches them, stays to watch, and comes in his pants. At this point, MC1 and MC2 are not together. MC1 has been flirting with MC2 since day one. After this, MC1 is never involved with anyone else again.
Third-Act Breakup: No
Role Dynamics: Versatile
POV: 1st person dual
Format: Series but works as a standalone
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Medium
Communication: Some miscommunication
Pining: Mutual
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks to the author for sending me the ARC of this book! I still remember after finishing the first book Sweat, Rowan and Tommy lingered in my mind for an entire week. I couldn’t believe it was the author’s debut novel—I’ve read loads of MM Romance books, and Sweat easily ranks among my top three favorites. There’s a magical quality to Jonah Yoker’s writing that instantly immerses you in the story, marking him as a truly gifted and talented writer. That’s why I was beyond excited for the author’s second book Salt: I followed the author on Instagram and checked in regularly to see when it would be released, and finally, my wait paid off!
Just like I did with Sweat, I devoured Salt in one single sitting!! And now I’m stuck with a massive book hangover. I’m not a native English speaker, actually, so I write this review sincerely in my native language and have translation software help me to translate it into English👀 I hope this can accurately convey what I mean！
The allure of exceptional writing transcends borders and languages, and I could clearly feel the dedication woven into every line of the text. In Salt, every character’s motivations and actions are utterly rational; each character stands as an independent individual with their own unique logic. You’ll never see what’s coming next, yet you can’t help but empathize deeply with the two protagonists—their every word and deed aligns perfectly with their personalities and the plot’s flow, making it feel like their story is unfolding in a real corner of the world. The plot is never forced or contrived; the author masterfully crafts dramatic tension in a subtle, natural way.
To be honest, I had a few worries when I first read the book’s synopsis. While the first installment earned great ratings, there were plenty of negative reviews accusing the author of misogyny. Salt centers on falling for your girlfriend’s brother? It sounded incredibly bold—was the author taking on an ultra-challenging storyline? And how would the narrative honor its female characters? Thankfully, Jonah Yoker’s smooth, vivid writing more than resolves these concerns. The female characters are far from annoying or one-dimensional.
Many authors fall into the trap of making protagonists across a book series feel interchangeable, but this writer gives each lead a distinct, vivid character that sets them far apart from the two main characters in Sweat. Plus, since the story is set in the same fictional universe, Rowan and Tommy make several cameo appearances *squealing! Just like Sweat, the opening pages hook you immediately, and you’ll keep turning pages nonstop until the very end.
The chemistry between Dane and Connor, along with their shifting power dynamic, is absolutely insane🥵🔥🔥 Some steamy, spicy moments are very dirty🔥🔥🔥The author’s depiction of their lingering tension and interactions feels like watching a slow-motion film—no wonder the author majored in film！
“What?” He snakes a hand up the leg of his shorts and scratches somewhere too close to his balls for me to even think about swatting him there.”
This scene had me laughing out loud.
“Ha!” I chortle, imagining the horror show he’d inflict in our bathroom, and I make a mental note to keep that dude away from pineapples as well as large bodies of water.”
Dane may seem careless and reckless on the surface, but he’s incredibly thoughtful, tender, and sweet at his core.😭
“But it’s hard to leave something when it’s all you’ve ever known. As it turns out, it can be even harder to leave a bad situation than to leave a good one.”
I absolutely love this quote—it’s painfully true….
The book is packed with hilarious, delightfully crass moments (it’s clear the author knows male college students inside and out…). Around Connor, Dane can’t help showing off like a peacock, flexing his abs furiously when Connor glances at his bare stomach. For all his flaky, childish demeanor, Dane steps up in a big way when Connor falls into the water and suffers an allergic reaction, turning into the perfect protective partner. As he teaches Connor to swim, he repeats “I got you, I got you, don’t worry” endlessly it’s so sweet, awww🥺Dane may seem careless, but he quietly memorizes that Connor is allergic to pineapple—though he later slips up, eating pineapple and kissing Connor while drunk, landing Connor in the hospital and breaking down in guilty tears, but that’s a story for later…. All in all, this pair is absolutely adorable 😍
My only tiny gripe is the shared bathroom between two bedrooms 🛀 I’ve seen this trope way too many times in MM Romance novels, and I could instantly guess what steamy moments would unfold in that “shared bathroom” 😉 I just have to ask—they live in a luxury house, so why can’t they have more than one bathroom?!！😭
The book is brimming with gripping dramatic conflict, so you’ll never be bored while reading. The character’s emotional outbursts and inner psychology are portrayed with remarkable authenticity—especially the scenes of Dane’s vulnerable emotional breakdowns, and Connor’s agonizing struggle to accept his feelings for men, specifically his girlfriend’s brother. These moments are written with such raw, delicate realism that they tug at your heartstrings.
All in all, 5 stars without hesitation!
Just like I did with Sweat, I devoured Salt in one single sitting!! And now I’m stuck with a massive book hangover. I’m not a native English speaker, actually, so I write this review sincerely in my native language and have translation software help me to translate it into English👀 I hope this can accurately convey what I mean！
The allure of exceptional writing transcends borders and languages, and I could clearly feel the dedication woven into every line of the text. In Salt, every character’s motivations and actions are utterly rational; each character stands as an independent individual with their own unique logic. You’ll never see what’s coming next, yet you can’t help but empathize deeply with the two protagonists—their every word and deed aligns perfectly with their personalities and the plot’s flow, making it feel like their story is unfolding in a real corner of the world. The plot is never forced or contrived; the author masterfully crafts dramatic tension in a subtle, natural way.
To be honest, I had a few worries when I first read the book’s synopsis. While the first installment earned great ratings, there were plenty of negative reviews accusing the author of misogyny. Salt centers on falling for your girlfriend’s brother? It sounded incredibly bold—was the author taking on an ultra-challenging storyline? And how would the narrative honor its female characters? Thankfully, Jonah Yoker’s smooth, vivid writing more than resolves these concerns. The female characters are far from annoying or one-dimensional.
Many authors fall into the trap of making protagonists across a book series feel interchangeable, but this writer gives each lead a distinct, vivid character that sets them far apart from the two main characters in Sweat. Plus, since the story is set in the same fictional universe, Rowan and Tommy make several cameo appearances *squealing! Just like Sweat, the opening pages hook you immediately, and you’ll keep turning pages nonstop until the very end.
The chemistry between Dane and Connor, along with their shifting power dynamic, is absolutely insane🥵🔥🔥 Some steamy, spicy moments are very dirty🔥🔥🔥The author’s depiction of their lingering tension and interactions feels like watching a slow-motion film—no wonder the author majored in film！
“What?” He snakes a hand up the leg of his shorts and scratches somewhere too close to his balls for me to even think about swatting him there.”
This scene had me laughing out loud.
“Ha!” I chortle, imagining the horror show he’d inflict in our bathroom, and I make a mental note to keep that dude away from pineapples as well as large bodies of water.”
Dane may seem careless and reckless on the surface, but he’s incredibly thoughtful, tender, and sweet at his core.😭
“But it’s hard to leave something when it’s all you’ve ever known. As it turns out, it can be even harder to leave a bad situation than to leave a good one.”
I absolutely love this quote—it’s painfully true….
The book is packed with hilarious, delightfully crass moments (it’s clear the author knows male college students inside and out…). Around Connor, Dane can’t help showing off like a peacock, flexing his abs furiously when Connor glances at his bare stomach. For all his flaky, childish demeanor, Dane steps up in a big way when Connor falls into the water and suffers an allergic reaction, turning into the perfect protective partner. As he teaches Connor to swim, he repeats “I got you, I got you, don’t worry” endlessly it’s so sweet, awww🥺Dane may seem careless, but he quietly memorizes that Connor is allergic to pineapple—though he later slips up, eating pineapple and kissing Connor while drunk, landing Connor in the hospital and breaking down in guilty tears, but that’s a story for later…. All in all, this pair is absolutely adorable 😍
My only tiny gripe is the shared bathroom between two bedrooms 🛀 I’ve seen this trope way too many times in MM Romance novels, and I could instantly guess what steamy moments would unfold in that “shared bathroom” 😉 I just have to ask—they live in a luxury house, so why can’t they have more than one bathroom?!！😭
The book is brimming with gripping dramatic conflict, so you’ll never be bored while reading. The character’s emotional outbursts and inner psychology are portrayed with remarkable authenticity—especially the scenes of Dane’s vulnerable emotional breakdowns, and Connor’s agonizing struggle to accept his feelings for men, specifically his girlfriend’s brother. These moments are written with such raw, delicate realism that they tug at your heartstrings.
All in all, 5 stars without hesitation!
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 stars
Second book in the Like Teammates series and Jonah Yorke did his magic again. I’ve become very fond of this author’s writing and I adore the stories he creates.
We met Connor in the previous book, since he was one of Rowan’s teammates and friends. He’s a nice and easy guy, a good friend, a talented photographer, a devoted son.
At the start of the story, Connor is about to leave Sacramento to move to San Diego with his girlfriend Thalia; the plan is to attend post grad university and live together at Thalia’s dad’s house. It’s clear right from the start that Connor is a bit insecure about the move: new school, new city, new house, Connor has not a solid ground under him except for Thalia. Moreover he doesn’t have a close relationship with her father, so he’s a bit nervous about the whole thing.
Thalia’s family consists of her father, her stepmother and her brother, Dane, whom Thalia hates fiercely.
Dane is a bit of a riot: he’s brash, sarcastic, unashamed, he spends very little time at the house because he can’t bear to be continuously and cruelly criticised by his father, he’s not out as a gay man to protect himself from his father’s ire. Dane is a young man who’s been hurt by everyone in his family (father, mother and sister) and bears scars so deep that affects him and make him believe he’s not worthy of love. The details of the abuse and abandonment he suffered were heartbreaking.
Unexpectedly, Dane is also the only person with whom Connor spends time with, since Thalia seems to have completely abandoned his boyfriend in favour of always being with her new friends.
Connor and Dane, despite being completely different, get along very well and their connection grows stronger every day: in fact they always find new reasons to hang out together, sometimes to play soccer, or to have dinner, to go to parties or to the zoo. While Connor helps Dane improve his soccer skills and gives him the attention and affection he craves, Dane fills the void left by Thalia and makes Connor feeling cherished and less alone.
I adored how Dane was smitten by Connor, how he found him adorable and precious, how he stopped behaving irrationally and let go of his bad habits because he didn’t need those things anymore. Dane was completely devoted to Connor, he craved his closeness like air, not only physically, but also emotionally. Connor was a safe place for Dane and Dane would have done everything to protect their moments together. The sleepovers in Dane’s bedroom were my favourite parts: their nights spent tangled in the same bed were hot but also extremely intimate and emotional. And all those sweet kisses!
I found Connor’s struggles with his bi awakening very realistic and well written: it was not an easy or smooth journey and he made a few mistakes, but when he realised that he loved Dane with all his heart and surrendered to their love, it was so wonderful.
Should Connor have handled the revelation better? Of course he should have. It was a messy affair that he could have prevented and that hurt Dane a lot. But I’m glad they worked things out and didn’t let miscommunication or fears get in the middle of their happiness.
As clearly stated in the blurb, this book contains cheating: when Dane and Connor become physically close, Connor is still committed to Thalia. But, although I believe cheating is always the wrong choice,I also think that if there is a person in the fictional world who deserves to be cheated on, it’s definitely Thalia.
She’s horrible. And I don’t mean only that she was a horrible girlfriend (I’m pretty sure she was cheating on him too, even if the author didn’t explicitly say that), but that she was a horrible person too. She constantly belittled, hurt, mocked Dane in every single moment they were in the same room. She hated him and winded up their father against him.
She deserved way worse than to be cheated and I was a bit disappointed that in the end she didn’t learn anything, she was still an awful person, trying to ruin Dane’s chances to have a family.
I’m not going to write about Dane’s mother to avoid giving spoilers, but I’m glad she had to work very hard to have her redemption (and jury’s still out about that).
In this book there’s also a scene that, on paper, should have made me close the book. When I realised what was happening at the party with another man, I was ready to be disappointed, but the author handled that kind of situation perfectly! I actually loved it: Dane was totally enthralled by Connor and everyone else disappeared from his mind. Every emotion, every sensation he was feeling was because of Connor in front of him and not because of another man. That was an incredibly powerful scene, I didn not expect to like it so much.
Who will be the MCs of the next book? Levi? Raisel? Or Zeke and Brandon (oh gosh, they’re still bickering like they did in book one!). Anyway I hope this author will write stories for them all because these guys are amazing. And having Rowan and Tommy back for a bit was wonderful, I hope we will see them again in the future.
Don’t miss this book and put it first on your TBR, you won’t be disappointed.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
Second book in the Like Teammates series and Jonah Yorke did his magic again. I’ve become very fond of this author’s writing and I adore the stories he creates.
We met Connor in the previous book, since he was one of Rowan’s teammates and friends. He’s a nice and easy guy, a good friend, a talented photographer, a devoted son.
At the start of the story, Connor is about to leave Sacramento to move to San Diego with his girlfriend Thalia; the plan is to attend post grad university and live together at Thalia’s dad’s house. It’s clear right from the start that Connor is a bit insecure about the move: new school, new city, new house, Connor has not a solid ground under him except for Thalia. Moreover he doesn’t have a close relationship with her father, so he’s a bit nervous about the whole thing.
Thalia’s family consists of her father, her stepmother and her brother, Dane, whom Thalia hates fiercely.
Dane is a bit of a riot: he’s brash, sarcastic, unashamed, he spends very little time at the house because he can’t bear to be continuously and cruelly criticised by his father, he’s not out as a gay man to protect himself from his father’s ire. Dane is a young man who’s been hurt by everyone in his family (father, mother and sister) and bears scars so deep that affects him and make him believe he’s not worthy of love. The details of the abuse and abandonment he suffered were heartbreaking.
Unexpectedly, Dane is also the only person with whom Connor spends time with, since Thalia seems to have completely abandoned his boyfriend in favour of always being with her new friends.
Connor and Dane, despite being completely different, get along very well and their connection grows stronger every day: in fact they always find new reasons to hang out together, sometimes to play soccer, or to have dinner, to go to parties or to the zoo. While Connor helps Dane improve his soccer skills and gives him the attention and affection he craves, Dane fills the void left by Thalia and makes Connor feeling cherished and less alone.
I adored how Dane was smitten by Connor, how he found him adorable and precious, how he stopped behaving irrationally and let go of his bad habits because he didn’t need those things anymore. Dane was completely devoted to Connor, he craved his closeness like air, not only physically, but also emotionally. Connor was a safe place for Dane and Dane would have done everything to protect their moments together. The sleepovers in Dane’s bedroom were my favourite parts: their nights spent tangled in the same bed were hot but also extremely intimate and emotional. And all those sweet kisses!
I found Connor’s struggles with his bi awakening very realistic and well written: it was not an easy or smooth journey and he made a few mistakes, but when he realised that he loved Dane with all his heart and surrendered to their love, it was so wonderful.
Should Connor have handled the revelation better? Of course he should have. It was a messy affair that he could have prevented and that hurt Dane a lot. But I’m glad they worked things out and didn’t let miscommunication or fears get in the middle of their happiness.
As clearly stated in the blurb, this book contains cheating: when Dane and Connor become physically close, Connor is still committed to Thalia. But, although I believe cheating is always the wrong choice,I also think that if there is a person in the fictional world who deserves to be cheated on, it’s definitely Thalia.
She’s horrible. And I don’t mean only that she was a horrible girlfriend (I’m pretty sure she was cheating on him too, even if the author didn’t explicitly say that), but that she was a horrible person too. She constantly belittled, hurt, mocked Dane in every single moment they were in the same room. She hated him and winded up their father against him.
She deserved way worse than to be cheated and I was a bit disappointed that in the end she didn’t learn anything, she was still an awful person, trying to ruin Dane’s chances to have a family.
I’m not going to write about Dane’s mother to avoid giving spoilers, but I’m glad she had to work very hard to have her redemption (and jury’s still out about that).
In this book there’s also a scene that, on paper, should have made me close the book. When I realised what was happening at the party with another man, I was ready to be disappointed, but the author handled that kind of situation perfectly! I actually loved it: Dane was totally enthralled by Connor and everyone else disappeared from his mind. Every emotion, every sensation he was feeling was because of Connor in front of him and not because of another man. That was an incredibly powerful scene, I didn not expect to like it so much.
Who will be the MCs of the next book? Levi? Raisel? Or Zeke and Brandon (oh gosh, they’re still bickering like they did in book one!). Anyway I hope this author will write stories for them all because these guys are amazing. And having Rowan and Tommy back for a bit was wonderful, I hope we will see them again in the future.
Don’t miss this book and put it first on your TBR, you won’t be disappointed.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Jonah Yorke's debut novel Sweat was probably one of my favorite books from last year, I remember just absolutely devouring that book. And it was one of the less than 20 5-star reads I had in 2025. So, to say my expectations were high and my excitement was through the roof when I saw Jonah announce this book... is an understatement. And I am equally happy and excited to say he absolutely delivered once again.
Even though ARCs went out on Friday I waited to Sunday to read this because I fully expected to not move from my couch for several hours, to which... I was correct. Because once I started, I couldn't put it down I was fully vested to the very end. Dare I say Connor and Dane are even more captivating than Rowen and Tommy which I didn't even know was possible.
The slow decent into their relationship had me in a chokehold, from the first time they meet you just know that Connor is the catalyst Dane needs to finally free himself from the burdens he's been carrying and alternatively Dane is like the final missing piece to Connor's otherwise pretty amazing life. And when they finally give into their chemistry, the tension does not let up. Jonah is brutal, he has this was of teetering on the edge that makes you almost uneasy. I swear every few chapter after they got involved... I was like Oh crap, this is where they are going to get exposed....and then it doesn't happen! But when it finally did happen...the tension once again does not let up you are immediately thrust into the aftermath of them navigating the consequences of their relationship. But even amidst the worst of it you never feel overwhelmed or like there is too much going on which is something I really come to appreciate about Jonah's writing style.
I also really enjoyed how Jonah navigated Connor's bi-awakening. It very common for books to either gloss over it (by saying the MC's love interest is just special or something of that nature) or books will heavily focus on the coming out portion rather than the awakening itself. Jonah gives Connor a lot of introspection when it comes to his sexuality, he's not just coming to terms with being attracted to men but he's openly questioning why this is happening now and the reasons why he had never considered it prior. It was just really refreshing.
Into some vague spoiler territory (skip this paragraph if you don't want to see) the only gripe I really have with this... is that a lot of the stuff in regard to Dane's family felt like it was left unfinished. While I was under no illusion his family was going to be all happy go-lucky...I was hoping for a final confrontation with his dad as well as for him and Thalia to really air out all the fucked-up shit from their childhood... since they are both victims of their upbringings in a way. Although I admit it is hard to feel any sort of sympathy for Thalia... I think they both deserved a fresh start with each other. More than Lori did. Lori felt like she got off a bit easy.
None of this really impacted my overall enjoyment though, because at the end of the day the books focus is Dane and Connor's relationship which felt very well rounded from start to finish. Jonah killed it, I can't wait to add this to my bookshelf when it releases. Definitely check it out as soon as you are able. I do recommend reading Sweat too if you haven't yet. But if that does not grab your interest, this book does stand completely and perfectly well on its own.
I will be eagerly waiting for book three!! Even though it's not slated till 2027...I know it's going to be well worth the wait.
Jonah Yorke's debut novel Sweat was probably one of my favorite books from last year, I remember just absolutely devouring that book. And it was one of the less than 20 5-star reads I had in 2025. So, to say my expectations were high and my excitement was through the roof when I saw Jonah announce this book... is an understatement. And I am equally happy and excited to say he absolutely delivered once again.
Even though ARCs went out on Friday I waited to Sunday to read this because I fully expected to not move from my couch for several hours, to which... I was correct. Because once I started, I couldn't put it down I was fully vested to the very end. Dare I say Connor and Dane are even more captivating than Rowen and Tommy which I didn't even know was possible.
The slow decent into their relationship had me in a chokehold, from the first time they meet you just know that Connor is the catalyst Dane needs to finally free himself from the burdens he's been carrying and alternatively Dane is like the final missing piece to Connor's otherwise pretty amazing life. And when they finally give into their chemistry, the tension does not let up. Jonah is brutal, he has this was of teetering on the edge that makes you almost uneasy. I swear every few chapter after they got involved... I was like Oh crap, this is where they are going to get exposed....and then it doesn't happen! But when it finally did happen...the tension once again does not let up you are immediately thrust into the aftermath of them navigating the consequences of their relationship. But even amidst the worst of it you never feel overwhelmed or like there is too much going on which is something I really come to appreciate about Jonah's writing style.
I also really enjoyed how Jonah navigated Connor's bi-awakening. It very common for books to either gloss over it (by saying the MC's love interest is just special or something of that nature) or books will heavily focus on the coming out portion rather than the awakening itself. Jonah gives Connor a lot of introspection when it comes to his sexuality, he's not just coming to terms with being attracted to men but he's openly questioning why this is happening now and the reasons why he had never considered it prior. It was just really refreshing.
Into some vague spoiler territory (skip this paragraph if you don't want to see) the only gripe I really have with this... is that a lot of the stuff in regard to Dane's family felt like it was left unfinished. While I was under no illusion his family was going to be all happy go-lucky...I was hoping for a final confrontation with his dad as well as for him and Thalia to really air out all the fucked-up shit from their childhood... since they are both victims of their upbringings in a way. Although I admit it is hard to feel any sort of sympathy for Thalia... I think they both deserved a fresh start with each other. More than Lori did. Lori felt like she got off a bit easy.
None of this really impacted my overall enjoyment though, because at the end of the day the books focus is Dane and Connor's relationship which felt very well rounded from start to finish. Jonah killed it, I can't wait to add this to my bookshelf when it releases. Definitely check it out as soon as you are able. I do recommend reading Sweat too if you haven't yet. But if that does not grab your interest, this book does stand completely and perfectly well on its own.
I will be eagerly waiting for book three!! Even though it's not slated till 2027...I know it's going to be well worth the wait.
May 13, 2026
ARC REVIEW
With “Sweat” being one of my favorite MM romance books, the expectations for this one were sky high, even though I tried to lower them and keep in mind this was going to be a totally different story (although now I would say, not completely).
I loved Connor and Dane’s meet-cute. Loved the way Connor was completely enamored with Dane since he laid eyes on him, loved how he sensed the hate and belittlement he was getting from his family were utterly uncalled for, how he started defending him despite standing up for him in that house was the most challenging thing to do for him.
Dane’s seduction towards Connor and Connor’s reactions were absolutely priceless. And so was Connor’s bi-awakening. The laundry scene (my goodness!!!) is still a vivid memory that will play in my mind for a while, as well as the two party ones (and the diner!!). Their interactions were so incredibly spicy and well-written, reading them felt like experiencing them firsthand.
Despite them falling for each other quite early on in the book — which is usually sometimes I don’t really vibe with — I liked how the story was carried out and all their phases of discovering each other and coming to terms with their own obstacles.
What I loved the most about the book, besides all the initial slow burn between the mcs, was definitely the found-family aspect. Connor coming out to his parents, their sensible yet affectionate reaction, them treating Dane like their own son. It took me a while to be fully convinced but I can say I liked Lori as well in the end. I was just as mad as Dane was for the huge mistake she made, but owning up to what she did and fighting to get closer to him warmed my heart. I liked that Dane himself admits he can’t live without being loved, that’s a good message to deliver.
There were a few reasons that didn’t make me rate this five stars. First one being the side characters, specifically Dane’s family. Both his dad and sister seemed quite one-dimensional “cartoonish” characters that didn’t feel much real to me. Their downgrading language and behavior towards Dane didn’t always feel believable, and ended up sounding a bit forced throughout the whole book. As was their behavior towards Connor as well, especially Thalia’s. She’s probably the worst girlfriend one could ever imagine having, she gave him hell while treating him like garbage yet she expected him to be around and put up with anything she said or did. I just wish the author would’ve depicted her as a good (or at least better) character as that would’ve felt fairer and it would’ve also created more tension and made Connor’s choices more challenging. I don’t know what it is with MM romance authors always writing female characters as complete assholes. I liked Margot though!
Secondly, although I liked Connor’s and Dane’s dynamic, I sometimes felt Connor was second guessing his own choices and actions because he feared Dane’s reaction, and I felt sorry for him. I feel that was the result of Dane always blowing up for every minor inconvenience, probably due to his past traumas, but I’m positive that can’t be an excuse for making Connor feel on edge the whole time.
Despite that, I really enjoyed “Salt” and I cannot wait to read the third book of the series! I’m hoping it’ll be about Levi, but I guess we shall see and find out.
With “Sweat” being one of my favorite MM romance books, the expectations for this one were sky high, even though I tried to lower them and keep in mind this was going to be a totally different story (although now I would say, not completely).
I loved Connor and Dane’s meet-cute. Loved the way Connor was completely enamored with Dane since he laid eyes on him, loved how he sensed the hate and belittlement he was getting from his family were utterly uncalled for, how he started defending him despite standing up for him in that house was the most challenging thing to do for him.
Dane’s seduction towards Connor and Connor’s reactions were absolutely priceless. And so was Connor’s bi-awakening. The laundry scene (my goodness!!!) is still a vivid memory that will play in my mind for a while, as well as the two party ones (and the diner!!). Their interactions were so incredibly spicy and well-written, reading them felt like experiencing them firsthand.
Despite them falling for each other quite early on in the book — which is usually sometimes I don’t really vibe with — I liked how the story was carried out and all their phases of discovering each other and coming to terms with their own obstacles.
What I loved the most about the book, besides all the initial slow burn between the mcs, was definitely the found-family aspect. Connor coming out to his parents, their sensible yet affectionate reaction, them treating Dane like their own son. It took me a while to be fully convinced but I can say I liked Lori as well in the end. I was just as mad as Dane was for the huge mistake she made, but owning up to what she did and fighting to get closer to him warmed my heart. I liked that Dane himself admits he can’t live without being loved, that’s a good message to deliver.
There were a few reasons that didn’t make me rate this five stars. First one being the side characters, specifically Dane’s family. Both his dad and sister seemed quite one-dimensional “cartoonish” characters that didn’t feel much real to me. Their downgrading language and behavior towards Dane didn’t always feel believable, and ended up sounding a bit forced throughout the whole book. As was their behavior towards Connor as well, especially Thalia’s. She’s probably the worst girlfriend one could ever imagine having, she gave him hell while treating him like garbage yet she expected him to be around and put up with anything she said or did. I just wish the author would’ve depicted her as a good (or at least better) character as that would’ve felt fairer and it would’ve also created more tension and made Connor’s choices more challenging. I don’t know what it is with MM romance authors always writing female characters as complete assholes. I liked Margot though!
Secondly, although I liked Connor’s and Dane’s dynamic, I sometimes felt Connor was second guessing his own choices and actions because he feared Dane’s reaction, and I felt sorry for him. I feel that was the result of Dane always blowing up for every minor inconvenience, probably due to his past traumas, but I’m positive that can’t be an excuse for making Connor feel on edge the whole time.
Despite that, I really enjoyed “Salt” and I cannot wait to read the third book of the series! I’m hoping it’ll be about Levi, but I guess we shall see and find out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Welp, it's over, and I'm sad about it. Jonah Yorke has done it again. I read this book in one day, and savored every single word. I normally have to read with my eyes while listening to an audiobook, a truly immersive experience, but with Jonah Yorke's books, I don't need audio - I get immersed by his words and the storyline.
I just want to start by saying how much I love Dane. What a beautiful broken boy filled with love that he gives freely to anyone who will love him in return. Yes, he has trust issues, for good reasons, but he craves love and attention and just wants somebody to want him. I knew from the beginning that I'd fall in love with his character fast. Dane is charming, athletic, rebellious, a flirt, daring and risky, and a bit of a loose cannon at times (all my favorite things). Don't let that fool you though...deep inside lives a boy who wants to dance and cuddle and kiss and be loved in the biggest ways. He's hard on himself because others are hard on him, but he just wants to be accepted.
Enter Connor - the normal, vans and khaki shorts wearing, do-gooder, angel boy who excels at soccer, is adored by his parents and never veers off the right path. He is first introduced to Dane at the beach while Dane is playing soccer. Connor, the aspiring photographer, is drawn to Dane for some reason (we know the reason), so he photographs Dane during his soccer match. After the match, Dane improperly introduces himself to Connor with his famous first words - "Yo stalker" (a cute theme throughout the book). And so the chemistry, tension and glares between Dane and Connor begin.
Oh, I almost forgot, Connor is the boyfriend of Dane's sister - a minor inconvenience. I don't want to spoil anything for future readers, but I would like to point out that Dane's sister, dad and mom are terrible people - awful characters - and I don't care if their feelings got hurt by the actions of Dane and Connor. Anyway, the chemistry between Dane and Connor is off the charts. Jonah Yorke really nailed it. I'm just going to drop this little nugget - laundry room. Holy wow! What a scene. Jonah Yorke EXCELS at spice scenes. He also excels at writing budding friendships that turn into best friendships that turn into lifetime lovers. This book is filled with all my favorite tropes: forbidden romance, forced proximity, bi-awakening, friends to lovers and hurt/comfort (I love hurt/comfort).
"Salt" made me feel all the feels while reading it, and I couldn't put it down. I would more accurately rate this book a 4.5, but ONLY because the trauma/issues throughout the book were wrapped up too quickly and nicely for me. I wanted Dane's family to feel despair and regret and sadness, the way they made him feel his whole life, but the problems were resolved relatively quickly and felt a bit surface level. That did not take away from the book, however. This book is a top 2026 read for me, and I can't wait for the other books in this series. I think Jonah Yorke should write one book a month - that's guaranteed to make me happy. I am grateful for this ARC read. It exceeded my expectations (which were very high). Consider me a lifetime fan of this author.
I just want to start by saying how much I love Dane. What a beautiful broken boy filled with love that he gives freely to anyone who will love him in return. Yes, he has trust issues, for good reasons, but he craves love and attention and just wants somebody to want him. I knew from the beginning that I'd fall in love with his character fast. Dane is charming, athletic, rebellious, a flirt, daring and risky, and a bit of a loose cannon at times (all my favorite things). Don't let that fool you though...deep inside lives a boy who wants to dance and cuddle and kiss and be loved in the biggest ways. He's hard on himself because others are hard on him, but he just wants to be accepted.
Enter Connor - the normal, vans and khaki shorts wearing, do-gooder, angel boy who excels at soccer, is adored by his parents and never veers off the right path. He is first introduced to Dane at the beach while Dane is playing soccer. Connor, the aspiring photographer, is drawn to Dane for some reason (we know the reason), so he photographs Dane during his soccer match. After the match, Dane improperly introduces himself to Connor with his famous first words - "Yo stalker" (a cute theme throughout the book). And so the chemistry, tension and glares between Dane and Connor begin.
Oh, I almost forgot, Connor is the boyfriend of Dane's sister - a minor inconvenience. I don't want to spoil anything for future readers, but I would like to point out that Dane's sister, dad and mom are terrible people - awful characters - and I don't care if their feelings got hurt by the actions of Dane and Connor. Anyway, the chemistry between Dane and Connor is off the charts. Jonah Yorke really nailed it. I'm just going to drop this little nugget - laundry room. Holy wow! What a scene. Jonah Yorke EXCELS at spice scenes. He also excels at writing budding friendships that turn into best friendships that turn into lifetime lovers. This book is filled with all my favorite tropes: forbidden romance, forced proximity, bi-awakening, friends to lovers and hurt/comfort (I love hurt/comfort).
"Salt" made me feel all the feels while reading it, and I couldn't put it down. I would more accurately rate this book a 4.5, but ONLY because the trauma/issues throughout the book were wrapped up too quickly and nicely for me. I wanted Dane's family to feel despair and regret and sadness, the way they made him feel his whole life, but the problems were resolved relatively quickly and felt a bit surface level. That did not take away from the book, however. This book is a top 2026 read for me, and I can't wait for the other books in this series. I think Jonah Yorke should write one book a month - that's guaranteed to make me happy. I am grateful for this ARC read. It exceeded my expectations (which were very high). Consider me a lifetime fan of this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
***ARC Review***
I was obsessed with Sweat and I really fucking enjoyed Salt, it just wasn’t of the same caliber as the first book in my opinion. Connor and Dane are such little cutie pies and I love them to death. The first book did a wonderful job of exploring internal and external homophobia but I fear the second book missed the mark. I fucking love that Connor accepted his love for Dane so quickly, but aside from some confusion, I didn’t feel like he actually had to go through anything major to get to that point. I also felt like the story just kinda plowed through important milestones and left me wanting more. For me, the story felt like it was just out of reach, like I was on a moving train and the scenery outside my window was passing by too quickly to really understand what I was looking at. I don’t know if that makes any sense.
Dane had a traumatic childhood, his mother didn’t fight for him, nobody cared about him enough to understand what was really going on with him, his parents didn’t even consider therapy or a different approach so Dane could be a happy and healthy kid. I understand Dane missing his mother, I really fucking do, I just don’t understand why she gets a free pass after literally abandoning her child and leaving him in the care of an abuser. And I fucking hate Thalia. Thalia seemed like an evil troll so I don’t care that Connor cheated on her. It honestly felt like Thalia was probably cheating on him too.. Dane’s family sucks. It honestly felt like nothing was resolved on that front. And like that’s fine, but I hate that Lori is still around.
Randy seemed like such a good friend to Dane but we really only got a tiny taste of that? I wanted more, I needed more. I get that moving out of San Diego was probably the best thing Dane could do, but I hate that he left his friends and the beach behind. Obviously I’m ecstatic that he gets to play for a better soccer team, he gets to live with Connor and gets a fresh start at life, but I wish his friends could all come with him. I hate how life pulls people apart. It makes me so fucking sad. It’s super realistic and I love that, but I also despise it, you know?
Connor was such a little sweetheart and the puppy nickname was honestly so cute. I can’t stop using that word.. cute. But the book was so cute, so fucking cute, I can’t help it. I love that Connor is a photographer, I’m obsessed that Dane is majoring in outdoor resource management, I think it’s a wonderful fit for both of them! The kissing scenes were the best fucking thing ever. Ugh, they make me sick with how adorable they both are. I am so in love with these boys, I really am.
There’s a lot to love about this book, there really is. I love the fuck out of the writing style, the dialogue is cute, the intimate moments are so fucking adorable that I can’t take it, I just didn’t feel like this was anything super spectacular or new. I highly recommend this book, I think a lot of people will eat it up. I’m obviously going to read book 3 next year, I adore the author and these books too much not to.
side note: the cover art continues to fucking slay and i need physical copies of both books immediately.
I was obsessed with Sweat and I really fucking enjoyed Salt, it just wasn’t of the same caliber as the first book in my opinion. Connor and Dane are such little cutie pies and I love them to death. The first book did a wonderful job of exploring internal and external homophobia but I fear the second book missed the mark. I fucking love that Connor accepted his love for Dane so quickly, but aside from some confusion, I didn’t feel like he actually had to go through anything major to get to that point. I also felt like the story just kinda plowed through important milestones and left me wanting more. For me, the story felt like it was just out of reach, like I was on a moving train and the scenery outside my window was passing by too quickly to really understand what I was looking at. I don’t know if that makes any sense.
Dane had a traumatic childhood, his mother didn’t fight for him, nobody cared about him enough to understand what was really going on with him, his parents didn’t even consider therapy or a different approach so Dane could be a happy and healthy kid. I understand Dane missing his mother, I really fucking do, I just don’t understand why she gets a free pass after literally abandoning her child and leaving him in the care of an abuser. And I fucking hate Thalia. Thalia seemed like an evil troll so I don’t care that Connor cheated on her. It honestly felt like Thalia was probably cheating on him too.. Dane’s family sucks. It honestly felt like nothing was resolved on that front. And like that’s fine, but I hate that Lori is still around.
Randy seemed like such a good friend to Dane but we really only got a tiny taste of that? I wanted more, I needed more. I get that moving out of San Diego was probably the best thing Dane could do, but I hate that he left his friends and the beach behind. Obviously I’m ecstatic that he gets to play for a better soccer team, he gets to live with Connor and gets a fresh start at life, but I wish his friends could all come with him. I hate how life pulls people apart. It makes me so fucking sad. It’s super realistic and I love that, but I also despise it, you know?
Connor was such a little sweetheart and the puppy nickname was honestly so cute. I can’t stop using that word.. cute. But the book was so cute, so fucking cute, I can’t help it. I love that Connor is a photographer, I’m obsessed that Dane is majoring in outdoor resource management, I think it’s a wonderful fit for both of them! The kissing scenes were the best fucking thing ever. Ugh, they make me sick with how adorable they both are. I am so in love with these boys, I really am.
There’s a lot to love about this book, there really is. I love the fuck out of the writing style, the dialogue is cute, the intimate moments are so fucking adorable that I can’t take it, I just didn’t feel like this was anything super spectacular or new. I highly recommend this book, I think a lot of people will eat it up. I’m obviously going to read book 3 next year, I adore the author and these books too much not to.
side note: the cover art continues to fucking slay and i need physical copies of both books immediately.
May 14, 2026
I’m gonna be the downer on this one, ya’ll. I really liked “Sweat,” the first book of this series but this one just didn’t hit.
First, I don’t love cheating tropes and this is blatant, choosing to cheat and not caring that there are consequences. I’ve enjoyed books with cheating storylines in the past and it doesn’t always bother me. It did feel icky here though - probably because Connor cheats on his long-term girlfriend Thalia with her brother, whom they also happen to be living with at the time. I mean, their rooms are connected by a bathroom and he just goes from one room to the other. Ick.
Most of the women in this series are awful. I noticed it in the first book with Tommy’s girlfriend and that trend continues here. Thalia is basically an evil witch and really the only two women we are supposed to like are Connor’s mom and Dane’s stepmom who is portrayed as a vapid airhead. This author really has an issue with women, seems like.
Also, these guys are MESSY. Dane is a menace. When Thalia says he’s selfish and reckless, she isn’t lying. He is. He does pursue his sisters’ boyfriend relentlessly and loves when he is the cause of their fighting. He says so himself. He has his entire existence paid for in full by his father and while his dad does suck, Dane doesn’t help the situation. He is just ungrateful, irresponsible and totally self-centered. He’s a bit repulsive. His only saving grace seems to be that he’s pretty. So good for him?
Connor is just a wet blanket. He moves with Thalia to San Diego even though he doesn’t want to. He just goes with the flow like a piece of driftwood. Boring, dry driftwood. He lets himself be brought into Dane’s orbit without any resistance and goes from one sibling to the other - whoever is paying him the most attention. Dane calls him his “puppy” throughout this book and refers to him as his “goldendoodle” many times. I think this is supposed to be cute but if my SO called me a dog, they better watch their back. I don’t play like that but apparently Connor does.
The sheer amount of sex scenes in this book was just a lot. And the amount of spit being spat into open mouths was just…gag. I cannot. There was no end to the slobbing-on-the-knobbing, if you know what I mean, and just so many bodily fluids. Also this gem, “The water feels good on my sweaty junk as it reaches the tops of my thighs.” Ah, ~*poetry*~. “Sweaty junk,” just beautifully descriptive, am I right?
I don’t know if I’ll continue with this series. I was pretty disappointed by this one. There’s a lot of sex, so much so that it ceased to mean much of anything. Dane can be funny but mostly he’s just awful and Connor is kind of a nothing. I guess I didn’t feel the connection between them - their “friendship” was born out of coercion because Dane just wanted to get under his sisters’ skin and Connor was lonely. So they started hanging out and anything that developed beyond that just didn’t feel genuine.
I pre-ordered this but won’t bother doing so with the next one.
First, I don’t love cheating tropes and this is blatant, choosing to cheat and not caring that there are consequences. I’ve enjoyed books with cheating storylines in the past and it doesn’t always bother me. It did feel icky here though - probably because Connor cheats on his long-term girlfriend Thalia with her brother, whom they also happen to be living with at the time. I mean, their rooms are connected by a bathroom and he just goes from one room to the other. Ick.
Most of the women in this series are awful. I noticed it in the first book with Tommy’s girlfriend and that trend continues here. Thalia is basically an evil witch and really the only two women we are supposed to like are Connor’s mom and Dane’s stepmom who is portrayed as a vapid airhead. This author really has an issue with women, seems like.
Also, these guys are MESSY. Dane is a menace. When Thalia says he’s selfish and reckless, she isn’t lying. He is. He does pursue his sisters’ boyfriend relentlessly and loves when he is the cause of their fighting. He says so himself. He has his entire existence paid for in full by his father and while his dad does suck, Dane doesn’t help the situation. He is just ungrateful, irresponsible and totally self-centered. He’s a bit repulsive. His only saving grace seems to be that he’s pretty. So good for him?
Connor is just a wet blanket. He moves with Thalia to San Diego even though he doesn’t want to. He just goes with the flow like a piece of driftwood. Boring, dry driftwood. He lets himself be brought into Dane’s orbit without any resistance and goes from one sibling to the other - whoever is paying him the most attention. Dane calls him his “puppy” throughout this book and refers to him as his “goldendoodle” many times. I think this is supposed to be cute but if my SO called me a dog, they better watch their back. I don’t play like that but apparently Connor does.
The sheer amount of sex scenes in this book was just a lot. And the amount of spit being spat into open mouths was just…gag. I cannot. There was no end to the slobbing-on-the-knobbing, if you know what I mean, and just so many bodily fluids. Also this gem, “The water feels good on my sweaty junk as it reaches the tops of my thighs.” Ah, ~*poetry*~. “Sweaty junk,” just beautifully descriptive, am I right?
I don’t know if I’ll continue with this series. I was pretty disappointed by this one. There’s a lot of sex, so much so that it ceased to mean much of anything. Dane can be funny but mostly he’s just awful and Connor is kind of a nothing. I guess I didn’t feel the connection between them - their “friendship” was born out of coercion because Dane just wanted to get under his sisters’ skin and Connor was lonely. So they started hanging out and anything that developed beyond that just didn’t feel genuine.
I pre-ordered this but won’t bother doing so with the next one.
May 14, 2026
Jonah Yorke, the author you are.
5 blooming stars.
I actually did not like sweat at all, so I was very surprised that I loved this book as much as I did. Because cheating is the main theme/issue that undercuts the book, it’s safe to say that neither Dane nor Connor are presented from the beginning as being innocent. So I’ll analyse their characters with that in mind. Connor is kind, and his integrity shines throughout the whole of the book. He stands up for Dane from the beginning, and not because he liked him; he didn’t know he did yet, but because he was heartbroken from the mistreatment that Dane endured. The intentionally natural pull between the two of them made the book so enjoyable to read. Dane, my sweet, annoying, Dane, is beautifully composed. He’s the byproduct of a dysfunctional relationship, and he’s the description of what the absence of love from childhood turned him into. Scared to commit. Scared to love fully.
Their relationship dynamic was satisfying to read. I love love. I love physical expressions of love. And with Connor and Dane, I could see this. They were not shy of making this love apparent. Of course, physicality in excess is not something I enjoy, but Yorke was able to balance a dynamic of vulnerability and passion.
I found Lori an especially interesting character to read. I can’t bring myself to hate her; she is the figure in a lot of people’s families. It is the traditional ideology of a mother, that they must stay in a relationship that she suffers in because of her children. And Dane’s reaction is why a lot of mothers choose to endure in abusive relationships. I could understand both sides: A mother that had no choice, and a son who lost his pillar. But I believe that Lori leaving was an option she should’ve made, and at the same time, I don’t find Dane’s reaction to this disproportionate.
Thalia is purposefully made to be unlikeable, which I was not sure I agreed with. It felt like I was basically forced to hate her. I believe that making her relatable would have added another layer of nuance to the story. But, she was used as a clear device to push the reader to like Dane and Connor together more. This does not mean I didn’t hate her, just noted that it was a deliberate decision.
My only issue with the book was Dane’s reaction to being found out. It was extremely childish of him, and I cringed reading his response. Dane, who pursued Connor before and after finding out that he was his sister’s boyfriend, who knew of his family’s cruelty and thus their subsequent reaction to being found out, was upset that Connor had told the truth. Sorry, Dane? He caused it, pulled Connor towards him with every notion of how the consequences of doing so would affect him. His anger at Connor was unjustified and genuinely jarring to read. So really, this should be 4 stars, but I’m feeling generous.
But I loved this book, flaws and all, so I’ll keep it at 5 stars. 🥹
5 blooming stars.
I actually did not like sweat at all, so I was very surprised that I loved this book as much as I did. Because cheating is the main theme/issue that undercuts the book, it’s safe to say that neither Dane nor Connor are presented from the beginning as being innocent. So I’ll analyse their characters with that in mind. Connor is kind, and his integrity shines throughout the whole of the book. He stands up for Dane from the beginning, and not because he liked him; he didn’t know he did yet, but because he was heartbroken from the mistreatment that Dane endured. The intentionally natural pull between the two of them made the book so enjoyable to read. Dane, my sweet, annoying, Dane, is beautifully composed. He’s the byproduct of a dysfunctional relationship, and he’s the description of what the absence of love from childhood turned him into. Scared to commit. Scared to love fully.
Their relationship dynamic was satisfying to read. I love love. I love physical expressions of love. And with Connor and Dane, I could see this. They were not shy of making this love apparent. Of course, physicality in excess is not something I enjoy, but Yorke was able to balance a dynamic of vulnerability and passion.
I found Lori an especially interesting character to read. I can’t bring myself to hate her; she is the figure in a lot of people’s families. It is the traditional ideology of a mother, that they must stay in a relationship that she suffers in because of her children. And Dane’s reaction is why a lot of mothers choose to endure in abusive relationships. I could understand both sides: A mother that had no choice, and a son who lost his pillar. But I believe that Lori leaving was an option she should’ve made, and at the same time, I don’t find Dane’s reaction to this disproportionate.
Thalia is purposefully made to be unlikeable, which I was not sure I agreed with. It felt like I was basically forced to hate her. I believe that making her relatable would have added another layer of nuance to the story. But, she was used as a clear device to push the reader to like Dane and Connor together more. This does not mean I didn’t hate her, just noted that it was a deliberate decision.
My only issue with the book was Dane’s reaction to being found out. It was extremely childish of him, and I cringed reading his response. Dane, who pursued Connor before and after finding out that he was his sister’s boyfriend, who knew of his family’s cruelty and thus their subsequent reaction to being found out, was upset that Connor had told the truth. Sorry, Dane? He caused it, pulled Connor towards him with every notion of how the consequences of doing so would affect him. His anger at Connor was unjustified and genuinely jarring to read. So really, this should be 4 stars, but I’m feeling generous.
But I loved this book, flaws and all, so I’ll keep it at 5 stars. 🥹
May 15, 2026
“When I look back at him, he’s licking his lips again. Briefly, I wonder how salty they must be.”
Fits Interpol’s lyric perfectly:
“I wish I could eat the salt off of your lost faded lips”
Oh. This is a hard one. I really enjoyed it, I think it’s as nicely written as the first book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. I really like the two main characters a lot! And I do like Connor’s friend Margot from what we got to see, but that’s about it when it came to the new characters in this book. Loved to see Rowan and Tommy’s cameo even though it wasn’t much, but we love them!
Connor is lovely. Their relationship was exciting and sweet. I loved the sneakiness they did when they were hiding, even though it wasn’t for long. Not only did I enjoy their sexual attraction, I enjoyed them being friends and lovers, the way they care for each other is very touching. I’m glad Dane found Connor after all the unloved years he’s been through. Also surprisingly super into that puppy play they did.
Though speaking of the sneakiness I loved so much! I love a good cheating trope. It’s my guilty pleasure trope, but with this trope I wish those who wrote about it understood that the female doesn’t always have to be this big old villain to justify the cheating. I mean it’s never made out to be justified outright in this book but it’s heavily implied with the actions of Thalia. It’s made to look like she was hiding Connor from all her new friends and cheating on him too.
And I know I said it was nicely written but there’s some other issues with the plot, like I would reread this book either way, I just don’t understand the whole plot point with Lori, Dane’s Mom. I don’t know.. it’s just made to be this super serious thing. She really couldn’t call her son at all or give him a happy birthday text? Like her reasoning is pretty ass, and him forgiving her so easily is pretty ass. That whole plot is just… ass.
This will probably make it seem like I actually didn’t like the book, but I did. I really did!! I just think the author wanted some type of family drama in this book like there was in the first one, but unlike the first book, this drama didn’t feel as necessary or as well done?. I feel like if Lori loved her son so much, she wouldn’t have allowed her daughter to view her brother in this negative light or be the way she was towards him, especially after trying to make amends. I’m not sure why that wasn’t addressed at all, or why the mom allowed that to happen and continue to let it happen. I really don’t understand Lori and I don’t think she is a good person. Her husband and family didn’t even try, so it’s annoying seeing Dane having to be the one to make it right or be the better person when he had every right to be a “fucking baby” about everything.
But that’s all, I do think it should be read! The series is becoming a favorite so I hope it continues to be good!
Fits Interpol’s lyric perfectly:
“I wish I could eat the salt off of your lost faded lips”
Oh. This is a hard one. I really enjoyed it, I think it’s as nicely written as the first book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. I really like the two main characters a lot! And I do like Connor’s friend Margot from what we got to see, but that’s about it when it came to the new characters in this book. Loved to see Rowan and Tommy’s cameo even though it wasn’t much, but we love them!
Connor is lovely. Their relationship was exciting and sweet. I loved the sneakiness they did when they were hiding, even though it wasn’t for long. Not only did I enjoy their sexual attraction, I enjoyed them being friends and lovers, the way they care for each other is very touching. I’m glad Dane found Connor after all the unloved years he’s been through. Also surprisingly super into that puppy play they did.
Though speaking of the sneakiness I loved so much! I love a good cheating trope. It’s my guilty pleasure trope, but with this trope I wish those who wrote about it understood that the female doesn’t always have to be this big old villain to justify the cheating. I mean it’s never made out to be justified outright in this book but it’s heavily implied with the actions of Thalia. It’s made to look like she was hiding Connor from all her new friends and cheating on him too.
And I know I said it was nicely written but there’s some other issues with the plot, like I would reread this book either way, I just don’t understand the whole plot point with Lori, Dane’s Mom. I don’t know.. it’s just made to be this super serious thing. She really couldn’t call her son at all or give him a happy birthday text? Like her reasoning is pretty ass, and him forgiving her so easily is pretty ass. That whole plot is just… ass.
This will probably make it seem like I actually didn’t like the book, but I did. I really did!! I just think the author wanted some type of family drama in this book like there was in the first one, but unlike the first book, this drama didn’t feel as necessary or as well done?. I feel like if Lori loved her son so much, she wouldn’t have allowed her daughter to view her brother in this negative light or be the way she was towards him, especially after trying to make amends. I’m not sure why that wasn’t addressed at all, or why the mom allowed that to happen and continue to let it happen. I really don’t understand Lori and I don’t think she is a good person. Her husband and family didn’t even try, so it’s annoying seeing Dane having to be the one to make it right or be the better person when he had every right to be a “fucking baby” about everything.
But that’s all, I do think it should be read! The series is becoming a favorite so I hope it continues to be good!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Move over Rowan. My new favorite Jonah York character has to be tall, pierced, gorgeous, sarcastic, hurt-boy Dane McKenzie Calvo.
I mean, I was hooked at the prologue:
How old was I when you decided I was unlovable?
Dad says you’re afraid of me. Is that true? If I tell you I’m sorry, can we see each other again?
Even if we can never be a real family again, can you still be my mom? Can you come get me
and take me to Sacramento? I don’t mind that it’s hot. I’ll be nice to Martin. I’ll share a room
with Thalia if I have to. I’ll try not to scare you.
You don’t have to love me if you don’t want.
Just come get me.
Please?
Your son,
Dane
I wanted to hug him right from the start. And that feeling NEVER went away.
Ten years after this heart-breaking letter, Dane is still living with his horrendous father and his kind, but powerless stepmother in San Diego. His equally horrendous sister, Thalia, is moving back in with them to go to law school and she's bringing her adorable, blonde, genuinely kind boyfriend Conner with her. We first met Connor in Sweat, when he played on the undefeated Sacramento soccer team that won the NCAA championship last year.
What nobody knows yet, including Dane and Conner, is that they them met on the beach yesterday when Connor, the photography major, noticed and photographed Dane while he was playing soccer. Dane called him a stalker and then smiling asked him if he wanted to take a walk to a secluded place beyond the cliffs. Connor, eventually realizing this shirtless, muscled, hottie was hitting on him declined. Because of course he's not gay. Conner and Dane are not-surprisingly stunned when they end up at family dinner together.
And so begins the tension, the yearning, the longing, and soon some very sexy, steamy, play time between these two who are forced to share an adjoining bathroom that connects Dane's bedroom with Thalia and Connor's.
I really loved these characters. Jonah York writes emotion and trauma and pain so well. He gives his characters thoughts and words, and actions that make a lot of sense to those who've experienced something similar. There were times where I was screaming, "Oh my God. No! Don't do that! Don't say that!" but it always made sense why they did, given who they were and how they got there.
This story was very engaging, and I could have easily read it in one setting. But given the love I had for our MMCs, I wanted to draw it out and savor it so I could have them just a little bit longer.
My only disappointment is that some people didn't suffer enough in my opinion.
I also thought the cover art was striking. I spent a considerable amount of time going back and staring at it.
This was a great read and earns every bit of its 5 stars.
I can't wait for the next one.
I mean, I was hooked at the prologue:
How old was I when you decided I was unlovable?
Dad says you’re afraid of me. Is that true? If I tell you I’m sorry, can we see each other again?
Even if we can never be a real family again, can you still be my mom? Can you come get me
and take me to Sacramento? I don’t mind that it’s hot. I’ll be nice to Martin. I’ll share a room
with Thalia if I have to. I’ll try not to scare you.
You don’t have to love me if you don’t want.
Just come get me.
Please?
Your son,
Dane
I wanted to hug him right from the start. And that feeling NEVER went away.
Ten years after this heart-breaking letter, Dane is still living with his horrendous father and his kind, but powerless stepmother in San Diego. His equally horrendous sister, Thalia, is moving back in with them to go to law school and she's bringing her adorable, blonde, genuinely kind boyfriend Conner with her. We first met Connor in Sweat, when he played on the undefeated Sacramento soccer team that won the NCAA championship last year.
What nobody knows yet, including Dane and Conner, is that they them met on the beach yesterday when Connor, the photography major, noticed and photographed Dane while he was playing soccer. Dane called him a stalker and then smiling asked him if he wanted to take a walk to a secluded place beyond the cliffs. Connor, eventually realizing this shirtless, muscled, hottie was hitting on him declined. Because of course he's not gay. Conner and Dane are not-surprisingly stunned when they end up at family dinner together.
And so begins the tension, the yearning, the longing, and soon some very sexy, steamy, play time between these two who are forced to share an adjoining bathroom that connects Dane's bedroom with Thalia and Connor's.
I really loved these characters. Jonah York writes emotion and trauma and pain so well. He gives his characters thoughts and words, and actions that make a lot of sense to those who've experienced something similar. There were times where I was screaming, "Oh my God. No! Don't do that! Don't say that!" but it always made sense why they did, given who they were and how they got there.
This story was very engaging, and I could have easily read it in one setting. But given the love I had for our MMCs, I wanted to draw it out and savor it so I could have them just a little bit longer.
My only disappointment is that some people didn't suffer enough in my opinion.
I also thought the cover art was striking. I spent a considerable amount of time going back and staring at it.
This was a great read and earns every bit of its 5 stars.
I can't wait for the next one.
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