And Then He Pressed Play: Track Two

by Robert J. Halliwell

Everybody says senior year is the best time in your life, but A.J. Walker would trade it for another chance at grade eleven in a heartbeat. The fact that time keeps moving forward should be a good thing. After all, Bren O’Shea promised they’d be together again. But a lot can happen in a year, and even if things don’t fall apart, they still live on two different continents.

Imagine A.J.’s surprise when a familiar red-haired boy shows up at Peacock Collegiate on the first day of class. With the two of them together, it’s all A.J. can do to keep from losing himself in dreams of what senior year might look Bren's first Canadian winter, trips to the family cabin, and matching suits at graduation.

But there’s no hiding from the Irish certs, even when they’re an ocean away, and Mrs. O’Shea isn’t about to let her son risk his future on a lark. He needs to ace every one of his classes or he's on the first plane back to Glenbridge.

Bren is a lot of things, but a straight A student isn’t one of them. And even if he was, what might happen now that he’s put that kind of pressure on himself?

Genres: Young Adult, LGBT, Young Adult Romance, Romance, Contemporary

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2026

About the author

Just a gay indie author trying to tell stories that make readers feel things.

Currently working on "And Then He Pressed Play: Track Two"

Reviews

[Gaby | read.onrepeat · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨HAPPY RELEASE DAY✨
To the book that brought me so much joy!
Go grab Track 1 first, but I promise it's worth it 💖

——————

Everything is HUGE when you’re sixteen. Do you remember?

It’s 2007, you’re a teenager, you’re in love, your boyfriend lives on another continent, and obviously this is the greatest tragedy ever recorded 🥲

Track Two gave me so much teen nostalgia. I remember that feeling of everything being so intense. A tiny misunderstanding can ruin your entire day, and being with the person you love is the most important thing that has ever happened.

And Bren and Arlo are SO in love!
They’re the cutest dorks.

A.J. is still A.J., but he’s not the nervous boy from the first book anymore, and I loved seeing how much Bren’s influence changed his life without changing who he is.

And Bren 🥹
Bren is still loud, ridiculous, affectionate, occasionally a menace, and completely down bad for his lad! His love is bigger than all the miles that separate them.

I laughed out loud so many times reading this. But then Robert would sneak in a tiny moment, grabbing a fistful of my heart and squeezing.

The evolution of their love story felt organic, very realistic. Compared to Track 1, this felt more like a warm, funny, feel-good continuation of their story.

I know the teenage years weren’t good for everyone. But I love that we can read books that give us a queer teen love story where the boys get to be happy, stupid, awkward, horny, scared, in love, and just teenagers.

Sometimes they have to deal with the world being difficult, but that’s where Robert does his thing: making a character’s emotions feel real without turning every feeling into a dramatic speech.

I am so happy I found their story and can’t wait to see what Track Three brings.

**Thank you Robert and NetGalley for trusting me with an early copy. All opinions are my own.


—————————

✨Pre-read:
AAAAAAAAAAAAA 🫨🫨🫨
My boys are back!!!
I’m so excited to read about Bren in Canada 🍁

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨✨RELEASE DAY ✨✨

Bren and Arlo are the cutest YA couple 💞 I adored book one and was entirely satisfied with the ending so this was a sweet, unexpected bonus return to these characters.

This didn’t quite match the 5star experience I had with book 1 but it was still very lovely and authentic feeling with lower stakes and almost an extended epilogue kind of feel, right up until that sneaky ending! Again I thought this was going to be the final part of Bren and Arlo’s story but it appears the author has a book 3 in the works.

Things felt a little clunky at times with the pacing and the conflicts. I wasn’t really sure what the story arc was doing..it felt like there were multiple ideas for conflicts which didn’t really evolve into anything that actually impacted the story. The ideas for conflict were all great but the execution could have been a bit stronger.

This book delivers charming YA antics, genuine teenager-ness, a fun group of geeky theatre kids and a very sweet story of young love.


Many thanks to the author and Net Galley for this ARC

[Heather O'Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

—SUMMARY:

In And Then He Pressed Play: Track One, anxious AJ spent his junior year of high school abroad in Ireland and met rambunctious Bren, a wild red-head with a love for all things fun, or craic. The two fell in love, as Bren had a bi-awakening that opened his eyes about his feelings for sweet AJ. Through tough times, the two remained steadfast and when the school year ended, AJ returned to Canada, not knowing when or if he and Bren would ever be reunited.

Now in And Then He Pressed Play: Track Two, on the first day of senior year, AJ is blown away when a new Irish exchange student walks into math class… it’s BREN! Their families and friends had been working on the surprise for months and AJ couldn’t believe his eyes. The two are together again, and they’ll be in the fall musical together!

Will Bren be able to keep his grades up enough to stay in Canada for more than one semester?
Will AJ let his guilt about upending Bren’s life get in the way of their love for each other?
Will they find forever together?

—REVIEW:
This is book 2 in a series that is ongoing, and I’m so glad. When I read Track 1, I was instantly drawn into the setting in Ireland and the feeling of being alone far away from home with only small comforts. The relief of having a friend was immediate once Bren decided AJ was going to be his buddy. And then when their love became real, it was tender and off page, cuz high school.

In Track 1, there was a horrific tragedy that impacted the boys, and the reverberations of that tragedy are still being felt as the boys come together again in Track 2. I spent the first half of the book so happy that they were together; I just wanted to read about their lives and their times together. The second half of the book had me wondering what would happen next (with a good bit of anxiety and some sad tears that cleared, thankfully). It ended on a cliffhanger that I can’t wait to see resolved in Track 3.

Robert J. Halliwell has written another great book that allows the world of And Then He Pressed Play to expand and bring in AJ’s family and close friends who had much smaller roles in the first book. He writes with humour, making me laugh out loud over and over again. He writes with emotion that leaves me breathless at times. And he writes with heart, because these boys are his sons, born of his imagination and experiences.

This is a series for all fans of Heartstopper, Young Royals, Heartbreak High, and the like. It doesn’t shy away from difficult themes, and the love between Bren and AJ is just so pure and lovely. 10/5 recommend.

[Gareth Jones-Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The review is for a advance copy thanks to netgalley.

You cant end it thete !!!!!!

Was part 2 better then part 1 im not sure but it was good to see what happened after part 1 (no spoilers). And nice to see different people but yet good to see friends back from part 1

[Continuity · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Once I finished "And Then He Pressed Play: Track One," I immediately added this one to my TBR, and it quickly became a highly anticipated release for me. The original story stuck with me. I read over a hundred books a year, and because of that, most stories usually leave my mind fairly quickly, but not this one. I found myself thinking about these two characters, wanting to re-read the novel and wondering what would happen in the next one.

Thankfully, Halliwell did it again and wrote another phenomenal book. All of my praise from Book One still rings true for this one. A.J. and Bren are just so adorable, and you can't help but root for them. Praise to the author for not adding tons of unrealistic, needless drama, petty fights, and breakups. The conflicts in this book are realistic, but the two main characters deal with them in very mature ways. It's them against the world, which is something I'm particularly fond of in sequels. These two are perfect together, and the author does a fantastic job conveying this.

My one minor critique is that I wish there were a clearer sign of POV changes. For instance, having the character's name under the chapter. Sometimes it took me a second to figure out whose head we're in. With the audiobook (which is how I consumed the first story), it was easier to differentiate because of the accents. This didn't dampen my enjoyment; it is just a little thing I thought I should point out.

I need to warn anyone who picks this up: you will want to re-read book 1 the entire time you're reading this one, and you will want to read the next book after finishing this one. (Which, thankfully, there will be a track 3! I was about to start begging for one before I got to the author page). Overall, I loved this novel and can't wait to see what A.J. and Bren will face in college and adulthood. These characters are dear to me, and I would read a track 20 of the two of them. Please don't break my heart with the next two tracks! Thank you, NetGalley and the author, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tags/Warnings
.
.
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Triggers: Homophobia, past hate crime, past assault, PTSD

Third act break-up: No

OM/OW: No.

[☾arina⭐︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that we’re able to continue with AJ and Bren’s story. I thought the first book would be the only one and that it ended on a bittersweet note. Imagine my surprise when I saw on NetGalley that there was a sequel! I probably should’ve guessed there might be another book because of the title, Track One. Even though it didn’t have the 5⭐️ feeling the first one did, I was so happy to be back with these boys and to get to know AJ’s friends and his hometown.

In this one, we get to see them as an established couple. Their relationship is so adorable, and I enjoyed seeing them comfortable with each other and not having to hide it. The way Bren calls AJ “my lad” and “my man” had me giggling. Bren has come a long way, being comfortable showing his affection for AJ and not caring what others say. What I liked about the first one was how much music played a part in their relationship, and even though we still see the mixtapes, I wanted to see more of it. I also think the conflict was bigger in the first one, understandably, and this one didn’t really have one, which I think is why it didn’t give me that 5⭐️ feeling this time. That said, I will definitely continue with Track 3! Not sure if we’re continuing with the same couple or someone else, but either way, I can’t wait to read it and more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel we all NEEDED! I fell in love with AJ and Bren in book one and this continuation of their story was perfection. This is definitely a cozy read, but that does not mean it’s boring. I love the peaks and valleys the relationships and each character goes through in this novel. It’s very realistic, while still having you swooning and kicking your feet with queer joy throughout.

Robert has been able to write the aging of these characters so well. They are clearly the same characters from book one, but grown up a year. The balance between being just a bit older, having gone through some serious things and mature, but also still being teenage boys resonates off the page. This is such an important time in their lives, and it all feels so real. Many YA books I read I feel like an adult looking into the younger characters' world, or I reflect on the story like a parent (I am one) and how the experiences might be for my child one day. But with ATHPP the author manages to make me feel like I am a friend in that group, experiencing it all with them. Possibly it’s because the 2008 time period of the book was very relatable, and being a music/theatre nerd myself when I was in high school, but reading this novel was like reliving this hectic time to live through. And all of the energy and indecision is expressed so meaningfully. I remember what it was like to feel too old for my age because of the decisions I needed to make, and how everything felt SO serious, but also being like, ‘hey I’m still a KID’. And all of that is balanced so well throughout Track Two.
This was a joy to read and I’m basically ready to dive back in for a re-read.

*** I was provided an ARC of this book for the purpose of early review ***

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

4.25 stars. While this second book didn't have quite the impact on me as the first (a definite addition to my all time favourites), it was great to see more of Bren and AJ. Bren unexpectedly joins AJ at his school in Canada, and is still exactly the same adorable mess. AJ takes some time to figure out his own school while having Bren in the mix. Both are still very intensely in love, fitting their ages, and in their final years which made it necessary to start looking at their futures. A very satisfying ending, and a promise of another book to follow.
Thanks for the copy via NetGalley, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.

[Amber Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Then He Pressed Play is one of those rare books that works its way into your heart and makes a home there. After finishing Track One I found myself wishing to return to the world of AJ and Bren and was so thankful to find Track Two released only a short time later.

There is always a risk with a series that the second book won't live up to the first. Sometimes the magic fades, the characters stop feeling real, or the story loses the spark that made you fall in love in the first place. I am thrilled to say that is absolutely not the case here. Track Two doesn't just deliver; it deepens everything I loved about Track One.

AJ and Bren are two of the most well-developed characters I have ever had the privilege of reading. AJ, with his quiet bravery and the music he carries everywhere, and Bren, with his big heart, endless energy, and a personality you can feel through the pages.

They feel like real people, flaws and all, and watching them grow, both on their own and together, is a genuine joy. Their relationship is tender, honest, and I want to adopt them both.

As a Canadian reader, I also loved seeing a Canadian character at the centre of a story like this. And Track Two is primarily set in Moosejaw Saskatchewan and watching Bren enjoy all Canada has to offer (hint: cold winters) is just wonderful.

Reading this book was an experience. I giggled. I smiled. I kicked my feet. I squealed with joy. And by the end, I cried. It's the kind of story that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place.

If you loved the softness and heart of Heartstopper, or if you have ever rooted for two people who deserve the world, this series belongs on your shelf. Read Track One, then rush to Track Two. You won't regret it.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s difficult to explain just how much Bren and A.J. burrowed their way into my heart when I read Track One, so when I got approved for an ARC of Track Two from NetGalley, I was ecstatic to return to this universe. Bren in Canada. A.J. being way more confident. The continued 2000’s nostalgia. I loved every single second of it. This series continues to mend my gay, millennial heart, and it feels like a warm hug, even the more serious moments. I can’t wait for Track Three!

Thank you again to NetGalley and the author for allowing me the privilege of reading this one early!

[Eddie Joo · Rating 5 out of 5]

ATHPP 4.75/5 Stars

I think for most sequels it can make or break the series, as it is crucial to see if the characters and story can live on in a different book/continuation.

Thankfully track two is the former as the story really blossoms in a more familiar setting for our character and we get to see them in a new light. I am especially fond of how plot points from book 1 were addressed and not glossed over for the sake of plot armor, and that the characters have some growth with going through school and the crises of figuring out their lives.

I did wish we got to see some of the more in depth details of their daily lives, but understandable to keep the book short and not get buried under too much detail.

I think this is a great sequel and am awaiting the third book to see what becomes of the MC's.

[Camille Raney · Rating 3 out of 5]

And Then He Pressed Play: Track Two is the successor to Track One, a book I happily rated four and a half stars, and I was ecstatic at the chance to read it early! Thanks again to the author for giving me the opportunity. I’d provide a summary, but Goodreads offers a pretty decent one and I’m too lazy to come up with my own.

Spoiler-Free Review

As soon as I opened the book, chapter one brought me right back to the giddiness I’d felt while reading Track One—that specific brand of young excitement you only feel as a seventeen-year-old sneaking out for a party or kissing someone in the backseat of a car. Really, something I have to praise the series as a whole for is how easily it creates a mood and entrenches the reader in the world.

With every chapter after the first I found myself as enamored with Moose Jaw as Bren, hopelessly charmed by AJ’s hometown and his excitement to show it off. Meeting Nat and Yu, AJ’s best friends, was such a treat; Nat was especially a delight. Every scene she appeared in, I was glued to the page just waiting to see what she had to say. AJ’s family was also lovely, and it was kinda hilarious to see where he gets his everything from. The apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree!

Unfortunately, it couldn’t keep that momentum going forever. Without spoiling anything, all I can really say is that while I understand what the first half was angling for, it fell flat for me. In fact, it fell so flat that I worried I wouldn’t be able to appreciate the series as a whole in the same way I had before I’d read Track Two. I even considered DNFing the book, and that is a difficult thing to do. Thankfully, I was proven right to push forward. The second half was significantly more interesting to me, and to be entirely candid, I felt it was executed with much more thoughtfulness than the first.

And Then He Pressed Play: Track Two struggles at times, but when it finds its stride, it offers a vibrant and exciting look into AJ and Bren’s ever-deepening relationship. If you enjoyed Track One, this sequel is a must-read.

The remainder of this review will contain spoilers for And Then He Pressed Play: Track One and And Then He Pressed Play: Track Two

To be entirely honest, I’m including this part of the review to elaborate on what I disliked about Track Two, though I'll also mention a few things I enjoyed. These thoughts are mine and mine alone, and I will say that I have high standards, so please don’t let me color your opinion of what I genuinely found to be a fun read with a lot to love.

Without further ado, there are three primary issues that I have with this book, in order of least to most distracting:

1) Chapters 10-12

2) Dustin Richards

3) The Fall Musical

Item number one brings me to chapters 9-12, and I will say it right now: these are my least favorite chapters in the entire book and it is not even close.

At the end of chapter 9, AJ learns that Bren needs to pass all of his classes with 90s and above or his mother won’t sign off on an extension for his Canadian visa. This is a pretty major plot point and culminates roughly halfway through the book, and I like it a lot! I thought it was an interesting point of contention and I was excited to see what problems popped up as a result (which I will elaborate on when discussing item three).

What I wasn’t expecting was for AJ and Bren to fight about it in chapter 10. On paper, that’s an awesome way to introduce conflict, and I was incredibly interested to see what happened next. However, without mincing my words, the fight serves next to no greater narrative purpose and that is deeply disappointing.

To provide context, AJ is concerned that Bren won’t be able to excel in his classes while also practicing for the fall musical, and he’s also worried about Bren’s travel expenses. Without thinking, AJ asks if it wouldn’t have made more sense for Bren to have stayed in Ireland for the school year rather than forcing himself into a significantly more stressful situation just to be in Canada, and Bren is heartbroken by this. He’s simultaneously appalled that AJ would imply he should go back to Ireland after everything he’s done to be there with him, hurt that he doesn’t have faith in Bren’s ability to pass his classes at the level required of him, and offended by AJ’s insinuation that he can’t afford to be there. Bren lashes out and runs off, and AJ starts to wonder if this will be what breaks them up.

Really, my only problem with this fight in a vacuum is that Bren has never mentioned being insecure about his intelligence, and it never gets brought up again. It kinda feels like Halliwell needed something else for Bren to be upset about and arbitrarily made the decision for him to care about being called dumb, and really only for these chapters. I would’ve liked to see a scene where Bren talks to Nat or even just ruminates by himself over how unexpectedly hurtful it was to hear AJ doubt his intelligence, both because it would add a new facet to his character and because it would explain why that was something he cared about to begin with.

The fight is resolved in chapter 12; AJ finds Bren skipping stones at a river he’d shown him earlier in the book, and they make up after a short chat where Bren assures AJ that no, his life is not made worse for having him in it. There isn’t really anything else to say about this scene, the boys get over themselves and everything is fine by chapter 13.

Narratively speaking, chapters 9-12 serve to introduce Bren’s deal with his mother, the fact that he hid said deal from AJ, and to get the boys on the same page. That’s fine and all, but my issue lies in the fact that the fight is resolved almost instantly. From the initial argument to its resolution, three hours go by, and in that time what insight do we gain into AJ or Bren? There isn’t any discussion of how they hurt each other, or even really what they feel about the fight itself. We do learn that AJ is scared about their future and that Bren is hangry, so that’s something.

A conflict like this should be an opportunity to let the reader into the protagonists’ heads so we can learn about their wants, their fears, what they’re hurt by and what they do when they’re cornered. Chapter 10’s fight is a perfect setup to learn about AJ’s anxieties for the future while also showing us that he is capable of introspection regarding how he’s hurt Bren, and similarly, it gives Bren the chance to reflect on what AJ said and work out how he feels. Unfortunately, we don’t see any of that. There isn’t any introspection, reflection, or consequences. I can’t help but feel that if this argument had been stretched over another few chapters, or at the very least given more than three in-universe hours to build tension, it would feel more coherent. I just wanted more from this.

Moving on to item number two, here’s the thing. It’s obvious to me that the audience is meant to like Dustin. Objectively speaking, he’s a cheerful meathead who, from his first appearance onward, isn’t afraid to stand up for what’s right. He’s rambunctious and outgoing and I really wanted to like him! Regrettably, his introduction in chapter 14 grossed me out so bad that I spent my remaining time with the book DREADING his every appearance.

When I turned to said chapter, there was a while where I was interested in him. He was clearly intended as comic relief, but given Halliwell’s ability to write charming and dynamic side characters (as seen in Track One), I had faith that Dustin would have more going on than being a gym rat and getting his dick wet—which, admittedly, is partially true. We learn in chapter 47, roughly 80% through the book, that Dustin is a closeted gay man and has been in an on-again-off-again relationship with another character, Suveer, since they were preteens. It’s clear in retrospect that Dustin’s constant (and I mean nonstop) bragging about how many girls he bangs is his way of deflecting from his queerness, and that’s fine in theory, but there are a couple of issues with it in practice.

The first is that at least to me, Dustin being closeted came as a surprise. If there was foreshadowing, I must’ve missed it, because it hadn’t even registered as an option to me at first blush. I’m not going to say I have perfect insight and caught everything, there very well might’ve been a line here or there that eagle-eyed readers would catch and clock for what they are, but I missed them and subsequently spent 80% of the book thinking he was just a caricature of a painfully straight jock.

The second is that because Dustin comes out so late in the book, we spend the vast majority of our time with him understanding him to be a sex pest who ditches his friends to get laid, which nobody really minds. AJ and Nat say they’re frustrated with him, but the second he stands up for AJ and Bren and trash talks Morgan, people change their tune near instantly. Dustin admitting that Morgan sucks and the main cast accepting him into their friend group happens within a single chapter! There’s a suggestion that they’re cautious of him, but that suspicion is immediately defused by Arlo asking about his costume for the musical. I need to stress: I don’t have a problem with Dustin being brought into the fold, it just feels unearned. If all he has to do to win AJ and Nat over (after blowing them off every time he gets a girlfriend) is gossip about a homophobe, what was the point of any of the multiple instances where they talk about how he ditched them?

The third (and arguably most important) problem is that Dustin’s being closeted doesn’t add anything to his character.

He doesn’t struggle from being closeted until we learn about his turbulent relationship with Suveer, and even then, Dustin only struggles conceptually, as Suveer agrees to go public with him at his first suggestion. Furthermore, Dustin is a staunch ally to the queer people in his life—defending Bren in his introduction, standing up to and then dumping Morgan, and vocally supporting AJ and Bren every chance he gets—and that’s awesome! But it’s also really easy.

In real life, a teenage boy in Dustin’s shoes would very likely experience internalized homophobia, especially in the late 2000s. If we were to write Dustin from a different angle, he might fall in line with his friends and make homophobic jokes to protect his identity, or even just stand back and watch it happen. If we still want him to be an ally, then he could be an imperfect one. He might support queer people in private but ignore them in public, or say that he supports queer folks, but maybe they should tone it down when they're in public? Not because there’s anything wrong with being queer, just that some people might feel a certain kind of way and it’s best not to make waves, right?

Or, we could keep Dustin as vocally supportive as he is in canon, and have him hate himself for not coming out. If nothing is wrong with being gay, why can’t he go public with Suveer already? Why is he such a coward? His boyfriend doesn’t deserve someone as useless as him! I’m just spitballing, but you get it.

My point is: Dustin feels underbaked. From when we are first introduced to him to where he winds up by the end of the book, Dustin hasn’t changed in any meaningful way. And if he weren’t so prevalent in the story, I wouldn’t even care about that! But Halliwell wants us to care about him, to root for him, and that requires more than comic relief and a hamfisted coming out arc in my opinion.

Finally, I have to talk about the fall musical. I want to be clear when I say I liked a lot of it! There’s a lot that happens between the cast signing up for the musical and its closing night that I genuinely loved, like getting familiarized with Moose Jaw and seeing AJ and Bren get to be gross and cute in public in a way they really didn’t have a chance to do in Track One. However, there are a lot of opportunities for interesting plotlines that don’t go anywhere, and that’s disappointing. I’m going to try to get through this as quickly as possible because this is already an obscenely long review.

My first and least significant critique is that Bren makes a couple comments about how awful it would be if his friends back in Ireland found out he was performing in a musical, but they never do. Like, literally nothing happens. Rory makes a joke about it, so at the very least one person knows, but otherwise Bren’s worries are an entirely irrelevant thing to mention. I would’ve liked to see a scene where Mickie or Orlaith mentions hearing something from AJ and they slag Bren for it, or if nothing else a throwaway line where Bren thinks, “Wow, I’m so glad nobody figured out I was in a musical!”

My second critique is that despite Bren struggling in his classes in Track One, we really don’t see him struggle much academically in Track Two. There are numerous points early on where characters talk about how time consuming the fall musical can be, and that coupled with the deal Bren made with his mother made me think there would be at least one scene where he doesn’t have time to study for a test and bombs it, or he passes with an eighty and has to beg the teacher for extra credit or something, and there wasn’t. He sure gripes about how much work he has to do, but ultimately he sails through his studies without the reader ever feeling particularly worried for his grades. I wanted more from this and was thoroughly disappointed by what we got instead.

My third critique is that Morgan Clark is an absolute waste of an antagonist and I weep for what she could have been. She is the only actively homophobic person in all of Moose Jaw and she makes one (1) homophobic comment and is immediately erased from the narrative. Every scene that she’s in builds up her duplicitous nature and wretched vibes and the first time she does something interesting by saying AJ and Bren shouldn’t be as lovey-dovey in public, she never appears on screen again. I get that these books are meant to tell a story where queer people win in the end, but come on, AJ gets hatecrimed so brutally that he almost dies in Track One and Track Two gives the Canadian homophobe one scene where she’s unanimously decided to be the asshole before giving her the boot?

Morgan is the president of the student government despite being decidedly unpopular in the role, given the only other people in SGA (all three of them) act like she doesn’t exist, and she doesn’t even seem that popular outside of SGA anyway. She’s presented to the audience as someone in a position of power, someone to take seriously, but she never abuses said power to get things to go her way. I was expecting the book to tackle a more bureaucratic look at homophobia with Morgan, where someone who has connections and/or authority pulls some strings to mildly or majorly inconvenience queer people. I was expecting Morgan to get the principal of Peacock Collegiate to force AJ and Bren apart during the musical or they’d be replaced in their roles or something. I was expecting Morgan to go, “Actually, my father is very generous to the school, and he thinks it’s for the best if nontraditional relationships like yours stay behind closed doors,” and have Bren kicked out. Literally anything past just… saying something homophobic one time. She could have been as intimidating as Cian! And instead, she’s a joke. We don’t even get to see Nat beat her up!!!

For the reasons above, the first half of the book lacks a very compelling conflict to drive the story. Obviously the audience is worried about Bren staying in Canada, but we’re never actually given many reasons to (until the twist that he didn’t fill out his paperwork correctly, which I loved, that was awesome). Morgan has one interesting scene and disappears from the story altogether. Bren’s fears that his participation in the musical will get leaked to Ireland are completely unfounded by the end of the book. It all goes nowhere.

That’s why this is the most distracting problem of Track Two. The others I’ve mentioned have either been limited to a few chapters or to one character specifically, but the fall musical spans chapters 1-30 of 57. As I’ve mentioned, there are a lot of individual chapters in the first half that I loved, but much as I’m loath to admit it, discrete moments do not make up for an otherwise just okay plot.

As I’ve contemplated this book over the past week, I’ve thought a lot about what I disliked and what I think it could’ve done better. If I had to attribute my problems to something specific, I would say that Track Two suffers from a lack of confidence and a tendency to drop plot points. I really did enjoy my time with it, though, and I have a lot of love for the series and characters!

To any eager readers who’ve been put off by what I’ve said, please understand that the problems I’ve pointed out do not negate everything else this book has to offer (the second half is great!) and I would still readily recommend it to fans of Track One.

If the author is reading, I am sincerely looking forward to Track Three, and I have full faith in your ability to make it the best book of the trilogy.

Thank you for sticking around to the end of my review, now go read And Then He Pressed Play: Track Two!

Disclaimer: No AI was used to read for, plan, or write this review. I’m adding this disclaimer because if someone accused me of using an LLM for any part of my very passionate, very personal pedantry, I would have to die.

[nunu · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

As great as the first, but I think there's a few things I noticed more this time around.
Part of me wishes we had more of Bren's POV in this book, as we've essentially swapped roles. Instead of Arlo going to Ireland, it's Bren going to Canada, but I feel like we remain in this sphere around Arlo.
I would of loved to have more of Bren and what he was going through, we've basically been told he's going to have a rough time trying to ace his entire exchange year, but the parts of him handling studies and life all together felt very glossed over.

Then some parts of the dialogue was also hard to figure out who was speaking, I think Bren's way of speaking was very defined in the first book, but it started to blend a bit more in this one. (canadian influence? haha) There could have been a few formatting issues or typos that may have led to details being left out? One of the chapters they kept saying Bren and Arlo were going to Toronto when I thought they were headed to Ireland.

The way this ended is a bit weird. Maybe just the last chapter felt very heavy as a conclusion. I think that plotline could of been addressed before to not have that be the lasting impression on the story. The second to last chapter left off at such a good note that when I continued I was a bit "???" when there was another chapter after.

Will 100% be reading the third book. Love both Arlo and Bren as characters.

[Ambre · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY BREN AND AJ! And Then He Pressed Play: Track Two was even better than I'd anticipated!! ATHPP: Track One has become one of my comfort audiobooks that I listen to on repeat so I knew I had to snatch up the ARC for Track Two when it became available because even without the audiobook for this one (which I sincerely, desperately hope will become a reality in the very near future), I could hear their voices in my head clear as day when I was reading (#thanksgary).

And boi, was this an incredible book! In Track Two, we get to see what happens when Bren shows up in Canada for an exchange year at AJ's school, including a school play!! There's more of Nat, Yu, and AJ's parents, as well as plenty of new friends to meet, new experiences, and without getting into too many spoilers, a TON of hilarious moments, a lil more heat (since the lads are a lil older), a lil heartbreak, a lil tension, and a MASSIVE cliffhanger at the end that made me yell out the author's name, lol.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR TRACK THREE! Thank you so much to Robert J. Halliwell and Netgalley for giving me this beautiful ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s release day! I was so happy to see Arlo & Bren again 💗

💞 “You’re worth it, Arlo. So don’t try and tell me you’re not, yeah?” 💞

I was so happy to get back to Arlo and Bren and see what their future plans were after Ireland. It was so good, sweet, hilarious and fun seeing them back together and now with Arlo’s friends closer.

How nice to have Bren living in Canada, meeting Arlo’s family and friends, and our course spending more time with his lad. These two are so lovely, I love them.

There were so many cute and giggly moments. Bren is so charming and I melt when he talks sweet to Arlo.

“But if you could be a little less cute right now, that’d be grand. I need my blood in my head, like.”

Whatever lands their way, they deal with it and move on together. They can do anything with the other by their side.

“When my man calls, I come runnin’. Always.” 💘

I liked seeing them grow into their adult lives that are near — talking about their future, what it could look like, what their choices are, where they’ll live, and so on.

Speaking of their future, I’m so excited for Track 3! I’m gonna love seeing them as university students, living together, learning more about each other and figuring out their life as a couple.

“Love you, Arlo.” “Love you too, Bren.” He could do this. He could do anything with Brendan O’Shea by his side. ❤️

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op & Robert J. Halliwell for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Donna Robinson · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

E-ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you!

In this continuation of And Then He Pressed Play, we return to find Arlo in Canada, going through high school, but he unexpectedly discovers that Bren has joined them for a semester abroad. Though Bren has to follow strict rules to stay. and adapt to Canadian customs. It was really great to see these two familiar faces again and witness Bren adjust to high school in Canada. Their romance is so sweet, and it was put to the test through various acts. Seeing through Arlo's side of life was a nice change of scenery and put Bren through this test. Unfortunately, terribly familiar homophobic acts are taken and mentioned in the book, so be wary if these upset you. Overall, this was a good sequel to Arlo's and Bren's story, meanwhile taking place in Canada.

[Delenn Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

So to start, I had pre-ordered a copy already, but NetGalley offered ARCs, so I took the opportunity to read it early because I simply couldn't wait and I was going to review it anyway! This will be an honest review, regardless.

This second trek through the lives of AJ and Bren was just as engaging and intense as the first! I have been looking forward to this for months now and it has been well worth the wait. There's so much fun and hijinks to be had, including a return of the mid-2000s nostalgia of mix-CDs and song references. This was my world and Robert Halliwell has it so right. I can't get enough of AJ and Bren. Waiting breathlessly for Track Three!

[Ale · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

I read this book right after the first one, as I couldn't get enough of Bren and A.J.
Even though the protagonists still make one of the cutest couples ever, I felt like this installment was missing something.
The first half was definitely the weaker: the pacing was especially clunky, and some plot points seemed rushed or like they were inserted just for the sake of conflict.
I much preferred the second half of the book, as it led to interesting developments for the couple, in particular about their future together in college.
It's by no means a bad story, and I’m still very excited for Track 3.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very sweet sequel. Very domestic and it was nice to see A.J.'s slice of Canada. They got up to some crazy shenanigans this time around, but nothing as bad as last time. It was exciting to see their lives intertwining more, and I love a funny Bren moment! Can't wait to see what they get up to next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Hanna Flick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tbh as a whole I enjoyed the first one more, but I saw seeds of what’s to come in book 3 and I’m excited for those to be explored and fleshed out more. But as a certified Cats hater I did not love that plot line as much as I’m sure others will, but did a great job of transporting me back to being a senior in 2008 thinking how everything felt so monumental.

Very excited for track 3!

[Carleycatandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I read track two! I raced through it and I love Bren and Aj even more now.
I think I'm more Aj a nervous wreck but I definitely have Bren vibes .
Can we have track three now please! 2027 can't come quick enough.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

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