My Unfinished Heart

by August Jones

Genres: M M Romance, Found Family, Mental Health

484 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2026

About the author

August Jones (She/They) is an author of queer romance and a voracious reader of smut. She resides in Texas with her family, pets, and books. However, she reads mostly on her phone because she’s cheap, it has a built in backlight, and it’s almost always in her hand.

If you ever discover her real name, don’t tell her, just read the books she’s published (you’ll like them) and thank her later with a rating or review. Mwah!

Books: KU, Paperback, & Audio
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Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 94%

Guys, buckle up and come with me to introduce you to my guys Tristan and Archer. And yes, I need to rant with spoilers so be warned. And yes, it seems I'm a magnet for torturous reads these days😏

So, Archer (23) comes back to Texas, after 6 years being gone and distant (he has trauma from his mother), cause his family got into car accident where he lost his parents and his 6 year old brother (who he never met), while his 18 year old brother Connor survived but in coma. He meets Tristan (17), Connor's best friend, and sparks fly.

We start with Archer sitting in the hospital with a lawyer when Tristan approaches him. Archer describes Tristan outfit as wide-legged baggy pants and short-sleeved linen button down that shows the white tank top underneath and he has dark blond shoulder length hair. Then, my guy Archer proceeds to say "between that and the fluid way he carries himself, I clock him as gay." Put your antennas away Mr. Radar. I wear Calvin Klein brand but that doesn't mean I'm super rich. I'm just smart enough to shop at Marshalls and TJMAXX🙄
Now of course, Archer is captivated by Tristan beauty and he is feeling stuff. Cause you know, that's why we are in the hospital for meet and greet and think about getting freaky in the sheet😌

Now moving on, Archer and Tristan get close. Archer is very attracted to Tristan and gets aroused at his proximity. But hey first let's go with my guy Archer and his friend to sport bar where he sees Jayne. Then (18%), they are at Jayne's apartment making out ready to get dow and dirty but his phone interrupts. That freaking annoying phone🙂‍↔️ But Jayne, the understanding woman she is, tells him to answer it then meet her at the bedroom. I kid you not and I quote "my erection gives a thud in her direction" but my guy Archer has to put his hammer away and leave for an emergency.

Archer finds Tristan in his kitchen in the middle of the night (he and Connor are staying with him), they share a very special moment where they bond and they also kiss. Then the next day (25%), he receives an invitation from Jayne to go out on a boat. Archer, the gentleman that he is, accepts and fucks her and wakes up next to her in his bed. Guess who's gonna see Mr Jayne in Archer's t-shirt coming out of his bedroom and touching him? Yup, our dear boy Tristan🫠

Then Archer meets up with his friend West and West asks him About Jayne and what's she like after she spent the night. To which Archer answers "Well, it wasn't her first time." but West doesn't need any further details as he says "You can stop there. I'll let my imagination do the rest." Just some regular bros conversation😅

Now Archer is drunk and stalks Tristan and climbs a tree and fall but they go to a hotel, where Tristan is begging Archer to take his virginity since he will be leaving the next day for school in Houston. Safe to mention Archer hooked up in college with men but never penetrative sex. Anyhow, Archer is hesitant, and our bright Tristan asks "are you slamming the breaks because you've lost interest, or is it the fact that you slept with Jayne last night? Like babe can you please hear your own words. He fucking slept with Jayne last night after you guys bonded and kissed. Where's your dignity my friend??????🤨
Anyhow, Archer surrenders because how can he not, oh and btw Tristan lied and told him that he's 19. We get down and dirty, where Archer takes Tristan's virginity. In the morning, Archer gives Tristan his necklace and they promise not to forget each other. True love you might think? but NOP.

Btw, you know how Archer fell from the tree, yeah it turns out his kneecap is broken. but thank God he was able to spend an entire night fucking Tristan😌 Oh and don't think our boy Archer is not smart because he acknowledges and I quote "Jesus, I am such an asshole. I had sex with two people in two days." Sorry to break the news, but yes babe you kinda are💅🏼

A week pass by, where for some unknown reason, no one reach out to no one. I mean Archer is in Austin and Tristan is in Houston, and Connor goes to visit. So what's the problem here? Well not until Archer finds out that Tristan was actually one week shy of 18 when they slept together. So he goes into "too young, too old" bs, and it's time to cut the ties and let him go. Btw age of consent in Texas is 17, cause of course I looked into that.

And boy does Archer let him go. He is at the bar when Liam who works at Archer's father company approaches and he is flirty and touchy. Our boy Archer, God bless his innocent soul, finds him attractive with his slutty glasses and he gets hard. I mean who can blame him but no he resists Liam; and later that night he texts Jayne so he can go over😆😅

We skip three and half years (46%), our dear boy Archer is with Jayne since that night. Don't you worry though, cus he inform us that he also has a guy on the side. But bless his soul, and I quote "I think about him (Tristan) all the fucking time. Not so much when I'm with Jayne, but when I'm with Liam for sure." Doesn't he break your fragile heart😢 The guy can't forget Tristan especially when he is balls deep in Liam. Thank the lord for small mercies though since he can at least be balls deep in Jayne without reminiscing too much.
At 52%, we are given info on how Archer relationship with Liam is. So Liam didn't care Archer lives and sleeps with Jayne, and Archer doesn’t care Liam hooks up with other guys. Can I interest you in some STI?🤩 kidding, Im sure they are smart enough for safe sex practices. But let's continue on, apparently Archer and Liam fucked once and Archer remembers it and I quote "being good-too good. So good it brought up too much for me, and didn't want to do it anymore." After that, it's just making out, handjobs, blowjobs, feeling each other, getting off. Simple like that😌

Tristan comes back of course and apparently he's been back for 2 and a half years but Archer didn't find out🙄Jayne organizes a party for Archer for getting his PhD (ahem PhD in stupidity ahem) where Archer sees Tristan making out with West😈😆 I don't mean to laugh but I'm sorry I need to laugh.

Archer breaks up with Jayne and fight with West. He gets into a misery phase for few months. But don't you worry, his teaching assistant Gretchen is gonna pull him out, literally and figuratively😉
Archer POV about Gretchen is "I know, I know. This guy… Does he always need a pretty girl to feel better about himself? I mean—I need something. Although in my case, it doesn’t need to be a girl. It just happens to be this time." Babe, you need something indeed and it's called THERAPY.
We are told that Archer and Gretchen have seen a hundred bands play, eaten at least five-hundred pancakes after one a.m. (Someone need to tell them to keep track of their blood sugar; diabetes is not to mess with), gone to parties, ridden their bikes several dozen times around the lake, and even went to see Shakespeare in the park. Like awwwwww🥹 can't these two get married right now and live happily ever after🤩😍 Stupid Sarah🤦🏻‍♀️ of course they cannot, she is not the other MMC, duh, I can be ignorant some times🙄

Few months in with her and he sees Tristan again and asks him to meet the next day to talk. Tristan comes over where Archer goes poetic on how he missed Tristan and regret not calling or reaching out and he is crazy about him. Sure babe let's go with that🙄 And then Archer has the audacity to say "I think we should give it a try. See what happens. Keep that promise." Dig me a hole and bury me 6 feet under please cus what you mean keep that promise?!!! Babe can I remind you of Jayne, Liam, Gretchen.
Tristan, bless his heart, forgives Archer and they start getting spicy. They ask each other about how many people they have been with sexually, Tristan answers that have been with 6 others and Archer answers that he doesn't think he cracked ten. So I'm not sure he is talking about his whole life or since last seeing Tristan. Then Tristan asks Archer when he got tested and Archer says today cus after he saw him yesterday. What does Tristan say next??? I quote "that's fucking romantic"🫠
🔊Guys forget about flowers and candlelight dinners and run to your nearest health clinic and get me that paper that says "clean after my dick played peekaboo with many holes." Screw wine, cheese and crackers, picnic under the moonlight, just whip out that clean health paper in my face and SWOON🤩 Most romantic gesture if I ever known one🙃
Anyhow, this whirlwind romance leads to three rounds of intense sex and edging and such. Tristan goes to brush his teeth and there is Gretchen's pink Oral-B toothbrush. So he questions Archer about how he could have reached out and came looking for him but instead got a girlfriend. Well ex-girlfriend now, because Archer was a gentleman this time and broke up with Gretchen before meeting up with Tristan. Who said chivalry died🫠
Tristan, the good-bless-his-soul-guy that he is, keep it cool and only asks Archer to buy him his own toothbrush. Awwwwww, can he be more understanding😞 I mean that toothbrush better be the electric Philips Sonicare or the Oral-B or we're gonna have a problem here. Maybe also throw in some Teeth whitening kits cus you know dental hygiene is very important.

After a few weeks, something happens to Connor, don't want to spoil too much but Tristan and Archer breaks up after Archer shouts at him to go and that he wants him to leave and he means that.

Month go by, and Archer wants Tristan back so he goes to him but Tristan doesn't relent. Good for you babe. I knew you have some self respect in there👏🏻 His friend suggest painting something for him. Connor tricks Tristan to come to Archer's studio.
Not only does Archer have two paintings for Tristan but he also pulls out a velvet box. He is proposing to him, yes. And yes they only dated for like a month prior to the breakup. Tristan doesn't hesitate to say yes, cus who has time to hold grudges, and also we are at 94% so we need to wrap up the story⏰
Now, forget about proposing under the Eiffel Tower or Northern lights in Norway or gondola ride in Venice because nothing, and I mean NOTHING can beat proposing in the studio that was solely the hookup place of you and Liam, the side guy you cheated on your girlfriend with, while "missing" Tristan. Talk about PEAK ROMANCE right here and there people😍 Woooooooooooow Shakespeare would have loved to write about this exquisite romance🫠

I stopped reading at that point, which was 94%. I wasn't interested to know about their future, if any.

End of rant. Thank you for your patience. If these things don't bother you, give the book a chance.

I don't know what's going on with the recently released or newly released books but they are not clicking for me. Maybe it's a me problem, but I'm re-reading books and having the greatest time of my life. I just think the romance in books these days just seems dull😒

[Sandy Kay]

The thorough @Sarah said it all:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I swear I'll read that one August Jones book that I think is safe for me soon. I wish others were but alas...not today. (Continual OP action throughout, for any who just want the snapshot of why Nope)

[Sarah☀️ Somerville]

DNF @ 39% - I love angst, but this is too melodramatic for me. I don't like any of the characters. And also the author and the main characters made this massive big deal about the fact that one of the MCs was 17 when they first had sex. But... the age of consent is 17 in Texas? So it was kinda weird. And it was only a week before his 18th birthday, so even if it had been illegal... which it wasn't... it wasn't exactly super immoral. I dunno, I'm just really confused on top of not being particularly interested, and if I'm more interested in Googling the age of consent in Texas than actually reading the book, there's something wrong.

[Ken Terp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I marked spoilers because no matter what I write here, I think you should go in completely blind unless you actually need content warnings. I really liked about 80% of this book and it actually was 5 star potential in the beginning. However, now that I’m finished I had quite a few (important) issues with the book:
- What was the point about including Bryan if you weren’t going to do anything with it? Might as well not of existed.
-The billionaire subplot makes zero sense in this story. It would have been better if he inherited 30 million or something like that. Still way more than he needed, but would be more in alignment with the story.
-The found family part feels like an afterthought.
-All the girlfriends.
-I didn’t really get enough closure on the issues with the mom.
-I realize there wouldn’t have been a book, but just go in therapy already.

I love August’s writing and I could tell that it was a labor of love. I also love that she did her own thing publishing this, and not trying to placate readers. It’s also obvious that we are around the same age. Beautiful Tristan with the shoulder blond hair, if you know you know.

[Casey Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite

Let me preface this by saying that I LOVE August Jones. I've read all her books and have loved them all. Some I've loved more than others, but they're always well written and her angst and yearning is always top tier. My Unfinished Heart is no different in that the writing is top tier and the angst, yearning and spice are excellent. August mentions in her end notes that this book is a departure for her and very personal, and I respect the hell out of that. I didn't mind the dark aspects of it. However.....I really disliked these characters. I actually enjoy single POV books, so that didn't bother me. But I couldn't find any main characters in this book that I could like or root for. They're all deeply flawed, selfish and toxic. Their relationships are codependent and downright unhealthy and that continues right up until the very end. Now let's discuss Tristian. His perspective is only told in a very few handful of pov chapters from his journal. He comes across as very young, immature and quite frankly, stalkerish. I honestly kept expecting this book to take some kind of dark turn where Tristian is revealed to be a violent stalker who has been so obsessed with Archer that he caused a major problem. The fact that he obsessively tells everyone that he fell in love with him when he was 7 also creeped me out. His relationship with Connor also really disturbed me with how incredibly toxic and codependent it was, even in the epilogue. They are so close that no one else can compare, yet they claim no romantic feelings. This never seems to reach any kind of healthy solution. I honestly can't imagine these three men having any kind of long term happy ending (which is how I felt at the end of The Director as well btw). The only characters I loved were West and Joey and even West ticked me off a few times. Overall, this one wasn't for me. I don't enjoy insta love usually, anyway, but I love that August did a standalone single POV and I still adore her, so I look forward to more! And still giving 4 stars because she's a helluva writer!

[Aluren · Rating 1 out of 5]

didnt like

DNF’d at 34%. Did not like the MC, doesn’t seem to be much plot and the interactions between the MC and love interest were not cute or romantic and sometimes they were just downright cringey. It’s an instalove story and although the characters SAY they’re so into each other that’s not really how they act. I lost interest.

[Royesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

August never fails ❤️

I sat with this book for a month, a genuinely had no idea what to rate it, but after four weeks, I have to rate it five stars! August Jones is probably my favorite author, she never fails to write something that makes me laugh, cry, or straight up just piss me off, but that’s why I love her 🤣. Her style of writing and storytelling feels like her characters are in the real world. There’s nothing unrealistic about her stories and she doesn’t wrap everything up with a HEA, complete with a pretty bow. Despite, that, I’ve never rated a book below 5 stars from her (literal crazy work haha). This one took me a while to rate, because I was not a fan of the main MMC Aaron. He made a lot of mistakes throughout the book and a lot of the people (mainly all) in his life her collateral damage, and he has a long way to go for redemption in my eyes. I didn’t want him to be given chance of chance so easily and I wanted him to be the one to make the effort with others in his life, especially his brother. They both went to through an EXTREMELY traumatic childhood in different ways, and in most ways, his brother ended up worse off. I wanted to Aaron to confront his trauma make more of an effort throughout the book without prompting for others. But as I said, August doesn’t write fairytales. If you have haven’t yet read her books, PICK THEM UP!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Effing. Book. August has slayed me. I was bawling- both with heartbreak and joy. I giggled, I blushed, my heart ached through this whole thing!! This book focuses on Archer and all his relationships, including the one with himself. And when I tell you August puts you through it as she takes you along in Archer’s world- I am underselling it. She warned us this was different from her usual books, but you can tell it’s still August’s genius of giving you a wholly unlikable MC and making you fall absolutely in love with him. To the point where you’re feeling every emotion with him. I wanted so much for Archer! I needed him to have conversations. I wanted to shake him sometimes and hug him fiercely at others. My heart broke and broke and got put back together. No spoilers, but you do get an HEA, it just takes a lot of work to get there. Easily one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. It’s burrowed into my heart and it’s not letting go. 💙

[Rachel Harrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book completely blind through August’s Patreon; no tropes, no ideas what the triggers were (my choice), and not even the title of the book. I also had no idea it would be one of the most intense yet satisfying books I would read in months, maybe years.

Told entirely from Archer’s perspective, he is forced to face the nightmares of an abusive mother and absentee father, the almost irreparable relationship with his brother, and the mutual infatuation between himself and a man he shouldn’t want/can’t have.

Talking about ‘healing’ sort of downplays what happens in this story. It’s almost like each character *needs* a reinvention. As though what they’ve lived through is so overwhelming, the only option is to start fresh. You won’t be disappointed.


Who is it for:
If you love intense, heart wrenching love stories where hope and a happy ending feels unobtainable and possible at the exact same time.


✨MM
✨Found family
✨First times
✨Unrequited love
✨High angst

[Amelia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually love an August Jones book. I was intrigued when it popped up out of nowhere and was marketed as very different from her usual style. The Doormen and the Bay Area series both contain some of my all-time favorite reads in the world. This book just didn't hit for me.

It felt messy, but not in the way I've come to expect from Jones. Messy as though she was introducing one new plot point right after another and not wrapping up a lot of them. Archer fell flat imo and I struggled through his POV. The girlfriend being his brother's teacher felt like a weird and unnecessary thing to include. His best friend kissing Tristan also came across as just a way to add conflict instead of it being something legitimately would occur.

There were parts that I enjoyed quite a bit but too many plot holes ruined this one for me.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my lordy. This was incredible. I don't even really know what to say. This wasn't just a love story. It was a story about healing and learning what love is (not just romantic love, just love in general). I don't want to give any details away so I won't say much. I will say it was very emotional and the hea was extremely rough to get to, but it was so absolutely worth it! I am already an August Jones super fan, but this just made me love her even more!! Wow.

Edit to add: I did not receive this for free from the author. I paid for a copy from the authors website before it was released anywhere else.

[amanda rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

Do you love angst? Then boy, do I have a story for you! The author asked fans of her books to go into this with an open heart, and as blind as possible. She says it's not like her other books, and sure, it's not. But it also *is*. We still get the insatiable, toxic obsession that she writes so well. It's just couched in truckloads of painful angst, and some pretty tricky (often unpopular) tropes to navigate. If you have triggers, be aware. At nearly 500 pages there's quite a lot of ground to cover. The thing with high damage emotional angst for me - I'm not that great at forgiving characters. Thankfully I (mostly) came around by the end.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

painfully beautiful and an exquisite story of what love really is

I’ve never written a review before but I’ve also never read a story as beautiful as this.

This book takes you on a journey of deep healing and transformation through trauma and self discovery. I definitely utilised many a tissue.

The love between the main characters is powerful, intense and at times so painful to read about but it was portrayed so beautifully. I’ve never been so happy to wade through someone’s pain and heartache.

If you’re looking for something to crack your heart wide open, to find parts of your own heart you thought you might be missing, then please read this work of art.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a hard time rating this but I think I’ll stick with a 4. At times, it was a 5. This story made me angry a lot of times. But I think that’s the whole point. It’s actually very real. And the characters were young, relatively speaking. I wanted to shake Archer many, many times. Mostly cause he just couldn’t express how he was feeling to the most important people in his life. But the reasons why are so valid. Like the author warned, this story won’t be for everyone but I love a hard-earned HEA. And this definitely was that.

[Syria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author never disappoints with this kind of storytelling, the complexity of the characters, the plot that's always interesting and full of meaning, not predictable , but above all the skillful and effective way she manages the length of the story and the evolution of the characters and situations. Luckily, there's just the right amount of time for things to happen and the author takes all the time necessary to explain the unfolding of events. This is a book that captivates you and you devour it.

[A reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tristan & Archer 🌳🎨

Beautiful love story with an HEA. It's angsty, tumultuous, and had me going through it. It's a dream come true when your unrequited love finally becomes requited and wholly mutual, isn't it? While this is about Tristan and Archer, it's also about how different types of relationships shape you, break you, build you, teach you, and heal you.

This is absolutely worth the investment of time. I'm not triggered easily so went in blind but does cover heavy topics, which are noted in the TWs.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Is. A. Masterpiece. I am so messed up right now. I could not put this down. Holy moly. Brilliantly written, intensely emotional, and demonstrates the author’s deep understanding of the complexities of human psychology and behavior. It was heartwrenching and beyond gorgeous to read. It’s the type of writing that really makes you feel like it’s you all this stuff is happening to. Cannot say enough good things about this book. Love love love. Hope the author writes more like this one! It’s definitely going down as one of my favorites of the year.

[Lyn Solomon-Linville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first August Jones book. The author said this book is different from their others, more angst less smutty and I loved it. It truly was a roller coaster ride, a rough one too so read the TWs before reading the book. This was a new experience for me, really disliking an MC at the start. But, after all he was raised to be an unfeeling man. But does this sound like one. " The way it feels to be allowed this close to him? It feels like coming home.
Not like my childhood home, but like- home- where my heart lives."
I found everyone's journeys in this book so worth the angst. I also loved Archer's found family, especially Nell. And the revelations along the way.
And the perfect ending.

[HEAalltheway · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible departure from her usual writing

This was such an emotionally charged book. So good but different from August’s other books.
Childhood trauma creates a walled off heart. Archer doesn’t open up and keeps his distance. When his injured brother needs him, Archer is numb. When he has a chance at love, he’s numb.
Archer has to learn to love again and the ups and downs of emotions will wreck you.
single POV
high heat but less moments of it

[Anushka Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story feels really raw and personal, especially with how the characters deal with their past while trying to move forward. I loved the slow burn because nothing felt rushed—every moment actually mattered. There’s this constant ache throughout, like something is always left unfinished (which totally matches the title). The miscommunication annoyed me a bit at times, but it also felt real. Overall, it’s such an angsty, emotional read about a love that just won’t fade.

[Littleblackbird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archer and Tristan ‘s story.
What can I say ..I ve read everything this author wrote and each time I m telling myself that I just love how her mind works . her way with words is just chef’s kiss 👍👏!! I ‘m gonna think about this story for a moment and I m sure gonna read it again .
Five big stars for me 👏👏👏👏👊

[Jessica Prince-Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book you accidentally stay up until 3am reading. I went in completely blind & I loved it. This was told from Archer’s pov but we were lucky enough to get a couple of Tristan’s diary entries which added so much to the story. I loved this, I love August’s writing.

[Dea · Rating 5 out of 5]

heartbreaking, more than once

A beautiful angsty single POV book that really makes you doubt the HEA.

Mind the triggers, they are heavy, but worth it if you can!

Very different from August’s usual - but still amazing and well written!

[Katkejt ☾. · Rating 5 out of 5]

…rtc. “I will if you will.” ♾️.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried so much I had to turn my pillow over to go to sleep.

[ANN · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this down. This is her best work yet!

[Howabout_Emily]

I really like August Jones but this didn't click with me

I didn't like the MCs. The mystery was annoying and I don't know... Too slow?

[David Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gem of a book

I loved this book. Very intense and beautifully written. I hope the author revisits these characters at some point in the future.