Craved by the Quarterback: My Best Friend’s Brother, Off-Limits MM Novella

by Jenny Pineapple

Genres: Friends To Lovers, M M Romance, Novella

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2026

Reviews

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Elizabeth, I knew Jenny Pineapple dropped a new book ☺️

💚Bennett & Reid 💚

I really enjoyed this one; it wasn’t as spicy, but I didn’t mind it. It was still a really quick, sweet read.

Can’t wait to see what Jenny writes next!

𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝑰 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒎𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕. 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

His eyes drop to my mouth, then back up. “It’s not a good idea, Bunny,” he whispers.

This one is far less smutty than Jenny Pineapple's books usually are. It was a surprisingly sweet story about two men finding their HEA after a bit of a wait. The plot is still a little thin overall, but it's surprisingly heavy on the romance. Well worth a read if you like best friend's brother romances.

I’ve never been attracted to another man before. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just not me. But there’s something about you that’s driving me fucking crazy.”

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️

BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER + “ONLY ONE BED” = ABSOLUTE FUCKING YES FROM ME 🥵🥵🥵

And written by JP???? Oh my FUCKING GOD. LORD HELP ME.

This was SO good. Like… SO so good??? The story, the buildup, the characters, the sex... EVERYTHING????

Reid is such a dream guy. He takes care of Ben, makes sure he’s okay, pays attention to his body language, and he actually listens. But MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE YEARNSSSS 👏👏👏

This was basically me the entire time:


I have never clicked so fast in my LIFE when I saw JP dropped a new story. McQueen has NOTHING on me.

It’s so much easier for me to write hate reviews because when I love something this much I just sit here like… WHAT am I even supposed to say??????

Anyway. I had a fucking blast, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[Ninni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and hot novella

When you and your girlfriend is supposed to celebrating your best friend's birthday over a weekend. But she breaks up with you when you arrives. So you have to share a room with your best friend's brother. Who you had a crush on for years. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a fun read!! i loved Reid and i wanted to hug Bennett. 😭 it might be my favorite Jenny Pineapple novella so far, but i also really loved Emmett and Kade from Just for Practice (i looked through the author’s backlist and i think i have about seven more novellas that caught my interest so i’m excited).

also idk if this is a tease for a future pairing (bc i don’t think they have their own book rn?), but THIS–

But for the first time, I allow myself to acknowledge what I’ve been avoiding all season: whatever is happening between Barrett and Dalton isn’t resolved. Their relationship is complicated, intense, volatile, and full of a tension that spills over both on and off the field. They’re either going to kill each other or become the most unstoppable duo in the league. I’m still not sure which.

I NEED THEIR BOOK ASAP. the way their dynamic is described sounds so good and up my alley. 👀🤭

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

God wtf how does Jenny Pineapple do this? Like, this story takes place over one single weekend and the page count is not high so we are not working with a ton of timeline here and yet, somehow, this feels like a completely believable romance to me! She always manages to set up just enough backstory so that there's a foundation and not simply instalove, and she always ends things on a super solid HFN that feels like a guaranteed HEA. It's fucking magic, I swear!

This is probably my favorite of hers so far. What's wild is that it's also probably the least spicy one I've read, and I feel like the scene that sticks out the most for me isn't even the penetrative sex scene but the hot as fuck make out scene. So intimate and sexy - whew!

I really liked the setup and pacing to this birthday weekend getaway gone awkward. I loved all the little moments leading up to our boys figuring themselves out. And I loved that, while this was a true double QFY situation, there wasn't angst or weirdness around it - they were both just like... idk this one man just does something to me. Bennett 100% needs to go out and get some better quality friends though, cuz wtf. Whatevs, he can leave them in the dust when he makes his new NFL partner's friends.

Jenny Pineapple supremacy continues!

Pet names: Bunny - how fucking crazy is it that I read two books in short succession with this pet name? And you know what, I FUCKING LOVE IT. There, I said it.

He steps closer, and the bathroom suddenly feels impossibly small. I can smell his skin, the chlorine from the pool mingling with his musk. “I’m not letting it go,” he says quietly. “Talk to me, Bennett.” When I don’t answer, he leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “Tell me what it is, so I can fix it, Bunny.”

“I thought three years would be enough,” I continue, unable to stop now that I’ve started. “I thought whatever this was would fade. But it didn’t.

“I wanted you so much,” he admits, one hand stroking my thigh. “It killed me not to be with you. Not to touch you, taste you.” He pushes a little deeper, watching my face for any sign of pain. “Not to be inside you, like this.”

It’s strange how right this feels. I’ve spent three years with an ache in my chest I couldn’t name, and now it’s gone, replaced by a fullness that threatens to spill over. I want to tell him, but the words feel inadequate.

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Safety (may contain spoilers)

SA/rape: None

Other person drama: The very start of the book is Bennett being dumped by his girlfriend but they had been pretty much done for months at that point and he doesn't really feel hurt about it. She's a huge bitch but there's no drama from her in a romantic sense.

[Raven || The Reader Identity · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔📚: 90/150
☆☆☆☆☆

💘 Reid + Ben

WTF, I NEED MOOOOORE.

Another JP release and I'm on it like flies on shit because HOT DAMN, I love this author. How they can write an ENTIRE plot and romance in 100 pages is insanity...and pure talent. Like, y'all, the WRITING IS SO GOOD.

God, Reid was AMAZING. He paid so much attention to Ben and made sure he picked him and focused on HIM. And watching Ben blossom under his attention? The passion and ease between those two? Obsessed.

The friend group is drama. So much drama. But that ending. GAH! I need like 100 pages more of these two.

Underated author right here that NEEDS to go viral. Because JP is a beast at storytelling.

🅃🅁🄾🄿🄴🅂
💋 mm contemporary romance
🏈 best friend's brother
💋 forced proximity
🏈 double gay-for-you
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[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Probably one of my favorites!! Loved both of the characters. Hated all the secondary characters except for Lily, she was a gem. I liked the chemistry between the two MCs. I wish it was longer!!

The only thing that frustrated me was Bennett not sticking up for himself, like for the entire book. It was so annoying. I wanted to punch everyone for him!!

No others or op drama. No break up. Double bi awakening. Best friend’s older brother. HFN (no I love yous)

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an easy 5 stars all the way! While I have been enjoying Jenny's novellas since the very beginning, this is definitely one that sparkles just a bit more and lands at least in my top 3 by her. She is so skilled at creating this entire *moment* with just a few pages! This is a BFF's little brother/brother's BFF with some forced proximity, ONLY ONE BED, and a bit of "it's always been you" thrown in. Reid is such a green flag and gave us so many swoony moments with Ben! While this isn't the spiciest of Jenny's books, I could read 100s of pages more with these boys exactly as they are! I absolutely adored this. There's a bit of OW drama with Ben's ex (she's total slime though) during this celebration event with the entire friend group, but Ben and Reid rise above it all and we just know they're going to ride off into the sunset together, forever. Love!!!

What to Expect:
🔥 Best friend’s younger brother
🔥 Double bi-awakening
🔥 Only one bed
🔥 NFL star x college student
🔥 Opposites attract

[TJ]

5*

This is a short read M/M from Jenny Pineapple that hits the mark again.
Set at a lakeside Lodge we meet Bennett who gets dumped by his ice cold girlfriend on arrival with the humiliation being witnessed by NFL star Reid.
Circumstances then force B and R into close proximity and we get a blossoming romance. There is just the right amount of romance and action in the book with a couple of side characters adding the drama that keeps the pace flowing.

Due to it being a short I was worried the ex was going to get away with how she treated Bennet so it was great to see how this situation was resolved! (Being vague to avoid spoilers!!)

Overall another great little short from Jenny that's well written and enjoyable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craved by the Quarterback is about Bennett and Reid, Reid is Bennett's best friends, Timothy's, brother. Few years ago they shared a moment, they haven't see each other after that, but now they both are invited to Timothy's birthday weekend. That weekend doesn't start too well to Bennett.

This was a really good story. I liked how Reid was there to help Bennett, when he needed help. And the ending was a perfect.

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I received a copy of this book, and this is my honest review

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun story! I really enjoyed watching Reid and Bennett dance around their mutual attraction to one another and when the opportunity arose for them to be roommates for the weekend, you just knew that things were going to get spicy. And the author doesn't disappoint in this department. I also loved watching Chasey and her plans that fell spectacularly flat and how she gets a taste of her own medicine in the end. A steamy MM bi-awakening served up with a small side of revenge - chef's kiss!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Spicy Book Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Jenny Pineapple!

Jenny’s an immediate buy for me. Her books never disappoint. Delicious tension, lots of spice and characters I’m invested in from the beginning. This book was no different. Bennett was such a sweetie, and Reid such a golden retriever- my fav kind of MMC. I love a “it’s always been you” story so my heart just loved these two getting together! 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I didn't like what Bennett's ex girlfriend did but it did clear the way. Reid offers to share to avoid Bennett sharing with his ex. I'm glad that Bennett and Reid cleared the air and finally got together.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craved by the Quarterback was such a fantastic read by Jenny Pineapple. This is a queer awakening, best friends brother, forced proximity read about Reid and Bennett. I loved reading this and can't wait to read the next one by this author.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I really enjoyed this story. This was a short sweet story with some wonderful characters. This was more like beginning of a story and I would have liked to see more after they got together but it was very good.

[Wilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the normal fire.

I love this author. One of my favorites. I can't wait to read anything she writes. This wasn't spicy like the others but still good.

[_Magda_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

very short story

I read that in couple of hours. Nice story wish it was a bit longer not just one weekend. It was nice chemistry between them

[Laurie Reads Reverse Harem · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5

[Renae Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reid and Bennet are perfect for one another. I loved their semi-slow-burn romance as they finally confronted their mutual attraction. The long-awaited reveal of their feelings was developed perfectly. I was so happy they were finally able to admit their shared love and care for one another. The setup added another layer of drama, which I enjoyed immensely.

Overall, this is another great novella from this author, who I always find such a fun time reading their forbidden and steamy stories.

*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***