Claiming Lily

by Rory Miles

Did I plan on living with my ex-boyfriend’s three best friends?
No.
But when he kicks me out with nowhere to go, Hudson, Cole, and Gage are the ones who take me in.
It’s supposed to be temporary. Just long enough to get back on my feet. No drama. No complications.
Except these men don’t know how to keep their distance.
Hudson is steady and protective.
Cole knows exactly how to make me laugh.
And Gage? He watches me like I already belong to him.
I should remember they were my ex’s first. I should leave before this gets messy, but late nights turn into lingering touches and something I can’t ignore.
Their house starts to feel like home, like the only place I’m safe.
Until I realize I’m being watched.
Someone in this town doesn’t want me here and they’re slowly getting closer. Angrier. Scarier.
The three men I shouldn’t want vow to protect me. . . that is if my stalker doesn’t get to me first.

This is a standalone contemporary romance where the FMC doesn’t have to choose.

Genres: Why Choose, Stalker, Contemporary

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2026

Reviews

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a (straight) why choose book, and this reminded me of the things I used to love about it. The non-angsty romance with men who know they wanted the FMC and were unapologetic about their feelings, wanted to treat her right and with no other woman drama was so nice. The external plot and action made it even better (any and all romance books are better with some mortal peril), and I will totally get the audiobook if one is made.

Lily was a great main character and I enjoyed how she gave people chances but wasn’t a pushover, and she took what she wanted, even when she wasn’t completely sure about things. Also will always love it when the FMC calls their love interest ‘good boy' <3

It’s not a full five stars for me because Gage and Cole did kinda feel like the same character at times. It could be a me-issue as their names just didn’t stick to their characters for me for some reason, but either way Hudson felt more distinct. I remember things about Cole and Gage as well, I just couldn’t tell you who is who, lol.

Either way I would recommend this one, it was good fun.

Thank you to the Author Agency for the ARC.


Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Why choose
Ex's best friends
Stalker plot
Small town
Forced proximity
'good girl'
Dick piercings
Protectiveness
Edging
Threesome and group fun
Double penetration
MMMF



⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Verbally abusive and physically threatening ex boyfriend
Parent with early onset Alzheimer's
Alcohol consumption
Financial and housing insecurity
Some details of MC growing up with abusive parents
Some details of MC's parents being addicts (alcohol, gambling and drugs)
MCs photographed in intimate situation by stalker
MC stalked
Neck collaring
Explicit sexual content
Wild animal killed and mutilated off page (found on page)
Stalker posting revenge porn/naked picture of MC online
MCs injured on page
Bad guy killed on page
Gun violence



⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, multi
Genre: Why choose romance
Pairing: MMMF
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
Main characters’ age: Everyone is around 29
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 309
Happy ending: Yes


“I can’t date three guys at one time.”
“Why not? Callie did.” She hums, thinking for a moment. “You won’t get jealous?”
“Not of them.” Honesty comes easy in the moonlight. “Anyone else, fuck yeah, but Gage and Cole are like brothers to me. I know they’ll make you happy, and that makes me happy.”
She drops her forehead to my shoulder. The warmth of her breath filtering through my shirt. “This is crazy.”

“Well, for right now, we give her a safe place to land,” I say, decision made. “Show her how she’s meant to be treated.”



You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...

[Readiculous &#x1f4da;&#x1f5a4;&#x1f471;&#x1f3fc;‍♀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the first book in this series so I couldn’t wait to start this one! I enjoyed this one almost as much as the first one. I mean, who doesn’t like a man that is totally smitten with the h, let alone three of them! I’m here for it. I also really enjoyed the suspense part in this book and the protectiveness it brought out in the guys.
Throw in some romance and spice and I’m a happy camper! I’m hoping the author continues this series.

Safety:
- No OW (H’s have shared a woman before, but only mentioned and it is mentioned they only did this for fun, never for anything more like with h).
- OM: at the beginning of the book h is still with OM. He is a giant jerk and she breaks up with him almost immediately. Stalker / villain wants h. Two other men (client of h and coworker of h) also want her. h not interested in any of them
- No cheating
- No separation / no third act break up.
- Deals with drug abuse (H parents)
- Deals with dementia

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟, 3.5🌶️

I simply adored the group dynamic in this one!

Lily’s journey truly tugged at my heartstrings as she navigated the chaos of leaving a toxic relationship only to find an unexpected sanctuary. When she moved in with Hudson, Cole, and Gage - her ex’s best friends - the shift from awkward tension to genuine, protective care was beautifully done. Watching them patiently offer her a safe place to land while she dealt with the heavy responsibilities of caring for her mother was so touching. It was the perfect found family setup that made me feel deeply invested in their bond right from the start.

The added layer of suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, as the mysterious stalker storyline brought a sharp intensity to their budding relationship. I absolutely loved the distinct personalities each guy brought to the table, from Hudson’s steady protection to Cole’s humor and Gage’s intense devotion. While the pacing felt a little quick toward the end and I was left wanting even more intimacy to match the high-stakes chemistry, the emotional payoff was undeniable. It was a thrill trying to piece together the mystery, and the twist left me completely shocked.

Overall, this was a captivating and heartfelt experience that left me feeling warm and satisfied. I was so proud to see Lily grow and finally prioritize her own happiness after everything she endured. Even if I craved a bit more detail on their life together in the final chapters, the story remained a thoroughly engaging ride.

If you love a mix of high-stakes suspense, protective heroes, and the emotional comfort of finding your true home, this is a beautiful read that I would definitely recommend.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Rory Miles and The Author Agency for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Mikaela (risqué.romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‼️SPOILERS‼️

I just knew just from the first page that this book was going to suck me in just by her getting a cat out of the tree. I love me a good small town romance but mix it up when the girl gets three boyfriends.

Matt, Lily’s ex, is a complete douche. When he kicks her out after they broke up because he couldn’t be mindful of it being her birthday and just being a complete jerk, his friends Gage, Hudson and Cole take her in to live with them.

Unfortunately, we get more of Matt with his craziness and even already have a new girl after only a few chapters. I felt so bad for her when she came to get her stuff and his words just made her realize she was just tired. He got his karma later and I’m so glad the guys backed her up the whole way.

And oh my… Gage’s parents are just awful people. I’m so glad that they got the karma they deserved at the very end.

I really loved how natural it was for them to finally be together. I just love how patient these guys were with her and when they finally told her how they felt, I was in it for the long haul.

I really did not expect the villain to be who it was. I had three people in mind and I was so wrong. I love it when the author really shocks me with the turn of events.

I loved the friendship that Lily had with her friends because they really cared for her well being. The little teaser we got made me intrigued by the next book.

Lily’s mom - the way that she would do anything for her mom even when sometimes she couldn’t remember her in this time frame. The ending had me in tears because it was everything that Lily deserved and she got so much more.

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

[Amy Crull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book!

This book was so much fun to read! It kept my attention from beginning to end and I was hooked!!
I love we got point of views from the guys and how they interact with their family and Lily. Gage, Hudson and Cole have been best friends for years and they've crushed on Lily since they were little . When their other friend screws up and lily has no other place to go, the boys take her in. This is when things get interesting for the story. Lily throws herself into her job and getting to know the guys better. She is attracted to all 3 of them but they are her ex's best friends. They talk things out and super protective of her. When weird messages and pictures are sent to lily, the boys are with her all the time. This is when things get steamy!!
I loved all of the characters but my heart really went out to Gage and Lily . They were dealing with so much in this book and showed their maturity when faced with hard times.
It has a super sweet ending full of so much love!

[The Rampant Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and TAA for the gifted e-copy.

“Sometimes the best way to carry on someone’s legacy is to adapt it to reality.”

The FMC is kicked out by her Ex and his friends take her in. Between her crappy Ex, her taking care of her mom, and everything else going on you really feel for her and cheer for the guys. The suspense part of the plot had me guessing and I wasn’t ready for the twist. This was a quick read.

Vibes: found family, protection, comfort

Tropes:
Small Town
Why Choose
Ex’s Friends
Forced Proximity
Parent Caretaking
Stalker

[Cat H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3 stars.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily ends up with nowhere to stay after her crazy ex Matt kicks her out, but she finds help from his three best friends, Hudson, Cole, and Gage, who offer her a home. Hudon is protective, Cole makes her laugh, and Gage watches her like she already belongs to him. When Lily acquires a stalker, they will do whatever they must to keep her safe and protected.
This is a well written easy to read, emotional roller coaster, with friendships, tension, drama, danger, suspense, intrigue, forced proximity, challenges, making choices, mystery, why choose, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, poignant, and unpredictable small-town romance.
I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

[Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just okay for me but had a lot of elements I know other readers will enjoy.
Lily breaks up with her awful boyfriend and with no place to stay and ends up crashing with his three best friends. Little does she know that they have all been crushing on her for years. Add a stalker and continued terrible behavior from the before mentioned awful ex and you have a lot of suspense and tension.
I personally love a why choose situation. For some reason, this one was not done is a style that spoke to me. The build up was slow and felt really drawn out for a standalone book. I guess it felt more like she ended up dating 3 guys who lived in the same house rather than dating the 3 of them together. Couldn’t have told you that was a preference of mine before I read this, but now I know. Also, for a why choose, this book is relatively tame on the spicy side. There is a lot of build up and mentions of “when we get you home we’re going to -“ but then it’s a new chapter and the next day and what happened when they got her home? I’m not saying it was closed door by any means, just not as spice forward as most why choose books. I had a struggle connecting to the individual guys as well - Gage being the only one I felt really had much going on outside of their shared construction company and dating Lily.
The stalker storyline was handled well enough, though it did sometimes feel like every person Lily encountered had to be suspicious to try and throw you off the scent. But like the love scenes, it often felt like we were building up to something that was never quite delivered.
I would say that if you enjoy small town romance, with a little less spice than most why choose stories and a stalker storyline, you might very well enjoy this book.
Thank you to The Author Agency for the chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

[Ahici · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great interconnected standalone contemporary reverse harem in this small town universe!

Breaking up with her boyfriend on her birthday leaves her homeless as he kicks her out that same night, with nowhere to go she ends up crashing on the couch at her mothers house that she is have renovated. When the three contractors working on the place, who are her ex’s best friends, show up and see her there, they give her no choice but to move into their spare bedroom. She tells herself it’s temporary, but with their attentiveness and interest it seems things may progress a little differently. Especially when her ex takes every opportunity to berate her in-front of them, and she receives some very unsettling notes, pictures, and texts from a stalker.

Everything seems to be piling on the shoulders of our FMC and she is such a resilient character trying to carry all the burdens. She’s working two jobs, cleaning homes as well as selling homes, but the additional stress of a stalker, and her abusive ex bf absolutely doesn’t help. Luckily the men she has moved in with show her how a proper relationship should look like, and their support and kindness is an unexpected balm to the struggles.

The MMCs are all different, with various past traumas of their own, and yet they have grown into such amazing men. Their support of each other now extends to the FMC as they slowly show how much they care for her and always have. They’d all been crushing on her from the moment she and her mom had arrived into town back when they were all kids in elementary school.

It is absolutely a slow burn, with the sweet MMCs making sure to not overwhelm her after the terrible breakup she just had. We get to enjoy some great tension and yearning as they all live to together and come to terms with their feelings. They do a great job communicating and the MMCs all agree that they have no problem sharing her and she wants to be with all of them. This is followed by a little more tension and then some delicious spice that gradually gets hotter.

The subplot with the stalker definitely adds to the tension, but it is something that is more so in the background until it progresses the romance. The relationships of the FMC are the catalysts to everything happening to the MCs. Breaking up with her ex and then her getting into a relationship with the MMCs is what starts the issue with the stalker and her ex’s degrading outbursts as he lashes out at her and his best friends. The small town aspect makes things that much more unpleasant as things escalate.

We are left with a heck of a plot twist at the end, that I can absolutely say I didn’t see coming! The uncertainty of the situation drags things out, especially when things resurface that were meant to be concluded, but once we hit that twist things are wrapped up fairly quickly for that subplot.

Before we get to the wonderful epilogue, the author also gives us some much needed closure for those little loose ends that plagued our MMCs. I really appreciated that we got to know a little more into the future of how our MCs were faring and then also got the HEA we were hoping for.

It seems like we’re to get one more book in this series, and I can’t wait for that last HEA for our third bestie of the FMC friend group!

[Jenna Lundberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

💜🏡 Sometimes Home Finds You in the Most Unexpected People 🏡💜
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was my very first why choose romance, and while I discovered it may not be my personal favorite trope, I'm genuinely glad I stepped outside my comfort zone because Claiming Lily was such an enjoyable experience. Rory Miles blended emotional healing, found family, and romantic suspense into a story that kept me invested from beginning to end. It wasn't the romance that surprised me most—it was the mystery. I never saw that ending coming.

Lily immediately won me over. Her life has been anything but easy between an emotionally toxic relationship, overwhelming debt, and carrying the emotional weight of helping care for her mother, who is living with dementia. Watching her slowly realize she deserved safety, happiness, and people who genuinely cared about her was the heart of this story. Her growth felt authentic, and I loved seeing her begin to prioritize herself while also watching her real estate career finally start taking off.

Hudson, Cole, and Gage each brought something completely different to Lily's life, which made their relationship feel balanced rather than repetitive. Hudson was the dependable protector who always made Lily feel safe. Cole brought humor and lightness when she needed it most, while Gage's quiet intensity and unwavering devotion added another emotional layer to their dynamic. I especially appreciated that each of them respected Lily's pace and focused on helping her heal before asking for anything in return.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the found family. The house quickly became more than just somewhere for Lily to stay—it became the first place that truly felt like home. I also absolutely loved Lily's friendships with Callie and Aspen. Their support, encouragement, and genuine care for one another added so much warmth to the story and reminded me that family isn't always the one you're born into.

The romantic suspense was easily my favorite element. Just when Lily finally starts finding happiness, mysterious flowers, threatening messages, and a stalker begin invading her life. I spent the entire book trying to figure out who was behind everything, and the final reveal completely shocked me. Rory Miles did a wonderful job building tension without sacrificing the emotional heart of the story.

As someone new to the why choose trope, I found this story leaned much sweeter than I expected. If you're looking for an extremely spice-forward romance, just know this one focuses more on emotional connection and suspense. I also would have loved a little more depth with each of the relationships individually and a bit more time in the ending to fully enjoy their happily ever after. Even so, this was an engaging story that kept me turning pages, and I'm so glad I gave something outside my usual reading comfort zone a chance.

Thank you to Rory Miles and The Author Agency for providing me with a gifted advanced reader copy. I'm grateful for the opportunity to read and review this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claiming Lily by Rory Miles was such a fun, captivating read that I absolutely couldn’t put it down—in fact, I devoured the entire thing in a single day!


The book starts off with a bang, dropping us right into a high-stakes situation where Lily is hit with an incredibly hard choice. After finally recognizing the massive red flags and breaking up with her loser ex-boyfriend, she gets kicked out with nowhere to go.

Enter Hudson, Cole, and Gage—who just happen to be her ex’s three best friends. Though moving in with them is supposed to be a temporary arrangement to help her get back on her feet, these men don't know how to keep their distance. Hudson is steady and protective, Cole knows exactly how to make her laugh, and Gage watches her like she already belongs to him.

What starts as a safe haven quickly blurs into late nights, lingering touches, and an undeniable chemistry that makes their house feel like the only home she has ever known.

Lily easily became one of my absolute favorite characters. She has the weight of the world on her shoulders, grappling with immense debt, anxiety, and the emotional and financial struggles of making sure her mom, who has early Alzheimer’s, is taken care of.

I deeply appreciated seeing this representation; it beautifully illustrates the raw, stressful reality of that responsibility, making Lily's journey incredibly relatable. Watching her choose herself and her own happiness over what everyone else thinks was profoundly empowering.

Her growth throughout the story is exciting to witness as she navigates a heartbreaking yet healing range of emotions, especially as the guys step up to give her the security and space she truly deserves.

Adding to the emotional depth is a brilliant suspense plotline involving a stalker who is watching Lily's every move. This hidden danger aspect gives the book an extra oomph that keeps you completely hooked and engaged. The threat brings Lily and the guys even closer together, raising the stakes as they vow to protect her from someone who is growing angrier and scarier by the day.

I spent the entire book trying to figure out who the mystery person was, and while I thought I had it figured out, the twist completely blindsided me—the culprit wasn't even close to being on my radar!

This was my very first book by Rory Miles, but it certainly won't be my last. It was truly one of my best reads of the month, and I cannot wait to dive into more of this author's work.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lily breaks up with her boyfriend, she finds herself without a place to stay so she goes to her mother’s old house that is currently under renovations. She wakes up to find his three best friends standing over her, and when they realize why she’s there, they offer her their spare room while she figures things out. The more time she spends in their home, the more tensions rise as she finds herself feeling things she never has, and catching the heated looks they send her way. As they show her how she deserves to be treated, she begins spiraling into the unknown. But between her own reservations since they were friends with her ex first, and his seeming insistence that she still belongs to him, Lily doesn’t know whether to let herself fall.

Hudson has been in love with Lily for years, long before her ex asked her out, and while he, Cole and Gage had always tried to stay close to make sure their friend wasn’t treating her too badly, with him now out of the way they have their chance to make a move. Not wanting to rush her into anything before she’s ready, they are determined to support her in whatever way she needs, while making it clear that she deserves so much more than how she’s been treated in the past. When they find out she is being threatened, they will stop at nothing to keep her safe.

I received an early copy of this book from The Author Agency and absolutely loved it. I was thrilled to go back to Big Ridge, and loved the way the boys not only saw Lily, but supported her so she could stand on her own. They made no apologies for the way they felt for her, and waited to move forward on her terms. The situation with the stalker kept me guessing right until the end, and I was blindsided when they were finally revealed. I can’t wait to read Aspen’s story next!

[The Honest Bookmark · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖 Claiming Lily by Rory Miles 📖

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars

🌸 Plot:
The plot was enjoyable enough, but it felt a little too cookie-cutter for me. Nothing really stood out or felt particularly unique. While the stalker storyline and suspense elements were handled well 👀🔍, there were several moments where it felt like something big was about to happen... and then nothing did. I kept waiting for more, and unfortunately, it never quite delivered.

💕 Characters:
Much like the plot, the characters felt somewhat surface-level. They all seemed to have interesting backstories and experiences that shaped who they were, but very little of that actually made it onto the page. I constantly found myself wanting more depth, more emotion, and more insight into who these characters were both in the past and present. 🤷‍♀️

🌶️ Spice:
For a why choose romance, I expected a lot more spice than we got. 🔥 With multiple love interests, I was hoping for more individual moments with each guy as well as more group scenes. The chemistry was there, but the spice never fully lived up to the expectations the trope set.

🎭 Ending:
The ending felt very sudden. Once the stalker situation was resolved, everything else seemed to fall into place a little too easily. I loved getting a glimpse of Lily with her baby and seeing her mom visit ❤️👶, but I wanted more of the journey. I wanted to see the proposals, the relationship milestones, and the life they were building together. Instead, it all felt a bit rushed and superficial.

💭 Overall:
Claiming Lily was a decent read with some well-done suspense elements, but I was left wanting more depth from both the story and the characters. It wasn't bad by any means, but it never quite reached its full potential for me.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up because the idea of a girl moving in with her ex's three best friends sounded like it was either going to be amazing or an absolute train wreck. Thankfully, it was the first one.

What I liked the most is that Rory Miles didn't rush anything. The relationships take time to build, which made me actually care about all three guys instead of immediately picking a favorite. Hudson, Cole, and Gage all have completely different personalities, and I never felt like they blended together.

Poor Lily really cannot catch a break. She's already trying to put herself back together after everything with her ex, and then life just keeps throwing more at her. I spent half the book wanting to give the girl a hug and the other half yelling at her to be careful.

I also forgot there was a stalking plot going into this, so every time I started getting comfortable with all the cute moments, something happened that reminded me not to. It added just enough suspense without taking over the romance, which I really liked.

And I have to say... the found family vibes in this one were probably my favorite part. Watching Lily slowly realize she wasn't alone anymore honestly got me a little.

If you're looking for a why choose that actually lets the relationships breathe, has protective MMCs who all bring something different to the table, and mixes romance with a little bit of suspense, I definitely think this one's worth picking up.

Now excuse me while I go stare at my Kindle because I already miss these characters.

**Thank you so much to The Author Agency for this ARC**

[Veeka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this down; it was such a fun read!

This story follows Lily, who gets kicked out after she breaks up with her loser boyfriend. With nowhere else to go, she moves in with 3 guys while she tries to find a new place to live. The only problem is that these 3 guys happen to be the best friends of her ex-boyfriend. On top of that, she starts to get feelings for them and is also grappling with a stalker who is watching her every move.

Lily is one of my favorite characters! She has the weight of the world on her shoulders and is also dealing with a lot of debt and stress with making sure her mom, who has early Alzheimer’s, is taken care of. I loved seeing that representation because it really shows how hard that can be and all the financial and emotional struggles and anxiety that come with it. On top of that, it really makes Lily and her struggles that much more relatable and makes her growth and journey so exciting to read!

The suspense with the stalker who is out there watching Lily was a fun addition to the story. I liked having that high-stakes aspect of it because it really gave the story a different kind of feel that helped bring the guys and Lily even closer together.

If you enjoy:
- Romantic suspense
- Why choose
- ex boyfriends best friends
- Small town
- Forced proximity
- Stalker
- Adoring men
- Early Alzheimer’s representation
- Spicee 🌶️🌶️

This is a book you need to check out!

Thank you to the author and the author agency for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Anah Grindrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✨ I devoured this book in a day. It follows Lily, our FMC, who has just been kicked out by her boyfriend after their breakup. Needing somewhere to stay, she ends up at her mum’s old house, which is currently being renovated. When she wakes to find her ex’s three best friends — Gabe, Hudson, and Cole — watching over her, they quickly realise what has happened and offer her their spare room. The more time Lily spends in their home, the more the tension builds. She starts noticing their heated looks and feeling things she has never felt before, all while juggling multiple jobs and debts from credit cards, renovation costs, and her mum’s care facility. 📖🔥

Hudson has been in love with Lily since he first saw her when they were eight, long before Matt — her ex and his friend — ever asked her out. He, along with Gabe and Cole, has always tried to stay close to make sure Matt was not mistreating her. Now that Matt is out of the picture, they see their chance with Lily. But instead of rushing her into anything, they are determined to support her, protect her, and show her how she deserves to be treated. 🥹💗

When Lily starts receiving flowers, texts, pictures, and even a dead animal left on her car from a stalker, the boys do everything they can to keep her safe and make her feel protected. The suspense had me completely gripped, and I definitely had my suspicions about who it was — no spoilers here. 👀🖤

Can't wait for Aspen's story.

Thank you Rory Miles and The Author Agency for the ARC

[Nicole Traficenti · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖✨ Please note that while this is book 2 in the *Love in Big Ridge* series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone!

Lily has it incredibly tough. Between a toxic relationship with her boyfriend Matt, mounting debt, and caring for her mom who is in a healthcare facility with dementia. When she and Matt finally split and he kicks her out, his three best friends, who never liked how he treated her, step in and offer her a place to stay.

Naturally, feelings start to form, the “why choose” dynamic develops, and Lily’s life finally starts looking up (especially with her real estate career taking off!) I also completely loved Lily’s relationship with her friends Callie (from book 1) and Aspen… their bond was so wonderful to read.

But just as things get comfortable, the romantic suspense kicks in. Lily starts receiving flowers, texts, and notes from a stalker. She thinks it’s Matt, which draws a massive line in the sand between him and his friends, but as we know with small towns, there are absolutely no secrets... and things aren’t exactly what they seem.

**My honest thoughts:** In my opinion, this was definitely on the sweeter side for a why choose romance, so if you are looking for heavy spice, just keep that in mind! That being said, it was still a really good read. The romantic suspense completely hooked me, and the plot twist toward the end was something I genuinely did not see coming! That mystery was excellent and kept me turning pages.

A huge thank you to @rorymiles_author and @theauthor.agency for providing me with an eARC of *Claiming Lily*! 🥹🫶

[Kilee Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely addicted from start to finish!

Rory Miles knocked it out of the park yet again! There is no easing you into the story, you're immediately sucked in and will completely consume you from the beginning all the way to the end! I was hooked, and I absolutely binged this book because I refused to put it down.

Everything about this story had me captivated. The romance was equal parts sweet, emotional, and incredibly swoony, while the suspense kept me constantly questioning who could be trusted. Every twist pulled me in deeper, and I loved trying to piece everything together alongside Lily.

And can we talk about that reveal?! I had multiple suspects throughout the book, convinced I had everything figured out, only to be completely blindsided. The truth was so unexpected, and it made the payoff even more satisfying. I genuinely didn't see it coming, and I loved every second of it.

The balance between the protective heroes, the growing romance, and the escalating danger was done so well that I couldn't stop turning the pages. Every chapter left me needing "just one more," until suddenly I'd finished the entire book.

If you love romantic suspense with protective heroes, gripping mystery, plenty of twists, and a romance that keeps you invested from beginning to end, Claiming Lily is an absolute must read.

Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite reads of the year and easily earns a spot on my top books of the year list. I cannot recommend it enough!

[rosesreadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌲⛰️ These three men are amazing. They make space for my emotions, my doubts, my dreams. They see me, really see me, in a way that feels both terrifying and wonderful. ⛰️🌲

"Making someone feel seen, heard, and understood is the loudest way to love them." 🤍



The story of Lily, Hudson, Gage, and Cole is all about love, support, understanding, respect, and finding your people ❤️

One thing I really loved about this book was that even though Lily is the main character, each of the guys gets chapters from his own point of view 💙 It made the story feel so much deeper because we got to see their thoughts, their feelings about their friendship, and how much they truly cared about Lily 🥹😍

Lily was such a strong and lovable FMC 💖
I admired how devoted she was to taking care of her mom, how sweet her relationship with the girls was, and how she wasn't afraid to open her heart to Hudson, Gage, and Cole 🥰

The guys completely won me over 🫠 They treated Lily with so much love, respect, and appreciation 💜 They supported her, looked after her, and constantly reminded her what a healthy, loving relationship should feel like 🫶🏻

The only thing I was missing was a little more romance and spice 🌶️❤️‍🔥 I would have loved to see more intimate moments with everyone together because, at times, the stalker storyline felt like the main focus instead of the relationships 🥺

If you enjoy:
❤️ Why Choose
👬 Ex-boyfriend's best friends
🔎 Stalker suspense
💞 Protective, caring MMCs
✨ Multiple POVs

...then I definitely think you'll enjoy this book! 📚 ✨🩵


📖 Claiming Lily by Rory Miles (ARC) 💜💙

[Ashley Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why choose and romantic suspense all in one? I’m here for it! I haven’t read a why choose romance in a while so I was beyond excited to see this one!

My heart broke for Lily in the very beginning. I mean, your boyfriend forgetting your birthday AND being a total butthole on top of it?! NO ONE wants that!

I immediately knew I was going to love Hudson, Cole and Gage! The men they are! Each of them have their own unique stories, but they are all incredible men who know how to treat their woman!

Lily is a strong FMC that is just trying to move forward and fix her life however possible. In this process, life just kept giving her more than she can handle. I mean suddenly having a stalker? No one is prepared for that! The guys do everything to take care of her and the chemistry and tension between all of them! 🔥 when they all finally realized what they wanted it was so good!

I loved the dynamic between all of them together, but also how Lily’s relationship with each guy individually was different.

AND i thought I knew who the stalker was, but I was wrong. Even though I did think the person who actually was the stalker, was the stalker for all of five seconds before I changed my mind and said NOPE can’t be. But I was wrong. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I should have stuck with my original guess 😂

Overall I LOVED this book! I can’t wait for the next one! Thank you to the Author Agency and Rory Miles for this early copy!

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

By page 3, I already knew Matt belonged exactly where he ended up… 🗑️
The audacity of this man to show up with another woman on his arm and then have the nerve to sl*t-shame Lily? Absolutely not. Is he delulu? Boy, BYE. 🚮

Meanwhile, Lily is out here carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Caring for her mom with Alzheimer’s, juggling multiple jobs just to stay afloat, and constantly putting everyone else first. If anyone deserved to be adored by three fiercely protective men, it was her.

One of my favorite parts of this story was the found family feel. The loyalty between everyone, the unwavering support, and the way these men rallied around Lily made my heart so happy.

Hudson completely melted me. Twenty years of quietly loving her… since they were eight years old?!

Cole and Gage it went unspoken for so long. They were just as hopelessly gone for her. The devotion from all three men felt genuine, and I loved how each of them brought something different to Lily’s life. Protective, caring, a little bossy, and with filthy mouths when the moment called for it… they were exactly what she needed.

I do wish we’d gotten a little more time watching the trust and relationships develop before everything came together, but due to ovulation…. I was all in. And usually I can guess the trajectory of the suspense - figure out who the baddie is. This one had be guessing the whole time between multiple people!

I also haven’t read Callie’s story yet, and now I’m incredibly intrigued. And for Aspen’s book too.

Overall, this was a sweet, protective, small-town why choose romance with found family, loyal heroes, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.

[Courtney Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rory Miles is a fairly new author to me and she certainly made a good first impression! Claiming Lily was a wonderful book and it definitely pulled me in and had me so sucked in that I had no choice but to read cover to cover to see just how this was going to end! The whole book was well written and put together that I truly did enjoy everything about it. I loved the most of the characters introduced especially Lily.
She was my favorite and its not just because she was the fmc but because she was such a strong, sweet and resilient soul! Although she goes through her fair share of trials and just overall problems that cause her immense stress she still pushed through and overcame and pushed through it all. Lily is for sure the definition of strong.
Besides her I fell head over heels in love with her men, Gage, Cole and Hudson! I loved each and everyone one of them and you could just tell that they loved Lily so much that they were willing to do anything to protect her. They all had different personalities and qualities and I enjoyed that because they were all lovable and unique in their own way.
The plot twist towards the end and the romantic suspense throughout was worth it all and I would for sure recommend this book and read it again! I was lucky enough to have gotten to read Claiming Lily early in exchange for my honest review 😊

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Claiming Lily absolutely stole my heart! I loved Lily, Hudson, Cole, and Gage together so much. Their chemistry was incredible and I was hooked from the very beginning. Watching these three men step up for Lily when she had nowhere else to turn had me completely swooning. Hudson’s protective nature, Cole’s humor, and Gage’s intense “you already belong with us” vibes were everything I could have wanted.

The found family feeling in this book was so beautiful, and seeing their house slowly become Lily’s safe place made me emotional. I loved how naturally their relationship developed and how each of the guys brought something special to the story. They just fit together perfectly.

And can we talk about the suspense? The stalker storyline had me on edge and added so much tension. I kept turning pages because I had to know what was going to happen next. Rory Miles balanced the romance, spice, and danger so well.

This book had me smiling, swooning, stressing, and kicking my feet all at the same time. I adored Lily, Hudson, Cole, and Gage as a group and didn’t want their story to end. Such an easy five-star read and one I’ll happily recommend to anyone who loves why choose romance with protective heroes and all the found family feels!

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ Overall Rating: 5/5
🔥 Burn Level: 4.5/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 4/5
💧 Emotional: 4/5

Thank you to Rory Miles and The Author Agency for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely love a good why choose romance, and Claiming Lily delivered everything I was hoping for.

Lily is easy to root for, and Hudson, Cole, and Gage each brought something unique to the story. I completely fell in love with all three MMCs. Their personalities balanced each other so well, and I loved watching their relationships with Lily develop.

The awkward tension between everyone at the beginning slowly transformed into genuine care, trust, and protectiveness, which made the emotional payoff even more satisfying.

The suspense was another highlight for me. Knowing that someone dangerous was out there watching Lily added an extra layer of tension that kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next.

If you’re looking for a why choose romance with protective heroes, emotional moments, suspense, and plenty of chemistry, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claiming Lily by Rory Miles is a fast-paced, emotionally charged why-choose small-town romance that blends forced proximity, protective heroes, and a slow-burning sense of danger into one addictive setup. In this story, we are introduced to the FMC Lily, a young woman who finds herself suddenly homeless and living with her ex-boyfriends three best friends, the MMCs Hudson, Cole, and Gage. What starts as a temporary arrangement quickly turns complicated as attraction, unresolved history, and emotional tension begin to blur every boundary she thought she had. One of the things that stood out to me on this novel is how quickly the emotional stakes escalated. Each of the three men offers something different in Lily’s life: stability, warmth, and an intense, almost obsessive protectiveness that created a dynamic that kept the tension constantly simmering. Overall, Claiming Lily is a book that I will happily recommend to family and friends to give a chance!

I received an ARC copy from The Author Agency. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read and voluntarily review this novel!

[Elisha Huskey Blais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claiming Lily by Rory Miles was such a fun read! I loved the dynamic between all of the characters. This is a why choose romance where all three guys are completely devoted to their girl, and I was here for every bit of it.

Set in a small town with an ex’s friends trope and a stalker storyline that adds just the right amount of suspense, the romance never loses sight of what makes it special the relationships. The MMCs consistently put Lily first, paying attention to her wants, needs, and the little things that make her feel loved and safe. Just as importantly, Lily gives that same care and support right back to them, making their connection feel genuine and balanced.

I also loved the friendships and family dynamics throughout the story. Watching Lily find people who truly value her and choose her every day made this an incredibly satisfying read. If you enjoy protective, all-in heroes, found family, and a sweet yet suspenseful small-town why choose romance, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Zoe McKeown]

⭐️ DNF ⭐️

I always try to be honest in my reviews, and unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me.

DNFing a book is never an easy decision, but I found myself actively avoiding picking it up, which is usually a sign that a story just isn’t connecting with me.

There was definitely potential here, and I can see what the author was aiming for. However, it felt like lots of different elements from books I’d previously enjoyed had been brought together, and for me they didn’t quite blend into a story that felt cohesive. Because of that, I struggled to connect with both the characters and the plot, and I never found myself fully invested.

This review is purely based on my personal reading experience. It isn’t a reflection of the author’s talent or the quality of the writing - this book simply wasn’t the right fit for me.

As always, your experience may be completely different, and I genuinely hope others love this book even though it wasn’t one for me.

[Barbara Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5...This was an enjoyable read with a good mix of romance, suspense, and found family. The relationships between the main characters were engaging, and I liked how each of the three men had distinct personalities instead of blending together. The stalker storyline added enough tension to keep the pages turning, even if it wasn't overly surprising. My biggest issue was the timeline. At several points, it felt like events and relationships were progressing over the course of just a few days or maybe a couple of weeks, making some of the emotional development seem very fast. Then later, the story would mention that much more time had actually passed, which made it difficult to get a clear sense of how long everything had been unfolding. A more clearly defined timeframe throughout the book would have made the pacing feel more consistent and the relationship development more believable.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Julie Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from the author

Claiming Lily by Rory Miles

Trope
Why choose
Small town romance
Ex-boyfriends best friends
They Fall First
Blue collar workers
Forced proximity
Edging
She’s being stalked/They want to protect her



Lily has broken up with her boyfriend and he kicks her out with nowhere to go. She moves in with Hudson, Cole and Gage who happen to be Lily’s ex-boyfriend best friends. While she is dealing with all the drama behind the ex-boyfriend she also has a stalker. Lily just wants her life to slow down so she can fix her life. The three guys are so good to her and she finally has someone that puts her first. She has so much that she is trying to do from all her jobs, worrying about her mom in the memory care facility, multiple debt. All three of the guys have liked Lily for a long time but Hudson has loved her since they were young kids. The dynamic of the four is just so good and top tier with how they treated her was so good.