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But We're Bros! #24
The Bachelor Party
"I liked Finn. More than I wanted to. More than I should." — Ryder
I was looking forward to Miami. What could be better than some fun in the sun with the boys for my best friend’s bachelor party? Even if being the best man meant I had to keep everyone alive, out of jail, and moderately functional.
Everything was going according to plan until I noticed a weird tension between the groom and his older brother, Ryder. I hope figuring out what’s going on between them isn’t part of my best man duties. Because Ryder’s been intimidating my whole life.
He was always bigger and stronger than us. Cooler than us. The first guy I knew in real life to have abs. Meanwhile, I was his little brother’s annoying best friend, but I always thought he was pretty damn awesome.
As soon as we landed in Miami, Ryder started talking to me more than anyone else, including his brother. Sitting next to me. Touching me. A hand on my shoulder or back. Or my waist. And the worst part is… I don’t hate the attention.
Now he’s got me thinking things I don’t understand, and feeling things I’ve never felt before. I know I’m supposed to focus on the groom, the guys, and keeping this bachelor party on the rails, but I can’t seem to stay away from Ryder.
And the closer we get, the less I want to.
A dual POV MM romance featuring a best friend’s older brother, emotional tension, some dark themes, and a HEA.
I was looking forward to Miami. What could be better than some fun in the sun with the boys for my best friend’s bachelor party? Even if being the best man meant I had to keep everyone alive, out of jail, and moderately functional.
Everything was going according to plan until I noticed a weird tension between the groom and his older brother, Ryder. I hope figuring out what’s going on between them isn’t part of my best man duties. Because Ryder’s been intimidating my whole life.
He was always bigger and stronger than us. Cooler than us. The first guy I knew in real life to have abs. Meanwhile, I was his little brother’s annoying best friend, but I always thought he was pretty damn awesome.
As soon as we landed in Miami, Ryder started talking to me more than anyone else, including his brother. Sitting next to me. Touching me. A hand on my shoulder or back. Or my waist. And the worst part is… I don’t hate the attention.
Now he’s got me thinking things I don’t understand, and feeling things I’ve never felt before. I know I’m supposed to focus on the groom, the guys, and keeping this bachelor party on the rails, but I can’t seem to stay away from Ryder.
And the closer we get, the less I want to.
A dual POV MM romance featuring a best friend’s older brother, emotional tension, some dark themes, and a HEA.
- GenresM M Romance
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2026
About the author
Heath Grayson
72 books74 followersHeath Grayson writes erotic fiction featuring men who've just found out there may be more to life than they ever imagined. His debut series, But We're Bros!, depicts guy friends crossing lines that bros typically don't. Heath is fascinated by the quiet moments between men, how a single stare, repeated joke, or the simple brush of a hand can turn into something much more. The first time with your good bro can change your world.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 22, 2026
If you can get me to enjoy a book with a wedding theme, then you deserve a prize. This was thoroughly enjoyable, like watching a bad reality show. I just read Yesteryear, so the whole trad wife thing is a little fresh. Sweet couple and fun plot! Was a little rough in the beginning with all the dude bros, but it definitely got better after that. Solid read!
Enjoyment (5) 4
Feelings (1) .75
Plot (1) .75
Setting (1) .75
Respectability/writing (1) .75
Characters (1) .75
Total rating: 7.75
Enjoyment (5) 4
Feelings (1) .75
Plot (1) .75
Setting (1) .75
Respectability/writing (1) .75
Characters (1) .75
Total rating: 7.75
May 21, 2026
Not my favorite of this series but I am loving the longer novels so I won’t complain
June 20, 2026
3/5 ✨
May 26, 2026
I've been an avid reader of Heath Grayson's But We're Bros! series, and this one was definitely an enjoyable and engrossing addition to the list. The progression and deepening of the attraction between Ryder and Finn, which grows into genuine affection and then love, was well portrayed across The Proposal - (which is a freebie prequel readers can obtain by subscribing to Heath Grayson's mailing list) - and then this book.
While there are other books of Grayson's which I enjoyed more - The Country Club remains my all-time favorite from this series, and I also thoroughly enjoyed The Woods and The Road Trip; both The Proposal and The Bachelor Party certainly packed a punch.
The desire and attraction between the protagonists Finn and Ryder literally glows white hot. I'm a huge admirer of the way this author portrays physical intimacy - it feels palpable and real, apart from being being extremely erotic and sensual. Plus, it doesn't have the occasional missteps which sometimes creep into a few portrayals by other authors, who aren't from the demographic.
As with Grayson's other works, this book also has the kind of emotional nuance and depth that makes it feel less like fiction and more like an actual experience of watching a beautiful relationship unfold between people you might know IRL. As I've observed across his other novellas and novels, Grayson captures the texture of queer male life in the early-to-late twenties with remarkable authenticity. Whether it is the uncertainty, the bravado, the yearning for intimacy despite self-consciousness; and the emotional negotiations - both with oneself as well as one's significant other - all of these factors that so often define that period of life, have been portrayed with verve and accuracy.
As with other of Grayson's books, I was also struck by the verisimilitude of the stories and characters he creates. The dialogue rarely feels written for effect; there's never an overflowing, unnatural purple prose which sometimes creeps into books by other authors. Instead, conversations unfold with the awkwardness, humor, tenderness, and half-articulated vulnerability that characterize real relationships. The reader always feels that the characters think and speak like actual people trying to understand themselves and the one they love, rather than idealized literary constructs.
I also enjoyed the accurate and empathetic understanding of the emotional rhythms of queer male relationships. The push-pull between heated desire and caution, the fear of being misunderstood, the intensity of first emotional recognition coupled with the sexuality awakening/ bisexuality self-realization of one of the leads. It was also touching to witness the subtle ways Grayson portrays intimacy developing: through small, meaningful moments rather than grand declarations to begin with. There’s a raw honesty to the emotional and psychological landscape which both Ryder and Finn have to navigate here, that resonates very deeply. I'm guessing that resonance would be all the more so for readers like myself, familiar with the complexities of our own queer self-discovery.
What makes this work (as with the others in the series) particularly resonant is the way the author captures the simultaneous fear and exhilaration that often accompany coming to terms with one’s sexual orientation. Grayson understands that queer self-recognition is rarely a single dramatic revelation; instead, it unfolds gradually through moments of denial, then curiosity, moving on to irresistible longing, and finally rationalization and quiet acceptance. There's a very empathetic portrayal of the internal negotiations that many queer men having their sexuality awakening in their late teens through mid twenties could experience — the fear of being “found out”, the anxiety of misreading intimacy, the uncertainty of whether their attraction is indeed mutual, and the tendency to overanalyze both physical and emotional interactions.
At the same time, there's also the charged and sensual portrayal of the thrill that accompanies those discoveries. There's a palpable sense of both physical and emotional electricity in the way Ryder and Finn begin to experience those moments of connection - starting with lingering glances, light touches, and conversations that suddenly feel charged with possibility. When they give in to that physical pull and get intimate, the chemistry is just mindblowing. Even before they realize and confess the depth of their feelings for each other, there's no doubt that they're making love, not just getting their rocks off. There's an excellent portrayal of how transformative these experiences can feel, with the simultaneous fear and relief of finally acknowledging feelings that have long existed beneath the surface.
What I also appreciated was that neither Ryder nor Finn are perfect. They're occasionally messy (emotionally), impulsive and insecure. Some of their actions seem contradictory to their feelings and hopes. But while that might be frustrating, making us want, on a few occasions, to shake them by the shoulders and yell at them to get their act together; that portrayal of emotional realism makes Ryder and Finn feel recognizable and profoundly human.
While I did enjoy this book a lot, the reason I'm rating this a slight notch below some of Grayson's other books, was because of the relationship drama between Miles (Ryder's younger brother and Finn's best buddy) and his fianceé Bree, in the third act. Of course, that explosion had to happen and it definitely has a bearing on the trajectory of the Finn/Ryder relationship as well - but personally speaking, the Miles-Bree blowup took up a bit more emotional space than I thought was ideal.
There was also a bit of a relationship hiccup between the protagonists - something which was fairly evident from early on would happen sooner or later. I liked the fact that this hiccup doesn't become a lingering breakup and that Ryder and Finn talk to each other a day later to resolve the hurt feelings/misunderstanding - but again (just IMO) the miscommunication between them prior to that pivotal conversation, felt just a wee bit 'stagey'. Especially when everything else in the book felt so relatable and real. I also felt that Lena (Ryder's sister) was more than a little inconsiderate and tactless at that juncture. That brief hiccup between Ryder and Finn was largely caused by her intrusive blurting out of something she should really have known to keep her mouth shut about, and (just IMO) she was forgiven all too easily by both protagonists. A bit more of heartfelt remorse and redemption from her was required for what she'd done (albeit she hadn't done it with malicious intent, just being utterly and completely thoughtless).
But that said, this hiccup was used to portray both Finn and Ryder's insecurities in an empathetic and layered manner, which I thought was deftly done. And there's also a poignant scene showing Miles and Ryder reconciling - after their close brotherly bond had come under severe strain earlier in the book. All in all, this is definitely a book that I'd recommend.
Also, I'll continue hoping and keeping my fingers crossed, that Grayson decides to write a sequel novella to The Country Club one day. Ryder and Finn are definitely lovable characters, but I must confess my massive soft corner for Austin and Parker from that other book. Maybe there could even be a novella where all four of them meet, on a holiday or something! 😊 Or maybe Finn and Ryder have their wedding party at the Lockland Country Club (belonging to Austin's family).
While there are other books of Grayson's which I enjoyed more - The Country Club remains my all-time favorite from this series, and I also thoroughly enjoyed The Woods and The Road Trip; both The Proposal and The Bachelor Party certainly packed a punch.
The desire and attraction between the protagonists Finn and Ryder literally glows white hot. I'm a huge admirer of the way this author portrays physical intimacy - it feels palpable and real, apart from being being extremely erotic and sensual. Plus, it doesn't have the occasional missteps which sometimes creep into a few portrayals by other authors, who aren't from the demographic.
As with Grayson's other works, this book also has the kind of emotional nuance and depth that makes it feel less like fiction and more like an actual experience of watching a beautiful relationship unfold between people you might know IRL. As I've observed across his other novellas and novels, Grayson captures the texture of queer male life in the early-to-late twenties with remarkable authenticity. Whether it is the uncertainty, the bravado, the yearning for intimacy despite self-consciousness; and the emotional negotiations - both with oneself as well as one's significant other - all of these factors that so often define that period of life, have been portrayed with verve and accuracy.
As with other of Grayson's books, I was also struck by the verisimilitude of the stories and characters he creates. The dialogue rarely feels written for effect; there's never an overflowing, unnatural purple prose which sometimes creeps into books by other authors. Instead, conversations unfold with the awkwardness, humor, tenderness, and half-articulated vulnerability that characterize real relationships. The reader always feels that the characters think and speak like actual people trying to understand themselves and the one they love, rather than idealized literary constructs.
I also enjoyed the accurate and empathetic understanding of the emotional rhythms of queer male relationships. The push-pull between heated desire and caution, the fear of being misunderstood, the intensity of first emotional recognition coupled with the sexuality awakening/ bisexuality self-realization of one of the leads. It was also touching to witness the subtle ways Grayson portrays intimacy developing: through small, meaningful moments rather than grand declarations to begin with. There’s a raw honesty to the emotional and psychological landscape which both Ryder and Finn have to navigate here, that resonates very deeply. I'm guessing that resonance would be all the more so for readers like myself, familiar with the complexities of our own queer self-discovery.
What makes this work (as with the others in the series) particularly resonant is the way the author captures the simultaneous fear and exhilaration that often accompany coming to terms with one’s sexual orientation. Grayson understands that queer self-recognition is rarely a single dramatic revelation; instead, it unfolds gradually through moments of denial, then curiosity, moving on to irresistible longing, and finally rationalization and quiet acceptance. There's a very empathetic portrayal of the internal negotiations that many queer men having their sexuality awakening in their late teens through mid twenties could experience — the fear of being “found out”, the anxiety of misreading intimacy, the uncertainty of whether their attraction is indeed mutual, and the tendency to overanalyze both physical and emotional interactions.
At the same time, there's also the charged and sensual portrayal of the thrill that accompanies those discoveries. There's a palpable sense of both physical and emotional electricity in the way Ryder and Finn begin to experience those moments of connection - starting with lingering glances, light touches, and conversations that suddenly feel charged with possibility. When they give in to that physical pull and get intimate, the chemistry is just mindblowing. Even before they realize and confess the depth of their feelings for each other, there's no doubt that they're making love, not just getting their rocks off. There's an excellent portrayal of how transformative these experiences can feel, with the simultaneous fear and relief of finally acknowledging feelings that have long existed beneath the surface.
What I also appreciated was that neither Ryder nor Finn are perfect. They're occasionally messy (emotionally), impulsive and insecure. Some of their actions seem contradictory to their feelings and hopes. But while that might be frustrating, making us want, on a few occasions, to shake them by the shoulders and yell at them to get their act together; that portrayal of emotional realism makes Ryder and Finn feel recognizable and profoundly human.
While I did enjoy this book a lot, the reason I'm rating this a slight notch below some of Grayson's other books, was because of the relationship drama between Miles (Ryder's younger brother and Finn's best buddy) and his fianceé Bree, in the third act. Of course, that explosion had to happen and it definitely has a bearing on the trajectory of the Finn/Ryder relationship as well - but personally speaking, the Miles-Bree blowup took up a bit more emotional space than I thought was ideal.
There was also a bit of a relationship hiccup between the protagonists - something which was fairly evident from early on would happen sooner or later. I liked the fact that this hiccup doesn't become a lingering breakup and that Ryder and Finn talk to each other a day later to resolve the hurt feelings/misunderstanding - but again (just IMO) the miscommunication between them prior to that pivotal conversation, felt just a wee bit 'stagey'. Especially when everything else in the book felt so relatable and real. I also felt that Lena (Ryder's sister) was more than a little inconsiderate and tactless at that juncture. That brief hiccup between Ryder and Finn was largely caused by her intrusive blurting out of something she should really have known to keep her mouth shut about, and (just IMO) she was forgiven all too easily by both protagonists. A bit more of heartfelt remorse and redemption from her was required for what she'd done (albeit she hadn't done it with malicious intent, just being utterly and completely thoughtless).
But that said, this hiccup was used to portray both Finn and Ryder's insecurities in an empathetic and layered manner, which I thought was deftly done. And there's also a poignant scene showing Miles and Ryder reconciling - after their close brotherly bond had come under severe strain earlier in the book. All in all, this is definitely a book that I'd recommend.
Also, I'll continue hoping and keeping my fingers crossed, that Grayson decides to write a sequel novella to The Country Club one day. Ryder and Finn are definitely lovable characters, but I must confess my massive soft corner for Austin and Parker from that other book. Maybe there could even be a novella where all four of them meet, on a holiday or something! 😊 Or maybe Finn and Ryder have their wedding party at the Lockland Country Club (belonging to Austin's family).
May 25, 2026
As with other books by Heath Grayson, this one hits the sweet spot for an erotic MM romance. The intimacy between the protagonists Ryder & Finn blazes with passion, but is also filled with a lot of genuine love and tenderness. The author has a gift of portraying erotic scenes with a lot of sensuality, with a whole lot of emotional depth and layers too. So one could definitely say, those moments are heart melting as well as briefs melting! 🫠 Or one could say, that Finn & Ryder in this book have heart boners for each other as well, apart from the very evident corporeal boners! 😜
Bonus kudos for the vers depiction of the protagonists. There are a lot of other MM romance books out there which sometimes get this aspect of queer male intimacy a tad wrong. Some stereotypical tropes of tops and bottoms sometimes gets built in into those books, with erroneous heterosexualized/ heteronormative takes on these roles. It's so refreshing to see the physical aspect of Finn and Ryder's equation be handled with such aplomb, and the vers/switching approach the protagonists followed just made the erotic scenes that much hotter!
There was a bit of relationship drama towards the 68--70% mark or so, which briefly started veering into a bit of a trope of sorts. But it was very heartening that this got resolved/wrapped up without resorting to a forced third-act breakup.
I liked several of the supporting cast too - special shout out to Miles' calm and level headed friend Jason; and Ryder and Miles' parents. The latter were so warm and supportive, absolutely what parents should be.
Bonus kudos for the vers depiction of the protagonists. There are a lot of other MM romance books out there which sometimes get this aspect of queer male intimacy a tad wrong. Some stereotypical tropes of tops and bottoms sometimes gets built in into those books, with erroneous heterosexualized/ heteronormative takes on these roles. It's so refreshing to see the physical aspect of Finn and Ryder's equation be handled with such aplomb, and the vers/switching approach the protagonists followed just made the erotic scenes that much hotter!
There was a bit of relationship drama towards the 68--70% mark or so, which briefly started veering into a bit of a trope of sorts. But it was very heartening that this got resolved/wrapped up without resorting to a forced third-act breakup.
I liked several of the supporting cast too - special shout out to Miles' calm and level headed friend Jason; and Ryder and Miles' parents. The latter were so warm and supportive, absolutely what parents should be.
October 5, 2026
ok
I didn’t really enjoy this. All the characters were unlikeable. Every single one. I especially did not like Ryder. He was selfish, manipulative, not a great communicator. It bothered me that he treated Finn like an idiot. It bothered me that everyone made assumptions about Finn’s sexuality. The sister was cruel and insensitive but we were expected to like her? Miles was also a very pathetic and unlikable character. A terrible friend and a terrible brother. I under he was written to be a victim/survivor of abuse, but it was hard to empathize when he had literally no personality or agency of his own. Why did Finn put up with any of these people? If you’re going to choose your family, choose a better one.
The spice was pretty boring. The plot was bananas. The bride character was absolutely unhinged in an unbelievable way. It was just so over the top. It’s frustrating when all the female characters in an MM book are awful. Between the sister, the bridal party, and the bride, it was bleak out there for any female-identifying character.
Finally, this whole book was way too long and meandering. The whole tangent where Ryder wanders off and makes friends with a bunch of randos was a waste of time. And it happened twice! Needed a lot of editing. Probably wouldn’t read anything else by this author.
I didn’t really enjoy this. All the characters were unlikeable. Every single one. I especially did not like Ryder. He was selfish, manipulative, not a great communicator. It bothered me that he treated Finn like an idiot. It bothered me that everyone made assumptions about Finn’s sexuality. The sister was cruel and insensitive but we were expected to like her? Miles was also a very pathetic and unlikable character. A terrible friend and a terrible brother. I under he was written to be a victim/survivor of abuse, but it was hard to empathize when he had literally no personality or agency of his own. Why did Finn put up with any of these people? If you’re going to choose your family, choose a better one.
The spice was pretty boring. The plot was bananas. The bride character was absolutely unhinged in an unbelievable way. It was just so over the top. It’s frustrating when all the female characters in an MM book are awful. Between the sister, the bridal party, and the bride, it was bleak out there for any female-identifying character.
Finally, this whole book was way too long and meandering. The whole tangent where Ryder wanders off and makes friends with a bunch of randos was a waste of time. And it happened twice! Needed a lot of editing. Probably wouldn’t read anything else by this author.
May 27, 2026
Very engrossing romance, with the pairing being the best friend's older brother (Ryder)/younger brother's best friend (Finn) storyline. Finn's queer awakening/realization & self-acceptance of his sexuality was portrayed very well. Loved the way the characters' emotions are portrayed, and the journey of them falling so deeply in love with each other. Their intimate scenes are piping hot - extremely sensual and erotic, but there's also a lot of genuine feelings and tenderness.
Also liked the fact that despite some amount of miscommunication (around one particular topic) which comes briefly between the two, Finn and Ryder actually talk to each other like adults and sort it out. Kudos for avoiding the unnecessarily/irrationally lingering third act breakup, which comes in as a stereotypical trope in books by a few other authors.
Also liked the fact that despite some amount of miscommunication (around one particular topic) which comes briefly between the two, Finn and Ryder actually talk to each other like adults and sort it out. Kudos for avoiding the unnecessarily/irrationally lingering third act breakup, which comes in as a stereotypical trope in books by a few other authors.
May 31, 2026
4.9 stars
Grayson has built a reputation on fast-paced, high-steam novellas where lines between bros get blurred, The Bachelor Party delivers something even better.
This full-length, standalone MM contemporary romance utilizes dual perspectives to crank the story's emotional depth and raw chemistry to absolute maximum.
Grayson has built a reputation on fast-paced, high-steam novellas where lines between bros get blurred, The Bachelor Party delivers something even better.
This full-length, standalone MM contemporary romance utilizes dual perspectives to crank the story's emotional depth and raw chemistry to absolute maximum.
July 3, 2026
IMO Great story. Love the 2 mains. Some fun supporting characters. A lot of awesome introspection and healthy & positive thinking...all topped with amazing sex! I am truly enjoying the author's evolution. The short stories are some of the best and hottest. At 50% on this novel, I was wondering what else the author had up his sleeve and the answer was a fully realized tale! Great job!
June 3, 2026
Engrossing MM romance novel, with intriguing characters and very well written spicy scenes. The physical chemistry between Ryder & Finn was white-hot and oh-so-sensual, and their emotional connection felt very meaningful too.
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August 3, 2026Abs abs abs in real life
August 12, 2026
All the feels
I adored this!!!! There were gasp out loud moments, wonderful emotional moments, touching conversations and beautiful spice too. Absolutely loved it
I adored this!!!! There were gasp out loud moments, wonderful emotional moments, touching conversations and beautiful spice too. Absolutely loved it
November 4, 2026
Very cute MM romance. Enjoyed the tension, the drama, and there was a bit of a twist that I didn’t fully see coming. Definitely enjoyed this.
July 20, 2026
This book really surprised me. It tackled some tough topics especially with Ryder's brother Miles.
Summary Board:
Summary Board:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2026
This book brings everything to the party!
Heath Grayson’s The Bachelor Party is still one of those books I finish and immediately want to start again.
Finn just wants his best friend’s Miami bachelor party to go smoothly. Then Ryder shows up. The groom’s older brother. The one man who was never supposed to look at him like that. Every glance, every accidental touch, every excuse to sit closer is so charged it practically hums off the page.
Grayson writes tension like a weapon. The heat is scorching, but the emotion is what wrecked me. These men feel real. The loyalty, the longing, the “we can’t” colliding with “I want you anyway.” I was all in.
Funny, sexy, messy, and so much more tender than I expected. This is the kind of MM romance that doesn’t just entertain you. It grabs you and doesn’t let go.
Heath Grayson’s The Bachelor Party is still one of those books I finish and immediately want to start again.
Finn just wants his best friend’s Miami bachelor party to go smoothly. Then Ryder shows up. The groom’s older brother. The one man who was never supposed to look at him like that. Every glance, every accidental touch, every excuse to sit closer is so charged it practically hums off the page.
Grayson writes tension like a weapon. The heat is scorching, but the emotion is what wrecked me. These men feel real. The loyalty, the longing, the “we can’t” colliding with “I want you anyway.” I was all in.
Funny, sexy, messy, and so much more tender than I expected. This is the kind of MM romance that doesn’t just entertain you. It grabs you and doesn’t let go.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews