Seen

Mis-shapes #3

by Fearne Hill

Luke Sinclair has spent years rebuilding a life he nearly didn’t survive. A respected dermatologist, he keeps his world carefully part-time hours, familiar routines, and emotional guardrails strong enough to keep the past where it belongs. He knows exactly how fragile peace can be. What he doesn’t know is what to do with the sharp pull he feels toward men—especially men like Neil Sainsbury.



Neil Sainsbury owns the coolest bar in loud music, beautiful strangers, and absolutely no room for vulnerability. Charming, reckless, and notoriously hard to pin down, Neil has built his entire life on confidence and control. But behind the lights and flirtation, he’s harbouring a devastating secret, and if anyone finds out, he’s terrified he’ll lose everything he’s worked for.



When Neil trips off the stage during a live event and a doctor is called from the crowd, Luke accidentally discovers the truth Neil is desperate to hide.

What begins as reluctant support turns into late-night conversations, unexpected trust, and a friendship neither man saw coming. Luke understands too well what it means to live inside fear. Neil understands exactly how dangerous it is to let someone close enough to see the truth.


But falling in love means risking exposure, and both men have spent years hiding the parts of themselves they fear make them impossible to love.


Set against the glow of London nightlife, this is a contemporary MM romance about survival, vulnerability, and learning that being seen might be the bravest thing of all

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Mental Health, Contemporary, Doctors, Found Family, Slow Burn

269 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2026

About the author

Fearne Hill resides far from the madding crowds in the county of Dorset, deep in the British countryside. She likes it that way.
Her novel, Oyster, is a 2025 Lambda Literary Award winner. Two Tribes is a 2023 Lambda Literary Award finalist..
Her popular Rossingley series was nominated in nine separate categories of the 2021 Goodreads M/M Romance awards and received an Honourable Mention in the 2021 Rainbow Awards.

Be sure to follow her on Bookbub for the latest sales and releases! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fearn...

Join her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11724...

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearnehill_...

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/FearneHill

She also writes very brief and not especially insightful book reviews here on GR...

Finally, she also writes straight contemporary romance under the pseudonym Coco Chambers.

Reviews

[The Secret Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4
Steam: 2
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: opposites attract, mental health, found family

I had wanted Luke's story since the first time I met him, and I'm so happy that he got his HEA!

To be honest, I wasn't sure about this pairing at the beginning, and it took some time for me to warm up to Neil. He came across as immature and nonchalant at first, but the more I learnt about him the easier it was to see that it was mostly a façade he kept up. He had been keeping secrets from everyone for years, and when Luke reluctantly and accidentally became his 'nurse' for a night, he managed to put the pieces together and figured out what was really going on with Neil.

It was an unlikely friendship that slowly developed into more between these two. It was sweet to see their late night conversations and the support they had for each other. Their chemistry and banter was great, and while they seemed like quite an abrasive pairing at first, they ended up being perfect for each other.

I knew from the previous books that Luke's story would be emotional, he had a history of mental health struggles, and his PoV was absolutely heartbreaking at times. It took him a while to gather the courage to share his history with Neil, as they were both dealing with a lot of things at the same time. I was really intrigued by both Neil and Luke, and I loved seeing how they both circled each other at first, trying to find excuses to seek one another out. There was a bit of drama as well that added a touch of angst, but overall it was a sweet and swoony story about finding love with the most unexpected person.

Seen was a sweet and emotional story, and I loved the contrasts between Luke and Neil! Their journeys had a lot of obstacles, and these two were both trying their best to deal with chronic illnesses and just survive. It was overall a tender and sometimes raw romance, with opposites attract, mental health rep, flawed characters and found family.

-
I received a complimentary copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting! That’s what Neil and Luke are. Absolutely sweet swoony love wrapping up a journey riddled with some very serious obstacles they sometimes quite dramatically and sometimes quite effortlessly navigate.

They fit! That’s the main thing, they have lovely banter and chemistry and that’s what makes this story a joy to read

The disability rep and the mental health rep is stellar. Sensitively handled it’s a true part of the plot and the character arcs

The found family is spectacular and I loved seeing everyone again, Alaric is still my favourite though, I have such a soft spit for him

This story is beautifully paced, mired in resilience and community and brimming with true romance no angst just emotion - highly recommend!

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seen by Fearne Hill is an emotional and tender opposites-attract romance that digs into vulnerability, fear, chronic illness, mental health, and what it means to let someone truly see you.

Luke and Neil seem like an unlikely pairing at first, and I loved the contrast between Luke and Neil. I'm always a fan of stories that have an odd couple element, and I loved seeking how Luke and Neil grew together. The book is a bit heavy, so I would caution anyone who isn't a fan of angst, but for fellow readers who want their heart to be a little bit broken before getting put back together, this was great.

[Kiki Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new book by @fearnehill_author is an event filled with complicated men you fall in love with and root for. Even if you’re not entirely sure of them at first.
Case in point: Neil Sainsbury. He’s a sexual magpie, bedding anyone who catches his fancy. A flirty fly in the ointment to the burgeoning romance between Cloud Nine’s Tristan and Dominic. But he does feel, deeply. And it changed how I saw him.
Neil has a secret he’s been keeping from his closest friends, letting him think his drinking is out of control (again).
So he’s surprised when he confesses his RP diagnosis to Luke, the shy, hoodie-wearing dermatologist on the fringe of their friend group.
Luke has his own struggles. A mental health crisis made him pivot on his choice of medical specialty. He’s found a way manage. But a certain pierced bad boy is disrupting his self-imposed serenity.
They shouldn’t work. But they do. Luke brings out Neil’s caretaker tendencies. And Neil helps take Luke out of his own head and relax.
Both have messy lives, hiding their diagnoses and the shame that accompanies them. They are bonded by shared secrets and a simmering sexual tension.
It isn’t all smooth sailing. Life rarely is. When Neil kips off to Wales for some solitary self care, Neil has a meltdown of rock star proportions.
Which has Luke channeling his inner Cher and tell Neil to snap out of it. In the kindest possible way.
These men feel so real. They’ve been in the background long enough, and I’m glad it’s their time to shine. Who knew Neil had hidden depths and was such a closet romantic?
I will always love Luke for being Gerald’s biggest champion, urging Alaric to give him a chance. I’m so thrilled to see him thrive and get his HEA.
At the same time, I really appreciate how saying “I love you” didn’t cure Neil’s impending blindness or Luke’s depression. But the shared recognition of surviving and adoration they have for each other makes them embrace those challenges. Together. I don’t know what alchemy Fearne uses to create her characters, but it works for me every time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

When I read the blurb for this book, I was intrigued to learn what Neil’s secret was. It’s revealed fairly early in the book and becomes the foundation for his character, but it is a spoiler to reveal. Neil has lived a fairly carefree life and now he is truly struggling. He hasn’t confided in anyone, which makes him lash out and his friends have no idea what is going on. Neil finds it easier to talk to Luke and, even though Luke has a lot of issues on his own, Neil finds himself attracted to the awkward doctor.

Seen is part of the Mis-Shapes series and the characters from the other books are on page here. I enjoyed knowing all of the connections, but you could start here with Neil and Luke’s story. I would be interested in seeing them again in the future and would certainly read on if more was offered in this world.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[jedbird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two people dealing (poorly) with chronic illness hook up and experience instalove. All emotions accelerated and somewhat unbelievable, though it’s nice they’re able to step up for each other a bit. I was put off a bit by both MCs—one is a fuckboi and the other a self-destructive quasi-virgin and they both needed to be seeing actual therapists rather than relying entirely on each other. I did question whether they were actually in love or merely trauma-bonded. It was impossible for me to acknowledge them as “sexy” even in sex scenes.

This trilogy was my first experience with this author. As much as I enjoyed FOOL’S GOLD, these other two titles didn’t impress me.

[Traci S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks you for the book, here is my honest opinion:
Goodness, this was so good! Beautifully written, characters that are very lovable and wonderfully layered. Neil and Luke grabbed my attention early, it was so easy to get invested in their relationship. I loved that they took a chance on each other, these two were crazy romantic in a real and authentic way. Loved it a lot!

[Darcy (at the cottage) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS!

[Sandy Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was between 2 and 3 stars. I’d like to say I landed on 2 simply because the two heroes didn’t seem ready for a relationship yet, let alone one with each other, but…I have to admit, the usage of “rash whisperer” as a pet name, especially in intimate moments, felt like a jailable offense after a while.

BUT. I was greatly immersed in the heroes’ conflicts—bar owner and part-time local rock band singer Neil living with retinitis pigmentosa—simply put, developing blindness—and dermatologist and some-time bar goer Luke living with clinical depression and trichotillomania, aka repetitively pulling his hair out to the point that he always wears a hoodie in public to hide the damage to his scalp.

Their challenges and mental health struggles were a big part of the book, and those challenges were authentic and written well. Luke in particular is a sympathetic and layered, intriguing character, whose anxiety and depression had him pivoting from being a surgeon to becoming a dermatologist, a lower pressure area of expertise but one that kept him challenged and fulfilled (as well as on a hospital staff with Alaric, a previous hero in the series, and part of the incestuous friend group, which is how I think Luke came to know them/meet Neil? Maybe?). I really liked Luke, so much, and related to many of his insecurities and habits, and how they impacted his sense of self-worth. He was enjoyable (and heartbreaking in turn) to read about.

Luke’s and Neil’s challenges, however, took up a lot of the focus and attention, to the point that I felt the MCs needed to focus on helping themselves first (maybe get Neil into therapy, which was never mentioned) before they could truly support each other and commit to the romance. These two were not in emotional places to commit to a relationship (although they both diminished it to a situationship, so, okay?), try as they might. For about 3/4 of the book, it seemed as if playboy goodtime guy Neil latched on to Luke simply because Luke was the doctor who saw through his bullshit and called him on his developing blindness, becoming the only person who knew about it and who Neil was comfortable confiding in, and Luke latched on to Neil because Neil was attractive, and needed him in a way no one ever had.

Luke felt like Neil’s crutch for much of the book. And when Luke broke down and needed space, it was clear that neither he nor Neil knew each other well enough to weather the bleak times. This was exacerbated by Neil not being mature enough to confide in the people who needed to know about his progressing condition—aka his co-bar-owner and supposed good friend (and former fuck buddy, we were reminded ad nauseum, another issue for me) Ezra and their bar workers and closest circle of friends. Neil was too embarrassed to confide in any of them. Too convinced they’d pity him. So he proceeded basically to treat them like shit and act out like a toddler, including endangering bar patrons, instead of having an adult conversation, and that got old very fast. Not to mention his ableist attitude toward other people who were developing blindness, and how he called them losers as part of his pity party for one. It was…not great.

Neil was also dealing with alcoholism, drowning his sorrows to the point of incapacitating himself rather than facing up to his changing health responsibly. And his actions impacted many others negatively. It was not okay, and his excuse of fearing being pitied just wasn’t cutting it. And it told me he didn’t trust his friends, not even Ezra.

For Luke’s part, he was also too embarrassed and then too immersed in his depressive episode to communicate with Neil about his own mental health needs and condition, but that was understandable…because the people he was close to already knew, and Luke’s co-workers and managers knew, and he’d already made the needed arrangements to take time off to work through his episodes. Neil didn’t yet know him well enough for Luke to trust him with the information, and it made sense to me that he didn’t trust this playboy man-child with all his truths up front. He was very into Neil, attracted to him, and, yes, into being the person Neil confided in, but, he had no reason—yet—to trust Neil with his full self. It was one or two dates and hooking up, not a commitment. Still, his decision not to even tell Neil he was leaving town until he had to and then not being able to stay in touch was also frustrating. He didn’t owe Neil the truth, but, he definitely could have handled the entire situation better and much sooner.

Still, Neil’s self-involvement continued upon Luke’s return, and his eventual shit-fit was well out of line. The results were a much needed wake-up call, but his behavior was immature to the point that I just could not sympathize.

I struggled with the romance, mainly for Me trigger reasons. Neil is a one-and-done, reduces everyone to sex and meat sort of player, and that always turns me off rather than having me hope someone will tame the bad boy. In fact, when Luke is first watching him in chapter 1, he thinks, oh, he’ll give you the best sex of your life…and possibly an STD.

Ooh. Romantic.

And most of his early interactions with Luke did seem like smooth moves he’d done with any- and everybody else. Neil seemed like a cliché fuck-boy, not very interesting, and no sense of any discernment for who he had sex with. He’d go with anybody. Which made him being attracted to Luke both not a surprise and not special. His slick moves made me feel icky. While they were in Neil’s house, he kept inserting thoughts about how much sex he’d had there, so many people in his bed and blowjobs over there and and…. Now here’s Luke. Yay. 😞

The book also features my least favorite scenario, an incestuous friend group, with Neil and Ezra (hero book 1) having been fuck buddies when they first met and became friends, and then Neil and Alaric, Luke’s good work friend, also having been fuck buddies for a while, which meant we got a lot of that icky Ezra and Alaric ribbing Neil about Luke, and Luke getting knowing looks, and just…. Not great. I own that this is a personal squick of mine, and won’t bother many readers. Just…heads up if it will bother you. Neil has slept with seemingly any and everyone in the bar, sometimes two in the same night, though not in the past few months due to new medication and his mental state due to the progression of his RP. But honestly, his initial, oh Luke’s kinda cute…no really cute…felt uncomfortable, like he reduced Luke to another potential fuck, and that’s how he saw people rather than seeing them as people. This stock character is rampant in romance, and, I am personally exhausted by it.

Give me the picky hot MCs who are interested in people as people instead of potential hookups. No shame IRL, go get your sex on, but it’s tiresome to read about again. And again. And again.

(and, question…in the “safe sex” talk, which came a little too late, Neil revealed his last STD panel came back clear, and he’d gone off PreP ever since he and Luke became “a thing.” Somehow therefore it was just fine for him and Luke to go bare. 🧐 (Luke had sex with two women, long ago, never a man, and they didn’t feel he needed to be tested. 🫣 NGL this conversation was odd.)

Anyway, I digressed, as I so often do.

Apart from the incestuous element and unwelcome innuendos, the friend group is lovely, very found family, and there for these two. (But, god, did we NEED Alaric exclaiming that he’d also slept with the leader of Neil’s RP support group? And did he need to describe the guy being a dom in detail to everyone present? Did he REALLY need to? Why why why must everything be reduced to “we had sex!” rather than focusing on the friendship/acquaintanceship/person? WHY?)

Luke had more depth as a character, though I would have enjoyed seeing/learning more about his work, as well as personal interests. I loved that he cared for the plants Neil brought him.

Neil…who is this guy? He owns a bar and sings in the band. But his RP (and sleeping with anything that moved) was his defining character trait and was so much the focus, I didn’t get a sense of him on deeper levels. I know we heard a bit about Luke’s parents, but, I don’t remember anything about Neil’s background, apart from he and Ezra met in sad/rough circumstances. I could not tell you a single thing about his favorite music, despite him being in a band, or other interests beyond running the bar.

I don’t know, there were important conflicts and elements, but they took over, and the romance didn’t feel earned or solid enough to be believable. As always, there is truly good writing in here, but the story tried to do so much that it failed to deliver a credible romance. I was more frustrated by Neil and put off by the constant references to his sex life than rooting for these two. It sort of depicted that old saying "when the man is right the 'woman' [in this comparison, Luke] finds the time...when the time is right, the man [Neil] finds a woman." Like, Luke could have been any old person who Neil latched on to right then. By the time Luke was finally comfortable enough with Neil to take off his hoodie (which he wears constantly bc he has damaged his scalp and his hair grows in patchy and he has bald spots), I didn’t care anymore. It wasn’t a special moment, it was just…like…finally.

I remain a Fearne Hill fan and look forward to more of her work. This one wasn’t a favorite, but, she has written some marvelous romances. So if the premise does interest you, give it a chance!

Final note. Neil mentioned having been in love only once in the past, with a man named Tristan. Turns out, the same Tristan is an MC of one of my favorite books by this author, Cloud Nine. Now I need to re-read that one to see if Neil was on Tristan's radar there at all. I am curious! 🧐

**UPDATE** I searched Cloud Nine to see Neil there, he actually appears a lot...and sounds like a totally different character. Into saving the environment, has white-boy locs, different personality...? WEIRD. I guess being in his head is much different from seeing him through Tristan and Dominic's perspectives, but, I saw none of the actual interests he had there here. What happened, Neil?**update over**

HEA. Sexually prolific bar owner with RP bonds with near-virgin dermatologist with clinical depression. No OM action very safe for me on that front. Tons of references to all the people, both generic and friends, Neil has had sex with. To the point that he seemed to think of people as potential sex partners rather than individuals. No OM drama though. I recommend the book to those who find the premise interesting. It has strong tension and conflict, but, I felt the serious content overshadowed the romance.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.

[Sophia Soames · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeously perfect.

Fearne Hill’s books are like a warm hug, sassy, sexy and funny in equal measure. This was exactly that, towing the balance of angst and happiness perfectly. Loved every page.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A- / 4.5 stars rounded up.

This third book in Fearne Hill’s Mis-shapes series is a quiet, character-driven opposites-attract romance between a brash, rock ‘n’ roll bad boy and a reclusive doctor who works hard to protect his sometimes fragile mental health. Seen is a gently moving story that deals with some sensitive subjects, but which is ultimately an uplifting tale about the importance of being truly known and allowing yourself to be vulnerable with those who love you.

Dr. Luke Sinclair works part-time at the same hospital as Isaac and Alaric from books one and two, albeit in a different department, and the three of them have been friends for a long time. We met Luke briefly in Maybe , where it was clear he’d been struggling with his mental health for a while, and in this book we learn more about his chronic depression and how he’s learned healthier coping mechanisms and to put himself first when he needs to.

Neil Sainsbury is Ezra Fitz-Henry’s best friend and business partner in the bar they co-own, Earth. He’s your classic bad boy; edgy, charming and cocky, with no room in his life for vulnerability or relationships and a revolving bedroom door of no-strings hook-ups. The book opens with Luke sitting at the bar at Earth, somewhat reluctantly unable to tear his eyes away from the stage as Neil starts wrapping up the set he’s performing with his band – and watching as Neil falls off the edge of the stage. It’s not the first time Luke’s seen it happen - he knows Neil is no stranger to performing while drunk or high – but this time, Ezra asks him to go round back to the office to check on Neil. It’s been a while since Luke has done anything like that (he’s a dermatologist) but several years in emergency medicine don’t just fade away, so he heads to the office and takes Neil through the usual concussion protocols and questions. Neil is clearly trying to brush it off as nothing, just a stupid miss-step, and Luke has to agree – there’s no sign of anything really wrong, although Neil admits that he did pass out for maybe a few seconds. Which means he shouldn’t be alone for the next twenty-four hours and should be checked overnight. The trouble is, Alaric and Gerald have already headed home, Isaac is on a night-shift and Ezra has to relieve the babysitter… he asks Luke if he can spend the night upstairs in Neil’s flat and keep an eye on him.

Luke agrees reluctantly, but hadn’t reckoned on Neil being quite such a dick. When he leaves, he doesn’t count on seeing Neil again for a while, but a few days later, he shows up on Luke’s doorstep with a peace offering – a Peace Lily – and a request for help going through some important paperwork. Luke already knows Neil is dyslexic and has begun to think that perhaps that isn’t the only issue he’s having with his eyesight – but he’s not going to pry and just agrees to provide whatever help he can.

Luke doesn’t see Neil for a few weeks after that, having decided to avoid going to Earth for a bit. But it’s just his bad luck that when he does agree to go for a drink with Alaric, Neil is there, drunk off his arse and behaving like one, and being restrained by Gerald (Alaric’s boyfriend – Fool’s Gold). Once again, Luke finds himself going upstairs to Neil’s flat and staying the night, listening to Neil’s drunken ramblings about being kicked out of the band and losing the bar… none of it makes sense, until he can’t help seeing a notification from Moorfields Eye Hospital on Neil’s lock-screen and things – the clumsiness, the total lack of personal possessions or clutter in Neil’s flat, the way he’s started using his dyslexia as a convenient excuse not to read things - start falling into place.

Over the next few weeks and months, Neil and Luke forge an unlikely friendship, both of them constantly asking themselves what they’re doing, getting involved with someone who is so very different from them. But that doesn’t stop them from slowly falling for one another, and as they get to know more about each other, they realise that no one has ever really seen them the way they see each other. Luke is the only person Neil comes clean with about the fact that he has an incurable eye condition that is slowly getting worse; he doesn’t tell even his closest friends for fear they’ll start to treat him differently and see him as somehow ‘lesser’ and worthy of pity. But even knowing that, Luke holds off on telling Neil the true extent of his mental health issues; Neil sees him as someone confident and capable, their closeness built on Luke helping Neil through his hospital appointments or covering for him when he can’t read a menu, and being enough of an outsider to Neil’s regular friendship group that it’s ‘safe’ for Neil to tell him the truth. Neil doesn’t need Luke, the “basket case” who needs to take a break from life when merely existing becomes too exhausting, and who, Neil will eventually realise, is just not worth the effort.

As always, Fearne Hill writes knowledgeably and sensitively about the medical issues in the story, never sugar-coating them or using them to create gratuitous suffering for the characters, which I always appreciate. Neil spends much of the book in denial about his visual impairment and that, together with his unwillingness to join support groups or learn about possible adaptations to help him, is both frustrating and realistic – I imagine anyone confronted with a life-changing diagnosis may go through the same stages of grief for what is being lost and fear of what comes next. Luke’s reluctance to give Neil the same degree of honesty about his own condition is equally frustrating and just as understandable; being vulnerable is hard, even – or perhaps especially – with someone you’re coming to care for deeply, and Luke has fought tooth and nail to get to a place where he can manage his condition effectively, even though that sometimes means being selfish. But he needs to learn that looking after himself doesn’t mean he has to shut out the people he cares about and that being alone isn’t the only way to preserve his peace.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it’s probably my favourite of the series. The pacing is a tad uneven towards the end, but the humour is on point, the setting is nicely done, and I was pleased to catch up with the leads from the earlier books, whose appearances are well integrated into the story and are more than mere window dressing. I really liked the two leads – flawed, relatable, and three-dimensional; Neil all snark and cockiness and Luke, quiet but deadpan - and watching them slowly coming to realise that their issues don’t make them difficult to love for the person who can see beyond them to who they really are was an utter delight.

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I spent most of this book wondering about the "why" of Neil tbh. He 100% had a VERY valid reason to act messy from a place of fear.

But what I mostly didn't get was how he chose to keep his secret from his best mates who, and I can't stress this enough, are literally the BEST HUMANS in not only the Mis-shapes universe, but in rl as well.

And again, I totally get that sharing his vulnerabilities would disrupt the status quo, have his friends looking at him differently, acting a certain way, and them all having to adjust their dynamic from what was, to one that takes into consideration the path he has no choice to go down now.

I also get how confessing all his fears to Luke, a practical stranger, would be liberating for him. He was self-immolating and making some rancid choices because of how hard he was finding it to share his truth.

BUT

there's a difference between NOT having a support system,
and ignoring the LOVING one available at all times.

Because throughout this entire book, Ezra showed how deeply and genuinely he loved and cared about Neil's wellbeing, his happiness, his peace of mind, and his increased struggles with his "dyslexia." Ezra was open and available. Neil chose vodka.

And then there's Luke. A sweet soft sad babe who was likewise going through his most tender, mentally challenging time, which left him depleted and hiding his own emotional vulnerabilities. Neil was bright bursts of energy, who made Luke a plant dad, and was a very sexy, gorgeous way to spend a naked evening that stretched into the morning.

And it was good
Until it was not.

There was just so much unnecessary angst. And the lack of healthy communication and overall reticence from both Luke and Neil was the kind of contrived tension that took me out of the romance part of this romance. The energetic chunk of this book was spent navigating everyone's fear and anxiety and I was just exhausted on behalf of everyone stg. And then by the end I just felt like I hadn't spent enough quality time with Luke and Neil getting to their ilys nor experiencing them being in love.

I was also stuck on the bad reputation Neil was choosing to lean into instead of coming clean to his best friend, who constantly checked in with him, but was rebuffed for his efforts.

And the ending just proved me right.

I loved books 1 & 2 in this series, and though this book had a few sexy-sweet moments, I would have loved a bit more balance between the amount of time the narrative spent exploring their emotional lows, and Luke and Neil enjoying the highs of their new-love journey.

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one does medical like Fearne Hill.

Like the other books in this contemporary series, this one has one doctor MC and one civilian; one highly stylized swaggery-verging-on-too-much MC, one more seriously inclined; and a connection that starts slowly but quickly shifts into high gear: not so much instalove, as insta-commitment. I tend to find the overly swaggery MC a bit much – Alaric’s book a case in point – but this one was helped by the fact that Neil, our matey punkbro, is going through some serious shit. He’s still somewhat overwritten for my taste, but his voice is toned down compared to some of the more manic pixie dream boys that Hill writes.

Neil’s serious shit is coming to terms with his rapidly worsening vision, something that he knew was inevitable – owing to a chronic disease, retinitis pigmentosa, diagnosed in his teen years – but has successfully managed to ignore until it was no longer ignore-able. Luke, our doctor MC, has his own challenges: severe mental health issues, primarily anxiety and depression, that must be closely managed and that significantly constrain his day-to-day life. Luke, a natural introvert, hovers on the edge of extrovert Neil’s orbit – Neil co-owns a bar with Ezra, from book 1, and Luke is a work friend with Isaac, Ezra’s partner – and it’s this distance that first brings them together: after Neil has yet another plummet from the bar’s stage, Luke susses out that something is amiss and Neil, too afraid to tell his “real” friends, confides how precarious his situation has become. Luke pitches in to help on the sly, and they quickly move to more-than-friends, albeit with some bumps along the way.

Hill writes knowledgeably and compassionately about how serious diagnoses affect all aspects of people’s lives; she also isn’t afraid to make things ugly, as Neil, in particular, has a large dose of self-sabotage going on, something that Luke finds frustrating to navigate. Luke’s own struggles are not watered down, either, and that, too, is sensitively done, as Neil’s urge to try to make things better runs up against the reality of Luke’s mental health. Some readers might find this a bit grim – these are chronic conditions, from which neither man will ever be “healed” (for a value of healed that encompasses full sight and not having depression or anxiety) – but I appreciated reading a love story that made room for MCs dealing with these kinds of struggles and vulnerabilities -- and not just coping, but finding new, rewarding paths forward.

Fearne Hill’s voice doesn’t always hit 100 percent, but the medical stuff – whether that’s working in an overburdened health system or navigating serious diagnoses – is unmatched.

I got an ARC from GRR in exchange for an honest review.

[Lady Macbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I’m very glad I read this third book in the Mis-shapes series because I was eagerly waiting for Luke to have his happily ever after.
We met Luke in the previous two books and we already knew he had serious mental health problems that made him take a step back from his job to take care of himself.
Now Luke has a more well balanced life, he has several coping mechanisms that help him with his more sporadic depressive episodes and, above all, he has friends who support him and get him. He lives a quiet life and he goes out occasionally to Ezra’s bar.
He's noticed Neil before, of course he did, with him being so handsome, magnetic and full of life, but Luke always kept to himself, until Neil falls from the stage and he’s asked to take a look at him. That was the moment Luke understood that there was something going on with Neil that no one, not even his close friends, noticed.

Both Luke and Neil are not at a point in their life where they’re steady enough to embark in a relationship, but they also feel very comfortable around each other so spending time together comes naturally.
I adored the development of the physical side of their relationship: Neil, very experienced, didn’t hesitate a bit in letting Luke set the pace of their intimacy. And even if they waited a long time for the “main event”, they still shared beautiful moments together that helped them grow their connection.

What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
While I appreciated both Luke and Neil’s personal journeys towards healing, I feel that the romance didn’t have a full development in their story. It made sense from Luke’pov, who’s never been the center of anyone’s attention, but less from Neil: I struggled a bit with his almost instant attachment to Luke.
And I also found it a bit annoying the continued comments from their friends that Neil was not boyfriend material and their warning to Luke to not get involved with him.

I hope this will be not the end of this series that I’m enjoying very much. I can’t wait for Fearne Hill’s next story.

I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.

[Julie 🕊️ books.and.chocolat3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Slow Burn
🎭 Disability Rep
✨ Opposites Attract
🎭 Emotional but Funny
✨ Secret Identity / Hidden Truth
🎭 Forced Proximity
✨ Late-Night Conversations
🎭 Healing & Self-Acceptance
✨ Found Family Vibes
🎭 London Nightlife Setting

One man has spent years rebuilding his life behind carefully constructed walls. The other hides his fears behind confidence, charm, and a nightlife empire. When an accident forces their worlds to collide, friendship slowly turns into trust, vulnerability, and something neither of them expected.

✨ My Thoughts ✨

I loved it. Of course I loved it. I love Fearne .. she’s incredible.

Were these characters ready for a relationship? Honestly… I don’t know.

Part of me wants to say yes. Part of me thinks they were both still struggling so much that it was hard to imagine them carrying the weight of a relationship on top of everything else.

But it’s fiction, so I’m choosing to believe they’re happy, thriving, and living their best lives together. ❤️

That’s actually the reason this wasn’t a 5-star read for me. Their individual journeys felt incredibly real, but they were carrying so much pain that I sometimes found it difficult to fully believe in the romance.

You know those posts asking “Which author deserves more hype?” Well, she’s always my answer.

This book was beautiful, but painfully real. It wasn’t OTT, and love doesn’t magically fix everything. It was real. It was funny, heartbreaking, sweet, and hopeful. I laughed out loud more than once, but my heart broke too.

These characters are flawed in the best possible way. Their struggles with mental health and disability felt authentic and incredibly well represented. At times, it was difficult to read simply because of how real it felt.

If you’re looking for a romance built on trust, friendship, vulnerability, and emotional intimacy this one is absolutely worth picking up.

⚠️ Please read the trigger warnings before diving into this book.

[Eileen Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow the books in this series really know how to pull you in... this one is my favorite of the three...

Luke has issues he has worked hard to overcome. He is not there yet but is on his way. He knows his limits and knows what to do and not to do to try to keep on top of things. All the while he works as a dermatologist a few days a week. He still has times when it all gets to be too much, but so far he is ok. He did try to end it but he was caught by a freak event that in its way saved his life. Now while keeping his schedule he finds out that one of the band members is just getting too drunk and keeps falling off the stage. On this night his presence is being requested because once again he fell and was knocked unconscious.

Neil has a secret and he is not sharing it with his co owner of the bar, or his bandmates. He knows it is getting worse and he is trying to deal with it himself by keeping it to himself. He keeps falling off the stage while singing and his bandmates think it is because he is drinking so much. No one takes the time to really find out what it is. After his most recent fall the guys make a doctor come look at him and check him out. Due to losing consciousness they want to take him to the hospital. There he is told he might have a concussion so he will need someone to stay with him... the only one available is Luke. But they do not know each other...

Has Luke always crushed on the player Neil? Will staying with him be too much for Luke with his own issues? Does Neil recover from the concussion? Does Neil need more help from Luke? Will Luke confess what his issues are? Will Neil have to allow Luke in to help him with what is going on? Does Luke being a doctor help? Will they have to tell the band? Will Neil lose the bar business?

So many more things I could say but I do not want to give too much away... just loved these two separately imperfect men, who found perfection within each other.

[Showarst · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars


Seen by Fearne Hill is book 3 in the Mis-Shapes series. The first two books in this series were fabulous. I loved the relationships and the speed at which they developed. I liked this one, but it was more difficult for me to get into. I loved Luke. He was so sweet and was really going through it. I cared for him a lot.

I had a harder time liking Neil. He was selfish and mean to those who cared for him. He treated Ezra, Alaric, and Jess like crap because he did not want to admit his eye disease. He was going blind and it was easier to pretend that he was drinking more and treating everyone terribly than to tell everyone what was going on. His treatment of Luke as his personal doctor and venting coach was a bit much. When Neil yelled at Luke, I was hoping he was done with him. He knew that Luke’s mental issues were big and he was only thinking about himself.

I liked them together, but disliked how so much time was spent on their mental/physical issues that it left very little time for them to grow into a relationship. How can I believe that playboy Neil who would sometimes take multiple men/women into the bathroom would give that all up for innocent Luke when I didn’t see them falling for each other? From my perspective, Neil’s only interest in Luke appeared to be the fact that he knew about the RP, was a calm presence, and was willing to be there when Neil needed him. I wanted to see more. I believed that Luke was falling for Neil, but I don’t believe the opposite.

I did really enjoy the epilogue and would still highly recommend this series. Fearne has such a way with words.

I received an ARC from the author and GRR for my honest review.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two hurting men find solace and love

Fearne's characters always fascinate me. She manages to convey all the darkest depths, not sugar-coating anything and Neil and Luke have so much going on under the surface, it's painful to watch. My favourite of her books is Two Tribes, which is a deep dive into the psyche of a distinctly troubled man, with a very hard-won HEA. Although Seen wasn't quite so traumatic, both characters are navigating life around their health.
Luke's mental health is fragile and he's managing it as best he can, but he gets absolutely overwhelmed at times and needs to completely disengage and reset. Neil's problem is his physical health and a worsening condition that he's struggling to come to terms with, his life changing completely and leaving him reeling.
Luke and Neil had mutual friends in Ezra and Isaac (from Maybe) and Alaric and Gerald (from Fool's Gold) but whereas they all knew about Luke's health and supported him, none of them had a clue about Neil's diagnosis. Even though his friends were wonderful and would have dropped everything to come through for him, he was scared, in denial, and spiralling for England, all while playing it off as nothing. I understood why he kept it to himself, as he couldn't come to terms with it and had no idea how it would impact his ability to do his job and his quality of life. He was just terrified and wasn't thinking straight. I couldn't judge him for keeping quiet.
Honestly, both Luke's and Neil's health took up a lot of the story and left less page time for romance, but there was affection and romance and love and peace lilies and Maltesers, and lots of kissing. I felt their connection and I loved Neil's softness towards Luke and Luke's blunt honesty to Neil.

[Kitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really loved the first book in this series and was excited to read this one. The mental health rep was good and there was a lot to like with this, and it would probably have been a higher rating if it wasn't for some silly mistakes and inconsistencies, and some seriously horrible actions from Neil. It also felt like there were some things glossed over or left out-- when it's someone's first time bottoming, I'd like to see that on page, please and thank you. Although Neil was mostly sweet and I liked that he was all-in with the relationship, I could have done without the frequent reminders of him previously boinking his way through the city. Particularly the mention of how he met Ezra, that just made me feel ill. Unfortunately that fell near the end of the book and I just can't get past it, it's stuck in my head. Please see below:

"Ez whips out his phone. These days, he’s nothing like that gangly, lost teenager I picked up that first Saturday night. I must only have been a cocky eighteen myself. I’d been out with the bunch of wild students I used to hang around with, and was on my way home, feeling high and horny. I’d come across him begging down by Euston Station, wrapped in a blanket. He’d looked harmless, cold, and fucking delicious. We fucked, shared a spliff, and fell asleep on the sofa. Things kind of spiralled from there."

This is the main character speaking about a side character, who he saw obviously needed help, and he went, "yeah, I can help this poor kid-- with my dick." Even in his head, Neil is an unlikeable wanker. Luke deserves better.

[Daje1968 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books where my rating has less to do with the quality of the writing and more to do with the kind of story I enjoy reading.

I’ve read several Fearne Hill books now, and one thing that remains consistent is that she is a talented writer who tells thoughtful, well-crafted stories. Unfortunately, she’s also an author who seems drawn to some very heavy subject matter, and that’s where we tend to part ways.

In this book, one MC is living with a degenerative eye disease that will eventually leave him blind, while the other struggles with anxiety, depression, and trichotillomania. The representation felt respectful and well-intentioned, but I found the overall reading experience more melancholy than romantic.

Because so much of the story focused on the characters’ individual struggles, I never fully connected with them as a couple. I understood why they were drawn to each other, but I didn’t really feel the chemistry. Instead, I spent most of the book feeling weighed down by everything they were carrying.

That said, this is absolutely a case of “it’s me, not the book.” Readers looking for a thoughtful, character-driven romance that tackles disability and mental health with care may find a lot to appreciate here. Fearne Hill continues to be a skilled storyteller. This particular story just wasn’t the escape I was looking for.

Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for providing the ARC.

[Nancy Lockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quite angsty book and deals with some serious physical and mental health issues. Both MC's have serious issues but only one of them is facing his head-on. Luka Sinclair has been in the previous 2 books in this series as has Neil.Now they get their love story. Luke is a NHS dermatologist who has hit rock bottom with his mental health in the past with suicide attempts and has a history of pulling out his hair as a anxious habit. He now only works a couple of days a week and monitors his mental health closely. Neil own a bar with his best friend and is the life of the party. He will often sing with his band. People are beginning to wonder if he has a drinking problem since he has fallen off of the stage several times. Luke is at the bar when Neil falls off again and checks him out for a concussion and monitors him for the night. Luke finds out Neil's real issue when he accidentally sees a text from a hospital known for treating patients with visual problems. Neil is running and hiding from his diagnosis and is afraid of telling his friends due to fear of being seen differently and that he will lose who he is. Neil and Luke soon become friends and then lovers with each trusting more of themselves with the other. This is a love story but it is also a story of facing your problems and learning to realize that your life may change but it is still yours. It is also about trusting your friends to understand and have your back.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing more terrifying than being Seen

For as much mental and emotional distress the MCs face in this beautiful tail of resilience, I was left with a sense of cozy hope rather than exhausted angst. Don’t get me wrong, there is angst, amazing crap-tons of angst, but it isn’t performative or excessive. All the emotions. All the insecurities. All the denial and escapism. They all feel real. Raw in its honesty.

The love story itself is almost anti-cozy in the trappings, but snuggly-cozy at heart. A meet-ugly. Clashing traumas and demons between the MCs. Never ending challenges from their internal and external environments. Yet, through all of that, their love is communicated in small gifts, late night bitch sessions, moments of uncertain half-truths, and the realization that being imperfect and damaged may be exactly what another person needs you to be to become whole.

I was unable to read this book for the first time in one sitting. I had to treat myself with as much consideration as the characters often fail to. The triggers are there as trap lines highlighted by security lights… you know their there, you’ve been warned, and you trip over them anyway… willingly. This is not an easy read, but it is rewarding in a way that makes you sit back afterwords and wonder “why was that so hard?” The truth is, seeing beauty in the broken pieces is hard, but can reward you in ways nothing else can.

[SNik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in series (Mis-shapes), can be read as a standalone but might be more fun if read in order. Disability representation. Mental health representation. Hurt/comfort. Found family. Slow burn. Dual POV. Heed content warnings.

Luke can’t help watching bar owner Neil as he sings onstage and proudly flaunts his playboy lifestyle. But when Neil needs help, Luke steps in and is slowly drawn into Neil’s life where he is keeping secrets from their mutual friends and finds something compelling about the mentally fragile dermatologist.

The hurt/comfort aspect of this story is strong as both Luke and Neil are dealing with lifelong health issues and navigating being supportive for each other while having their own personal struggles. I especially enjoyed when Luke and Neil are on page together, and how almost seamlessly they become part of each other's lives. They do commit pretty quickly even as they take things slow physically, and Neil’s singular focus on Luke was sweet (if a little out of character). I liked seeing the other men from the series and how they rally around both Luke and Neil. 4.25

[Heike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to getting Luke’s story ever since we met him in book 1. That he’d end up with (almost) everybody’s ex fuck buddy Neil was surprising for me. I loved book 1, but didn’t really connect with Alaric and Gerald from book 2, so I’m absolutely happy to say that the MCs of this book pulled me in again. Yay!
So, we already met Luke, who struggled with heavy depression for the last books. As a person who unfortunately knows depression first hand, I know that depression never “goes away”. And this was portrayed beautifully and authentic. Luke mostly knows how to handle his issues and how to keep the worst at bay. Even though he isn’t always the best at communicating that with everyone.
Neil has to come to terms with his own issues: little by little his eye sight is getting worse until he will be completely blind. He dies NOT handle that well at all, mostly ignores his condition and loses himself in alcohol. Soft spoken Luke somehow manages to get Neil to accept help and both of them slowly build a friendship through their issues. Both accept each other exactly as they are. Full stop. And that was beautiful to see.

[Dee Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will say this book was absolutely amazing. This is book 3 in the Mis-Shape series. I really wasn't sure what to expect considering I hadn't read the first to books when I received this one. Let me tell you when I read the blurb and it said, "Falling in love means risking exposure, and both men have spent years hiding the parts of themselves they fear make them impossible to love."
Then I started reading and I was consumed by this book. Luke and Neil are what I consider polar opposites. Luke being the Dermatologist with a put together life. He is very by the book and as stated he has walls the size of the Eiffel tower. Then there is Neil the cool bar owner who is laid back and cool but again his guards are up to. Then there is an accident Neil has and a doctor is needed and Luke is there. the rest is pretty much history in a sense.
Overall, this was a very good book. I did go and read book one and two in this series as well and let me say they were good to. This the first time I have ever read anything by this author, and I was impressed and look forward to seeing how this series continues, and who the next lucky couple will be.

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

What a sweet, loving, caretaking, patient, non judgemental book.
Two MCs with disabilities both physical and mental.
This was the third in the series but though I was aware there was a lot to the side character stories, I didn't feel lost. The author I feel filled in enough to acknowledge the connections.
I've read a few books by Fearne Hill but in this book I just loved the banter and sense of humor that made me chuckle out loud. First and foremost being that Neil calls Luke who is a Dermatologist "rash whisperer"
The reason they meet is Neill lead singer falls off the stage, four times! And Luke is a doctor and checks him out after one of them. As Neil needs some aftercare, Luke reluctantly agrees to watch him and is suspicious because as alcohol is the blame, he finds no evidence of it.
As the book progresses they spend more time together and end up feeling SAFE with each other and are able to be honest.
It's just a beutiful story with a lot of hurt/comfort but the hurt only brings them closer as each navigates what a relationship is like in their worlds. 10/10 for me. No notes.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Fearne Hill's writing a lot, but this story didn't entirely work for me. That is, I liked it but didn't love it. Overall, it felt very superficial to me, which I'm not sure makes sense, given the Big Issues both MCs were dealing with. I'm trying to put my finger on why I feel that way. Luke was aware of his ongoing mental health challenges, having overcome the crisis point prior to the start of this book, and he articulated them to Neil to some extent... but not clearly enough to avoid their big miscommunication blowup. Neil, meanwhile, was unwilling to discuss his health problems with anyone at all except Luke, instead acting out time and again. Only after that behavior led to a near-deadly injury was he finally honest with his friends, who of course rallied around him for a happy ending. Basically, I spent a lot of the book anxious (about Luke) or frustrated (with Neil), which didn't make for enjoyable reading.

I'll still be looking forward to whatever Fearne Hill writes next.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for an advance copy of this book.

[AshPenny37 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first read by this author despite being the third book in the Mis-shapes series. I didn’t feel that I was missing anything not having read the first two as the other couples here were pretty well-balanced side characters providing the support to Neil and Luke. Individually, I thought the main characters worked well as complex personalities dealing with serious issues in some very real ways. In some respects I think they were too well developed as, to me, it felt that their needs for getting on the right path for their physical/mental health meant that they were not a great fit for each other. Likely a me thing, but I just couldn’t one hundred percent get on board with them being together.

Do I think this author can write? Yes, I think Luke’s situation, how his mental health is impacted by stressors and what an episode looks like for him are well described. As is Neil’s innate fear of what his future holds and his natural vs learned coping mechanisms (nor not coping mechanisms) are. I'm sure this book will be a better fit for other readers who'll be on board with Luke and Neil as a perfectly imperfect pairing, but I couldn’t connect to them as a couple, unfortunately. So, for that reason it's 2.5* rounded up from me.

An e-copy was provided by GRR. This is my honest opinion.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book and I'm sure I would be in a book slump now if I wasn't re-reading Maybe - book 1 in the series.
It's an incredibly beautiful love story between two vulnerable but very different men. Neil hides his vulnerability from everyone but lovely Luke figures it out when he is trying to help him. Luke really does not have the capacity to help anyone, he's only just about managing to take care of himself but they need each other and eventually they both figure that out. It's not straight forward of course and they both go on a bit of a journey - one quietly and the other with a bit more drama! Emotional (tears at times) and also very funny with plenty of scenes including Isaac, Ezra, Alaric and Gerald which I also loved. They have a very special friendship group written so well.
Re-reading Maybe hits differently too because I know the characters better. Alaric was hilarious in his book Fool's Gold but I'm laughing out loud at him in Maybe now too.
The whole series highly recommended.

[Brittany Crabtree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read the first two books of the mid-shapes series after receiving book 3 as an ARC and I’m so glad I did. These were my first experience with books by Fearne Hill but they won’t be my last. Her writing is sharp and witty, while still covering heavy topics with grace. SEEN is the shining star of the series.
Neil Sainsbury is the fun loving, hard partying, good time rocker who never takes life too seriously. Doctor Luke Sinclair is the quiet, nervous guy in the back of the bar who tried like hell to fade into the background. On the surface they couldn’t be more different. On the inside, they are two broken boys who just need someone to sit with them in their brokenness and be by their side once they gather the strength to stand back up again.
It touched me more than I can say that the author chose to show the actual reality of living with depression. Love doesn’t cure it. Sometimes you still sit in the darkness… but someone you love is sitting beside you holding a torch.