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Whynot #3
Prickly Pair
In the small West Texas town of Whynot, why not take a chance on three gorgeous men—even if two of them are rivals?
After a thousand disastrous first dates, I've almost given up on love. But when my crush's rival swoops in and saves me from another date gone wrong, I have a one-night-stand that leaves me breathless and yearning for more.
I'm sure I'll never see him again... Until two months later, he moves back to Whynot and stirs up trouble. Suddenly, I go from having no one I'm interested in to wanting three sexy men.
Nick Steele. My long-time crush's enemy. The former bad boy who has a mullet, piercings everywhere, and the sweetest black cat.
Matthew Jacobs. The tall, sexy small town doctor. He's sweet, nerdy, and gives me butterflies every single time he smiles.
Austin Whynot. My forever crush who's never looked at me twice. He's overprotective, sweet, loyal to a fault, and has been just a friend for years.
Three gorgeous men. Three gorgeous problems.
My only solution?
Take a chance ... even if it possibly means losing it all.
In this MMMF small town romance, you'll one night stand; why-choose romance; enemies-to-lovers; friends-to-lovers; hurt/comfort; spiciest book in the series.
Prickly Pair is the third book in Whynot and can be enjoyed as a standalone.
After a thousand disastrous first dates, I've almost given up on love. But when my crush's rival swoops in and saves me from another date gone wrong, I have a one-night-stand that leaves me breathless and yearning for more.
I'm sure I'll never see him again... Until two months later, he moves back to Whynot and stirs up trouble. Suddenly, I go from having no one I'm interested in to wanting three sexy men.
Nick Steele. My long-time crush's enemy. The former bad boy who has a mullet, piercings everywhere, and the sweetest black cat.
Matthew Jacobs. The tall, sexy small town doctor. He's sweet, nerdy, and gives me butterflies every single time he smiles.
Austin Whynot. My forever crush who's never looked at me twice. He's overprotective, sweet, loyal to a fault, and has been just a friend for years.
Three gorgeous men. Three gorgeous problems.
My only solution?
Take a chance ... even if it possibly means losing it all.
In this MMMF small town romance, you'll one night stand; why-choose romance; enemies-to-lovers; friends-to-lovers; hurt/comfort; spiciest book in the series.
Prickly Pair is the third book in Whynot and can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Audible Audio
Expected publication November 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
April 27, 2026
2.5 stars ⭐
April 16, 2026
3.5
First of all, thank you for the ARC of this book—it allowed me to finish the trilogy and finally see the HEA for this group of friends that I’ve really grown to love. ❤️💚💙 It’s not exactly the ending I expected, but it does wrap up the #Whynot series nicely. For those who are interested in reading the story out of order, it’s totally fine and not a problem, but you’ll just need to piece together the characters at the beginning.
This was my first MMFM romance, and I think I need to read more in this genre to fully understand my preferences. On one hand, I didn’t dislike it, but on the other, it didn’t completely click for me. At times, it almost felt like the dynamics worked better as MMM, even though for this specific story the MMFM setup still makes sense. The reason I say this is mainly Evie, the FMC, who unfortunately was my biggest struggle. I didn’t feel very connected to her, and at times I found myself more interested in the dynamics between the male characters rather than her place within the relationship. She works well in this dynamic as the “glue” that brings everyone together, but I didn’t feel she had much of a distinct personality that stood out to me—something I did notice more clearly with her friendships and the way she interacts with her friends.
The first half of the story felt very rushed. Everything happens so quickly that there’s barely time to settle into the relationships, and it gave me a similar feeling to Cactus Hearts, where things also move fast, but there, I immediately felt the chemistry. Here… not so much. Yes, there’s the spicy part and the lust, but it didn’t really translate into emotional connection for me, so I struggled to fully invest in the relationships early on. That said, I did appreciate how balanced the relationships were overall—no dynamic felt more important than the others, which is actually really impressive in a story like this.
As for the pairings:
Evie x Matthew was sweet, and I liked how easily they shifted into something more intimate.
Evie x Austin felt a bit off at the beginning—like they always started on the wrong foot—but I did enjoy them more once things finally shifted, even if I wish that development had happened differently.
Evie x Nick was probably the strongest pairing involving her—both emotionally and physically. I really liked their first meeting and how their dynamic evolved.
Now for the more intense part:
Matthew x Austin were really cute—I loved that Austin had a crush on him, and Matthew’s more dominant energy worked well for them.
Matthew x Nick—I LOVED them. The way they go from strangers to something deeper was so well done, and their development genuinely made me emotional.
But the pairing I wanted more of? Austin x Nick. Enemies in their teens?? Excuse me?? I needed more of that. I loved how persistent Nick was with Austin—I was eating that up.
Also… can we talk about Lucky? I wanted so much more of him. He made such a strong entrance and I was immediately obsessed.
From the second half onwards, the pacing improves and we finally get to see the relationships breathe a bit more. I really enjoyed watching them spend time together and build something more stable, even if I still wanted more emotional depth and romantic tension leading up to it.
Among all of them, Matthew was probably my favorite: his comforting, grounding presence really held the group together. Nick also had a nice character arc, even if I would’ve loved more page time for him, while Austin’s storyline had a lot of potential that could’ve been explored more deeply.
Overall, this is a fun, spicy, easy read with a strong found-family vibe. If you enjoy fast-burn romances with lots of spice and a “why choose” dynamic, you’ll probably have a great time with this. Personally, I just wish there had been more build-up, more emotional connection, and a bit more depth to fully love it.
First of all, thank you for the ARC of this book—it allowed me to finish the trilogy and finally see the HEA for this group of friends that I’ve really grown to love. ❤️💚💙 It’s not exactly the ending I expected, but it does wrap up the #Whynot series nicely. For those who are interested in reading the story out of order, it’s totally fine and not a problem, but you’ll just need to piece together the characters at the beginning.
This was my first MMFM romance, and I think I need to read more in this genre to fully understand my preferences. On one hand, I didn’t dislike it, but on the other, it didn’t completely click for me. At times, it almost felt like the dynamics worked better as MMM, even though for this specific story the MMFM setup still makes sense. The reason I say this is mainly Evie, the FMC, who unfortunately was my biggest struggle. I didn’t feel very connected to her, and at times I found myself more interested in the dynamics between the male characters rather than her place within the relationship. She works well in this dynamic as the “glue” that brings everyone together, but I didn’t feel she had much of a distinct personality that stood out to me—something I did notice more clearly with her friendships and the way she interacts with her friends.
The first half of the story felt very rushed. Everything happens so quickly that there’s barely time to settle into the relationships, and it gave me a similar feeling to Cactus Hearts, where things also move fast, but there, I immediately felt the chemistry. Here… not so much. Yes, there’s the spicy part and the lust, but it didn’t really translate into emotional connection for me, so I struggled to fully invest in the relationships early on. That said, I did appreciate how balanced the relationships were overall—no dynamic felt more important than the others, which is actually really impressive in a story like this.
As for the pairings:
Evie x Matthew was sweet, and I liked how easily they shifted into something more intimate.
Evie x Austin felt a bit off at the beginning—like they always started on the wrong foot—but I did enjoy them more once things finally shifted, even if I wish that development had happened differently.
Evie x Nick was probably the strongest pairing involving her—both emotionally and physically. I really liked their first meeting and how their dynamic evolved.
Now for the more intense part:
Matthew x Austin were really cute—I loved that Austin had a crush on him, and Matthew’s more dominant energy worked well for them.
Matthew x Nick—I LOVED them. The way they go from strangers to something deeper was so well done, and their development genuinely made me emotional.
But the pairing I wanted more of? Austin x Nick. Enemies in their teens?? Excuse me?? I needed more of that. I loved how persistent Nick was with Austin—I was eating that up.
Also… can we talk about Lucky? I wanted so much more of him. He made such a strong entrance and I was immediately obsessed.
From the second half onwards, the pacing improves and we finally get to see the relationships breathe a bit more. I really enjoyed watching them spend time together and build something more stable, even if I still wanted more emotional depth and romantic tension leading up to it.
Among all of them, Matthew was probably my favorite: his comforting, grounding presence really held the group together. Nick also had a nice character arc, even if I would’ve loved more page time for him, while Austin’s storyline had a lot of potential that could’ve been explored more deeply.
Overall, this is a fun, spicy, easy read with a strong found-family vibe. If you enjoy fast-burn romances with lots of spice and a “why choose” dynamic, you’ll probably have a great time with this. Personally, I just wish there had been more build-up, more emotional connection, and a bit more depth to fully love it.
April 13, 2026
4.3 stars.
This was super fun, and the sex was hot, but I would’ve really liked some more actual dates and getting to know you moments instead of only smut.🤷🏻♀️ Not that the smut wasn’t good, cause it totally was.
This was super fun, and the sex was hot, but I would’ve really liked some more actual dates and getting to know you moments instead of only smut.🤷🏻♀️ Not that the smut wasn’t good, cause it totally was.
April 12, 2026
Out of the many polyamorous romances I've read, this is one of the most (if not the most) evenly written between all of the characters' relationships. I didn't feel like any of the relationships was more or less important than the others, and that's actually really impressive since they're alllllll together. The FMC has three boyfriends who are boyfriends and we love to see it.
Fast burn with lots of spice. If you like it when she takes two cocks and they can *feel each other* this is your book. A bit insta-lovey in some parts but I did not care. No OW or OM drama.
Supportive side characters who obviously also have their own books in this series. I was surprised by how long it was, but it took that long for all of the relationships to develop despite the early start on the spice. Especially liked how one relationship developed, since I thought it would be explosive but ended up being endearing.
Fast burn with lots of spice. If you like it when she takes two cocks and they can *feel each other* this is your book. A bit insta-lovey in some parts but I did not care. No OW or OM drama.
Supportive side characters who obviously also have their own books in this series. I was surprised by how long it was, but it took that long for all of the relationships to develop despite the early start on the spice. Especially liked how one relationship developed, since I thought it would be explosive but ended up being endearing.
March 31, 2026
ARC review
Thank you so much to Clio Evans for the opportunity to read and review Prickly Pair (and the whole Whynot series). As always, all opinions are my own.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, no one does queer normative and kink positive stories that hit your heart better than Clio Evans. We’re talking informed consent, responsible play scenes and so much emotional resonance that I could cry.
This is the final installment in the Whynot trilogy, and could definitely be read as a standalone, but treat yourself, trust me, and read the others. You deserve it.
Evie, baker and owner of Whynot Treat Yourself, has always fantasized about being in a poly relationship with 3 men. Dream big! Is it even possible?
It turns out… yes! Matthew, town doctor and nerdy hottie, is eager to help fulfill her fantasies. He bosses her around to keep her hydrated and tenderly takes care of her other needs…. And he’s perfect with his attraction to her former one night stand, Nick.
We need to talk about Nick. He’s a cat dad with a mullet and a Jacob’s ladder. There is no world where I ever thought I’d find a mullet attractive…. But maybe yes now? He’s such a brat and such a delight! He loves openly with his whole heart and has a sassy way of showing it that will sneak up on you.
Last in the group is Austin. He’s our best friend’s older brother. He hates Nick with a fiery passion. He’s attracted to Matthew but doesn’t know what to do about it and if he ever stopped to think about himself, he’d discover that he’s attracted to Evie (and obvs Nick, no one carries that level of bitterness and angst over someone they don’t want to bone). Austin hit me in all the feels. He takes care of everyone and everything except himself and he doesn’t know how to stop. This man needs someone to tell him. To force him to rest. And to just take care of him.
There’s some minor suspense in this story as well, but the bulk of it is wrapped around the emotional and physical needs of these characters as they attempt to find a happily ever after.
Thank you so much to Clio Evans for the opportunity to read and review Prickly Pair (and the whole Whynot series). As always, all opinions are my own.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, no one does queer normative and kink positive stories that hit your heart better than Clio Evans. We’re talking informed consent, responsible play scenes and so much emotional resonance that I could cry.
This is the final installment in the Whynot trilogy, and could definitely be read as a standalone, but treat yourself, trust me, and read the others. You deserve it.
Evie, baker and owner of Whynot Treat Yourself, has always fantasized about being in a poly relationship with 3 men. Dream big! Is it even possible?
It turns out… yes! Matthew, town doctor and nerdy hottie, is eager to help fulfill her fantasies. He bosses her around to keep her hydrated and tenderly takes care of her other needs…. And he’s perfect with his attraction to her former one night stand, Nick.
We need to talk about Nick. He’s a cat dad with a mullet and a Jacob’s ladder. There is no world where I ever thought I’d find a mullet attractive…. But maybe yes now? He’s such a brat and such a delight! He loves openly with his whole heart and has a sassy way of showing it that will sneak up on you.
Last in the group is Austin. He’s our best friend’s older brother. He hates Nick with a fiery passion. He’s attracted to Matthew but doesn’t know what to do about it and if he ever stopped to think about himself, he’d discover that he’s attracted to Evie (and obvs Nick, no one carries that level of bitterness and angst over someone they don’t want to bone). Austin hit me in all the feels. He takes care of everyone and everything except himself and he doesn’t know how to stop. This man needs someone to tell him. To force him to rest. And to just take care of him.
There’s some minor suspense in this story as well, but the bulk of it is wrapped around the emotional and physical needs of these characters as they attempt to find a happily ever after.
![Profile Image for Aleksandra [semi hiatus].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1755513187i/65058031._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
Want to Read
January 22, 2026maybe
May 2, 2026
3.25 ⭐Thank you Clio Evans for the opportunity to ARC read this book.
I enjoy reading books by Evans, but this was not my favorite.
What I loved was a curvy FMC that was not 20 and the mix of men in the story. We have the nerdy doctor, the bad boy with tattoos and piercings, and the long time crush who is pretty much a good boy. Evans is good at writing spice and there is plenty of it in this story with all parties involved, sometimes at the same time.
Although, this was a fun read with a HEA, there was not much to the story in regards to a plot outside of the romance. There is nothing wrong with that, but I prefer a little more balance.
I enjoy reading books by Evans, but this was not my favorite.
What I loved was a curvy FMC that was not 20 and the mix of men in the story. We have the nerdy doctor, the bad boy with tattoos and piercings, and the long time crush who is pretty much a good boy. Evans is good at writing spice and there is plenty of it in this story with all parties involved, sometimes at the same time.
Although, this was a fun read with a HEA, there was not much to the story in regards to a plot outside of the romance. There is nothing wrong with that, but I prefer a little more balance.
February 25, 2026
I got to beta read Prickly Pair and yall ain’t ready! This is my favorite in the series for sure! Evie is so cute snd relatable. Matthew is a sexy nerd who is also a snappy dressing doctor (talk about swoon). Nick is a tattooed, mullet rocking brat with a dirty mouth and a heart of gold. Austin is babygirl. I will be taking no questions on that. Poor baby has been put THROUGH it but his devotion and tenderness was so sweet.
If you like kink, queer rep, the spiciest of spice, friends to lovers and rivals to lovers you’re going to love Prickly Pair.
If you like kink, queer rep, the spiciest of spice, friends to lovers and rivals to lovers you’re going to love Prickly Pair.
March 25, 2026
OK first of all, I have a massive complaint: we got WAY TOO LITTLE screen time of Lucky the Cat.
Justice for my man and his lil paws!
Now onto the book.
This has been my favorite in the Whynot series because I, too, am a chaotic bisexual with tattoos and piercings.
I loved the dynamic here with Austin, Evie, Matthew (Zadddyyyy) and Nick. It was also really lovely to see all the other characters and their progressions *shout out to my boy Mateo & girl Juni!* and it was just an all around great book. It's so important to see a normalization of queer stories in main stream media, built on more than pain and sadness.
Anyways, read this book. Adopt a black cat. Move to a small town and get three boyfriends who are also boyfriends.
Why not?
Justice for my man and his lil paws!
Now onto the book.
This has been my favorite in the Whynot series because I, too, am a chaotic bisexual with tattoos and piercings.
I loved the dynamic here with Austin, Evie, Matthew (Zadddyyyy) and Nick. It was also really lovely to see all the other characters and their progressions *shout out to my boy Mateo & girl Juni!* and it was just an all around great book. It's so important to see a normalization of queer stories in main stream media, built on more than pain and sadness.
Anyways, read this book. Adopt a black cat. Move to a small town and get three boyfriends who are also boyfriends.
Why not?
April 26, 2026
This didn't even pretend to have a plot and I support that 😂
🌶🌶🌶.5/5
🌶🌶🌶.5/5
August 5, 2026
i rly thought this one was gonna be my least fav but it turned out to be my fav!! i luv nick <3
March 30, 2026
“Do I need to be your water Dom, Evie?” (OMG I SWOOONN)
‼️If you want a book with sweet emotional vulnerability where the boyfriends are boyfriends with high heat, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!‼️
I am so sad to be leaving Whynot, Tx! This was a super spicy and sweet ending to a terrific series! I loved these characters all so much, I will say I definitely shed some tears reading those final pages! The Whynot series are interconnected standalones, but I think you need to read the first two because you meet several of these main characters and it helps with some context. This book really dives head first into relationship building and emotional vulnerability.
I love these characters and I love their relationship arcs. This book provides many moments of connections between various groupings. I adore the way that the relationships bloom differently, and at different paces, within the group. At the end of the day this was such a joy to relax into and read. I am so happy I finally got to read Evie’s ‘sexily ever after’!
What’s Inside
❤️ Small Town Contemp Romance
❤️ MMMF
❤️ Best Friend’s Brother
❤️ Cat Dad
❤️ One Night Stand
❤️ Hurt/Comfort
I plan to return soon to the town of Whynot (in the form of rereads) when I get my physical copies. Definitely ones that I would love to annotate!
This is the third book in the Whynot Series of interconnected standalones. While it can be read by itself it will really be best enjoyed after reading the first two books in the series.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you!
‼️If you want a book with sweet emotional vulnerability where the boyfriends are boyfriends with high heat, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!‼️
I am so sad to be leaving Whynot, Tx! This was a super spicy and sweet ending to a terrific series! I loved these characters all so much, I will say I definitely shed some tears reading those final pages! The Whynot series are interconnected standalones, but I think you need to read the first two because you meet several of these main characters and it helps with some context. This book really dives head first into relationship building and emotional vulnerability.
I love these characters and I love their relationship arcs. This book provides many moments of connections between various groupings. I adore the way that the relationships bloom differently, and at different paces, within the group. At the end of the day this was such a joy to relax into and read. I am so happy I finally got to read Evie’s ‘sexily ever after’!
What’s Inside
❤️ Small Town Contemp Romance
❤️ MMMF
❤️ Best Friend’s Brother
❤️ Cat Dad
❤️ One Night Stand
❤️ Hurt/Comfort
I plan to return soon to the town of Whynot (in the form of rereads) when I get my physical copies. Definitely ones that I would love to annotate!
This is the third book in the Whynot Series of interconnected standalones. While it can be read by itself it will really be best enjoyed after reading the first two books in the series.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you!
May 8, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
In this final book of the ‘Whynot’ series, we finally get to follow the story of the last member of the trio of inseparable friends that are Avery, June, and Evie, as well as the story of the eldest of the Whynot siblings, as their two stories are intrinsically linked.
Throughout the first two books in the series, it was impossible to miss the fact that Evie has had feelings for Austin Whynot for many years, but Austin was far too busy holding the Whynot family and the town named after them together. Even though her feelings for Austin have never left her, Evie can’t wait her whole life for him to decide to listen to his heart rather than his reason and his sense of duty to his family and fellow citizens.
After a disastrous date, Evie runs into Nick, who used to live in Whynot and held the unenviable title of Austin Whynot’s best enemy. One night together, and now Nick shows up two months later in Whynot with plans to build a spa and settle back into the town where he grew up, Evie never having left his mind for a single moment since they last saw each other.
Things seem to get complicated for Evie: she’ll never stop having feelings for Austin, but now his old enemy has come to town, and she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about him either since their night together. Add to all that her mutual attraction to Matthew, the charming town doctor, and Evie doesn’t know which way to look or where her heart lies. What if, in the end, the solution is simpler than expected? After all, living in the aptly named town of Whynot, why should she have to choose between these three men?
Needless to say, I really loved this book. I was really looking forward to seeing how things would play out between Evie and Austin, and I wasn’t disappointed to see Matthew and Nick added to the mix. After all, as the saying goes, “the more, the merrier”, and in this case, I think the four lovers would certainly agree with that expression.
Many thanks to Clio Evans for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of Prickly Pair. This review is my own. All opinions expressed are mine.
In this final book of the ‘Whynot’ series, we finally get to follow the story of the last member of the trio of inseparable friends that are Avery, June, and Evie, as well as the story of the eldest of the Whynot siblings, as their two stories are intrinsically linked.
Throughout the first two books in the series, it was impossible to miss the fact that Evie has had feelings for Austin Whynot for many years, but Austin was far too busy holding the Whynot family and the town named after them together. Even though her feelings for Austin have never left her, Evie can’t wait her whole life for him to decide to listen to his heart rather than his reason and his sense of duty to his family and fellow citizens.
After a disastrous date, Evie runs into Nick, who used to live in Whynot and held the unenviable title of Austin Whynot’s best enemy. One night together, and now Nick shows up two months later in Whynot with plans to build a spa and settle back into the town where he grew up, Evie never having left his mind for a single moment since they last saw each other.
Things seem to get complicated for Evie: she’ll never stop having feelings for Austin, but now his old enemy has come to town, and she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about him either since their night together. Add to all that her mutual attraction to Matthew, the charming town doctor, and Evie doesn’t know which way to look or where her heart lies. What if, in the end, the solution is simpler than expected? After all, living in the aptly named town of Whynot, why should she have to choose between these three men?
Needless to say, I really loved this book. I was really looking forward to seeing how things would play out between Evie and Austin, and I wasn’t disappointed to see Matthew and Nick added to the mix. After all, as the saying goes, “the more, the merrier”, and in this case, I think the four lovers would certainly agree with that expression.
Many thanks to Clio Evans for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of Prickly Pair. This review is my own. All opinions expressed are mine.
October 2, 2026
Title: Prickly Pair
Author: Clio Evans
Series: Whynot, 3
Format: KU ebook
Genre: Contemporary, romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV’s: Evie (FMC) & Austin, Matthew, and Nick (MMC’s)
What to expect:
*Why choose romance
*Rivals to Friends to Lovers
*Hurt / Comfort
Safety:
No OW/OM drama. No third act breakup.
Review:
This entire series was so good! I loved the characters and the openness to their relationships. If only real life was this accepting!!
Evie has had a crush on her best friend’s brother, Austin, since childhood. Austin was oblivious to her feelings until it was literally thrust in his face. Nick was Austin’s high school rival, simply because he was jealous of Austin’s close family relationship. Matthew is the local doctor that ends up treating and loving them all.
It took a minute for them to find their groove as a quad, but once they all realized what they wanted, the spice was spicing!! Scenes include MF, MM, MFMM, and even MMM. 🥵 Matthew was definitely my favorite character out of the four, but together they were all great!
Author: Clio Evans
Series: Whynot, 3
Format: KU ebook
Genre: Contemporary, romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV’s: Evie (FMC) & Austin, Matthew, and Nick (MMC’s)
What to expect:
*Why choose romance
*Rivals to Friends to Lovers
*Hurt / Comfort
Safety:
No OW/OM drama. No third act breakup.
Review:
This entire series was so good! I loved the characters and the openness to their relationships. If only real life was this accepting!!
Evie has had a crush on her best friend’s brother, Austin, since childhood. Austin was oblivious to her feelings until it was literally thrust in his face. Nick was Austin’s high school rival, simply because he was jealous of Austin’s close family relationship. Matthew is the local doctor that ends up treating and loving them all.
It took a minute for them to find their groove as a quad, but once they all realized what they wanted, the spice was spicing!! Scenes include MF, MM, MFMM, and even MMM. 🥵 Matthew was definitely my favorite character out of the four, but together they were all great!
April 12, 2026
I could tell pretty quickly that this book was going to be my fave of the series and it absolutely was!!
These four are honestly the most adorable people ever and I loved seeing them all fall in love!
I love all the communication!
Evie has always been honest with Avery about her feelings for her brother, the moment she realised that Matthew liked her back she asked him on a date but was also honest about how she felt for Austin and Nick!
There were no secrets and everyone knew where they stood the entire time!
Evie and Matthews first date was my absolute favourite, it was the cutest thing ever!!
In fact, everyones first one on one date nights were the cutest!
I’m so sad to leave all these characters from this series behind but I had the best time reading this and i loved every minute!
These four are honestly the most adorable people ever and I loved seeing them all fall in love!
I love all the communication!
Evie has always been honest with Avery about her feelings for her brother, the moment she realised that Matthew liked her back she asked him on a date but was also honest about how she felt for Austin and Nick!
There were no secrets and everyone knew where they stood the entire time!
Evie and Matthews first date was my absolute favourite, it was the cutest thing ever!!
In fact, everyones first one on one date nights were the cutest!
I’m so sad to leave all these characters from this series behind but I had the best time reading this and i loved every minute!
June 13, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
The Whynot Why not puns were SO overdone 😅 But the romance was very sweet. The "enemies to lovers" schtick befween Austin and Nick felt a little contrived because they're grown men being immature but it was still fun 😊 Matthew is hot and Evie is lucky and Lucky needed more scenes 😽 All in all, a decent solid why-choose.
The Whynot Why not puns were SO overdone 😅 But the romance was very sweet. The "enemies to lovers" schtick befween Austin and Nick felt a little contrived because they're grown men being immature but it was still fun 😊 Matthew is hot and Evie is lucky and Lucky needed more scenes 😽 All in all, a decent solid why-choose.
April 4, 2026
Lordy this book was good. I will be back once I’ve been able to formulate thoughts.
June 20, 2026
The book was pretty good! I didn't expect so much spice so it was a surprise but it was good. I teared up at Austin's emotions and how he felt and handled different situations because that's how I feel as well. Overall 4.2 ⭐️
August 27, 2026
This has been my favorite of this series. We love it when the boyfriends are also boyfriends! And we love some slutty little glasses.
October 12, 2026
A very spicy story! But loved how the relationship evolved!
April 22, 2026
My favourite of the trilogy! Loved all the characters and the excitement. Hot hot HOT!
April 4, 2026
I love it when the boyfriends are boyfriends
April 26, 2026
I loved this one just as much as the other two! Evie, Nick, Matthew, and Austin were just the perfect group together, and they were all honestly so cute. One of my favorite things about Clio Evans’ writing is how you can always feel how distinct each of her characters are. They all intertwine so well, especially with the rest of the crew from the Whynot series; it just makes the world feel so lived-in.
Honestly, the energy in this book is incredible and so spicy; it’s basically everything I never knew I needed. But what really got me was the mental health rep. It was amazing. Austin has seriously gone through it, and seeing him finally being taken care of by the others was exactly what he needed for their relationship. Ugh, just five stars all around! 🥹
Honestly, the energy in this book is incredible and so spicy; it’s basically everything I never knew I needed. But what really got me was the mental health rep. It was amazing. Austin has seriously gone through it, and seeing him finally being taken care of by the others was exactly what he needed for their relationship. Ugh, just five stars all around! 🥹
March 21, 2026
I have really enjoyed every book in Clio Evan’s charming little Why Not trilogy - what’s not to love about a small town where everyone is bisexual and polyamorous?! Frankly sounds like paradise.
Prickly Pair was another highly enjoyable read - super spicy with a big slice of kinky fun and a whole lot of heart. Each character felt fleshed out and vivid, with their own journeys and enough air time in POV chapters to do them justice. I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers vibe with Nick and Austin and the hurt/comfort trope. Matthew was such a gentle and grounding character and I loved seeing both Nick and Austin’s vulnerability as the story went on. Evie was a delight and it was really nice to see our favourite characters from Cactus Heart and Thorn Kiss again!
Prickly Pair is an ideal contemporary romance if you’re looking for an easy read that’s full of heart and packed with spicy scenes - and Clio really does do excellent spice! Would def recommend to anyone who loves a why choose where the boyfriends are boyfriends too ♥️
I received an ARC and am leaving a review voluntarily ♥️
Prickly Pair was another highly enjoyable read - super spicy with a big slice of kinky fun and a whole lot of heart. Each character felt fleshed out and vivid, with their own journeys and enough air time in POV chapters to do them justice. I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers vibe with Nick and Austin and the hurt/comfort trope. Matthew was such a gentle and grounding character and I loved seeing both Nick and Austin’s vulnerability as the story went on. Evie was a delight and it was really nice to see our favourite characters from Cactus Heart and Thorn Kiss again!
Prickly Pair is an ideal contemporary romance if you’re looking for an easy read that’s full of heart and packed with spicy scenes - and Clio really does do excellent spice! Would def recommend to anyone who loves a why choose where the boyfriends are boyfriends too ♥️
I received an ARC and am leaving a review voluntarily ♥️
August 16, 2026
This Books and storyline completely missed the romance, chemistry and connection the previous couples in books 1 & 2 had. This plot is way too fast paced and seems off from the beginning.
July 9, 2026
Not for me. I couldn’t get attached to any of the characters, except maybe Nick? I would have been happy with a 90 page novella about Nick and Austin. I found Evie tedious and selfish - especially related to Austin and his mental health - and Matthew was okay but super dull. The “plot” with Phil the debt collector fizzled into absolutely nothing noteworthy or exciting and the whole thing just dragged for me. The spicy scenes were boring because the characters just remained 2-dimensional for me. I should probably just accept that is probably not the author for me. The 2 stars are mostly for Nick and Nick’s cat, and the quote below. It went downhill after p. 14.
********
I tucked a blonde wave behind my ear. “Well, since we’re already talking about sex, what’s your favorite position?” Nick cleared his throat. “I should mention I didn’t take your date’s spot just because I want to have sex with you. I just saw you and couldn’t resist once I heard how he was speaking to you. But to answer your question . . .” He leaned forward, lowering his voice as he held my gaze. “My favorite is missionary. And before you get up and run away from me for saying something so vanilla, let me tell you why. I like looking into my partner's eyes. I love sucking their nipples as I fuck them. I love seeing their expression as they take all of me. I love being able to kiss them while their legs tighten around my hips and I can see their body shake beneath me as they come around my cock.” p. 14
********
I tucked a blonde wave behind my ear. “Well, since we’re already talking about sex, what’s your favorite position?” Nick cleared his throat. “I should mention I didn’t take your date’s spot just because I want to have sex with you. I just saw you and couldn’t resist once I heard how he was speaking to you. But to answer your question . . .” He leaned forward, lowering his voice as he held my gaze. “My favorite is missionary. And before you get up and run away from me for saying something so vanilla, let me tell you why. I like looking into my partner's eyes. I love sucking their nipples as I fuck them. I love seeing their expression as they take all of me. I love being able to kiss them while their legs tighten around my hips and I can see their body shake beneath me as they come around my cock.” p. 14
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2026
Genre - Small Town/Why Choose Romance
Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4
Spice - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Multiple POV
MMMF
Main Characters
> Evie - Owns “Whynot Treat Yourself” Bakery
> Nick Steele - Opening up a Resort in Whynot
> Matthew Jacobs - Doctor at the Local Hospital
> Austin Whynot (6’2) - Runs a Library/Owner of “Whynot Stay” Hotel/Head of the City Council
Side Characters
> Lucky - Nick’s Male Cat
> Avery Anne Whynot (5’4) - Painter/Owns a Art Studio/Mateo & Levi’s Partner/Evie’s Best Friend/Austin’s Younger Sister
> Levi Rayburn - Retired NFL Hockey Player turned Firefighter/Avery & Mateo’s Partner
> Mateo Jimenez - Firefighter/Avery & Levi’s Partner/Austin’s Best Friend
> June Moore (5’2) - Tattooed Florist/Owner of “Whynot Bloom”/Dallas & Madi’s Fiancée/Evie’s Best Friend
> Dallas Whynot - Mechanic/Owns a Garage/Volunteer Fireman/June & Madi’s Fiancée/Austin’s Younger Brother
> Madison “Madi” Fletcher - Animator/June & Dallas’ Fiancée
We’ve finally reached the end of the “Whynot” series 🥲 What a journey it has been for the Whynot siblings and their partners 😚 Thank you Clio for adding yet another series to my comfort reads 😂
I loved the dynamic of Evie, Nick, Matthew and Austin 😍 We got a bit of everything - rivals to lovers, second chance at love, long term crush 😘
I'm glad Evie was able to find her happy ending 😘 Having witnessed her 2 best friends Avery and June find their happiness with 2 people, it made her want to have that for herself. Who would have thought that a bad date would lead to her finding not 1, not 2, but 3 boyfriends. All made up of the men she's been dreaming about -the towns local doctor, her one night stand and the guy she's been trying to get over 😂
I fell in love with Nick's character 😌 He didn't have it easy growing up and because Austin had the family he always wanted, he took his rage out on him. After being abandoned by his mother at 16, he was left to fend for himself and because no-one wanted to help the "problem child", he had no choice but to live in his car for the remainder of the school year 😔 After finishing school, he decided to leave Whynot and start something new 😢
Considering everything he went through, he was still a positive person who wanted to help those in need. When Evie accidentally burnt herself, he and Austin put their hatred to the side (Well... as much as they could in that moment) and worked together to help serve the customers in her bakery so that she could go to the hospital with Matthew. When she was out of commission due to her injury, he made sure that her oven was fixed before she returned to work so that she wouldn't hurt herself again. He even went to help Austin with a roof repair, and they were still considered "rivals" at this point in the book 😚 It just showed us that he didn't let the past affect his present and because of this, he was able to find a family that welcomed him with open arms 🤗
My favourite moment of Nick's was when he went over to Austin's place to check on him and found him suffering from a burnout 😔 Seeing Austin in a venerable state, he decided that he wanted to be venerable with him and shared memories of his childhood that he'd never shared with anyone ☺️🥲
I saw it as the moment where they both finally waved their white flags and decided that they didn't want to hate each other anymore 😩🥹
I'm glad it was Nick that helped him in his time of need 🥹 Nothing against anyone else, I'm sure they all would have jumped in to help but it meant so much more coming from Nick. It made their moment of becoming a couple that more special 🥰
For all the things I'd been telling myself I hated about Nick, it was all hitting me now that I'd been wrong. They were all the things I loved about him.
His intelligence. His kindness. The way he would always jump into help. The way he pushed himself to grow. His resilience.
I had no idea what he'd gone through when we were younger, but he'd made himself into something. He'd gone and fought to succeed despite not having the support he deserved from loved ones. And god, I loved his cock. I loved the piercings. I loved his fucking mullet. Why was the mullet so hot?
This man had been the bane of my existence for so long. Enemies in high school, always fighting, always pushing each other. And then he'd shown back up in town, taking a piece of my home-and I was so fucking glad he did. I was happy.
Austin won the jackpot with Evie, Matthew and Nick 🥰 Without them, he never would've had the courage to open up and let people in 🫶🏼 He was the character that had the most character development and I've been rooting for him to find his HEA since the first moment we saw him in "Cactus Heart" 💞
My heart hurt for Matthew 😢 Finding out that his girlfriend of 3 years had died in a drunk driving accident 😔 And he thought that she was going to be the one he’d end up marrying 😭 Evie, Nick and Austin were the reasons as to why he wanted to try again after so many years of being alone 😩
”Have you dated anyone since?”
“I’ve had sex,” he said softly. “But I haven’t dated again, no.”
Our date was a big deal, then.
And it suddenly dawned on me why he wanted to be the one driving.
I blinked back the tears then reached over, sliding my hand over his thigh. I let it rest there, not really sure what else to say. “I’m sorry, Matthew”
I felt so lucky to be here with them. Lucky to have them in my life. How long had I wished to fall in love again?
Years.
For so many years, I’d been running from my past. Trying to heal from losing the woman I loved, so convinced that I would never care for another person again.
But then I met Evie. I met Austin. I met Nick.
The three of them had healed all the broken pieces inside me, and I had so much hope for what we could do together.
Dominant Matthew 🥵 I did not see that coming 🤭 I thought he was going to be the submissive one of the group but OHHHHH, I’m so glad I was wrong about this 😝 That MMM scene was the icing on the cake 💦 With Matthew and Nick taking Austin at the same time 💥🤩🫡🥵🫶🏼 and Evie “secretly” watching from behind the door 🤫 I loved every second of it 🤭
This story ends with a HEA for this Quad Couple 🥰
Triggers/Tropes
▫️69 (Nick & Austin)
▫️Anal
▫️BDSM
▫️Best Friend’s Older Brother/Younger Sister’s Best Friend (Evie & Austin)
▫️Bi MMC’s (All the MMC’s)
▫️Birth Control (FMC is on it)
▫️Blindfolds
▫️Bratty MMC (Nick)
▫️Burnout (Austin)
▫️Condoms/No Condoms
▫️Consensual Exchanged of Sexual Images (Between the MC's)
▫️Construction Accident due to Negligence
▫️Degradation (Austin likes being Degraded)
▫️Dept Collector
▫️Dom/Sub Dynamics (Dom - Matthew/Switch - Nick & Austin/Sub - Evie)
▫️Double Penetration (Oral/Vaginal)(Anal/Oral)
▫️Double Vaginal Penetration
▫️Frotting
▫️High School Rivals to Lovers (Nick & Austin)
▫️Kitchen Accident (Chapter 3 - Evie burns her arm and gets 2nd & 3rd degree burns)
▫️Light Daddy Kink (Nick & Matthew)
▫️Mentions of Parental Abandonment (Nick - His mother abandoned him when he was 16. He ended up living in his car as he became homeless. He never knew his father)
▫️Mentions of Loss of a Loved One (A few years ago, Matthews Girlfriend Amanda died in a drunk driving accident. She was the reason why he moved to Whynot)(Austin’s Father died of a heart attack 5 years ago)
▫️One Night Stand (2 Months Ago - Nick & Evie)
▫️MM/MMM Scenes
▫️No Cheating
▫️No Third Act Break Up
▫️No Virgins
▫️Oral
▫️Pierced Peen (Nick)
▫️Praise
▫️
▫️Restraints
▫️Rimming
▫️Sharing (Only between the MC’s)
▫️Small Town
▫️Solo/Groups Scenes
▫️Spanking
▫️Squirting
▫️Stalking (Not by the MC’s)
▫️Swords Cross ⚔️ (All the MMC’s get together)
▫️Triple Penetration
▫️Use of a Sex Bench
▫️Use of Toys (Paddle/Spreader Bar/Vibrator)
▫️Voyeurism
▫️Why Choose
Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4
Spice - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Multiple POV
MMMF
Main Characters
> Evie - Owns “Whynot Treat Yourself” Bakery
> Nick Steele - Opening up a Resort in Whynot
> Matthew Jacobs - Doctor at the Local Hospital
> Austin Whynot (6’2) - Runs a Library/Owner of “Whynot Stay” Hotel/Head of the City Council
Side Characters
> Lucky - Nick’s Male Cat
> Avery Anne Whynot (5’4) - Painter/Owns a Art Studio/Mateo & Levi’s Partner/Evie’s Best Friend/Austin’s Younger Sister
> Levi Rayburn - Retired NFL Hockey Player turned Firefighter/Avery & Mateo’s Partner
> Mateo Jimenez - Firefighter/Avery & Levi’s Partner/Austin’s Best Friend
> June Moore (5’2) - Tattooed Florist/Owner of “Whynot Bloom”/Dallas & Madi’s Fiancée/Evie’s Best Friend
> Dallas Whynot - Mechanic/Owns a Garage/Volunteer Fireman/June & Madi’s Fiancée/Austin’s Younger Brother
> Madison “Madi” Fletcher - Animator/June & Dallas’ Fiancée
We’ve finally reached the end of the “Whynot” series 🥲 What a journey it has been for the Whynot siblings and their partners 😚 Thank you Clio for adding yet another series to my comfort reads 😂
I loved the dynamic of Evie, Nick, Matthew and Austin 😍 We got a bit of everything - rivals to lovers, second chance at love, long term crush 😘
I'm glad Evie was able to find her happy ending 😘 Having witnessed her 2 best friends Avery and June find their happiness with 2 people, it made her want to have that for herself. Who would have thought that a bad date would lead to her finding not 1, not 2, but 3 boyfriends. All made up of the men she's been dreaming about -the towns local doctor, her one night stand and the guy she's been trying to get over 😂
I fell in love with Nick's character 😌 He didn't have it easy growing up and because Austin had the family he always wanted, he took his rage out on him. After being abandoned by his mother at 16, he was left to fend for himself and because no-one wanted to help the "problem child", he had no choice but to live in his car for the remainder of the school year 😔 After finishing school, he decided to leave Whynot and start something new 😢
Considering everything he went through, he was still a positive person who wanted to help those in need. When Evie accidentally burnt herself, he and Austin put their hatred to the side (Well... as much as they could in that moment) and worked together to help serve the customers in her bakery so that she could go to the hospital with Matthew. When she was out of commission due to her injury, he made sure that her oven was fixed before she returned to work so that she wouldn't hurt herself again. He even went to help Austin with a roof repair, and they were still considered "rivals" at this point in the book 😚 It just showed us that he didn't let the past affect his present and because of this, he was able to find a family that welcomed him with open arms 🤗
My favourite moment of Nick's was when he went over to Austin's place to check on him and found him suffering from a burnout 😔 Seeing Austin in a venerable state, he decided that he wanted to be venerable with him and shared memories of his childhood that he'd never shared with anyone ☺️🥲
I saw it as the moment where they both finally waved their white flags and decided that they didn't want to hate each other anymore 😩🥹
I'm glad it was Nick that helped him in his time of need 🥹 Nothing against anyone else, I'm sure they all would have jumped in to help but it meant so much more coming from Nick. It made their moment of becoming a couple that more special 🥰
For all the things I'd been telling myself I hated about Nick, it was all hitting me now that I'd been wrong. They were all the things I loved about him.
His intelligence. His kindness. The way he would always jump into help. The way he pushed himself to grow. His resilience.
I had no idea what he'd gone through when we were younger, but he'd made himself into something. He'd gone and fought to succeed despite not having the support he deserved from loved ones. And god, I loved his cock. I loved the piercings. I loved his fucking mullet. Why was the mullet so hot?
This man had been the bane of my existence for so long. Enemies in high school, always fighting, always pushing each other. And then he'd shown back up in town, taking a piece of my home-and I was so fucking glad he did. I was happy.
Austin won the jackpot with Evie, Matthew and Nick 🥰 Without them, he never would've had the courage to open up and let people in 🫶🏼 He was the character that had the most character development and I've been rooting for him to find his HEA since the first moment we saw him in "Cactus Heart" 💞
My heart hurt for Matthew 😢 Finding out that his girlfriend of 3 years had died in a drunk driving accident 😔 And he thought that she was going to be the one he’d end up marrying 😭 Evie, Nick and Austin were the reasons as to why he wanted to try again after so many years of being alone 😩
”Have you dated anyone since?”
“I’ve had sex,” he said softly. “But I haven’t dated again, no.”
Our date was a big deal, then.
And it suddenly dawned on me why he wanted to be the one driving.
I blinked back the tears then reached over, sliding my hand over his thigh. I let it rest there, not really sure what else to say. “I’m sorry, Matthew”
I felt so lucky to be here with them. Lucky to have them in my life. How long had I wished to fall in love again?
Years.
For so many years, I’d been running from my past. Trying to heal from losing the woman I loved, so convinced that I would never care for another person again.
But then I met Evie. I met Austin. I met Nick.
The three of them had healed all the broken pieces inside me, and I had so much hope for what we could do together.
Dominant Matthew 🥵 I did not see that coming 🤭 I thought he was going to be the submissive one of the group but OHHHHH, I’m so glad I was wrong about this 😝 That MMM scene was the icing on the cake 💦 With Matthew and Nick taking Austin at the same time 💥🤩🫡🥵🫶🏼 and Evie “secretly” watching from behind the door 🤫 I loved every second of it 🤭
This story ends with a HEA for this Quad Couple 🥰
Triggers/Tropes
▫️69 (Nick & Austin)
▫️Anal
▫️BDSM
▫️Best Friend’s Older Brother/Younger Sister’s Best Friend (Evie & Austin)
▫️Bi MMC’s (All the MMC’s)
▫️Birth Control (FMC is on it)
▫️Blindfolds
▫️Bratty MMC (Nick)
▫️Burnout (Austin)
▫️Condoms/No Condoms
▫️Consensual Exchanged of Sexual Images (Between the MC's)
▫️Construction Accident due to Negligence
▫️Degradation (Austin likes being Degraded)
▫️Dept Collector
▫️Dom/Sub Dynamics (Dom - Matthew/Switch - Nick & Austin/Sub - Evie)
▫️Double Penetration (Oral/Vaginal)(Anal/Oral)
▫️Double Vaginal Penetration
▫️Frotting
▫️High School Rivals to Lovers (Nick & Austin)
▫️Kitchen Accident (Chapter 3 - Evie burns her arm and gets 2nd & 3rd degree burns)
▫️Light Daddy Kink (Nick & Matthew)
▫️Mentions of Parental Abandonment (Nick - His mother abandoned him when he was 16. He ended up living in his car as he became homeless. He never knew his father)
▫️Mentions of Loss of a Loved One (A few years ago, Matthews Girlfriend Amanda died in a drunk driving accident. She was the reason why he moved to Whynot)(Austin’s Father died of a heart attack 5 years ago)
▫️One Night Stand (2 Months Ago - Nick & Evie)
▫️MM/MMM Scenes
▫️No Cheating
▫️No Third Act Break Up
▫️No Virgins
▫️Oral
▫️Pierced Peen (Nick)
▫️Praise
▫️
▫️Restraints
▫️Rimming
▫️Sharing (Only between the MC’s)
▫️Small Town
▫️Solo/Groups Scenes
▫️Spanking
▫️Squirting
▫️Stalking (Not by the MC’s)
▫️Swords Cross ⚔️ (All the MMC’s get together)
▫️Triple Penetration
▫️Use of a Sex Bench
▫️Use of Toys (Paddle/Spreader Bar/Vibrator)
▫️Voyeurism
▫️Why Choose
April 15, 2026
Spice rating: 5
I recommend this book to fans of poly relationships and cozy and kinky small town romance.
This is going to be a long one so buckle up!
This is the last book in the Whynot series and while it can be read as a standalone. That being said, I strongly recommend reading the first two books. It will give you a complete look at Austin’s arc. The characters from the first two books are in this but the author does a great job catching you up on who they are and their connections to each other.
I ate this book up! It's been a while since I stayed up late to finish a book because I couldn't put it down and was so invested in the characters.The book is composed of four main characters: Evie, Nick, Mathew and Austin. Each character brings something to their poly quad that makes it work.
I LOVED Nick. If that man was real I would want to be his friend or lover (if I was also single in this world). When he said start the clock. I knew he was going to be my favorite. Once he showed up to Whynot and started giving Austin a hard time, I knew he was going to be my favorite kind of chaos. He is also a Cat Daddy. Then tell me he is also a Switch, I was done and down for Nick.
Mathew was the softness and the supportive rock all three of his partners needed. As the town doc he is naturally protective and caring for all his partners. Wasn't surprised he liked to be dominant. It was a good contrast to how sweet and gentle he is outside of the bedroom.
Evie, what can I say, I had been waiting for her story for a while and was ready. Loved that she was up for a good time and was confident. She is described as curvy and full figured and I loved that her weight was never a negative or a weird fetish. She was just the center of their world.
When it came to Austin I was ready to see this man break. He was a tight rope ready to snap. Finding out he also had established feelings for Evie was a great touch. Having him be more of a submissive in the bedroom was right on point for his character too.
I honestly loved how this poly-quad came to be. They each get their time with Evie and with the other partners. From one night stands, to dating, to finally giving in to the feelings that have been there all along it was chefs kiss. I enjoyed seeing the relationship with Nick and Austin develop because they were dislike to lovers. I think having two of Austin's partners be new to Whynot was perfect for him. I liked that there was a good mix of dominant and submissive. Also, experience levels were a good mix. Even though the book didn't go too in detail, I appreciated that the characters discussed safewords, limits, boundaries and list of kinks and where each one stood on them.
Also, I have to mention how much I loved that we had a “water dom”, a “cat daddy” , men that whimpered, daddy kink between the MMCs and consent kings.
I know this book was about four people but for me this was so much about Austin finally grieving and accepting help. His story arc from book one to the end of this book was great. I was waiting to find out how he would snap after being pulled in so many directions and putting so much stress on himself and I think this book did a great job of depicting it. I feel like functioning depression can be hard to depict but I saw it and I felt it with Austin’s story.
Having Nick, the outsider, be the one to pull him out of it was a great touch because he is the only one who knew him before Austin’s dad died. He hadn't lived in the town since high school and he never needed anything from Austin even then.
I loved the epilogues and seeing all the Whynots and their partners happy with their own little families with both human and fur babies. What I absolutely loved was that June and her partners didn't have kids. Emphasizing that HEA doesn't have to include children and family looks like however you want it to.
Overall, I loved this book. It's probably my favorite in the series. Would recommend over and over gain.
I recommend this book to fans of poly relationships and cozy and kinky small town romance.
This is going to be a long one so buckle up!
This is the last book in the Whynot series and while it can be read as a standalone. That being said, I strongly recommend reading the first two books. It will give you a complete look at Austin’s arc. The characters from the first two books are in this but the author does a great job catching you up on who they are and their connections to each other.
I ate this book up! It's been a while since I stayed up late to finish a book because I couldn't put it down and was so invested in the characters.The book is composed of four main characters: Evie, Nick, Mathew and Austin. Each character brings something to their poly quad that makes it work.
I LOVED Nick. If that man was real I would want to be his friend or lover (if I was also single in this world). When he said start the clock. I knew he was going to be my favorite. Once he showed up to Whynot and started giving Austin a hard time, I knew he was going to be my favorite kind of chaos. He is also a Cat Daddy. Then tell me he is also a Switch, I was done and down for Nick.
Mathew was the softness and the supportive rock all three of his partners needed. As the town doc he is naturally protective and caring for all his partners. Wasn't surprised he liked to be dominant. It was a good contrast to how sweet and gentle he is outside of the bedroom.
Evie, what can I say, I had been waiting for her story for a while and was ready. Loved that she was up for a good time and was confident. She is described as curvy and full figured and I loved that her weight was never a negative or a weird fetish. She was just the center of their world.
When it came to Austin I was ready to see this man break. He was a tight rope ready to snap. Finding out he also had established feelings for Evie was a great touch. Having him be more of a submissive in the bedroom was right on point for his character too.
I honestly loved how this poly-quad came to be. They each get their time with Evie and with the other partners. From one night stands, to dating, to finally giving in to the feelings that have been there all along it was chefs kiss. I enjoyed seeing the relationship with Nick and Austin develop because they were dislike to lovers. I think having two of Austin's partners be new to Whynot was perfect for him. I liked that there was a good mix of dominant and submissive. Also, experience levels were a good mix. Even though the book didn't go too in detail, I appreciated that the characters discussed safewords, limits, boundaries and list of kinks and where each one stood on them.
Also, I have to mention how much I loved that we had a “water dom”, a “cat daddy” , men that whimpered, daddy kink between the MMCs and consent kings.
I know this book was about four people but for me this was so much about Austin finally grieving and accepting help. His story arc from book one to the end of this book was great. I was waiting to find out how he would snap after being pulled in so many directions and putting so much stress on himself and I think this book did a great job of depicting it. I feel like functioning depression can be hard to depict but I saw it and I felt it with Austin’s story.
Having Nick, the outsider, be the one to pull him out of it was a great touch because he is the only one who knew him before Austin’s dad died. He hadn't lived in the town since high school and he never needed anything from Austin even then.
I loved the epilogues and seeing all the Whynots and their partners happy with their own little families with both human and fur babies. What I absolutely loved was that June and her partners didn't have kids. Emphasizing that HEA doesn't have to include children and family looks like however you want it to.
Overall, I loved this book. It's probably my favorite in the series. Would recommend over and over gain.
October 14, 2026
Hot Take: this was the best out of all 3, but still just kind of meh. I actually appreciated Austin’s mental health journey the most. I very much related to his plight. I guess I loved all the characters separately, but found their dialogue when together just super hallmarky and cliche. I dunno. It was ok. I’m unsure I’ll read anything else by this author and it seems like there isn’t really anywhere else for this story to go, so I guess I’m done?
Main Characters: Evie Austin Matthew Nick
Spice level: 3/5
1st kiss: There were so many combinations and all of them happened but they’re all highlighted. (Except Matthew was always a top. And Austin was only a bottom (Nick switched)
1st actual sex scene: Same
Recap: In the small town of Whynot, Texas, Evie owns a bakery called Whynot Treat Yourself and has harbored unrequited feelings for Austin Whynot, her best friend's older brother, for nearly a decade.
Two months before the main story begins, Evie has a one-night stand with Nick Steele, Austin's high school rival, after he rescues her from a terrible date. Their chemistry is electric, but Evie leaves without giving him her number. When Nick unexpectedly returns to Whynot to build a resort, their paths cross again at Evie's bakery, where Austin also appears, creating immediate tension.
After Evie suffers a burn injury, Matthew, the local doctor who has had a crush on her since moving to town, treats her and asks her on a date. Evie finds herself attracted to all three men and begins exploring relationships with them simultaneously.
Matthew and Nick quickly develop feelings for each other as well, and the three begin a polyamorous relationship involving threesomes and emotional intimacy. Austin initially resists his feelings for Evie, burdened by responsibilities he took on after his father's death five years ago, including managing the family hotel, hidden debts, and various town maintenance tasks. He struggles with burnout and unprocessed grief while secretly harboring attraction to both Evie and Matthew. When Austin finally confesses his feelings to Evie, she admits she's already involved with Nick and Matthew, but Austin joins their relationship anyway. Meanwhile, a suspicious man named Phil claiming to be a debt collector begins harassing Evie and asking questions about the Whynot family, creating additional stress for the group.
The polyamorous relationship deepens as all four partners navigate their complex dynamics. Austin and Nick, despite years of rivalry stemming from Nick's difficult childhood and jealousy of Austin's stable family life, finally acknowledge their mutual attraction and have sex after Nick finds Austin in a depressive episode. Nick helps Austin schedule therapy and organize his overwhelming responsibilities, marking a turning point in their relationship. Matthew takes on a dominant role in their sexual encounters, orchestrating scenes that bring all four together and helping everyone explore their desires. The group confronts Phil when he appears at Austin's hotel, and Austin realizes Phil is running a scam targeting families after a loved one's death, not a legitimate debt collector. After Austin punches Phil and police arrest him, Austin experiences relief and reduced resentment toward his deceased father. He calls a meeting where he declares his love for Nick, Matthew, and Evie, and they all commit to forever together. Two years later, the four are thriving:
Nick's resort has opened successfully, Austin has hired help and let Nick manage his finances, and they've met each other's families. Evie is pregnant with their second child while their daughter Charlotte plays with her cousins, and the town of Whynot has grown significantly while maintaining its close-knit community, with their core friendships and the original Main Street businesses remaining constant reminders of where their journey began.
Main Characters: Evie Austin Matthew Nick
Spice level: 3/5
1st kiss: There were so many combinations and all of them happened but they’re all highlighted. (Except Matthew was always a top. And Austin was only a bottom (Nick switched)
1st actual sex scene: Same
Recap: In the small town of Whynot, Texas, Evie owns a bakery called Whynot Treat Yourself and has harbored unrequited feelings for Austin Whynot, her best friend's older brother, for nearly a decade.
Two months before the main story begins, Evie has a one-night stand with Nick Steele, Austin's high school rival, after he rescues her from a terrible date. Their chemistry is electric, but Evie leaves without giving him her number. When Nick unexpectedly returns to Whynot to build a resort, their paths cross again at Evie's bakery, where Austin also appears, creating immediate tension.
After Evie suffers a burn injury, Matthew, the local doctor who has had a crush on her since moving to town, treats her and asks her on a date. Evie finds herself attracted to all three men and begins exploring relationships with them simultaneously.
Matthew and Nick quickly develop feelings for each other as well, and the three begin a polyamorous relationship involving threesomes and emotional intimacy. Austin initially resists his feelings for Evie, burdened by responsibilities he took on after his father's death five years ago, including managing the family hotel, hidden debts, and various town maintenance tasks. He struggles with burnout and unprocessed grief while secretly harboring attraction to both Evie and Matthew. When Austin finally confesses his feelings to Evie, she admits she's already involved with Nick and Matthew, but Austin joins their relationship anyway. Meanwhile, a suspicious man named Phil claiming to be a debt collector begins harassing Evie and asking questions about the Whynot family, creating additional stress for the group.
The polyamorous relationship deepens as all four partners navigate their complex dynamics. Austin and Nick, despite years of rivalry stemming from Nick's difficult childhood and jealousy of Austin's stable family life, finally acknowledge their mutual attraction and have sex after Nick finds Austin in a depressive episode. Nick helps Austin schedule therapy and organize his overwhelming responsibilities, marking a turning point in their relationship. Matthew takes on a dominant role in their sexual encounters, orchestrating scenes that bring all four together and helping everyone explore their desires. The group confronts Phil when he appears at Austin's hotel, and Austin realizes Phil is running a scam targeting families after a loved one's death, not a legitimate debt collector. After Austin punches Phil and police arrest him, Austin experiences relief and reduced resentment toward his deceased father. He calls a meeting where he declares his love for Nick, Matthew, and Evie, and they all commit to forever together. Two years later, the four are thriving:
Nick's resort has opened successfully, Austin has hired help and let Nick manage his finances, and they've met each other's families. Evie is pregnant with their second child while their daughter Charlotte plays with her cousins, and the town of Whynot has grown significantly while maintaining its close-knit community, with their core friendships and the original Main Street businesses remaining constant reminders of where their journey began.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a fun mix of wholesome and super-smutty (hello, smexy times in the first chapters) this turned out to be! I am still reeling over how flawlessly Clio managed to integrate the four of them without sacrificing any of their personalities or passions, which I’ve found other books often struggle with when you start adding more than two people to a relationship. All four of them were strong characters with sturdy foundations both morally and in the “have their lives together” sense so no one had to grow a backbone or seemed like an add-on, and I loved that. There were, of course, flaws and issues that needed to be resolved with each of them (done SO well), they weren’t “perfect” separately or together, there was still conflict, but the way that it was handled felt more realistic to me? But not in a “ugh, I read for escape and this is too real” way, because I was very much invested and it was a beautiful escape from the real world for several hours.
Each character was wonderfully fleshed out; I didn’t feel like any one character was more important than the other. And I enjoyed the supporting characters enough that I really want to go back and read their stories now too. The town dynamic was also intriguing and made me want to go back and read more. I love when small-town romances enmesh actual small-town living, with NPCs so to speak, that are very involved without actually needing to be involved-involved. Its not just a quirky trope the author tacked on, but a crucial setting piece to their story, and Clio did that really well.
I can’t talk too much more about the intimacy/smutty portions (which were phenomenal, even the kinks that weren’t my thing) or the characters without giving things away, and I’m trying to be more spoiler free in my ARC reviews, lol. But I *really* loved the tension between Nick and Austin, and the way that things comes together hit so many good buttons for me. (Chapter 38 was my favorite!) Their dynamic together and their dynamic with the others were so satisfying. Honestly the way all four had different dynamics with each other was incredibly satisfying and I found myself wanting to be a fly on the wall of all the date combinations — Clio could probably write a whole nother book about just the different combinations both in and out of the bedroom, with maybe some bonus material about how they interact with the big friend group, and I would eat that right up!
Which ties into my only real criticism of the book — the ending (after everything is resolved and they have their “they live happily ever after, the end” moment), it wasn’t formatted like a proper epilogue, so the time skips were a little confusing, but they were also a bit lackluster. They felt more like little teases. There was one that felt particularly teasing, with the ribbon… I wanted the unwrapping scene lmao. We got so many other incredible group scenes though, the spice was 100% spicin’ as Clio Evans’ books always do, so I should be happy with what we got but ugh, it sounded so good!! Clio set it up perfectly, I wanted to see that particular set of dominoes fall.
Anyway, this was a really fun and steamy read, and I def recommend it for WhyChoose fans that love when “TAF” (they all f***).
Thank you to the author, Clio, and their team, for the honor of reviewing an early copy!
(PS this is less to do with reviewing the ARC and more to do with my own personal tastes and notes, but I think Clio Evans has gotten a LOT better about content notes, which I really appreciate. I read some earlier material and felt woefully unprepared for what was involved and while it wasn’t triggering, it was uncomfy. The last few things I’ve read for them, this included, felt much more thorough and thoughtful. I thought it was worth mentioning here because I love to see when authors grow.)
Each character was wonderfully fleshed out; I didn’t feel like any one character was more important than the other. And I enjoyed the supporting characters enough that I really want to go back and read their stories now too. The town dynamic was also intriguing and made me want to go back and read more. I love when small-town romances enmesh actual small-town living, with NPCs so to speak, that are very involved without actually needing to be involved-involved. Its not just a quirky trope the author tacked on, but a crucial setting piece to their story, and Clio did that really well.
I can’t talk too much more about the intimacy/smutty portions (which were phenomenal, even the kinks that weren’t my thing) or the characters without giving things away, and I’m trying to be more spoiler free in my ARC reviews, lol. But I *really* loved the tension between Nick and Austin, and the way that things comes together hit so many good buttons for me. (Chapter 38 was my favorite!) Their dynamic together and their dynamic with the others were so satisfying. Honestly the way all four had different dynamics with each other was incredibly satisfying and I found myself wanting to be a fly on the wall of all the date combinations — Clio could probably write a whole nother book about just the different combinations both in and out of the bedroom, with maybe some bonus material about how they interact with the big friend group, and I would eat that right up!
Which ties into my only real criticism of the book — the ending (after everything is resolved and they have their “they live happily ever after, the end” moment), it wasn’t formatted like a proper epilogue, so the time skips were a little confusing, but they were also a bit lackluster. They felt more like little teases. There was one that felt particularly teasing, with the ribbon… I wanted the unwrapping scene lmao. We got so many other incredible group scenes though, the spice was 100% spicin’ as Clio Evans’ books always do, so I should be happy with what we got but ugh, it sounded so good!! Clio set it up perfectly, I wanted to see that particular set of dominoes fall.
Anyway, this was a really fun and steamy read, and I def recommend it for WhyChoose fans that love when “TAF” (they all f***).
Thank you to the author, Clio, and their team, for the honor of reviewing an early copy!
(PS this is less to do with reviewing the ARC and more to do with my own personal tastes and notes, but I think Clio Evans has gotten a LOT better about content notes, which I really appreciate. I read some earlier material and felt woefully unprepared for what was involved and while it wasn’t triggering, it was uncomfy. The last few things I’ve read for them, this included, felt much more thorough and thoughtful. I thought it was worth mentioning here because I love to see when authors grow.)
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