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If the World Was Ending
Hunter Law and Colby Keaton had no idea they’d rock each other’s world harder than the earthquake that brought them together.
Colby Keaton is doing fine. Sure, his parents ignore him, he’s gone no-contact with his siblings, and he plays shows that mostly pay him in drink tickets, but he’s trying. And he’s doing it without anyone's help. But when the Santa Ana winds drop a tree on his home/van, Colby finds himself leaning on someone for the first time in almost a decade —and it’s a hot stranger he met during an earthquake.
Hunter Law is desperate – to manage his anxiety, impress his girlfriend, and land a role —any acting role. Then maybe everyone will stop thinking he’s throwing his life away. But success is nowhere in sight. The only person who understands his blind ambition is Colby, the guy he met in an earthquake and later pulled out of a crushed van.
When nothing is going their way, and everyone wants them to give up, Colby and Hunter lean on each other and build each other up. Their friendship is unexpected but intense, and when it turns into best-friends-with-benefits, neither knows how to stop it… because neither wants to stop it.
But big breaks come with big sacrifices and as both climb toward stardom, their private bond becomes a dangerous liability. Studios, labels, managers and tabloid culture insist on classic, straight images for both of them. The truth is simple — Hunter and Colby just have to let each other go and they’ll have everything they ever dreamed of.
If the World Was Ending is a bi-awkening MM Hollywood love story about the wild and heartwarming journey two men take when the world refuses to accept them together, but fate doesn’t care.
Colby Keaton is doing fine. Sure, his parents ignore him, he’s gone no-contact with his siblings, and he plays shows that mostly pay him in drink tickets, but he’s trying. And he’s doing it without anyone's help. But when the Santa Ana winds drop a tree on his home/van, Colby finds himself leaning on someone for the first time in almost a decade —and it’s a hot stranger he met during an earthquake.
Hunter Law is desperate – to manage his anxiety, impress his girlfriend, and land a role —any acting role. Then maybe everyone will stop thinking he’s throwing his life away. But success is nowhere in sight. The only person who understands his blind ambition is Colby, the guy he met in an earthquake and later pulled out of a crushed van.
When nothing is going their way, and everyone wants them to give up, Colby and Hunter lean on each other and build each other up. Their friendship is unexpected but intense, and when it turns into best-friends-with-benefits, neither knows how to stop it… because neither wants to stop it.
But big breaks come with big sacrifices and as both climb toward stardom, their private bond becomes a dangerous liability. Studios, labels, managers and tabloid culture insist on classic, straight images for both of them. The truth is simple — Hunter and Colby just have to let each other go and they’ll have everything they ever dreamed of.
If the World Was Ending is a bi-awkening MM Hollywood love story about the wild and heartwarming journey two men take when the world refuses to accept them together, but fate doesn’t care.
526 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2026
About the author
Victoria Denault
35 books845 followersSign up for Victoria's monthly newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cexOL9
Salty author of spicy romance.
Victoria Denault loves ocean air, seventies music, strong heroines and flawed heroes. She is a former journalist, stand-up comic and corporate marketing minion. Victoria is a Canadian and former Californian who currently lives in a 225 year-old house with her husband, their Chihuahua Maximus and more spiders than she cares to think about.
Salty author of spicy romance.
Victoria Denault loves ocean air, seventies music, strong heroines and flawed heroes. She is a former journalist, stand-up comic and corporate marketing minion. Victoria is a Canadian and former Californian who currently lives in a 225 year-old house with her husband, their Chihuahua Maximus and more spiders than she cares to think about.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 25, 2026
If the World Was Ending by Victoria Denault is an excellent story bookended by LA earthquakes that are nothing in comparison to the earthquakes going on in the main characters’ lives.
Colby and Hunter, strangers, find themselves thrust together in the men’s room of Trader Joe’s hiding in safety as an earthquake hits LA. This meet-cute is followed by another chance encounter: Colby is living in his van, and it’s parked coincidentally in the road outside Hunter’s apartment when a tree limb falls on it and nearly crushes him. Hunter gets him out of the van, tends to his wounds, and lets him crash on the couch.
Hunter is an actor who can’t get anything other than bit parts. Colby is a musician with an angelic voice and gig work keeping him living in his van… which was just totalled. The two become quick best friends as Colby lives in Hunter’s parking space in the crushed van… and eventually in Hunter’s apartment after his girlfriend Leandra cheats on him and moves out.
There is an attraction between Colby and Hunter, but the obstacles are huge. Colby’s brother forcibly outed him at 16, so he doesn’t want his family to have the satisfaction of being right about his sexuality. Hunter had a small sexual experience with a guy back in high school, so while he sort of assumes he is bisexual, he has really only been with women until he starts hooking up with Colby.
Then their stars start to climb. Hunter gets a role in a small picture that ends up being a hit and his career takes off. Colby ends up in a band that is getting rave reviews on tour and critical acclaim for his songwriting.
But the obstacles continue: homophobic Hollywood doesn’t want Colby or Hunter to be out. When they are seen too close or being too friendly, they are warned by their agents to stay away from each other. But by now, they have fallen in love. To preserve their careers, however, they have to try to stay apart. And they are mostly successful...
Will these guys ever get to BE in love with each other without constantly worrying about being found out? There is a hard-fought and hard-won happily ever after waiting for you at the end of this story. Thank goodness. The author put these guys through it!
There are many side characters - too many for me to keep track of - but that doesn't harm the story at all, in fact, they serve to advance the storyline in a believable way. Let's face it: these guys become stars and they are surrounded by people, so it's necessary. The most important side characters would be Hannah, a recording artist Colby has to fake date to keep his label happy, and Mikayla, Hunter's co-star and fake girlfriend. Colby's and Hunter's families serve to advance big plot points, and the characters are developed just enough that their presence is welcome.
If the World Was Ending is an awesome read. 4/5 stars!
Colby and Hunter, strangers, find themselves thrust together in the men’s room of Trader Joe’s hiding in safety as an earthquake hits LA. This meet-cute is followed by another chance encounter: Colby is living in his van, and it’s parked coincidentally in the road outside Hunter’s apartment when a tree limb falls on it and nearly crushes him. Hunter gets him out of the van, tends to his wounds, and lets him crash on the couch.
Hunter is an actor who can’t get anything other than bit parts. Colby is a musician with an angelic voice and gig work keeping him living in his van… which was just totalled. The two become quick best friends as Colby lives in Hunter’s parking space in the crushed van… and eventually in Hunter’s apartment after his girlfriend Leandra cheats on him and moves out.
There is an attraction between Colby and Hunter, but the obstacles are huge. Colby’s brother forcibly outed him at 16, so he doesn’t want his family to have the satisfaction of being right about his sexuality. Hunter had a small sexual experience with a guy back in high school, so while he sort of assumes he is bisexual, he has really only been with women until he starts hooking up with Colby.
Then their stars start to climb. Hunter gets a role in a small picture that ends up being a hit and his career takes off. Colby ends up in a band that is getting rave reviews on tour and critical acclaim for his songwriting.
But the obstacles continue: homophobic Hollywood doesn’t want Colby or Hunter to be out. When they are seen too close or being too friendly, they are warned by their agents to stay away from each other. But by now, they have fallen in love. To preserve their careers, however, they have to try to stay apart. And they are mostly successful...
Will these guys ever get to BE in love with each other without constantly worrying about being found out? There is a hard-fought and hard-won happily ever after waiting for you at the end of this story. Thank goodness. The author put these guys through it!
There are many side characters - too many for me to keep track of - but that doesn't harm the story at all, in fact, they serve to advance the storyline in a believable way. Let's face it: these guys become stars and they are surrounded by people, so it's necessary. The most important side characters would be Hannah, a recording artist Colby has to fake date to keep his label happy, and Mikayla, Hunter's co-star and fake girlfriend. Colby's and Hunter's families serve to advance big plot points, and the characters are developed just enough that their presence is welcome.
If the World Was Ending is an awesome read. 4/5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If the World Was Ending was an engaging and entertaining read that kept me locked in from the beginning.
When an earthquake hits LA, Colby and Hunter find themselves hunkering down in the bathroom at Trader Joe's creating one of the more interesting meet cutes I've read in some time! They don't anticipate they will ever cross paths again, however fate has another idea when Colby parks his camper van in front of Hunter's apartment unknowingly and then a tree falls on the van and Hunter helps him to safety and tells him he can crash on the couch.
Colby is a musician who is trying to make ends meet and get his big break at the same time. He's been living in his now totaled van while chasing his dream. Hunter is a an actor that has not been able to book anything but small parts and his girlfriend is slowly losing patience with him. Colby and Hunter strike up a friendship immediately and eventually Hunter's girlfriend cheats on him and she moves out, allowing Colby to move in for good.
It is obvious that Colby and Hunter are attracted to one another, but the obstacles they need to overcome are incredible given their vocations and family pressures just to name a couple. As both of them begin to have success in their careers, it becomes obvious that it is going to be anything but easy if they want to try to be together. They are warned by their agents that even their friendship is causing issues. Will they listen to counsel or is the pull between them strong enough they won't be able to fight it?
Colby and Hunter fight hard for everything they have both in the personal and professional lives. I appreciated the women in their lives who were allies to them and lent them counsel when needed. I enjoyed being in the world of Colby and Hunter was was happy to see how they made it even with all of the unsteady ground they had to traverse to get there!
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
When an earthquake hits LA, Colby and Hunter find themselves hunkering down in the bathroom at Trader Joe's creating one of the more interesting meet cutes I've read in some time! They don't anticipate they will ever cross paths again, however fate has another idea when Colby parks his camper van in front of Hunter's apartment unknowingly and then a tree falls on the van and Hunter helps him to safety and tells him he can crash on the couch.
Colby is a musician who is trying to make ends meet and get his big break at the same time. He's been living in his now totaled van while chasing his dream. Hunter is a an actor that has not been able to book anything but small parts and his girlfriend is slowly losing patience with him. Colby and Hunter strike up a friendship immediately and eventually Hunter's girlfriend cheats on him and she moves out, allowing Colby to move in for good.
It is obvious that Colby and Hunter are attracted to one another, but the obstacles they need to overcome are incredible given their vocations and family pressures just to name a couple. As both of them begin to have success in their careers, it becomes obvious that it is going to be anything but easy if they want to try to be together. They are warned by their agents that even their friendship is causing issues. Will they listen to counsel or is the pull between them strong enough they won't be able to fight it?
Colby and Hunter fight hard for everything they have both in the personal and professional lives. I appreciated the women in their lives who were allies to them and lent them counsel when needed. I enjoyed being in the world of Colby and Hunter was was happy to see how they made it even with all of the unsteady ground they had to traverse to get there!
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
Review of advance copy received from Author
If the World Was Ending by Victoria Denault hit me in the best way possible. It follows Colby, a struggling musician doing everything on his own after cutting ties with his family, and Hunter, an actor fighting crippling anxiety and pressure to make it big. When a literal earthquake and a fallen tree throw them together, their connection is immediate and intense. Watching their dynamic shift from a solid, grounding friendship into a best-friends-with-benefits situation felt so natural, and the emotional support they offer each other while navigating their individual struggles made their bond incredibly easy to root for.
What really drew me in was the tension between their private connection and the brutal reality of their ambitions. As both of their careers take off, they are met with the harsh demands of the entertainment industry—where managers, labels, and media push for picture-perfect, traditional images. The dilemma of having to choose between the huge dreams they’ve chased for years and the one person who truly gets them gives the story a constant, emotional pull. Victoria Denault did a fantastic job balancing the heat, the real-world obstacles, and the genuine heart behind Hunter and Colby's relationship.
What really drew me in was the tension between their private connection and the brutal reality of their ambitions. As both of their careers take off, they are met with the harsh demands of the entertainment industry—where managers, labels, and media push for picture-perfect, traditional images. The dilemma of having to choose between the huge dreams they’ve chased for years and the one person who truly gets them gives the story a constant, emotional pull. Victoria Denault did a fantastic job balancing the heat, the real-world obstacles, and the genuine heart behind Hunter and Colby's relationship.
Review of advance copy received from Author
An aspiring actor and rockstar meet in a grocery store bathroom during an earthquake. It sounds like a bad joke but it's the first scene of Victoria Denault's new m/m romance. If the World Was Ending is funny, romantic, tragic, sexy and gives you all the feels as we follow Hunter and Colby through the launch of their careers. Written from both POVs and with Denault's reader-grabbing-style, we feel the ups and downs of life, finding what's important and the unfairness of the industries they choose. Their story is beautifully written and proof that love can start and continue to grow with friendship. I don't know if this will be a stand-alone or the beginning of a new series but I fell in love with these characters. As always, I love and appreciate the 'Canadiana' that the author includes, everything from beavers to food and sports teams. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to review this book and give it a 5 star rating.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Once again Victoria has written a gorgeous MM romance. This one had so much pining and yearning... I about expired with all the pent up tension. Hunter and Colby were the sweetest couple though and their journey to a HEA had me hooked throughout. As ever the writing was super easy to read and all the characters, including all the side characters, were interesting and added to the story rather than distracting from it.
I will happily read anything this author writes and the fact this one comes in at 450 pages made me happy because that's just more good stuff to read!
I will happily read anything this author writes and the fact this one comes in at 450 pages made me happy because that's just more good stuff to read!
August 5, 2026
This book was something special. I loved every second of this journey we got to go on with Hunter and Colby. Even the parts that hurt. Victoria Denaul's writing was next level in this book. there were tears there were laughs. There was so much good yearning and pining. This is the story of a struggling actor, Hunter, and a struggling musician, Colby, who meet with a little help from an earthquake and fate. It's a strangers to best friends to so much more than lovers. And the writing allows you to feel every beautiful moment with them. One of the best boooks I've read this year.
August 5, 2026
I received an advanced copy of If The World Was Ending from1852 Media and the author. If The World Was Ending by Victoria Denault delivers a tender and emotional second chance romance with that mix of nostalgia and heartache. Their history feels heavy in all the right ways. They have soft moments between them that really shine. The chemistry, the emotions, and the reconnection feels earned. Overall, four stars from me.
August 13, 2026
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.
I think this may be my favorite Victoria Denault book ever!
Both Colby and Hunter were well rounded characters and I felt so enamored by them both from the jump. We got to see so much of their individual stories without feeling like it was a sacrifice to the story of them as a couple.
I truly was cheering on both MMCs and wishing for a better world for them. It was a romance that had great plot and great spice! 10 outta 10! 🙌🏻
I think this may be my favorite Victoria Denault book ever!
Both Colby and Hunter were well rounded characters and I felt so enamored by them both from the jump. We got to see so much of their individual stories without feeling like it was a sacrifice to the story of them as a couple.
I truly was cheering on both MMCs and wishing for a better world for them. It was a romance that had great plot and great spice! 10 outta 10! 🙌🏻
Did Not Finish
August 12, 2026i really hope i can revisit this one day, but at the moment, the family illness was just not for me. (i used ctrl+f to find all instances of it, and it seems kind of prolific!)
once i'm in a different mood. :)
once i'm in a different mood. :)
August 16, 2026
Loved it! I was at times getting a little itty bitty inklings of what felt like the two actors in an extremely popular hockey show but that’s probably just an indicator I’ve consumed too much social media. Regardless it’s an excellent love story! Hunter and Colby 4 Eva.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I freaking love this book so damn much.
August 5, 2026
The story line is original and the characters are extremely likable. This is a very touching, sweet romance! And the ending…perfect!
August 7, 2026
Everything this author writes is absolute magic! This book is no different at all. From the very first page I wasn't able to put it down.
The characters were amazing!
Phenomenal!!
5+ stars
The characters were amazing!
Phenomenal!!
5+ stars
August 11, 2026
The honesty woven throughout this MM love story made it all the more powerful and hard-hitting. I was deeply moved by and invested in Colby and Hunter romance. I enjoyed it from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews