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Loving You #1
Innamorato di Jay
Una cosa che Liam Turner sa per certo è di non essere gay. Dopotutto, suo padre ha detto molto chiaramente che non permette a nessuno dei suoi figli di esserlo.
E Liam ne è convinto fino a quando un incontro con James "Jay" Bell capovolge il suo mondo.
Jay è vivace e non si vergogna di essere gay, dalle punte dei suoi capelli decolorati alle estremità delle sue unghie laccate. Il suo gusto per la moda, le reazioni eccessive e l'incapacità di trattenere la sua diarrea verbale, portano Liam a credere che possa avere qualche rotella fuori posto.
Un incidente da adolescente ha lasciato Liam con un problema alla gamba e con la paura di guidare. Non ha più nemmeno potuto giocare a football, cosa che lo ha fatto sentire ancora meno uomo.
Ma c'è un altro motivo per cui ora mette in dubbio la sua sessualità...
Quando lo stare con Jay gli stimola un inaspettato istinto di protezione, Liam comincia a capire che tutto ciò che ha fatto nella vita è restare nascosto.
Si ritrova a fronteggiare intolleranza e conflitti, e deve imparare a superare le proprie paure prima di poter accettare la propria sessualità e di essere davvero innamorato di Jay.
E Liam ne è convinto fino a quando un incontro con James "Jay" Bell capovolge il suo mondo.
Jay è vivace e non si vergogna di essere gay, dalle punte dei suoi capelli decolorati alle estremità delle sue unghie laccate. Il suo gusto per la moda, le reazioni eccessive e l'incapacità di trattenere la sua diarrea verbale, portano Liam a credere che possa avere qualche rotella fuori posto.
Un incidente da adolescente ha lasciato Liam con un problema alla gamba e con la paura di guidare. Non ha più nemmeno potuto giocare a football, cosa che lo ha fatto sentire ancora meno uomo.
Ma c'è un altro motivo per cui ora mette in dubbio la sua sessualità...
Quando lo stare con Jay gli stimola un inaspettato istinto di protezione, Liam comincia a capire che tutto ciò che ha fatto nella vita è restare nascosto.
Si ritrova a fronteggiare intolleranza e conflitti, e deve imparare a superare le proprie paure prima di poter accettare la propria sessualità e di essere davvero innamorato di Jay.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2014
88 people are currently reading
1826 people want to read
About the author
Renae Kaye
30 books878 followersRenae Kaye is a lover and hoarder of books who thinks libraries are devilish places because they make you give the books back. She consumed her first adult romance book at the tender age of thirteen and hasn’t stopped since. After years – and thousands of stories! – of not having book characters do what she wants, she decided she would write her own novel and found the characters still didn’t do what she wanted. She believes that the world is too complicated for her, so she loses herself in stories. The only thing that keeps her going are her children who are the delight of her life.
Renae lives in Perth, Western Australia. She is a survivor of being the youngest in a large family and believes that laughter (and a good book) can cure anything. Which is why it's a pity laughter is sometimes scarce on the ground.
You can contact her at renaekaye@iinet.net.au.
Renae lives in Perth, Western Australia. She is a survivor of being the youngest in a large family and believes that laughter (and a good book) can cure anything. Which is why it's a pity laughter is sometimes scarce on the ground.
You can contact her at renaekaye@iinet.net.au.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 653 reviews
January 30, 2015
4.5 stars
After all the fuss I raised, I am happy to report that I really enjoyed this book. It's an out-for-you, first-love kind of story with two well-rounded (and seriously adorable) MCs.
Liam, 24, has several plates and screws in one of his legs, and is quite self-conscious about his injury. He's been with men and women, but has never had a great sexual experience. Even as he's crushing on Jay, the young, cute, flamboyant guy he sees on the train every day, Liam tells himself he's not gay, NOT gay, no way is he gay.
Jay (aka, Jamie) lit up the pages. He's high-maintenance, rambles a mile a minute, wears sparkly eye liner, and has an entire room dedicated to clothes and body products. Yes, Jay is a queen and proud of it.
Liam and Jay begin as friends, bonding over coffee (Jay's order is a skinny cafe mocha with half a sugar), but after Liam comes to Jay's rescue, their friendship deepens to love. Liam is scared of his father finding out about his relationship with Jay, but once Liam accidentally outs himself at a family dinner, he doesn't pull away from his boyfriend.
Liam isn't just gay for Jay; he's gay period, but Jay helps him discover why his past sexual trysts were unsatisfying. I loved this scene of discovery. It was sensual and sexy as hell!
I liked how patient Jay was with Liam, and how protective Liam was of Jay. Liam was there for Jay when Jay needed him, and the two, while very much ying and yang, got on really well together, in and out of the bedroom.
However, I would have liked to see more on-page interaction between the MCs once their relationship was more established. We are told that they had dinner or went to market, but we don't experience this firsthand. More steam on the page would have been nice also.
The secondary characters in this book were great. Jay's boisterous family adored Jay and welcomed Liam with open arms. Liam's four brothers (and their respective wives/girlfriends) were also accepting of Liam being with Jay, as was Liam's mom. Liam's dad...well, he wasn't so embracing of Liam being gay, and he said some horrible things, but he wasn't painted as an evil villain. He still loved his son.
My main niggle here was the archaic depiction of gender roles, which stretched to include same-sex relationships. Jay was billed as the "girl," the weaker, "pretty" one, while Liam was the rock, the "man." Liam's brothers, while supportive, still ribbed him about the "gay thing." This made me a little uncomfortable, and I'm curious to see if others notice the same thing.
The ending was a little abrupt, but I would still put it in a HEA category. The things Jay and Liam say to each other at the buck party (Australian term, and I love it!) made me so happy.
Recommended for an easy, light, fun read, if not for Jay alone!
Updated to add:
Apparently the one-star rating was posted in error and the reviewer has deleted the rating, which is totally awesome. All's well that ends well. :)
Posted April 13:
Why does this book have a one-star rating, huh? Where's the review?
Seriously, if you're going to give a new author (or any author, really) a one-star rating before the publication date, tell us WHY. If you've already read the book, it means you got an ARC, so be fair and write a review. And if you haven't read the book, why the hell are you rating it at all?
I have the ARC but haven't yet read the book. I want to go into it with an open mind, and I don't appreciate fuckwatts who attempt and ruin it for me.
I, for one, love the cover, and the premise sounds intriguing.
After all the fuss I raised, I am happy to report that I really enjoyed this book. It's an out-for-you, first-love kind of story with two well-rounded (and seriously adorable) MCs.
Liam, 24, has several plates and screws in one of his legs, and is quite self-conscious about his injury. He's been with men and women, but has never had a great sexual experience. Even as he's crushing on Jay, the young, cute, flamboyant guy he sees on the train every day, Liam tells himself he's not gay, NOT gay, no way is he gay.
Jay (aka, Jamie) lit up the pages. He's high-maintenance, rambles a mile a minute, wears sparkly eye liner, and has an entire room dedicated to clothes and body products. Yes, Jay is a queen and proud of it.
Liam and Jay begin as friends, bonding over coffee (Jay's order is a skinny cafe mocha with half a sugar), but after Liam comes to Jay's rescue, their friendship deepens to love. Liam is scared of his father finding out about his relationship with Jay, but once Liam accidentally outs himself at a family dinner, he doesn't pull away from his boyfriend.
Liam isn't just gay for Jay; he's gay period, but Jay helps him discover why his past sexual trysts were unsatisfying. I loved this scene of discovery. It was sensual and sexy as hell!
I liked how patient Jay was with Liam, and how protective Liam was of Jay. Liam was there for Jay when Jay needed him, and the two, while very much ying and yang, got on really well together, in and out of the bedroom.
However, I would have liked to see more on-page interaction between the MCs once their relationship was more established. We are told that they had dinner or went to market, but we don't experience this firsthand. More steam on the page would have been nice also.
The secondary characters in this book were great. Jay's boisterous family adored Jay and welcomed Liam with open arms. Liam's four brothers (and their respective wives/girlfriends) were also accepting of Liam being with Jay, as was Liam's mom. Liam's dad...well, he wasn't so embracing of Liam being gay, and he said some horrible things, but he wasn't painted as an evil villain. He still loved his son.
My main niggle here was the archaic depiction of gender roles, which stretched to include same-sex relationships. Jay was billed as the "girl," the weaker, "pretty" one, while Liam was the rock, the "man." Liam's brothers, while supportive, still ribbed him about the "gay thing." This made me a little uncomfortable, and I'm curious to see if others notice the same thing.
The ending was a little abrupt, but I would still put it in a HEA category. The things Jay and Liam say to each other at the buck party (Australian term, and I love it!) made me so happy.
Recommended for an easy, light, fun read, if not for Jay alone!
Updated to add:
Apparently the one-star rating was posted in error and the reviewer has deleted the rating, which is totally awesome. All's well that ends well. :)
Posted April 13:
Why does this book have a one-star rating, huh? Where's the review?
Seriously, if you're going to give a new author (or any author, really) a one-star rating before the publication date, tell us WHY. If you've already read the book, it means you got an ARC, so be fair and write a review. And if you haven't read the book, why the hell are you rating it at all?
I have the ARC but haven't yet read the book. I want to go into it with an open mind, and I don't appreciate fuckwatts who attempt and ruin it for me.
I, for one, love the cover, and the premise sounds intriguing.
May 7, 2014
I GIVE THIS ALL THE STARS!
I loved everything about this book. No seriously, every last bit! It was just so… so… charming.
We first meet Liam at the train station where he’s missed his train and he’s upset, not because he will be late for work but because he won’t be able to see the beautiful blonde he’s been fascinated with for the past few weeks. Not that he’s gay or anything. Nope. Not gay.
“My dad would kill me, so I can’t be gay.”
It was heartbreaking to read passages like that in this book. I really felt for Liam and wanted to cuddle him close when he made comments like that. What he was going through hit close to home. You see, I recently watched my own child go through the anguish of coming out as transgender. I watched my sweet baby, whom I love more than my own life start to withdraw from her friends and family. Her grades started slipping in school and she seemed so depressed that I was afraid she was on the verge of suicide. It turns out she just felt she was living a lie and was not comfortable in her own skin and she was so afraid of telling me what was going on. So, I got where Liam was coming from. I could see echos of my own child’s fear in Liam. So when he finally came to terms with who he really is I was overjoyed.
“Then I came to a sudden realization. I’m so gay.”
What I liked most about this book is that everything seemed so real. Like reading a story about my neighbor or cousin or friend. Neither of the MCs had fancy or exciting jobs. Neither of them were rich, nor were they orphans or savants. They were just two everyday ordinary people who were in actuality, extraordinary. Well, maybe just Liam. Jay is nothing near ordinary. But he wasn’t over the top either. I’ve known people in real life who were a bit like Jay. What Jay has is flair. He has such a big heart too. And lets not forget his infinite patience.
I think this may be the first time I truly was able to see and more importantly, understand how hard it can be for someone to come out. I will never really completely understand what it is like because I am not gay but, due to the exemplary writing in this book I am able to comprehend quite a bit more about what goes on in the mind of a gay man on the verge of a life altering decision such as this. My heart was breaking for Liam yet at the same time I was cheering him on whenever he reached a new milestone. I have to say, I fell quite a bit in love with him and I pretty much see him as a hero. True bravery is recognizing your fears, accepting them and reaching beyond them. True heroism is being able to be true to yourself, seeing your flaws for what they are and pushing yourself to be the best you can possibly be despite, or sometimes even because of those flaws. This is Liam. This is why I love him.
“You really are a hero, aren’t you?”
Yes, he really, truly is.
Even though I got caught up in all the feels in this book, it still came across as a light, fun read. The silliness and the snark were a delight to read and both Jay and Liam just charmed the pants right off me. I had a big, silly grin on my face through most of the book and I kept letting out smoopy sighs as I watched these two on their journey from friends to lovers to partners. They were perfectly imperfect and I fell in love with both of them, almost from page one.
Renae Kaye, you are on my radar now. I eagerly await your next work. You are going to go far, I can see it. Brava!
March 22, 2016
Review written March 21, 2016
3.7 Stars - Heartwarming, charming fun and very sweet
Loving Jay has a lot of happy reviews and I'm a bit ashamed because I got this book as a Christmas gift already 2014 (from my nice Norwegian friend Marte). At some point my friend Karen (5 stars) said: "Read it when you need something that's going to make you smile and feel good. It'll totally do the job."
...Great advice. I needed that today
I knew after just a few pages Loving Jay should be a terrific read. Hilarious funny characters light-hearted and romantic sweet.
*********************************************
« One thing Liam Turner knows for sure is that he's not gay—after all, his father makes it very clear he’ll allow no son of his to be gay. And Liam believes it, until a chance meeting with James “Jay” Bell turns Liam’s world upside-down. »
I like so much about Loving Jay as ...
• Liam's most used thought to start with was: “I'm not gay.”. No, you aren't? Haha, convince me. (Trustworthy!) • Jay is a simply adorable flamboyant, talkative and beautiful shining gay man. Need characters like him more often in my M/M books. (Sparkling!) • The relationship stuff isn't rushed. This is not another quickly developed 'insta' romance even if there are attraction and feelings from start. First we get friendship and then you have to patiently wait for that first lovely romantic kiss. (50% then.. = my style!) • Loving Jay is set in Perth, Australia. Yes, that's true... Interesting and a new place for me. (Plus points!) • Theses guys are living in a city suburb and actually go by train to work early every morning. (Recognition!)
“Babe, I think I'm gay.”
I enjoyed, giggled and laughed. I got that warm and joyful feeling in my heart reading this. Loving Jay is a perfect "be happy for the moment" read. — Hopefully not my last adventure in Australia, this might be my first, but not last romance by Renae Kaye.
*********************************************
I LIKE - sweet reads
****
Better late than never Marte. Time for you to read it as well?
3.7 Stars - Heartwarming, charming fun and very sweet
Loving Jay has a lot of happy reviews and I'm a bit ashamed because I got this book as a Christmas gift already 2014 (from my nice Norwegian friend Marte). At some point my friend Karen (5 stars) said: "Read it when you need something that's going to make you smile and feel good. It'll totally do the job."
...Great advice. I needed that today
I knew after just a few pages Loving Jay should be a terrific read. Hilarious funny characters light-hearted and romantic sweet.
*********************************************
« One thing Liam Turner knows for sure is that he's not gay—after all, his father makes it very clear he’ll allow no son of his to be gay. And Liam believes it, until a chance meeting with James “Jay” Bell turns Liam’s world upside-down. »
I like so much about Loving Jay as ...
• Liam's most used thought to start with was: “I'm not gay.”. No, you aren't? Haha, convince me. (Trustworthy!) • Jay is a simply adorable flamboyant, talkative and beautiful shining gay man. Need characters like him more often in my M/M books. (Sparkling!) • The relationship stuff isn't rushed. This is not another quickly developed 'insta' romance even if there are attraction and feelings from start. First we get friendship and then you have to patiently wait for that first lovely romantic kiss. (50% then.. = my style!) • Loving Jay is set in Perth, Australia. Yes, that's true... Interesting and a new place for me. (Plus points!) • Theses guys are living in a city suburb and actually go by train to work early every morning. (Recognition!)
“... Oh my Gawd! Does that offend you? Am I allowed to say you are beautiful? Because I hate to be sexist and only say women are beautiful and men are handsome. That’s so mean, isn’t it? Because I’ve known a lot of handsome women who I wouldn’t call beautiful. And there are men who—”
“Jay!”
“Huh?”
“Off track or something, are you?”
“What?”
I happily smiled at him. ...’
“Babe, I think I'm gay.”
I enjoyed, giggled and laughed. I got that warm and joyful feeling in my heart reading this. Loving Jay is a perfect "be happy for the moment" read. — Hopefully not my last adventure in Australia, this might be my first, but not last romance by Renae Kaye.
*********************************************
I LIKE - sweet reads
****
Better late than never Marte. Time for you to read it as well?
Read
January 20, 2018DNF 21%. I tried to keep reading, but something has been bothering me since the beginning, and I can't stop cringing, thinking about this :
"His voice had given me the shivers for days. It was definitely masculine but with a hint of high pitch in it. Like a pubescent boy getting used to his broken voice. The voice was kind and soft and with a hint of fem in it as he exclaimed, "Oh. My. Gawd!" at whatever the granny was saying."
Ugh. Am I the only one to feel the creeps at this sentence? How comes a pubescent boy voice sounds sexy to a twenty-something guy? I'm sorry, I realize (given all the high reviews) that what bothers me probably doesn't make anyone else think twice but all these references about how immature Jay looks like make me uncomfortable. And I'm not even talking about the ridiculous amount of man, dude, Oh. My. Gawd and Liam's annoying and repetitive inner thoughts.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
"His voice had given me the shivers for days. It was definitely masculine but with a hint of high pitch in it. Like a pubescent boy getting used to his broken voice. The voice was kind and soft and with a hint of fem in it as he exclaimed, "Oh. My. Gawd!" at whatever the granny was saying."
Ugh. Am I the only one to feel the creeps at this sentence? How comes a pubescent boy voice sounds sexy to a twenty-something guy? I'm sorry, I realize (given all the high reviews) that what bothers me probably doesn't make anyone else think twice but all these references about how immature Jay looks like make me uncomfortable. And I'm not even talking about the ridiculous amount of man, dude, Oh. My. Gawd and Liam's annoying and repetitive inner thoughts.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
May 25, 2014
I wasn't sure about this book, but Dani said give it a go, and then Lexi read it at the same time, so I figured this is a sign I should read it.
As I've said before. I can not read anything heavy, sad or angsty at the moment. I want sweet and funny and cute.
This was perfect.
Liam isn't gay, he says that a lot, repeatedly. But...there is this guy on his train every morning....but he isn't gay...yeah right.
Jay, well he is a colorful, energetic and very gay guy.
I loved Jay, I loved Liam's inner dialog, he's funny and his thoughts are entertaining and had me smiling.
The families are crazy but good, it has a bit of serious but not too much.
I will definitely keep an eye out for more from this author.
As I've said before. I can not read anything heavy, sad or angsty at the moment. I want sweet and funny and cute.
This was perfect.
Liam isn't gay, he says that a lot, repeatedly. But...there is this guy on his train every morning....but he isn't gay...yeah right.
Jay, well he is a colorful, energetic and very gay guy.
I loved Jay, I loved Liam's inner dialog, he's funny and his thoughts are entertaining and had me smiling.
The families are crazy but good, it has a bit of serious but not too much.
I will definitely keep an eye out for more from this author.
September 3, 2016
I freakin' loved this book! When I first started Loving Jay by Renae Kaye, it could've gone either way. It started off a bit shaky for me because it was only told from one character's POV, Liam's. I am a big stickler for having a dual POV! Liam, who at the beginning of the story is questioning his sexuality. He's experimented with both men and women and is unsure if he's gay or bi. He's grown up listening to his father make prejudice comments about homosexuality and is afraid to admit he could be gay. Then he meets Jay. Jay is flamboyant and has never been in the closet a day in his life. Liam has been crushing on Jay but been to afraid to make a move. After Liam misses the train one morning, the two strike up a friendship.
Reading their friendship develop was pure delight. As I mentioned earlier, this story is only told from Liam's POV. I thought it would bother me but as I read- I realized that was the way it needed to be told. This story was about HIM coming to terms with his sexuality. This story had a great set of characters. I fell in love with Liam and Jay but also with their families. It was funny, sweet, emotional, and sexy. It was really well written- can't say that enough. This is one of my top reads for 2014, one of for my reread pile, and one I definitely recommend!
May 18, 2014
4.5 stars rounded up.
This book was just plain fun, light enough to be a good choice for after a heartbreaking angsty read, but with enough emotion and substance to not be just fluff. It seems to be a first book, and if so, I look forward to seeing more from this author.
Liam, the narrator, is one of five brothers in a household led by an old-school sports-focused father, and a loving and somewhat family-obsessed mother. He's had a few dates, one recent girlfriend who married someone else, and only a tepid interest in either romance or sex. His assumption is that he hasn't met the right girl, because he can't be gay. He even tried gay sex a couple of times, didn't like it that much... And his dad will not accept a gay son. So Liam isn't gay.
But for weeks now, he's been watching this guy on the train to work. He nicknamed the guy Jay, and Liam's fascinated with Jay's unabashed flaming style, the makeup, nail-polish, fashion choices and mannerisms, and just the whole way Jay presents himself to the world. In his feminine-touched masculinity, Jay draws Liam's eye and interest over and over. Then one day, they both miss the train...
Jay is a fun character, managing to be flashy and talkative but sweet and not just a stereotype. Liam is engaging to watch as he finally has a real reason to take a closer look at who he is and what he wants. The families are interesting, varied and a vital part of the story. One of my favorite scenes is when Liam meets Jay's sister for the first time. The secondary characters drive much of the progression of the story, as the guys find being together easy, but being out to everyone less so.
There are a few things that made this slightly less than five stars for me. There is a fantasy-sex imagination scene at the beginning that comes out of nowhere, has no real function, is too detailed for where Liam is mentally at that moment and really could have been reduced to four sentences and been far more effective as a measure of how Liam is becoming attracted. But it's easy enough to skim over. Liam sometimes is just a bit too good to be true in handling the stress and interactions with other people, particularly strangers. He has some excellent lines, but I felt it was just a bit of a stretch for him to manage emotional situations so well from the new position he found himself in.
But those are minor niggles, in a story I otherwise really enjoyed, especially for a first book. This is a fast, fun, easy read. There are no deep angsty moments here, but there are times of emotion that are strong enough to give it some weight. I became attached to the MCs and cheered for their relationship to find its HEA.
This book was just plain fun, light enough to be a good choice for after a heartbreaking angsty read, but with enough emotion and substance to not be just fluff. It seems to be a first book, and if so, I look forward to seeing more from this author.
Liam, the narrator, is one of five brothers in a household led by an old-school sports-focused father, and a loving and somewhat family-obsessed mother. He's had a few dates, one recent girlfriend who married someone else, and only a tepid interest in either romance or sex. His assumption is that he hasn't met the right girl, because he can't be gay. He even tried gay sex a couple of times, didn't like it that much... And his dad will not accept a gay son. So Liam isn't gay.
But for weeks now, he's been watching this guy on the train to work. He nicknamed the guy Jay, and Liam's fascinated with Jay's unabashed flaming style, the makeup, nail-polish, fashion choices and mannerisms, and just the whole way Jay presents himself to the world. In his feminine-touched masculinity, Jay draws Liam's eye and interest over and over. Then one day, they both miss the train...
Jay is a fun character, managing to be flashy and talkative but sweet and not just a stereotype. Liam is engaging to watch as he finally has a real reason to take a closer look at who he is and what he wants. The families are interesting, varied and a vital part of the story. One of my favorite scenes is when Liam meets Jay's sister for the first time. The secondary characters drive much of the progression of the story, as the guys find being together easy, but being out to everyone less so.
There are a few things that made this slightly less than five stars for me. There is a fantasy-sex imagination scene at the beginning that comes out of nowhere, has no real function, is too detailed for where Liam is mentally at that moment and really could have been reduced to four sentences and been far more effective as a measure of how Liam is becoming attracted. But it's easy enough to skim over. Liam sometimes is just a bit too good to be true in handling the stress and interactions with other people, particularly strangers. He has some excellent lines, but I felt it was just a bit of a stretch for him to manage emotional situations so well from the new position he found himself in.
But those are minor niggles, in a story I otherwise really enjoyed, especially for a first book. This is a fast, fun, easy read. There are no deep angsty moments here, but there are times of emotion that are strong enough to give it some weight. I became attached to the MCs and cheered for their relationship to find its HEA.
December 11, 2014
Renae Kaye is a new-to-me author -- and I think Loving Jay is her debut.
To be honest, I have become weary with new authors so I decided to wait for some reviews. I saw a couple of reviews that mentioned "archaic depiction of gender roles" from Dani and "gender roles seemed very pronounced in the book" from Meep, and someone brought up Glitterland (which wasn't really an endorsement since I thought that book was just 'okay'). So I didn't immediately jump it. However, reviews seem to be in positive side and after awhile I decided to give it a go.
Well, I thought it was quite wonderful!!
Yes, I did notice the strong depiction of gender roles: Liam who was more 'manly' took a role as the hero, the protector, while Jay who was more femme and pretty and likes his beautiful things, was the 'damsel in distress'; even the role in the bedroom, because Liam is considered too dominant to enjoy anal sex as the catcher. I also noted the constant repetitive denial on Liam's part, thinking that "I am not gay", "Would that make me gay", "Not that I am gay", and so on. Usually these things would grate on my nerves ... but somehow in this story, it didn't.
Or, maybe I was in a good mood *lol*
But seriously, I though maybe because despite those, Liam and Jay had a lovely chemistry. Also, despite Liam's constant denial, he didn't really back down or trying to hide Jay as a secret. Liam acknowledged his feeling towards Jay ... when Liam thought that he would have to choose between his 'old-school' father and Jay, he said something that made me proud of him...
So all in all, the story did have clichés and didn't really challenge stereotypes -- however, it was also charming, it was light (including on sex *lol*), it wasn't too angsty, and it was downright enjoyable.
Sometimes, it is ALL that matters
To be honest, I have become weary with new authors so I decided to wait for some reviews. I saw a couple of reviews that mentioned "archaic depiction of gender roles" from Dani and "gender roles seemed very pronounced in the book" from Meep, and someone brought up Glitterland (which wasn't really an endorsement since I thought that book was just 'okay'). So I didn't immediately jump it. However, reviews seem to be in positive side and after awhile I decided to give it a go.
Well, I thought it was quite wonderful!!
Yes, I did notice the strong depiction of gender roles: Liam who was more 'manly' took a role as the hero, the protector, while Jay who was more femme and pretty and likes his beautiful things, was the 'damsel in distress'; even the role in the bedroom, because Liam is considered too dominant to enjoy anal sex as the catcher. I also noted the constant repetitive denial on Liam's part, thinking that "I am not gay", "Would that make me gay", "Not that I am gay", and so on. Usually these things would grate on my nerves ... but somehow in this story, it didn't.
Or, maybe I was in a good mood *lol*
But seriously, I though maybe because despite those, Liam and Jay had a lovely chemistry. Also, despite Liam's constant denial, he didn't really back down or trying to hide Jay as a secret. Liam acknowledged his feeling towards Jay ... when Liam thought that he would have to choose between his 'old-school' father and Jay, he said something that made me proud of him...
And at the end of the day, if it came down to giving up Jay or giving up Dad, I wanted Jay in my future. Dad had been in my life for twenty-four years; it was Jay’s turn for the next twenty-four—or hopefully sixty-four.
So all in all, the story did have clichés and didn't really challenge stereotypes -- however, it was also charming, it was light (including on sex *lol*), it wasn't too angsty, and it was downright enjoyable.
Sometimes, it is ALL that matters
June 20, 2014
4--Sweet--Stars!!
So sweet this one was! It just made me smile. It was low angst, low drama and had some steamy moments. The perfect feel good read.
Liam is NOT gay. Not gay. I repeat, NOT GAY!
Liam travels by train to work every day, as does "Jay". Liam watches Jay from afar. Admires his beauty. His clothing choices. His makeup. His femininity.
But let me remind you about Liam.
Liam doesn't really know what he is. He knows he's attracted to Jay. He's been with woman in the past, men in the past. But none have ever made him excited. Made him want more. Made him think he was in love.
Jay is feminine. He's dramatic. He talks too much. He was adorable.
Jay was Jay and he didn't try to be anyone else. Take it or leave it. I loved Jay.
Jay thinks Liam is straight so he doesn't even go there. It isn't until Liam comes to Jay's rescue that things start to change for them. Liam wants more with Jay but he's still trying to figure everything out.
So they figure it out together.
(Sidenote: I just love when guys do the whole exploring thing)
I loved how Liam was always open and honest with Jay about how he felt, even when he was struggling with his feelings. I loved how protective he was of Jay and how he would go all alpha on him.
Again, it was low on the angst and drama. A great read for any newbie MM readers out there....or if you're looking for a sweet, sexy quick read. Definitely recommend!
So sweet this one was! It just made me smile. It was low angst, low drama and had some steamy moments. The perfect feel good read.
Liam is NOT gay. Not gay. I repeat, NOT GAY!
Liam travels by train to work every day, as does "Jay". Liam watches Jay from afar. Admires his beauty. His clothing choices. His makeup. His femininity.
But let me remind you about Liam.
Liam doesn't really know what he is. He knows he's attracted to Jay. He's been with woman in the past, men in the past. But none have ever made him excited. Made him want more. Made him think he was in love.
Jay is feminine. He's dramatic. He talks too much. He was adorable.
Jay was Jay and he didn't try to be anyone else. Take it or leave it. I loved Jay.
Jay thinks Liam is straight so he doesn't even go there. It isn't until Liam comes to Jay's rescue that things start to change for them. Liam wants more with Jay but he's still trying to figure everything out.
So they figure it out together.
(Sidenote: I just love when guys do the whole exploring thing)
I loved how Liam was always open and honest with Jay about how he felt, even when he was struggling with his feelings. I loved how protective he was of Jay and how he would go all alpha on him.
Again, it was low on the angst and drama. A great read for any newbie MM readers out there....or if you're looking for a sweet, sexy quick read. Definitely recommend!
April 21, 2020
Watching Jay.
Waiting for Jay.
Friending Jay.
Thinking of Jay.
Smiling at Jay.
Saving Jay.
Falling in love with Jay.
Coming out for Jay.
Loving Jay.
For Liam, the highlight of the day is seeing this cute, blonde and exquisitely beautiful guy on the train going to work. Liam calls him Jay, and he is mesmerized his extravagant looks. But that’s it. He may want to take a look, but he is not gay.
When Liam finally has the opportunity to talk to him, he is fascinated by Jay’s vibrant, dynamic and flamboyant personality.
They become friends, and as Liam slowly falls in love with Jay, soon he is ready to admit that he is gay after all.
Loving Jay is a sweet out-for-you story. It’s light and entertaining, but also has depth: complex main characters, awesome secondary characters, a heartwarming love story, friendship, unbiasedness, tolerance (and intolerance), homophobia, self-acceptance, self-discovery, coming out, and family cohesion.
Highly recommended!
My favorite quotes.
Waiting for Jay.
Friending Jay.
Thinking of Jay.
Smiling at Jay.
Saving Jay.
Falling in love with Jay.
Coming out for Jay.
Loving Jay.
For Liam, the highlight of the day is seeing this cute, blonde and exquisitely beautiful guy on the train going to work. Liam calls him Jay, and he is mesmerized his extravagant looks. But that’s it. He may want to take a look, but he is not gay.
I just wanted a glance at his outfit to see if I approved or cringed over his style today—I liked the ones that showed off his arse, not that I’m gay or anything.
When Liam finally has the opportunity to talk to him, he is fascinated by Jay’s vibrant, dynamic and flamboyant personality.
Watching Jay’s overreaction to every situation he found himself in was more entertaining than prime-time TV.
They become friends, and as Liam slowly falls in love with Jay, soon he is ready to admit that he is gay after all.
Loving Jay is a sweet out-for-you story. It’s light and entertaining, but also has depth: complex main characters, awesome secondary characters, a heartwarming love story, friendship, unbiasedness, tolerance (and intolerance), homophobia, self-acceptance, self-discovery, coming out, and family cohesion.
Highly recommended!
My favorite quotes.
September 14, 2017
Liam lives a sort of mundane life. The only highlight of his day is his morning train ride where he gets to silently watch the beautiful and colorful Jay. One particular day, he misses his train and soulfully regrets he won't get his daily Jay dose. But, as fate would have it, Jay missed the train too and the two strike up a conversation and become fast friends. As his feelings grow for Jay, Liam adamantly denies he is gay. But is he?
I absolutely adored this book. The writing grabbed me from page one. Told entirely from Liam's POV, we get a beautiful picture of Jay, his quirky self and diarrhea mouth. But we also see Liam grow as a person and come into his own. He accepts his sexuality and doesn't shy away from Jay at all. He becomes Jay's knight in shining armor and champion. I loved both mc's a lot. I thought Liam's denial would grate my nerves but it didn't because I could see his true feelings for Jay. And while he still struggled with coming out, he never wavered in his feelings for Jay.
The book was funny and I had several laugh out loud moments.
And there are swoon worthy moments too.
I loved Jay's loud and obnoxious family and I loved Liam's too though his dad needs some work but I'm sure he'll come around. All in all, I was left with happy fluffy feelings and really wanted more. It was just what I needed.
I absolutely adored this book. The writing grabbed me from page one. Told entirely from Liam's POV, we get a beautiful picture of Jay, his quirky self and diarrhea mouth. But we also see Liam grow as a person and come into his own. He accepts his sexuality and doesn't shy away from Jay at all. He becomes Jay's knight in shining armor and champion. I loved both mc's a lot. I thought Liam's denial would grate my nerves but it didn't because I could see his true feelings for Jay. And while he still struggled with coming out, he never wavered in his feelings for Jay.
The book was funny and I had several laugh out loud moments.
“Jay was quick and unselfconscious about about shucking those tartan pants, but he still had to stand briefly, which put his cock at my eye level.
Shit! Oh fuck! Shit! Shit! Holy-mother-of-God!
It was simply a glimpse but it was burned into the back of my retinas. That half-a-second look was going to provide me with spank-the-monkey material for weeks!”
And there are swoon worthy moments too.
“When the man I loved was so close to me, what else could I do but put my arm around his shoulders in response? Then Jay had looked up at me and said, “I love you, Liam.”
I had looked down at him and said, “I love you, too. "
I loved Jay's loud and obnoxious family and I loved Liam's too though his dad needs some work but I'm sure he'll come around. All in all, I was left with happy fluffy feelings and really wanted more. It was just what I needed.
He’d smiled at me with devotion and I had responded with a look of complete adoration. And the photographer had snapped the picture, capturing that instant—two men gazing at each other, utterly in love. Jay loving me, and me… loving Jay.”
September 15, 2014
I was in the mood for something sweet, but not too cloying last night. Nothing that would make my Kindle bleed corn syrup. Like a strawberry shortcake of a book.
Of course, this means I plunked down money for a new book, when I have, at last count, 301 books that I own and haven't read. Blerg and blerg again. I'd like to apologize to these books - it's not that I think less of you, it's just that I'm distracted by shiny new things. It's ok, babies, Mommy still loves you.
Anyway.
Loving Jay was the perfect choice. I felt so warm & cozy reading it; I wanted to Mary Calmes-lunge hug the hell out of it.
Jay is an absolute delight. Or to put it more distinctly, he's fuckin' awesome. He's a bleach blond, with sometimes colorful streaks in his hair, loves clothes & makeup & nail polish. He's vulnerable & sweet, but still confident & opinionated. I loved when Liam asked Jay when he first knew he was gay. Jay replies,
Pshaw, man! It's more like I had to realize that everyone else wasn't gay.I love this attitude and I wish more people had it.
Jay's vulnerable side really comes out when dating or relationships are mentioned (whether it's his relationship with Liam, or his past relationships). The book doesn't delve too deeply into this, but it’s clear that Jay's aware that he's too "femme" for many people in general as well as other gay men. He knows he'll never be able to "pass" as straight. However, I didn't get the feeling that he thinks he's less of a man or that the author thought that either. He's not portrayed as a "chick with a dick," just a dude who happens to like what society has deemed "feminine."
Liam is a more complicated character. This book is really about his struggle to accept his sexuality. At the beginning of the book, he's in denial that he's gay (I counted 21 times in the first 3 chapters where he says he is "not gay") while simultaneously aware he's lying to himself:
...Missing the first train of the morning also meant I didn't get to see Jay. But I wasn't going to think about that. Because I am not gay. I don't notice other guys; I don't drool over them; I don't look forward to seeing their handsome face each morning; I don't dream about them every night; and I definitely don't get a hard-on thinking about one particular face. Nope! Not gay here at all.I laughed so hard at that, but it also made me sad. Liam knows he's gay but he also knows he could "pass." He has the choice to live a lie if that's what he wants. He’s spends time musing over why, if he has to be gay, can’t he like more “masculine” men, like his manly-man-thinks-with-his-dick-and-is-proud-of-it best friend Aaron. Why is he so attracted to Jay?
Much.
If I were in love with someone like Aaron, then my family could pretend that we were just friends and nothing would be said. We could be mates and even live together and no one would be any wiser unless we went around in public smooching or something.However, it’s Aaron who points out that being gay doesn’t make him less of a man:
Aaron sent me a look, shaking his head as if I was being stupid. “Excuse me? Aren’t you out here fishing at the moment? Didn’t you watch John play football yesterday? Don’t you have a cock and balls under those jeans? What part of that is not being a man?I love Aaron’s acceptance, though at the same time I feel a little impatient that everyone defines fishing and football as “manly” hobbies and Jay’s love of clothes as “feminine.” In our society, culture, we’ve decided that certain things belong to the sphere of men & certain things belong to the sphere of women. It’s bullshit, yet like Aaron & many of the other characters in this novel (including Liam’s supportive brothers) use such language frequently. I have a difficult time blaming them for this though, as I’m guilty of the same just as frequently. I’m working on it, though. (Dani and Meep mention the gender inequality in their reviews as well.)
Liam’s attitude, his shame, over his sexuality is directly connected to his view of himself as a cripple. He damaged his leg as a teenager and had to give up many of his “manly” hobbies – sports & his wish to be a police officer. He has to redefine himself as a different “type” of man, less traditionally male, , just as he has to accept his sexuality.
My favorite part of the book, however, was that Liam never blames his struggle on Jay. He has reservations about his own sexuality but he never projects that onto Jay. There isn’t any scene where Liam blames Jay for causing him to out himself, and he never criticizes Jay for being “girly.” And once he accepts his sexuality, or is on the path to accepting it, he never criticizes Jay for being an embarrassment to gay men everywhere. He may worry that he himself is too “feminine” because of his sexuality, but he never asks Jay to be anything but what he is. From the beginning he accepts and loves Jay. That made me just. So. Fuckin’. HAPPY.
I should add that there is a sense that Liam is the "man" and Jay is the "woman" in their relationship. I think if the book went on longer, this would have bothered me more, but while reading it I was willing to accept that they were comfortable in these roles. It's what worked for them and it didn't mean they weren't equals in each others eyes.
This was such a great read, writing this review makes me want to read it again. It dealt with some heavy issues, but with such a light touch that it was never angsty. Highly recommended if you want a light, sweet read.
4.25 stars
March 28, 2015
I, *sigh*, loved this book!
I think on the surface, this story is not original. It's a man (Liam) struggling with his sexual identity and the ramifications of his choices. He meets someone who he's so completely attracted to and falls in love with, it doesn't ultimately matter if Jay is a man or woman (he's a man, btw! :)) It's technically a straight up out-for-you tale.
BUT...Renae Kaye manages to really give this layers and nuances that feel fresh.
Liam is so fantastically your every-man yet shows himself a hero time and again by being fully himself in the light of who he loves. This is SO FREAKING romantic that I sighed numerous times while reading this.
And Jay...don't discard him as a typical effimate "damsel in distress" character. He, too, has a strength...to trust and support and ultimately love Liam the way he needs to be loved.
There are a myriad of really great supporting characters as well...ranging from quirky, kind, supportive, conflicted, idiotic, and then some.
I feel like I say this with each new Renae Kaye book I read, but...this one is definitely my favorite of hers to date. And ahoy...it's her first! I'm amazed.
Highly recommended!
May 29, 2014
3.5 Stars
Big smile.
This was fun and sweet with a whole lot of emotion and earnestness underneath some rather dramatic plumage. If for any reason flamboyant males irritate you, then just walk away. The pageantry and performance behaviors are who Jay is. Either you accept that or you don't. And Liam, well… his part of the story is a gentle slide into self acceptance.
A couple niggles about things that just tweaked me wrong or not to my taste per se; i.e., when a character keeps saying "I am not gay." kinda makes me want to hit my head on a hard surface. I spend a lot of time talking to myself and repetitive statements are generally for psyching up or calming down--I don't sit there with denial statements on auto replay. Second, there was a quirky discussion about catching and pitching and the correlation to submissiveness that made me do a double take. Say what? I decided to move along instead of linger on that one.
But in the end, I love when people can find happiness and this was truly a romance in that measure. So, I have a big smile.
Favorite quote:
Big smile.
This was fun and sweet with a whole lot of emotion and earnestness underneath some rather dramatic plumage. If for any reason flamboyant males irritate you, then just walk away. The pageantry and performance behaviors are who Jay is. Either you accept that or you don't. And Liam, well… his part of the story is a gentle slide into self acceptance.
A couple niggles about things that just tweaked me wrong or not to my taste per se; i.e., when a character keeps saying "I am not gay." kinda makes me want to hit my head on a hard surface. I spend a lot of time talking to myself and repetitive statements are generally for psyching up or calming down--I don't sit there with denial statements on auto replay. Second, there was a quirky discussion about catching and pitching and the correlation to submissiveness that made me do a double take. Say what? I decided to move along instead of linger on that one.
But in the end, I love when people can find happiness and this was truly a romance in that measure. So, I have a big smile.
Favorite quote:
"But he’s gorgeous—inside and out. You just need to weather the dramas to see it sometimes.”
November 27, 2019
Hmmm still love Jay but Liam not so much, there's an unhealthy aspect to his caveman routine, while his attraction for Jay is clear I'm not so certain he respects him. The book could be used as a definition of toxic masculinity, it effects every aspect of the plot. Not sure I'd rate it as high, it's a light read but the gender roles bother me.
-- --
Re-read. Light bubbly read. Gender roles still a niggle and the constant 'not gay' but I like these guys and Jay makes me smile.
.. .. .. ..
Wasn't sure at first, it seemed a little young, but as soon as Jay started speaking I loved him. Liam didn't stand a chance either. Oh Gawd! Jay; flamboyant, talkative and completely endearing. Fan's of Glitterland will love this character, he has the same individuality and love of fashion. Bouncing off the page with high speed babble, clutching his skinny cafe mocha with half sugar. I sped through this.
I like how Liam finds his strength, stops seeing himself as a cripple and focuses on how very special Jay is; and Jay - I just like Jay. It's not really a GFY more a finding the one worth coming out for. There's a little tension but mostly Liam is besotted and knowing this is what he wants. They even talk! I liked how it was all done.
The one niggle I had, and perhaps not everyone will pick up on this; was gender roles seemed very pronounced in the book. Even strong women had to lean on stronger males and roles seemed defined. There was an element of that coming into the relationship with Liam and Jay too. Don't let it put you off reading, it's never enough to become an issue, these two make a great couple, but I'm curious how many others notice it.
There's a few occasions that were more; what I'd say with hindsight and time to stew on it, than snappy comeback material. Liam's message to his dad was sweet but maybe too self-less. But that after all is one of the nice things about fiction. The chance to have the right words on your tongue.
This is a happy energetic book and appears to be the first from this author - I'll definitely be checking out her future releases. Recommend it.
-- --
Re-read. Light bubbly read. Gender roles still a niggle and the constant 'not gay' but I like these guys and Jay makes me smile.
.. .. .. ..
Wasn't sure at first, it seemed a little young, but as soon as Jay started speaking I loved him. Liam didn't stand a chance either. Oh Gawd! Jay; flamboyant, talkative and completely endearing. Fan's of Glitterland will love this character, he has the same individuality and love of fashion. Bouncing off the page with high speed babble, clutching his skinny cafe mocha with half sugar. I sped through this.
I like how Liam finds his strength, stops seeing himself as a cripple and focuses on how very special Jay is; and Jay - I just like Jay. It's not really a GFY more a finding the one worth coming out for. There's a little tension but mostly Liam is besotted and knowing this is what he wants. They even talk! I liked how it was all done.
The one niggle I had, and perhaps not everyone will pick up on this; was gender roles seemed very pronounced in the book. Even strong women had to lean on stronger males and roles seemed defined. There was an element of that coming into the relationship with Liam and Jay too. Don't let it put you off reading, it's never enough to become an issue, these two make a great couple, but I'm curious how many others notice it.
There's a few occasions that were more; what I'd say with hindsight and time to stew on it, than snappy comeback material. Liam's message to his dad was sweet but maybe too self-less. But that after all is one of the nice things about fiction. The chance to have the right words on your tongue.
This is a happy energetic book and appears to be the first from this author - I'll definitely be checking out her future releases. Recommend it.
April 10, 2020
Audio...4.5 Stars
Story....4.5 Stars
Story....4.5 Stars
September 15, 2014
I was feeling a little blue and needed a nice warm-and-fuzzy pick-me-up love story and my good friend Jenni Lea recommended Loving Jay (along with several other GR friends). They were right on target because this was exactly what I was looking for!
MC Liam Turner is just a regular straight guy with a regular job who does regular things. He seems to be just sleepwalking through his life, not finding a whole lot of joy in any one thing. One day he spots an unusually flamboyant man on his train in the morning and begins to watch him and look forward to seeing him every morning.
MC James Bell is warm, loving, a tad outrageous and living life freely out of the closet. He has noticed Liam on the train as well and finds a way for the two men to meet. Once they meet they become fast friends and it's a slow, beautiful journey to love and romance for these two men. Gay-for-you and friends-to-lovers fans will especially love this book, even though most will agree Liam's sexually was probably always in question.
This was a delightful love story with all the elements of a classic knight-in-shining-armor romance. And who doesn't need and love that every once in awhile? I let out several dreamy sighs as I read this. Just lovely. Highly recommended.
November 7, 2014
I loved Liam's voice and the first person narration totally worked for me. I wasn't as crazy about some of the dialogue as it sometimes edged too close to trying too hard. Luckily, it mostly avoided going into over the top, rolling my eyes territory. Liam and Jay were both great characters, though, and I loved them.
A sweet, sexy, sometimes silly, sometimes serious, feel good story. I'll be reading this again.
A sweet, sexy, sometimes silly, sometimes serious, feel good story. I'll be reading this again.
October 28, 2016
3.5 Stars
This was a true feel-good story. I enjoyed Jay's flamboyant nature and erratic ramblings; he was completely endearing and wholly likable. Liam took a little longer to like, but he eventually won me over with his obvious and unconditional love of Jay and with the whole swoon-worthy protective vibe he had going on.
This was a true feel-good story. I enjoyed Jay's flamboyant nature and erratic ramblings; he was completely endearing and wholly likable. Liam took a little longer to like, but he eventually won me over with his obvious and unconditional love of Jay and with the whole swoon-worthy protective vibe he had going on.
April 18, 2018
I just find this story very comforting. I keep rereading it because it makes me so happy. It's set in Perth and it's basically a coming out story. It's a train-set meet cute. Jay is delicious, flamboyant, and dramatic (if you like Lord Akeldama you'll love Jay) and Liam is such a sweetheart. Just a big warm hug of a book.
July 21, 2014
This as a light, fun, quick read, that didn't get overly dramatic or overly sweet.
As Liam lusts after the flamboyant Jay each morning on the train his mantra of "I'm not gay" loses its power with each passing glance. When the two finally strike up a friendship over morning coffee Liam begins to come to terms with what's gone wrong in his life, and just what he needs to do for it all to go right. There are bumps in the road, of course, but I enjoyed watching Liam fall victim to Jay's charms.
The characters felt real and the book balanced humor, romance and drama just right. I'll be looking forward to more from Renae Kaye.
As Liam lusts after the flamboyant Jay each morning on the train his mantra of "I'm not gay" loses its power with each passing glance. When the two finally strike up a friendship over morning coffee Liam begins to come to terms with what's gone wrong in his life, and just what he needs to do for it all to go right. There are bumps in the road, of course, but I enjoyed watching Liam fall victim to Jay's charms.
The characters felt real and the book balanced humor, romance and drama just right. I'll be looking forward to more from Renae Kaye.
December 9, 2017
This book was fun, sweet and enjoyable and angst free.
I loved Jay and Liam. They made me laugh.
April 23, 2014
5 wonderful stars for this heartwarming book. I love it, simply as that. Although just finished I could start it again, right now, no problem. It pulled me in, and I didn't want to leave them at the end. I want more!!!
I liked Liam, so much. How he thought about himself as a cripple, who would want him, not realizing how much he had going for himself. So endearing. And Jay, sigh, what a cutie. His character was jumping off page, so lively and buoyant, it was so easy to see what Liam drove to him, had him falling in love and finally realizing, yes I'm gay and he is what was missing from my life. I especially liked the fact that this wasn't a GFY, as Liam was questioning himself and his sexuality for quite some time now, thinking something to be wrong with him. It was more like a journey of self-discovery and finally OFY. Very believable.
This whole book was a joy to read, from beginning to end. No unnecessary drama, no evil woman, no big misunderstanding, nope. Thank you, Ms. Kaye, for this awesome book and I can't wait for your next one.
I liked Liam, so much. How he thought about himself as a cripple, who would want him, not realizing how much he had going for himself. So endearing. And Jay, sigh, what a cutie. His character was jumping off page, so lively and buoyant, it was so easy to see what Liam drove to him, had him falling in love and finally realizing, yes I'm gay and he is what was missing from my life. I especially liked the fact that this wasn't a GFY, as Liam was questioning himself and his sexuality for quite some time now, thinking something to be wrong with him. It was more like a journey of self-discovery and finally OFY. Very believable.
This whole book was a joy to read, from beginning to end. No unnecessary drama, no evil woman, no big misunderstanding, nope. Thank you, Ms. Kaye, for this awesome book and I can't wait for your next one.
November 19, 2014
Yep, I loved it! I could tell I was going to by the time I finished the first chapter. I *love* first person POV. I loved being inside Liam's head, he was adorable and so incredibly sweet! And then there was Jay, out and proud and totally himself with his makeup, drama and quirkiness. I loved their story and can't wait to read more from this author!
March 15, 2016
Not perfect but it was like a hug.
Liam and Jay are adorable and how Liam is with Jay just made me melt. He was so protective. Nobody but nobody got to be mean to Jay. The fact that Liam didn't always stand up for himself but threw himself in the line of fire for Jay made me all gooey.
"Oh my Gawd! I almost forgot! Mum reminded me last night but it was too late to ring you or send a message because it was after eight o'clock and I didn't know what time you you go to bed. Because I sometimes go to bed before eight o'clock. Getting up before four in the morning is a real killer and I need my beauty sleep. And I know you must need your sleep, too. Not that you aren't beautiful enough or anything. Oh my Gawd! Does that offend you? Am I allowed to say you are beautiful? Because I hate to be sexist and only say women are beautiful and men are handsome. That's so mean, isn't it? Because I've known a lot of handsome women who I wouldn't call beautiful. And there are men who-"
"Jay!"
"Huh?"
"Off track or something, are you?"
Loved everything about Jay. EVERYTHING. His ramblings and Daisy were my favourite though.
I did have a few issues, one of which was how Liam dealt with his disability, I think there was more than a few issues for him surrounding it that were not addressed and really should have been but look, it's a short read, it's a fluffy read and the if you pick this up I'm guessing that's all you want.
A lovely GFY. They are not always my favourites but I enjoyed this!!
March 20, 2020
Re-read January 2019
Such a lovely book.
-------------------------------
4.5 stars
Renae Kaye sure knows how to write likable characters.
I adoooooored Jay. He was so sweet. Yes, a drama queen, but a very cute drama queen. And Liam, I loved his snarky comments. His inner thoughts about him (not) being gay, hilarious!
“Let me get this straight. You were talking to a gorgeous blonde woman in a tight red skirt and heels, with a chest that has Playboy ringing her once a month for an interview, who was smiling and flirting with you like crazy and all you noticed was that she looked cold and her lipstick was bright?” Oh. Whoops. We were talking about breasts. Straight men usually notice breasts, don’t they? Shit! “Ahh….”
What I liked most about this one was how it dealt with Liam finding out he is indeed gay. It is a big deal and he knows that, but he also knows he cannot live his life by what other want from him. He knows he will be targeted for being gay and he cares, he just wants Jay more.
An incredible feel-good book. One that I will be rereading.
Such a lovely book.
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4.5 stars
Renae Kaye sure knows how to write likable characters.
I adoooooored Jay. He was so sweet. Yes, a drama queen, but a very cute drama queen. And Liam, I loved his snarky comments. His inner thoughts about him (not) being gay, hilarious!
“Let me get this straight. You were talking to a gorgeous blonde woman in a tight red skirt and heels, with a chest that has Playboy ringing her once a month for an interview, who was smiling and flirting with you like crazy and all you noticed was that she looked cold and her lipstick was bright?” Oh. Whoops. We were talking about breasts. Straight men usually notice breasts, don’t they? Shit! “Ahh….”
What I liked most about this one was how it dealt with Liam finding out he is indeed gay. It is a big deal and he knows that, but he also knows he cannot live his life by what other want from him. He knows he will be targeted for being gay and he cares, he just wants Jay more.
An incredible feel-good book. One that I will be rereading.
March 14, 2016
'Loving Jay' is definitely one of the most adorable stories I've ever read. This is a warm and essentially zero angst story that's filled with the fun and joy of finding love and being true to yourself.
My thanks to my lovely friend Eleftheria for suggesting I read it. It really was the perfect story to help restore my emotional balance after reading Beneath the Stain. I know, I snuck a Mary Calmes story in there as well and it started to restore my equilibrium but 'Loving Jay' put everything back in order for me.
From start to finish I loved Jay, I loved Liam and I loved both of their families and yes, I'm still smiling with the happiness of it all.
My thanks to my lovely friend Eleftheria for suggesting I read it. It really was the perfect story to help restore my emotional balance after reading Beneath the Stain. I know, I snuck a Mary Calmes story in there as well and it started to restore my equilibrium but 'Loving Jay' put everything back in order for me.
From start to finish I loved Jay, I loved Liam and I loved both of their families and yes, I'm still smiling with the happiness of it all.
May 1, 2014
Absolutely beautiful. All the ★'s, all of them. Smiles and happy tears. I absolutely loved this book. Read.
March 24, 2015
This was such a great book, I just want to cuddle it..
I loved all the characters… The crazy inner voice of Liam, how he was convincing himself “he wasn’t gay”…..
“I looked at him, marveling that even up close he looked gorgeous. His lips looked full and totally kissable, and we were standing close enough that if I leaned in some, and he leaned some, our mouths would meet. Not that I wanted to kiss him or anything. I’m not gay.”
But the most fun I had was with Jay!! He was adorable… Such a dramaqueen, charged with this “verbal diarrhea”.
“Oh. My. Gawd! And then she says to the poor guy, "I don’t think my waterworks are running as they should be. Do you want a look?" And before the guy could blink or swallow, she has her skirt hiked up around her waist and her underwear down. I swear I saw more than any grandson should ever have to see! I flew out of that room like there was a nest of snakes crawling across the floor and I tell you, Liam, my poor eyes will never recover.”
This easy-going-Liam was just a perfect fit for the high-maintenance-Jay. I loved that Liam simply adored Jay and that he was able to slow Jay down in such a loving way!!
I would have loved to read more of Liam and Jay..
“He’d smiled at me with devotion and I had responded with a look of complete adoration. And the photographer had snapped the picture, capturing that instant—two men gazing at each other, utterly in love. Jay loving me, and me… loving Jay.”
Highly recommended!!
October 12, 2015
***2.5 Stars***
Clearly this is a case of "it's just me" since most of my friends seem to love this one.
But for me,
I think my biggest issue is that I never fully warmed up to Liam and since it's told entirely from his point of view, I just didn't get as invested in the story. I didn't feel much emotion or chemistry between Liam and Jay. So unfortunately, their relationship fell flat for me.
Also, there's a lot of rambling in this book as well, which most found endearing, but for me it just lead to a lot of skimming.
This is my second Renae Kaye book and I'm beginning to think that her writing and I just don't mesh.
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