A Coffee Away

by E.R. Phoenix

Even memory itself can’t erase what the heart refuses to forget.

Robbie lives a half-truth in a conservative, religious home in Condado, pouring the loneliness, fear, and longing he hides from the world into his art.
Everything changes the night he meets Esteban, a bold, warm, and impossible-to-ignore man who sees beauty where Robbie only sees darkness.
For the first time, Robbie feels truly seen.
Their connection is undeniable.
Through Esteban, he begins to embrace his identity, explore the parts of himself he was taught to silence, and experience desires he never dared to name.
But loving Esteban means Robbie must confront his family, own the truths he’s been taught to deny, and choose the life he wants over the life he was expected to live.
With family expectations, painful truths, and obstacles threatening to tear them apart, they must fight for the life they dream of building together.
This is a powerful romance about identity, resilience, and love, where even memory itself can’t erase what the heart refuses to forget.

271 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 29, 2026

About the author

E. R. Phoenix is a full-time novelist born and raised in Puerto Rico. She's enthusiastic about the environment, freedom, human rights, and societal justice.

Dystopian fiction is her favored reading and writing genre. She combines this with romance, particularly when love appears suddenly in a dangerous setting and is impossible to resist. Her tales are filled with action, danger, suspense, steamy romance, and individuals who would stop at nothing to defend their cause.

She's worked as a middle/high school science teacher and as a personal trainer. When she's not writing, she spends most of her time reading and being with her family. She loves dancing, hiking, watching anime, going to the beach, and playing videogames.

E.R. Phoenix is best known for her Promissa Trilogy books.

She currently lives in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.

Keep in touch with E.R. Phoenix via the web at:

https://amazon.com/author/erphoenix

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.facebook.com/erphoenixaut...

https://www.instagram.com/e.r.phoenix/

https://www.tiktok.com/e.r.phoenix/

Reviews

[Literary Edgar · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, a huge thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of this book!

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and especially appreciated how real some of Robbie’s experiences felt. His journey after coming out to his family reflects a reality that many people in the LGBTQ+ community unfortunately still face—the fear of rejection, the hurt that can come from the people you love, and the process of finding the people who will truly accept and support you.

There were definitely moments when Robbie’s family frustrated me, especially his father (and honestly, his mother too for staying silent at times). But I think that frustration also speaks to how effectively the story portrayed something that is very real for so many people.

One of my favorite parts was seeing Esteban become that safe space for Robbie. I loved the contrast between their families and how much more welcoming Esteban’s family was. Their relationship was sweet, and I genuinely enjoyed them together.

I’m personally not a huge fan of relationships that develop very quickly, and although I wouldn’t necessarily call this instant love, everything progressed a little faster than I normally prefer. I would have loved more time to watch Robbie and Esteban’s connection develop naturally.

That being said, I really liked how the story eventually incorporated a second-chance element. Without getting into spoilers, I thought that added another layer to their relationship and gave them the opportunity to reconnect after everything they had experienced.

Overall, this was a sweet and heartfelt story about love, acceptance, family, and finding your way back to someone. More importantly, it touches on experiences that are very real for many members of the LGBTQ+ community while still giving us a romance full of hope and tenderness.

I’m really glad I had the opportunity to read it, and I’m always happy to support stories and voices from Puerto Rican authors. 🇵🇷❤️

Rating: 4 ⭐️

[Maye Isla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que libro tan increíble… lo ame tanto.

[Sheila Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

“Wait for it. You’re about to witness the proof that light can overcome darkness. Every single time I watch the sun, I tell myself I made it out once again. I was never able to see it till I met you.”
—Robbie, A Coffee Away by E.R. Phoenix

Robbie grew up believing there was something wrong with simply being himself. Then he meets Esteban, a man who truly sees him and gives him the courage to finally confront his homophobic parents. As expected, things don’t go well, but that moment begins an emotional journey filled with love, healing, resilience, and chosen family.

This book took me through so many emotions. It is a beautiful story about romantic love, friendship, and finding the people who accept and love you exactly as you are. It also explores identity, memory, second chances, and the strength it takes to choose your own happiness. And yes, there is plenty of spice along the way!

I fell in love with all the characters, but Eva and Steph especially stole my heart. They brought so much personality, warmth, and happiness to the story, and I honestly wanted more of them.

I also loved seeing Puerto Rican culture woven throughout the book from the food and familiar places to all the little details that made the setting feel so special. Being from Puerto Rico made me appreciate those moments even more.

And I absolutely loved the author cameo! It was such a fun little surprise to see E.R. Phoenix make an appearance in her own story.

A Coffee Away is about finding the courage to be yourself, realizing that you are worthy of love, and discovering that the right people can help you find the light even during your darkest moments.

A beautiful, emotional, hopeful, and spicy love story that left me smiling. ❤️

[Mim_Who _Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed A Coffee Away. Robbie’s story feels very real, especially when it comes to growing up in an environment where being yourself isn’t fully accepted. Watching him work through his emotion added a lot of depth to the overall story and the character.
In terms of the LI... Esteban I enjoyed how comfortable he was with himself and how he encouraged Robbie to stop hiding pieces of who he was. Their relationship had plenty of sweet moments, but I also appreciated that Robbie’s journey wasn’t completely centered around the romance. He had to figure out himself, his family, and what kind of life he wanted.

Robbie’s parents were a bit frustrating. This was just a depiction of the truth a lot of the members of the LGBTQIA+ community face... so the reactions felt believable and showed how difficult coming out can be when your family has strong expectations for who you’re supposed to be.

The Puerto Rican setting was a great highlight for me. The references to food, places, and everyday life made the story feel connected to its culture rather than simply using Puerto Rico as a backdrop. This made me homesick.. really love seeing my little island in a heartwarming story.

Overall this story deals with family rejection, identity, belonging, and figuring out how to build a life that actually feels like your own. If you like those vibes you should definitely pick this one up!

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC.
Me encantó!!!! A must read definitely!

[Sasha Padilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hay experiencias que llegan para retarnos y demostrar que somos capaces de mucho más. Esta colaboración fue una de ellas. ☕🤎

Leer y reseñar A Coffee Away representó mi primera colaboración literaria completamente en inglés. Al principio sentí nervios por enfrentarme a una lectura diferente, pero poco a poco fui conectando con sus personajes y comprendiendo la fuerza emocional que guarda esta historia.

Me llevo una experiencia hermosa, nuevos aprendizajes y la satisfacción de haber salido de mi zona de comodidad. Gracias, E.R. Phoenix, por confiar en mi trabajo y permitirme compartir este proyecto tan especial.

Espero que estas imágenes puedan transmitirles un poco de lo que significó esta lectura para mí. ☕📖✨

@s.v.p.books • @e.r.phoenix

#ACoffeeAway #ERPhoenix #ReseñaLiteraria #PrimeraColaboraciónEnInglés #LecturaEnColaboración #BookstagramPuertoRico #LiteraturaPuertorriqueña #RomanceLGBTQ #SVPBooks

[The Bookish Bagel · Rating 5 out of 5]

E.R. Phoenix has surprised me once again with an intense, vulnerable, queer and extra spicy love story. At its heart, A Coffee Away is a journey of self-discovery, self-love, resilience, and learning to embrace love even when it feels complicated.

I loved following Robbie and Esteban as they navigated their emotions, struggles, and undeniable connection. Their story reminds us that sometimes finding love also means finding, accepting, and loving ourselves along the way.

I absolutely loved this story! E.R. Phoenix created a beautiful love story that kept me invested until the very end.

I received an ARC of A Coffee Away in exchange for an honest review.

[Yarelis Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermosa historia de amor, de autodescubrimiento, aceptación y found family.

Aquí conocemos a Robbie, el cual vive con sus padres conservadores, los cuales lo rechazan por su orientación sexual. Este conoce a Esteban, que lo ayuda a aceptarse como es y a amarse. Amé este libro desde el capítulo uno. Totalmente recomendado

[Agnes Cortés · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro con una historia de amor LBGTQ+ hermosa. Llena de momentos alegres, romanticos, sexys 😉. Te lleva a reflexionar sobre el amor verdadero, comprometido, sincero y capaz de sobrellevar las dificultades sean las que sean.

“Keep loving. Keep smiling. Keep doing what you love. Love yourself with all your heart, and keep being you.”

[Giselle Meléndez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It’s a story that encourages reflection and shows a journey toward acceptance and self-discovery. It also reminds us that true love builds up, is patient, and is willing to make sacrifices for the well-being of another person. I really liked the characters and the way they developed throughout the story. Recommended. ❤️