Checking Out the Librarian: An Opposites Attract, Golden Retriever x Black Cat MM Gay Romance

by Anna Richland

A spicy NEW MM ROMANCE perfect for readers who enjoy banter-filled contemporary romances like Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall, A Time to Shine by Rachel Reid, The Unlikely Heir by Jax Calder, or Cat Sebastian's Star Shipped.

When his out-of-town hookup turns out to be the library's new hire, Connor gets busy CHECKING OUT THE LIBRARIAN.

CONNOR. Connor McMillan has his life together. Mostly. Teaching second graders is a perfect job for his high energy, but why can't he find a boyfriend who likes his enthusiasm too? He wants someone in the bleachers cheering just for him, someone to cook dinner with, someone who will maybe, possibly, dress up and do a little Regency cosplay, but that last thing he doesn't say out loud.

JONATHAN.. Starting over in Oregon means Jonathan Park has to try new things, meet people who don't work at the library, and hope that this time he won't repeat the same mistakes. Who's he kidding? He self-sabotages the hell out of anything good, but maybe the first step to self-improvement is saying yes to a real date with his internet hookup.

And step two? Learning to pet Connor's dog.

Connor's friends tell him to dial back and be more chill with Jonathan, but every time he looks at the man he wants to call his boyfriend, his brain chases his tail.

Unlocking the librarian's fortified heart will be a challenge, but Connor's taught kids to read. How hard can it be to teach Jonathan to say I love you?

CHECKING OUT THE LIBRARIAN is a spicy male-male romance for readers who want a (mostly) low-angst read with a library kitten, bedroom role play, softball games and county fair food, but please use the Look Inside feature to read the content warning about the one bad thing that happens.



TROPES: ♥ Opposites Attract ♥ Golden Retriever x Black Cat ♥ Banter ♥ Messy-texting Himbo ♥ Low Angst ♥ Rescue Dog and Library Kitten (They are Like Their Pets) ♥ Grumpy x Sunshine ♥ One Night Stand (Hook Up Turns Into More) ♥ Jock x Librarian ♥ Hurt/Comfort ♥ Role Play ♥ Books About Books ♥ Birthday Party ♥ Supportive Friends ♥ Food is a Love Language ♥ Coffee in Bed ♥ Dual POV ♥ Cutthroat Amateur Sports Competition in a Queer Sports League ♥

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Gay, LGBT, Grumpy Sunshine, Fiction

538 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2026

About the author

Anna Richland (she/her) writes romances about geeky people falling in love. She's a former US Army officer who now fills her days with imaginary people and real coffee. When not wearing pajamas at her computer, Anna takes weekly watercolor classes, plays decidedly mediocre pickleball, and maintains a fifty-year habit of reading too much. She lives with her quietly funny Canadian spouse and two occasionally-resident children in a very old house in Seattle.

Publishers Weekly called HIS ROAD HOME, winner of the 2015 Romance Writers of America's RITA® Award for Best Novella, "Tantalizing." The reviewers at Smart B*tches, Trashy Books wrote, "The closing scene between Rey and Grace is so freaking romantic I could pass out."

Reviews

[˗ˏˋ ꒰ cait ꒱ ˎˊ˗]

🐕⚾️The story is absolutely precious, exactly as described - golden retriever x black cat.📚🐈‍⬛
No AI✅

09/22/26: still thinking about this, idk why.

09/15/26
Wow, this is long.
The main characters (Connor and Jonathan) are so dynamic because of the time the author spends on them and the inner world she explores, as well.

The character growth Jonathan has is really lovely, able to let go so much. A very clear "old" Jonathan and "new". I wish that we could have gotten more of a perfect resolution for his back story like we do with Connor's but his is still satisfying.

While this couple is very clearly a HEA destined to happen, the story feels HFN based on the timeline and no epilogue.
Maybe that leaves it open for a book 2 with them?
I would definitely read that.

The spice is written... interestingly. Almost always fade-to-black.
Their dynamic is absolutely surprising, but fits them perfectly as we get to know them as a couple.

Both MCs were strong, and I genuinely can't decide which one I like more.
Only that I'm so happy that they found each other and that we got to read the beauty that is them falling in love (for the first time).

(Would like to eventually come back and add in summary & character details.)

Received this ARC for free from Amazon's GRR for a voluntary rating and review - opinions given are always my own.

[Brooke]

⭐️ 2.5 stars ⭐️

This low-angst romance had its cute moments, but unfortunately some stylistic choices really ruined my enjoyment of what could’ve been a sweet love story.

Most important moments, like the first sex scene (most of the spice, actually) and a potentially adorable picnic date (among other dates), were entirely skipped over.

The skipping of the spice was especially a shame, because when it was on page it was so good. These two have a really great chemistry and they’ve got a nice role reversal going on, grumpy librarian being a bit of a dom for the jock golden retriever.

The few good parts were ruined by the long internal monologues, concentrating on the more ‘useless’ moments of the story rather than the bits we actually would want to see.
And the third-act drama was wayyyy too much, it completely ruined the light, fluffy vibe of the rest of the book. And it wasn’t even fully resolved??

But there were also a couple things that I did enjoy, that made this read not a complete miss.
🐾The cute pets
☀️ Connor being the most perfect boyfriend to have ever existed
🎩 duke/valet roleplay

Now, was it worth reading just for those three things? Not sure. But I read it, it was overall okay, wouldn’t read it again. Side note to myself, find more duke/valet pairings ‘cause hottt.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Mention of toxic family dynamics
- Toxic perfectionism
- Non consensual kiss w/OP
- Homophobia
- Top/bottom
- Light D/s
- Duke/valet roleplay
- Coming untouched
- Grinding/dry humping
- Rimming

[patrícia]

No rating. This has too much important stuff happening off page, a lot of first times like stay overs, and yes sex. Also Jonathan is very judgmental.

Dnf 20%

[Sandy Kay]

3 stars with 4 and 5 star moments, so I'm giving it 4 stars. This story has wonderful hookups-to-love chemistry, with stellar repartee, touching intimacy, and one of the hottest fantasy role-play moments I’ve read (valet-duke, anyone?).

Put together a sunny schoolteacher (on summer vacation; we never see him with his class) who loves to read and a prickly librarian and former figure skater who is whip-smart and still constantly surprised that this seeming jock of a hookup he’s pulled keeps coming back at his every defensive response with more wit and kindness, and you’ve got a delightful thread of getting-to-know-you-and-care-about-you exchanges that made me laugh out loud a time or two. And the pets are stellar--Ribby the dog and seeing Jonathan learn to accept and then love him, and...Jonathan's accidentally becoming a kitten-dad...! Great stuff.

Connor is a darling. And while I have NO idea why we needed to know, specifically, that he’d hooked up with an NHL pro named Eric in MN and other pro hockey players elsewhere, and seemed to always be able to pull pro athletes, blah blah please stfu, other than that, I adored him and his “fault” of being “too much” so much. So much that it actually wasn’t credible that past lovers had noped out because he was “too much”—this is the “too much” people dream of having. This man thrived on Service capital S, and his thoughtfulness and care for the much more wary Jonathan, who’d been burned badly and has also been told he’s too prickly, too fussy, too high maintenance, for anyone to want long-term, was beautiful to see.

Jonathan has more of a journey, being a bit of a germophobe and having to deal with those feelings and accept that the man he’s falling for has a messy dog, and will want to come over and be in his space, and isn’t going to get annoyed by Jonathan’s quirks but will want to draw Jonathan into his colorful world of queer baseball teams and group dinners and family…well. Though Jonathan is often defensive, I understood his deflections and seeming harshness, and so did Connor, who was the exact right golden retriever positive person to assure Jonathan he could be himself and be safe.

Connor melting every time Jonathan gave him a command and called him good boy…bonus. Man could not hold back a few times and that was…well oddly some of that went off page at just the wrong moment? But…I felt the gist of the dynamic and enjoyed their energy. Jonathan seeing Connor in chaps for the firstt time… 😁

Still, I would have liked to see a certain picnic, not sure why that was set up then skipped. And we never see Jonathan take Connor ice-skating! Crime! 😡 Jonathan’s backstory seemed authentic but had no part in the present story beyond haunting him, which seemed a miss. He never regains his joy in skating, or, we never learn that he lost it and has no interest? And Connor never interacts with Jonathan's family, which, no loss, but also seemed to be missing/undealt with. We meet Connor’s wonderful family and see Connor's coming out journey, and his recovery from a certain bad encounter, but Jonathan mentions going to therapy a few times. ???

The structure/pace comes across as experimental, and it is at times episodic and wobbly; it almost feels like a couple different books, with a tone change/quite dark moment toward the end. The Tony/ex element felt off…Connor’s perception of how Jonathan would react to it seemed bizarre and suddenly teen-like instead of mature, and his spiraling immediately after became hyperbolic compared to the rest of the book and their strong communication. The thread doesn’t feel tied up, just…absent, after Tony having a huge impact on Connor for so many years, and Jonathan’s style of support at the end was steamy AF and lovely, but also felt like overkill for Connor’s own experience? Connor didn’t seem to be having any trouble getting past it. It was a weird way to end the book bc while it is a literal mirror scene, it isn’t the type of mirror scene that makes a story come full circle. Come, yes. Full circle…no. ??? As I said, experimental, but leaving the book seeming like it trails off happily but without really knowing why. The end is anticlimactic, despite the steamy climax. Ha ha.

Anyway, the book seemed nearly done, then, surprise, we had another quarter to read, but, there wasn’t really a point to that …chunk? It was a series of episodes with Connor’s family, not going anywhere in particular, because our men had already admitted feelings, survived the heinous ex’s actions, and let each other into their hopeful, fragile sunsets and were becoming solid. The rest felt like an extended epilogue focused on Connor’s journey, not Jonathan’s, and while that was enjoyable, I kept waiting for…something…but it was just…nice. And nice. And nice. Insert fun Princess Bride references (well done everywhere they appeared, I did LOVE those!) And then done. I got impatient after the dramatic ¾ showdown, wondering where this book was then going and why.

Bottom line: This is a noticeably long book that could have been stronger if shorter and tighter, but also, shows off strong character building and chemistry, including addictive repartee and intimacy that hooked me and entertained me and made me genuinely cheer a time or two. I am interested in seeing what the author does next.

HEA, character-driven, one-night hookup to love. Grumpy-sunshine, librarian-teacher (off for the summer). Coming out to family, no angst. Mostly low angst apart from severe OM drama. No OM action; mentions of past lovers, but, the book is so long I was able to forget about some early overshares. Safe for me. Recommended.

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

[ivanareadsalot]

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

🐕📚🐈‍⬛

Checking Out the Librarian was a lengthyyyyy, spicy, lightweight romance, that honestly did not need 500+ pages to tell. But it was a cute, fairly low-angst love story, with a couple adorable furbabies, super delicious food, awesome friends (both MCs) and a wonderfully supportive, ranch family (Connor), and an awesome, queer softball team, that had me humming:

🎵Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you, come on🎶

iykyk

Jonathan eventually grew on me (like the last couple chapters after a certain crisis point), but I was NOT a fan of how spikey he was throughout most of this tome to Connor, who was not only puppy-dog, sunshine cute, but a GREAT cook AND a READER. He was a cuddly soft babe and deserved the world, and it was weird how crunchy a lot of the energy was towards him when it came to guys he had to deal with.

I'm happy a lot of people enjoyed this, but unfortunately a lot of this romance didn't work for me. Glad I gave it a full read though, if only to see Connor find happiness and acceptance at the end.

[Kaje Harper]

This story is what it says in the subtitle - pretty classic Golden-Retriever x Black-Cat main characters. But it's very much done to my tastes, the characters are interesting, and it's a new addition to my list of favorites. Note, it starts like it will focus a lot on sex, but much (though not all) of the heat is off page. That suits me well, but if you get frustrated by a build to sex and then not seeing it, this may not be the book for you. There's also a lot of internal dialog, again something I often enjoy, and somewhat long, episodic pacing which worked for me.

Connor is a big guy, ex-college baseball player and current grade school teacher. He loves working with kids (although the book is set in summer vacation so we don't see this on page), has a rescue greyhound, plays for fun on a queer softball team, is sweet, kind, enthusiastic, and mostly loves his life.

His two discomforts are that he is not out to his traditional ranching family who live several hours away, and he has a toxic can't-quit-you fuck-buddy, a pro baseball player named Tony. Tony's not out and has never intended to be, and Connor is and wants more, but Tony and Connor have been sleeping together off and on since college. Every now and then for years, notably at the All-Star break, Tony will show up, and Connor won't say no. He pretends he's fine with that, and isn't hiding futile hopes, but he's lying to himself. Connor knows it's a self-destructive pattern, but he hasn't found a way to break it.

He dates, rarely, and has sex with other guys, also rarely, mostly guys a lot like Tony. Then he matches with a cute guy on a sex app - a guy more femme (if the photo with nail polish is an indication) than Connor usually considers. Maybe he needs to change up his patterns, maybe he needs a contrast with Tony rather than a substitute for him.

And when they meet at a hotel, Jonathan turns out to be a surprising fit for Connor's desires and even for some of his fantasies in wonderful new ways. Connor has a submissive streak, Jonathan is bitchy and demanding, and they work well together. Jonathan may well be what Connor needs to make his life better and escape old worn unhealthy patterns.

Jonathan was a figure skater in his teens, successful but not quite elite. He made it to Junior Worlds, but couldn't break into the top senior ranks. COVID, along with his mother's affair with his coach becoming known, shoved him out of the skating world, and made him break from his parents. He went to college, got a library science degree, and now works as a children's librarian. He's prickly, and still working on the perfectionism drummed into him during his skating days. He doesn't like mess or noise or unpredictability. But he does like Connor, whose good-hearted enthusiasm for life made a simple hotel hookup into one of the best evenings of Jonathan's life.

This book is a mix of moments when the two guys mesh really well (Connor has fantasies that Jonathan is quite willing to play along with) and times when Jonathan pulls away from the mess and changes that being with Connor entails. Connor has doubts at times too. He's a lot - big bodied, big enthusiasm, a fondness for being silly and joking, and for making expansive gestures. Past dates told him he was too much, and he's sure he feels that way to Jonathan. But the good parts are worth the work.

Jonathan changes much more than Connor through this story, as they figure out how to fit together. There is a moment of personal trauma (cw for assault) that shifts the lightness to more poignancy. Personally I really liked that, happening at a moment when I was starting to find the book a bit cute and fluffy. Both men have good friends, which I appreciate in MM where sometimes the guys feel a bit isolated. The ending is a solid HEA.

[Heather]

This was long, but it wasn’t repetitive at all and went into so many little details and the intricacies of dating. She set up their characters, relationship, and the world around them really well. Although it’s not set over a very long period, we learn a lot about these two guys and how much they both grow in that time. There’s very little drama; it is just a funny, sweet, and enjoyable story.

There are a lot of movie and book references, a lot of role play, and although there is spice, the majority is off-page, so we get the build-up and the aftermath.

I enjoyed this story, and it’s the author’s first MM romance. I have not read anything else, but I liked the style and the humour dotted throughout. It also ends like it had more to say, so maybe there’ll be a follow-up.

……………………………………………………….
I received an ARC from GRR, and here is my honest review.

[QueerPageTurner]

Around the 40% point of this book, I wrote a note in my review tracker. It says, and I quote, "readthisbookreadthisbookreadthisbookreadthisbook". That sentiment stands now that I've completed Connor and Jonathan's story.

Checking Out the Librarian is a great fit if you're a Tal Bauer fan.

The story is long, emotional, oh-so-human, and immersive. I was pulled fully inside both Jonathan and Connor's interior life. I felt with them, I thought with them, their responses made sense for their characters. They had such substance that they felt real.

Like Bauer, Anna Richland doesn't shirk from the length and depth of the story. It's almost 600 pages. Precisely why I fell so deeply in love with them. (If you want a fast little romance that zooms towards the finish line, you probably won't like this book.)

C and J had time to grow, to learn about themselves and each other, to mess up and repair, to confront scary things and build relationships with other people (family & friends). It felt like something precious to savor.

One of my favorite parts of this book is how Richland made love a verb. It wasn't just "you're hot, let's f*ck, and now I love you forever." The relationship between Connor and Jonathan took work beyond that high-heat first date. It took effort, emotional labor, acts of service, and learning how to de-armor when things feel scary.

They had to choose, again and again, to welcome their differences, to show up for each other even when it was vulnerable or bumped up against old wounds. Connor and Jonathan demonstrate, through action, that love is a daily practice, a daily commitment to trying and doing.

The book is also very, VERY, (I'm gonna say it again) V E R Y funny. Richland has a fantastic sense of comedic timing and comedic dialog—both internal and external. I cackled, snickered, giggled, snorted, laughed, and delighted at many points in the book.

The spicy scenes, especially towards the beginning were a delightful surprise.

I definitely judged this book by its cover and thought it would be a sweet little romantic story. NO. Nope. The spice was hot and intense and kinky with power exchange. There's role play and fantasy play and punishments that lead to pleasure. Jonathan's commands shook me to my bones.

"If I enjoy the French toast, if it is as good as you promised, then I'll reward you."

Don't come, don't come. Make breakfast first. Make very good breakfast. Most excellent breakfast ever.

They have some fantastic high-heat smut, and I am here for it.

So who are the boys?

Connor is the most golden retriever ray of sunshine that ever existed. He is kind and good and open and happy and smart and funny and earnest and always on the move. He is perfect (in his imperfections), and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

Jonathan is the bitter, snarky, guarded black cat (with secretly gooey insides) who grumbles and protests and covers his feelings with sarcasm and biting remarks. He survived big city queer scenes by being mean and bitchy. But his hardened heart doesn't stand a chance against Connor's genuine goodness.

He would gold medal in the sport of making Connor blush.

Watching them accept each other and grow together brought me joy.

But it's not all love, smut, and fur babies. My heart broke for them after a particularly traumatic scene when Connor has to face a past demon and his kind heart works against him. The fallout from that moment hurt so much it brought me to tears.

The more time I spent with Connor and Jonathan, the more I wanted to linger in their world. I knew that no matter what they faced, they would grow towards each other, and I want so much more of that in the world. (My only criticism is why did they never go ice skating?!?!*sobs*)

Read this book and surrender to their beautiful, aching story.

[Bethany Hall]

Thank you Gay Romance Reviews for the digital copy to read!

This book had me by the cover and the golden retriever/black cat vibes. I had an excellent time reading this book. It was so genuinely sweet and I was in love with the initial meet cute of Connor and Jonathan. I loved that they were into each other from the get before they really met at the restaurant. SOO good!

I also thought their relationship progressed very naturally and while it may have seemed fast to some, I actually felt like it was very realistic, especially their more intense feelings coming into play. I really loved how silly and sweet Connor was compared to Jonathan's more defensive personality. They had such a great dynamic and their banter was truly delicious. The teasing was off the charts. Also - they had the most romantic gestures for each other and Jonathan's birthday had me melting.

One of the things I really, really loved in this book is how it turned stereotypes on its head. Connor is the jock who had fantasies of historical romances and loved being told what to do. Jonathan loved taking care of Connor and being exactly what he needed. I also loved how Connor learned to let go of the toxic person in his life and the aftermath of that had me sobbing into my pillow.

This book was spicyyyyyyyyyyyyy and I loved loved loved all of it, but especially the first scene. It was so incredibly hot and had me sweating bullets. I needed to take a breather after. The spicy scenes absolutely advanced the story each and every time, and they were fun and sweet and sexy. The last one was especially gorgeous and had me crying.

I will say - while this book was long, we still had some unresolved things by the end. What was Connor's birthday present? Did they ever go skating? Does Jonathan fix things with his family or does he adopt Connor's as his own? I missed these things, but overall I truly enjoyed this one.

[Tiffany]

3.75 ⭐️

I wanted to LOVE this book. The cover is absolutely beautiful and the character art is what really captured me.

The premise of the book was very promising but fell short.

Spice is my bread and butter and I was confident there would be some very good scenarios but the book sort of skimmed over the good stuff. At times I would get on a roll and be so excited to keep reading and then it would fall short.

I definitely saw the promise in this one but just just couldn't get there.

[Sarah☀️ Somerville]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked the characters - main and supporting characters - and the relationships. I liked the relationship development and how the issues were explored. I liked the kink (lots of fun) and loved how even with the D/s dynamics they always felt like equals in the relationship.

This book is long and there's not a lot of drama/angst, and yet I enjoyed every minute spent with these characters.

[Amanda Winter]

This was good but I really, really wanted to love this one. The cover is gorgeous, and the character art was what initially caught my attention. The premise also sounded right up my alley, so I went in with pretty high hopes.

Unfortunately, it just didn’t quite get there for me. I kept getting excited because I could see the potential, only for things to fall a little short. Even the spicy scenes, which I was definitely looking forward to, felt like they skimmed over the good stuff.

That said, there was still plenty I enjoyed. I liked Connor and Jonathan, their banter and watching their relationship develop. I also really liked their D/s dynamic and how, despite the power exchange, they always felt like equals.

Connor is basically a golden retriever with serious himbo energy—kind, caring, a baseball-playing jock who loves Bridgerton and royalty. Jonathan is more controlled and cynical on the outside but much more insecure when it comes to relationships. They balance each other really well.

I also enjoyed the emotional side of the story and watching them grow together. The writing was beautiful, and I definitely saw the potential here. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with it quite as much as I wanted to.

[Showarst]

This was a new author for me and I did enjoy many parts of the story. I loved Connor quite a bit. He was kind, playful, sweet, a good cook, a reader, and just wanted someone to love him. Jonathan was at times caustic especially towards Connor which I did not really enjoy. I could see the opposites attract trope clearly, but I don’t want to see that energy turned on someone so kind.

There were several things that kept this from being a 4 star read. It was soooo long. They were basically shacking up around 30% so I didn’t understand why we had to have so many pages. Also, there were some things off page that I really wanted to see—- for instance the picnic date. So much was made about this date and it happened off page. It made me scratch my head.

I did enjoy many parts and will read this author again.

I received and ARC from GRR for my honest review

[Heather]

When I saw the cover and title of this book, I knew I wanted to read it. And when I started reading the book, I realized how lovely the story is. Connor and Jonathan are both precious and had the sweetest meet-cute. They figure they’ll never see each other again until they unexpectedly meet up in their home town and decide to spend time together to see where things go.

Connor is basically a golden retriever with himbo energy. He is very kind-hearted and gives his everything to people that he cares about. He’s also a jock who plays baseball and loves Bridgerton and royalty. Jonathan is more cynical and controlled on the outside, but on the inside he’s very insecure about relationships. The two have incredible banter and the sweetest way of teasing each other. The author did an excellent job in differentiating their voices, so even though the book is written in dual third-person points of view, it was always easy to figure out whose perspective I was getting.

The writing is emotional and lyrical and paints a lovely picture of the growth the two characters have individually and together. And while the book does have spicy scenes, they are written in a particularly sensual way that is unique to the author. These scenes always advance the plot and show the growth of Connor and Jonathan’s relationship.

I really enjoyed this book, and I hope the author continues to write MM romance.

Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Holly Deacon]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars

I absolutely loved this! Checking Out the Librarian is such a fun, feel-good MM romance and Connor and Jonathan were impossible not to root for.

Connor is pure golden-retriever energy... sweet, enthusiastic, affectionate and just completely gone for Jonathan. Then we have Jonathan, the prickly, guarded librarian who is basically the human equivalent of a locked door with about seventeen deadbolts. 😂 Watching Connor slowly work his way into Jonathan’s heart was EVERYTHING.

I loved their chemistry and all the banter between them. The fact that they start as an out-of-town hookup and then discover they’re going to be seeing each other again makes the whole situation even better. Connor wants more almost immediately, while Jonathan is busy fighting his own feelings and trying not to sabotage something that could actually be good for him.

There’s so much to love here—cute animals, supportive friends, messy texting, books, sports, hurt/comfort, romance and some seriously spicy moments. I especially loved how sweet Connor could be without ever feeling boring, and how Jonathan’s walls gradually came down.

This was exactly the kind of MM romance I needed: funny, sweet, spicy, emotional and ridiculously cute. Connor and Jonathan completely stole my heart, and I could have happily stayed in their little world for much longer.

A gorgeous opposites-attract romance with two men who fit together far better than either of them expected. Definitely recommend! 💕📚

[Mariah]

what i need is cozy romances like this on a IV

[Dee Layton]

I absolutely loved this book I thought it was absolutely amazing. What drew me to the book was when it said opposites attract and you get a golden retriever and a black cat guy. This mm romance was just one that I absolutely ate up it was so amazing spicy is delicious everything you can think of.
Connor was that golden retriever just wants to be loved and so energetic so outgoing and the fact that he was a second grade teacher was so perfect for him. He always felt like he was just too much too much energy too much just everything and he just needed somebody to love him.
Then come Jonathan he was laid back starting over trying to get a stuff together the more reserve kind of guy you're black cat MMC and decided to give Connor a chance.
These two are complete opposites if there ever was complete opposite and Connor really really wanted to make this work.
I'm on top of a chemistry in this book just naturally feels and how they just work so wonderfully together they're like each other's yin and yang even though it takes a minute for them to figure it out.
Overall, this is just an absolutely beautiful book I loved it I love the energy and the passion and the spice that it brought this is a new author too for me so I am blown away and love it.

[Bere Peltier]

This is an M/M romance featuring a femme man/jock pairing with BDSM elements. It explores vulnerability within D/s dynamics, the importance of agreements, setting boundaries, and discovering submission in a safe and consensual environment.

The dynamic between our MMCs is a fast burn that gradually evolves into something much deeper: the creation of genuine intimacy (and I don’t mean intimacy in a purely sexual sense). Watching them embrace their dynamic and seeing it slowly blossom into something meaningful was beautiful. I especially loved how they navigated the challenges that arose between them, allowing us to see both characters grow emotionally and mature as the story unfolded.

I also love the way the Dom handled subdrop, offering the sub the kind of thoughtful and reassuring aftercare that made their dynamic feel even more authentic. His patience, attentiveness, and understanding of his partner’s emotional needs were beautifully portrayed, reminding us that BDSM is not just about the dynamic itself, but also about the care, trust, and vulnerability that come afterward.

This is my first time reading this author, and I’m so happy that Gay Romance Reviews gave me the opportunity to receive this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you enjoy a fast burn that develops into deep love, awe, respect, and shared vulnerability, all accompanied by BDSM elements, definitely give this book a try!

[Jeanette Waters]

"Checking Out the Librarian" starts with a hook up, ends with a HEA and in between has some kink lite. Connor and Jonathan are two perfectly nice guys. A good fit, Connor is a second grade teacher and Jonathan a librarian. Connor is sweet and pure sunshine. Jonathan is angsty, anxious and grumpy.
The book takes an odd turn right at the start. The hook-up has all the steam and spice a reader can want. Then, when they meet again, the relationship turns turtle slow. So, hook-up to friends- to lovers. The kink in the story is role play, specifically Regency romance duke and valet service kink. Which is rather fitting as they're both academics.
A sweet romance. Neither man has ever had a real meaningful relationship. Connor is more than ready. He wants the settle down, picket fence, forever love. Jonathan is not so ready. Rather than pushing him, Connor is very supportive. This book is about kind and caring men finding each other. The cover and the blurb gave me lite and floofy vibes. But sorry, Charlie. It has depth and is quite thoughtful.
I received an advanced copy of this ebook from GRR and this is my review.

[Grace C]

*** Thank you to Anna Richland and GRR for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. ***

Checking Out the Librarian was such a sweet, warm MM romance. Connor and Jonathan were complete opposites, but their golden retriever/black cat dynamic worked so well. I loved their banter, chemistry, and watching them go from an unexpected hookup to something much more meaningful.

I especially appreciated how much time the story gave them to actually get to know each other and grow together. The supportive friends, adorable pets, hurt/comfort, and the way they communicated instead of relying on endless misunderstandings all added so much to the romance. Jonathan’s character growth was also a highlight for me.

My main issue was the length. At times, it felt like some scenes and details could have been trimmed down, and I would have liked a little more resolution for a few of the smaller story threads.

Overall, this was a funny, heartfelt, low-angst romance with great chemistry, plenty of banter, and two characters who genuinely brought out the best in each other.

[SJ]

Oh my goodness, I was not prepared for how much I would absolutely love and adore this book and these guys. Connor and Jonathan are so stinkin' cute together, I just cannot even with them.

First of all, the banter was top notch, then we had Jonathan's bossy dommy demeanor in the bedroom while Connor was such a good boy for him, gahhhhh!!!
I loved their dynamic so much and how their feelings developed from one steamy night to more. Connor's inner monologue had me laughing out loud. He is such a golden retriever and a total himbo simp for Jonathan. I was also totally obsessed with Jonathan's style from the painted nails to his outfits, and his sarcasm was top notch. They were total opposites, but they just worked so perfectly together.

This was such a fun/adorble low angst read. I was laughing, swooning, and melting from the heat.


Tropes:
Grumpy + Sunshine
Opposites attract
One Night stand
Golden retriever himbo
Black Cat
Hurt/Comfort
Size difference
Role play
Dual 3rd person POV

Thank you, GRR and Anna Richland, for the opportunity to read this book.

[Jennifer]

A dreamy, poetic, romantic story that starts with a meet cute and flows into them being perfect for each other in a myriad if ways but neither of them quite believing it despite them repeatedly being exactly what the other needs.

There is a third act breakup but it’s mostly because of what they insist on holding onto in their minds about worth and truth and what they assume the other must be thinking. Angsty but in a good way and not over the top.

I really enjoyed the writing style and the way the characters showed up for each other in small ways and how they were able to be themselves around each other even though it took a while for them both to trust in it.

The spicy scenes were done in an interesting way - the most detail is about the lighter “activities” shall we say and then it often fades to black or alludes to the most intimate stuff - and yet it’s still hot spice.

I see that this is the author’s first MM after lots of MF romances and I hope there are more!

I received an ARC of this book from GRR. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Marion]

This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and easy to read. This is the story of Connor McMillan and Jonathan Park. Connor is a second grade teacher and has the enthusiasm and energy to prove it. He is ready to find a relationship where he is supported and loved. Jonathan is the new librarian. His career path changed from professional athlete to librarian after suffering from burn out. He is outwardly cynical and inwardly insecure about relationships. The two meet while out of town and hook up through an app. After an enjoyable night, they each go their own way. But unbeknownst to them, they now both live in the same town. This is their story. I loved watching their relationship slowly evolve. Connors enthusiasm and determination to make Jonathan love him is contagious. The banter and teasing between them really draws you in. I really enjoyed this book.

[Traci S]

Thank you for the book, here is my honest opinion:
3.5⭐️Rounded up, for Connor. I enjoyed Connor and Jonathan’s story, it would be absolutely impossible not to be delighted by Connor. He was definitely a highlight and the writing and side characters were both good. The book is frustratingly long though, glossing over stuff I was interested in and spending loads of time on internal monologues and seemingly mundane things. I liked spending time with these two so it’s not a dealbreaker, personally. What spice there is was actually excellent but tended to fade to black quickly. It’s promising but feels unfinished. The ending also kind of petered out quickly, also frustratingly fast. I enjoyed it though and I would definitely read for from this author, if she decides to write another mm romance.

[Beth King]

Anna Richlands first MM Romance is a must read!

Connor and Jonathan seem like two opposites that may be two high strung for each other. Connor is a second grade teacher and Jonathan is an ex-figure skating librarian with my icks than you can count.

Through some miscommunication, teaching Jonathan how to pets Connors dog, the rescuing of a library dumpster kitten and weeks of co-ed softball games these two come together in a way that is both beautiful and hilarious.

There's is a trigger warning in the beginning that plays a large roll later in the book, so definitely check that out. Other than that this book was well written and flowed so smoothly. There were a lot of great friends throughout and of course the cute animals.

10/10 recommend.

Happy reading

[Wendy]

This book is definitely going onto my Comfort Rereads list, because I know I definitely need to read it again, perhaps less gluttonously next time.
Connor and Jonathan are fire from the first meeting, and I loved the looks inside both their heads, understanding their pasts and their thinking and their worries and their hopes and dreams. They're both fully realized people with lives, friends, and careers, who want more but haven't been successful romantically. Meeting changes everything, as it does in real life, and their journey from hot hookups to maybe-dating to merging their lives and friend groups is emotional and overthinky and 100% true to them. Very rewarding to watch them overcome things together and become more than the sum of their separate selves.

[Raven and Chris]

This story is so much deeper than the surface would allow you to believe. I fell in love with Connor and Jonathan pretty fast and was hooked into their story. Neither young man has had a true relationship before, but Connor is tired of hookups and ready to settle down. He is trying to move on. I found it interesting he had so compartmentalized his life that his family didn’t know he was gay. This story is about two men growing up a little and finding their perfect partner in life. Jonathan isn’t perfect either. They both have issues and insecurities, but they do communicate about them. This story was really worth a read. I have been finding myself bored with contemporary stories, but this one gave me some of my faith back in them.

[Jenya Cro]

I truly loved Jonathan and Connor's story, the emotions are strong with this one. It is a beautifully written love story of two men who are two very different personalities navigating through life and love.

I strongly identified with black cat personality of Jonathan, the sarcasm and the feeling of being too much. Connor was the sweetest, kindest golden retriever, which is why I found the unwanted kiss scene very jarring and extremely emotional to read. Make sure you read the triggers.

Also being a personal fan of greyhounds, it was difficult to not let Ribby steal the entire book, he was a very good boy.

I cannot recommend this enough.

I received this as an ARC but this is a completely honest review.

[Vols77]

Many romcom romances are written as fast moving love stories. Such as not the case with this book of Connor and Jonathan. It is an extremely long but well developed story and characters that drew me in from page one. It is rare that I can say I read over a 600 page book in two settings. I had to know how the romance between second grade teacher Connor a new librarian Jonathan ended. The dialogue is funny the characters likable, and are the perfect offset to one another as each compliments the needs of the other. This low Axe book really tugged at my heart. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Sharon]

Jonathon is the classic black cat for good reasons, but he has a great heart. Connor is the classic golden retriever who thinks the best of everyone. The two of them complement each other and bring out the best in each other.

Their journey from hookup to boyfriends has misunderstandings, but through it all, they both keep choosing each other. The way they both push themselves to support each other and try to be their best selves for each other is inspiring.

After all of their trials, Jonathon and Connor end up perfect for each other. This is definitely being added to my list of comfort reads.