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Playing by Ear
The final book in the red-hot M/M romance series set in Scotland
Peregrine Hull is losing his sight. But he’s adapting, even thriving in his work as a journalist…and a cam model. When he meets a gifted Glasgow street musician who not only accepts but embraces his secret sexy side gig, Perry’s life seems to be falling into place.
Jamie Guthrie is losing his mask. A decade ago, he fled his family of rich, ruthless gangsters to survive on his own. Content to (barely) make ends meet as a busker, he avoids any spotlight that could expose his identity. No one has ever known the real him—or wanted to—until Perry.
When Jamie’s family reaches out in their hour of need, will he risk everything to look after his dangerous, dying father? How long before Perry’s inquiring mind discovers the truth?
To find the happiness they deserve, Perry and Jamie must learn to see each other—and love each other—for who they are.
Peregrine Hull is losing his sight. But he’s adapting, even thriving in his work as a journalist…and a cam model. When he meets a gifted Glasgow street musician who not only accepts but embraces his secret sexy side gig, Perry’s life seems to be falling into place.
Jamie Guthrie is losing his mask. A decade ago, he fled his family of rich, ruthless gangsters to survive on his own. Content to (barely) make ends meet as a busker, he avoids any spotlight that could expose his identity. No one has ever known the real him—or wanted to—until Perry.
When Jamie’s family reaches out in their hour of need, will he risk everything to look after his dangerous, dying father? How long before Perry’s inquiring mind discovers the truth?
To find the happiness they deserve, Perry and Jamie must learn to see each other—and love each other—for who they are.
ebook
Published September 29, 2026
About the author
Avery Cockburn
19 books503 followersAvery Cockburn (rhymes with Savory Slow Churn) lives in the great State of Maryland with one infinitely patient man and two infinitely impatient cats.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 23, 2026
This is not a typcial story of a hot blind cam boy and a talented busker with a shady past. It’s layered, emotional and delves into complex family loyalties. Things start off slow, kind of simple and almost meandering but then it all deepens into quite the complex story. Hang in there, it’s worth it by the end but takes a little while to develop and certain scenes are tough to read (see TW).
This series has been in progress since 2015. And it feels it, there is clearly a whole lot of time put into writing these books. They don’t feel slapdash or rushed. There are serious themes, well established characters, genuine relationship development. The story takes time to unfold and I can sense that the author has put a lot of time and thought into her words. It’s lovely to see some of the earlier characters even though it’s been a while since I’ve read their books.
I don’t want to say too much to spoil this and around half way I had some doubts about whether it would deliver. It’s long - 500 + pages, but I should have trusted the author for it was very well done. Jamie’s conflicted feelings about his family are very well written. Lovely genuine feeling romance. Excellent disability rep and a strong supporting cast of life-like characters.
Trigger warning: on page and with detailed descriptions - nursing a dying parent with cancer, deterioration of health, home hospice care, death of a parent. This reads very accurately so please take care when reading and my condolences to the author if she has gone through this with a loved one.
Thankyou to GRR and the author for this ARC
This series has been in progress since 2015. And it feels it, there is clearly a whole lot of time put into writing these books. They don’t feel slapdash or rushed. There are serious themes, well established characters, genuine relationship development. The story takes time to unfold and I can sense that the author has put a lot of time and thought into her words. It’s lovely to see some of the earlier characters even though it’s been a while since I’ve read their books.
I don’t want to say too much to spoil this and around half way I had some doubts about whether it would deliver. It’s long - 500 + pages, but I should have trusted the author for it was very well done. Jamie’s conflicted feelings about his family are very well written. Lovely genuine feeling romance. Excellent disability rep and a strong supporting cast of life-like characters.
Trigger warning: on page and with detailed descriptions - nursing a dying parent with cancer, deterioration of health, home hospice care, death of a parent. This reads very accurately so please take care when reading and my condolences to the author if she has gone through this with a loved one.
Thankyou to GRR and the author for this ARC
October 31, 2026
I have read books .5, 1, 2, 3 in this series and enjoyed all of those, among others by this often stellar author. I especially loved the book featuring curling, a sport I had zero clue about and thoroughly enjoyed being part of. Usually the author immerses you in their world of rough and tumble Glasgow Lads and makes you feel part of the team.
This book sadly did not work for me, and I DNF’d at 26%.
It started off well, charming, with a fast and furious instant-interest meet-cute between vision-impaired camboy MC Perry and busking-for-a-living talented guitar player/singer who has separated his life from his powerful dangerous mafia-esque family Jamie. Perry using his cane for the first time, Jamie entrancing him with his talent, then being entranced by Perry and chasing him down in the rain…lovely.
The continuation with side characters of the LGBTQ/all genders football team was wonderful and welcome, I enjoy this crew a lot.
The introduction of Perry’s vision-impaired/blind football team was interesting and had potential.
Jamie’s relationship with his mafia-involved sister was stellar, arresting and well-done, as was seeing him go back to the neighborhood, face his father for the first time in a decade, and deal with who he is and who he wishes he were. Conflicted, intense, well characterized…I was in it.
However… well, if you want to know, here’s a list of what got to be too much for me and I stopped reading.
The coincidence/connection between them—Perry’s reason for quitting the job he would have had to quit anyway due to his diminishing eyesight being directly related to Jamie’s family.
The coincidence that both play football and even practice and have games in the same space.
That was already one conceit too many to swallow.
The way Perry chooses to reveal his camming to Jamie. Instead of communicating in person like a grownup, he And consent is a thing. Getting an unsolicited dick pic is uncool, and this is next level.
The reaction to that was one long PSA about how positive it is, how empowering for a vision-impaired person to choose to do this to take control of his body instead of taking a government handout, because everyone knows people who take handouts are losers and that would be so beneath Perry (and his mum…he’s following her example of not accepting charity) Not him, he’s too proud. (I’m being sarcastic, that is not how it was worded precisely, but, that was the exact impression left. It was not well said.) Followed by Jamie’s suggestion that Suuuper safe. (I hope he doesn’t go there, but, I don’t know.)
The fact that the MCs first time being intimate together is entirely off page, fade to blackout black, followed instead by the full-on, beat by beat description of Perry’s camming sesh (solo, I think they’re always solo), as if that is much more important than seeing the heroes be intimate together for the very first time. What???
I was very much enjoying the heroes individually, but, this plot has everything and the kitchen sink in it. Perry's a reporter whose next story may lead him to Jamie's family. Living with retinitis pigmentosa (which I believe is well done, though I am not an expert). Camming. PSA’s about how empowering and sex-positive sex work is, no potential downsides. Mafia. A noble hero who doesn’t approve of his father’s bad ways and so distanced himself from the family because blood money, who then is saintly and comes back to care for him when he’s terminally ill. A direct connection between the heroes who have met at random and instantly been attracted to each other. It was…a lot.
The author’s writing is still very enjoyable, but the content in this book was confusing and disappointing me too much to continue. I’ll go back to the previous books.
I’m sorry this wasn’t a winner for me, but, I do recommend so, SO many other books this author has written! They are talented and usually enjoyable.
I don’t believe this will have OM action. Not sure on OM drama. I imagine some danger from Jamie’s family, and please take care, anyone who has gone through caring for a failing parent or loved one, or might be triggered by that. I do sense that will be handled thoughtfully and believably.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC. I tried, and I do look forward to whatever the author does next. This is my free opinion, though I guess impartial fled the building, apologies.
This book sadly did not work for me, and I DNF’d at 26%.
It started off well, charming, with a fast and furious instant-interest meet-cute between vision-impaired camboy MC Perry and busking-for-a-living talented guitar player/singer who has separated his life from his powerful dangerous mafia-esque family Jamie. Perry using his cane for the first time, Jamie entrancing him with his talent, then being entranced by Perry and chasing him down in the rain…lovely.
The continuation with side characters of the LGBTQ/all genders football team was wonderful and welcome, I enjoy this crew a lot.
The introduction of Perry’s vision-impaired/blind football team was interesting and had potential.
Jamie’s relationship with his mafia-involved sister was stellar, arresting and well-done, as was seeing him go back to the neighborhood, face his father for the first time in a decade, and deal with who he is and who he wishes he were. Conflicted, intense, well characterized…I was in it.
However… well, if you want to know, here’s a list of what got to be too much for me and I stopped reading.
The coincidence/connection between them—Perry’s reason for quitting the job he would have had to quit anyway due to his diminishing eyesight being directly related to Jamie’s family.
The coincidence that both play football and even practice and have games in the same space.
That was already one conceit too many to swallow.
The way Perry chooses to reveal his camming to Jamie. Instead of communicating in person like a grownup, he And consent is a thing. Getting an unsolicited dick pic is uncool, and this is next level.
The reaction to that was one long PSA about how positive it is, how empowering for a vision-impaired person to choose to do this to take control of his body instead of taking a government handout, because everyone knows people who take handouts are losers and that would be so beneath Perry (and his mum…he’s following her example of not accepting charity) Not him, he’s too proud. (I’m being sarcastic, that is not how it was worded precisely, but, that was the exact impression left. It was not well said.) Followed by Jamie’s suggestion that Suuuper safe. (I hope he doesn’t go there, but, I don’t know.)
The fact that the MCs first time being intimate together is entirely off page, fade to blackout black, followed instead by the full-on, beat by beat description of Perry’s camming sesh (solo, I think they’re always solo), as if that is much more important than seeing the heroes be intimate together for the very first time. What???
I was very much enjoying the heroes individually, but, this plot has everything and the kitchen sink in it. Perry's a reporter whose next story may lead him to Jamie's family. Living with retinitis pigmentosa (which I believe is well done, though I am not an expert). Camming. PSA’s about how empowering and sex-positive sex work is, no potential downsides. Mafia. A noble hero who doesn’t approve of his father’s bad ways and so distanced himself from the family because blood money, who then is saintly and comes back to care for him when he’s terminally ill. A direct connection between the heroes who have met at random and instantly been attracted to each other. It was…a lot.
The author’s writing is still very enjoyable, but the content in this book was confusing and disappointing me too much to continue. I’ll go back to the previous books.
I’m sorry this wasn’t a winner for me, but, I do recommend so, SO many other books this author has written! They are talented and usually enjoyable.
I don’t believe this will have OM action. Not sure on OM drama. I imagine some danger from Jamie’s family, and please take care, anyone who has gone through caring for a failing parent or loved one, or might be triggered by that. I do sense that will be handled thoughtfully and believably.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC. I tried, and I do look forward to whatever the author does next. This is my free opinion, though I guess impartial fled the building, apologies.
October 13, 2026
I love how this author never writes a predictable story, even when it’s a romance. When I’m in the mood to be swept away into a character’s life i always choose Avery Cockburn. The story is always layered and full of emotion.
I read a horror romance just before starting this one so it it took me a minute to get into it, settle into the slower pace and subtle vibes and the subtext. Soon I was completely immersed and invested and spent the last three days in Glasgow with Perry and Jaime.
This is not a typical romance with typical challenges keeping them apart, there is no high drama, though there is a tonne of the dramatic. Instead it ponders like we would the greys in life the changes in our personality and how we grow and adapt and reconsider what seemed black and white.
It also has a phenomenal disability rep and the sports really is centre stage.
The romance is beautiful real and punches you with feeling. The way these two support each other through thick and thin is a thing of beauty.
The supporting cast is also phenomenally developed. Really the characters spot lit in this story are sublime. The writing is gentle nudge to keep reading on because you’re so invested in their lives.
If you love music and football and a romance challenged by something real but all comes well in the end, highly recommend reading this book
I read a horror romance just before starting this one so it it took me a minute to get into it, settle into the slower pace and subtle vibes and the subtext. Soon I was completely immersed and invested and spent the last three days in Glasgow with Perry and Jaime.
This is not a typical romance with typical challenges keeping them apart, there is no high drama, though there is a tonne of the dramatic. Instead it ponders like we would the greys in life the changes in our personality and how we grow and adapt and reconsider what seemed black and white.
It also has a phenomenal disability rep and the sports really is centre stage.
The romance is beautiful real and punches you with feeling. The way these two support each other through thick and thin is a thing of beauty.
The supporting cast is also phenomenally developed. Really the characters spot lit in this story are sublime. The writing is gentle nudge to keep reading on because you’re so invested in their lives.
If you love music and football and a romance challenged by something real but all comes well in the end, highly recommend reading this book
October 29, 2026
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
🎸⚽🦯
I confess that I'd read Playing For Keeps yearsssss ago, but after reading THIS lovely, achy darling, I'm actually really sad that I'd not continued the series back then. But I will rectify that ASAP because Playing by Ear was pretty wonderful ngl.
The narrative was emotionally compelling, multifaceted, deeply moving, and enriching in so many different ways. Perry's challenges due to his declining vision loss was done so well, and Jamie's family dynamics had me by the throat from start to finish. The characterizations were all so solid and real they could have jumped straight off the page and rocked it in the real world.
I was hooked on every grief-laden tear, triumph on the pitch, groovy street jam, mute swan gliding by, signed first edition changing hands, childhood stuffie that made me think of When Doves Cry instantly (I love symbolism) and how everyone's headaches had me knocking on wood.
But there was also a lot of love and joy too!
I LOVED THAT THEY BOTH PLAYED FOOTBALL AND THAT THEIR TEAMS WERE BOTH SO UNIQUE! It honestly made me ridiculously happy how much insight into the MCs I'd gleaned just by how they played their game. Perry's blind matches were an amazingly textured experience I'd never had before, and I was goofy and elated by how brilliant Jamie's LGBTQ team got on.
🎶And I especially loved how these two sweeties had the most luscious, music-related conversations. I had to catch my breath because I WAS BOTH Jamie and Perry when they'd grieved for some great musical icons we'd collectively lost back in the day.😭
🔥Their relationship omg was sooooo fire ❤️🔥 Perry's sexy secret had me screaming, but then when Jamie got to know alllll of Mr. Peregrine Hull aiiiiiieee was innnnn love 🥵
hello they were looking in each other's eyes
and my dude's going blind
but he made sure he saw alllll the right things on Jamie's blissed out face
and then rolled his hips extra to give bae some more of that🌶️ahhhhh and they cuddled too. So much fluttery heart action 💓 I just could not look away👀
Grateful that this ARC brought Avery Cockburn back on the scene for me because this was fabulous, and has made me very excited to read the rest of this series as soon as I get the chance!
🎸⚽🦯
I confess that I'd read Playing For Keeps yearsssss ago, but after reading THIS lovely, achy darling, I'm actually really sad that I'd not continued the series back then. But I will rectify that ASAP because Playing by Ear was pretty wonderful ngl.
The narrative was emotionally compelling, multifaceted, deeply moving, and enriching in so many different ways. Perry's challenges due to his declining vision loss was done so well, and Jamie's family dynamics had me by the throat from start to finish. The characterizations were all so solid and real they could have jumped straight off the page and rocked it in the real world.
I was hooked on every grief-laden tear, triumph on the pitch, groovy street jam, mute swan gliding by, signed first edition changing hands, childhood stuffie that made me think of When Doves Cry instantly (I love symbolism) and how everyone's headaches had me knocking on wood.
But there was also a lot of love and joy too!
I LOVED THAT THEY BOTH PLAYED FOOTBALL AND THAT THEIR TEAMS WERE BOTH SO UNIQUE! It honestly made me ridiculously happy how much insight into the MCs I'd gleaned just by how they played their game. Perry's blind matches were an amazingly textured experience I'd never had before, and I was goofy and elated by how brilliant Jamie's LGBTQ team got on.
🎶And I especially loved how these two sweeties had the most luscious, music-related conversations. I had to catch my breath because I WAS BOTH Jamie and Perry when they'd grieved for some great musical icons we'd collectively lost back in the day.😭
🔥Their relationship omg was sooooo fire ❤️🔥 Perry's sexy secret had me screaming, but then when Jamie got to know alllll of Mr. Peregrine Hull aiiiiiieee was innnnn love 🥵
hello they were looking in each other's eyes
and my dude's going blind
but he made sure he saw alllll the right things on Jamie's blissed out face
and then rolled his hips extra to give bae some more of that🌶️ahhhhh and they cuddled too. So much fluttery heart action 💓 I just could not look away👀
Grateful that this ARC brought Avery Cockburn back on the scene for me because this was fabulous, and has made me very excited to read the rest of this series as soon as I get the chance!
October 7, 2026
B+ / 4.5 stars
Playing by Ear is the fifth and final full-length novel in Avery Cockburn’s Glasgow Lads series, and although I have yet to read the other books (and assorted novellas), it works perfectly fine as a standalone. The series features the members of a Glasgow-based LGBTQ+ amateur football team and their partners and friends, and in this book, we meet musician Jamie Guthrie – who plays for the team – and Peregrine (Perry) Hull, a journalist with a genetic condition that means he’s losing his sight.
When we first meet Perry in this story, he’s only just accepted the need to start using a white cane as an aid and he’s struggling to make the adjustment. He hates that it’s come to this; he knew it would but it’s still a blow to realise that he’s reached the stage where he needs it. He’s getting coffee one afternoon at his regular haunt in town when he hears music coming from nearby and recognises the voice and guitar playing of the guy he’s heard busking regularly around town. Whoever he is, he’s very, very good and Perry can’t help wondering why he’s busking when he’s clearly so talented; he makes his way towards the singing but then realises he has no cash on him, so instead he writes a note on the back of his coffee receipt:
Sorry I’ve no cash but I wanted to thank you for sharing your gift.
And drops it into the singer’s guitar open case.
Jamie Guthrie left his home and family when he was sixteen and has been fending for himself for the last decade. He makes a not-too-bad living by busking, and the flat he calls home is maybe a bit shabby, but he loves making music and playing for the Rainbow Warriors amateur footie team; it’s not a bad life all told. He watches the seriously hot guy with the white cane drop something into his guitar case – and as soon as he finishes his allotted slot, he packs away as fast as he can and heads off in the same direction, hoping to find him and maybe get his number… or something. Luck is on Jamie’s side (although the weather isn’t – rain starts hammering down just as Jamie sees the man about to get into a taxi) – he manages to catch up with him and then invites him to have coffee.
Thats the meet-cute, and Jamie and Perry connect pretty much instantly, bonding over a shared love of music and football (Perry used to be a professional referee and he now plays for a five-a-side blind football team), and talking to each other easily, like they’ve known each other for years. Coffee leads to a dinner date a few evenings later, to more conversation and then back to Perry’s for dessert – but things are interrupted by an urgent call from Jamie’s sister which he can’t ignore.
Playing by Ear is quite long for a romance novel (Amazon gives the print length as 569 pages), but I enjoyed it and became invested in it quite quickly. While Jamie and Perry’s romance is central to the story, there are a couple of major subplots woven throughout, one that deals with Perry’s worsening condition and how he comes to terms with it, and another to do with Jamie’s complicated relationship with his family and most particularly with his dying father.
[An aside here: Jamie’s story involves his becoming a carer for a terminally ill parent who has opted for hospice at home care. Nothing is graphic, but having gone through this myself with my mother last year, reading about the installation of a hospital bed, visits from the hospice team and other details I recognised from my own experience did bring it back to me. The author clearly did their research or has experienced this because it’s very well written; just be aware that it’s in the book if you’re dealing or have had to deal with the same thing.]
In terms of the romance, both Perry and Jamie are keeping secrets which have the potential to torpedo their relationship, but thankfully, Avery Cockburn doesn’t lean into any contrived miscommunication or misunderstandings, and when those secrets come to light, they are able to handle them in a mature way and keep the channels of communication open, even when Perry discovers the truth about Jamie’s past and how it affected his own life and career. And I loved that; these guys are twenty-six (Jamie) and thirty-two (Perry), and they behave like the adults they are; they know they have something real and make conscious decisions to talk things through and try to understand where the other is coming from. It’s not always easy – certainly it’s less easy for Perry – but they’re both willing to do what it takes to stay together, and I really liked the theme running through the story, of coming to see someone for who they really are and loving them because (rather than in spite) of it.
The author does a great job with the characterisation of both leads. She must have done a lot of research into Perry’s condition and writes his visual impairment and how he is adapting to it in a way that is never patronising or ‘othering’; he’s a well-rounded person with many different facets to his personality, just as we all are. And the conflict Jamie faces, of loving his family while being angry at them, of hating what his father has done but still loving him and wanting to be there to care for him, is poignant and incredibly well written. As a couple, they have terrific chemistry and their relationship is so well developed that by the end of the book you really feel that this is a couple for whom forever is definitely on the cards.
There’s only one real downside, which is that the book is long (as I’ve said) and there were times in the second half where I felt my attention flagging a bit. Not because the story wasn’t interesting or because I didn’t care about what was happening, but the last twenty-five percent or so is more taken up with Jamie’s relationship with his father, and while I can acknowledge the importance of this to the overall story, and honestly can’t see what the author might have cut, I can’t deny that I wanted a bit more of the romance in that part of the book. (There are quite a few football scenes near the end, too, and I’m afraid I just skimmed them – I know Glasgow Lads is a football-based series, but, eh, I’m not here for the football!)
That - and the fact that the romance gets just a little bit sidelined occasionally - are the only complaints I have about Playing by Ear. It’s a tender, sexy and heartfelt contemporary romance featuring engaging characters, a well-developed love story and a strong secondary cast – and it reminded me that I definitely need to get around to reading the earlier books in the series. Recommended.
Playing by Ear is the fifth and final full-length novel in Avery Cockburn’s Glasgow Lads series, and although I have yet to read the other books (and assorted novellas), it works perfectly fine as a standalone. The series features the members of a Glasgow-based LGBTQ+ amateur football team and their partners and friends, and in this book, we meet musician Jamie Guthrie – who plays for the team – and Peregrine (Perry) Hull, a journalist with a genetic condition that means he’s losing his sight.
When we first meet Perry in this story, he’s only just accepted the need to start using a white cane as an aid and he’s struggling to make the adjustment. He hates that it’s come to this; he knew it would but it’s still a blow to realise that he’s reached the stage where he needs it. He’s getting coffee one afternoon at his regular haunt in town when he hears music coming from nearby and recognises the voice and guitar playing of the guy he’s heard busking regularly around town. Whoever he is, he’s very, very good and Perry can’t help wondering why he’s busking when he’s clearly so talented; he makes his way towards the singing but then realises he has no cash on him, so instead he writes a note on the back of his coffee receipt:
Sorry I’ve no cash but I wanted to thank you for sharing your gift.
And drops it into the singer’s guitar open case.
Jamie Guthrie left his home and family when he was sixteen and has been fending for himself for the last decade. He makes a not-too-bad living by busking, and the flat he calls home is maybe a bit shabby, but he loves making music and playing for the Rainbow Warriors amateur footie team; it’s not a bad life all told. He watches the seriously hot guy with the white cane drop something into his guitar case – and as soon as he finishes his allotted slot, he packs away as fast as he can and heads off in the same direction, hoping to find him and maybe get his number… or something. Luck is on Jamie’s side (although the weather isn’t – rain starts hammering down just as Jamie sees the man about to get into a taxi) – he manages to catch up with him and then invites him to have coffee.
Thats the meet-cute, and Jamie and Perry connect pretty much instantly, bonding over a shared love of music and football (Perry used to be a professional referee and he now plays for a five-a-side blind football team), and talking to each other easily, like they’ve known each other for years. Coffee leads to a dinner date a few evenings later, to more conversation and then back to Perry’s for dessert – but things are interrupted by an urgent call from Jamie’s sister which he can’t ignore.
Playing by Ear is quite long for a romance novel (Amazon gives the print length as 569 pages), but I enjoyed it and became invested in it quite quickly. While Jamie and Perry’s romance is central to the story, there are a couple of major subplots woven throughout, one that deals with Perry’s worsening condition and how he comes to terms with it, and another to do with Jamie’s complicated relationship with his family and most particularly with his dying father.
[An aside here: Jamie’s story involves his becoming a carer for a terminally ill parent who has opted for hospice at home care. Nothing is graphic, but having gone through this myself with my mother last year, reading about the installation of a hospital bed, visits from the hospice team and other details I recognised from my own experience did bring it back to me. The author clearly did their research or has experienced this because it’s very well written; just be aware that it’s in the book if you’re dealing or have had to deal with the same thing.]
In terms of the romance, both Perry and Jamie are keeping secrets which have the potential to torpedo their relationship, but thankfully, Avery Cockburn doesn’t lean into any contrived miscommunication or misunderstandings, and when those secrets come to light, they are able to handle them in a mature way and keep the channels of communication open, even when Perry discovers the truth about Jamie’s past and how it affected his own life and career. And I loved that; these guys are twenty-six (Jamie) and thirty-two (Perry), and they behave like the adults they are; they know they have something real and make conscious decisions to talk things through and try to understand where the other is coming from. It’s not always easy – certainly it’s less easy for Perry – but they’re both willing to do what it takes to stay together, and I really liked the theme running through the story, of coming to see someone for who they really are and loving them because (rather than in spite) of it.
The author does a great job with the characterisation of both leads. She must have done a lot of research into Perry’s condition and writes his visual impairment and how he is adapting to it in a way that is never patronising or ‘othering’; he’s a well-rounded person with many different facets to his personality, just as we all are. And the conflict Jamie faces, of loving his family while being angry at them, of hating what his father has done but still loving him and wanting to be there to care for him, is poignant and incredibly well written. As a couple, they have terrific chemistry and their relationship is so well developed that by the end of the book you really feel that this is a couple for whom forever is definitely on the cards.
There’s only one real downside, which is that the book is long (as I’ve said) and there were times in the second half where I felt my attention flagging a bit. Not because the story wasn’t interesting or because I didn’t care about what was happening, but the last twenty-five percent or so is more taken up with Jamie’s relationship with his father, and while I can acknowledge the importance of this to the overall story, and honestly can’t see what the author might have cut, I can’t deny that I wanted a bit more of the romance in that part of the book. (There are quite a few football scenes near the end, too, and I’m afraid I just skimmed them – I know Glasgow Lads is a football-based series, but, eh, I’m not here for the football!)
That - and the fact that the romance gets just a little bit sidelined occasionally - are the only complaints I have about Playing by Ear. It’s a tender, sexy and heartfelt contemporary romance featuring engaging characters, a well-developed love story and a strong secondary cast – and it reminded me that I definitely need to get around to reading the earlier books in the series. Recommended.
October 30, 2026
Not me lamenting that Goodreads finally got off its ass to give us 1/2 and 1/4 star ratings, because in the before times I woulda just gone "3.5 rounded up" -- the perfect compromise position of "better than 3, not quite a 4, but now I get to be magnaminous" -- and thus spared myself the agonies of indecision of how to rate this. And don't come at me with "that's what 3.75 stars are for, Kathleen." The notion that my brain is so fine-tuned that it can rate books in quarter increments is laughably misplaced. My brain is not a precision instrument! I will not lie to the people!!
The thing is, this was waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the only other book I've read in the series, in tems of craft and character-likeability. But it's also very . . . how do I say this . . . long. So, so long. And kinda slow? And, like. There's a lot going on. A lot!!! And I appreciate that not every twist and turn has to be made into this huge drama showdown (though there are a couple of those as well). But it ends up being this weird mix of two characters who have a shitton of stuff going on -- Blind cam model freelance journalist renaissance man + gangsta son busker balancing severe childhood trauma with lingering familial affection who takes on a heavy caregiving role -- meaning that, while there's no shortage of material -- secrets! lies! -- it's almost too much stuff, you know? And so you don't really get these big emotional peaks and valleys (and ensuing readerly payoffs), because we're constantly moving from one high-stress situation to another, with little downtime. But the writing is also pretty chill, so it kinda reads slower and more muted than it is? I don't know, friends. See above disclaimer re brain not precision boo.
Ending up going the full 4 stars mostly because I thought the caregiving storyline was very well done. (And on that note -- readers who are sensitive to storylines relating to cancer/ terminal illness of a loved one, caregiving for someone in the last stages of life, and parental death will want to take care or steer clear.) Indeed, this rather quiet aspect of the story -- which involved the emotional and physical struggles and exhaustion of caring for a parent with whom one had an extremely fraught relationship that resulted in a decade-long estrangement (note that the fraughtness is NOT related to homophobia, but to the crime-lord aspect of the family) -- is the most moving, and it made me wish that Cockburn had been more selective in throwing so many elements into the mix. Having so much going on with both characters makes the book feel like an all-you-can-eat buffet: great in theory, but too much in practice. I feel like cutting out some of the extraneous elements and sub-storylines from both characters would have honed the emotional salience, and made for a shorter, better book.
That said, I really liked how sex work-positive it is. It was clear and unapologetic about what Perry gets out of his cam work, beyond the monetary, and it was cool to see the community aspect of it through his friendship with Nancy -- one of those sub-storylines that actually did add nuance and depth to the character. The whole fetishization discussion was also interesting, in the context of being a Blind sex worker. Because it's definitely true that Blind people (and other people with visible difference from whatever the "default" is assumed to be) are subject to fetishization, whether that's sexual in nature or more along the lines of inspiration porn. But it's also kind of funny to be asking a cam model if he's worried about being fetishized when that's essentially the business model of camming. I mean, it's a valid point! But it maybe would hit harder if he wasn't already being fetishized as HotScotWithMonsterCock. Maybe I'm underthinking this, but for me, it seems like the logical endpoint of the "they're fetishizing you because you're Blind" argument is that Blind people can't do what they want for fear of what others might project onto them, because being fetishized is bad, and therefore putting yourself in a position to be fetishized is also bad. Which is pretty depressing, not to mention a displacement of blame for bad behavior onto the person not behaving badly. (To be fair, this is essentially Perry's argument; it's the pushback he gets that I found confusing.) And again, a tricky discussion to have in the context of work that is already heavily fetishized. I get what Cockburn was going for, but it didn't feel coherent.
Surprised at how little football there was, although given that the book's already over-stuffed, it's just as well. As someone who's not immersed in this series, the cameos didn't do much for me, but I'm sure series devotees will appreciate them. My irrational dislike for Fergus made me pleased he was barely on-page. Suck it, Fergus!
So I'm giving this a 4, though I guess mathematically it's a 3.75. But in my heart, it's 3.5 rounded up. Damn you, Goodreads!!! Have we not enough decision fatigue??
I got an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews. This is my honest opinion.
The thing is, this was waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the only other book I've read in the series, in tems of craft and character-likeability. But it's also very . . . how do I say this . . . long. So, so long. And kinda slow? And, like. There's a lot going on. A lot!!! And I appreciate that not every twist and turn has to be made into this huge drama showdown (though there are a couple of those as well). But it ends up being this weird mix of two characters who have a shitton of stuff going on -- Blind cam model freelance journalist renaissance man + gangsta son busker balancing severe childhood trauma with lingering familial affection who takes on a heavy caregiving role -- meaning that, while there's no shortage of material -- secrets! lies! -- it's almost too much stuff, you know? And so you don't really get these big emotional peaks and valleys (and ensuing readerly payoffs), because we're constantly moving from one high-stress situation to another, with little downtime. But the writing is also pretty chill, so it kinda reads slower and more muted than it is? I don't know, friends. See above disclaimer re brain not precision boo.
Ending up going the full 4 stars mostly because I thought the caregiving storyline was very well done. (And on that note -- readers who are sensitive to storylines relating to cancer/ terminal illness of a loved one, caregiving for someone in the last stages of life, and parental death will want to take care or steer clear.) Indeed, this rather quiet aspect of the story -- which involved the emotional and physical struggles and exhaustion of caring for a parent with whom one had an extremely fraught relationship that resulted in a decade-long estrangement (note that the fraughtness is NOT related to homophobia, but to the crime-lord aspect of the family) -- is the most moving, and it made me wish that Cockburn had been more selective in throwing so many elements into the mix. Having so much going on with both characters makes the book feel like an all-you-can-eat buffet: great in theory, but too much in practice. I feel like cutting out some of the extraneous elements and sub-storylines from both characters would have honed the emotional salience, and made for a shorter, better book.
That said, I really liked how sex work-positive it is. It was clear and unapologetic about what Perry gets out of his cam work, beyond the monetary, and it was cool to see the community aspect of it through his friendship with Nancy -- one of those sub-storylines that actually did add nuance and depth to the character. The whole fetishization discussion was also interesting, in the context of being a Blind sex worker. Because it's definitely true that Blind people (and other people with visible difference from whatever the "default" is assumed to be) are subject to fetishization, whether that's sexual in nature or more along the lines of inspiration porn. But it's also kind of funny to be asking a cam model if he's worried about being fetishized when that's essentially the business model of camming. I mean, it's a valid point! But it maybe would hit harder if he wasn't already being fetishized as HotScotWithMonsterCock. Maybe I'm underthinking this, but for me, it seems like the logical endpoint of the "they're fetishizing you because you're Blind" argument is that Blind people can't do what they want for fear of what others might project onto them, because being fetishized is bad, and therefore putting yourself in a position to be fetishized is also bad. Which is pretty depressing, not to mention a displacement of blame for bad behavior onto the person not behaving badly. (To be fair, this is essentially Perry's argument; it's the pushback he gets that I found confusing.) And again, a tricky discussion to have in the context of work that is already heavily fetishized. I get what Cockburn was going for, but it didn't feel coherent.
Surprised at how little football there was, although given that the book's already over-stuffed, it's just as well. As someone who's not immersed in this series, the cameos didn't do much for me, but I'm sure series devotees will appreciate them. My irrational dislike for Fergus made me pleased he was barely on-page. Suck it, Fergus!
So I'm giving this a 4, though I guess mathematically it's a 3.75. But in my heart, it's 3.5 rounded up. Damn you, Goodreads!!! Have we not enough decision fatigue??
I got an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews. This is my honest opinion.
October 16, 2026
Jamie, a busker/amateur soccer player has a meet cute on Buchanan Street with Perry, a journalist with a secret side gig who is slowly losing his sight.
A little flirtation, a coffee date, then a real date that seems to be going really well. And then Jamie’s past comes calling.
If you like music and sex and soccer you’re going to love this book!
In Playing By Ear Avery Cockburn has created an epic, rollicking, heartfelt, and emotional epic.
The Glasgow Lads are back and it was worth the wait.
Jamie and Perry both have pretty big secrets. I’m not going to spoil either but one is heartbreaking and the other sizzling.
This is a big book, over 500 pages. But believe me when I say I wouldn’t change a bit. Every moment, every gesture, means something and moves the story along. Families are complicated things. Jamie’s journey and the way he reconnects with his estranged father is a delicate dance of love, sharp humor, and recrimination.
The way Jamie and Perry take care of each other is beautiful. Watching falcons hatch in Baltimore, teaching a niece to play guitar, using food as a love language are all perfect moments in a story filled with little snapshots of everyday beauty. A grass soccer pitch. Empire biscuits. The smell of a used bookstore.
And Colin and Lord Andrew - one of my favorite couples ever. I giggle at the true-to-self reason Colin says he won’t marry Andrew. They are a delight.
The book ends with a very satisfying conclusion to a series I absolutely adore.
Avery’s writing is sublime. She wrote one of my favorite passages EVER in Cicadas. After binging the lads, give that one a read. You won’t be disappointed!
A little flirtation, a coffee date, then a real date that seems to be going really well. And then Jamie’s past comes calling.
If you like music and sex and soccer you’re going to love this book!
In Playing By Ear Avery Cockburn has created an epic, rollicking, heartfelt, and emotional epic.
The Glasgow Lads are back and it was worth the wait.
Jamie and Perry both have pretty big secrets. I’m not going to spoil either but one is heartbreaking and the other sizzling.
This is a big book, over 500 pages. But believe me when I say I wouldn’t change a bit. Every moment, every gesture, means something and moves the story along. Families are complicated things. Jamie’s journey and the way he reconnects with his estranged father is a delicate dance of love, sharp humor, and recrimination.
The way Jamie and Perry take care of each other is beautiful. Watching falcons hatch in Baltimore, teaching a niece to play guitar, using food as a love language are all perfect moments in a story filled with little snapshots of everyday beauty. A grass soccer pitch. Empire biscuits. The smell of a used bookstore.
And Colin and Lord Andrew - one of my favorite couples ever. I giggle at the true-to-self reason Colin says he won’t marry Andrew. They are a delight.
The book ends with a very satisfying conclusion to a series I absolutely adore.
Avery’s writing is sublime. She wrote one of my favorite passages EVER in Cicadas. After binging the lads, give that one a read. You won’t be disappointed!
October 19, 2026
what a beautiful ending!
I started this series five years ago, and it remains one of my favorites. I love the characters, the setting, the football, and how every HEA is hard won.
I loved Jamie and Perry, two men who have struggles though they’re very different. Perry is losing his vision through RP and needs to relearn the world almost every day. Jamie is fighting against his past, which has come back to meet him full force. These two are both going through it, and need to learn how to be there for each other while keeping their heads above water.
They are absolutely gorgeous together, they see each other at their worst pretty quickly, and that’s part of what makes them fall in love with each other. Having that one constant they know they can count on makes such a difference.
Thank you Avery for bringing these lads into our lives, these stories will always stay with me.
I started this series five years ago, and it remains one of my favorites. I love the characters, the setting, the football, and how every HEA is hard won.
I loved Jamie and Perry, two men who have struggles though they’re very different. Perry is losing his vision through RP and needs to relearn the world almost every day. Jamie is fighting against his past, which has come back to meet him full force. These two are both going through it, and need to learn how to be there for each other while keeping their heads above water.
They are absolutely gorgeous together, they see each other at their worst pretty quickly, and that’s part of what makes them fall in love with each other. Having that one constant they know they can count on makes such a difference.
Thank you Avery for bringing these lads into our lives, these stories will always stay with me.
October 28, 2026
Perry has a hereditary disease that gives him tunnel vision and he’s rapidly losing his sight. He’s a journalist who used to write a sports column, but is moving into music as his sight fails. He hears a guitar player busking and one song, instrumental, touches him, so he leaves his card.
Jamie is a busker who’s very successful, but tries to stay under the radar. He’s from a crime family, the MacKrays, even though he left the family a decade earlier.
He notices Perry and catches up to him, and he’s intrigued by him, wanting to know more about his condition. Their feelings are intense, but he wants to protect him, so he says he’s not interested in more.
Jamie is called home because his Dad is dying, and his sister will take the firm legitimate. He loves seeing his family, and has mixed feelings, recalling the trauma of hearing his father shoot and kill his cousin when he was hiding in a wardrobe at 6 years old.
He finds he needs Perry’s support, and reveals his history, which Perry needs a minute to process. He comes around, sharing his own secret as a camera model, which Jamie fully accepts.
Together they navigate family, public revelations, and figuring out themselves and each other. Perry decides to focus on writing as he’s exposed more than he wanted to about himself, seeking to be known, but not objectified.
As for Jamie, once his Dad passes he can let go of some of the pain and know he can be part of his family without the underlying darkness. He can also openly pursue a music career since he’s no longer hiding his identity.
I found this to be an interesting read, but a complicated one. I don’t really understand Perry’s camera work, as it doesn’t seem to fit who he is. Sex workers by and large don’t come from a healthy place for various reasons, though there’s nothing wrong with their career choice in and of itself.
Perry points to his loneliness, which might have been better addressed with therapy. He seemed to be seeking connection with his followers, but he was still objectified, which I’m not sure he was totally ready for.
There’s enough going on with Jamie’s story, which brought up multiple layers and challenged the model of good/bad people we find easy to understand.
I received this ARC for free and am pleased to provide my honest review with appreciation.
Jamie is a busker who’s very successful, but tries to stay under the radar. He’s from a crime family, the MacKrays, even though he left the family a decade earlier.
He notices Perry and catches up to him, and he’s intrigued by him, wanting to know more about his condition. Their feelings are intense, but he wants to protect him, so he says he’s not interested in more.
Jamie is called home because his Dad is dying, and his sister will take the firm legitimate. He loves seeing his family, and has mixed feelings, recalling the trauma of hearing his father shoot and kill his cousin when he was hiding in a wardrobe at 6 years old.
He finds he needs Perry’s support, and reveals his history, which Perry needs a minute to process. He comes around, sharing his own secret as a camera model, which Jamie fully accepts.
Together they navigate family, public revelations, and figuring out themselves and each other. Perry decides to focus on writing as he’s exposed more than he wanted to about himself, seeking to be known, but not objectified.
As for Jamie, once his Dad passes he can let go of some of the pain and know he can be part of his family without the underlying darkness. He can also openly pursue a music career since he’s no longer hiding his identity.
I found this to be an interesting read, but a complicated one. I don’t really understand Perry’s camera work, as it doesn’t seem to fit who he is. Sex workers by and large don’t come from a healthy place for various reasons, though there’s nothing wrong with their career choice in and of itself.
Perry points to his loneliness, which might have been better addressed with therapy. He seemed to be seeking connection with his followers, but he was still objectified, which I’m not sure he was totally ready for.
There’s enough going on with Jamie’s story, which brought up multiple layers and challenged the model of good/bad people we find easy to understand.
I received this ARC for free and am pleased to provide my honest review with appreciation.
October 21, 2026
I've loved every one of these and this one is no exception. It's a long book, but everything it has to say is important to the story - there's no slow spots and no meandering off plot.
The beginning part is the romance. Perry (going slowly blind and able now to still read using special magnifying tools) works as a camboy to pay the rent. He meets Jamie, who is busking at the mall with his guitar. It's instant attraction and instant romance. The only problem is, Jamie isn't who he appears to be, and Jamie is very worried that when Perry finds out, the romance will be over.
Jamie is the son of Martin MacKray (head of the MacKray crime family), but he has been estranged from his family for the last 10 years. One of his henchmen once threatened Perry - a long time ago when Perry was still working as a football ref when he could still see clearly - asking him to fix a game. Perry refused and retired instead. Jamie would have probably kept his identity secret for much longer, but he finds out his father is dying. A good portion of the middle of the book deals with Martin's death from brain cancer. The author has either done their homework or lived through it because the whole dying sequence is accurate.
Perry has to find a way to be okay with who Jamie is. Jamie has to find a way to reconcile with his relatives as he works as caretaker for his dying father.
The book ends with the championship amateur football game - the Warriors (Jamie is a member of the team) playing.
There's not as much spice in this book, given its length, but there's plenty. There's no third act breakup - in fact the relationship itself, despite the issues, is relatively angst-free. Plenty of found family within the football club and their fans.
The beginning part is the romance. Perry (going slowly blind and able now to still read using special magnifying tools) works as a camboy to pay the rent. He meets Jamie, who is busking at the mall with his guitar. It's instant attraction and instant romance. The only problem is, Jamie isn't who he appears to be, and Jamie is very worried that when Perry finds out, the romance will be over.
Jamie is the son of Martin MacKray (head of the MacKray crime family), but he has been estranged from his family for the last 10 years. One of his henchmen once threatened Perry - a long time ago when Perry was still working as a football ref when he could still see clearly - asking him to fix a game. Perry refused and retired instead. Jamie would have probably kept his identity secret for much longer, but he finds out his father is dying. A good portion of the middle of the book deals with Martin's death from brain cancer. The author has either done their homework or lived through it because the whole dying sequence is accurate.
Perry has to find a way to be okay with who Jamie is. Jamie has to find a way to reconcile with his relatives as he works as caretaker for his dying father.
The book ends with the championship amateur football game - the Warriors (Jamie is a member of the team) playing.
There's not as much spice in this book, given its length, but there's plenty. There's no third act breakup - in fact the relationship itself, despite the issues, is relatively angst-free. Plenty of found family within the football club and their fans.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Playing by Ear is the last of the Glasgow Lads series by Avery Cockburn. There are actually more than 5 books, with a couple of novellas and related books (Glasgow Lads on Ice). The main series involves members of an amateur league LGBTQ football (soccer) team who are in a run for the cup this year. Jamie, who plays defense, and is a busker for his "day" job has worked hard at being happy-go-lucky, no deep relationships over the last 10 years. He was previously connected to Glasgow's underworld but walked away as a teenager.
Perry is a freelance reporter/writer who is going blind just like his mother. He's finally had to start using a white cane to aid his deteriorating vision and is struggling to make the adjustment. He also plays football, on a vision-impaired team (all players except the net-minders wear masks).
Perry has certainly heard Jamie playing and decides writes a note of appreciation. Jamie chases after him and we're off!
Both men are hiding significant issues that could scuttle their relationship but they're both thoughtful and, once the secrets cause problems are willing to do what it takes to stay together. The handling of Perry's disability and Jamie's family issues seem well-handled and there's great sense of place.
I've been to Glasgow twice for conferences and quite enjoyed it even when I could barely understand some of the locals!
I love Cockburn's books and look forward to whatever she writes next.
"Have you been reading my mind?"
"I did have a cheeky wee peek. It's filthy in there."
Perry is a freelance reporter/writer who is going blind just like his mother. He's finally had to start using a white cane to aid his deteriorating vision and is struggling to make the adjustment. He also plays football, on a vision-impaired team (all players except the net-minders wear masks).
Perry has certainly heard Jamie playing and decides writes a note of appreciation. Jamie chases after him and we're off!
Both men are hiding significant issues that could scuttle their relationship but they're both thoughtful and, once the secrets cause problems are willing to do what it takes to stay together. The handling of Perry's disability and Jamie's family issues seem well-handled and there's great sense of place.
I've been to Glasgow twice for conferences and quite enjoyed it even when I could barely understand some of the locals!
I love Cockburn's books and look forward to whatever she writes next.
"Have you been reading my mind?"
"I did have a cheeky wee peek. It's filthy in there."
October 24, 2026
I've enjoyed all of the Glasgow Lads books and I liked this one as well. I loved the immersive Glasgow setting with accents, slang, local landmarks, and references to period accurate events from 2016.
I don't usually read gangster books, but this was really well done and was an interesting examination of what being a gangster really means.
I also really loved the depiction of a person who is slowly going blind and learning to adapt to that and how to educate a partner about it at the same time. Perry and Jamie were really cute together. The cam boy plot line was pretty hot - I wish the second half of the book had been spicier.
The book was perhaps a bit too long and spent too much time on the end of Jamie's dad's life. That section of the book was all about Jamie and his character development so it felt a bit lopsided since it wasn't really about Perry or their relationship at that point. But it did make me cry!
In any case, a solid four stars.
I don't usually read gangster books, but this was really well done and was an interesting examination of what being a gangster really means.
I also really loved the depiction of a person who is slowly going blind and learning to adapt to that and how to educate a partner about it at the same time. Perry and Jamie were really cute together. The cam boy plot line was pretty hot - I wish the second half of the book had been spicier.
The book was perhaps a bit too long and spent too much time on the end of Jamie's dad's life. That section of the book was all about Jamie and his character development so it felt a bit lopsided since it wasn't really about Perry or their relationship at that point. But it did make me cry!
In any case, a solid four stars.
October 30, 2026
The long awaited finale of the Glasgow Lads series. Honestly though it can definitely be read as as standalone because it has been years since I've read the others. I honestly couldn't put it down because there was so much happening between the two characters, both together and separately. Add in some dodgy family on Jamie's end and things get complicated quickly.
It feels like a story of growth and honesty and reflection as both Jamie and Perry must deal with life changing events and their own decisions to hide or not from the people they care about. Honestly I read this in one night and couldn't put it down despite its length so definitely worth a read.
One character is going blind due to a genetic condition and I can't speak to the accuracy but it felt like it was handled with care. Additionally, there is the death of a parent and dealing with end of life care so keep an eye on that for warnings.
It feels like a story of growth and honesty and reflection as both Jamie and Perry must deal with life changing events and their own decisions to hide or not from the people they care about. Honestly I read this in one night and couldn't put it down despite its length so definitely worth a read.
One character is going blind due to a genetic condition and I can't speak to the accuracy but it felt like it was handled with care. Additionally, there is the death of a parent and dealing with end of life care so keep an eye on that for warnings.
October 30, 2026
PLAYING BY EAR is the fifth in Avery Cockburn's Glasgow Lads series, but stands well alone. Busker Jaime Guthrie is satisfied to be making his own way in the world, having distanced himself from his dangerously powerful family. Writer Peregrine Hull is slowly going blind, but is determined not to allow that to be the defining quality of his life. When these two meet, they quickly realize that they are able to begin building a space where they can trust each other, and more importantly themselves.
Love Avery Cockburn's writing, and how real and deeply felt their characters and their world is. While they both love their families and friends, what that love looks like is complicated and sometimes messy. Their desire to be open and truthful is sometimes at odds with their need to protect each other and themselves. Jaime and Perry fight hard for their happiness and readers root equally hard for their success. A stellar read.
Love Avery Cockburn's writing, and how real and deeply felt their characters and their world is. While they both love their families and friends, what that love looks like is complicated and sometimes messy. Their desire to be open and truthful is sometimes at odds with their need to protect each other and themselves. Jaime and Perry fight hard for their happiness and readers root equally hard for their success. A stellar read.
October 24, 2026
A beautiful series comes to an end and my heart if both full and sad. I have read all the books in this series and like the others jy heart is full despite the difficulty these two men experience in finding love. Both Perry and Jamie both have lived a life of struggle and that is what draws them to a connection. Perry is losing his site, whereas Jamie is staying under the radar to hide from his gangster family. Each sees the struggle in the other and each wants to be there to help the other, and that is what a strong relationship is all about. I loved watching both me grow and loved how they complimented one another. I cannot strep enough how you should read this entire series. One of the best.
October 30, 2026
Thank you for the book, here is my honest opinion:
I’ve read a few other books in this series and have been quite impressed with how well the author crafts her characters, are layered, complex, and realistically flawed. This starts a bit slow as Jamie and Perry meet and start to fall for each other. It gets quite heavy at times especially as Jamie deals with his father’s illness, beautifully and realistically writing, but a bit of a bummer. It has quite a lot going on in the plot and a significant number of side characters which are also well written. A bit long for me, would have liked more from the relationship front and a bit less family drama but Jamie and Perry were a strong couple and I enjoyed their happy ending.
I’ve read a few other books in this series and have been quite impressed with how well the author crafts her characters, are layered, complex, and realistically flawed. This starts a bit slow as Jamie and Perry meet and start to fall for each other. It gets quite heavy at times especially as Jamie deals with his father’s illness, beautifully and realistically writing, but a bit of a bummer. It has quite a lot going on in the plot and a significant number of side characters which are also well written. A bit long for me, would have liked more from the relationship front and a bit less family drama but Jamie and Perry were a strong couple and I enjoyed their happy ending.
October 23, 2026
Loved this book! It’s been an age since I read the earlier books in this series and this made me want to go back and start over, partly bc of the glimpses we had of past MCs, but mostly bc it reminded me how much I love these books. They are an interesting, authentic seeming (I can’t judge) look into Glasgow and the characters are imperfect, with messy stories, but not morally grey/unappealing or disappointing/depressing. Somehow, Avery’s guys are relatable even when their experiences are totally unlike my own. I care for them, root for them, and enjoy them. Will reread at some point, along with the earlier books in the series.
October 23, 2026
Thank you, Avery Cockburn!
Absolute stellar ending to an absolute favorite series.
❤️ 🎤 ✍️ ⚽️🦯
These lads have been through good times and bad. I pulled up the songs the author put throughout and have found new faves (Gimme Love, The Parting Glass, Kiss, and more) I read them as published and then re-read them last year. After I wipe my eyes one last time, I’m gonna back to the beginning and read them all again.
Absolute stellar ending to an absolute favorite series.
❤️ 🎤 ✍️ ⚽️🦯
These lads have been through good times and bad. I pulled up the songs the author put throughout and have found new faves (Gimme Love, The Parting Glass, Kiss, and more) I read them as published and then re-read them last year. After I wipe my eyes one last time, I’m gonna back to the beginning and read them all again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2026
Brilliant book - Well written - Highly recommended:
I’ve read all the series and am amazed by the high quality research and incredible detail. The fully fleshed colourful and unique characters, each with their own compelling stories, made me interested about how football is played, (something that I never thought possible as it’s something I have always thoroughly disliked…!)
I’ve read all the series and am amazed by the high quality research and incredible detail. The fully fleshed colourful and unique characters, each with their own compelling stories, made me interested about how football is played, (something that I never thought possible as it’s something I have always thoroughly disliked…!)
November 1, 2026
Loved it! I am reading this series out of order, but I must say, out of the two books I've read, these characters are my favorite. One with a disability. One facing a parent's death while dealing with being a part of a crime family. At the heart of it, is a love story. Perry and Jamie just work. Really enjoyed reading it.
November 1, 2026
This was an amazing book. I wanna say thank you to GRR for the opportunity read and review this book.
This was an absolutely amazing book. I do advise you read everyone in the series because they are so worth it.
This is book 5 in the Glasgow Lads series. They are all amazing.
I love this book so much as I do them all.
This was an absolutely amazing book. I do advise you read everyone in the series because they are so worth it.
This is book 5 in the Glasgow Lads series. They are all amazing.
I love this book so much as I do them all.
October 29, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. Perry and Jamie are an unlikely couple on the surface. They have several secrets between them that could derail their relationship, but they made it work. Beautifully.
I received this book from GRR
This is my honest review
I received this book from GRR
This is my honest review
October 3, 2026
My favourite book in the series. Well written, funny, charming, heartwarming, found family. Touching story loved it. On my 2026 Favourite Reads list. Highly recommend.
Did Not Finish
October 9, 2026DNF at 25%. Just didn't grab me the way previous books in the series did, and 500+ pages seemed a bit indulgent.
October 29, 2026
This was a good read
Review of advance copy received from Author
Happy release day to Avery Cockburn.
This book was everything I hoped it would be. I love this Glaswegian world that the author has created and am sad it's coming to an end - but this story was definitely worth the wait!
Jamie and Perry both had demons to face and things to hide and this could easily have become a book of miscommunication and coincidence but thankfully Avery Cockburn is a skilled author who doesn't rely on cheap tricks.
I thought the humanity of Jamie, his conflict of loving his family whilst also disliking them, was well balanced.
I thought her writing of Perry and his blindness was well written without being patronising. Perry was a person, and like all people, was more than one characteristic.
Most of all though, I liked them together. I adored the chemistry between them and the way their relationship developed and evolved.
If you've enjoyed this series then I promise the only disappointment about thos book is that it's the final one. I'll miss those Glasgow lads.
This book was everything I hoped it would be. I love this Glaswegian world that the author has created and am sad it's coming to an end - but this story was definitely worth the wait!
Jamie and Perry both had demons to face and things to hide and this could easily have become a book of miscommunication and coincidence but thankfully Avery Cockburn is a skilled author who doesn't rely on cheap tricks.
I thought the humanity of Jamie, his conflict of loving his family whilst also disliking them, was well balanced.
I thought her writing of Perry and his blindness was well written without being patronising. Perry was a person, and like all people, was more than one characteristic.
Most of all though, I liked them together. I adored the chemistry between them and the way their relationship developed and evolved.
If you've enjoyed this series then I promise the only disappointment about thos book is that it's the final one. I'll miss those Glasgow lads.
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