Better with Bacon

by Matthew Lang

When Patrick’s long-term girlfriend Li Ling dumps him just as he’s working up the nerve to propose, he ends up drunk on David’s couch—and later in David’s bed. Although initially reluctant to pursue anything beyond a one-time drunken tryst, David throws caution to the wind during an intimate dinner, where the two men also discuss Patrick’s dream of entering the food industry. Just as the friends-turned-lovers are settling into their new romance, Li Ling calls Patrick—she’s pregnant.

Convinced the announcement spells the end of their love affair and a return to their platonic friendship, David flees to Sydney to escape his heartbreak. But upon his return to Melbourne, David discovers the situation hasn’t gone the way he’d expected. There might still be a chance for David and Patrick’s dreams to come true if they can forgive each other’s mistakes and move forward.

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Short Stories, Gay

95 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 22, 2017

About the author

Matthew Lang writes behind a desk, in the park, on the tram and sometimes backstage at amateur theatre productions. He has been known to sing and dance in public, analyse the plots of movies and TV shows, and is a confessed Masterchef addict. Over the years he has dabbled in marketing, advertising, event management and the sale of light fittings, but his first love is and has always been that of the written word and is rarely too far from a good book. He likes his men hot and spunky, his mysteries fantastical, his fantasies real and his vampires to combust when exposed to sunlight. Other than that he’s pretty normal. One day we may even take him out of the straight jacket.

web: www.matthew-lang.com
twitter: @mattlangwrites
facebook: Matthew Lang on Facebook

Reviews

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started well and cute, but....after the H did some rebound one week fling with some random guy 'on page'....stars were falling....sadly.
Lacking of communication and the way David running away without asking even 'ONE' word, that was pissing me off!

If only there's no George in between....it's probably a different story.
I was disappointed.


* I received the ARC from Dreamspinner Press for a fair and unbiased review.*

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever watch those design shows where a realtor tells the family they need to show prospective buyers the purpose of each room? Don't leave them guessing - turn your extra bedroom into a craft room! Better with Bacon leaves me with the same sort of confusion as those poor house buyers. This short novella has two subplots that basically go nowhere. What is their purpose? #confused

Friends since childhood, David comforts Patrick when he gets dumped by Li Ling, his girlfriend. The next morning finds David and Patrick hungover and naked in bed together, with Patrick intent on exploring his bisexual side, despite having planned 2 weeks previously to ask Li Ling to marry him. After a Valentine's dinner together, followed by hot head-banging sex (“I’m going to cum, Patto,” he whispered. “I’m going to cum inside your fucking ass, you fucking amazing, wonderful man.”), they are awakened the next day by Li Ling's phone call, telling Patrick she is pregnant.

And at this point, my subplot confusion begins ... David leaves without saying a word and takes a last-minute out-of-town job assignment, during which he has an on-page fling with George. Upon his return, he learns that Li Ling is planning to have an abortion and that storyline abruptly ends - no more discussion. Matter closed. David tells Patrick about his brief affair with George and Patrick is totally fine with it. “Of course I’m mad at you,” Patrick said. “But mostly that’s about assuming I’d go running back to Li Ling, and I’ve had a day to get over that. I understand why you slept with George. I just wish you hadn’t. Was he hot, at least?” No more discussion. Matter closed.

And, finally a sex scene with the Grossest. Lube. Ever.

Reaching down, he pressed a finger into David’s belly button, digging out the slippery liquid before moving farther down his body, past his throbbing cock, underneath his balls, and finally slipping to the opening between his cheeks.
“Fuck, are you…? You’re using… to….”
Patrick grinned against his lips. “Mmm.”

Although this story is under 100 pages, it seemed much longer and the abrupt Li Ling and George story lines confused me. I'm giving it 3 stars, although your mileage may vary. And if it does, please let me know you think!

I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Better with Bacon’ starts with a shocking revelation after an unforeseen breakup, muddles its way through the depression, anger, and confusion that follow for everyone involved, and comes to an unexpected ending that proves, among other things, that it’s never too late to give up hope. It also shows that communication is essential in any relationship, and those who believe they can do without (or simply forget to talk) do so at their own risk. I went from amused to exasperated as David and Patrick fumble through their feelings and figure out what they mean to each other. The setting - Melbourne and Sydney - provides a great background for their personal and professional journeys and made me enjoy this novella even more.
Patrick has been Li Ling’s boyfriend for so long that he has trouble defining himself as a separate person rather than as “her boyfriend”. When she dumps him he begins to work it out, but then she’s back, apparently pregnant, and Patrick’s excursion into self-definition stops in its tracks.

David has always accepted that Patrick is straight, just like he has known that he is gay for many years. He also has a more or less secret (definitely suppressed) crush on Patrick, and looks forward to exploring it. Until Li Ling’s pregnancy closes down that avenue, David’s heart breaks, and he runs.

The sentence “not everything is the way it looks” is an accurate description of this plot, and the many twists and turns will either drive you nuts, or they might amuse you if you take them in your stride and remember how young these guys are. The world can be a confusing place at that age and with the complications the author throws at them!

If you like watching new adults struggle with the intricacies of interpersonal relationships, if you’re ready for a bit of drama and back-and-forth, and if you’re looking for a read that is as irritating as it is entertaining, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better with Bacon was an enjoyable friends to lovers novella. The prologue set the stage for what I expected to be a high drama book. On the heels of Patrick’s recent break-up, best friends Patrick and David are roused from a drunken hook-up by a call from an ex informing Patrick she’s pregnant. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the angst was fairly minimal here.

I liked both heroes as individuals and thought their friendship was cute and inherently honest. The change to lovers was surprising but rather seamless, which was good considering the length of the book. Two subplots presented the possibility for drama- Patrick’s ex finding she was pregnant and David splitting immediately after the announcement for an extended business trip- but their resolutions were fairly tidy and lent only minimal conflict. Though I didn’t quite see the need for both subplots, the men’s actions and responses fit with their personalities so I didn’t feel it took away from the book. I did like that upon David’s return, there’s little back and forth and the men are up front about their feelings and expectations. I also liked that the reader had time to see Patrick and David together as a couple- experiencing their chemistry and the easy transition from friends to lovers. The food and cooking aspects woven into the plot were a fantastic bonus. Considering Patrick’s passion for cooking, it was a natural fit, but what stood out for me was how well the author used this element to demonstrate how well the men knew and cared for one another. It made the relationship that much more believable.

Better with Bacon was my first experience with Mr. Lang’s writing style, but I’ll definitely look for more of his work. I thought this was a nicely balanced, lighter novella with a cute friends to lovers romance, minimal drama, and some foodie details woven in.

[Wax · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friends to lovers story that just didn't click with me. I didn't find it objectionable and it was pretty readable, but if it hadn't been for the short length I might not have finished.

[Nicole Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Melbourne, and with a brief sojourn to Sydney, Better With Bacon is a short and sweet friends to lovers story with sizzling scenes between the two men, as well as a sane and not angsty story.

Patrick has just broken up with his long term girlfriend when this story starts. He comes to his best friend's house in the direct aftermath and the two of them finally voice what has been between them but never spoken in the time they've known each other.

What I really loved about this novel is that there is absolutely no bi-erasure. Patrick has been in a relationship with a woman the whole time he's known David. He also ends up managing to get her pregnant on his way out the door. There is no avoiding that he's not gay. But the author also doesn't try to closet Patrick when the character answers all the questions David has.

Unlike a lot of romance writers, Matthew doesn't shy away from introducing other characters in this story that's predominantly between Patrick and David. It's clear right from the start that there's a very close friendship between Patrick, David and Li Ling (although Li Ling gets no actual page time). Some of my favourite points of the book were when Patrick was talking to David about having shared their new sex life with her and getting her feedback on the whole thing, and David doing the same where George was concerned.

I loved that, because people talk. A romantic relationship is not a vacuum in which other people do not exist. I also liked that there wasn't an undue amount of angst with the fact that David sucks at communication and also tries to order other peoples' lives for them in what is essentially a bleed over from his work. David and Patrick talk about these problems, are aware of them, and then they get worked through without anyone throwing plates or experiencing large rages. It's completely reasonable, through Matthew's writing, that these guys have just known each other for far too long to have any illusions about how the other one is likely to behave.

Actually, the fact that the only time the 'walking away from the relationship' romance trope is used is when David is trying to do best by Patrick rather than a fight that they have had. That was incredibly novel.

Because of these things, and the amount of description that went into writing both locations that are prominent in this novella, the story had a real sense of place within a real world setting.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at: https://optimummblog.wordpress.com/20...

Better with Bacon by Matthew Lang is a cute novella about three childhood friends, David, Patrick, and Li Ling. Patrick and Li Ling had been high school sweethearts, and David had known them for half of his life. However, two weeks before Valentine’s Day, Li Ling dumps Patrick.
David is gay and has always been attracted to Patrick, but he’s always thought that Patrick was straight and he was in a relationship with his other friend Li Ling, so he never dwelled on the attraction that he’d had for Patrick. That is until Patrick and Li Ling broke up, and Patrick confessed that he wasn’t straight but bisexual and wants to explore his attraction to men and he wants David to be his first. David is thrown for a loop and isn’t sure what to do or how to respond. He doesn’t want to risk ruining their friendship, but at the same time, he’s being offered everything he’s always wanted. Patrick gets his way by saying it’s only going to be a one-night thing and that their friendship isn’t in any danger. But an early morning call from Patrick’s ex throws a big monkey wrench into the amazing night that the boys had.

David is called out of town for work for the weekend, but he’s pretty sure that Patrick and Li Ling will be getting back together. Heartbroken that all he wanted is slipping away, David drowns his sorrows in the arms of another man while he’s away. He’s surprised to find that Patrick is still single when he get back home and that Patrick wants to continue with what they had and start a relationship. David confesses about what happened while he was away and they put it behind them. The relationship that follows is sweet and passionate.

This book takes place in Australia and as such uses Australian phrases and has some weird sentence structure when the book first starts out. An example would be grade four camp versus fourth-grade camp and so on. But after the first couple of pages, I got used to it. The book was well written and nicely edited.

4 OptimuMM's

**** The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ****

[Natosha Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent read and I would have felt more compelled to give it a better rating if I did not feel like it ended too abruptly and the way that it did.

I really like the storyline behind two friends taking their relationship a step past being just friends. But what I do not like is that both men was so willing to forgive the other for misgivings so easily as if there was no problems to begin with.

From Patrick's point of view I cannot really blame him for the fact his ex calls him telling that she is pregnant. Not can I put any blame on him wanting to make the most of his new found singleness since he has spent most of all his time from a teenager with Li Ling and never been with anyone else. So when he wants to fulfill the need in him to be with his best friend Dave I can understand his need to have it all with him.

Dave is the one who really kind of upset me in this book because I feel like at the first sign of trouble he runs and jumps to his own conclusions about how he thinks things should be handled. He does not stick around to find out how Patrick feels and he pretty much immediately moves on as of things between the two never happened.

This was a good read but it definitely has the power to be an amzing read in my opinion if the book hold not have ended so abruptly and would have had he two men working on their problems togther instead of skipping over them. But regardless it was an interesting read and I feel others will think so also.

Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

Better With Bacon is a short friends to lovers novella. David and Patrick have been best friends most of their life and when Patrick begins dating Li Ling in high school, she becomes part of that friendship. Now as adults, Patrick and Li Ling have broken up. Patrick never told David that he was bisexual until David is comforting him and Patrick can't hide his interest anymore. The next day Li Ling calls to tell Patrick she's pregnant and David walks away with no communication with Patrick and takes a business trip. On this business trip, he consoles himself by sleeping with a man he picked up at the hotel. Once he returns to his life, he finds out that Patrick and Li Ling weren't getting back together, and from there the story continues.

This story is only 95 pages but it's full of lack of communication, miscommunication, and on page cheating. Patrick goes from planning to propose to his girlfriend to expressing his interest in his best friend within days of each other. David goes from comforting his friend, to going to bed with his friend, to bailing on said friend, and then cheating on him. This may be a short story but there was a lot happening within these pages! I think novellas can be difficult because you only have a limited number of pages to get a whole story included so it can seem like some things are missed. There was so much history and friendship between Patrick and David, which we get a snapshot from the story, but I really didn't understand or know either MC better by the end of the story. I really did feel the addition of George, the guy David cheated with was unnecessary from my point of view but I don't like stories that involve cheating, so it's just my opinion! This is a short book so you should definitely check it out and form your own opinion!

Rating: 3.5 stars

[Lenni A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

*This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated for 18+

David, Patrick, and Li Ling have been a trio for years; with Patrick and Li Ling dating since high school. Two weeks before Valentine's Day, Li Ling dumps Patrick and ends up in David's bed. But Li Ling calls the next morning and she's pregnant. Assuming Patrick will go back to her, David takes a job assignment out of town to drown his sorrows in work and random hookups. Will these friends turned lovers come together or is all hope lost?

What's great about this book is having a collection of decent people. It is such a trope to have randomly bitchy or manipulative people in order to make the main characters look even better but here, the characters act SO rational, I almost didn't believe it at times. I think I have gotten too used to massive irrationality in my love stories...

It's also great to see a more multicultural cast. More stories need more non-white characters.

Now, I will freely admit I requested this title to review because, bacon. Bacon is amazing. So, my biggest gripe is that bacon wasn't shamelessly crammed into the plot as much as possible. But that's just because I'm silly. Other than that, my only other gripe is how some characters are too rational in some areas and not rational enough in others. David runs off without talking to Patrick AT ALL. He could have waited 10-20 minutes but then again, the rest of the book wouldn't have happened.

All in all, this was a cute read! I enjoyed it and give it a 3.5 out of 5.

This review and more at https://literaryloon.com/

[Liz (Bugetta) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* I liked the writing and the MCs, but I wish there's been more time between Patrick breaking up with Li Ling and getting together with David. I understand why there wasn't but it just seemed way too easy. I can't imagine anyone being as unaffected by a break-up of a long term relationship as Patrick was. I also didn't love the sex scenes with David and George, the dude he picked up in a bar while in Sydney. I understood the reason for introducing this character but I really don't like explicit sex scenes between one of the MCs and another character. YMMV. Still a good read and I'd try something else by this author.

[Pixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF’d at 36%... this book started off on the wrong foot with me and it just never picked up. David was not the character for me. I think our sense of humor doesn’t mesh or something…