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Full Hearts #1
HeartShip
Some mistakes are worth making.
Benji never meant to catfish a hot, college football player in Minnesota when he met a fellow anime fan online. But when @joshfortytwo announces he’s coming to Miami for a spontaneous visit, Benji is pretty sure the left tackle (whatever that is) expects to meet a cute girl in a bikini, not an aging twink hoping to finally get his life together when he finishes massage therapy school.
Josh doesn't let himself wonder about questions like:
• why don't you want to ask @princessglitter if she's a girl?
• why don't you tell your friends that you can't hang on Sunday nights because you've got a date to watch anime with your new BFF?
• why do you call it a date?
He just knows he needs to escape from the stress of having been injured just before the bowl game, and @princessglitter has somehow become his best friend.
But when Josh's secrets and Benji's sex appeal smash together for forty-eight scorching hours, they're going to feel the heat from Miami to Minnesota.
Benji never meant to catfish a hot, college football player in Minnesota when he met a fellow anime fan online. But when @joshfortytwo announces he’s coming to Miami for a spontaneous visit, Benji is pretty sure the left tackle (whatever that is) expects to meet a cute girl in a bikini, not an aging twink hoping to finally get his life together when he finishes massage therapy school.
Josh doesn't let himself wonder about questions like:
• why don't you want to ask @princessglitter if she's a girl?
• why don't you tell your friends that you can't hang on Sunday nights because you've got a date to watch anime with your new BFF?
• why do you call it a date?
He just knows he needs to escape from the stress of having been injured just before the bowl game, and @princessglitter has somehow become his best friend.
But when Josh's secrets and Benji's sex appeal smash together for forty-eight scorching hours, they're going to feel the heat from Miami to Minnesota.
133 pages, ebook
First published November 28, 2015
54 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Amy Jo Cousins
46 books623 followersTo get updates on Amy Jo's new releases, sign up for her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/YdVW1.
Amy Jo Cousins lives in Chicago, where she writes queer romance, tweets more than she ought, and sometimes runs way too far. She loves her boy and the Cubs, who taught her that being awesome doesn't necessarily have anything to do with winning.
Amy Jo Cousins lives in Chicago, where she writes queer romance, tweets more than she ought, and sometimes runs way too far. She loves her boy and the Cubs, who taught her that being awesome doesn't necessarily have anything to do with winning.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
April 23, 2018
4 Stars
I initially read this story when it was shorter and titled The Christmas Ship in the 2015 holiday anthology Wish Come True. It was one of my personal favourites in what was an already impressive and enjoyable mixed-author anthology, but this revised, re-titled and extended version of Amy Jo's sweet story was even more of a treat.
It is common knowledge that I dig a love story that begins online, and that’s exactly what we get here.
Josh is a 24 year old college football player living in Minnesota. He’s in his final year of school and his dream is to hopefully get drafted to the NFL, but a pesky injury has laid him up for the foreseeable future. Josh has a good group of friends but he doesn’t really date, blaming his busy football schedule for his lack of interest in girls.
Then we have Benji. Benji is a 32 year old twink living in Miami. He’s finally pursuing his dream, studying to get his certification in massage therapy.
The two meet online as @joshfortytwo and @princessglitter, hitting it off due to a shared love for an anime show called RWBY (pronounced Ruby). After chatting for five months, they become quite close, confiding their life woes and sharing their everyday joys with one another during their daily online chats and Sunday night shared viewing of RWBY.
The thing is, Josh has never asked for @princessglitter’s real name or even confirmed his/her gender. Part of him doesn’t want to know and he’s in a bit of denial as to why that is.
When Josh messages @princessglitter to tell them he’s catching a last minute flight to Florida for a visit, Benji begins to panic that he’s accidentally catfished a straight jock.
Thankfully their meeting goes better than predicted. Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly, depending on who you ask) Josh admits he’s maybe a little less straight than Benji had assumed, and the two quickly hit it off in a way that both could have only hoped for in their wildest dreams.
Josh and Benji’s story is such a lovely and heart-warming little opposites-attract romance. It’s a bit insta-love-ish, with them quickly getting together once face-to-face, but their months of online interactions and growing friendship just made the swiftness of their real-life romance seem authentic to me.
I particularly loved how honest they were with one another, fully communicating every thought, feeling and hope for a shared future together. *dreamy sigh*
I also loved their shared love of the RWBY fandom. I could definitely relate to the idea of people coming together and forming strong bonds over such a shared passion. *winks to my Sterek buddies*
I’m so glad this story got an upgrade and, even better, has now become a series. I thoroughly enjoyed Josh and Benji’s coming together (in both editions of the story) and I’m definitely looking forward to reading further with this series.
I initially read this story when it was shorter and titled The Christmas Ship in the 2015 holiday anthology Wish Come True. It was one of my personal favourites in what was an already impressive and enjoyable mixed-author anthology, but this revised, re-titled and extended version of Amy Jo's sweet story was even more of a treat.
It is common knowledge that I dig a love story that begins online, and that’s exactly what we get here.
Josh is a 24 year old college football player living in Minnesota. He’s in his final year of school and his dream is to hopefully get drafted to the NFL, but a pesky injury has laid him up for the foreseeable future. Josh has a good group of friends but he doesn’t really date, blaming his busy football schedule for his lack of interest in girls.
Then we have Benji. Benji is a 32 year old twink living in Miami. He’s finally pursuing his dream, studying to get his certification in massage therapy.
The two meet online as @joshfortytwo and @princessglitter, hitting it off due to a shared love for an anime show called RWBY (pronounced Ruby). After chatting for five months, they become quite close, confiding their life woes and sharing their everyday joys with one another during their daily online chats and Sunday night shared viewing of RWBY.
The thing is, Josh has never asked for @princessglitter’s real name or even confirmed his/her gender. Part of him doesn’t want to know and he’s in a bit of denial as to why that is.
When Josh messages @princessglitter to tell them he’s catching a last minute flight to Florida for a visit, Benji begins to panic that he’s accidentally catfished a straight jock.
Thankfully their meeting goes better than predicted. Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly, depending on who you ask) Josh admits he’s maybe a little less straight than Benji had assumed, and the two quickly hit it off in a way that both could have only hoped for in their wildest dreams.
Josh and Benji’s story is such a lovely and heart-warming little opposites-attract romance. It’s a bit insta-love-ish, with them quickly getting together once face-to-face, but their months of online interactions and growing friendship just made the swiftness of their real-life romance seem authentic to me.
I particularly loved how honest they were with one another, fully communicating every thought, feeling and hope for a shared future together. *dreamy sigh*
I also loved their shared love of the RWBY fandom. I could definitely relate to the idea of people coming together and forming strong bonds over such a shared passion. *winks to my Sterek buddies*
I’m so glad this story got an upgrade and, even better, has now become a series. I thoroughly enjoyed Josh and Benji’s coming together (in both editions of the story) and I’m definitely looking forward to reading further with this series.
Read
April 23, 2017Surprise!
Last year, I got the rights back to my holiday story from the Wish Come True charity anthology, "The Christmas Ship." I planned on rereleasing the story with a new cover and writing a bonus scene/epilogue for you guys that I could share on my blog.
Um, yeah. What's that saying? The best laid plans o' mice and men...?
I accidentally rewrote it and then kept writing, and writing, and ended up with a 34k novella. Oops. :) And now it's not a Christmas story anymore either! It's more of a Christmas-and-let's-keep-going-into-March story. So I changed the cover all right. And the title. And made it twice as long as before.
See what I mean by surprise?!
In any case, there's still accidental catfishing, a hot jock, and a sparkly, older twink. But there's also paintball badassery, meeting the friends, a whole lot more of the smexytimes, and a kickass HEA. If you loved "The Christmas Ship" and were satisfied with those hot 48 hours in Miami, you're all good! But if you wanted to know how these two anonymous internet anime fans/besties were going to find a cross-country HEA in real life? Dive into HeartShip.
Special thanks to Lori & Lennan who both suggested this fabulous new title in my FB reader group and to Garrett Leigh of Black Jazz Design for the gorgeous cover. I bought it in 2015, having no idea what I'd do with it. How was I supposed to resist those eyes?
xoxo
AJ
Last year, I got the rights back to my holiday story from the Wish Come True charity anthology, "The Christmas Ship." I planned on rereleasing the story with a new cover and writing a bonus scene/epilogue for you guys that I could share on my blog.
Um, yeah. What's that saying? The best laid plans o' mice and men...?
I accidentally rewrote it and then kept writing, and writing, and ended up with a 34k novella. Oops. :) And now it's not a Christmas story anymore either! It's more of a Christmas-and-let's-keep-going-into-March story. So I changed the cover all right. And the title. And made it twice as long as before.
See what I mean by surprise?!
In any case, there's still accidental catfishing, a hot jock, and a sparkly, older twink. But there's also paintball badassery, meeting the friends, a whole lot more of the smexytimes, and a kickass HEA. If you loved "The Christmas Ship" and were satisfied with those hot 48 hours in Miami, you're all good! But if you wanted to know how these two anonymous internet anime fans/besties were going to find a cross-country HEA in real life? Dive into HeartShip.
Special thanks to Lori & Lennan who both suggested this fabulous new title in my FB reader group and to Garrett Leigh of Black Jazz Design for the gorgeous cover. I bought it in 2015, having no idea what I'd do with it. How was I supposed to resist those eyes?
xoxo
AJ
January 23, 2018
***2.5 Stars***
If you're looking for a super sweet, low angst, quick read...this is the book for you.
Unfortunately, for my tastes, this was too sweet and too easy. And definitely too rushed.
I missed more development of the relationship between Benji and Josh. The connection was there, and I felt it during the first couple of chapters, but then once the two meet face to face it was as though the author put her foot on the gas pedal.
I was especially disappointed with the one sentence drive by of the first time Benji and Josh were intimate....ESPECIALLY considering this was Josh's first time with a man. He was so happy to finally experience intimacy with someone he was sexually attracted to and we weren't given all those first time emotions.
Though...I do want to give a huge shoutout to the awesome friendship dynamic here. I absolutely adore Josh's friends....their zinging, their camaraderie....their support...it was hilarious and amazing!
Overall, I just needed more meat on the bones of this book.
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January 9, 2022
Hot sounding blurb, but the execution of the story let it down. Shallow fluff, insta-love, and a surprisingly clumsy plot progression.
If this had been my first book by the author, I wouldn't plan to read any more of their books. But as I happen to love Off Campus, I know this author have the capacity to write much better stories than this one.
If this had been my first book by the author, I wouldn't plan to read any more of their books. But as I happen to love Off Campus, I know this author have the capacity to write much better stories than this one.
April 25, 2017
*** 3.5 Stars ***
Well, isn't this interesting...
I gave the original short story (The Christmas Ship) in the Wish Come True anthology a solid 4 stars. I even remember being tempted to bump it an extra 1/4 star at the time. It was an opposites attract Christmas story about a sparkly nerd catfishing a hot jock - how could I NOT love it?! Those tropes are like catnip to me.
As it turned out, Amy Jo's story was one of my favourites in an overall stellar anthology.
The longer, revised version of this story is still good. It still has all the delicious tropey goodness you love. It still has characters that can melt your heart with their ability to be startlingly honest with one another (something I think we can all agree is terrifying, even if you are really into your partner and you think they're really into you). The parts that AJ added blend seamlessly into her previous version and I loved the secondary characters that she threw in (I have hope that Gus might one day get his own story...?!), but in reading this version, I found that the story had lost a little of its intangible magic. Nothing major and nothing I can put my finger on, but it was definitely missing... something.
Maybe the reality of day to day life and long distance relationships are just not exciting as a whirlwind Christmas romance (this story takes us into March) and a casual but very public coming out story.
Well, isn't this interesting...
I gave the original short story (The Christmas Ship) in the Wish Come True anthology a solid 4 stars. I even remember being tempted to bump it an extra 1/4 star at the time. It was an opposites attract Christmas story about a sparkly nerd catfishing a hot jock - how could I NOT love it?! Those tropes are like catnip to me.
As it turned out, Amy Jo's story was one of my favourites in an overall stellar anthology.
The longer, revised version of this story is still good. It still has all the delicious tropey goodness you love. It still has characters that can melt your heart with their ability to be startlingly honest with one another (something I think we can all agree is terrifying, even if you are really into your partner and you think they're really into you). The parts that AJ added blend seamlessly into her previous version and I loved the secondary characters that she threw in (I have hope that Gus might one day get his own story...?!), but in reading this version, I found that the story had lost a little of its intangible magic. Nothing major and nothing I can put my finger on, but it was definitely missing... something.
Maybe the reality of day to day life and long distance relationships are just not exciting as a whirlwind Christmas romance (this story takes us into March) and a casual but very public coming out story.
April 25, 2017
Originally reviewed as part of:
This review is for the original story; I did NOT read this longer, revised version.
~3.75~
Josh, an injured college football player, and @princessglitter watch the same anime show every Sunday night, but ship different characters. They've been best friends for months but have never met. So Josh decides to surprise @princessglitter right before Christmas and fly down to Miami.
Surprise indeed. @princessglitter is Benji, who loves to wear sparkly flip-flops and is studying to become a massage therapist.
This is a modern opposites-attract love story about finding your second half online. Josh is not nearly as straight as Benji imagines. The love is or isn't instant depending how you look at it (do online interactions count? I think they do, very much so).
I melted at Josh's sweet, romantic gesture, and the ending made me grin. Hey, my boyfriend's a total dork; what of it?
This would have been a 4-stars-plus story were it not for the rather unsexy steamy scenes, which weren't quite off page, but certainly truncated and awkward.
Golden opportunity with massage oil and gay sex virgin. Wasted.
This review is for the original story; I did NOT read this longer, revised version.
~3.75~
Josh, an injured college football player, and @princessglitter watch the same anime show every Sunday night, but ship different characters. They've been best friends for months but have never met. So Josh decides to surprise @princessglitter right before Christmas and fly down to Miami.
Surprise indeed. @princessglitter is Benji, who loves to wear sparkly flip-flops and is studying to become a massage therapist.
This is a modern opposites-attract love story about finding your second half online. Josh is not nearly as straight as Benji imagines. The love is or isn't instant depending how you look at it (do online interactions count? I think they do, very much so).
I melted at Josh's sweet, romantic gesture, and the ending made me grin. Hey, my boyfriend's a total dork; what of it?
This would have been a 4-stars-plus story were it not for the rather unsexy steamy scenes, which weren't quite off page, but certainly truncated and awkward.
Golden opportunity with massage oil and gay sex virgin. Wasted.
May 21, 2017
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I really thought this was a sweet story. I loved how they met. They were both super sweet and really perfect for each other.
February 8, 2018
3.4 Stars....Very Sweet....
I so needed this cute and fluffy story! It’s Amy Jo Cousins so you know the writing is solid. I liked the MCs together, although there wasn’t a lot of depth to them. This is a fall-in-love on the internet, OFY story. It was sweet, although the internet chat flashbacks often took me out of the story.
Recommended for an afternoon of no angst, true love fluff.
I so needed this cute and fluffy story! It’s Amy Jo Cousins so you know the writing is solid. I liked the MCs together, although there wasn’t a lot of depth to them. This is a fall-in-love on the internet, OFY story. It was sweet, although the internet chat flashbacks often took me out of the story.
Recommended for an afternoon of no angst, true love fluff.
August 4, 2017
This was cute overall.
Pros:
-Opposites attract
-Cyberlove. I love reading private messages between two people getting to know each other and falling in love.
-Age gap
-Endearing characters
Con:
-It was missing some angst/conflict or something. Maybe the long distance relationship apsect needed a little bit of a rut or difficulty? Not sure but something was needed in the story.
If you're in the mood for a quick, sweet filler give this a try.
3.5 Stars.
Pros:
-Opposites attract
-Cyberlove. I love reading private messages between two people getting to know each other and falling in love.
-Age gap
-Endearing characters
Con:
-It was missing some angst/conflict or something. Maybe the long distance relationship apsect needed a little bit of a rut or difficulty? Not sure but something was needed in the story.
If you're in the mood for a quick, sweet filler give this a try.
3.5 Stars.
October 9, 2025
It took me a while to get into this story. I found the first few pages totally confusing. I know next to nothing about anime and their texts back and forth were just gibberish. However, I liked Josh and Benji and I do believe in love at first sight. It happened to me. I enjoyed the story for the most part. I just wish it had been longer.
April 24, 2017
Is that supposed to be Benji on the cover? Fine. 2.5 stars rounded up.
This wasn't bad or good, because I had issues. I'm going to bed now, but I'll be back.
This wasn't bad or good, because I had issues. I'm going to bed now, but I'll be back.
April 26, 2017
This is just the cutest romance
This wee novella is one of the cutest romances I've read and its just a whole lot of laughs and joy wrapped up in a pair of seriously dorky guys.
Younger jock and older massage therapist sounds like the start of a porn film but honestly Amy Jo makes this just the lightest, sweetest little love story going.
Josh and Benji are a delight, their email conversations packed with humour and when they finally do meet, there's some seriously smexy encounters.
Originally read as part of the Wishes Come True anthology, this version has been revised and republished with a new cover.
This wee novella is one of the cutest romances I've read and its just a whole lot of laughs and joy wrapped up in a pair of seriously dorky guys.
Younger jock and older massage therapist sounds like the start of a porn film but honestly Amy Jo makes this just the lightest, sweetest little love story going.
Josh and Benji are a delight, their email conversations packed with humour and when they finally do meet, there's some seriously smexy encounters.
Originally read as part of the Wishes Come True anthology, this version has been revised and republished with a new cover.
January 29, 2018
HeartShip was a sweet and swoony low-angst romance that left me with a big smile on my face. I thought the idea behind this online relationship starting as an accidental catfish was really original. I was pleased the book included some of Josh and Benji’s online conversations, which showcased the easy banter and connection these two developed early on.
As much as HeartShip is about a budding online romance, it’s also an opposites attract love story. I loved that the author captured how different the men’s personalities and experiences were, as well as how those differences never really impeded the way they worked together as a couple. Overall, this romance was low drama and conflict with interesting, lively characters. Though I liked the simplicity of Benji and Josh’s love story, I did find myself wishing there was a bit more relationship and personal development considering all the changes the heroes encountered in a short span of time, including Josh coming out, finishing college, and Benji becoming a massage therapist. Regardless, HeartShip was a wonderful read I’d certainly recommend to anyone looking for a feel-good romance.
*ebook provided by author for review with new release. The author had no influence over this review*
As much as HeartShip is about a budding online romance, it’s also an opposites attract love story. I loved that the author captured how different the men’s personalities and experiences were, as well as how those differences never really impeded the way they worked together as a couple. Overall, this romance was low drama and conflict with interesting, lively characters. Though I liked the simplicity of Benji and Josh’s love story, I did find myself wishing there was a bit more relationship and personal development considering all the changes the heroes encountered in a short span of time, including Josh coming out, finishing college, and Benji becoming a massage therapist. Regardless, HeartShip was a wonderful read I’d certainly recommend to anyone looking for a feel-good romance.
*ebook provided by author for review with new release. The author had no influence over this review*
January 22, 2018
Me ha gustado bastante, en serio, pero el insta love, amistad y el resto ha sido un poco demasiado para mi, quizás habia puesto muchas expectativas en el libro, sin embargo, debo decir que está muy bien llevada y creo que ha sido más un problema mío que de la novela. Muy recomendable.
June 19, 2017
2.5 stars
Well, I think Amy Jo Cousins is another author that I have to let go *sigh*.
I loved a couple of her early short stories. In fact, Five Dates is one of my most favorite stories from Don't Read in the Closet" event three years ago. However I was never sold on her Bend or Break series and I didn't really enjoy her holiday story that I read last year either.
I thought I'd give her another try with this expanded version of the story from Wish Come True anthology. But it ended up as another bust for me
I mean they meet for the first time, and the whole "I love you" is thrown already? When it comes to those three little words, I prefer the traditional formula -- meaning I want it to be my gold at the end of the rainbow. I want courtship, I want tension, I want relationship built-up. Sure, Josh and Benji might be friends online before they meet, but come on, it's not like they totally share their "real" identity during that time.
After that, it becomes boring, with all the slightly excessive endearments, mushy moments, and everything comes too easy for them. I was bored and ended up skimming all the way through.
Well, I think Amy Jo Cousins is another author that I have to let go *sigh*.
I loved a couple of her early short stories. In fact, Five Dates is one of my most favorite stories from Don't Read in the Closet" event three years ago. However I was never sold on her Bend or Break series and I didn't really enjoy her holiday story that I read last year either.
I thought I'd give her another try with this expanded version of the story from Wish Come True anthology. But it ended up as another bust for me
I mean they meet for the first time, and the whole "I love you" is thrown already? When it comes to those three little words, I prefer the traditional formula -- meaning I want it to be my gold at the end of the rainbow. I want courtship, I want tension, I want relationship built-up. Sure, Josh and Benji might be friends online before they meet, but come on, it's not like they totally share their "real" identity during that time.
After that, it becomes boring, with all the slightly excessive endearments, mushy moments, and everything comes too easy for them. I was bored and ended up skimming all the way through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2019
I liked it until they hooked up. After that it was just boring.
May 25, 2018
3.5 starts
This was a short, lighthearted, and an incredibly cute read. I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next in series :)
This was a short, lighthearted, and an incredibly cute read. I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next in series :)
March 10, 2018
2.5
It was short and fairly entertaining.
While I loved Josh's character- and I enjoyed the relationship a lot- something still kept me from fully enjoying Benji. I never really "liked" him.
Another thing I would have liked, is if I had had the chance to be shown, not told, more about their friendship. I would have wanted to feel more invested by really feeling the connection. It didn't help that (yes, while they did have some cute domestic moments, and some great interactions with Josh's friends, who were really awesome) there was too much focus on the sexual part of their relationship. To make matters "worse", the sex scenes were kind of lame. I wish there was another way to describe it, but no. One of the MC's is supposed to be over 30 and the other is 25, yet I felt I was reading sex scenes between 14-year-olds. But other than that, the sex scenes themselves, not only due to characterization, weren't very good.
Another complain is: there was no real conflict. Every time a "problem" is mentioned, like something happening that could jeopardize the harmony of the relationship, it either ends up going nowhere or it gets solved in a really quick way and makes the "conflict" sound silly and the MC's as huge drama queens for their age.
So yeah, I wish I had liked this much more than I did. But no.
It was short and fairly entertaining.
While I loved Josh's character- and I enjoyed the relationship a lot- something still kept me from fully enjoying Benji. I never really "liked" him.
Another thing I would have liked, is if I had had the chance to be shown, not told, more about their friendship. I would have wanted to feel more invested by really feeling the connection. It didn't help that (yes, while they did have some cute domestic moments, and some great interactions with Josh's friends, who were really awesome) there was too much focus on the sexual part of their relationship. To make matters "worse", the sex scenes were kind of lame. I wish there was another way to describe it, but no. One of the MC's is supposed to be over 30 and the other is 25, yet I felt I was reading sex scenes between 14-year-olds. But other than that, the sex scenes themselves, not only due to characterization, weren't very good.
Another complain is: there was no real conflict. Every time a "problem" is mentioned, like something happening that could jeopardize the harmony of the relationship, it either ends up going nowhere or it gets solved in a really quick way and makes the "conflict" sound silly and the MC's as huge drama queens for their age.
So yeah, I wish I had liked this much more than I did. But no.
Read
May 17, 2017DNF at 42%
Let me begin by saying that this was the first thing I'd ever read by Amy Jo Cousins. #ShockingIKNOW
At 133 pages, this short-story-turned-novella seemed like a good and fun choice for a quick read. I also happen to have the Bend or Break series somewhere in my TBR. Who knows when I'm gonna get around those books. #Hands
FTR, the story is OK: no typos, likable characters, and a simple plot. I was initially drawn to it because Benji and Josh first meet online. It just so happens that the sub-genre (?) of "first met online" is one I dig a lot.
Unfortch for me, I was disinterested with Josh, Benji, their concerns about being less than their online personas, what each other's reactions to their 'reveal' were going to be like, etc Like, I felt complete apathy at finding out whether or not Benji and Josh would stay together.
Another (minor) annoyance was the setting. OK, so the story happens in December (with a few flashback scenes of Benji and Josh talking online.) Josh flies in from Minnesota--where it's so cold he wore a parka to the airport. When he gets to Miami, however, he seems totes OK with the temperature (the average for December being 82-86F with high humidity.) I mean, he didn't even mind that the A/C in Benji's place wasn't working. All he needed was a coupe of cold beers. Did Benji have a ceiling fan or a floor one? Did they also opened up a window to have some warm breeze circulate inside? #Whoknows
I couldn't buy Josh's super!laid back reaction to it. Like, at all. It's a weird thing to get hung up on, but there we are.
Do I recommend this novella? Sure, it's not a terrible story. Despite my boredom with it AND my side-eye at Josh's reaction to the Miami weather, it's a fine pick if you're in the mood for a simple romance.
Let me begin by saying that this was the first thing I'd ever read by Amy Jo Cousins. #ShockingIKNOW
At 133 pages, this short-story-turned-novella seemed like a good and fun choice for a quick read. I also happen to have the Bend or Break series somewhere in my TBR. Who knows when I'm gonna get around those books. #Hands
FTR, the story is OK: no typos, likable characters, and a simple plot. I was initially drawn to it because Benji and Josh first meet online. It just so happens that the sub-genre (?) of "first met online" is one I dig a lot.
Unfortch for me, I was disinterested with Josh, Benji, their concerns about being less than their online personas, what each other's reactions to their 'reveal' were going to be like, etc Like, I felt complete apathy at finding out whether or not Benji and Josh would stay together.
Another (minor) annoyance was the setting. OK, so the story happens in December (with a few flashback scenes of Benji and Josh talking online.) Josh flies in from Minnesota--where it's so cold he wore a parka to the airport. When he gets to Miami, however, he seems totes OK with the temperature (the average for December being 82-86F with high humidity.) I mean, he didn't even mind that the A/C in Benji's place wasn't working. All he needed was a coupe of cold beers. Did Benji have a ceiling fan or a floor one? Did they also opened up a window to have some warm breeze circulate inside? #Whoknows
I couldn't buy Josh's super!laid back reaction to it. Like, at all. It's a weird thing to get hung up on, but there we are.
Do I recommend this novella? Sure, it's not a terrible story. Despite my boredom with it AND my side-eye at Josh's reaction to the Miami weather, it's a fine pick if you're in the mood for a simple romance.
January 26, 2018
Aww, what a sweet story! Josh and Benji connect on a fan site for an anime show and become best friends online though Josh, a college football player doesn't realize that Benji, in school for massage therapy is a guy due to his online name 'princessglitter.' But truthfully, he hadn't wanted to ask, as he's gay and preferred to leave it an open question. Then he gets it in his head to head down from Minnesota to Miami to surprise his friend and the secret is out! The Christmas trip changes both their lives and leads to an eventual happy ending with some sexy but not too explicit love scenes and some fun secondary characters introduced that will lead into the next story in the series. It's a fun, smile inducing read.
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
April 24, 2017
4 stars
A super adorable, quick read that made me smile. <3
A super adorable, quick read that made me smile. <3
August 25, 2017
I'm giving this one 5 stars because it's one of those books that doesn't just worm its way into your heart, it burrows all the way down to the center,
Josh was a University of Minnesota -go Minnesota! - football player who had gotten hurt. Not knowing if his knee would be good by the NFL draft, missing out on the bowl game the U of M team was in, no wonder he was under stress. The only time he felt relaxed was on Sunday nights when he watched an anime on YouTube with his online best friend, princessglitter.
In a moment of pure insanity-or genius as it plays out- he makes the impulsive decision to fly down to Miami where he discovers that Benji, a 33 year old massage therapy student, is his BFF.
Damn, I loved these two. Josh was one of the most wholesome guys, the kind who have been raised right and decent. After a moment or two of mental wrestling, Josh steps up and admits to himself and Benji his true feelings.
And Benji was just as wonderful. Being older and having struggled to find what he wanted to do with his life, he was finally settled and had that great mixture of older patience and sass to help balance out Josh's youthful worry.
I LOVED how quickly they connect after realizing how they were physically attracted to each other. They were perfect, and I LOVED their banter. There were many a highlighted passages being made in my NOOK.
And to round everything off, there were two great secondary characters in Josh's friends, Deion and Gus! Their boisterous acceptance of Josh and Benji added so much to the story, too. (Can anyone say the paintball scene?)
I loved this book. Its warm and quiet manner with little or no drama makes it a future comfort read for me on those days that I just need something good in my life.
Josh was a University of Minnesota -go Minnesota! - football player who had gotten hurt. Not knowing if his knee would be good by the NFL draft, missing out on the bowl game the U of M team was in, no wonder he was under stress. The only time he felt relaxed was on Sunday nights when he watched an anime on YouTube with his online best friend, princessglitter.
In a moment of pure insanity-or genius as it plays out- he makes the impulsive decision to fly down to Miami where he discovers that Benji, a 33 year old massage therapy student, is his BFF.
Damn, I loved these two. Josh was one of the most wholesome guys, the kind who have been raised right and decent. After a moment or two of mental wrestling, Josh steps up and admits to himself and Benji his true feelings.
And Benji was just as wonderful. Being older and having struggled to find what he wanted to do with his life, he was finally settled and had that great mixture of older patience and sass to help balance out Josh's youthful worry.
I LOVED how quickly they connect after realizing how they were physically attracted to each other. They were perfect, and I LOVED their banter. There were many a highlighted passages being made in my NOOK.
And to round everything off, there were two great secondary characters in Josh's friends, Deion and Gus! Their boisterous acceptance of Josh and Benji added so much to the story, too. (Can anyone say the paintball scene?)
I loved this book. Its warm and quiet manner with little or no drama makes it a future comfort read for me on those days that I just need something good in my life.
January 18, 2018
This was pretty cute and very fun to read. But can I say I kinda liked Gus and Deion more than Josh and Benji? The story was good and fairly complete for a novella, with decent development of the characters. It was a little light on background or history for either MC but I didn’t miss it too much. Although, I had to assume Josh’s parents were cool with it.
It did seem aimed at a slightly different audience than me; I’ve never been into anime and never shipped anything but a package. It wasn’t really necessary to know much, thank goodness. I liked the little text exchanges, except I wish they’d been more chronological. I couldn’t see the purpose of showing a past exchange after a chapter where they’re together. Very likable, light-hearted story.
It did seem aimed at a slightly different audience than me; I’ve never been into anime and never shipped anything but a package. It wasn’t really necessary to know much, thank goodness. I liked the little text exchanges, except I wish they’d been more chronological. I couldn’t see the purpose of showing a past exchange after a chapter where they’re together. Very likable, light-hearted story.
February 20, 2018
I read HeartOn because of the cover model and Benji was the most vibrant of all the characters so I figured I'd read his book. Once I found out that Benji was 32 but acting like 22 I lost all interest in this book. At this stage in my reading I'm so over insta love plots and this one wasn't even believable. Had I read this book first I wouldn't have given a second thought to the second book. No bueno.
February 2, 2018
I recommend this for someone who loves instalove, which I don't.
I'm all for the slowburn.
But I still might read the second book in the series. Just beacause of the cover (the guy looks a bit like 50 Cent, isn't he? ) ;)
I'm all for the slowburn.
But I still might read the second book in the series. Just beacause of the cover (the guy looks a bit like 50 Cent, isn't he? ) ;)
August 26, 2017
Awwwww. I loved every minute of this all in met on line friends to lovers romance.
It is a big old snuggle of a comfort read with really great character development, loads of couple time and sweet sexy relationship to believe in.
I am so glad these heroes found each other and were all in.
A pleasure of a romance.
It is a big old snuggle of a comfort read with really great character development, loads of couple time and sweet sexy relationship to believe in.
I am so glad these heroes found each other and were all in.
A pleasure of a romance.
May 17, 2017
Sweet story of Benji and Josh who met online over their shared love for RWBY, an anime. They've been each other's best friends ever since, but when Josh decides to surprise Benji, their relationship takes a turn for the better. The rest of the story is managing the logistics of a long distance relationship while figuring out how to be together always.
Includes virgin gay sex!
Includes virgin gay sex!
November 24, 2021
DNF at 16%
I received an e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
I tried reading this last night but gave up after a couple of chapters. I thought maybe I was too tired to enjoy the story, so I tried it again today. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't a good fit for me. I had trouble following their Twitter conversations, and kept getting the two of them mixed up. There were also a lot of terms that went right over my head. Like the characters, I watch anime, but I was still slightly lost. Jack seemed to pick up the terminology pretty quickly, but that meant I lost the explanations from Benji.
I don't know if it was the writing, the characters, the story, or a combination of all three, but I couldn't get very far into this book. HeartShip may not have worked for me, but I plan on reading another book by Amy Jo Cousins in the future. I've heard wonderful things about her written romances!
I received an e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
I tried reading this last night but gave up after a couple of chapters. I thought maybe I was too tired to enjoy the story, so I tried it again today. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't a good fit for me. I had trouble following their Twitter conversations, and kept getting the two of them mixed up. There were also a lot of terms that went right over my head. Like the characters, I watch anime, but I was still slightly lost. Jack seemed to pick up the terminology pretty quickly, but that meant I lost the explanations from Benji.
I don't know if it was the writing, the characters, the story, or a combination of all three, but I couldn't get very far into this book. HeartShip may not have worked for me, but I plan on reading another book by Amy Jo Cousins in the future. I've heard wonderful things about her written romances!
June 17, 2018
A sweet, mostly low-conflict novella about Josh, a college football player (he’s heading into his final year and has been previously red-shirted so he’s 25) and Benji, a 32-year-old massage therapy student who meet on an online fandom for RWBY, a (real) American anime series. After they meet online, they take their conversations to Twitter and catch up once a week to live tweet episodes of RWBY together. Benji’s handle is “princessglitter” and he’s never actually specifically stated he’s a guy. Josh has never explicitly asked him. Benji assumes Josh thinks he’s a girl. But it doesn’t matter because Josh lives in Minnesota and Benji lives in Miami.
Until Josh, who has been sidelined due to a possibly football-ending injury decides to surprise his friend in Florida with a visit.
Read the rest: https://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2018/...
Until Josh, who has been sidelined due to a possibly football-ending injury decides to surprise his friend in Florida with a visit.
Read the rest: https://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2018/...
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