My Anti-Boyfriend

My Anti-Series #2

by D.J. Jamison

Brad has everyone fooled. He's the casual, sexy friend. The fun-time guy who sleeps around. Except not really. There's one man who holds his heart: his best friend -- with benefits -- Riley. Too bad Riley has no interest in a relationship, and as far as Brad can tell, never will. But once Brad acknowledges his freelings for Riley, he can't continue to ignore them. He pulls back, trying to find a way to shut down his hurting heart so he can remain Riley's friend.

Riley has everything he needs: a decent job, plenty of hookups, and his wingman Brad, who also makes for great fun in the sack. He's happily oblivious, until Brad starts avoiding him. Riley is baffled when Brad starts skipping regular nights at the gay club, fails to return calls and otherwise ignores him. He can't imagine what he's done wrong, and when he finally corners Brad and learns the truth, he's scared to death one more person is going to abandon him. He misses Brad like crazy -- both the friend and the lover -- but he's never even considered a relationship.

Now Brad and Riley have a choice to make: friends or lovers. Riley's days of having his cake and eating it too are over. Then again, maybe Brad is tasty enough to keep a man satisfied.

Genres: Friends To Lovers, M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Short Stories, LGBT

58 pages, ebook

First published June 30, 2017

About the author

DJ Jamison writes a variety of queer men finding extraordinary love through M/M Romance! She is a lifelong reader and has always loved writing and editing, with a ten-year journalism career before she began publishing romance. She has books in ebook, print, and audio, as well as German, French, and Italian translations.

DJ lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, and a sadistic cat named Birdie.

Join DJ's mailing list at http://tinyurl.com/DJandCompany

Join her FB group at www.facebook.com/groups/DJandCompany

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Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so good and I even got it when is free. Don't look down in this 58 pages, it was filled with so much emotion and passion that I find myself in a sob-fest.

Brad and Riley are best friends that hooked up often enough that Brad starting to develop feelings for his bff. Too bad Riley still view him as a piece of sure thing if he is too lazy to do the work of cruising for fresh meat. Riley is oppose to anything resemble a relationship, he is too jaded for romance.

Before you are irked out by their manwhore lifestyle, this book started at the point where by Brad wish for something different and giving off weird vibe to Riley. Oh poor Brad. I feel so bad for him for all his pining and unrequited love. So much emotion pouring through the pages while reading Brad's heartache. But Riley also is not having any better. He is thinking why is his best friend acting all weird and he can't seems to reconcile the fact that he might be losing Brad.

Gah! These two guys really did it for me. This book is fucking short, yet I love every little bits of it.

[DC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, nothing special or terribly memorable. I really didn’t find either Riley or Brad to be very likeable. Maybe that’s because their characters were written as some of the worst stereotypes - self-absorbed, promiscuous, incapable of having real relationships - that homophobic bigots believe about gay men.

[Bárbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sort of the opposite of what its predecessor was: for once, there was much more sex involved (and I wasn't really in the mood for that).

It was a nice enough friends-to-lovers, but I would have appreciated a bit more of slow-burn, and a bit more of focus on the development of the actual relationship.

All in all, it was still quite enjoyable, but I feel it could have been much better.

[Wandering Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet friends/fbuddies-to-lovers story. Pretty standard with one guy catching feelings and the other oblivious of the deepening relationship. Friends and coworkers help 'Oblivious' realize things had changed and the rest is a well written short story best read when you want something light and airy.

[Otterpuss]

No rating from me as I Beta read this.

I normally enjoy DJ's writing but this one was not for me.
I didn't like the characters, I found them unlikable, immature and shallow, and I didn't get the storyline.
I'm sure this is just a 'blip' and I'll get back to enjoying the next book.

[Kendra T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how this ended up coming around. Brad and Riley have been best friends with benefits for years, but at some point, Brad's feelings started shifting for him. I liked how he grew a backbone to stand up for himself. For a short story, I really felt the connection between Brad and Riley and was happy to see them finally get together romantically.

I am voluntarily reviewing a bundled copy of the series provided by Signal Boost Promotions

[namericanwordcat · Rating 2 out of 5]

My problem with this book is that I just never cared for Riley. I didn't like him in the first book and I am not a fan of him this book as well.

So, why is Brad so into him?

I don't even think he makes a good friend let alone a lover.

So, a failed romance for me because I wanted Brad to walk away.

[Jenn C · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet to see these two realize they were made for one another. ❤️

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been a great full length book. I really wanted the background and details

[M.J. Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet

A bit predictable but a good story with some steamy sex. I enjoyed this and I am on to the next book in this series.

[Pati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms Jamison has once again delivered a very enjoyable read. This time while getting to revisit Harry and Bret a year later we also get to witness Harry's friends Riley and Brad find their way through their baggage to their own HEA. It's certainly not an easy way for these two best friends to deal with their self esteem issues. The only thing that keeps it from a 5 star is that I would have preferred it to be longer. I highly recommend this to my friends.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this short story! Following Brad and Riley from the first story and the possibility of something more between them, it was loving, caring, and wonderful to read!
Brad and Riley have been fuck-buddies for a while. Brad ran away from relationships after his boyfriend broke his heart, deciding they were too much work. Riley lost his family in one way or another when he was a younger, giving him abandonment issues and a fear of relationships. The two met years back and fell easily into becoming best friends, wingmen, and fuck buddies. The only problem is that relationship has morphed into something more for Brad and he has realized he is in love with Riley. Unwilling to lose his friend and not wanting to hurt his heart, Brad 'breaks up' as fuck buddies. However, having that distance makes Riley question what he really wants.
I enjoyed that Brad didn't try to pressure Riley. None of his actions were meant to hurt Riley (even if at times they did), or force him to be something he wasn't. Brad still genuinely wanted a good friendship and was willing to do what he needed to keep the friendship, even if it broke his heart for a while. When Riley realized the way Brad was feeling he was very considerate of Brad, so you could really see the love shining through with both of them. It was a very touching story that I loved every bit of the way.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another story that's a hard one. Friends with benefits when one starts to feel more than the other. Especially when the other is a commitment phone and would run screaming instead of trying a relationship.
But Brad's heart can't take being second fiddle anymore and their relationship as friends is falling apart as well. Brad has denied sex now and is blowing of Riley completely to save his heart. But when Riley finds out how Brad feels, it scares the crap out of him, but he can't help but start to see Brad a little differently. Well, truthfully he's been looking at Brad differently for a while but was too scared to do anything about it. But losing Brad is the last thing he wants. But he's going to if he doesn't do something. And quick.
I feel for Brad more than Riley in this one. I get Riley has commitment issues and I get why, but he spends so much time thinking about sex or his next conquest, he doesn't think about anyone else's feelings. And my heart hurts for Brad. To constantly feel like you are second fiddle to everyone. Even as a friend. It can destroy you. And when Riley seems to not even care how Brad feels as long as he gets some ass, it's heartbreaking. So I get Brad backing off. Sometimes you have to do what's best for you and if it means walk away….you've got to go.
ttp://lovebytesreviews.com/

[Cee Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

ღ´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ღ One wanted a boyfriend, one just wanted fun.

"Why can't I be good enough for more...?" ~Bret

DJ writes about romance, and always a meaning behind it. In this short story, set in the same universe of Anti-Valentine, bestie and friends with benefit Riley and Bret come to a defining moment when feelings get in the way. Things start to change when Bret, the flirty temptress of the two starts wanting something he knows Riley cannot give him, throwing a wrench in their whole set up.

He got to eat his cake and have it too. ~Riley

What's not to love having a best friend who was your go to guy. For years, whenever the mood hit, Riley knew his best friend who be there for him and they could end the night together. Until Bret started pulling away and without reason. Now Riley is left floundering and in a funk, because the norm he knew had been taken away.

"You’re more than worth it..." ~ Riley

Fighting their way back together should have been easy, but Bret had restrictions, and if Riley wanted his friend back as more than friends, he had to abide by the rules and make some changes.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.

[Hira Chaudhary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like we spent too much time talking about just how much Riley didn't want a real relationship. He only starts considering that he might be willing to be something more than casual fuck buddies with Brad after Brad confesses his feelings, and I felt like at that point part of him only agreed because he didn't want to lose Brad. I'm glad they hung out without sex getting in the way for a while before they started an actual relationship, but I wish we had spent more time on that since the story was already so short and we spent so much time on casual sex instead. I don't know how great a couple Brad and Riley actually make, but I like that Riley gave them a chance and that things worked out for these two. I would have liked to explore more of Riley's abandonment issues and how Brad wouldn't leave him. I liked how Brad stood up for himself and refused to sacrifice his own happiness to give Riley what he wanted.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I’ll admit I read a really emotional and REALLY slow-burn book before this novella so my rating may have been a little influenced.

This book is second in the Anti-series, but can totally be read as a standalone. The only thing is that Harry and Bret occasionally appear, as did Riley and Brad in the first one. This novella also has much more sex in it.

Brad is tired of being just a fuck-buddy to Riley since he starts to develop romantic feelings for him. But Riley has been abandoned by everyone and is not big on commitment. Which is why Brad starts to avoid him. Being away seems easier than resist falling in bed when they hang out.

Since it is a very short novella, there is not a lot of place for angst if one wants a happy ending, so the guys get (back) together soon. As I said, I have just finished a slow burn book beforehand so it had a bit of a ‘wrong’ feeling about it. It may have been a bit too short, so it might have functioned better as a longer story?

But in any case, it was still sweet, low-angst, friends-fuckbuddies-lovers story with cameos from Harry and Bret. 🙂

Oh, and the next book is coming soon – My Anti-Marriage!

[Luggage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, quick read that was well-written and had some great humor. The characters felt real, like people I used to hang out with in my younger days.While the characters love for each other was believable, I did wish for a little more fleshing out of how and why they fell in love, especially Brad, who is the first one who recognizes his feelings. All we really know is that they have good sexual chemistry, have the same taste in movies, and Riley doesn't look down on Brad's profession or lack of a college degree. Those are great starting points, but I would have liked the book to delve a little deeper.-- not necessarily to be a longer novel, but just to have a few hints here and there of why they have fallen for each other in particular.

Still, it was a good read with a lot of humorous and snarky conversation. I would recommend it.

[Kirstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the second book in the My Anti-Series, this was somewhat predictable. Riley and Brad have been best friends with benefits for 3 years. They are each other's wingman and backup plan. But the club scene is getting old for Brad.

Once Brad realizes that his feelings for Riley go beyond being the back up guy, he has to separate himself from their friendship. But Riley feels like he's losing more than just a friend.

This was a sweet story and there were parts that made me laugh, but it wasn't my favorite in the series. It didn't tug at my heartstrings like the first story did. I just couldn't find myself siding with Riley at all. He just never got there for me. I did enjoy Brad and his stereotypical twink clothing, though.

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting for these two young men to have their HEA together and the author surprised me with this choice but it was clear from the beginning they were made for each other. The chemistry between them was explosive and the feelings Brad had for his friends known to everybody except Riley. It took some time to Riley to see what was in front of his eyes and in his heart too but eventually he realized he didn’t love Brad as a friend, he was in love with him.

I have to say I liked this second installment in the My Anti Series by DJ Jamison,it was well written, engaging, quick to read. But I didn’t enjoy as I did with the first book. In my opinion there were too many sex scenes for a short story like this one. Sure, Riley and Brad were hot together but with so few pages, it would have been better to fill them with more informations and backgrounds about the main characters, rather than just put them in bed. That’s why their romance felt to me a little rushed and I think it should have been more developed.

Overall, I liked it and can’t wait for the third novella and Chris to find his soul mate.

The cover art by Lucas Soltow is simple and unique, I like it

[Jozey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brad&Riley
Brad & Riley have been friends with benefits the last three years, but when Brad self-esteem get low after another night with Riley, he decided to let it stop. Riley have some abandoned issues and he can't understand why Brad is pulling off. When he finally get it, he give Brad space and maintains their friendship... but can he witness Brad flirting with other men? Can their friendship survived? This book is a bestfriend to lovers trope with hea. Contains low self esteem and abandoned issues. I gave it 4 stars. Well writing, almost feel the pain in Brad hearbroken and low self-esteem. I mean, the man need a hug. A huge hug.

[Denise Burris GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I love these guys. Brad is a total sweetheart in hiding. I just have to shake my head with Riley. Talk about clueless. Those two belong together. Yes it was shorter then some of D.J. Jamison's other books but it was the perfect size for these guys. Now we just have poor Chris. Now he's the odd man out. I was privileged to get this book free since I'm a member of her newsletter and Facebook group. I'm leaving a review because it's that awesome of a read. I love D.J. Jamison's work in general but this is my favorite series. I can't wait to see what she does next.

[Lora Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though written better than the first book in the series, this book is almost half the length of the first, which causes the resolution to feel quite rushed. Brad wanted Riley as a BF, though for years he’d never wanted a relationship at all. After hiding his feelings for a month or so, he finally lets Riley know what he wants and then just like that *snap* Riley is 100% on board. Regardless of sexual chemistry, going from friends with benefits to saying I love you practically overnight just didn’t strike me as believable.

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a friends with benefits to more romance novella, featuring Brad and Riley, and is book two in the My Anti series.

Brad has always played the carefree flirt, but he’s secretly in love with his best friend-with-benefits, Riley, who insists he doesn’t want a relationship. When Brad pulls away to protect his heart, Riley is forced to confront his fear of abandonment and decide whether he’s willing to risk their friendship for something more.

I loved this one. Poor Brad had big feelings for his best friend but unfortunately Riley is too oblivious to see what is right in front of him. Great HEA.

Things to expect in this book are:
Book 2 in series
Novella
MM romance
Best friends
Aerobics instructor x builder
FWB to more
Fem MC
Secret pining
Oblivious MC
Fear of abandonment
Commitment issues
Pierced nipples
Spicy times & dirty talk
Emotional awakening
Found family
HEA

[Enirehtak Melas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends to lovers trope (sort of)

The two MCs are friends with benefits, but one wants a relationship and the other is by far too oblivious.

3.5 Stars

A lot of sexual activity between the two characters in this one. So, it diverted from its predecessor in that regard.

I did not like this one as much. I found one of the characters to be immature and unlikable. I did not connect to this story as much because of that. Talk about a clueless character. :)

[Himom90 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Low angst bumpy ride to committed relationship

Another enjoyable addition to the series! While this book was very different from the first one, it was equally as good and could easily stand-alone. During the course of the book Brad and Riley go from being each others wingman and having sex occasionally to being in a committed relationship with a few misunderstandings in between.

[Leci Forde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this fwb story

This is one of my favorite tropes. Riley was obliviously taking his and Brad’s hookups for granted until things changed. Fortunately he came to his senses before he lost Brad for good...This was a great quick read with little to no angst, nice heat and a good plot!

[Jacquie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends with benefits

Brad and Riley have a regular hook up situation as well as being best friends. Suddenly though, Brad realises he wants more than being Riley's plan B and works to put distance between them. While Riley and his obliviousness annoyed me, Brad and Chris made up for it

[Mary S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short story with big feels

I loved this book. So much emotion and feels packed in this novella. Brad and Riley's love story had me on an emotional rollercoaster for a while but what a sweet rush it was when they got their act together. Highly recommend.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2🌟
I loved this book. It is different then what I was expecting. They have some steamy times but they have a lot of downtime to think also. The connection is palpable. A great addition to the series. Now I must read book 3.

[Maxine Higginbotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends with Benefits

Oh man, this one hit me in the feels for sure. This story of a friends with benefits to boyfriends was heartwrenching. But it made the HEA all the more satisfying.