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Be My Best Man
~ Will Jason’s third time as a best man lead to first-time love for Vanya?
After fleeing violence in Moscow, student teacher Vanya Petrov winds up lonely in a run-down London hostel. At least visiting the Bond Street store where his roommate works lets him practice his English, but as Vanya's vocabulary expands, so does his isolation, especially when he sees happy couples planning their perfect weddings.
According to Jason Balfour, weddings are a waste of time and money. After all, he’s been best man for his brother twice already. Saying that a third marriage will end in divorce too leads to an angry ultimatum: to save his relationship with his brother, Jason must meet his fiancée, at last, and make a good first impression.
Jason’s need to dress to impress brings him and Vanya together. Language is no barrier to falling in love with the young and fragile Russian, and neither is their age difference. But Vanya’s bruised soul carries secrets that could rip them apart. As the wedding draws near, Vanya must confess, and soon, or risk losing Jason—his own best man in Britain.
After fleeing violence in Moscow, student teacher Vanya Petrov winds up lonely in a run-down London hostel. At least visiting the Bond Street store where his roommate works lets him practice his English, but as Vanya's vocabulary expands, so does his isolation, especially when he sees happy couples planning their perfect weddings.
According to Jason Balfour, weddings are a waste of time and money. After all, he’s been best man for his brother twice already. Saying that a third marriage will end in divorce too leads to an angry ultimatum: to save his relationship with his brother, Jason must meet his fiancée, at last, and make a good first impression.
Jason’s need to dress to impress brings him and Vanya together. Language is no barrier to falling in love with the young and fragile Russian, and neither is their age difference. But Vanya’s bruised soul carries secrets that could rip them apart. As the wedding draws near, Vanya must confess, and soon, or risk losing Jason—his own best man in Britain.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2017
43 people are currently reading
650 people want to read
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January 2, 2020
4 Hearts!! - Tag Team Review with Sara !
This was my first Con Riley and I’m quite the happy reader!
What’s not to love about a traumatized immigrant from Russia (a virgin, no less) who falls for an older man? Not much. Not much at all.
First you have sweet Vanya, who’s barely survived a violent attack and is desperately trying to gain British asylum. For now he’s safe, but until he’s deemed officially legal, he cannot earn an honest wage. Thus, Vanya is barely scraping by; he and his friends struggling to stay safe and save up for a better place to live. Since Vanya is in this waiting limbo, he often hangs out at his roommate’s workplace, an upscale department store. Through a series of events, he’s sorta mistaken for a personal shopper and is hired by a rough and tumble man who’s in need of a makeover. If caught earning money, Vanya could be deported, but his desperate situation makes it very hard to say no to some easily earned cash.
Enter Jason. When he voices his objections to his brother’s 3rd pending marriage, his lack of tact gets him in trouble. Since he’s gone too far, Jason has to show that he’s trying to get to know his future sister-in-law to make amends and hence, needs to make a very good impression. Insert Vanya here. Is this situation really plausible or reasonable? Not really. However, it somehow works, and thus a slow burn begins between these two.
I admit age gaps can easily turn me off (and this one is a whopping 22 years), but when done right or when the gap is not the main issue, it’s a nice added touch. Of course, the main dramatic bomb hanging over our heads is Vanya’s secret that he isn’t some big wig fancy shopper, and though he knows he must tell the truth, he so desperately hangs onto whatever happiness he can get with Jason before he can make himself do so. Of course, the hole deepens, making it harder and harder to speak up. Honestly, I could’ve done without this drama, but it is what it is.
Overall though, this had a lot of what I like in a romance - twisty doubt and insecurity, all entwined in some great tender UST. The heat level is decent with some delicious buildup, and despite being a bit sparse on the details, it was still plenty sexy. Vanya is also a character to root for. He’s had it rough and has lost much. He aches for his old life and family, but Vanya is not broken. He’s optimistic, hopeful, determined, and savors the small things that reaffirm his tenuous freedom. Jason in turn, is protective, caring, as well as vulnerable too because of a rocky past. He sees Vanya’s genuine kindness and honesty, and wants for the first time, in a long time, to have someone to care for, to have someone notice him and his details and to return the favor.
It really was a pleasure watching these two fall in love.
So yes, this was a great romance despite the inevitable obvious conflict, and I unexpectedly and quickly breezed right through - a huge indicator to me of just how much I enjoyed this!
Thanks to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
This was my first Con Riley and I’m quite the happy reader!
What’s not to love about a traumatized immigrant from Russia (a virgin, no less) who falls for an older man? Not much. Not much at all.
First you have sweet Vanya, who’s barely survived a violent attack and is desperately trying to gain British asylum. For now he’s safe, but until he’s deemed officially legal, he cannot earn an honest wage. Thus, Vanya is barely scraping by; he and his friends struggling to stay safe and save up for a better place to live. Since Vanya is in this waiting limbo, he often hangs out at his roommate’s workplace, an upscale department store. Through a series of events, he’s sorta mistaken for a personal shopper and is hired by a rough and tumble man who’s in need of a makeover. If caught earning money, Vanya could be deported, but his desperate situation makes it very hard to say no to some easily earned cash.
Enter Jason. When he voices his objections to his brother’s 3rd pending marriage, his lack of tact gets him in trouble. Since he’s gone too far, Jason has to show that he’s trying to get to know his future sister-in-law to make amends and hence, needs to make a very good impression. Insert Vanya here. Is this situation really plausible or reasonable? Not really. However, it somehow works, and thus a slow burn begins between these two.
I admit age gaps can easily turn me off (and this one is a whopping 22 years), but when done right or when the gap is not the main issue, it’s a nice added touch. Of course, the main dramatic bomb hanging over our heads is Vanya’s secret that he isn’t some big wig fancy shopper, and though he knows he must tell the truth, he so desperately hangs onto whatever happiness he can get with Jason before he can make himself do so. Of course, the hole deepens, making it harder and harder to speak up. Honestly, I could’ve done without this drama, but it is what it is.
Overall though, this had a lot of what I like in a romance - twisty doubt and insecurity, all entwined in some great tender UST. The heat level is decent with some delicious buildup, and despite being a bit sparse on the details, it was still plenty sexy. Vanya is also a character to root for. He’s had it rough and has lost much. He aches for his old life and family, but Vanya is not broken. He’s optimistic, hopeful, determined, and savors the small things that reaffirm his tenuous freedom. Jason in turn, is protective, caring, as well as vulnerable too because of a rocky past. He sees Vanya’s genuine kindness and honesty, and wants for the first time, in a long time, to have someone to care for, to have someone notice him and his details and to return the favor.
It really was a pleasure watching these two fall in love.
So yes, this was a great romance despite the inevitable obvious conflict, and I unexpectedly and quickly breezed right through - a huge indicator to me of just how much I enjoyed this!
Thanks to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
September 15, 2017
Have you ever read a book that is so vivid, so sharp, that the words appear in images? The letters not only form words and sentences but come together in a way that creates pictures in your mind’s eye. And as you read you discover the story doesn’t need you to come alive, because it already has a pulse and a solid heartbeat of its own. Most books require a reader to believe before it takes on life but this magnificent tale did not need me, for it was full of life without my participation. This is a rare skill that I can only account to the extraordinary storytelling of Riley. I was slow to unravel the knots because the story was woven with multiple threads.
There’s a wedding with a bitter best man, a skittish immigrant fighting for his life, and an unlikely opportunity with poor timing. I was absolutely spellbound as they were fastened together and awestruck with the finished piece. SO GOOD!
What's to like: A young man seeks a new life in London while grieving the loss of everything he once knew and attempting to recover from a near brush with death. Vanya is desperate for asylum. His story is tragic but he doesn’t want your pity or tears. What he craves is simple. He longs to feel safe, he aches for freedom from the chains of his past, and he wants the chance to provide the basic necessities for his survival. He arrives in Britain with hope fueling his steps but he’s quickly dragged down again with the unexpected struggle of acceptance. He finally catches a break when he meets Kaspar. They hold fast to one another realizing two is safer than one. When Anna joins them, they treasure their small chosen family.
Jason enters the picture with a misconception Vanya can’t clarify. He’s no longer alone and vows to put his new family’s security over any potential relationship with Jason. But as one white lie multiples to ten, and the wrong impression becomes an identity he can’t shake, Vanya suddenly realizes the power of hindsight. His focus was narrowed to the prospect of having the chance to stay and build a life, but the reality of losing someone he wants to build it with may be the highest price he’s paid thus far.
What's to love: This is a complex love story with numerous obstacles. It’s not easy and it’s not fast, and I appreciated that. I was smitten with Vanya from the very beginning but my adoration transformed into respect as we get to know him. His heart is pure and his ability to love is endless. It’s obvious he’s making grave mistakes. He knows it but is helpless to stop the impending crash. The violence Vanya escaped in Russia left many scars but most are invisible. He is still healing and as it turns out, he’s not the only one who’s been hurt. At first glance, one would think Jason is older, wiser and more successful. Sounds like he has it all. However, he bears his own hidden wounds. He doesn’t think highly of romance, which influences his harsh words and disbelief that his brother could have finally found his soul mate after two failed attempts. When his disrespect, disregard, and disinterest in his brother’s third impending wedding nearly cost him the only family he has left, he sinks to desperate measures. But hiring a young sweet personal shopper brings so much more than he bargained for. What happens when a man who doesn’t believe in love…falls in love? Well, you’ll just have to find out for yourself, BUT I highly recommend that you do!
Beware of: Patience is key. Vanya speaks in broken English but I found it charming. Remember, PTSD doesn’t heal the same as broken bones and broken skin. And broken hearts require a heavy dose of love to warm them once more. These two very different men are separated by two decades of birthdays, yet they are the perfect fit. The uncertainty and hardships of Brexit play a crucial role.
This book is for: This story is for a reader willing to endure real life oppressions, adversity, and afflictions. The storm clouds are dark and heavy but when the sun comes out, it will take your breath away.
**Btw….Isn’t the cover amazing??
***If I could pick one book from this year that I would LOVE to see become a movie…THIS IS IT!
*4.5 stars*
Book UNfunk
There’s a wedding with a bitter best man, a skittish immigrant fighting for his life, and an unlikely opportunity with poor timing. I was absolutely spellbound as they were fastened together and awestruck with the finished piece. SO GOOD!
What's to like: A young man seeks a new life in London while grieving the loss of everything he once knew and attempting to recover from a near brush with death. Vanya is desperate for asylum. His story is tragic but he doesn’t want your pity or tears. What he craves is simple. He longs to feel safe, he aches for freedom from the chains of his past, and he wants the chance to provide the basic necessities for his survival. He arrives in Britain with hope fueling his steps but he’s quickly dragged down again with the unexpected struggle of acceptance. He finally catches a break when he meets Kaspar. They hold fast to one another realizing two is safer than one. When Anna joins them, they treasure their small chosen family.
Jason enters the picture with a misconception Vanya can’t clarify. He’s no longer alone and vows to put his new family’s security over any potential relationship with Jason. But as one white lie multiples to ten, and the wrong impression becomes an identity he can’t shake, Vanya suddenly realizes the power of hindsight. His focus was narrowed to the prospect of having the chance to stay and build a life, but the reality of losing someone he wants to build it with may be the highest price he’s paid thus far.
What's to love: This is a complex love story with numerous obstacles. It’s not easy and it’s not fast, and I appreciated that. I was smitten with Vanya from the very beginning but my adoration transformed into respect as we get to know him. His heart is pure and his ability to love is endless. It’s obvious he’s making grave mistakes. He knows it but is helpless to stop the impending crash. The violence Vanya escaped in Russia left many scars but most are invisible. He is still healing and as it turns out, he’s not the only one who’s been hurt. At first glance, one would think Jason is older, wiser and more successful. Sounds like he has it all. However, he bears his own hidden wounds. He doesn’t think highly of romance, which influences his harsh words and disbelief that his brother could have finally found his soul mate after two failed attempts. When his disrespect, disregard, and disinterest in his brother’s third impending wedding nearly cost him the only family he has left, he sinks to desperate measures. But hiring a young sweet personal shopper brings so much more than he bargained for. What happens when a man who doesn’t believe in love…falls in love? Well, you’ll just have to find out for yourself, BUT I highly recommend that you do!
Beware of: Patience is key. Vanya speaks in broken English but I found it charming. Remember, PTSD doesn’t heal the same as broken bones and broken skin. And broken hearts require a heavy dose of love to warm them once more. These two very different men are separated by two decades of birthdays, yet they are the perfect fit. The uncertainty and hardships of Brexit play a crucial role.
This book is for: This story is for a reader willing to endure real life oppressions, adversity, and afflictions. The storm clouds are dark and heavy but when the sun comes out, it will take your breath away.
**Btw….Isn’t the cover amazing??
***If I could pick one book from this year that I would LOVE to see become a movie…THIS IS IT!
*4.5 stars*
Book UNfunk
September 11, 2017
**** 4 Stars ****
A very touching tale tackling the polemic brexit and its repercussions on the lives of many immigrants.
The writing is lovely. The plot is refreshing and original and I absolutely love Vanya (23) and Jason (42).
My only negative is the fact that the story around Chantel and Andrew's wedding has dragged for too long.
A very touching tale tackling the polemic brexit and its repercussions on the lives of many immigrants.
The writing is lovely. The plot is refreshing and original and I absolutely love Vanya (23) and Jason (42).
My only negative is the fact that the story around Chantel and Andrew's wedding has dragged for too long.
October 15, 2017
I started out really loving Vanya's dry, broken English comebacks, which had just an edge of snarky smartass, but eventually that wasn't enough to keep me interested in this book.
My biggest issue with the story wasn't that I didn't get to know Vanya and Jason. It was that I felt like they didn't even remotely know anything about one another. They NEVER asked one another ANY questions at all about their lives, current or past. Even simple questions like, "what's your favorite flavor of ice cream?" Nope.
It was as if they didn't care in the slightest about how they became the people that they were now, what experiences had made them who they are. I'm sorry, but it became extremely frustrating that they weren't even interested in finding out a single bit of background information past their general attraction toward one another.
And yes, I got that Jason had been lied to in the past, but sweet merciful craptacular Christ, I felt that his reaction when finally uncovering the things that Vanya was hiding was a way too severe and OTT. And his threat? No bueno.
The writing was top notch and the story line was fairly interesting; however, I *needed* them to get to know one another on more than a surface level for me to give more than half a crap about their relationship.
The epilogue did finally push the relationship in the direction that I felt it needed to go, but fuck me, 11th hour much?
I was hoping for something as deeply moving and emotional as Riley's "After Ben", but I didn't get that here, so I'd have to rate it around 3 stars.
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September 11, 2017
This book was stunning, consuming and painfully beautiful ❤️Honestly I didn't know what I was in for, but WOW I hurt and ached for Vanya and silently begged him to tell Jason the truth but I guess that angst was needed to really build the story. I really adored this - loved the writing, the flow and the honesty. This story addressed the issues of asylum seekers and the desperate need to show empathy to those who have suddenly needed to leave their homes, lives and sometimes families just so that they feel safe. So many Vanyas in the world, maybe a little more compassion from people could really help make a change
October 3, 2017
4,5 y gracias a Vir por la rec.
Quizás debería redondear a 5 por varios motivos, pero sobre todo por los personajes, encontrar gente tan madura y que deja el drama en su justa medida en el MM hoy en día es dificilísimo. Vanya es maravilloso, dulce, sabio, frágil y fuerte a la vez... Ay, qué placer leerle.
Kudos a Con Riley porque ha hecho un trabajo excelente. El otro libro que leí de ella no me gustó nada y la tenía proscrita, pero creo que le voy a dar una oportunidad a alguna otra de sus obras.
Libro muy recomendable que no os debéis perder, siento no extenderme, me gustaría hacer una reseña más completa de este libro, que lo merece, pero quedaros con que vuestro tiempo no lo vais a malgastar y eso ya es mucho ;)
Quizás debería redondear a 5 por varios motivos, pero sobre todo por los personajes, encontrar gente tan madura y que deja el drama en su justa medida en el MM hoy en día es dificilísimo. Vanya es maravilloso, dulce, sabio, frágil y fuerte a la vez... Ay, qué placer leerle.
Kudos a Con Riley porque ha hecho un trabajo excelente. El otro libro que leí de ella no me gustó nada y la tenía proscrita, pero creo que le voy a dar una oportunidad a alguna otra de sus obras.
Libro muy recomendable que no os debéis perder, siento no extenderme, me gustaría hacer una reseña más completa de este libro, que lo merece, pero quedaros con que vuestro tiempo no lo vais a malgastar y eso ya es mucho ;)
September 13, 2017
*4,5 stars*
I really wasn't sure what to expect, but I LOVED it.
First: Vanya
I think he might be one my most favourite characters this year so far. He's had to suffer through so much, physically and mentally, and yet, there is a resilience about him that I take my hat off to. I adored his dry humour and his capability of summing up a situation aptly in two or three words (in broken English.) And nerdy as I am about language, I loved the whole language learning theme!
To me there was something pure and innocent about him. Something innately honest - despite the 'deceit' and 'lying' to Jason. Yes, he does that, but at no point in the book did I not fully get why he is acting the way he is. And he is so young...
I must admit he also held up a mirror that let me see all the privileges we live with. And how hard some people have to fight just to get the basics. And what Brexit is doing to immigrants who come to the UK with the hope of a better life. Kudos to the author for picking up those issues!
And then there is Jason ...
Jason, the 44 year old restoration manager, who has long given up on relationships after being too trusting, and who has neglected himself and his heart for quite a while.
He comes across as a stubborn and grumpy a*****e at times. Judging Chanel, his brother's very young girlfriend, without even having met her does not put him in the best of lights! Thank God, Vanya is reading him the riot act about that. Well, not quite that bad, but Vanya makes him look at the way he behaves and the effects it has on Jason's brother, and as a consequence brings out the best in Jason.
And then, willing or not, Jason falls, trusting again ....
Of course there is the little issue that he doesn't really know Vanya's secrets. Brilliant tension there which is sensibly resolved towards the end.
Maybe a little bit more could have been made of the fact that Vanya is a total virgin and tons of firsts are on the menu, but I liked the gentle (albeit hot) sexual pull between the two men. Jason is just so careful and loving with Vanya, it shows a lot who he really is deep inside.
A delightful book, with a very topical theme, I would happily recommend.
I really wasn't sure what to expect, but I LOVED it.
First: Vanya
I think he might be one my most favourite characters this year so far. He's had to suffer through so much, physically and mentally, and yet, there is a resilience about him that I take my hat off to. I adored his dry humour and his capability of summing up a situation aptly in two or three words (in broken English.) And nerdy as I am about language, I loved the whole language learning theme!
To me there was something pure and innocent about him. Something innately honest - despite the 'deceit' and 'lying' to Jason. Yes, he does that, but at no point in the book did I not fully get why he is acting the way he is. And he is so young...
I must admit he also held up a mirror that let me see all the privileges we live with. And how hard some people have to fight just to get the basics. And what Brexit is doing to immigrants who come to the UK with the hope of a better life. Kudos to the author for picking up those issues!
And then there is Jason ...
Jason, the 44 year old restoration manager, who has long given up on relationships after being too trusting, and who has neglected himself and his heart for quite a while.
He comes across as a stubborn and grumpy a*****e at times. Judging Chanel, his brother's very young girlfriend, without even having met her does not put him in the best of lights! Thank God, Vanya is reading him the riot act about that. Well, not quite that bad, but Vanya makes him look at the way he behaves and the effects it has on Jason's brother, and as a consequence brings out the best in Jason.
And then, willing or not, Jason falls, trusting again ....
Of course there is the little issue that he doesn't really know Vanya's secrets. Brilliant tension there which is sensibly resolved towards the end.
Maybe a little bit more could have been made of the fact that Vanya is a total virgin and tons of firsts are on the menu, but I liked the gentle (albeit hot) sexual pull between the two men. Jason is just so careful and loving with Vanya, it shows a lot who he really is deep inside.
A delightful book, with a very topical theme, I would happily recommend.
September 15, 2017
Con Riley never disappoints, and this author just keeps getting better and better.
In Be My Best Man, Con not only gives us a beautiful romance, but also head-on tackles one of the big current social issues.
Vanya, early 20s, has fled his home country of Russia nearly eight months ago when he was found out as being gay and violently beaten because of his sexuality. Now in Britain, still traumatized and scared, his dreams of becoming a teacher dashed, he is waiting to get this asylum request approved so he can be granted the ability to have a job and earn an income. In his current limbo, though finally safe from persecution for his sexuality, he lives in a run-down hostel where he has befriended a young man and woman from Estonia, who are both in Britain legally as EU citizens but whose status under Brexit is also uncertain. The hostel is not really safe either, though Vanya shares a room with his friend Kaspar. Theft is rampant. Rooms are broken into. Women fear being assaulted.
The author created a character that I immediately connected with. Vanya struggles to learn English, practicing whenever and wherever he can, and his struggles were authentic and realistic. His loneliness was evident, and I felt for him right away.
Jason is a man in his early forties, who's recently had a falling out with his foster brother Andrew over the brother's recent engagement and wedding plans. See, it's the 3rd wedding, and Jason, without even meeting the girl in question, has already decided that this is just another mistake. He too felt lonely to me, when he was first introduced, despite being rather successful in his business, and it was fairly clear to me that he was shaped by his childhood experiences and didn't really trust anyone, other than his late foster mother and foster brother.
The meet-cute happens in the department store where Kaspar works and Vanya is visiting after his latest asylum appointment and Jason is hiding to wait for a call or text from Andrew. Jason thinks Vanya works in the store, and Vanya wants to practice his English. And get to know the hunky older man.
Jason's wrong assumption leads to him hiring Vanya as his personal shopper, and the two begin spending time together. This is where the story really begins to take shape.
Con Riley combined the sweet yet complicated romance that develops between these two men with the social issue of asylum seekers who have no legal standing, are usually running from persecution, scared to death, having to learn the customs of a country so foreign to them, and being generally looked down upon by many people. Vanya's plight, his uncertain status before asylum is granted, his internalized shame, was heart-breaking, and I wanted to reach into the book and hug him and protect him. He keeps a huge secret from Jason, and this secret nearly breaks them.
Jason on the other hand is oblivious to Vanya's struggles for a long time, not intentionally of course, but he doesn't realize how traumatized the young man is. He also doesn't realize for a long time how much he's hurting Andrew and his future wife, and how his distrust of Andrew knowing his own heart is jeopardizing the remaining piece of family he has. But he learns. Under Vanya's attention, Jason begins to question decisions he's made, and how wrong he might have been. With Vanya in his life, Jason starts to believe that love might be real after all. He goes to finally meet Andrew's lovely young fiancee, and he begins to see how much they are truly in love, to the point where he even steps in to... well, no, you read this yourself.
The author has an extraordinary talent in giving life to the characters and making them feel real. Vanya's skittishness, Jason's irrational anger (born out of heartache), the social circumstances, Vanya making huge mistakes born out of fear - everything in this book was absolutely realistic and relatable.
This book (and the romance) flows slowly, and it needs to. Trauma such as Vanya's takes time to overcome. Jason's disbelief in lasting love can't just suddenly disappear. They are both shaped by their experiences, and since neither feels safe to talk freely and openly about their fears, they don't have an easy path to their HEA.
Writing their story in the third person present tense was also a stroke of genius, because this reader felt even more connected to the characters this way. Read every word carefully - this isn't a book you can speed-read. You must savor every carefully crafted sentence, every brilliant paragraph, and let the story unfold in real time to get the full impact. Vanya's English is heavily accented, and it's written in such a way, that I could easily "hear" him speaking the words.
I cried a few times. I wanted Jason to pull his head out of his ass. I wanted to shield Vanya from the big, bad world and give him shelter. I loved these characters, I loved this story, and I absolutely highly recommend that you read it.
Get to it.
** I received a free copy of this book from Signal Boost Promotions as part of the review tour for an honest and fair review. **
In Be My Best Man, Con not only gives us a beautiful romance, but also head-on tackles one of the big current social issues.
Vanya, early 20s, has fled his home country of Russia nearly eight months ago when he was found out as being gay and violently beaten because of his sexuality. Now in Britain, still traumatized and scared, his dreams of becoming a teacher dashed, he is waiting to get this asylum request approved so he can be granted the ability to have a job and earn an income. In his current limbo, though finally safe from persecution for his sexuality, he lives in a run-down hostel where he has befriended a young man and woman from Estonia, who are both in Britain legally as EU citizens but whose status under Brexit is also uncertain. The hostel is not really safe either, though Vanya shares a room with his friend Kaspar. Theft is rampant. Rooms are broken into. Women fear being assaulted.
The author created a character that I immediately connected with. Vanya struggles to learn English, practicing whenever and wherever he can, and his struggles were authentic and realistic. His loneliness was evident, and I felt for him right away.
Jason is a man in his early forties, who's recently had a falling out with his foster brother Andrew over the brother's recent engagement and wedding plans. See, it's the 3rd wedding, and Jason, without even meeting the girl in question, has already decided that this is just another mistake. He too felt lonely to me, when he was first introduced, despite being rather successful in his business, and it was fairly clear to me that he was shaped by his childhood experiences and didn't really trust anyone, other than his late foster mother and foster brother.
The meet-cute happens in the department store where Kaspar works and Vanya is visiting after his latest asylum appointment and Jason is hiding to wait for a call or text from Andrew. Jason thinks Vanya works in the store, and Vanya wants to practice his English. And get to know the hunky older man.
Jason's wrong assumption leads to him hiring Vanya as his personal shopper, and the two begin spending time together. This is where the story really begins to take shape.
Con Riley combined the sweet yet complicated romance that develops between these two men with the social issue of asylum seekers who have no legal standing, are usually running from persecution, scared to death, having to learn the customs of a country so foreign to them, and being generally looked down upon by many people. Vanya's plight, his uncertain status before asylum is granted, his internalized shame, was heart-breaking, and I wanted to reach into the book and hug him and protect him. He keeps a huge secret from Jason, and this secret nearly breaks them.
Jason on the other hand is oblivious to Vanya's struggles for a long time, not intentionally of course, but he doesn't realize how traumatized the young man is. He also doesn't realize for a long time how much he's hurting Andrew and his future wife, and how his distrust of Andrew knowing his own heart is jeopardizing the remaining piece of family he has. But he learns. Under Vanya's attention, Jason begins to question decisions he's made, and how wrong he might have been. With Vanya in his life, Jason starts to believe that love might be real after all. He goes to finally meet Andrew's lovely young fiancee, and he begins to see how much they are truly in love, to the point where he even steps in to... well, no, you read this yourself.
The author has an extraordinary talent in giving life to the characters and making them feel real. Vanya's skittishness, Jason's irrational anger (born out of heartache), the social circumstances, Vanya making huge mistakes born out of fear - everything in this book was absolutely realistic and relatable.
This book (and the romance) flows slowly, and it needs to. Trauma such as Vanya's takes time to overcome. Jason's disbelief in lasting love can't just suddenly disappear. They are both shaped by their experiences, and since neither feels safe to talk freely and openly about their fears, they don't have an easy path to their HEA.
Writing their story in the third person present tense was also a stroke of genius, because this reader felt even more connected to the characters this way. Read every word carefully - this isn't a book you can speed-read. You must savor every carefully crafted sentence, every brilliant paragraph, and let the story unfold in real time to get the full impact. Vanya's English is heavily accented, and it's written in such a way, that I could easily "hear" him speaking the words.
I cried a few times. I wanted Jason to pull his head out of his ass. I wanted to shield Vanya from the big, bad world and give him shelter. I loved these characters, I loved this story, and I absolutely highly recommend that you read it.
Get to it.
** I received a free copy of this book from Signal Boost Promotions as part of the review tour for an honest and fair review. **
September 19, 2021
Another wonderful story from Con. I'm [see story] loved Vanya [the cover AND the guy are gorgeous Garrett Leigh], and his friends Kaspar and Anna. Jason grew on me even though the age gap is quite significant, and the epilogue was an unexpected bonus. 5 stars.
The storyline is topical, up-to-date, particularly relevant to today's UK and many people are extremely worried about what the future now holds for the citizens of this overcrowded little island, and any potential new inhabitants. That being said, genuine asylum seekers and others in fear for their lives in their own country, should NOT have to feel threatened, frightened or demeaned, and certainly not grateful in a weird kind of way that we as a nation may allow them to stay. Suffering a hate crime that near enough kills you would be all the incentive most people would need to move as far away from where they currently live as they possibly could, and start afresh somewhere new; unfortunately, nothing is ever that easy and the hoops that some governments make you jump through before you can settle down peacefully are a necessary evil nowadays.
The storyline is topical, up-to-date, particularly relevant to today's UK and many people are extremely worried about what the future now holds for the citizens of this overcrowded little island, and any potential new inhabitants. That being said, genuine asylum seekers and others in fear for their lives in their own country, should NOT have to feel threatened, frightened or demeaned, and certainly not grateful in a weird kind of way that we as a nation may allow them to stay. Suffering a hate crime that near enough kills you would be all the incentive most people would need to move as far away from where they currently live as they possibly could, and start afresh somewhere new; unfortunately, nothing is ever that easy and the hoops that some governments make you jump through before you can settle down peacefully are a necessary evil nowadays.
August 29, 2017
I was an emotional wreck reading this novel. Thank you Ms Riley for writing an Epilogue, I needed to see how things progressed from that climactic Wedding chapter.
Romance and love are what I look for in M/M. I like a bit of angst, I can cope with a bit of sex, as long as its there for a reason and not just to titivate. I like a good plot.
"Be My Best Man" is a UK based, modern day story with social implications, relevant to Britain and Europe today (2017). It touches on the calamity, which is Brexit; it describes the heartbreak and fear facing asylum seekers and refugees in the UK, and the uncertainty facing other European Nationals who work here; it confronts the subject of violent atrocities carried out on gay men and women in Russia today. It is a story that will make you weep at the unfairness and suffering a modern world can create towards its citizens.
Mostly though, this is the love story of two men who find one another, despite a twenty year age difference. It is a celebration of love.
I defy anyone not to shed a tear.
"Be My Best Man" ticked all the boxes for me. A definite five star love story.
Romance and love are what I look for in M/M. I like a bit of angst, I can cope with a bit of sex, as long as its there for a reason and not just to titivate. I like a good plot.
"Be My Best Man" is a UK based, modern day story with social implications, relevant to Britain and Europe today (2017). It touches on the calamity, which is Brexit; it describes the heartbreak and fear facing asylum seekers and refugees in the UK, and the uncertainty facing other European Nationals who work here; it confronts the subject of violent atrocities carried out on gay men and women in Russia today. It is a story that will make you weep at the unfairness and suffering a modern world can create towards its citizens.
Mostly though, this is the love story of two men who find one another, despite a twenty year age difference. It is a celebration of love.
I defy anyone not to shed a tear.
"Be My Best Man" ticked all the boxes for me. A definite five star love story.
October 9, 2017
I often proof read for Con but I didn't have time to help out with this one, so one-clicked it when it came out.
This is Con Riley at her absolute best (for me). Gorgeous subtle writing with Con's usual dose of angst to temper the sweetness that runs through the heart of this story, until it explodes into a glorious happy ending.
Highly recommended to anyone who loves age gaps, British books, beautiful romance stories between two male protagonists, or just a cracking good read.
This is Con Riley at her absolute best (for me). Gorgeous subtle writing with Con's usual dose of angst to temper the sweetness that runs through the heart of this story, until it explodes into a glorious happy ending.
Highly recommended to anyone who loves age gaps, British books, beautiful romance stories between two male protagonists, or just a cracking good read.
September 18, 2017
I was really lucky to win this book from Con Riley exclusive giveaway over at The Novel Approach. I enjoyed Riley's previous Must Like Spinach and I was really quite curious with this one because of the immigration issue and that I read Riley's status somewhere that said it this was "a labour of love"
I fell in love with Vanya right from the very beginning during the scene of him at the immigration center. I could feel his fear, his hope, and every turmoil emotion inside this young man. The more I got to know Vanya, the more I got hopelessly wanting to protect him from all harm.
I thought Riley was able to describe the uncertainties really well. The part where Vanya moved out from his previous place along with his friend Kaspar and Kaspar's girlfriend, Anna, also made me all choked up.
The relationship is quite slow-burn because Vanya keeps things from Jason due to his status. But all the time I was rooting for him. I wasn't immediately warm up to Jason though. Simply put I thought he was being a bit judgmental prick. Yes, sure, so he didn't believe in love because of his own failed relationship, but I didn't like how he judged Chantel like so.
Simply put, I thought Be My Best man to be beautiful and quite gut-punching at the same time, with douse of reality regarding Russia's stance towards homosexuality and the looming of Brexit effect in Britain. It was probably Riley's best so far. Absolutely made me all teary-eyed near the end there...
All that blocks Vanya Petrov from his future are four rows of plastic seating. They shouldn’t be a barrier to a brand-new start in Britain, yet each row is filled with people who seek the same outcome.
I fell in love with Vanya right from the very beginning during the scene of him at the immigration center. I could feel his fear, his hope, and every turmoil emotion inside this young man. The more I got to know Vanya, the more I got hopelessly wanting to protect him from all harm.
I thought Riley was able to describe the uncertainties really well. The part where Vanya moved out from his previous place along with his friend Kaspar and Kaspar's girlfriend, Anna, also made me all choked up.
The relationship is quite slow-burn because Vanya keeps things from Jason due to his status. But all the time I was rooting for him. I wasn't immediately warm up to Jason though. Simply put I thought he was being a bit judgmental prick. Yes, sure, so he didn't believe in love because of his own failed relationship, but I didn't like how he judged Chantel like so.
Simply put, I thought Be My Best man to be beautiful and quite gut-punching at the same time, with douse of reality regarding Russia's stance towards homosexuality and the looming of Brexit effect in Britain. It was probably Riley's best so far. Absolutely made me all teary-eyed near the end there...
October 9, 2017
Soy plenamente consciente de que es probable que el rating sea injusto con el libro, pero es honesto con lo que me ha gustado a mi.
No está mal escrito, me gustan los protagonistas (fundamentalmente Vanya), no es problemático, es fácil empatizar con la situación de los inmigrantes. Pero, me ha pasado con lo mismo que con otros libros de la autora, simplemente no es capaz de conectar conmigo como lectora, a veces me da la sensación de que se dispersa demasiado, me faltan picos de tensión y emoción, y a ratos me aburre.
¿Qué se le va a hacer?
No está mal escrito, me gustan los protagonistas (fundamentalmente Vanya), no es problemático, es fácil empatizar con la situación de los inmigrantes. Pero, me ha pasado con lo mismo que con otros libros de la autora, simplemente no es capaz de conectar conmigo como lectora, a veces me da la sensación de que se dispersa demasiado, me faltan picos de tensión y emoción, y a ratos me aburre.
¿Qué se le va a hacer?
June 3, 2019
I loved this. My heart ached so much for Vanya and his friends. The author did a great job putting into words the difficult situations immigrants have to go through, without making it sappy. I read in some reviews that Jason wasn't very likeable. I actually found him really real and sweet. I totally recommend it, if only for Vanya.
March 21, 2018
Be My Best Man
By Con Riley
Figment Ink, 2017
Five stars
My whole approach to m/m novels has evolved in the seven years and many hundreds of books I’ve read within the broad genre of LGBT fiction. Con Riley stands out as one of those m/m writers who cares about character and context; who has something to say beyond “these two guys fall in love and live happily ever after.” This gets a five star rating from me because it is complex as a story, and deals with contemporary social issues in thoughtful and interesting ways.
Vanya Petrov is a 22-year-old gay refugee seeking asylum in post-Brexit London. He can’t work, legally, and lives in an immigrant hostel that would be insupportable if not for his Estonian friend Kaspar, and Kaspar’s girlfriend Anna.
Jason Balfour is a specialist in renovating historic structures, and while he makes a great living, he doesn’t see himself as rich. Raised by a loving foster family in a small Cotswold town, he is sweetly unaware of his own privilege, and makes assumptions about others that, I suspect, any of the book’s comfortable middle-class readers would make.
Jason has been asked to be best man by his beloved foster-brother Andrew. For the third time. Andrew is marrying a 23-year-old student teacher, and Jason is beside himself with misgivings. In order to make amends, he agrees to buy some decent, stylish clothes and pay a visit to his future sister-in-law.
This is when he meets Vanya, whom he mistakes for a personal shopper at the upscale Bond Street clothing store where his friend Kaspar works.
Jason assumes Vanya, who is stylish and beautiful and very young, is one of those nouveau-riche Russians who are buying up all of his renovated properties. He has no clue that Vanya fled his native country, and abandoned his own dream to be a primary school teacher, after being nearly beaten to death and then exiled by his family for being gay. He is fascinated by this slender blond half his age. Jason never lets Vanya explain himself, and simply takes him at face value, based on what he sees.
Can you guess where this is going?
The interwoven threads are, on the one hand, Andrew’s impending marriage and Jason’s role in it; and on the other hand Jason’s evolving friendship with the young Russian émigré. Riley weaves these two plots together very adroitly, tying Vanya to Andrew’s fiancée, Chantal in a way that serves the dual romantic narrative in several wonderful ways. This book isn’t just about one couple—it’s about two couples, and two different friendships.
In a United Kingdom fractured by anti-immigrant politics and economic inequality, “Be My Best Man” is a moral tale about compassion and justice. To me it represents the best and the healthiest trend in m/m fiction written by people other than gay men. If you’re going to write about other people’s lives, you need to be thoughtful and get it right. Con Riley does a great job.
By Con Riley
Figment Ink, 2017
Five stars
My whole approach to m/m novels has evolved in the seven years and many hundreds of books I’ve read within the broad genre of LGBT fiction. Con Riley stands out as one of those m/m writers who cares about character and context; who has something to say beyond “these two guys fall in love and live happily ever after.” This gets a five star rating from me because it is complex as a story, and deals with contemporary social issues in thoughtful and interesting ways.
Vanya Petrov is a 22-year-old gay refugee seeking asylum in post-Brexit London. He can’t work, legally, and lives in an immigrant hostel that would be insupportable if not for his Estonian friend Kaspar, and Kaspar’s girlfriend Anna.
Jason Balfour is a specialist in renovating historic structures, and while he makes a great living, he doesn’t see himself as rich. Raised by a loving foster family in a small Cotswold town, he is sweetly unaware of his own privilege, and makes assumptions about others that, I suspect, any of the book’s comfortable middle-class readers would make.
Jason has been asked to be best man by his beloved foster-brother Andrew. For the third time. Andrew is marrying a 23-year-old student teacher, and Jason is beside himself with misgivings. In order to make amends, he agrees to buy some decent, stylish clothes and pay a visit to his future sister-in-law.
This is when he meets Vanya, whom he mistakes for a personal shopper at the upscale Bond Street clothing store where his friend Kaspar works.
Jason assumes Vanya, who is stylish and beautiful and very young, is one of those nouveau-riche Russians who are buying up all of his renovated properties. He has no clue that Vanya fled his native country, and abandoned his own dream to be a primary school teacher, after being nearly beaten to death and then exiled by his family for being gay. He is fascinated by this slender blond half his age. Jason never lets Vanya explain himself, and simply takes him at face value, based on what he sees.
Can you guess where this is going?
The interwoven threads are, on the one hand, Andrew’s impending marriage and Jason’s role in it; and on the other hand Jason’s evolving friendship with the young Russian émigré. Riley weaves these two plots together very adroitly, tying Vanya to Andrew’s fiancée, Chantal in a way that serves the dual romantic narrative in several wonderful ways. This book isn’t just about one couple—it’s about two couples, and two different friendships.
In a United Kingdom fractured by anti-immigrant politics and economic inequality, “Be My Best Man” is a moral tale about compassion and justice. To me it represents the best and the healthiest trend in m/m fiction written by people other than gay men. If you’re going to write about other people’s lives, you need to be thoughtful and get it right. Con Riley does a great job.
September 16, 2017
This book gives us Vanya, whose life in the UK hangs on a thread of hope - he's a refugee from vicious homophobic abuse in Russia, a young man who has to show up in Immigration every month to petition again for asylum, to show one more person the file full of pictures of his injuries, and documentation of the threats and rejections even from his family. He can only hope that at some point he will be given full permission to stay. Until then, he's forbidden to work and earn money, and he ekes out his life with food vouchers, in a dangerous, grimy hostel where at any moment he could lose what little he has.
Jason, a local restoration expert, meets Vanya when he's hanging with a friend in a store and is impressed with his poise. Jason makes the assumption that his battered clothes are a fashion-forward choice. Jason has been faced with trying to somehow reconcile with his brother and new prospective sister-in-law, and latches onto the idea that changing his dingy style might help him connect with the young woman, and show he's making an effort. He wants Vanya to advise him, working off the assumption that Vanya is a personal shopper. And Vanya's desperate enough to accept payment under the table. With a little more cash, he and his friends might be able to leave that awful hostel.
And so a relationship founded on white lies and deceptions begins.
This book is notable for the light it shines on the situation of refugees, and the desperation that drives people to leave their homes. Beating and murder of LGBT people in Russia is a current reality, and Vanya puts a face on one victim. His determination and stress, the knife edge he walks where earning any money could result in Immigration rejecting him back to Russia, are poignant.
Jason is a curmudgeonly 42, but his background as a foster kid, with its insecurities, account for some of his reactions. And perhaps his reactions, in turn, explain how long it takes Vanya to come clean with him. The resolutions of most of the conflicts came faster and easier than the set-ups, but in general this had a realistic set of challenges, a good cast of secondary characters (especially Vanya's friends) and some very vital things to illuminate about poverty, immigration, and the need for us all to become more empathic as the world becomes smaller. And it does so with a slow romance that ends warm and sweet.
Jason, a local restoration expert, meets Vanya when he's hanging with a friend in a store and is impressed with his poise. Jason makes the assumption that his battered clothes are a fashion-forward choice. Jason has been faced with trying to somehow reconcile with his brother and new prospective sister-in-law, and latches onto the idea that changing his dingy style might help him connect with the young woman, and show he's making an effort. He wants Vanya to advise him, working off the assumption that Vanya is a personal shopper. And Vanya's desperate enough to accept payment under the table. With a little more cash, he and his friends might be able to leave that awful hostel.
And so a relationship founded on white lies and deceptions begins.
This book is notable for the light it shines on the situation of refugees, and the desperation that drives people to leave their homes. Beating and murder of LGBT people in Russia is a current reality, and Vanya puts a face on one victim. His determination and stress, the knife edge he walks where earning any money could result in Immigration rejecting him back to Russia, are poignant.
Jason is a curmudgeonly 42, but his background as a foster kid, with its insecurities, account for some of his reactions. And perhaps his reactions, in turn, explain how long it takes Vanya to come clean with him. The resolutions of most of the conflicts came faster and easier than the set-ups, but in general this had a realistic set of challenges, a good cast of secondary characters (especially Vanya's friends) and some very vital things to illuminate about poverty, immigration, and the need for us all to become more empathic as the world becomes smaller. And it does so with a slow romance that ends warm and sweet.
August 10, 2021
4.75 stars
Loved pretty much everything about this. I felt so invested in the characters (especially Vanya) right from page 1. All the secondary characters were well-developed too. This was a timely and very real story with lots of emotion. Recommended!
Loved pretty much everything about this. I felt so invested in the characters (especially Vanya) right from page 1. All the secondary characters were well-developed too. This was a timely and very real story with lots of emotion. Recommended!
Read
September 11, 20175 Hearts
Tag team review with R * A Reader Obsessed * !
I once said I loved Con Riley’s words so much I would marry them and that hasn’t changed. I have read everything the author has written and I have yet to find one of her books I haven’t fallen in love with.
Be My Best Man is no exception to my marriage vow and right now, I want to hug the hell out of her. The author took on the job of tackling such a political climate with respect and responsibility to these troubling times but not weighing the book down with it and giving us a wonderful romance full of hope. It’s a balance that compliments the romance as well as Jason and Vanya complement one another.
Ugh. Where to start this review? Jason and Vanya meet at a department store where Jason is waiting to hear back from his foster brother, Andrew and Vanya is hoping to improve his conversational English while hanging out with his best friend and roommate Kaspar. Jason mistakes Vanya as a salesperson and after Vanya suggests a few ties that Jason doesn’t buy, they both make a lasting impression on one another.
Told through the dual POV’s of both our MC’s we learn right away the trouble Jason is going through with his foster brother Andrew, that they had words and Andrews accidentally gave Jason a black eye. But Jason kinda deserved it. I mean, he said some horrible things about the young lady Andrew intends to marry and then Jason ends up being in the exact same situation so karma works in this sense.
But Vanya, goodness. We meet Vanya in the immigration centre as he waits to hear the status of case and the asylum he seeks in Britain. Vanya has left his homeland of Russia after being assaulted and disowned from his family and is now in the process of starting a new life in London. Without a Visa, there isn’t much he can do until he is legal and that includes getting an actual job. Vanya has left a full life behind, he was almost done with classes to become and elementary aged teacher and meeting Jason is a chance at something he can’t let slip away.
You see, Jason assumes with how Vanya looks, dresses and his ability to pick out a tie in a Bond Street department store that Vanya is a personal shopper. Considering Andrew has quietly demanded that Jason clean up his appearance to impress his fiancée leads Jason to track down Vanya and offer him the paid task of dressing Jason smartly. It’s an opportunity for Vanya to earn money under the table and help save for a real place to live with Kaspar.
Wow. There is so much in this story to talk about but it would be spoiling it. The level of emotions the book pulls you through are stunning and angst ridden that I couldn’t stop reading and finished this book in a single Sunday. We go through a lot with Jason and Vanya both together and on their own. They both have demons to face, regrets to leave behind and a chance at a future with someone that is so stunning, they are blinded to any fault that cracks the surface of their romantic bubble.
I really liked Jason. I felt for him as he tells the story about moving in with Andrew and his mum as a foster child and how they accepted him fast and fully into their little family. He will do whatever he can to not hurt Andrew and while he’s made assumptions about Andrew’s fiancée Chantel, Jason is forced to eat one extra-large piece of humble pie as he begins to fall for Vanya, as the brothers find themselves in similar relationships.
Watching Vanya and Jason go from a business transaction to friends then lovers was beautiful. This is slow burn romance that focuses on the importance of family which if you’ve read a Con Riley book is always a central focus. I love that the author does that, she infuses love and acceptance of every kind into her work and it’s permeates from the page and you absorb it through your pores. It’s impossible to read this book and not feel. Try it. I dare you.
I found the way Vanya goes about learning English to be adorable and admirable. I can’t imagine having to learn…everything in a new way how he must to acclimate to a new country. Heck, I have a hard time changing how I take my coffee but Vanya finds intriguing ways to learn not only English, but British slang as well so he can truly converse with anyone and help his asylum case.
So while Jason and Vanya are becoming closer, Vanya is keeping “white lies” about his alien status, where he lives and why he is in the country from Jason. In the grand scheme of things, these are important things but the way the men feel about one another, the lessons they learn through their love and others around them is the real heart of this romance.
Now that’s not saying this isn’t one hell of a sexy read, because it is. The age gap between Jason and Vanya makes this delicious and when you throw in Vanya’s inexperience, it’s time to dig in and get it on. Yeah, the intimacy mixed with the sex that give whispered declarations, mirrored encounters and even first kisses will give you so many feels, you‘ll want to go back and read them again. I know I did.
But this book… it’s so wonderful I can’t describe it. The love that Jason and Vanya find is gorgeous. The love that Andrew and Chantel find that builds and repairs bridges is lovely and Kaspar and Anna lend another love story to the bunch and it’s all so amazing. This book is full of so much love and hope among the political background of Brexit and what’s happening to gay men in other countries that it was a blessing to read.
That epilogue just about killed me with feelings but I adored the hell out of it.
Be My Best Man is multicultural romance among a politically charged state of being. It’s a love story that defies the odds of finding love in a hopeless place and gives the reader a glimpse inside the life of a displaced man seeking asylum in a country that currently doesn’t want his kind.
That cover is amazing showcasing the wispy, vulnerable yet determined nature that is Vanya down to the color choice for reasons you’ll get when you read the book and I am in love with all of it.
Con Riley has done it again and my marriage to her words must begin with a ransom because, how freaking adorable was that?
***See R's on the blog***
Tag team review with R * A Reader Obsessed * !
I once said I loved Con Riley’s words so much I would marry them and that hasn’t changed. I have read everything the author has written and I have yet to find one of her books I haven’t fallen in love with.
Be My Best Man is no exception to my marriage vow and right now, I want to hug the hell out of her. The author took on the job of tackling such a political climate with respect and responsibility to these troubling times but not weighing the book down with it and giving us a wonderful romance full of hope. It’s a balance that compliments the romance as well as Jason and Vanya complement one another.
Ugh. Where to start this review? Jason and Vanya meet at a department store where Jason is waiting to hear back from his foster brother, Andrew and Vanya is hoping to improve his conversational English while hanging out with his best friend and roommate Kaspar. Jason mistakes Vanya as a salesperson and after Vanya suggests a few ties that Jason doesn’t buy, they both make a lasting impression on one another.
Told through the dual POV’s of both our MC’s we learn right away the trouble Jason is going through with his foster brother Andrew, that they had words and Andrews accidentally gave Jason a black eye. But Jason kinda deserved it. I mean, he said some horrible things about the young lady Andrew intends to marry and then Jason ends up being in the exact same situation so karma works in this sense.
But Vanya, goodness. We meet Vanya in the immigration centre as he waits to hear the status of case and the asylum he seeks in Britain. Vanya has left his homeland of Russia after being assaulted and disowned from his family and is now in the process of starting a new life in London. Without a Visa, there isn’t much he can do until he is legal and that includes getting an actual job. Vanya has left a full life behind, he was almost done with classes to become and elementary aged teacher and meeting Jason is a chance at something he can’t let slip away.
You see, Jason assumes with how Vanya looks, dresses and his ability to pick out a tie in a Bond Street department store that Vanya is a personal shopper. Considering Andrew has quietly demanded that Jason clean up his appearance to impress his fiancée leads Jason to track down Vanya and offer him the paid task of dressing Jason smartly. It’s an opportunity for Vanya to earn money under the table and help save for a real place to live with Kaspar.
Wow. There is so much in this story to talk about but it would be spoiling it. The level of emotions the book pulls you through are stunning and angst ridden that I couldn’t stop reading and finished this book in a single Sunday. We go through a lot with Jason and Vanya both together and on their own. They both have demons to face, regrets to leave behind and a chance at a future with someone that is so stunning, they are blinded to any fault that cracks the surface of their romantic bubble.
I really liked Jason. I felt for him as he tells the story about moving in with Andrew and his mum as a foster child and how they accepted him fast and fully into their little family. He will do whatever he can to not hurt Andrew and while he’s made assumptions about Andrew’s fiancée Chantel, Jason is forced to eat one extra-large piece of humble pie as he begins to fall for Vanya, as the brothers find themselves in similar relationships.
Watching Vanya and Jason go from a business transaction to friends then lovers was beautiful. This is slow burn romance that focuses on the importance of family which if you’ve read a Con Riley book is always a central focus. I love that the author does that, she infuses love and acceptance of every kind into her work and it’s permeates from the page and you absorb it through your pores. It’s impossible to read this book and not feel. Try it. I dare you.
I found the way Vanya goes about learning English to be adorable and admirable. I can’t imagine having to learn…everything in a new way how he must to acclimate to a new country. Heck, I have a hard time changing how I take my coffee but Vanya finds intriguing ways to learn not only English, but British slang as well so he can truly converse with anyone and help his asylum case.
So while Jason and Vanya are becoming closer, Vanya is keeping “white lies” about his alien status, where he lives and why he is in the country from Jason. In the grand scheme of things, these are important things but the way the men feel about one another, the lessons they learn through their love and others around them is the real heart of this romance.
Now that’s not saying this isn’t one hell of a sexy read, because it is. The age gap between Jason and Vanya makes this delicious and when you throw in Vanya’s inexperience, it’s time to dig in and get it on. Yeah, the intimacy mixed with the sex that give whispered declarations, mirrored encounters and even first kisses will give you so many feels, you‘ll want to go back and read them again. I know I did.
But this book… it’s so wonderful I can’t describe it. The love that Jason and Vanya find is gorgeous. The love that Andrew and Chantel find that builds and repairs bridges is lovely and Kaspar and Anna lend another love story to the bunch and it’s all so amazing. This book is full of so much love and hope among the political background of Brexit and what’s happening to gay men in other countries that it was a blessing to read.
That epilogue just about killed me with feelings but I adored the hell out of it.
Be My Best Man is multicultural romance among a politically charged state of being. It’s a love story that defies the odds of finding love in a hopeless place and gives the reader a glimpse inside the life of a displaced man seeking asylum in a country that currently doesn’t want his kind.
That cover is amazing showcasing the wispy, vulnerable yet determined nature that is Vanya down to the color choice for reasons you’ll get when you read the book and I am in love with all of it.
Con Riley has done it again and my marriage to her words must begin with a ransom because, how freaking adorable was that?
***See R's on the blog***
September 16, 2017
Gosh, this was different.
During the book I couldn't make my mind up if I liked this or not. But I was so in love with Vanya. He was such a broken character. Broken may not be the correct word because he was also so hopeful. Being litterly thrown out of his own country, Russia he awaits his asylum to legally stay in Brittain. Meanwhile he tries to stay safe and scrapes by with the money he receives from the government. He is not allowed to make money of his own so he's forced to live in cheap hostels.
Vanya
Life is bad. He's working hard to improve his English. He has not a lot to do otherwise during day so he often visits his frend Kasper at his working place. It's there where he meets Jason and gets mistaken for a personal shopper. Jason is 20 years his senior but needs help at the shopping department because he needs to make amends with his brother. He has to make a perfect impression to his brother's financé, Chantelle who he still has to meet.
I really loved Vanya. I loved his way of speech. His character really makes us realise how comfortable we are having a roof over our heads, food to fill our stomachs. Just being unsafe all the time like Vanya felt was horrific. Really makes you think.....
Vanya and Jason's romance is not the usual romance we read about. Both have trust issues and of course you know Vanya's secret will come out to Jason and you worry what effect Vanya's white lies will have for their relationship.
But it's all worth it. This book will keep you thinking and feel very fortunate and that's always good IMO.
During the book I couldn't make my mind up if I liked this or not. But I was so in love with Vanya. He was such a broken character. Broken may not be the correct word because he was also so hopeful. Being litterly thrown out of his own country, Russia he awaits his asylum to legally stay in Brittain. Meanwhile he tries to stay safe and scrapes by with the money he receives from the government. He is not allowed to make money of his own so he's forced to live in cheap hostels.
Vanya
Life is bad. He's working hard to improve his English. He has not a lot to do otherwise during day so he often visits his frend Kasper at his working place. It's there where he meets Jason and gets mistaken for a personal shopper. Jason is 20 years his senior but needs help at the shopping department because he needs to make amends with his brother. He has to make a perfect impression to his brother's financé, Chantelle who he still has to meet.
I really loved Vanya. I loved his way of speech. His character really makes us realise how comfortable we are having a roof over our heads, food to fill our stomachs. Just being unsafe all the time like Vanya felt was horrific. Really makes you think.....
Vanya and Jason's romance is not the usual romance we read about. Both have trust issues and of course you know Vanya's secret will come out to Jason and you worry what effect Vanya's white lies will have for their relationship.
But it's all worth it. This book will keep you thinking and feel very fortunate and that's always good IMO.
January 6, 2018
Edited to add 06Jan2017: Evidently the assault on Vanya in Russia that happens in this book (using a dating app to target gay men for assault) occurred IRL as well here in the US, and recently the perpetrators of some of these crimes have finally been sentenced. 15 Years. Well, it's a good start...
4.3 Stars
Oh wow, that was soooo good! Also, it served as a brilliant reminder that as bad as I feel things get here in the US with bigotry and hatred on the rise...well, we're not the only ones suffering. People are hurt and killed across the world for their orientation; and even worse, when trying to escape, to make their own lives better, to live safely? There are some truly awful people who will take advantage of that or heap more trouble and trauma on them - and that is shameful.
I do have to say that cover is gorgeous, though. And I didn't mind the age gap here one bit!
4.3 Stars
Oh wow, that was soooo good! Also, it served as a brilliant reminder that as bad as I feel things get here in the US with bigotry and hatred on the rise...well, we're not the only ones suffering. People are hurt and killed across the world for their orientation; and even worse, when trying to escape, to make their own lives better, to live safely? There are some truly awful people who will take advantage of that or heap more trouble and trauma on them - and that is shameful.
I do have to say that cover is gorgeous, though. And I didn't mind the age gap here one bit!
November 29, 2021
This is a story about the scary and difficult life of asylum seekers. And it broke my heart, again and again. I loved Vanya, and I wanted so much to see him and Kaspar and Anna happy.
But the romance? I felt that the entire relationship was based on lies. Jason and Vanya didn’t really know each other and were in love with an image. It made me uncomfortable the whole time and it took me forever to get through the book. I only finished because I need a HEA for Vanya, but I didn’t really care about whether it included Jason or not…
But the romance? I felt that the entire relationship was based on lies. Jason and Vanya didn’t really know each other and were in love with an image. It made me uncomfortable the whole time and it took me forever to get through the book. I only finished because I need a HEA for Vanya, but I didn’t really care about whether it included Jason or not…
October 10, 2017
I liked Jason and Vanya’s story. It was kind of sweet with sad undertones. I’m not a fan of age gaps (these guys are over 20 years apart). I feel it always is kind of a trade were the young guy exchanges his youth and looks for something. This is the case here, but somehow it worked for me in this story. Maybe it was Vanya’s firmness to stand for himself and the fact that they needed each other what made their love story believable to me.
A good read. Free with Kindle Unlimited.
A good read. Free with Kindle Unlimited.
September 14, 2017
I started reading this book at 7am this morning and didn't put the kindle down till I'd finished at 9am, I literally devoured this. I'm now gutted I've finished!
August 29, 2017
3.5 stars
The first half of the book was 4 stars for me. I find young Vanya very likable especially with his sub-par English conversation skills. He fled Russia and was forced to leave his family behind after being targeted in a hate crime. He is still waiting for the UK authorities to grant him asylum. Meanwhile, he can't work, he is living in abysmal condition and always goes hungry. Thanks for his Estonian friend, Kaspar and Anna, at least he make two good friends.
Jason in his 40s, had a decent construction business, but didn't bother much with his appearance. A misunderstanding and a chance meeting brought Jason and Vanya together. Jason thought Vanya is a freelance personal shopper and he hired Vanya to help in a makeover.
I enjoyed Vanya and Jason's interaction right from the start. Vanya spoke limited English and had problem expressing himself in the beginning, but Jason was always patient and even help improve his conversation skill. In return, Vanya's compassion helps Jason to mend his relationship with his foster brother, Andrew and his fiancee, Chantel.
Somewhere in the middle, it get a bit draggy for me because we focus too much on Andrew and Chantel's family woes. Her family is not receptive and the wedding needs help etc. Vanya and Jason played a big role in helping with the wedding as well. I guess I won't hold a grudge if we are actually spending so much time on Jason and Vanya's wedding instead.
Another issue that frustrates me to no end is Vanya's inability to come clean about his situation. Vanya is squatting in an abandon building with his friends and he can't legally work in UK, but all this was not known to Jason. I understand why he can't be truthful in the beginning, but it was simply being dragged on too long and if you ain't honest, there is no relationship. There are so many opportunity for him to come clean, Jason even confronted him, but all Vanya did was keep mum. Yeah, he did have to eventually tell Jason everything, but it was near the very end. I'm beyond frustrated by that point.
I wish we actually get to explore more on Vanya's growth and his possible future as a teacher. We should see how Jason and Vanya relationship develop as a couple who support each other. Instead we spend too much time on Andrew and Chantel's wedding and their horse giving birth. Gah! Priorities, please.
The first half of the book was 4 stars for me. I find young Vanya very likable especially with his sub-par English conversation skills. He fled Russia and was forced to leave his family behind after being targeted in a hate crime. He is still waiting for the UK authorities to grant him asylum. Meanwhile, he can't work, he is living in abysmal condition and always goes hungry. Thanks for his Estonian friend, Kaspar and Anna, at least he make two good friends.
Jason in his 40s, had a decent construction business, but didn't bother much with his appearance. A misunderstanding and a chance meeting brought Jason and Vanya together. Jason thought Vanya is a freelance personal shopper and he hired Vanya to help in a makeover.
I enjoyed Vanya and Jason's interaction right from the start. Vanya spoke limited English and had problem expressing himself in the beginning, but Jason was always patient and even help improve his conversation skill. In return, Vanya's compassion helps Jason to mend his relationship with his foster brother, Andrew and his fiancee, Chantel.
Somewhere in the middle, it get a bit draggy for me because we focus too much on Andrew and Chantel's family woes. Her family is not receptive and the wedding needs help etc. Vanya and Jason played a big role in helping with the wedding as well. I guess I won't hold a grudge if we are actually spending so much time on Jason and Vanya's wedding instead.
Another issue that frustrates me to no end is Vanya's inability to come clean about his situation. Vanya is squatting in an abandon building with his friends and he can't legally work in UK, but all this was not known to Jason. I understand why he can't be truthful in the beginning, but it was simply being dragged on too long and if you ain't honest, there is no relationship. There are so many opportunity for him to come clean, Jason even confronted him, but all Vanya did was keep mum. Yeah, he did have to eventually tell Jason everything, but it was near the very end. I'm beyond frustrated by that point.
I wish we actually get to explore more on Vanya's growth and his possible future as a teacher. We should see how Jason and Vanya relationship develop as a couple who support each other. Instead we spend too much time on Andrew and Chantel's wedding and their horse giving birth. Gah! Priorities, please.
September 16, 2017
This was a tough read for me. Even with an HEA, I'm not feeling the warm and fuzzes.
Vanya was the best. Adorable! I hated that he had such a tragic past. Jason eventually grew on me. They were a great couple, but the angst lasted too long and the resolution happen at the wrong place and time.
Vanya was the best. Adorable! I hated that he had such a tragic past. Jason eventually grew on me. They were a great couple, but the angst lasted too long and the resolution happen at the wrong place and time.
September 15, 2017
3.5
I hate to punish this book for how much I disliked Jason. He is so fucking clueless though and truly doesn't deserve Vanya for most of the book. And just so we are clear the best man here is Vanya not Jason.
I hate to punish this book for how much I disliked Jason. He is so fucking clueless though and truly doesn't deserve Vanya for most of the book. And just so we are clear the best man here is Vanya not Jason.
Read
September 13, 2017I'm just not feeling this at all. Jason is not likable or relatable at all. Made it to 21%.
April 23, 2019
** 4.5 stars **
This was a well-written well-paced slow burn May/December romance happening in the heart of England, London. I enjoyed reading about Jason's change of heart and attitude, his personal change in regards to how he looks and his budding romance with a young man Vanya. I liked Vanya's outlook on life and his attitude. Even with his language difficulties he was witty, and his advise was always so profound, his words were so full of meaning.
Jason was burned before, watched his own brother taken to the cleaners twice, so he is very angry when his brother decides to try marriage again. His feelings slowly change when he meets Vanya and Chantel, his brother's fiancee. He sees that her being much younger does not matter, and he finally lets himself love again. Vanya is a man in limbo. Until he is legally allowed to work in England and not fear being sent back, he has to rely on friend's generosity and support. It's hard to depend on others, and letting go of his dreams is even harder. But meeting Jason helps him to forget the pain he has felt for so long. What starts as little fib, spirals out of control where Vanya is scared to come clean and any hint of deceit will send Jason running. The whole situation with misunderstanding and subsequent discovery of Vanya's situation by Jason is very emotional, as is Vanya's way of trying to fix the falling out. But in the end Jason understands Vanya's choices.
I loved Kaspar and Anna's support, the bond that was built in the moments of despair that withstood time and trouble. I enjoyed Jason's relationship with his brother Andrew and his fiancee. Jason really was a tool for judging her so harshly. But I was glad that he saw for himself how happy his brother was. The ending is perfect. It's proof that age is just a number. Both Jason and Vanya and Andrew and Chantel are happy. I really enjoyed reading it, and recommend it!
This was a well-written well-paced slow burn May/December romance happening in the heart of England, London. I enjoyed reading about Jason's change of heart and attitude, his personal change in regards to how he looks and his budding romance with a young man Vanya. I liked Vanya's outlook on life and his attitude. Even with his language difficulties he was witty, and his advise was always so profound, his words were so full of meaning.
Jason was burned before, watched his own brother taken to the cleaners twice, so he is very angry when his brother decides to try marriage again. His feelings slowly change when he meets Vanya and Chantel, his brother's fiancee. He sees that her being much younger does not matter, and he finally lets himself love again. Vanya is a man in limbo. Until he is legally allowed to work in England and not fear being sent back, he has to rely on friend's generosity and support. It's hard to depend on others, and letting go of his dreams is even harder. But meeting Jason helps him to forget the pain he has felt for so long. What starts as little fib, spirals out of control where Vanya is scared to come clean and any hint of deceit will send Jason running. The whole situation with misunderstanding and subsequent discovery of Vanya's situation by Jason is very emotional, as is Vanya's way of trying to fix the falling out. But in the end Jason understands Vanya's choices.
I loved Kaspar and Anna's support, the bond that was built in the moments of despair that withstood time and trouble. I enjoyed Jason's relationship with his brother Andrew and his fiancee. Jason really was a tool for judging her so harshly. But I was glad that he saw for himself how happy his brother was. The ending is perfect. It's proof that age is just a number. Both Jason and Vanya and Andrew and Chantel are happy. I really enjoyed reading it, and recommend it!
September 8, 2017
Lovely!! So so lovely!!
I fell in love with Vanya a couple of pages in. And Jason was not hard to love too. None of them were perfect but they're so perfect for each other. Lovely lovely book. I didn't want it to end!
I fell in love with Vanya a couple of pages in. And Jason was not hard to love too. None of them were perfect but they're so perfect for each other. Lovely lovely book. I didn't want it to end!
September 12, 2017
3.75 stars. Heartwarming story. The miscommunication/misunderstanding between the two MCs is a little too implausible and drags on a little too long, but the personalities of the two MCs, the loving family that surrounds them, and the growing romance between them make this an overall fun read. :)
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