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Textual Relations

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Evolutionary psychology professor Henry Hathaway is ready to spend his birthday the same way he does every a good teeth cleaning followed by dinner with his brother. But when he receives a wrong-number text confirming the details of a date, he does what any considerate person would—he goes to meet them and explain why they've been stood up. Asher Wescott hadn't expected his blind date to go well, because when do they ever? Henry shows up instead, and things are suddenly looking up. Socially awkward and attached to his routines, Henry is nevertheless one of the most charming and kind men Asher has met in a long time. Too bad he's not Henry's type. An accidental date, an impulsive kiss, and a few conflicted feelings later, can Asher get Henry to see the world—and him—in a different light?

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 6, 2017

90 people are currently reading
652 people want to read

About the author

Cate Ashwood

53 books504 followers
Cate discovered her love for books of all kinds early on, but romance is where her heart truly lies. She is addicted to the happily ever afters and the journey the characters take to get there. Currently residing in British Columbia, Cate loves living just a stone's throw from the water. When she's not writing, she can be found consuming coffee at an alarming rate while wrangling her children, her husband, and their two cats.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
Profile Image for ☆ Todd.
1,436 reviews1,577 followers
July 25, 2017

"And the award for 'Most Clueless Man on the Planet' (apparently) goes to..."



"Henry Hathaway!
"


While evolutionary psychology professor Henry was sort of adorably clueless, unfortunately, he mostly just came across as boring to me.

If someone asked me to come up with one fairly-interesting thing about Henry, I'd be hard-pressed to come up with that answer -- apart from his penchant for finding himself on dates, with no knowledge that he's actually *on a date*.

The premise immediately hooked me, but even with Asher continued pulling Henry off the beaten path, it still felt like nothing much really happened during the story, other than Henry realizing that he's bisexual. I just needed *some* type of external conflict that never appeared.

Things got slightly more interesting once Asher finally introduced Henry to his closest friends, helping the couple solidify their relationship and feelings, but it still felt a bit too much like smooth sailing.

Maybe if someone from Asher's 'supposed' player past (which we're only told, not shown) had made an appearance, that would have been enough conflict to satisfy me. But as written, it all was a bit too fairytale perfect to keep me fully engaged.

To be a shorter story, it did have a good bit of steam, but not so much that it ever felt gratuitous, and the epilogue from a year after they met did cement more of an HEA.

While I did mostly like the story, my mind did wander off during the middle parts, then pulled me back in again for the conclusion, so I'd have to rate this one at around 3.25 extremely-fluffy stars.

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My ARC copy of the story was provided by the author in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.

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Profile Image for ~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~.
3,523 reviews1,073 followers
July 26, 2017
~3.5~

During the first third of the book, Henry, the first-person narrator of the story, seems dull as dirt and lacks basic self-awareness, despite being a psychology professor.

But that changes with The Kiss.

After that, I found Henry awkward but endearing. He likes his routines and lives a structured life. When he meets Ash on an accidental blind date of sorts, he expects Ash to be a woman, but Ash is Asher, all man.

Asher likes novelty and spontaneity. He's charming and fun, and for some reason he wants Henry.

This is where it gets tricky. Because we never get Asher's POV, I didn't really understand WHY he was so set on dating Henry, particularly since Henry initially ignores his calls and is nervous to try new things (although he becomes more adventurous as the story progresses).

Henry talking in "professor speak" and doing hours of research on sexuality was freaking adorable. I'm in academia and a total research geek, so I found this realistic.

There's plenty of steam here, and we see Henry become more willing to take risks, including outing himself to his brother.

However, because the story is short, it lacks depth and true relationship & character development. Fortunately, the epilogue provides closure for the MCs.

I enjoyed Textual Relations. It's not one of Ashwood's best, but it's still a cute, sexy read.
Profile Image for Snjez.
997 reviews996 followers
June 20, 2020
It's not the most realistic story and it's fairly short, but I really enjoyed it.

I loved Henry and Asher as main characters. I think it was adorable how they met and almost immediately clicked, although being complete opposites. I loved reading about their dates, they were very sweet and romantic.
Profile Image for ~Mindy Lynn~.
1,396 reviews660 followers
August 12, 2017
This was sweet and drama free!

Textual Relations is a great book to read when you want to unwind and read something that isn't going make the brain work too hard. It's angst free and sometimes a reader (me) enjoys having a fluffy read at the end of a stressful day. So lets just say it satisfied my needs at the time of reading it.

Henry Hathaway has to be one of the most unaware characters I have come across in a while. I wouldn't call him naïve, because the man likes his research, but he's a bit unwitting when it comes to the people around him. I didn't find him to be as socially awkward as he is described, but more of a shy guy. He likes his routines and schedules and see's going off his normal pattern as him rebelling which I thought was adorable. So when on his birthday he receives a text from someone named Ash confirming a date that is not with him he decides to meet the woman and inform her she had text the wrong person/number. He's a bit excited to be going off his regimen to meet this woman instead of going home and continuing his nightly routine. He shows up to the bar expecting an Ashley but instead meets an Asher. From here the men have a drink and leave the bar together for a unpredictable night stroll. For Henry this is a start of a hopefully new friendship, but at the end of the night that changes when Asher gives him a heated goodnight kiss. This leaves our boy Henry a bit flustered and confused. He finally comes to the conclusion that unbeknownst to him, he had been on a date with Asher. From here things develop quite quickly since it's such a short book. I usually have issues with shortie's because there is never enough character development or enough story for me. But I didn't feel that way with this book. I really enjoyed it and Henry's self discovery and the boys finding their HEA.

If your looking for a read that will make you smile and forget your troubles for a while, then pick this one up dolls!

Happy reading! xx

**An ARC was kindly given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Profile Image for Meags.
2,450 reviews681 followers
July 24, 2017
4 Stars

Simple and angst free, Textual Relations might just be the sweetest, most heart-warming M/M romance I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a good long while.

When Henry Hathaway – a socially awkward, routine loving, evolutionary psychology professor – receives an intriguing text from a wrong-number who is trying to set up a blind date, Henry feels it’s only polite to show up at the assigned time himself and explain the situation to the relevant party.

Here, he meets charming and kind Asher Wescott, who accepts the mix-up with ease and then proceeds to convince straight-laced Henry to spend an unplanned evening with him exploring the city. By the end of their fabulous night out, Asher kisses Henry goodnight, throwing Henry off balance with a sudden burst of life-changing realisations:

A) Asher is gay;
B) He and Henry (unknowingly) just went on a date; and,
C) Henry kind of loved it all and wants to do it again.

The story that follows is incredibly sweet and deliciously romantic. Considering the themes, the angst is practically non-existent, which I greatly appreciated and was in the ideal mood for. Henry briefly struggles with some sexual identity issues, as is to be expected, but he ultimately has the good sense to realise and accept that his feelings for Asher are worth exploring, regardless of how new and unexpected they may be.

The story is told entirely through Henry’s POV, which was refreshingly honest and quirky. I liked him to such a degree that I didn’t even care that we never got to have Asher’s POV. Although I do believe Asher as a character would have benefitted from more in-depth page time, I liked that he came across as kind of vague and mysterious in many ways, which helped keep the focus on Henry and his sexual awakening first and foremost.

Overall, this has been one of the most delightful Cate Ashwood romances I’ve read to date and I recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for a light, feel-good M/M read.


***A special thanks to the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read**.
1,477 reviews806 followers
August 23, 2017

***3.75 Stars***

This was such a sweet read.

When this book crossed my twitter feed, the title immediately caught my eye. I went to check out the blurb....nerdy, routine oriented, psychology professor gets an accidental text, which leads to an accidental date....and away we go. I'm pretty sure I broke some sort of internet speed record clicking the "BUY" button.

Henry gets an accidental text from Ash saying the phone battery is about to die, but the text was confirmation that the date was on for that night. Thinking it's a woman and that since the text didn't go to the right person, she'll sit all alone at a bar thinking she got stood up....he decides to go down there and explain what happened. And what do you know...Ash isn't Ashley....but ASHER, a man.

Told entirely from Henry's POV, I struggled with him a little bit in the beginning. He skated along that line of endearingly oblivious and "seriously, dude?" oblivious.

Could this guy seriously NOT see what was going on?? The way the evening progressed, the the direction his thoughts were going in....how he was feeling? He had very little "hands-on" experience in the love department, and even though his one serious relationship was with a woman, it was clear where his imagination...and his libido...was leading him. But by 1/3 of the way through, I really (and finally) started to warm up to Henry.

He was awkward and a tad uncomfortable around people, didn't understand social cues that well because his brain focused on the logical, the factual, the black and white....and if things didn't fit into the box he had envisioned in his brain, it just didn't compute for him. Until Asher.

Asher made things easy. He was fun, spontaneous, easy to talk to, and to Henry's surprise....he was very attracted to Asher.

It was as though I'd lit a candle, only to discover too late it was dynamite. There was no extinguishing the flame now, and even if I could, I didn't want to.


Asher knows this is all new to Henry. He's understanding, he's patient...and he lets Henry set the pace of their budding relationship.

"I don't know if there's anything I've ever wanted as much as this...wanted as much as I want you."


Henry didn't have many friends and lived his life within a structured routine...but watching him blossom with Asher gave me all the smiles. The romance and intimacy that was growing between them was so sweet, so romantic....all the new relationship butterflies were fluttering.

He wove and unwove his fingers between mine in lazy movements as I rambled, one idea connected vaguely to the next, as though being with him loosened everything in my brain and suddenly it all flowed out.


I would have loved Asher's POV in a couple of places. He was just too perfect at times, and I would have liked to know what he was thinking...especially during their first "date." Also, it was briefly mentioned that Asher wasn't a relationship type of guy, but none of that showed in his actions with Henry. If that plot point wasn't going to be explored, or brought in as a conflict, I wish it were left out.

There's no angst in this book. It's a sweet story of logical Henry, following his heart for once.

I'd spent much of my life tackling problems from an academic perspective, but in the short time I'd known Asher, he'd proven that much of life cannot be experienced that way, that events are meant to be lived and not scrutinized.


Basically, this book is one that will have you smiling through most of it...especially when you get to that epilogue.

Image result for aww gif

For the first time in my life, when everything else was stripped away, this is where I wanted to be. He was who I wanted to be with.
Profile Image for Floripiquita.
1,473 reviews169 followers
October 25, 2020
Un MM cortito y bonito, con una pareja monerrima, su dosis justa de sexo y cero drama. Por ponerle algún pero, he echado en falta conocer un poco más al personaje de Ash, al que he encontrado un poco desdibujado, algo a lo que igual ha contribuido que la historia esté narrada únicamente desde el punto de vista de Henry.

#Popsugar20 Reto 15: Un libro que involucre las redes sociales
Profile Image for Martin.
807 reviews581 followers
August 18, 2018
This was absolutely sweet! I swear there’s nothing I didn’t like about this story!

description

Psychology professor Henry Hathaway is happy with the daily routine in his life. His birthdays consist of a dental cleaning followed by a meeting with his brother. And that’s it. Every year!

Only this year, Henry receives a random text message of someone asking his date to confirm a location. Not wanting the person to be stood up, Henry goes to the place and meets Ash, who is a guy waiting for his male date.

Intrigued by the charismatic stranger, Henry lets himself be talked into having a drink with Ash and spending the evening with him. The thing is, however, Ash sees the whole evening as a blind date and kisses Henry goodbye at the end.

Which is weird, because the last time Henry checked, he was straight!

Ashamed of having misunderstood the whole evening, Henry isn’t sure how to move forward, but handsome and energetic Ash is intriguing to him – both from a psychological point of view, as well as on an emotional level.

And Henry doesn’t wait long to discover himself!

Wonderfully angst free and uncomplicated, this is a perfect romance with two wonderful men. I loved Henry so much, and seeing his journey to self-discovery and happiness is truly heart-warming.

Henry starting out identifying as straight, though, that was… something.

description

Thank God, that wasn't much of an issue at all, LOL.

You could literally feel how Asher’s different personality helped Henry overcome his inhibitions.
Their dates were simply the best. I literally cried when Asher set up the surprise for Henry at the end. I mean, can a guy get any more perfect?!

Don’t miss out on this gorgeous romance gem!

5 stars and a favorite!
Profile Image for Susan.
2,327 reviews455 followers
July 19, 2023
Re-read July 2023

Awwww, this was still very cute.

I could really relate to Henry who liked everything in his life to be predictable. No rocking the boat in any way so he felt safe. A bit boring perhaps, but that was quite okay for Henry. But I loved it when Henry met Asher. Who was the opposite and liked to try new things every day. Asher was very good for Henry.

Henry and Asher meet when Asher accidentally texts Henry about their blind date. Henry is afraid this Ash will wait for his date who will never show up, so he decides to go say it in person. Especially since this mysterious Ash texted that he ran out of battery.

Once Henry and Asher meet they simply click. They end up spending the entire evening together doing all kinds of unexpected fun things. When Asher kisses Henry at the end of the night Henry is very surprised. He is not gay and he never suspected Asher was.

But after that kiss Henry can’t stop thinking about Asher and when the two meet again Henry is honest and tells Asher he is not gay. The two decide to just be friends then since it seems they really hit it off and Henry could use a new friend. Of course Henry starts to feel more for Asher than simply friendship, and he decides to try to act on his feelings...

I loved how analytical Henry was about everything and how he tried to approach his own sexuality and the discovery he might be gay/bi. And Asher was such a sweet guy with the way he was so obviously smitten with Henry from the start. Just adorable.

This was a lovely low angst story about insecure psychology professor Henry and the more adventurous Asher.
Profile Image for Heather K (dentist in my spare time).
4,073 reviews6,589 followers
August 14, 2017
A sweet, short, low-angst story about a clueless guy... a VERY clueless guy.

Honestly, I enjoyed this one but it was pretty forgettable. I'm usually a goner for a self-discovery story, but even in such a short book my attention wandered.

The positives were definitely the sexual chemistry. I liked the two MCs together, and I thought that the author did a good job making their relationship feel real, even if it moved at a very fast pace.

While I thought most of the story was cute, I thought that it lacked a bit in character development, especially with Ash. Ash came across a bit too perfect, too patient, and for someone who was supposed to be a player, he was too earnest for me to buy his backstory.

Sometimes you want a simple, no-angst story, and this one fits the bill. I just wish we had gotten 100 pages more to really flesh it out.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

155 reviews31 followers
August 14, 2017
Ha!

All the other reviewers are like 'Henry is so unbelievably clueless.' Accidentally going on a date with someone and not realizing it? Pshhhh. Who would ever find themselves in that ridiculous situation???

Meanwhile, I'm over here like... uh... yeah. That has tooootally never happened to me. ...

...

...

*cough*

Anywho.

Henry, buddy, friend, you're not alone. Don't listen to the rest of these judgmental "socially adept" people. I got you. Peopling is hard.

Anyone ever watch the show Bones? If you have, Henry is a lot like Bones. Academically interested in people. Good at understanding people theoretically, but in practice, not so great. If you haven't watched it, don't bother. It's ok for a season or two, but man, the 'will they, won't they' crap goes on far beyond anyone's capacity to actually care about any of it.

So how was the story?

fricking adorable

It was light and cute. For all intents and purposes, it really leans more toward 3 stars, because there wasn't much that was Earth shattering about it, but there was one scene that was particularly awesome and is going to stick with me, so I'm giving it an extra one. The extra star has nothing at all to do with the fact that Henry and I are kindred spirits in our ability to overthink literally everything and lack of ability to understand what is happening to us, socially. Nothing.
Profile Image for Catherine.
1,609 reviews268 followers
August 8, 2017
Have you ever seen those cartoons where the character is floating about 3 inches above the ground with hearts in their eyes, a dopey expression on their face, and small birds chirping happily around them? That’s what it felt like to read this novella.

The whole thing was just so sweet and romantic. Ashwood perfectly captured the spontaneity of Asher and Henry’s first date, the rush of excitement that comes with discovering new things about yourself and getting to know a new person, and the coming out moment was easy and loving – as they all should be.

I think this book is my new “happy place.”
Profile Image for *J* Too Many Books Too Little Time.
1,921 reviews3,721 followers
August 21, 2017
3.75 Stars

I thought this was one really cute. Yeah Henry was a bit clueless, but I found him endearing.

He and Asher were really cute together. And HOT. Henry was not shy when it came to exploring his sexuality.

Profile Image for Jewel.
1,924 reviews278 followers
July 25, 2017
3.5 Stars

​​Textual Relations is a light, short, low angst read. I loved the premise, but the execution kind of left me wanting​ just a bit more​.

Henry​ ​takes "socially awkward" to the next level.​ He also​​ might just be the least self-aware person on the planet. His most interesting (and endearing) quality is his tendency to find himself on dates he didn't know were dates. ​Truly, I didn't know this could be a thing -- at least not more than once! ​And for a guy who studied psychology -​-​ and yeah, his focus is evolutionary psychology, but I would think he would have to take some core classes -​-​ he misses pretty much every social queue directed his way. ​I think the reason for this is that Henry focuses more on people he is not interacting with than he does on his own interactions. ​

Ash, I liked, but beyond his whimsical tendencies I didn't get much of a read on him. ​I wish we would have gotten some of the story from his POV, because he was just a little too good to be true. ​Ash is a very spontaneous guy and when Henry shows up, instead of the guy that was supposed to be his date, Ash just rolled with it and had his date, anyway​ -- even if it did take Henry a lot longer than it probably should have to figure out that it was actually a date.​ But Ash never takes anything wrong and always goes with the flow -- though he does have a tendency to change the direction of the current, sometimes. ​

But the story, itself, didn't much keep my attention. I normally love 'self-discovery' stories and I always love seeing a character really discover who they are and finding that other someone that makes​ the journey worth it. But there was no real tension in ​​Textual Relations to really make you really feel what the MC's were feeling, and I missed that.

The steam, while being plentiful, never felt overdone and I thought that Henry and Asher had good chemistry. The relationship progression seemed a bit fast in the story, but time does pass, so I think that's just page perspective​, rather than an insta-love situation. ​

The overall premise showed quite a bit of promise, and I think if it had been longer, the author could have dedicated more time to the development of both the characters and their tension and the story would have greatly benefited. As it stands, though, while I "liked" Textual Relations well enough, I probably won't much remember it next week.

There ​is one thing, though, that I really appreciated and want to be sure to mention. Asher never once pressured Henry into labeling himself. Henry thinks he is probably bisexual, but he's in new territory, being 32 and suddenly finding his sexuality isn't what he always assumed it was, so he's not sure, really, how to define himself. And Asher was completely supportive of Henry's journey:

"People can identify in a thousand different ways. You could be bisexual, or demi-sexual, or gray-A. No one can decide that for you except you, and if you aren't comfortable with labels, you don't need them.


I can't tell you just how much I appreciate that message. It is near and dear to me. Labels are such a personal thing and while I recognize the need that many people have to embrace them, and that is a wonderful thing, I also feel that not everyone does and that's ok, too. Henry isn't running from who he is, he is just gathering data​ and ​I can totally appreciate that. Our own journeys are very personal and each of us needs to go at our own pace in determining our own truths. So, thanks, Ms. Ashwood, for that.

​​--------------------
ARC of Textual Relations was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Cat the bookworm (semi hiatus ish).
905 reviews169 followers
January 29, 2024
Sweet, short bi-awakening romance.

This was… nice. Actually, more than nice considering it’s rather short for a book (but too long to be considered a novella).

It’s told from the pov of Henry, a 32yo psychology professor. Henry is a bit of a nerd, and he’s never been particularly lucky when it came to his past relationships with women.

So one day, when he finds out that he accidentally received texts from someone called Ash, confirming their date for the evening, he decides to go and clear up the misunderstanding with Ash(ley) - only to discover that Ash is, in fact, short for Ashton.

They spend the evening together without Henry realising that Ash assumes this is a date, ending it with a kiss that leaves Henry confused - and slightly freaked out.

This was all-consuming, and I was desperate for him. It was as though I’d lit a candle, only to discover too late it was dynamite. There was no extinguishing the flame now, and even if I could, I didn’t want to.

Ofc it works out in the end, and it’s all very free of drama - and sweet. Nothing memorable, but a nice pick-me-up for when you’re in the mood for something that won’t leave you emotionally wrecked.
Profile Image for ✨Lucy  IntheSky☄️.
1,163 reviews212 followers
January 27, 2024
"Am I gay? Do straight men make out with other men in the middle of the forest?"



😄

This story has to be one of the sweetest and most authentic bi-awakenings I've read.

If you want to brighten up your Saturday after a shitty workweek (like me) then this is the right choice for you, first hand.

🟡 A chance meeting
🔵 Bi-awakening
🟣 Great chemistry
🟢 Henry's POV
🟠 Henry is socially awkward, maybe has Asperger's? Doesn't get social cues, doesn't like crowds, doesn't get he's on a date!
🌶️ Anything intimate between MMCs is wonderful; both vers

"My only successful date in over a year... Come to think of it, it might have been my most successful date ever... and it had been with a man."



Henry is the one with the bowtie. He's a 32- year old psychology professor and has a brother who's always encouraging him to go out and get laid. Henry is straight and even though he does have luck with the ladies, relationships with them don't really move him, they're nice and stable, but lack passion and keep Henry in his perpetual state of predictability.

By chance Henry meets Asher, a 34-year old bisexual guy who's out on a blind date, but sent a confirmation text to the wrong number - Henry's number. Henry, feeling sorry for someone being stood up, goes to meet Ash - finds out Ash is a guy - and stays for that blind date, although the dilemma is that Henry doesn't even realise it's a date until the very end of it, when Ash kisses him.

"Lips, surprisingly soft, pressed against mine, warm and sure. My quick intake of breath had Asher deepening the kiss. It was slow and seductive unlike anything I've ever experienced before. My head was swimming with it."



For Henry this chance meeting becomes a breaking point in his life. He's contemplating about his own sexuality and his past, his teenage years, his adult romantic relationships, he wonders how is it possible he could've missed such a major thing as being not that attracted to women? Henry always thought it was because he was socially awkward, not willing to put himself in certain situations, but that doesn't seem to be the case once he starts dating Asher.

"This was all consuming, and I was desperate for him. It was as though I'd lit a candle, only to discover too late it was a dynamite. There was no extinguishing the flame now, and even if I could, I didn't want to."

Henry and Asher can't really keep away from each other, they start dating, months pass and they're together all the time - with Asher being a bit of a slut that gets rid of his hook-ups pretty fast and Henry not really knowing what he's doing - but Asher is right there, keeping Henry grounded and inviting him into a world where they both immensely enjoy each other and are in it for the long haul.

Henry's journey to his authentic self was simply wonderful, I loved it, I loved experiencing his firsts with Asher, the sex was amazing, their intimacy was the subject of my envy - yes, I'll admit it and the epilogue is heartwarming. These guys bought a house and moved, having a party on Henry's birthday, right on the day the met a year ago.

And, you know

"Saturdays were for BLT and avocado sandwiches. Sunday mornings were for marathon sex with Asher."

123 reviews6 followers
August 18, 2018
This story was so sweet and just so perfect! It makes me want to start dating again and find my own Ash. *sigh* I'll daydream to this book whenever I start doubting my comfortable single life, it'll do the trick.
I totally recommend it as a comfort read.
Profile Image for Papie.
859 reviews178 followers
May 5, 2022
Opposites attract, sexual discovery. This was sweet and sexy and adorable. I loved Henry’s voice, his quirks, his obliviousness. Ash was adorable and fun.
Really fun short story!
Profile Image for Sheri.
1,418 reviews194 followers
August 18, 2017
If you’re familiar with Cate’s stories, you should know she does sugary and fluffy very well. This makes me wonder if she’s a great baker too? I bet she is. Whenever one of her stories pops up, I quickly grab it. I might set it aside initially and come back to it when the mood strikes because I find her books to be ‘mood’ related. I’ve been on an angst kick lately and her stories are exactly the opposite. However, when my heart is feeling bruised and I need comfort, I turn to Ashwood. This book was just what I hoped, needed and expected. Sweet, short and easy. If that pushes your buttons, you’ll want to take note of this one.

What's to like: I instantly warmed to Henry. I mean, anyone who chooses to spend their birthday with their hygienist every year, well, I’m a fan. Ha! Henry is a brilliant man but he’s more than a little socially awkward. He’s quiet and shy, he’s a man of routines, and he struggles with people in general. And he’s so stinkin’ adorable! When a random text mistakenly comes through, he elects to swing by and inform the sender of their mix-up. He believes it’s only right and considerate to let the person know. Ash is not what Henry was expecting but regardless of his gender, he finds himself drawn to him. They end up having a wonderful night together until…a second misconception brings them to a halt. Ash is gay and Henry failed to recognize this. Henry misread their entire evening but feels the connection between them. And when Asher offers him friendship with no strings attached, Henry is relieved and pleased. You can never have too many friends, right? Especially not Henry.

What's to love: Strangers become friends and then said friends become lovers. Gahh! So good!! This accidental message brings them together and their friendship is instant and easy. When Henry discovers he wants more than friendship, he’s frazzled. He’s never felt desire like this before. It’s clear Asher wants more and though he completely respects the boundaries of their relationship, Ash simply notices the potential for more between them. He can be patient, some things are worth the wait. Henry’s never been attracted to men before, how can he not know this about himself? Henry’s self-discovery and sexual awakening began slowly but was embraced fully by the end. It could have been angsty or challenging but it wasn’t. It was straightforward, simple and sweet. I adored watching them come together. And their “date-not-date” was soo romantic!

Beware of: Misconceptions aplenty. It’s easy to view Henry as clueless but in reality, he simply doesn’t read people well. He’s book smart, not people smart. It didn’t bother me, but some might be put off by this. And I would have enjoyed a bit more insight into Asher because I think the story would have been stronger with more Ash layers.

This book is for: If you are looking for a short and sweet story that will leave you will a smile on your face, I suggest making the acquaintances of Henry and Ash.

Book UNfunk
Profile Image for Izengabe.
276 reviews
April 20, 2021
Por el título me esperaba más mensajitos entre los protas (de lo cual soy una sucker :P) Una historia sin complicaciones, para cuando quieres un rato agradable. Y no está nada mal escrito.
Profile Image for the kevin (vaguely alive).
968 reviews174 followers
September 18, 2022
A cute little novella with the worlds most oblivious man ever, plus a bi-awakening. Generally a sweet fluffy read, with absolutely no angst.

The main issue I had was that I had a little trouble connecting with this, and buying into the emotions between the MCs because I felt like I never got to know Asher. It's all Henry's POV, and Asher stays sort of...perfect? They say he's a player, but he gets hooked onto Henry immediately so we never seen any evidence of that (novella problems I suppose). But that leads to not much depth in the connection since he doesn't have much depth himself. A small issue, but the main one I had.

Anyway, still sweet. Good for a quick palate cleanser type fluff read.

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Profile Image for ❥ Tracy.
464 reviews37 followers
October 15, 2023
Perfect little shorty to break up a string of “meh” reads. I have a real soft spot for neurotic characters and Henry is a doll. I’m happy about the way his awakening was handled. He didn’t draw it out or fight it, he was mostly confused about how he had never realized that about himself. The dates were creative and romantic. Are they looking for a third wheel?? I just want to soak up the cuteness 😍🥰
Profile Image for Gabi.
703 reviews112 followers
March 4, 2019
Such a wonderful book. All the feeeeelz... <3 Butterflies and golden swirls in my stomach. :)

The story is about two men falling in love, simple as that, yet beautiful.
Except Henry didn't realize he was gay.... until Ash. It was really sweet and romantic, yet I didn't find it cheesy at all.

Ash and Henry are kind of opposites. One outgoing, open and adventurous while the other is closed off, anxiety ridden and a slave of his routines. They came together beautifully, it wasn't complicated. Henry needed some time to come to terms with his sexuality, but it was not that big of a deal.

There was a part where Henry did some research and discussed attraction and sexuality with his coworker and friend, and it might feel a bit clinical to some readers, but I especially liked it, since I'm pretty sure it's the reaction everyone who realized they're gay has. And Henry is also an evolutionary psychology professor, thus interested in the topic in the first place, so to me it didn't feel out of place. (I did wonder though if this story was originally written for charity, and maybe it was part of an anthology?)

There were some time jumps, the story spanned over a year, and the ending was perfect.
Loved it! Highly recommended!
Profile Image for .Lili. .
1,275 reviews275 followers
July 31, 2017


It was cute but it needed Asher's POV. The story felt incomplete/onesided.

3 Stars


*RTC when I'm back from vacay.
Profile Image for Hugo #freepalestine .
514 reviews50 followers
January 17, 2024
Okay it was cute ill admit it,
It felt natural, their relationship just splendid from the start when they first met each other, I just wished it had more scenes on the epilogue cuz it was so cute,
I'm glad Henry didn't have that long of a freakout he only absorbed it and then jump in to the relationship cause it felt right with asher.
Profile Image for Jay.
240 reviews41 followers
August 12, 2017
3.5 stars – Textual Relations is my first exposure to the writing of Cate Ashwood, and it is a good and quick read with an interesting premise and a story that flows directly from it without pretense. It is a novella, though, so like many short romances, it hits most of the important points without delving too much into issues or conflicts that are not immediately relevant to the story’s set-up or its characters. The result is a largely cute and fluffy read that is perfect for a lazy afternoon or a comfortable evening.

The initial set-up of Textual Relations is the book’s strongest element. Socially awkward psychology professor Henry Hathaway receives a text message from a number he doesn’t recognize which is clearly the details of a blind date. But instead of texting back about being the wrong number like any rational person would do, he decides to meet the person face-to-face. What results is an evening that Henry interprets to be two straight guys enjoying some time together. Until Asher kisses him. The aftermath turns Henry’s world upside down and makes him question everything he ever thought about himself sexually. Henry’s naïveté is rather amusing throughout the story, especially considering he’s a psychologist who is seemingly unable to read social cues at all. This results in Henry depending on routine, keeping as much the same as he can. Asher, however, is the sort of guy who likes doing new things, a characteristic that extends to his dating practices.

As I mentioned before, this is a novella, which means there isn’t a lot of space for the characters or the story to be very complex. The story is written entirely from Henry’s perspective, so as a result, Henry’s character feeling much more rounded than Asher’s. The plot, though, is a good example of one that has a steady focus pulling it forward, Henry’s sexual self-discovery couched within a sweet, unrushed, opposites-attract story. By unrushed, I mean that the author hasn’t tried to squish everything into the span of a week or two the way many novellas do. Honestly, this is another of the book’s best attributes. Instead of being filled with the minutiae of Henry’s life, there are well-documented time gaps that keep the story focused on the relationship’s development. In addition, there is very little angst and conflict to be found, and the writing style is equally smooth and uncomplicated. These facts make this book something that should work perfectly for someone who is looking for a story that won’t require much thinking but not for someone who needs emotional complexity, unexpected plot twists, or heart-rending relationship issues in order to get big feels and satisfaction out of a story.

While I rarely crave books that have the sort of simple, fluffy, and generally conflict-free storyline contained in Textual Relations, there are times that I do. Working under the assumption that this is a good example of the sorts of books Cate Ashwood writes, I definitely know where to turn when the urge strikes, as I enjoyed this little gem. And fortunately, I read it while I’m on vacation, so the timing was perfect for fluffy goodness.

The author and/or publisher generously provided me a complimentary copy of Textual Relations in exchange for this fair and honest review.

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Profile Image for Mug.
515 reviews113 followers
dnf
March 4, 2024
dnf @ 72% - this was all cute up until they fucked for the first time….henry’s never been with a man, but claims to have done research on research about the ins and outs of gay sex….so when he’s ready to experience it himself, he’s like cool cool i’ve prepared for this…..henry and asher make out a bunch, jerk their cocks, then asher gets out the lube and condom. asher helps henry put the condom on and then immediately henry’s got his cock at asher’s hole and is pushing forward…..that’s when i did a double take bc no prep??? what? i even went back to reread bc i’m like did i miss something??? but nope, no fingers, no stretching the hole….then asher admits it’s been awhile since he’s done this…..and immediately my brain was like no i’m no longer interested and i’m shutting down now lmaoo…..sometimes i can read past no prep and other times i can’t….this just felt completely out of character for the slow discovery, first time figuring things out scene where the bottom hasn’t bottomed in a while but is fine no prep and what’s his fuck did all this research on gay sex but it didn’t even cross his mind once to prep the hole…..hmmmm ok….

also, small niggle, but we learn almost nothing about asher and who he is, like i don’t know that man at all. he’s gay, he likes activities, he went to camp when he was a kid….that bout sums up my knowledge.

so….nothing special but fairly cute up until it forced my brain to check out
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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