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Just Like That #1
Just Like That: Gone and Changed
What happens when you fall in love with your best friend?
Introspective, sensitive Sam and loyal, kind-hearted Will are childhood best friends who grew up together on neighboring farms. They’ve shared everything — until Sam leaves for college and shuts Will out of his life.
Home for summer break and convinced his secret feelings aren’t reciprocated, Sam rejects Will at every turn. Will grows increasingly frustrated and desperate. The tension between them is unbearable, until Will confronts Sam at their favorite swimming hole and forces the situation to a passionate confrontation.
Now, as their long-hidden feelings for each other come to the surface, they’ll have to learn how to turn a lifelong friendship into a first love unlike any other.
Read the erotic romance novella that reviewers are calling “captivating,” “uplifting,” “tender,” “sexy,” “gorgeous,” and “a romantic coming-of-age tale that will sweep you away.”
101 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2017
About the author
Clara W. Barrow
3 books12 followersClara W. Barrow lives in the metropolitan Chicago area with her husband and two children. A fine art photographer, former marketing executive, and upcoming author, she spends a significant amount of her free time writing gay romance stories that focus on first times, friends becoming lovers, and healthy relationships. When not writing, she likes to travel to faraway lands, obsessively read gay romance stories, binge-watch TV, and take long naps in sunny spots.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Did Not Finish
April 6, 2022DNF @ 15%
Hmm, everything looks resolved already...? They . So what comes next? Well, from peeking at reviews, it looks like — .
Although I didn't make it far, it seems to be well-written. Back when I first discovered m/m, I would have kept reading, but nowadays I have a very clear vision of what I want from the genre, and I'm not going to hang around simply for the sake of . Still, I'll keep an open mind about this new-to-me author.
Hmm, everything looks resolved already...? They . So what comes next? Well, from peeking at reviews, it looks like — .
Although I didn't make it far, it seems to be well-written. Back when I first discovered m/m, I would have kept reading, but nowadays I have a very clear vision of what I want from the genre, and I'm not going to hang around simply for the sake of . Still, I'll keep an open mind about this new-to-me author.
February 10, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
I’m not sure if I can come up with the proper way to describe Just Like That to you. Is it simply a romance? Is it erotica? I lean toward erotica because there is a lot of sex going on. It’s tender, beautifully written, filthy sex, and even though the scenes are plentiful, they never feel gratuitous or out of place. Sam and Will were virgins and they had a lot of discovering to do. It was actually wonderful to be along with them on this journey.
Both Sam and Will are wonderful boys. The only singular character flaw I was able to see was Sam’s unwillingness to actually have a conversation with Will about his feelings, rather than just avoiding them. That is completely forgiven when they confess their love for each other at the quarry. The scene was wonderful, and everything that was pent up was released in such a sweet, hot, and sexy way.
As you can tell by now, Sam and Will had amazing chemistry, and I fell in love with both of them. Their hearts were so pure, and the way they clung to each other every time they were together melted my heart. It’s been a long time since I’ve read MCs this genuine, and I’m still thinking about them two days after finishing the book.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
I’m not sure if I can come up with the proper way to describe Just Like That to you. Is it simply a romance? Is it erotica? I lean toward erotica because there is a lot of sex going on. It’s tender, beautifully written, filthy sex, and even though the scenes are plentiful, they never feel gratuitous or out of place. Sam and Will were virgins and they had a lot of discovering to do. It was actually wonderful to be along with them on this journey.
Both Sam and Will are wonderful boys. The only singular character flaw I was able to see was Sam’s unwillingness to actually have a conversation with Will about his feelings, rather than just avoiding them. That is completely forgiven when they confess their love for each other at the quarry. The scene was wonderful, and everything that was pent up was released in such a sweet, hot, and sexy way.
As you can tell by now, Sam and Will had amazing chemistry, and I fell in love with both of them. Their hearts were so pure, and the way they clung to each other every time they were together melted my heart. It’s been a long time since I’ve read MCs this genuine, and I’m still thinking about them two days after finishing the book.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
Want to Read
December 9, 2022Thank you for the gift, Pumpkin Spice Elf!
November 20, 2017
Sam and Will are best friends ... or were best friends until they both, quite suddenly, "grew up." Now, Sam is terrified of letting his more-than-friendly feelings for Will out into the open. Little does he know, Will is having some rather romantic problems of his own.
I felt like I knew these characters. I was walking around their small, country town with them. Their connection and sexual explorations are innocent, loving, and beautiful, despite some external conflict. Together, these boys just might find a happily ever after ...
I look forward to reading more from Ms. Barrow!
I felt like I knew these characters. I was walking around their small, country town with them. Their connection and sexual explorations are innocent, loving, and beautiful, despite some external conflict. Together, these boys just might find a happily ever after ...
I look forward to reading more from Ms. Barrow!
January 31, 2018
Mmm... so HOT!
Best friends to lovers, virgins, coming out.
It was more sexual than I expected. :P
Loved it!
Best friends to lovers, virgins, coming out.
It was more sexual than I expected. :P
Loved it!
January 20, 2018
Sam + Will = ❤
3.5 stars
I was in a book funk and this gave me the jumpstart I needed. This story was short and sweet with very little angst. I loved reading about Will and Sam. They have been best friends and neighbors since childhood. One summer back from college has them confessing their true feelings for one another. They spend that whole summer together but eventually have to go back to school. They keep in touch and reunite during Thanksgiving break where their relationship takes a bigger step.
I really enjoyed seeing them go from friends to lovers and this book is the more like the beginning of that transition. They get together and when they are in their bubble at home all is fine but, there is always that lingering feeling of having to be apart again. A constant countdown plays in the back of their minds. These two are going to have to figure out how to be in this newly developing relationship while being so many miles apart. In this book you can already see how difficult it is for them and I think book 2 is going to be more about how they navigate through this issue. Again, this one is more like an introduction to Sam and Will's relationship. I really did like it :)
3.5 stars
I was in a book funk and this gave me the jumpstart I needed. This story was short and sweet with very little angst. I loved reading about Will and Sam. They have been best friends and neighbors since childhood. One summer back from college has them confessing their true feelings for one another. They spend that whole summer together but eventually have to go back to school. They keep in touch and reunite during Thanksgiving break where their relationship takes a bigger step.
I really enjoyed seeing them go from friends to lovers and this book is the more like the beginning of that transition. They get together and when they are in their bubble at home all is fine but, there is always that lingering feeling of having to be apart again. A constant countdown plays in the back of their minds. These two are going to have to figure out how to be in this newly developing relationship while being so many miles apart. In this book you can already see how difficult it is for them and I think book 2 is going to be more about how they navigate through this issue. Again, this one is more like an introduction to Sam and Will's relationship. I really did like it :)
December 7, 2017
If you're looking for a super sweet & fluffy romance, this is your book. Seriously. It's 100% angst-free (okay 95%?) and utterly delightful. Sam and Will are both great characters, and you want them to be together and for nothing to go wrong. And Mrs. Hillson, Sam's caretaker and the lady who manages the farm after his parents died, is a force to be reckoned with. (I love her.)
There's a lot of pining, and worries about coming out or getting caught, and more smut than you could ask for, especially in a novella.
It's well written, and I can see why people enjoyed it (2017 can use more fluffy escapist stories like this), but it had too much smut and too little angst for my personal tastes, or I would have rated it higher.
There's a lot of pining, and worries about coming out or getting caught, and more smut than you could ask for, especially in a novella.
It's well written, and I can see why people enjoyed it (2017 can use more fluffy escapist stories like this), but it had too much smut and too little angst for my personal tastes, or I would have rated it higher.
December 31, 2017
Good story, well rounded
November 28, 2017
A fantastic story
This is my first time reading Clara and I am extremely anxious to read the book that goes with this novella. The story flowed effortlessly and I found myself fully invested from the very first paragraph. Will and Sam seem so connected and who doesn’t wish they could be with their best friend, huh? It’s such an innocent transition from friends to lovers and Clara captures that beautifully. A fantastic story.
This is my first time reading Clara and I am extremely anxious to read the book that goes with this novella. The story flowed effortlessly and I found myself fully invested from the very first paragraph. Will and Sam seem so connected and who doesn’t wish they could be with their best friend, huh? It’s such an innocent transition from friends to lovers and Clara captures that beautifully. A fantastic story.
January 2, 2018
LOVED IT! TOUCHING ROMANCE
When I was offered this book for free, I wasn't sure I would like it. I am a heterosexual 52 year old woman, but I have really enjoyed some truly wonderful gay characters! So I thought I would give this book a try. And boy oh boy I was hooked from the very beginning!!! Sam and Will's romance was wonderful to b a part of!! Want to read the next one so bad! If you are open minded I know you will enjoy it to! Thank you Clara Barrow!
When I was offered this book for free, I wasn't sure I would like it. I am a heterosexual 52 year old woman, but I have really enjoyed some truly wonderful gay characters! So I thought I would give this book a try. And boy oh boy I was hooked from the very beginning!!! Sam and Will's romance was wonderful to b a part of!! Want to read the next one so bad! If you are open minded I know you will enjoy it to! Thank you Clara Barrow!
December 4, 2018
For years, Sam and Will were inseparable… until Sam discovered that his feelings for Will became more than just friendly – and started avoiding him. It’s a sweet, tender, unhurriedly paced story of two best friends first secretly pining for each other and then plunging into exploration of sensual pleasures together. There isn’t much plot, but the characters are endearing and the narrative is poetic and very emotional. Lots of fluff and sex!
October 5, 2020
This was a real sweet, lovely novella.
Two best friends, who discover there's much more to their feelings of friendship than there was before. Once it's out in the open, they start their sexual discovery together and it's both sweet and hot.
Sam and Will both have genuine voices and they sound like the 19-years olds they are. Wondering, thinking about their future, horny most of the time, wanting to be together.
I loved it!
Two best friends, who discover there's much more to their feelings of friendship than there was before. Once it's out in the open, they start their sexual discovery together and it's both sweet and hot.
Sam and Will both have genuine voices and they sound like the 19-years olds they are. Wondering, thinking about their future, horny most of the time, wanting to be together.
I loved it!
November 20, 2017
I read fantastic reviews of this and thought it was worth trying.
The characters are endearing and this really could be something. I realise there is a next instalment to come but I think that's the problem... I feel like I've bought the first couple of chapters of a book.
I'll buy the next part when it's out and I'm sure I'll have better things to say.
The characters are endearing and this really could be something. I realise there is a next instalment to come but I think that's the problem... I feel like I've bought the first couple of chapters of a book.
I'll buy the next part when it's out and I'm sure I'll have better things to say.
January 15, 2018
sweet coming of age story. No drama.
February 21, 2018
A fluffy novella that I picked up for free about teenage best friends becoming lovers, first times and comings out. High sex:plot ratio and a quick easy read.
March 1, 2019
I’m utterly exhausted after just reading this. Someone pass me a cold drink, preferraby a stiff one.
July 21, 2026
A short story unnecessarily extended
November 17, 2017
Absolutely something I'll come back to again and again. Set in the middle of farm country USA two best friends grow up side by side sharing everything from sleepovers to summer swimming. Until their love grows and changes and suddenly it's not best friend love, it's suddenly filled with want and need and hope and pain, because the other certainly couldn't feel the same way, right? Fantastic confirmation when the friendship finally FINALLY moves into something more. Gorgeous writing and steamy sex scenes make this an absolute favorite read. Will be reading again. Will and Sam forever. :)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews