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Bad in Baltimore #1
Bad Company
Bad in Baltimore: Book One
Some things are sweeter than revenge.
“I need a boyfriend.”
Hearing those words from his very straight, very ex-best friend doesn’t put Nate in a helpful mood. Not only did Kellan Brooks’s father destroy Nate’s family in his quest for power, but Kellan broke Nate’s heart back in high school. Nate thought he could trust his best friend with the revelation that he might be gay, only to find out he was horribly wrong and become the laughingstock of the whole school. Kellan must be truly desperate if he’s turning to Nate now.
Kellan’s through letting his father run his life, and he wants to make the man pay for cutting him off. What better way to stick it to the bigot than to come out as gay himself—especially with the son of the very man his father crushed on his quest for money and power. Kellan can’t blame Nate for wanting nothing to do with him, though. Kellan will have to convince him to play along, but it’s even harder to convince himself that the heat between them is only an act....
Some things are sweeter than revenge.
“I need a boyfriend.”
Hearing those words from his very straight, very ex-best friend doesn’t put Nate in a helpful mood. Not only did Kellan Brooks’s father destroy Nate’s family in his quest for power, but Kellan broke Nate’s heart back in high school. Nate thought he could trust his best friend with the revelation that he might be gay, only to find out he was horribly wrong and become the laughingstock of the whole school. Kellan must be truly desperate if he’s turning to Nate now.
Kellan’s through letting his father run his life, and he wants to make the man pay for cutting him off. What better way to stick it to the bigot than to come out as gay himself—especially with the son of the very man his father crushed on his quest for money and power. Kellan can’t blame Nate for wanting nothing to do with him, though. Kellan will have to convince him to play along, but it’s even harder to convince himself that the heat between them is only an act....
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2011
112 people are currently reading
2413 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Mitchell
43 books1,111 followersK.A. Mitchell discovered the magic of writing at an early age when she learned that a carefully crayoned note of apology sent to the kitchen in a toy truck would earn her a reprieve from banishment to her room. Her career as a spin-control artist was cut short when her family moved to a two-story house, and her trucks would not roll safely down the stairs. Around the same time, she decided that Chip and Ken made a much cuter couple than Ken and Barbie and was perplexed when invitations to play Barbie dropped off. She never stopped making stuff up, though, and was surprised to find out that people would pay her to do it. Although the men in her stories usually carry more emotional baggage than even LAX can lose in a year, she guarantees they always find their sexy way to a happy ending.
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December 22, 2014
**WOAH Kindle freebie 11/19/14!!**
Guys, I think it is time for me to officially come out of the closet. I have hinted at this in the past but now I'm just going to put it all out there.
I am a total whore for gay virgin books.
I am an unabashed, out and proud, virgin-loving addict. A large portion of my favorite M/M books involve gay first-timers and maybe that is part of the reason why this book worked for me.
Now, when it comes to this book, I'm most certainly in the minority in my group of friends. Most of my friends dislike this book. I, however, really, really liked it. In fact, had the last chunk of the book been written a little differently, I think I would have 5 starred this one.
My friends have called these two MCs, everything from "selfish" to "unlikable", and they are correct. Nate and Kellan are f-ed up and totally wrapped up in themselves. However, they felt good unlikable to me, like I know guys like them that are annoying and bull-headed, so these two MCs felt real.
I just loved the sexual tension between these two men. The back and forth didn't even bother me much with them. I felt their chemistry and I was really on board with their relationship.
Yes, the set up for this book was unrealistic. Yes, the ending was super rushed and kind of thrown together, but ya know, I don't care all that much. I liked this book way, WAY more than I expected so I'm a very happy camper right now.
And yes, I bought the rest of the series while I was still reading this one.
Me <----- now addicted to K.A. Mitchell.
Guys, I think it is time for me to officially come out of the closet. I have hinted at this in the past but now I'm just going to put it all out there.
I am a total whore for gay virgin books.
I am an unabashed, out and proud, virgin-loving addict. A large portion of my favorite M/M books involve gay first-timers and maybe that is part of the reason why this book worked for me.
Now, when it comes to this book, I'm most certainly in the minority in my group of friends. Most of my friends dislike this book. I, however, really, really liked it. In fact, had the last chunk of the book been written a little differently, I think I would have 5 starred this one.
My friends have called these two MCs, everything from "selfish" to "unlikable", and they are correct. Nate and Kellan are f-ed up and totally wrapped up in themselves. However, they felt good unlikable to me, like I know guys like them that are annoying and bull-headed, so these two MCs felt real.
I just loved the sexual tension between these two men. The back and forth didn't even bother me much with them. I felt their chemistry and I was really on board with their relationship.
Yes, the set up for this book was unrealistic. Yes, the ending was super rushed and kind of thrown together, but ya know, I don't care all that much. I liked this book way, WAY more than I expected so I'm a very happy camper right now.
And yes, I bought the rest of the series while I was still reading this one.
Me <----- now addicted to K.A. Mitchell.
Read
June 30, 2011K.A. Mitchell is one of my auto-buys, but this was a strange read for me. I don't want to "rank" this book because an arbitrary number will be both meaningless and misleading.
There are some basic disconnects in the plotting which make these characters hard to like and impossible to believe. Much of the writing here deserves a 5. The sexy hook of "straight guy pretends to be gay to punish bigoted dad" has solid legs in theory. But some of the illogical events and character arcs literally cripple the narrative almost from page one (more on this below).
From the first moment Nate and Kellan reconnect, they prove so mutually unlikeable that I found myself not particularly interested in their problems or wanting them to reach their HEA. It took me a few chapters to figure out why. The truth is, both of them seem like selfish, childish assholes, and they don't actually BEHAVE like logical adult males. Never does the book explain why pretending to come out requires a straight man to fuck his estranged best friend. Never does the story offer a reason for Nate to even meet with Kellan or hear his offer, let alone agree to it. Actually, Mitchell almost sidesteps this by burying the agreement so deeply that I had to go back and find the moment when the "plan" was on. This vagueness makes sense because Kellan's plan itself makes none. That weakness at the core of the book does serious structural damage to the plot and characters.
A lot of folks have said that these characters didn't gel for them; for my part, I believe that disconnect stems from the unmotivated logic leaps and preplotted actions that the characters enact without connecting. The sex here occurs because these are characters in an M/M, not because the motivation and stakes make it necessary. That's a shame. That high-concept hook didn't actually force these men to BE intimate, but rather to SEEM intimate. That in itself could have led to becoming intimate if plotted carefully, but this book didn't take that time or that approach.
Kellan is straight and selfish; Nate loathes him. They are best friends estranged by complicated betrayal. As a blurb, that intrigues me. "Fireworks!" I think. But the truth is, the book doesn't actually make Kellan straight, any more than it makes Nate loathe him. They're intimate in a matter of pages. So many of Nate & Kellan's interactions orbit the basic "punish homophobic dad by coming out" ruse yet the book never explains why the "straight" Kellan needs to tease and screw his best friend in order to humiliate his father.Or why honorable Nate caves. Moreover, Nate's self-righteous primness wears thin quickly as his own behavior becomes increasingly destructive and bizarre: why "force" sex on your destitute best friend and why perpetuate something that is obviously a hurtful fraud. Very quickly, I got the sense that they were having sex because they were protagonists in an M/M novel and that was their job. Not so appealing or romantic.
Most troubling though, is the fact that although the book tells us that these two guys have chemistry, it's not always evident from their interactions. Sometimes they sizzle, but about midway through, the "faking gay" plot germ gets discarded or at least unravels as the nonsense it was from the start. Consequently, there's a narrative looseness to the book. Weighed against characters marching through necessary stages of intercourse like drones, the intense sensuality and sassy banter don't land as they should. Because their behavior is nonsensical, and they are so personally self-involved, I got to where I found them amusing in a detached way, but I couldn't be moved by them.
My sense (and this is completely subjective) is that the Pretend-to-be-Queer "hook" may have inspired the writing, but that the characters didn't cooperate. Because they DON'T cooperate and they don't behave logically at any point. Their ruse does not require intimacy, but the entire book is structured as if the ruse DOES require intimacy, as if Kellan's father has implanted gay-sensors in his son's genitals. Even if this book were set in a compressed setting/timeframe (family house, vacation with dad, holidays) the only reason for these men to have sex is to flaunt it so Dad would witness it. Nope. As a result all that smoking sex rings hollow, because there's no reason for them to have it and no explanation for their instant willingness to bridge the chasm between them. I just never got a grasp on the connection between the characters, and their behavior did zero to convince me there was one.
There are also strange dangling plot threads. "Honorable" Nate essentially molests Kellan at the start of the book without sense or consequence and (straight?) Kellan keeps demanding sex without clear desire or reason. By way of indicating growth, Kellan gets a couple of jobs, complete with memorable minor characters, only to lose them in a matter of pages; in a 140 page book these digressions felt unnecessary. Nate works at a newspaper but can't seem to navigate the most basic "leak" of a splashy gossip item. Kellan's burgeoning feelings for his friend happen almost immediately and almost without impetus. Kellan decides he's gay almost in passing, and Nate forgives Kellan ditto; the core of the conflict and two of the most dramatic character shifts in the book played as throwaways. The shocking reveal about Nate's father is marvelous, but it's tossed in as the book races to finish. For a book that is about a revenge built with scandal, there actually isn't much scandal or revenge. The 2D homophobic father sends lackeys a few times, and then has a big final gripe before fading into impotent blankness. Exeunt.
Funny thing... The writing is gorgeous. All the pieces are here: Snappy dialogue. Hot sex. Interesting minor characters. Intriguing details. Lovely specificity throughout. But the basic structural problem and that central illogic guarantees that Nate and Kellan will seem at best obediant and not memorable. This felt like a book that got rushed and these characetrs would have benefitted from a logic overhaul.
So... all in all. A strange read.
There are some basic disconnects in the plotting which make these characters hard to like and impossible to believe. Much of the writing here deserves a 5. The sexy hook of "straight guy pretends to be gay to punish bigoted dad" has solid legs in theory. But some of the illogical events and character arcs literally cripple the narrative almost from page one (more on this below).
From the first moment Nate and Kellan reconnect, they prove so mutually unlikeable that I found myself not particularly interested in their problems or wanting them to reach their HEA. It took me a few chapters to figure out why. The truth is, both of them seem like selfish, childish assholes, and they don't actually BEHAVE like logical adult males. Never does the book explain why pretending to come out requires a straight man to fuck his estranged best friend. Never does the story offer a reason for Nate to even meet with Kellan or hear his offer, let alone agree to it. Actually, Mitchell almost sidesteps this by burying the agreement so deeply that I had to go back and find the moment when the "plan" was on. This vagueness makes sense because Kellan's plan itself makes none. That weakness at the core of the book does serious structural damage to the plot and characters.
A lot of folks have said that these characters didn't gel for them; for my part, I believe that disconnect stems from the unmotivated logic leaps and preplotted actions that the characters enact without connecting. The sex here occurs because these are characters in an M/M, not because the motivation and stakes make it necessary. That's a shame. That high-concept hook didn't actually force these men to BE intimate, but rather to SEEM intimate. That in itself could have led to becoming intimate if plotted carefully, but this book didn't take that time or that approach.
Kellan is straight and selfish; Nate loathes him. They are best friends estranged by complicated betrayal. As a blurb, that intrigues me. "Fireworks!" I think. But the truth is, the book doesn't actually make Kellan straight, any more than it makes Nate loathe him. They're intimate in a matter of pages. So many of Nate & Kellan's interactions orbit the basic "punish homophobic dad by coming out" ruse yet the book never explains why the "straight" Kellan needs to tease and screw his best friend in order to humiliate his father.Or why honorable Nate caves. Moreover, Nate's self-righteous primness wears thin quickly as his own behavior becomes increasingly destructive and bizarre: why "force" sex on your destitute best friend and why perpetuate something that is obviously a hurtful fraud. Very quickly, I got the sense that they were having sex because they were protagonists in an M/M novel and that was their job. Not so appealing or romantic.
Most troubling though, is the fact that although the book tells us that these two guys have chemistry, it's not always evident from their interactions. Sometimes they sizzle, but about midway through, the "faking gay" plot germ gets discarded or at least unravels as the nonsense it was from the start. Consequently, there's a narrative looseness to the book. Weighed against characters marching through necessary stages of intercourse like drones, the intense sensuality and sassy banter don't land as they should. Because their behavior is nonsensical, and they are so personally self-involved, I got to where I found them amusing in a detached way, but I couldn't be moved by them.
My sense (and this is completely subjective) is that the Pretend-to-be-Queer "hook" may have inspired the writing, but that the characters didn't cooperate. Because they DON'T cooperate and they don't behave logically at any point. Their ruse does not require intimacy, but the entire book is structured as if the ruse DOES require intimacy, as if Kellan's father has implanted gay-sensors in his son's genitals. Even if this book were set in a compressed setting/timeframe (family house, vacation with dad, holidays) the only reason for these men to have sex is to flaunt it so Dad would witness it. Nope. As a result all that smoking sex rings hollow, because there's no reason for them to have it and no explanation for their instant willingness to bridge the chasm between them. I just never got a grasp on the connection between the characters, and their behavior did zero to convince me there was one.
There are also strange dangling plot threads. "Honorable" Nate essentially molests Kellan at the start of the book without sense or consequence and (straight?) Kellan keeps demanding sex without clear desire or reason. By way of indicating growth, Kellan gets a couple of jobs, complete with memorable minor characters, only to lose them in a matter of pages; in a 140 page book these digressions felt unnecessary. Nate works at a newspaper but can't seem to navigate the most basic "leak" of a splashy gossip item. Kellan's burgeoning feelings for his friend happen almost immediately and almost without impetus. Kellan decides he's gay almost in passing, and Nate forgives Kellan ditto; the core of the conflict and two of the most dramatic character shifts in the book played as throwaways. The shocking reveal about Nate's father is marvelous, but it's tossed in as the book races to finish. For a book that is about a revenge built with scandal, there actually isn't much scandal or revenge. The 2D homophobic father sends lackeys a few times, and then has a big final gripe before fading into impotent blankness. Exeunt.
Funny thing... The writing is gorgeous. All the pieces are here: Snappy dialogue. Hot sex. Interesting minor characters. Intriguing details. Lovely specificity throughout. But the basic structural problem and that central illogic guarantees that Nate and Kellan will seem at best obediant and not memorable. This felt like a book that got rushed and these characetrs would have benefitted from a logic overhaul.
So... all in all. A strange read.
May 7, 2022
Reread - May 2022
Audiobook- 3.5 stars
Story- 3.5 stars rounded up
Audiobook- 3.5 stars
Story- 3.5 stars rounded up
October 5, 2016
**3.25 awkwardly endearing stars**
It's so hard to rate and review this book. For every yin that I loved, there exists a bad yang. The banter between Nathan and Kellan was hilarious....add in Eli and I was seriously cracking up. However, at times (ok, many) the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. And sometimes I didn't even know what they were talking about?!
The pacing was awkward. Lots of great sexual tension, but within that sexual tension the MC's would sometimes act like they'd been together for months.
But once the barrier was breached everything was wrapped up and the book was over.
So there you have my spotty review, for a spotty book.
September 14, 2012
This book was a fail. Both the characters and the plot are weak. Kellan is spoiled and selfish and Nate is a know-it-all with no personality. There was absolutely no chemistry and zero build-up to their relationship. Their actions and reasons for being together made no sense and this is where all the holes in the plot began. To get back at his bigoted father for cutting him off from the family money, Kellan devises a plan to pretend he's gay. He then decides to ask his ex-friend Nate (who he hasn't seen in years) to help him with his little scam by posing as his boyfriend.
What didn't make sense to me was why Nate would even agree to Kellan's plan without first hashing out what happened in their past. Also, Kellan's reasons to go to Nate after all these years of being apart fell short. They were friends and Nate is gay but they never went into their history until later in the book. So after all this time Kellan decides to look up Nate just so he can piss off his father. Plus, he needed a place to stay and of course there are no other friends that he can stay with or that can help him out. It all felt forced.
Another thing that bothered me was that Kellan kept looking to go further in the relationship for what felt like no other reason than to experiment. They're thrown together and fake a relationship but they really never had to go any further than a few pecks in public. Plus, it felt like Kellan only wanted to be with Nate for the experience not for the intimacy. All Kellan wanted was to show up his father. Oh, and then all of a sudden he wants to have sex with Nate? It was all very clinical and detached. Then there's Nate. He was attracted to Kellan but you never felt it. We're told this but unfortunately his actions, words, and thoughts do not support it. I got sick of his attitude real quick especially when he knew his actions were messed up and went along with everything anyway.
You get the idea that these two men were close as kids but you never feel them become anything more throughout the story, except when it pertains to "the plan".
There were glimpses of Mitchell's writing that I liked but basically there was no depth to the characters or the story.
Oh and as Kate reminded me, Eli gets his own star!
What didn't make sense to me was why Nate would even agree to Kellan's plan without first hashing out what happened in their past. Also, Kellan's reasons to go to Nate after all these years of being apart fell short. They were friends and Nate is gay but they never went into their history until later in the book. So after all this time Kellan decides to look up Nate just so he can piss off his father. Plus, he needed a place to stay and of course there are no other friends that he can stay with or that can help him out. It all felt forced.
Another thing that bothered me was that Kellan kept looking to go further in the relationship for what felt like no other reason than to experiment. They're thrown together and fake a relationship but they really never had to go any further than a few pecks in public. Plus, it felt like Kellan only wanted to be with Nate for the experience not for the intimacy. All Kellan wanted was to show up his father. Oh, and then all of a sudden he wants to have sex with Nate? It was all very clinical and detached. Then there's Nate. He was attracted to Kellan but you never felt it. We're told this but unfortunately his actions, words, and thoughts do not support it. I got sick of his attitude real quick especially when he knew his actions were messed up and went along with everything anyway.
You get the idea that these two men were close as kids but you never feel them become anything more throughout the story, except when it pertains to "the plan".
There were glimpses of Mitchell's writing that I liked but basically there was no depth to the characters or the story.
Oh and as Kate reminded me, Eli gets his own star!
April 17, 2013
Kellan needs a boyfriend because he wants to stick it to his overbearing homophobic father. He looks up his childhood bestfriend in the hopes that Nathan will be a pal and fake being in love with him.
Kellan and Nathan aren't really likeable men so this really affected my enjoyment here. Kellan spent most of this story being sexually confused and in his own words an "internalized homophobic". It was just an odd read because of it. Once the relationship got past all the posturing it really could have worked for me as Nathan's edges began to smooth out but Kellan's attitude towards his own sexuality didn't seem to want to cross the line where he could be honest with his emotions and feelings for Nathan.
There was too much back and forth with Kellan for me to really settle down and enjoy the read which is too bad because there was a lot of potential there and I love a good GFY and friends to lovers story.
I love Nathan's employee Eli quite a bit. I'm looking forward to his book.
Kellan and Nathan aren't really likeable men so this really affected my enjoyment here. Kellan spent most of this story being sexually confused and in his own words an "internalized homophobic". It was just an odd read because of it. Once the relationship got past all the posturing it really could have worked for me as Nathan's edges began to smooth out but Kellan's attitude towards his own sexuality didn't seem to want to cross the line where he could be honest with his emotions and feelings for Nathan.
There was too much back and forth with Kellan for me to really settle down and enjoy the read which is too bad because there was a lot of potential there and I love a good GFY and friends to lovers story.
I love Nathan's employee Eli quite a bit. I'm looking forward to his book.
December 16, 2018
I enjoyed this book more than the three stars would lead you to believe. It has two of my favorite tropes: GFY and Fake Boyfriend.
It just felt a bit flat and shallow, this could be due to the fact that I had an old Samhain version of the book and maybe it’s been better edited since then. Maybe.
Both MCs were asshats much of the time due to past and current feelings and actions. One wanted to screw his rich father over by pretending to be gay. The other, his old friend, wanted dirt on the rich father to publish and take him down in the press.
Pretending leads to real feelings, although Nate, the journalist, has always loved Kellan. Kellan has buried feelings for Nate.
The bones of this story was good, I just wanted more depth fleshed out and less assholery from Nate.
Bonus for you all: cherry popping goodness!!
Trigger: dub-con bj
It just felt a bit flat and shallow, this could be due to the fact that I had an old Samhain version of the book and maybe it’s been better edited since then. Maybe.
Both MCs were asshats much of the time due to past and current feelings and actions. One wanted to screw his rich father over by pretending to be gay. The other, his old friend, wanted dirt on the rich father to publish and take him down in the press.
Pretending leads to real feelings, although Nate, the journalist, has always loved Kellan. Kellan has buried feelings for Nate.
The bones of this story was good, I just wanted more depth fleshed out and less assholery from Nate.
Bonus for you all: cherry popping goodness!!
Trigger: dub-con bj
April 14, 2014
3.5 stars
So I did this weird thing. I was told that the Bad in Baltimore series could be read as standalones (confirmed) and I read book 2, Bad Boyfriend, first. I really adored Eli and Quinn's relationship, but to be honest, in their tiny supporting roles, Nate & Kellan were insignificant. Nate was way too intense and Kellan was a bit boring. And thus, I decided to just skip book 1 altogether.
Hasty, hasty decision. Months later, I jumped into a buddy read spearheaded by Heidi Cullinan, who almost never steers be wrong. And so, I bought, downloaded, and read Bad Company...in a day...ending with a smile.
I've said it before, but I just really like KA Mitchell's broken MC's. They're imperfect, easy to dislike, they have issues...and they entertain like no other. By the end, I've never NOT rooted for the happy ending, even with her most pain-in-the-ass characters! This holds true for Nate & Kellan. Nate is ...well, he has a stick up his ass. He's uptight. And he's hurt. And he doesn't trust. And then there's Kellan, his childhood best friend who betrayed him, grew up to be a playboy, and oh yea, isn't gay. Circumstances with Kellan's gajillionaire dad make it such that Kellan is looking for a boyfriend and he comes back to Nate.
True, this story's been done in het books forever and probably even some M/M GFY books (RJ Scott's Texas series). But KA Mitchell just is my cup o' tea so I liked her take. The journey...the escalation from former-friends back to acquaintances then to lovers was fairly believable and I was curious how the final 'aha' moment would play out. I was surprised to find that Kellan, a bit of an arrogant douchebag in the beginning, started to grow on me as he matured through it all. Nate, well...I still have some warming up to do for some reason.
I'm actually kinda addicted to Mitchell's books and characters...and so looking forward to book 4 of the Bad in Baltimore series, Bad Influence! Book 1 was an entertaining-enough read, not the best of her books, nor the best of the series (Bad Boyfriend, in my opinion), but still a recommended.
June 8, 2011
Somehow these characters never quite clicked for me. Kellan was casual and obnoxious and then suddenly he was the romantic one. Nate just seemed totally confused throughout the whole story, and his lines were convoluted and I don't think even he believed half of what he was saying. Kellan's father just didn't seem realistic in any of his incarnations. Eli was the best character in the book. The GFY sex was well done and yet even that felt like the pacing was wrong for the characters. I like K.A. Mitchell but usually her characters seem alive to me, and this time they didn't.
December 15, 2018
*** 3.5 stars ***
Friends to enemies to lovers -- that's a setup I find completely irresisitable.
This was a pretty solid story, at least once I bought into the dubious rationale for why Kellan was seeking a boyfriend. His miscommunications with Nate seemed not only realistic, but inevitable, because their differences were established convincingly from the earliest pages. Still, there was something missing, some indefinable spark that could have lifted this up to the next level. But I enjoyed it enough that I bought the next book in the series.
Friends to enemies to lovers -- that's a setup I find completely irresisitable.
This was a pretty solid story, at least once I bought into the dubious rationale for why Kellan was seeking a boyfriend. His miscommunications with Nate seemed not only realistic, but inevitable, because their differences were established convincingly from the earliest pages. Still, there was something missing, some indefinable spark that could have lifted this up to the next level. But I enjoyed it enough that I bought the next book in the series.
January 20, 2013
EDIT: Just kidding. Changed the rating from 3 to 2. When I read this I was in dire need of a short and sexy read, and it kinda halfway delivered, but thinking about it months later, it was:
1. forgettable - nothing really stands out
2. irritating - annoying MCs. Both of them!
3. incomplete - stuff didn't make sense, stuff was missing.
Pretty enjoyable read if you're in the mood, but other than that, I could've spent my time better.
really cute and quick read - though the characters were really annoying sometimes. i'm curious about eli, so i hope his story is better!
1. forgettable - nothing really stands out
2. irritating - annoying MCs. Both of them!
3. incomplete - stuff didn't make sense, stuff was missing.
Pretty enjoyable read if you're in the mood, but other than that, I could've spent my time better.
really cute and quick read - though the characters were really annoying sometimes. i'm curious about eli, so i hope his story is better!
Want to read
September 9, 2016Free on Amazon 11/19/14
http://amzn.com/B004TDN7SG
http://amzn.com/B004TDN7SG
November 3, 2013
3.5 stars
Cute GFY. Smart writing although I didn't connect with the characters as well as I thought I would. A light, fun read.
Read
January 20, 2013I'm a bit frustrated. I feel this story is missing something all over, but I don't know exactly why. So, you'll get a bullet review, sorry.
- Best friends reunited:
GOOD: the theme in itself was interesting and one of my favorites. I like reunited everything in a plot because I like to see what remained the same and what changed. It really hooked me and kept my curiosity, but:
NOT GOOD: Kellan basically abandoned his best friends to the bullying when they were in high school and never defended him. I get Nate's anger, but I don't think they really discussed this point, I don't think Kellan was really sorry and grovelled enough, I don't think Nate's forgiveness was convincing. It was such an important point, and both characters made it about themselves instead of the other one as I think it would be required to solve that issue in a satisfying way. Also, Nate said that Kellan outed him, but it was left there, I didn't really understand the hows and whys, and I was sure it was a thing that would require, again, from Kellan to say he was sorry.
- Revenge plot:
GOOD: what happened to Nate's family and he's desire to make Kellan's father pay gave Nate's character an interesting edge, something dark in a very pale personality. Kellan gives him the means to take his revenge in exchange for playing his boyfriend, because Kellan is trying to punish his homophobic father in some way, but:
NOT GOOD: I didn't really get the point of Kellan's scheme. Why is that the right button to push to get back to his father? I felt that all the point that justified the plot were clutches to justify the way the story was supposed to go. The guys need a reason to get close, so a straight character like Kellan needs a reason to get close to his gay best friend Nate, therefore: homophobic father. Nate needs a reason to agree to the scheme, which is a bit too sleazy, therefore: Kellan's father screwing Nate's dad's career in the past. Nate writes a column of advice to people, so how could he expose Kellan's father business intrigue? Therefore: Nate also writes a column about the evils of bad business. Can you see what I'm trying to tell: it was all ok and coherent and justified, but it seemed too plotted.
- Characters:
GOOD: I like when an author writes flawed, almost unlikable characters, I like to play the game of being convinced to like them and end up caring for them. Kellan has never really worked in his life and now he's desperate because his dad took everything away from him. He's 28, I think, so I have to ask myself if I want to feel sorry for him. No, of course. But there's this suggested, constant comparison with his dead brother, and I could feel sympathy for him. But:
NOT GOOD: Kellan never really stopped being selfish and self-absorbed, pushy and careless. He shows a drop of decency choosing a job in music therapy, but it seemed he could be nice to everybody, but he took Nate too much for granted, it all seemed a game, never really thinking of Nate's feelings, if he was behaving in a way he would hurt Nate.
GOOD: as I said in the beginning, Nate doesn't seem so interesting, he constantly seems to stand on his soapbox. All his psychological babbling was funny. His toppy attitude was also funny, because it was in contrast to his apparently unremarkable persona. The revenge made a not so nice guy out of him, but:
NOT GOOD: He never really pulled Kellan in or away. He was always a bit too passive. It was interesting that the author didn't make him a man who suddenly find the fight in him, but the issue of running away was something that wasn't really handled. I don't think there was a moment when Nate consciously decided not to run away, and I needed to see this to respect him.
The relationship:
GOOD: mmmmh, I don't know.
NOT GOOD: I didn't see the moment when the scheme turned into something else, into a deeper feeling. I didn't see the friendship return and something else taking the place of it. There was more in a set of unguarded pictures than in the actual story. It was as if the problem of having the two guys engage in sex took the place of developing their feelings. Sex can be an effective way to show a relationship progress, the guys communicate through it, but I didn't feel it here. Kellan and Nate were always wrapped in their own little bubbles. Their need didn't become desire. There wasn't a sparkle of warmth.
ABSOLUTELY GOOD: the writing. Eli, a character who can show strength and weak spots at the same time, bright and mysterious at the same time.
So, I think I can't rate this, but I'd still recommend it.
- Best friends reunited:
GOOD: the theme in itself was interesting and one of my favorites. I like reunited everything in a plot because I like to see what remained the same and what changed. It really hooked me and kept my curiosity, but:
NOT GOOD: Kellan basically abandoned his best friends to the bullying when they were in high school and never defended him. I get Nate's anger, but I don't think they really discussed this point, I don't think Kellan was really sorry and grovelled enough, I don't think Nate's forgiveness was convincing. It was such an important point, and both characters made it about themselves instead of the other one as I think it would be required to solve that issue in a satisfying way. Also, Nate said that Kellan outed him, but it was left there, I didn't really understand the hows and whys, and I was sure it was a thing that would require, again, from Kellan to say he was sorry.
- Revenge plot:
GOOD: what happened to Nate's family and he's desire to make Kellan's father pay gave Nate's character an interesting edge, something dark in a very pale personality. Kellan gives him the means to take his revenge in exchange for playing his boyfriend, because Kellan is trying to punish his homophobic father in some way, but:
NOT GOOD: I didn't really get the point of Kellan's scheme. Why is that the right button to push to get back to his father? I felt that all the point that justified the plot were clutches to justify the way the story was supposed to go. The guys need a reason to get close, so a straight character like Kellan needs a reason to get close to his gay best friend Nate, therefore: homophobic father. Nate needs a reason to agree to the scheme, which is a bit too sleazy, therefore: Kellan's father screwing Nate's dad's career in the past. Nate writes a column of advice to people, so how could he expose Kellan's father business intrigue? Therefore: Nate also writes a column about the evils of bad business. Can you see what I'm trying to tell: it was all ok and coherent and justified, but it seemed too plotted.
- Characters:
GOOD: I like when an author writes flawed, almost unlikable characters, I like to play the game of being convinced to like them and end up caring for them. Kellan has never really worked in his life and now he's desperate because his dad took everything away from him. He's 28, I think, so I have to ask myself if I want to feel sorry for him. No, of course. But there's this suggested, constant comparison with his dead brother, and I could feel sympathy for him. But:
NOT GOOD: Kellan never really stopped being selfish and self-absorbed, pushy and careless. He shows a drop of decency choosing a job in music therapy, but it seemed he could be nice to everybody, but he took Nate too much for granted, it all seemed a game, never really thinking of Nate's feelings, if he was behaving in a way he would hurt Nate.
GOOD: as I said in the beginning, Nate doesn't seem so interesting, he constantly seems to stand on his soapbox. All his psychological babbling was funny. His toppy attitude was also funny, because it was in contrast to his apparently unremarkable persona. The revenge made a not so nice guy out of him, but:
NOT GOOD: He never really pulled Kellan in or away. He was always a bit too passive. It was interesting that the author didn't make him a man who suddenly find the fight in him, but the issue of running away was something that wasn't really handled. I don't think there was a moment when Nate consciously decided not to run away, and I needed to see this to respect him.
The relationship:
GOOD: mmmmh, I don't know.
NOT GOOD: I didn't see the moment when the scheme turned into something else, into a deeper feeling. I didn't see the friendship return and something else taking the place of it. There was more in a set of unguarded pictures than in the actual story. It was as if the problem of having the two guys engage in sex took the place of developing their feelings. Sex can be an effective way to show a relationship progress, the guys communicate through it, but I didn't feel it here. Kellan and Nate were always wrapped in their own little bubbles. Their need didn't become desire. There wasn't a sparkle of warmth.
ABSOLUTELY GOOD: the writing. Eli, a character who can show strength and weak spots at the same time, bright and mysterious at the same time.
So, I think I can't rate this, but I'd still recommend it.
April 26, 2013
This is one of those books where the set-up had me really nervous: too contrived and implausible, the kind of thing that Hollywood loves for its rom-coms, featuring characters who never behave like actual human beings. But I am learning not to underestimate K. A. Mitchell, because both Nate and Kellan are two of my favorites of her characters. I have a soft spot for couples who have known each other forever, and you believe it with these two. I also liked that they were seriously flawed but not to the point that I hated them. I spent the first half of the book worrying that Kellan was too big an asshole to be redeemed and Nate was too completely superior, and then halfway through the balance shifted. Kellan was a sweet-heart and Nate was never going to get the stick out of his ass to have a relationship. All of this is just to say I was invested. I loved seeing Kellan turn into an actual worthwhile human being, I found Nate's hyper-complicated self-righteousness endearing.
Minor Spoiler: I'd also praise Mitchell for not turning the dad into a caricatured villain. I generally find them tiresome in and of themselves, in addition to being unrealistic and overly convenient. The father wasn't a good guy, but he wasn't all things that are evil and hateful either. It fit with the story well since it belied Nate's black and white attitude, but it also made the story more realistic and satisfying.
Altogether a great read--I've already loaded the second book of the series on my Kindle.
Minor Spoiler: I'd also praise Mitchell for not turning the dad into a caricatured villain. I generally find them tiresome in and of themselves, in addition to being unrealistic and overly convenient. The father wasn't a good guy, but he wasn't all things that are evil and hateful either. It fit with the story well since it belied Nate's black and white attitude, but it also made the story more realistic and satisfying.
Altogether a great read--I've already loaded the second book of the series on my Kindle.
June 27, 2011
This book failed for me on several levels. When you start off with an unlikable protagonist like Kellen & a closed one like Nate you're starting off in a romantic hole that the writer needs to dig themselves out of. Kellen is obnoxious, immature & shallow. He wants to get back at his dad so he's going to pretend to be gay & get himself a gay boyfriend. He picks out Nate, a man he was friends with for several years until the year Nate came out as gay. Then he deserted him & witnessed him getting gay bashed without ever helping. His explanation when asked doesn't go any deeper than 'not everyone is perfect like you' to 'you never let anything go.' 2/3 of the way in we finally get some kind of explanation but it feels false like the writer is digging out of that aforementioned hole.
The way the premise of pretending to be gay is handled is also borderline offensive. But it gets the approval of the happy gay guy in the story which is the writerly way of making it OK.
As for the romance, a Goodread reviewer here called it like an extended game of gay chicken, and I really can't come up with a better description. It's all I dare you, I'm going to win, who's going to crack first etc. Kellen & Nate had little chemistry & Kellen transition from straight to gay was not convincing. This book felt like formulaic GFY romance 101 without much heart.
The way the premise of pretending to be gay is handled is also borderline offensive. But it gets the approval of the happy gay guy in the story which is the writerly way of making it OK.
As for the romance, a Goodread reviewer here called it like an extended game of gay chicken, and I really can't come up with a better description. It's all I dare you, I'm going to win, who's going to crack first etc. Kellen & Nate had little chemistry & Kellen transition from straight to gay was not convincing. This book felt like formulaic GFY romance 101 without much heart.
January 23, 2016
i need a boyfriend
THIS WAS HILARIOUS.
I have so much fun reading this, maybe it wasn't as good as i think but to my current mood was perfect.
The whole situation it's so absurd that i enjoy it to much i just love a funny sexy gfy story.
THIS WAS HILARIOUS.
I have so much fun reading this, maybe it wasn't as good as i think but to my current mood was perfect.
The whole situation it's so absurd that i enjoy it to much i just love a funny sexy gfy story.
February 25, 2015
Er. No.
*The extra star is because I got a glimpse of Eli.
*The extra star is because I got a glimpse of Eli.
April 14, 2017
TLDR: Every book in this series after this one is excellent. This one is OK, the rest are great.
Right out of the gate this one was in the red since I'm not at all a fan of G4Y plots. I do so much love enemies-to-lovers, though, that I forced myself to get over "Kellan's sexual revelations at 30 y.o." and get on with the story. Now I know some G4Y's explain away the previous female attraction with some derivation of homosexual repression, but folks, it's 2017, if you can't find it within yourself to be true to who you are at this point you definitely don't deserve to have a book about your life.
The next hurdle was Nate, the queer we all know and hate to get into conversations with. Yes, gender studies/ queer theory/ 'insert niche study here' is interesting, has many unique points of view, and is a relevant discipline, but THIS IS NOT THE TIME OR PLACE. STFU is what I wish I had the balls to say to these people in real life, but I don't and you probably don't either so we all just sit though lecture after lecture until we can fake a phone call. Nate didn't ruin the book for me, but he might have aggravated my college PTSD.
So how was Bad Company? Not bad, but not great. HOWEVER!!! I'm writing this review because EVERY BOOK IN THIS SERIES AFTER THIS ONE IS EXCELLENT!!! So don't let this one slow your roll on the series, or maybe just jump right into Eli's story in Bad Boyfriend.
Right out of the gate this one was in the red since I'm not at all a fan of G4Y plots. I do so much love enemies-to-lovers, though, that I forced myself to get over "Kellan's sexual revelations at 30 y.o." and get on with the story. Now I know some G4Y's explain away the previous female attraction with some derivation of homosexual repression, but folks, it's 2017, if you can't find it within yourself to be true to who you are at this point you definitely don't deserve to have a book about your life.
The next hurdle was Nate, the queer we all know and hate to get into conversations with. Yes, gender studies/ queer theory/ 'insert niche study here' is interesting, has many unique points of view, and is a relevant discipline, but THIS IS NOT THE TIME OR PLACE. STFU is what I wish I had the balls to say to these people in real life, but I don't and you probably don't either so we all just sit though lecture after lecture until we can fake a phone call. Nate didn't ruin the book for me, but he might have aggravated my college PTSD.
So how was Bad Company? Not bad, but not great. HOWEVER!!! I'm writing this review because EVERY BOOK IN THIS SERIES AFTER THIS ONE IS EXCELLENT!!! So don't let this one slow your roll on the series, or maybe just jump right into Eli's story in Bad Boyfriend.
December 2, 2014
Prove it.
Well, both Nate and Kellan have things to prove to others, each other, and themselves. Starts with a tightening of the leash, except that only works if one wears the collar. But, freedom has costs and not just to himself as Kellan soon learns. The angsty love story of reunited childhood friends who finally admit what they mean to one another.
Overall, sweet and dramatic with some unresolved issues.
3.5 stars
Well, both Nate and Kellan have things to prove to others, each other, and themselves. Starts with a tightening of the leash, except that only works if one wears the collar. But, freedom has costs and not just to himself as Kellan soon learns. The angsty love story of reunited childhood friends who finally admit what they mean to one another.
Overall, sweet and dramatic with some unresolved issues.
3.5 stars
June 30, 2011
A lot of reviewers have concentrated on why this book didn’t appeal to them, so I’m going to concentrate on why it did to me.
First off, the characters were different. They weren’t ones the reader might want to go to bed with or live forever after with, but they were characters in their own right. They weren’t your average Mr and Mr Romance couple.
I enjoyed the fact they had unusual occupations: one who wrote advice columns in a gay newspaper and the other who ended up doing occupational therapy in rehab centres. Real people having real lives, not romance fiction lives.
The exploration of being gay or in recognising one was gay or “out for you” was handled well. Their past as best friends during their early years continued to impact on the way they were today. Sometimes, knowing someone so well actually adds conflict as attitudes, fears and thoughts from the past impede the relationship in the present. It’s hard to let old attitudes go.
K.A. also consciously avoided stereotypical situations such as the way three gay men fought back against their assaulters and managed for once to come out on top.
Sure, the main protagonists avoided emotional confrontations wherever possible. Sure they were pretty matter of fact about their needs and desires. That suited them and their circumstances.
Maybe they weren’t the “nicest” characters around. Maybe at times they did things that were unethical or dubious in their motives, but that made them more “real” in my book.
You’ve got to love the originality of lines like these:
Interspersed throughout were little snatches of humour, perfect for the guys and the mood of the book.
My only beef. Cover artists must like their men smooth. What happened to Nathan’s goatee beard??? It’s “him”. They're too young, too. Never mind. It's the words that count.
If five stars means perfection, it’s possibly not the right rating. But I have yet to read a book that’s “perfect”. Any areas which weren’t “perfect” were more than made up for by the above.
I respect K.A. Mitchell for her bravery in writing out-of-the-mould characters in original hook-ups and situations. She didn’t fail. I hope she continues to trust her own judgement and continues to create “difficult” characters in situations and plots that are not cliched. I, for one, will continue to buy and read your books and wish I could write like you.
Oh, and I'm really looking forward to reading Eli's book...
First off, the characters were different. They weren’t ones the reader might want to go to bed with or live forever after with, but they were characters in their own right. They weren’t your average Mr and Mr Romance couple.
I enjoyed the fact they had unusual occupations: one who wrote advice columns in a gay newspaper and the other who ended up doing occupational therapy in rehab centres. Real people having real lives, not romance fiction lives.
The exploration of being gay or in recognising one was gay or “out for you” was handled well. Their past as best friends during their early years continued to impact on the way they were today. Sometimes, knowing someone so well actually adds conflict as attitudes, fears and thoughts from the past impede the relationship in the present. It’s hard to let old attitudes go.
K.A. also consciously avoided stereotypical situations such as the way three gay men fought back against their assaulters and managed for once to come out on top.
Sure, the main protagonists avoided emotional confrontations wherever possible. Sure they were pretty matter of fact about their needs and desires. That suited them and their circumstances.
Maybe they weren’t the “nicest” characters around. Maybe at times they did things that were unethical or dubious in their motives, but that made them more “real” in my book.
You’ve got to love the originality of lines like these:
“I told you I wanted to do this on the morphine.”
Just because Nate didn’t get mushy over a fuck didn’t mean he had some kind of hang-up about sex.
Eli sat on a pile of folders. Nate’s office was perfectly organized. He kept the folders there so no one would come in and sit down.
Interspersed throughout were little snatches of humour, perfect for the guys and the mood of the book.
My only beef. Cover artists must like their men smooth. What happened to Nathan’s goatee beard??? It’s “him”. They're too young, too. Never mind. It's the words that count.
If five stars means perfection, it’s possibly not the right rating. But I have yet to read a book that’s “perfect”. Any areas which weren’t “perfect” were more than made up for by the above.
I respect K.A. Mitchell for her bravery in writing out-of-the-mould characters in original hook-ups and situations. She didn’t fail. I hope she continues to trust her own judgement and continues to create “difficult” characters in situations and plots that are not cliched. I, for one, will continue to buy and read your books and wish I could write like you.
Oh, and I'm really looking forward to reading Eli's book...
November 11, 2014
Eh. I was pretty unsure if I wanted to read this or not, to be honest. But, I said to myself "Candice, why not? You might regret it if you don't." Then, I pulled the "add to cart" trigger.
Let's get to the meat of this. Kellan and Nate were childhood friends. Then Kellan does something dumb, but was it really? I was pretty upset with him about the high school thing, until he explained it. I could see his side. I could feel what he was going through. Would I have done the same thing? I don't know, I am not a high school boy. But, I don't fault him. Now, they haven't spoken in 15 years, but Kellan needs a favor. Like a HUGE one and the only solution is Nate. Hmmm...
This is where things get confusing for me. I didn't like Nate. Like at all. I never warmed up to him. He's a selfish, self-righteous, grade-A asshole. While, there are some jerks I tend to like, Nate was NOT one of them.
I wanted to bust Nate upside the head more than once. I wanted the book to be over because I hated Nate.
Did I mention I loved Kellan? He was honest and upfront from the start. He made me laugh and I have no idea why he put up with Nate's shit.
I'll probably read Eli's story and see how that goes for me, because I kind of liked him even if I did find him annoying at times.
Let's get to the meat of this. Kellan and Nate were childhood friends. Then Kellan does something dumb, but was it really? I was pretty upset with him about the high school thing, until he explained it. I could see his side. I could feel what he was going through. Would I have done the same thing? I don't know, I am not a high school boy. But, I don't fault him. Now, they haven't spoken in 15 years, but Kellan needs a favor. Like a HUGE one and the only solution is Nate. Hmmm...
This is where things get confusing for me. I didn't like Nate. Like at all. I never warmed up to him. He's a selfish, self-righteous, grade-A asshole. While, there are some jerks I tend to like, Nate was NOT one of them.
I wanted to bust Nate upside the head more than once. I wanted the book to be over because I hated Nate.
Did I mention I loved Kellan? He was honest and upfront from the start. He made me laugh and I have no idea why he put up with Nate's shit.
I'll probably read Eli's story and see how that goes for me, because I kind of liked him even if I did find him annoying at times.
June 11, 2025
Meeh. Okay, I guess.
The premise sounded really promising but unfortunately this wasn't as good as I thought.
Some of the scenes were good. The interactions between the characters were hilarious but
I just couldn't bring myself to feel anything towards them rather than mild curiosity sometimes and irritation. Kellan was a funny at times, but Nate was too passive. Even Eli was a typical one-denominational character that I couldn't bring myself to care about him.
Also, I didn't believe how Nate forgave Kellan. It was too easy and Kellan didn't redeem himself enough. Hell, by the time he was explaining why he did what he did, Nate didn't want to listen.
Also, The ending was rushed, and unsatisfying. It didn't really bring any conclusion.
Gah, this story is just frustrating because it is missing things all over. I went from being interested in the first 30% of it to rolling my eyes by the time I reached the middle of the book.
So.. *shrugs* I will probably give book 2 a chance, since I heard it is better than this once, but I'm don't have any high expectations.
The premise sounded really promising but unfortunately this wasn't as good as I thought.
Some of the scenes were good. The interactions between the characters were hilarious but
I just couldn't bring myself to feel anything towards them rather than mild curiosity sometimes and irritation. Kellan was a funny at times, but Nate was too passive. Even Eli was a typical one-denominational character that I couldn't bring myself to care about him.
Also, I didn't believe how Nate forgave Kellan. It was too easy and Kellan didn't redeem himself enough. Hell, by the time he was explaining why he did what he did, Nate didn't want to listen.
Also, The ending was rushed, and unsatisfying. It didn't really bring any conclusion.
Gah, this story is just frustrating because it is missing things all over. I went from being interested in the first 30% of it to rolling my eyes by the time I reached the middle of the book.
So.. *shrugs* I will probably give book 2 a chance, since I heard it is better than this once, but I'm don't have any high expectations.
June 9, 2011
3.5 stars. Good m/m romance about two guys who were friends when they were kids, but haven't spoken for years... until one decides to piss off his homophobic father and "go gay". Strangely, he wasn't the person who needed to be smacked in this book.
November 22, 2014
3.5 stars
This book gets bonus points for having my favorite GFY trope, pretend relationship becomes real. The story kept my interest, the sex was hot, and I liked the characters, but I can't say there was anything truly special about it other than it was solidly entertaining for me.
This book gets bonus points for having my favorite GFY trope, pretend relationship becomes real. The story kept my interest, the sex was hot, and I liked the characters, but I can't say there was anything truly special about it other than it was solidly entertaining for me.
January 23, 2022
I’m not sure that I had much sympathy for any of these three characters. All are rebellious. Nate Gray lives a comfortable life. He loves his job giving advice in his column. He’s not looking for a relationship because he’s had disappointment and heartache in the past and is going to make sure that it isn’t going to happens again...ever. Now his friend, Kellan, wants him to be his boyfriend...his FAKE boyfriend. Nate knew this was a bad idea...but when has that ever stopped any of the characters in these books??? Problem is things are changing for both these men. The question is... is Nathan ready to try to take a chance again...and is Kellan only after getting one over on his homophobic father? It’s not a bad book but the very fast evolution of the characters taking place in a very short time (just a couple of months), somehow undermines the credibility of the story...but it is romance and those things, I guess, do happen.
December 31, 2015
This just goes round and round and really ends up nowhere. Why should I care about these two guys? Give me one good reason? Kellan is a loser, but really. He’s like, what, almost 30 and he’s self-centered, a real playboy/skirt chaser, has no skillzzz (not even bo-staff, ok he can play the guitar a bit), his little head does more thinking than his big one, and he still lives on daddy’s dime until he gets kicked out. Nate isn’t much better -- he’s hot for Kellan and gets duped into supporting him. Add them together and it spells... meh, I can feel no chemistry between the two in this friends to enemies to friends tale where I wish they would just get on with it already.
I suppose the ‘bad company’ is the one owned by Kellan’s dad who is the big bad guy here too. He did something really bad to Nate’s family years ago. But we get so little story about why and how except the sense that this could have helped make a better story in the first place. And maybe the title is a play on Kellan’s crashing with Nate -- he’s the proverbial bad houseguest that just won’t go away. Charming.
I’ve been told the 2nd book in this series is much better and since I already own it will give it a try. God grant us tender mercies.
I suppose the ‘bad company’ is the one owned by Kellan’s dad who is the big bad guy here too. He did something really bad to Nate’s family years ago. But we get so little story about why and how except the sense that this could have helped make a better story in the first place. And maybe the title is a play on Kellan’s crashing with Nate -- he’s the proverbial bad houseguest that just won’t go away. Charming.
I’ve been told the 2nd book in this series is much better and since I already own it will give it a try. God grant us tender mercies.
July 10, 2011
I love K.A. Mitchell's stories and writing style and though the style was still fabulous in this book - concise, descriptive scenes, and witty, believable dialogue - I just didn't connect with the characters very much at all.
I also usually really like gay-for-you or friends-to-lovers, but this didn't feel like either of those. The characters weren't fully-developed in my mind and their contradictory behaviours sometimes confused me and pulled me from the story. There were the odd moments where they did have chemistry, where the attraction was believable and didn't seem contrived or fake, but more often than not, I just didn't understand why they were behaving the way they were. Alone, they were interesting characters, but together they just didn't suit how they were acting.
I'm actually having difficulty describing how I felt about Kellan and Nate or the story in general, so I hope I've at least written something partially comprehensible.
I also usually really like gay-for-you or friends-to-lovers, but this didn't feel like either of those. The characters weren't fully-developed in my mind and their contradictory behaviours sometimes confused me and pulled me from the story. There were the odd moments where they did have chemistry, where the attraction was believable and didn't seem contrived or fake, but more often than not, I just didn't understand why they were behaving the way they were. Alone, they were interesting characters, but together they just didn't suit how they were acting.
I'm actually having difficulty describing how I felt about Kellan and Nate or the story in general, so I hope I've at least written something partially comprehensible.
maybe-someday
December 24, 2011Because LA and Yvonne told me not to...
...and I read Bad Boyfriend and do not like Nate and Kellan enough to bother reading their story. Its isn't needed anyway.
I totally recommend Bad Boyfriend (book 2)
...and I read Bad Boyfriend and do not like Nate and Kellan enough to bother reading their story. Its isn't needed anyway.
I totally recommend Bad Boyfriend (book 2)
June 14, 2011
Nothing special to hold my interest, forgettable in fact and the plot didn't work. Both MC's were annoying as hell and grated on my nerves, unlikable. Also it felt like a lot of the story was missing, not sure what happened. Nil chemistry here.
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