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Married Ones
It's the summer break, and for the first time in his life, Mike would rather stay in the bloody classroom.
It's wedding season, and Mike is doomed to spend all summer sipping cheap champagne and pretending he likes tiny portions of posh food. From the passive-aggressive torment of Mike's mother-in-law to the insulting incredulity of his colleagues over what his mysterious husband actually looks like, Mike would voluntarily teach sex education to fourteen-year-olds for the rest of his life if it would only get him out of one more wedding. Even his husband in a kilt isn't going to save this one.
But there's nothing like watching someone else get hitched to remind him of where he's come from ... and where he's determined to go from here.
It's wedding season, and Mike is doomed to spend all summer sipping cheap champagne and pretending he likes tiny portions of posh food. From the passive-aggressive torment of Mike's mother-in-law to the insulting incredulity of his colleagues over what his mysterious husband actually looks like, Mike would voluntarily teach sex education to fourteen-year-olds for the rest of his life if it would only get him out of one more wedding. Even his husband in a kilt isn't going to save this one.
But there's nothing like watching someone else get hitched to remind him of where he's come from ... and where he's determined to go from here.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2018
3 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Matthew J. Metzger
33 books351 followersMatthew is an asexual, transgender author from the wet and windy British Isles.
Matt writes LGBT novels, both adult and young adult, and particularly enjoys digging into the weird and wonderful diversity of people all across the sexuality and gender spectrums. When not writing, Matt is usually asleep, or crunching numbers at his day job. Free time is not really a concept here.
He is also owned by an enormous black cat. Approach with caution.
Matt writes LGBT novels, both adult and young adult, and particularly enjoys digging into the weird and wonderful diversity of people all across the sexuality and gender spectrums. When not writing, Matt is usually asleep, or crunching numbers at his day job. Free time is not really a concept here.
He is also owned by an enormous black cat. Approach with caution.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 24, 2018
Very few authors write authentic characters the way Matthew Metzger does. I open each of his books eager for the dialogue, the internal thoughts and attitudes, that ring true and real and fun and resonant, without manufactured angst. I don't read his blurbs anymore, because I want to experience the books the way he wrote them, without hints. This is another wonderful story.
This is not a romance, in the sense that it's an established couple. Mike and Stephen have been together for nine years, married for four. They are spending an unseasonably hot UK summer going to a spate of weddings, from the stiff, mannered affair of Stephen's twin sister amid his very disapproving family, to the warm, casual one of Mike's mother's second marriage. As they move through the iterations of love and romance for people around them, they're waiting on an event they hope will change their lives.
Mike calls himself a grumpy fat git, without apology or regrets. He calls Stephen a more grumpy thin git. They bicker and insult each other, and claim the other is only good for sex, or as a foot warmer on cold nights. Both teachers, they each deride the other's specialty, and tastes in leisure activities. But under the banter there is no doubt this relationship is rock solid. The barbs don't hurt (even when the same thing coming from someone without the love can. Mike resents people looking at him and gorgeous Stephen and wondering what a man like that sees in someone like Mike.) There is plenty of heat and need and love between them, wrapped in day to day casual affection.
The little hints about gender identity layer through the story, the situation clear without ever being laid out and detailed. We don't need to know details. They are none of our business. What we see is what we get, Stephen and Mike and how they are together. Which is amazing. These guys are awesome together.
I get a lot from Matthew's books- new slang, new insights, moments of fun and moments of grace. He's an autobuy author for me, in all his iterations from the YA of Spy Stuff to the contemporary of What It Looks Like to the tough BDSM of Sex in C Major. I often get more from his books than I expected, and that's saying a lot.
This is not a romance, in the sense that it's an established couple. Mike and Stephen have been together for nine years, married for four. They are spending an unseasonably hot UK summer going to a spate of weddings, from the stiff, mannered affair of Stephen's twin sister amid his very disapproving family, to the warm, casual one of Mike's mother's second marriage. As they move through the iterations of love and romance for people around them, they're waiting on an event they hope will change their lives.
Mike calls himself a grumpy fat git, without apology or regrets. He calls Stephen a more grumpy thin git. They bicker and insult each other, and claim the other is only good for sex, or as a foot warmer on cold nights. Both teachers, they each deride the other's specialty, and tastes in leisure activities. But under the banter there is no doubt this relationship is rock solid. The barbs don't hurt (even when the same thing coming from someone without the love can. Mike resents people looking at him and gorgeous Stephen and wondering what a man like that sees in someone like Mike.) There is plenty of heat and need and love between them, wrapped in day to day casual affection.
The little hints about gender identity layer through the story, the situation clear without ever being laid out and detailed. We don't need to know details. They are none of our business. What we see is what we get, Stephen and Mike and how they are together. Which is amazing. These guys are awesome together.
I get a lot from Matthew's books- new slang, new insights, moments of fun and moments of grace. He's an autobuy author for me, in all his iterations from the YA of Spy Stuff to the contemporary of What It Looks Like to the tough BDSM of Sex in C Major. I often get more from his books than I expected, and that's saying a lot.
November 8, 2018
Mike and Stephen are two teachers and they’ve been together for nine years, and married for four of those nine years, when the book begins. Between friends and family, they have six weddings to attend over the course of summer break and this is the story of those few weeks of their life.
Married Ones has all the characteristics that made me love the other two Metzger books I’ve read so far: down-to-earth characters with a unique voice, real life problems and a realistic portrait of human relationships.
Technically, I don’t think this is a “real” romance, since the MCs are already together, but there’s definitely a love story. It’s a slice of life together after the happy ending. Mike and Stephen are a settled and solid couple, still very much in love with each other after almost a decade together and there’s no conflict to speak of, the story in itself is pretty low-key.
There’s something happening under the surface of everyday life during an unusually busy summer break, though. I think you could say that’s the real “plot” and it was well done, perfectly interwoven with the slow revelation of all the various pieces of Mike and Stephen’s life.
My only problem is that that “something” is something I’ve no interest in reading about. Mike and Stephen
It starts with subtle hints until the last part of the book, when the issue takes pretty much central stage. Although I can appreciate how well executed it all was (), I couldn’t really relate, so I was kind of underwhelmed and left me with a smile of happiness for them and a sense of “wait, this is it? where’s my book?” for myself.
Don’t mind me, the book is lovely, I just missed the gene when they were distributing them.
Married Ones has all the characteristics that made me love the other two Metzger books I’ve read so far: down-to-earth characters with a unique voice, real life problems and a realistic portrait of human relationships.
Technically, I don’t think this is a “real” romance, since the MCs are already together, but there’s definitely a love story. It’s a slice of life together after the happy ending. Mike and Stephen are a settled and solid couple, still very much in love with each other after almost a decade together and there’s no conflict to speak of, the story in itself is pretty low-key.
There’s something happening under the surface of everyday life during an unusually busy summer break, though. I think you could say that’s the real “plot” and it was well done, perfectly interwoven with the slow revelation of all the various pieces of Mike and Stephen’s life.
My only problem is that that “something” is something I’ve no interest in reading about. Mike and Stephen
It starts with subtle hints until the last part of the book, when the issue takes pretty much central stage. Although I can appreciate how well executed it all was (), I couldn’t really relate, so I was kind of underwhelmed and left me with a smile of happiness for them and a sense of “wait, this is it? where’s my book?” for myself.
Don’t mind me, the book is lovely, I just missed the gene when they were distributing them.
May 17, 2019
This was a short quick read that I liked. Mike and Stephen have been together for nine years married for four. When they find themselves facing a summer with six weddings to attend between their various family, friends, and colleagues. Mike starts thinking about their relationship their families and the family they want to create together. This was a good love story they had good friends and the banter between them was funny. This was my first time reading this author. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
August 15, 2018
I don't usually like books about couples that are already together for a long time because those books tend to be "love on the rocks" romances.
This is a the second book I have read by Matthew J. Metzger that really creates a new sub genre in romance and does it so well... the couple is together but entering a new phase in their lives and we see them deepen their love or that love evolve. We see that love glow.
As a long partnered person, I adore this idea. My love story has many different phases and while stretches of time have been rocky more have been these kinds of time periods where the love between us grows and deepens because we really respect and like each other as well as feel we are each other safe place and are simply happy together. So, yeah. Very good stuff.
This romance between Stephen and Mike is luminous and full of the long days of marriage and summer. They are funny and the bather is awesome. I love that Mike isn't fit and Stephen is but that Stephen is very grumpy.
And the love beams between them. The circle of friends is great as the fact that they are both teachers.
Such a witty lovely romance with the happily ever more.
If we had Stephen's point of view it would have been a five star for me but as it is the romance is a glorious read.
This is a the second book I have read by Matthew J. Metzger that really creates a new sub genre in romance and does it so well... the couple is together but entering a new phase in their lives and we see them deepen their love or that love evolve. We see that love glow.
As a long partnered person, I adore this idea. My love story has many different phases and while stretches of time have been rocky more have been these kinds of time periods where the love between us grows and deepens because we really respect and like each other as well as feel we are each other safe place and are simply happy together. So, yeah. Very good stuff.
This romance between Stephen and Mike is luminous and full of the long days of marriage and summer. They are funny and the bather is awesome. I love that Mike isn't fit and Stephen is but that Stephen is very grumpy.
And the love beams between them. The circle of friends is great as the fact that they are both teachers.
Such a witty lovely romance with the happily ever more.
If we had Stephen's point of view it would have been a five star for me but as it is the romance is a glorious read.
June 26, 2023
The good
+ Mike punching Stephen's father in the face
+ Stephen accidentally throwing his wine in his father's face
The neutral
o Browsing through this author's repertoire has shown me that he has a tendency to use the same names over and over again. One of those names is Ryan. This book also had two mentions of the name Ryan, both referring to different characters. I know people often have the same name as someone else in real life, but I don't want to be confused when reading a book
o I know Mike and Stephen really want kids, but I think Mike would be a terrible parent
The bad
- Mike was a teacher who bullied his students. Saying "Don't fidget, boy, you look like you have piles" makes the whole class laugh at them and could haunt a student for a long time
- Mike told his colleagues he was not LGBT. This confused me, since he had a husband, but people can have any label they want. However, I have since read more books by this author, and now have a very strong suspicion that what Mike actually meant was that he's heterosexual because Stephen is trans and AFAB... Which is really fucking shitty and transphobic
- When their friend Jez asked for relationship advice because his fiancée was apparently acting unreasonably and like a bridezilla, Mike told him to "put up with it or get out. She'll only be worse when you get her pregnant."
- Jez apparently threatened to marry his bride's chief bridesmaid. Mike says, "What, Milly? Has Jez seen Milly? Sodding hell, that's desperate." Judging someone solely for their looks is asshole behavior in general, but it's also hypocritical of Mike specifically because he's really offended whenever someone deems him not good enough for Stephen because he's fat
I thought Stephen was a nice man and a saint for putting up with Mike. I thought Mike was an asshole. The extra star is for punching Stephen's father in the face, but the rest of the book fell flat thanks to Mike's hypocrisy, misogyny and generally awful behavior.
+ Mike punching Stephen's father in the face
+ Stephen accidentally throwing his wine in his father's face
The neutral
o Browsing through this author's repertoire has shown me that he has a tendency to use the same names over and over again. One of those names is Ryan. This book also had two mentions of the name Ryan, both referring to different characters. I know people often have the same name as someone else in real life, but I don't want to be confused when reading a book
o I know Mike and Stephen really want kids, but I think Mike would be a terrible parent
The bad
- Mike was a teacher who bullied his students. Saying "Don't fidget, boy, you look like you have piles" makes the whole class laugh at them and could haunt a student for a long time
- Mike told his colleagues he was not LGBT. This confused me, since he had a husband, but people can have any label they want. However, I have since read more books by this author, and now have a very strong suspicion that what Mike actually meant was that he's heterosexual because Stephen is trans and AFAB... Which is really fucking shitty and transphobic
- When their friend Jez asked for relationship advice because his fiancée was apparently acting unreasonably and like a bridezilla, Mike told him to "put up with it or get out. She'll only be worse when you get her pregnant."
- Jez apparently threatened to marry his bride's chief bridesmaid. Mike says, "What, Milly? Has Jez seen Milly? Sodding hell, that's desperate." Judging someone solely for their looks is asshole behavior in general, but it's also hypocritical of Mike specifically because he's really offended whenever someone deems him not good enough for Stephen because he's fat
I thought Stephen was a nice man and a saint for putting up with Mike. I thought Mike was an asshole. The extra star is for punching Stephen's father in the face, but the rest of the book fell flat thanks to Mike's hypocrisy, misogyny and generally awful behavior.
May 23, 2020
4.5 stars
I loved this. This is the second established relationship story I've read by Matthew Metzger, and he's very good at them.
Mike and Stephen have been together for nine years, been married for four and find themselves heading into a summer break (both are teachers) with six weddings to attend -- four immediate family members and two close friends. And holy shit, shoot me now -- I definitely fall into Mike and Stephen's "grumpy git" category, so this would also be my nightmare scenario!!
But the wedding theme lends itself well to the established couple theme because it makes it very natural for Mike to reminisce about various aspects of his and Stephen's relationship.
Metzger's just so good at creating these vivid characters and relationships and grounding them in the tiny details of day-to-day reality, and these two are loving and funny and grumpy as hell together.
Metzger writes YA and adult fiction, some with trans MCs, some without, but I have yet to read one of his adult fiction books with a trans MC that I didn't love. (Ok, well...Sex in C Major is a unique beast, but still extremely powerful storytelling in its own way.)
I wouldn't make this my first one, though, unless you're familiar with the nuances of the trans experience. (Metzger's What It Looks Like would probably work well as an entry point -- if throwing in some occasional, relatively mild BDSM isn't going to cause you any problems -- and is my favorite of his so far. This is a close second, but I've read a lot of excellent books with characters experiencing various issues with body dysphoria in the last few months, and I think that highly enhanced my experience with this one.)
This is written single POV from the non-trans MC, so I think you'll miss a lot of the nuances of the story if you haven't experienced a quality trans POV before.
It's not *about* being trans, but that part of Stephen's history plays a major role in the interaction with his family, especially at the wedding of his twin sister, and with some general life decisions they are making, and the little details are what elevates this from good to great.
I loved this. This is the second established relationship story I've read by Matthew Metzger, and he's very good at them.
Mike and Stephen have been together for nine years, been married for four and find themselves heading into a summer break (both are teachers) with six weddings to attend -- four immediate family members and two close friends. And holy shit, shoot me now -- I definitely fall into Mike and Stephen's "grumpy git" category, so this would also be my nightmare scenario!!
But the wedding theme lends itself well to the established couple theme because it makes it very natural for Mike to reminisce about various aspects of his and Stephen's relationship.
Metzger's just so good at creating these vivid characters and relationships and grounding them in the tiny details of day-to-day reality, and these two are loving and funny and grumpy as hell together.
Metzger writes YA and adult fiction, some with trans MCs, some without, but I have yet to read one of his adult fiction books with a trans MC that I didn't love. (Ok, well...Sex in C Major is a unique beast, but still extremely powerful storytelling in its own way.)
I wouldn't make this my first one, though, unless you're familiar with the nuances of the trans experience. (Metzger's What It Looks Like would probably work well as an entry point -- if throwing in some occasional, relatively mild BDSM isn't going to cause you any problems -- and is my favorite of his so far. This is a close second, but I've read a lot of excellent books with characters experiencing various issues with body dysphoria in the last few months, and I think that highly enhanced my experience with this one.)
This is written single POV from the non-trans MC, so I think you'll miss a lot of the nuances of the story if you haven't experienced a quality trans POV before.
It's not *about* being trans, but that part of Stephen's history plays a major role in the interaction with his family, especially at the wedding of his twin sister, and with some general life decisions they are making, and the little details are what elevates this from good to great.
September 27, 2018
Mike is a heavyset guy in love with his husband, Stephan, and hoping to add to their family. Their relationship is made up of snarking and barbs but underneath it the foundation is solid. Stephan comes from a snobby, wealthy background and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why he gave that family (other than the incredible Aunt Alicia) two seconds of his time. Of course, Mike's reaction to Stephan's fathers's comments at Stephan's sister's wedding was epic. Loved that (and Aunt Alicia's response). Mike's family makes up for it with unconditional love. I was curious at one point as to why Mike says he wouldn't be a good choice to run the GSA at the school where he teaches because "Well, I'm not LGBT." Umm, what?
September 11, 2018
This is my second foray into a Matthew J Metzger book. One that I’m honestly quite torn about. The first book was Eric the Pink which was so sweet! This one...made me feel like I got thrown into the middle of the book with no one willing to tell me how I got there.
I usually love British authors and their sense of humour. But I felt like I couldn’t keep up here. Stephen and Mike were literally like old married couples, bickering and name calling more often than not. And it threw me for a loop because while I didn’t expect sappy, I also didn’t expect half the things they called each other.
Now that I think about it, serves me right for complaining in my last book review that I prefer more realism in my romance fiction novels. Because it doesn’t get more real than this! 😂 this is exactly how married couples behave most of the time, I have to admit.
That said, I would prefer my romance novels to have some level of romance. This...wasn’t quite it. More ribbing and name calling but well, of course still tender because we actually do see how they handle each other’s bad days, bad tempers, etc etc. And it’s lovely to actually know someone so well and so intimately that you instantly know what to do or not to do.
Well, a well written book, even if I felt like I was floundering most of the time. In this case, it’s more of a, it’s me not you scenario. 3.5 stars!
I usually love British authors and their sense of humour. But I felt like I couldn’t keep up here. Stephen and Mike were literally like old married couples, bickering and name calling more often than not. And it threw me for a loop because while I didn’t expect sappy, I also didn’t expect half the things they called each other.
Now that I think about it, serves me right for complaining in my last book review that I prefer more realism in my romance fiction novels. Because it doesn’t get more real than this! 😂 this is exactly how married couples behave most of the time, I have to admit.
That said, I would prefer my romance novels to have some level of romance. This...wasn’t quite it. More ribbing and name calling but well, of course still tender because we actually do see how they handle each other’s bad days, bad tempers, etc etc. And it’s lovely to actually know someone so well and so intimately that you instantly know what to do or not to do.
Well, a well written book, even if I felt like I was floundering most of the time. In this case, it’s more of a, it’s me not you scenario. 3.5 stars!
September 29, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Matthew J. Metzger is admittedly one of my go to authors. I have read much of his work and have often been a bit awe-struck at his innate ability to delve deeply into the psyche of his ofttimes wounded characters and bring them to life. Many of his novels can be described as gritty—unapologetically realistic and tending to touch on subject matters that can make the reader uncomfortable with their raw look at intimate feelings. However, this latest novel, Married Ones, is a horse of a different color and I have to say it was simply beautiful and left me a bit misty eyed in a very good way.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Matthew J. Metzger is admittedly one of my go to authors. I have read much of his work and have often been a bit awe-struck at his innate ability to delve deeply into the psyche of his ofttimes wounded characters and bring them to life. Many of his novels can be described as gritty—unapologetically realistic and tending to touch on subject matters that can make the reader uncomfortable with their raw look at intimate feelings. However, this latest novel, Married Ones, is a horse of a different color and I have to say it was simply beautiful and left me a bit misty eyed in a very good way.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
August 9, 2018
Set over the course of a summer, this book focuses on the lives of Mike and Stephen as they enjoy their summer vacation (they are both teachers) by attending the many weddings of their friends, family, and relations that they wish they were not actually related to. And in between the ups and downs of said weddings, Mike and Stephen reflect on their own married lives and what might come next for them in the future.
Well, if I thought that Metzger’s last book was sweet and fluffy, this is fucking cotton candy. Mike and Stephen are both grumpy sarcastic gits, but they love each other for it, and I couldn’t help but be utterly sold on them and this story. There is certainly stuff going on under the surface of this story, but it has a very summer feel to it. It goes at its own pace, doesn’t get too angsty or deep, and just pulls you along for the ride. And that deeper stuff adds just enough weight to the story so that you care about these two. You want things to work out for them, whatever form that takes, and when the solution comes by the final chapter you are left feeling satisfied and happy.
I just really enjoyed this, ok? Sometimes I like the stories that dig into life’s darker facets, but with all the ups and downs I’ve gone thru this week, it was nice to have this book to wrap around me and get lost in. It doesn’t ask a lot of the reader, only that they be willing to hear a good story. And a good story is exactly what it is.
It is also a very good companion piece to Metzger’s other recent release, Erik the Pink. They are not related to each other in their story or characters, but in theme they are a very compatible. Two couples with two different looks at pregnancy from opposite ends, they bookend each other very nicely.
There really isn’t much to complain about in this story. It doesn’t set the bar in a lot of ways, but I never felt like that is what it was going after. It is a very good story, with two very engaging characters, utterly comfortable in who and what they are. If you are looking for a book to help you mellow out and relax I can totally recommend you add this one to the list.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Well, if I thought that Metzger’s last book was sweet and fluffy, this is fucking cotton candy. Mike and Stephen are both grumpy sarcastic gits, but they love each other for it, and I couldn’t help but be utterly sold on them and this story. There is certainly stuff going on under the surface of this story, but it has a very summer feel to it. It goes at its own pace, doesn’t get too angsty or deep, and just pulls you along for the ride. And that deeper stuff adds just enough weight to the story so that you care about these two. You want things to work out for them, whatever form that takes, and when the solution comes by the final chapter you are left feeling satisfied and happy.
I just really enjoyed this, ok? Sometimes I like the stories that dig into life’s darker facets, but with all the ups and downs I’ve gone thru this week, it was nice to have this book to wrap around me and get lost in. It doesn’t ask a lot of the reader, only that they be willing to hear a good story. And a good story is exactly what it is.
It is also a very good companion piece to Metzger’s other recent release, Erik the Pink. They are not related to each other in their story or characters, but in theme they are a very compatible. Two couples with two different looks at pregnancy from opposite ends, they bookend each other very nicely.
There really isn’t much to complain about in this story. It doesn’t set the bar in a lot of ways, but I never felt like that is what it was going after. It is a very good story, with two very engaging characters, utterly comfortable in who and what they are. If you are looking for a book to help you mellow out and relax I can totally recommend you add this one to the list.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
November 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this even though it was full of fucking weddings. At least it wasn’t Christmas.
The guys are great, and there are lots of fun characters living their lives and eating dreadful food.
Honestly, I might have to shoot up on an NR Walker to recover.
The guys are great, and there are lots of fun characters living their lives and eating dreadful food.
Honestly, I might have to shoot up on an NR Walker to recover.
October 3, 2018
I really liked this story, it would have been even better without my feeling as if I was missing something important, something I should know or something I should have been told. So, while reading there was always this niggle in the back of my mind - what am I missing?
May 16, 2023
I really liked this book. It was something different than the usual boy meets boy, they fall in love, this is how it started. We see the lives of an already married couple, that has been together for almost a decade. We see glimpses of their lives during a summer full of weddings. Their ups and downs, relationships with family and friend, how their relationship developed and evolved, how they banter like crazy but still love each other just as much. We see them struggle and we see them support each other.
I absolutely loved both MCs. They were sweet and funny and grumpy and still in love.
I am so happy to have found this book.
I absolutely loved both MCs. They were sweet and funny and grumpy and still in love.
I am so happy to have found this book.
March 16, 2020
This book made me smile so much, I actually can't stop smiling even as I write this review. There's just something about this type of couple that gets to me. The type that bicker, and banter and fight but still stick together and love one another unconditionally, no holds barred. Reading this book felt more like getting to be a part of their journey than simply reading about fictional characters. It made me optimistic about the future and made me fall a bit in love with love itself.
June 2, 2020
I love Matthew J Metzger's books, his characters and the style of writing. All his books I have read belong to my favourites section. And this story is also just perfect.
Its about an established British couple; their struggles, family drama and their underlying love and affection. I am not going into the details, you have to read it to get the full effect. Its a shorter read compared to Matthew's other books.
Recommended read
Its about an established British couple; their struggles, family drama and their underlying love and affection. I am not going into the details, you have to read it to get the full effect. Its a shorter read compared to Matthew's other books.
Recommended read
October 5, 2018
This was a sweet clever story. I enjoyed Mike and Stephen's relationship and it was comforting having a couple really teasing each other and not only being this overly sweet to each other. I know I'm not like that. As English is not my mother tongue, it was sometimes difficult to understand the UK (?) turns of phrase but I wouldn't change it for anything since it gave the story more authenticity.
September 10, 2018
Mike and Stephen have friends and family who get married over the course of a summer. We learn more about Mike and Stephen as the book progresses.
May 16, 2019
I'm a bit confused, I feel I've missed something. Really enjoyed the writing and the humour though.
June 27, 2020
3.5*
November 26, 2020
Outside MJM’s usual heavy kink but written with his unique style and a great insight into MC’s personalities - though more sweet, than sexy.
November 16, 2021
I wish some of his book featured adoption instead.
September 23, 2018
Meh. I think we need more stories like this - the story of a gay couple trying to make a family - but I found this one to be so low conflict and the chemistry between the h/h so low key that I wasn’t very engaged. It reads like a prequel of sorts to Erik the Pink, another low conflict story that I found very compelling.
February 14, 2026
A fairly quick and easy to read story - we see established couple Mike and Stephen going through some fairly tough emotional times, all told with the back drop of a series of weddings they are invited to, but don’t always attend. Through these events we get Mike reminiscing about their wedding and we get information about the issues the guys are going through to have a family of their own.
Once again, MJM writes down to earth characters that are relateable. Whilst on the surface the story is quite simple, it was my thoughts about the issues that gradually come to light that was the most rewarding part of the book.
Once again, MJM writes down to earth characters that are relateable. Whilst on the surface the story is quite simple, it was my thoughts about the issues that gradually come to light that was the most rewarding part of the book.
June 17, 2020
I enjoyed this well enough, it felt like fresh air reading this the dialogue was easy and the characters funny. (great to read while listening to britney spears)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews