Year Two

Would It Be Okay to Love You? #4

by Amy Tasukada

An ex-playboy. A robot geek. Can their love last when the whole world finds out?

Robot fanboy Sato has spent too much time alone hiding the love of his life. But when Sato comes out to his parents, it doesn’t end well. He no longer wants to conceal their relationship, but he doubts his boyfriend is ready.

Aoi might spend all day moaning as an erotic voice actor, but he doubts his legion of fangirls will approve if he comes out. With his career on the line, Aoi feels like Sato has pushed him to the breaking point.

As Sato opens up to more people about his sexuality, can they find a compromise that will make them both happy, or will it be too much for Aoi?

Year Two is the fourth book in the gay romance series Would It Be Okay to Love You? If you like Japanese culture and sizzling romance, you’ll love this year-in-the-life anthology collection.

Buy Year Two to confess your love today!

Genres: M M Romance, LGBT

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2018

About the author

International best-selling author Amy Tasukada writes thrilling times of crime, love, and gore. Readers who crave diverse characters, unique settings, and edge-of-your-seat action will devour her Yakuza Path series. Readers who seek less blood and more love will swoon over the Yakuza Path Romance and Would it Be Okay to Love You? Series. Amy is an atheist, queer author who enjoys drinking tea, Japanese street fashion and visual kei music. Her calico cat, O’Hara, is never far from her side. Amy lives in North Texas, but is always planning her next trip to Japan. Amy is also sought-after speaker for her lectures on author newsletters, writing LGBT+ characters, and cultural proficiency, diversity, and inclusion.

Connect with Amy on...
Youtube
Facebook

Reviews

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Hearts

This continues to be super super sweet, and I’ve elevated my rating because along with the sugar, there’s also some heartfelt feels and a bit of light angst.

Aoi and Sato have come a long long way, and their relationship has moved beyond the initial lust and attraction to something much deeper, something more serious and worthy.

Still adorable, these two have to decide how to move forward, as the question now is how honest and open should they make their relationship in regards to family, friends, and the general public, especially as Aoi gains more and more notoriety by voice acting popular “boy love” manga.

Both are great likeable characters, but Sato is the real standout here. Sturdy and unwavering in his support and love, he just has to win Aoi over in not being afraid to live honestly, and he does this with understanding, kindness, and patience.

Overall, this continues to be a consistent, feel good, cavity inducing look at these two and how they navigate various events and milestones in their lives, where at times, challenging and scary but always with the best intentions and desire to make the other happy! Here’s to many more years for Aoi and Sato to come!

Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a good little series. It's been good to see how Sato and Aoi have grown over the years. Some fears still remain, but things are changing and for the better.

Sato and Aoi have lived together for a bit and Sato has come out to his parents. Things didn't go so well and Aoi feels horrible that Sato has given up his family for him. After losing his own family to their hatred, he doesn't want Sato to go through that. But Sato is tired of hiding and it's time to move on. Aoi just can't do it. Terrified of what people will think or do after what his parents did, he doesn't know how to let go. And Sato in his own little way, is pushing more and more for them to be more open. Aoi just needs to face his fears or possibly lose Sato forever.

It has been a long battle for these two. More and more countries are accepting being gay and gay relationships, but it's still hard and some people are still not accepting. And for Aoi, it's been even harder. Yes, Sato didn't have the best coming out experience with his parents either, but he's old enough to make up his own mind and such. Aoi was kicked out as a teen and the hatred from his parents was heartbreaking. So his fears are somewhat justified. But I can't blame Sato for wanting to move on either. Being in a relationship, you don't want to hide your love. You want to show people and be proud of who and what you are and who you are with. It's a rough dance. But with all the fears Aoi has, I love how Sato calms him. No matter how hurt or upset he may get at times, he knows Aoi is it for him. And he will do all he can to make him happy. And Aoi has to learn to either be selfish and live in fear, or finally trust and move on.

http://lovebytesreviews.com

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Year Two is the fourth book in the series Would it Be Okay to Love You? I love Aoi and Sato, and I was so excited to read about their second year together as a couple. I also loved how much progress Sato's parents have made in accepting who Sato is and his boyfriend, Aoi. I also love getting to learn about Japanese culture and some of the foods that they make like Moshi. This is definitely a great addition to the series. I can't wait to read more about them. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Amy Tasukada]

Watch what writing this book was like.

https://youtu.be/FiBHi3at7B4

[Nica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Year Two continues the love story of Aoi and Sato, so it is not a stand-alone, and the books should be read in order. Presented as a series of vignettes, we get to see Aoi and Sato's domestic life, as well as the conflict between Aoi and Sato's family, after Sato comes out, the continuing struggle Aoi goes through as a closeted man, and the obstacles they have to go through to be happy with themselves and each other. Aoi is not happy that he feels pressured to come out, because his experience as a gay man is vastly different than Sato's, and now that he is becoming much more popular at his job, he is afraid that coming out will bomb his flourishing career. Aoi fears, and rightly so, that in a culture where tradition is so revered and upheld, that his coming out will damage his profession, at which he works very hard, but at the same time, he's also struggling with hurting Sato, because Sato believes that there would be little to no bad consequences for Aoi. He's also having to deal with Atsushi, who continues to harass Aoi at their work. Aoi and Sato face some serious decision making, and their love has to be strong enough to see them through. I liked the book, even though it deals with heavy social themes, it has a light, cheerful tone throughout, and the author presents us with all the favorite yaoi tropes, easily recognizable for those of us who love the genre, like the making of mochi, going to the shrine for New Year, and cherry blossom viewing. I'd describe the book as an homage to all the happy couple tropes found in yaoi, as well as a snapshot of the LGBTQ+ struggle in Japanese culture. It is light on the erotic side of the story, it has a couple of explicit scenes, nothing too outrageous, and I am looking forward to the next installment.

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying reading about Sato and Aoi.

I don't think I've ever read a series quite like this one. Year Two is listed as the fourth book in this series but the first three are available as a boxed set so some might consider it book two. It's made up of a series of short stories, one for each month in year two of Sato and Aoi's relationship. You could probably enjoy Year Two without reading the preceding books but I don't recommend it. I think you really need to read this series from the beginning to fully enjoy Aoi and Sato as a couple.

Year Two deals with Sato and Aoi's relationship after Sato comes out to his parents. Sato's mother didn't react too well to the news and Aoi is upset that he is the cause of a potential riff between Sato and his parents.

There is also quite a bit about Aoi's relationship with Atsushi, his costar in a popular new SIM game. Atsushi is bi and came out a while back. He keeps trying to get Aoi to admit that he's gay and to come out to his fans. He insists that Aoi's fans will be supportive and that he will become even more popular than he is now.

This is a short-ish novella and was a pretty quick read for me. The ending was slightly surprising and while it wasn't really a cliffhanger, I would really like to read more about Sato and Aoi.

I should probably note that I know nothing about Japanese culture or food. There are a lot of references to both in the book that I didn't really understand but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story.

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com*** (posting on 09/10/18)

[Mari Cardenas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Would It Be Okay to Love You? Year Two is the continuation to the series of the same name and it follows Aoi and Sato's relationship, so I suggest reading it in order or you'll be lost.

Now that Sato has come out to his parents, he's insisting that Aoi does the same, although after how spectacularly that backfired for him when he came out to his parents (they threw him out of their house), Aoi isn't sure if it's a risk he's willing to take.

I adore Sato, he's such a lovely, supporting and sweet character. Aoi is a bit on the pricklier side, but still lovable. I saw a lot of growth in Aoi this time around. It was nice seeing him work through his issues to move forward and give Sato what he wants. They have great chemistry and I love them together.

I also loved seeing Sato's mom making so much of an effort in accepting Aoi. I can't say I loved Michiko, Sato's sister, as much here, the gift she got Sato for his birthday was too inappropriate for the setting.

Anyway, I continue to enjoy Aoi and Sato's adventures and I hope Ms. Tasukada will continue writing them in the future.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Two barfriend bunnies still make a family."
It has been a real pleasure to follow Sato and Aoi from their first unlikely meeting through to their establishing themselves as a couple despite Sato's parental opposition. Aoi had been hurt before when, as a teenager, his parents had thrown him out on learning of his sexual orientation. So he was very much afraid of coming out anywhere else, as his partner wants, and with his increasing fame as a voice actor, struggles with his fears of rejection.
Again, beautifully and sensitivity written, the book takes us month by month through Aoi and Sato's changing relationship, highlighting not just the lives of the two young men but also aspects of Japanese society.

I was very fortunate in being freely gifted a copy of Year Two, by the author, Amy Tasukada. Thank you so much. I have enjoyed this series from the beginning and very much hope that the relationship continues into year three.

[DeeAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Sato & Aoi - Love and Gay Identity in Japan

I really like Sato and Aoi from the previous books, and things were left on somewhat of a cliff-hanger at the end of Book 3, so I was very happy that Book 4 was published. I rated this book five stars because I thought that it was well-written and enjoyable.

I like that Sato, the accountant, and Aoi, the voice-actor, are each having to grapple with coming out issues and having their love grow and be tested by these challenges. I love that the book is set in Japan with the customs and celebrations as a backdrop. Since the book did end on another cliff-hanger with a preview of exciting things to come, I am really looking forward to the next book.

I think that this book would be appreciated by anyone who likes light gay romance with only a little explicit sex. Best if read in order from the start of the series.

[Susan Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would It Be OK to Love You? Year Two by Amy Tasukada is a worthy sequel to Year One. The book again follows Aoi and Sato through twelve months of career issues and family issues. I first got exposed to Japanese popular culture through reading Gundam fiction, moving on to manga, and then anime, so I enjoy both Sato’s hobby and Aoi’s job. Tasukada’s books make this world more personal and highlight the attitudes in Japan toward LGBT issues. Year Two demonstrates Japan is making progress and leaves the reader with the optimistic belief Aoi and Sato can make their relationship last. A fun and worthwhile read.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable book to read with strong characters and a wonderful story line. I am so glad I read this story can't wait to see what the author will write next. This is my honest and unbias opinion of the story.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story of Love and support and forgiveness.

[MLL · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Aoi and Sato. More please.