Blueprint

Rules of Possession #1

by S.E. Harmon

Kelly Cannon è soddisfatto della sua vita. Ha degli amici, una famiglia fantastica e un buon lavoro. La sua vita amorosa, però, fa davvero pietà. E per quale motivo? Perché il suo cuore ha deciso di infrangere due regole importanti: non innamorarsi di un etero e soprattutto non innamorarsi del proprio migliore amico.
Il campione di football Britton “Blue” Montgomery è sotto pressione. Suo padre è interessato solo alla sua carriera di giocatore. I suoi allenatori vogliono che giochi senza infortunarsi di nuovo. E poi ci sono i tifosi, il suo agente e infine sua madre, che è ricomparsa dopo aver lasciato la famiglia anni prima. Come se non bastasse, il suo rapporto con Kelly si fa sempre più incerto, e questo lo spaventa più di qualsiasi altra cosa.
Quando Kelly ammette di essere innamorato di lui, il loro legame è messo alla prova, e Blue deve decidere cosa conta davvero. Non vuole perdere la persona più importante della sua vita, ma il prezzo per tenere Kelly al suo fianco potrebbe essere più alto di quanto lui sia disposto a pagare.
Per fortuna, il suo soprannome in campo è Blueprint, il Prototipo: è l’unico che potrà cambiare le regole del gioco.

Genres: M M Romance, Sports, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Contemporary, Sports Romance, Audiobook

267 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2018

About the author

S.E. Harmon has had a lifelong love affair with writing. It's been both wonderful and rocky (they've divorced several times), but they always manage to come back together. She's a native Floridian with a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters in Fine Arts, and used to spend her time writing educational grants. She now splits her days between voraciously reading romance novels and squirreling away someplace to write them. Her current beta reader is a nosy American Eskimo who begrudgingly accepts payment in the form of dog biscuits.
http://seharmon.weebly.com/

Reviews

[Snjez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Kelly. He is an amazing character and I loved reading his POV. So witty and snarky. All my stars go to him.

As for Blue, I didn't appreciate the way he treated Kelly. He was selfish and inconsiderate.

**********
Re-read 11/2018
Re-read via audio 9/2019: Loved the audiobook. Although the voices for Kelly and Blue were not exactly what I imagined reading the book myself, I think that both narrators did a fantastic job. I enjoyed the story even more than the first two times.
Re-read 5/2021: Still one of my favourite couples. 😊
Re-read 6/2023

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Blueprint gets a THUMBS UP for:

- Best friends to lovers (I never get tired of this trope!)

- Sexual discovery 101 (Blue knows he's not the straight arrow he appears to be, and whom better to ask for a gay trial run than his best friend?)

- Banter and more banter (These two have known each other for eons, and it shows in their easy conversations filled with inside jokes and casual snark.)

- Opposites attract (Blue is a cocky, self-assured athlete; Kelly is ... not.)

- Fun twist on the OFY trope (Blue doesn't go all drama-llama; yeah, he's worried about what others will think if he embraces his gay side and he waffles on whether he's bi or not like every other hour, but he doesn't get all weird and angsty. If anything, he's too laidback and takes Kelly for granted.)

So it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt; THUMBS down because:

- Blue is kind of an arse when Kelly admits that the "experiment" is more to him that just sex.



Blue thinks only about what HE wants. His epiphany is triggered by jealousy and a talking to from one of his friends, which, FINE, we all get places on our own terms. But I wanted Blue to delve deeper.

- The steam was just so-so. For a gay virgin and a whole lot of UST, the steamy scenes were really tame; they weren't fade-to-black exactly, but they were truncated and perfunctory. I needed way more sexy for the OFY angle to feel real.

- The ending kind of sucked, and surprisingly it wasn't Blue's fault. It was Kelly's. I don't even get where Kelly was coming from in trying to, what . . . PROTECT Blue?



Blue didn't need protecting. He's a grownass man with his own damn mind, and he strung Kelly along like, enough already; let the man do his thing before he flip-flops yet again. I didn't really trust Blue to stand by his decision, so the ending didn't feel like much of a HEA.

S.E. Harmon just doesn't write good endings; correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think she's ever written an epilogue.

The ending made me really cranky, and cranky is not the new black.

[Candy M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐ 2.3 "toxic as hell, and not even the entertaining kind" stars ⭐

Yet another attempt of mine at catching up with popular books in the genre, and yet another personal disappointment. At this point, I'm sensing a pattern.

In my defense…


It just wasn’t for me. At all.

******************************

Call my taste messed-up, but I actually decided to pick this one up after reading a low-rated review that stated how unhealthy the relationship was. I love those dynamics! (in fiction only, of course) Give me codependent, obsessive, and possessive love any day of the week indeed.

Where did things go wrong then, when it seemingly had all the right ingredients for me?

Let’s just put it this way, this series might be called Rules of Possession, but in my humble opinion Rules of Entitlement would be much more fitting. And when I say entitlement, I mean the MC Blue's immature ways more specifically. Who I went from being slightly amused by, to irritated, and lastly an status of enraged that might have earned me a coronary in my near future.

Therefore, honoring my considerable dislike, I've decided to divide this review in a different manner than my usual one.By separating the Positives on one section, and The Chronicles of Blue’s Foolishness on the other.


THE POSITIVES

— KELLY.

Loved him. He was endlessly witty, loyal to a fault, and the kind of friend who would help you hide a dead body without asking any questions. Someone I couldn’t help but empathize with every step of the way.

Yet you know how everyone has that one pal, regardless of gender, who is always jumping on and off with an ex that everyone knows is trouble?

Well, that’s also Kelly. I do think, however, that me caring so deeply for him was also a testament to how well his character was constructed. While reading, I somehow ended up developing a parasocial friendship with this fictional character. Go figure.

My two little pieces of advice to my (nonexistent) friend Kelly?



And…


That is all.

Marching forward…

— BACKGROUND CHARACTERS.

Am I straining to find highlights so my review doesn’t come off as too negative? Perhaps. Regardless, it’s true that I considered the cast of characters to be a lovable bunch. From Kelly’s incredibly supportive and frankly hilarious family to his protective and insightful friends. Both of whom were there having his back every step of the way.

👇 Summing up my experience with the book (and its characters) 👇

Me with Kelly, his family and friends:



Me with Blue everyone else:



Let’s keep it going though...


— THE CHRONICLES OF BLUE’S FOOLISHNESS.

He might be a 6′ 4″ wall of muscle, but if I were to magically insert myself into the book… I’d still find a way to beat his ass. With a club, paddle, barbed wire-enhanced bat called Lucille, etc.

But I can hear you all wondering how my rather extreme dislike came to be (especially after I said on one of my early updates how I didn’t exactly loathe him), so below you can find out:

🚨
🚨
🚨

WARNING: Spoilers Ahead.

🚨
🚨
🚨

➟ Page 76: Blue jacks it to Kelly recounting his sexual experiences while each of them are laying on a bunk bed, with his friend being completely unaware of it. After the events, he proceeds to say how super uber straight he is.

➟ Page 115: After their first knowing sexual encounter (K gave him a handjob), Blue states how he could never see himself reciprocating. Of course his stance changed, because this is a romance novel, but the pillow princess talk got on my nerves regardless.

➟ Page 119: While talking about Kelly potentially dating another footballer, he states “A lot of them are unstable, aggressive on and off the field, and entitled.” The way he was describing himself to a T…


This is when my first symptoms of “let’s meet up in an Arby’s parking lot and settle this for once” started manifesting.

➟ Page 142: Blue stands Kelly up on one of their weekly scheduled hang-outs, only to hook up with a random woman at a party while fantasizing about his aforementioned best friend. And insisting he was still fully straight throughout the encounter. Considering we were almost past the halfway point, it was getting old.

@ Blue:



➟ Page 150: goes back to K’s apartment completely wasted and decides to initiate another meeting of the flesh. This is the second time he pulls the moves while drunk, making Kelly feel like he is not worthy of being approached sober. A dirty secret to be had at the dead of night, if you will.

In K’s later words:

“Without the alcohol fueling him, Blue was perfectly all right with just being friends. That was just that. And to hell with how it made me feel.”

If y’all hear any rattling, it’s me getting my knives 🔪🔪🔪 Look the other way and we’re good.

➟ Page 173: when he notices K is pulling back (after B rejected him yet again once the sex was done), Blue’s immediate reaction is telling him that he is “willing to put up” with Kelly’s advances as long as the other doesn’t freeze him out of his life. Pretty much implying that any future sexual encounters or interactions would be charity on his part and solely on K’s behalf.


The mood at the moment.

➟ Page 183: Tries to guilt-trip K so he won’t go on a date. Despite B also explicitly stating he does NOT want to date or even engage the other man romantically in any way. *Yoda’s voice* A piece of 💩 he is.

➟ Page 202: finally admits his attraction to Kelly, telling him directly and giving the guy hope for a future together. Only to then proclaim:

“I’m not willing to change my life that way. I have plans, Kel, and this is nowhere near those plans. Eventually I want to get married. Have kids. You know how important family is for me.”

Because marriage and having kids is an exclusively heterosexual activity, uh?


You could say this is where I went from “ok, maybe Blue will still turn this around” to “I don’t even give a damn if he does.”

➟ Page 220: B convinces (aka guilt-trips) K post-break-up into letting him recover at his place after acquiring a field injury, subsequently talking about how he wants to cuddle with Kelly, and whining because the other man won’t do it. While also declaring how he didn’t get it, because that’s totally what friends do, right?

The vibe ➟ 🙃🙃🙃

➟ Page 235: Blue initiates sex yet again, knowing full well how he was fucking with K’s head, and then right the very next second after they’re finished proceeds to tell his friend this little gem:

“I don’t want fucking to end our friendship. Us sleeping together is a bad idea. And maybe… maybe we shouldn’t do it again.”

Why do you keep coming onto Kelly then, uh? Why do you keep making him feel hopeful if you’re gonna switch up gears the second your erection disappears?


It was just too much. This man was a whole jester, a buffoon, a fool. Booboo The Clown was found dead in a ditch in Miami, JOBLESS.

➟ Page 252: He pretends he’s suffering from great physical pain once Kelly attempts to move on and bring a guy to his apartment. He knows K will always put him and his health first, and therefore uses that knowledge to ruin Kelly’s chances at scoring and selfishly succeeds at keeping the guy single.

➟ Page 269: stays on his bullshit. Continues to be jealous of anyone who goes near a 10 mile radius of his bestie, but still insists on “not wanting Kelly that way” and how they would never work as a couple. It’s the delusion for me ✋✋

➟ Page 273: takes a teammate telling Blue how it’s obvious that he’s in love with Kelly for him to finally REALIZE IT. Ya heard it right, folks, if this conversation didn’t take place, the man would’ve kept his head firmly stored inside his own anus. And did I mention we are also TWO CHAPTERS AWAY from the ending?

I repeat, it took Blue 273 pages to even contemplate that he might harbor romantic feelings for his friend.


My stance on the book and “romance” by then.

➟ Page 284: B goes to visit Kelly at his place of work (which is a college by the way, since K is a professor), ready to confess his love to the guy. Only to proceed to flirt with a female student while he waits for Kelly to finish up his class.

The foolishness never stops!

➟ Page 292: Once they get the opportunity for a private chat and for B to spew his romantic monologue, he tells K he is willing (again, as if it were a chore) to make their future relationship public and come out, yet is not genuine about it. When Kel calls him out on it and says maybe they should wait and keep it all a secret in the meantime, Blue proceeds to express unmasked relief.

THE END.

Yes, the book really does wrap up things like that. Sure, they kiss, exchange mandatory I Love You’s and the usual other things expected of a romance.

Yet...


I was too busy internally screaming to pay attention to any of it.

******************************

So overall, this is not meant as an attack to those who enjoyed the book and the main couple, but it’s rather just me venting about a character and dynamic that was clearly not my cup at all. As much as I usually enjoy unhealthy relationships, the truth was that Blue was not it for me. He didn’t come across as charming, but childish and whiny. He wasn’t even unapologetically toxic either, instead trying to pass himself as a nice and well-intentioned friend. A friend to who Kelly owed his time, attention, and love, all despite the fact that he wasn’t willing to reciprocate said gestures for literally 90 percent of the book.

Will I be reading the sequel though?

Probably, considering being unable to leave a series unfinished is a harmful habit I cannot quit.

Do I have high expectations for it, however?

Not exactly. Although I’ll consider it a success (and frankly a miracle) if the story manages to make my dislike for Blue lessen even a fraction.

******************************

Rules of Possession series by S.E. Harmon

The Blueprint — 2.3
A Deeper Blue — TBR ⭐

[Chelsea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'M SORRY BUT DRAGGING YOUR BESTFRIENDS FEELINGS THROUGH THE DIRT BEFORE SHITTING ALL OVER THEM BEFORE YOU BURY AND DISREGARD THEM AT EVERY MOMENT POSSIBLE, WHILE YOU HAVE THE TURTLE-BASED SPEED, SLOWEST BI-AWAKENING OF ALL TIME IS NOT FUCKING CUTE.

(the bi-awakening, if you could even call it that was as weak as an overcooked noodle. It was just Blue fucking women and saying he's straight until he one day after effectively cockblocking Kelly, and fucking him occasionally before verbally assaulting his feelings on repeat, decides he wants to be with Kelly AFTER 95% of the book. I'm fucking exhausted, my dudes.)

I'm sorry but what part of this book was cute and sweet???

Blue was a literally CRUEL and could not have given LESS FUCKS about Kelly's feelings/wellbeing if he tried.
And Kelly had NO SELF RESPECT, AND NOT 1 CRUMB OF BACKBONE.

me looking for Kelly's spine:

hint: he doesn't have one.

He just lets his bestfriend control his life, fuck him sometimes, and then allows Blue to shit on him. (not literally, I mean metaphorically)

🌈Bestfriends to lovers🌈 except they don't treat eachother like bestfriends, and take 95% of the book to become lovers.

🌈Bi- awakening🌈 except this motherfucker IS ASLEEP AND JUST BEING A CRUEL CUNT FOR 95% OF THIS BOOK.


Undeserved HEA's are unsatisfying, and this was as satisfying as a satisfier pro with no charge.
The redemption was......... swapping personalities from "this is a mistake. I don't want you" to "actually I do want you now" LITERALLY AT THE END.

This book killed my remaining braincells for the week, I feel this review is weak because I can't even articulate to you why I fucking hated this book so much.

I've never had 2 cunts TALK SO MUCH ........ BUT SAY LITERALLY NOTHING AT THE 👏SAME 👏DAMN 👏TIME.
gtfo.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a walking,talking cliche--the gay man secretly pining for his straight best friend.

Friends to Lovers story with two highly likeable characters with great sexual chemistry.


Ever since I read P.S. I Spook You,I've been a fan of this Author.I love her writing and she always delivers on the witty banter.


Blue and Kelly have been best friends forever.Inseparable in their youth and their strong friendship hasn't wavered over the years.Sure,they love each other but what Blue didn't realize was that Kelly has been in love with him for as long as he can remember.

Blue is a successful NFL player.It's his passion,his life.He's never really been interested in anything serious and he's definitely not been attracted to men before.

Kelly is a Physics Professor and what can I say apart from the fact that I absolutely ADORED him,




He's gloriously geeky and a bit of a hipster type with his piercings,tattoos and he's got a whole lot of sassiness going on.I could have read about him forever.And he's out and proud.


When Blue gets drunk one night things get messy,a bit complicated....something neither of them saw coming.Blue definitely finds it difficult to embrace the physical attraction he's feeling towards Kelly.He's always been possessive in a friend's only way but this is something completely foreign to him.

I kind of got Blue.I don't think he consciously led Kelly on with the friends with benefits thing,I just think he was really conflicted and yes,there was a lot of back and forwards between them until Blue finally acknowledged his feelings.He definitely gave mixed signals to Kelly who tried so hard, time after time, to abide by the friends only thing but really neither of them stood a chance.

These two had some delicious chemistry going on and I was more than happy with the sex scenes,not too long and drawn out-perfect for the story.


Recommended read...

Review copy

[Mali Mor ❤️ The Romantic Blogger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its Pride Month!!!!!!!!!!! 💙💙💙💙

So, funny story...
I was looking for a sport romance and Audible recommended this book to me. I liked the cover and started listening without reading the blurb. 💙

📚 “𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮... 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞. 📚

The book started with a girl named Kelly - and although the narrator was a man, I didn't suspect anything, because there are lots of books using one narrator. 😬

Kelly is a woman full of tattoos and piercings who is dating an arrogant man who wears suits and constantly tries to change her attire, as if he's ashamed of her... And still, I didn't suspect anything. 🤷‍♀️

He gets down on one knee in a sports game, in front of the fans, players and viewers at home - and to not embarrass him, Kelly says yes - but on the way home she tells him she is not interested in marring him.
He obviously gets upset because all their friend are waiting to celebrate their engagement after watching the proposal on TV... and then he accuses her of being in love with her best friend, Blue, the famous football player.
And still... I didn't suspect a thing!!! 😂

Then, Kelly admits to herself she has always been in love with Blue... that they were always close and she had to hide her feelings for him because he wasn't attracted to her... that he was always there for her ever since they were kids - even after she... came out of the closet. 😳😳😳
That was the point I started to suspect!
Because only then did I realize this book is M/M - and Kelly was actually…A GUY!!!
Fuck my life.

So even though it was a surprise I never saw coming, I kept listening - and while there were cliché dramas I didn't like in the second half of the book and one of the narrators annoyed me - all in all, it was a cute, witty and very funny book (especially Kelly's outing story, which made me laugh like a loon!) 😂💙

📚 "𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐌𝐚. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲." 📚

So if you are in a mood for a fun MM book about a man who's in love with his (straight!) best friend - you should try this book.

NOTE - this book is part of a duet. While it doesn't end with a cliffhanger - the story is definitely not over, and although I enjoyed it - I probably will not continue to the second book soon. 💙

• I listened to the AUDIO version. 🎧

▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️

📖 ᖴOᒪᒪOᗯ ᗰE Oᑎ IᑎᔕTᗩGᖇᗩᗰ: https://www.instagram.com/the_romanti...

📖 ᐯIᔕIT ᗰY ᗷᒪOG ᖴOᖇ ᗰOᖇE ᖇEᐯIEᗯᔕ: https://books-romance.com/

📖 GOOᗪᖇEᗩᗪᔕ: https://bit.ly/3acMRMP

💕 לקריאת הסקירה בעברית, כנסו לבלוג: https://books-romance.com/ 💕

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning! Gushing, quotes that may be spoilers, Please proceed with caution.

I still can't believe how much I LOVED this book.

This book checked all boxes, sometimes it ain’t that deep just go with the flow and you will enjoy this.

It was love at first chapter then I decided to get comfortable and enjoy the ride.



-Best friends to lovers

-Childhood friends, I have loved you for years.

-Butt Virgin (Yaaaaasss!)

- Geek/Nerd and Jock.

- Banter, Humor , Snark, Dry Humor, every kind of humor

- Bi/GFY

MC1 Kelly the professor



MC2 Blue the NFL player



Blue and Kelly are been friends and have been since they were 12. Kelly is gay and has been in love with Blue for years.

I was a little embarrassed to even voice the thought. I was a walking, talking cliché—the gay man secretly pining for his straight best friend.

One night when they are drunk, Blue decides to give into the attraction that he has been hiding and asks Kelly to Kiss him. I was afraid that the book would go down hill, or it will be your typical, straight guy kisses gay best friend then freaks out and stops talking for half the book. I was wrong, IMO it got better.

I loved that the two of them talked things out. I can see why this book got mixed reviews because of Blue. I understood him and did not feel that he was stringing Kelly along he was trying to figure things out. I loved how he did not make a big deal out of it and like me he went with the flow. And now I want a best friend like him. Blue genuinely loves Kelly, he just didn’t know he was in love with him.

They were born to love and fall in love, even though their relationship was somehow codependent bordering unhealthy, i enjoyed it.

And while looks were nice and all, that’s not what made me love him. He was sweet under that tough football-player exterior. He stood up for me, usually when my smart mouth got a little too smart and got me in a pickle. And when he got drafted to the NFL, he could’ve gotten a big head and left me in the dust. He didn’t. Instead he paid off my student loans and helped me financially through graduate school. No questions asked. And he didn’t bat an eyelash when I told him I was gay. I didn’t even think it crossed his mind to make me feel weird about it.

I adored Kelly with his tattoos and piercings and he was a geek.. I loved that he was not a doormat, he stood up for himself and was not afraid to call Blue out when he was being a little bit of douche. I loved his sense of humor I was laughing out loud while reading his POV. His family was good too.

I glanced over at the stony face of my ex-fiancé, Robert—also known as a suspect in my future murder. To be fair, he’d only been my ex for three minutes. I kind of just broke up with him.
He didn’t take it well

The chemistry between these two was on fire and bounced off pages, after all they have been best friends for years.

The Sex scenes were hot and funny, yes! Kelly and Blue cracked jokes while having sex.

“Let me in, sweetheart.”
“Trying,” I said with a grunt.
“It’s gonna take me a while to get used to this sucker.”
“I guarantee you will.” He chuckled softly, almost ruefully. “I’m pretty sure you were made for me.”
“Made for you?” I raised an eyebrow, but my sassiness took a hit when he finally eased inside me. We both sighed with pleasure. “I’m going to give you a back rub after we’re finished. You must be tired from hauling that ego around all day.”
He snorted. “Shut up, Kel.”
“How do you know you weren’t made for me?”
“I’m older. I was around before you were even a thought.” He stuck out his tongue. “Deal with it.”



The secondary characters were well written and there was no manufactured drama. Just a story about best friends who have loved each other for years finally figuring their shit out.

I love SE Harmon’s writing and her sense of humor. Ever since I read Stay with me I got hooked, I am just sad that she has not written many book. She is one author I would have loved to binge read.

Overall I loved it hard! I can’t wait for book 2 and maybe 3 and 4.

This book deserves 5 stars from me!

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I don't change my rating for a book, but I am gonna do it this time. See, when I read and reviewed this book, I didn't know it was gonna be a series and that there was gonna be a second book. This changes a few things for me...at least the way I feel about the ending and how things felt a bit rushed. So I am upping my rating with half a star ;)



The blurb of this one looked all kinds of promising to me... I mean "Sports",  "Friends to Lovers" "Opposites Attract" and "GFY" all in one go !!

There were definitely parts of this book that I was very pleased with....but I am sad to say, that there were also parts I was not too happy with.

Blue and Kelly have been friends for a very long time. Blue is a NFL player and Kelly is a physics professor. Pretty awesome friend duo..."the nerd and the jock" ;)



Blue is straight and Kelly is gay. Kelly is not completely out, but he isn't really hiding either. It's just his family he still has to tell. His coming out to his family was one of the greatest scenes in this book !!

"I need a story, Ma. This is not a good coming-out story."

Kelly has been (not so) secretly in love with Blue for a long long time.  Kelly knows that Blue is straight as an arrow, and he knows he has zero chances but that doesn't stop him from pining for his best friend....and yes I do mean pining ...



One drunken night changes everything for these two close friends though....



Now I normally have no problems with GFY stories. I love them, I am especially a big fan of the straight guy figuring out all the pleasures, of gay loving :P

What I am not a fan of though, is the straight guy stringing along his best friend, who is madly in love with him, and using him in secret just to get his rocks off !!

"I have a plan, Kel, and this is nowhere in that plan. Eventually I want to get married. Have kids. You know how important family is to me."

I was angry with Blue and I was hoping he would make up for his behaviour....and in the end he did....but it was too late for me.



Now don't get me wrong. There were definitely parts I really enjoyed in this book. It's also extremely funny, so I really laughed my ass off. I was just so dissapointed with Blue's behavior ... It was very hard to get passed that. The ending feels like a HFN not a HEA.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING 4.5 STARS

The Blueprint is book one in the Rules of Possession duet by S.E. Harmon. This is my very first book by this author and I am pretty much bowled over. It’s witty and fun, sexy, sweet with not too much angst. Not to mention that I fell totally in love with these two. This is a M/M, sports, bi-awakening romance.



Kelly Cannon is a twenty nine year old physics professor who is openly gay. I loved that on the outside, Kelly is an argyle sock, cardigan sweater wearing, neatly dressed college professor. But underneath he is a tattooed, pierced man who is proud of who he is and hides nothing. Well, there is one thing he does hide, the way he REALLY feels about his best friend since the second grade, Blue.



Britton “Blue” Montgomery is an NFL tight end for the Aventura Outlaws. Blue is thirty years old and has been dubbed the “Blueprint” or prototype of a perfect tight end. Blue’s life has always been about football. Without it he has no idea who he is. He and Kelly and been best friends since the beginning. They are as different as night and day, Blue’s life revolving around sports and Kelly who doesn’t like to break a sweat. But somehow, it has always worked. Until it didn’t.

“In the tapestry of our life, our threads were so interwoven we’d have to unravel the whole blanket to pull them apart.”



Blue and Kelly are so close, it’s like a marriage without the sex. Only for some time Blue has noticed things about Kelly a straight man shouldn’t. And he is oddly possessive of him, like when anyone else looks at him or touches him or speaks to him. When a little alcohol loosens his inhibitions, a little experimenting happens which changes everything. Especially when Kelly finally admits that he’s in love with Blue, has always been in love with him. And now it’s time for Blue to decide what he really wants.



What did I love about this book? Just about everything. These two were so perfect for each other. I loved the way they were just two halves of a whole. My only problem is that when I love characters this much, I feel protective of them. And I didn’t like that Kelly had to feel pain while keeping his true feelings hidden and finally forcing Blue to decide what he really wanted.

These two made me smile so much and sigh, both out of frustration and when they were happy. I can’t wait to finish their story in the second part of this duet, A Deeper Blue.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio - 2.75 stars. I can't believe it, but I was disappointed with the performances of two narrators that I normally enjoy. Alexander Cendese (3.5 stars) and Sean Crisden (2 stars).

Story 3 stars.

I'm not a fan of rom/coms. I have managed to enjoy a few, but that has everything to do with the author's style of delivery. In the case of this story, it didn't work for me. The tone was too comedic. I did chuckle every now and then, but mostly, I was shaking my head and/or rolling my eyes. I found it hard to believe the MCs were 29 and 30. They acted more like high school/college aged boys.

Based on the ratings, it's me and not the book. I will gladly wear a "defective reader's" pin. :-D

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

4 Confounding Stars!

I’m scratching my head as to why I thoroughly enjoyed this because for me, there were many things in this book that shouldn’t have worked despite this containing the well loved trope of the classic friends to lovers progression. However, this features an adamantly heterosexual star athlete whose gay bestie is in love with him and is tossed liberally with female bits and in the closet overtones, understandably giving me plenty of reasons to furrow my brow.

So yes, I shook my head about 90% of time while listening to this, as Blue tries to reconcile these quasi-new feelings towards his bff. Once they cross the line, Blue’s not sure about going all in, but he’s not satisfied in going back to friendship only either. However, Kelly isn’t about to let him have his cake and eat it too and therein lies the rub.

Props to Harmon in giving both Kelly and Blue distinct voices, completely likeable personalities, and a dynamic that obviously clicked. It doesn’t hurt at all that these two were hot as fire. My brain short circuited no less than 8 times!

I absolutely believe that the narration by Alexander Cendese and Sean Crisden literally brought Kelly and Blue to life and made them and this story 10 times better. They delivered their lines with precision, expounding on the sarcasm, the snark, the doubt, the back and forth, and the above mentioned seriously-too-hot-to-handle chemistry between these two. Unf.

Despite my bafflement, this was smart and funny, and I immensely liked the push pull between Kelly and Blue, all the while fanning myself as I listened to this genius narration. I’m just happy there’s a sequel since this ended somewhat suddenly, and I look forward to more of this mind boggling goodness!

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

[Lau ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was supposed to love this.


Blueprint ticked every single box: best friends to lovers, unrequited love and S.E.Harmon’s humor. I felt in love with Kelly (H) and his family from the beginning. He reminded me of Rain, because they both used humor instead of tears to cope with their life tragedies. In Kelly’s case, his tragedy was being in love with someone who will never love him back and is determined to stick to him like blue.


“Mom?”
“Yes, sweetheart?” She squeezed a little harder, and I saw black spots.()
“I need to breathe.”
“Breathing is for good boys who visit their mothers more often.”


Imagine for a moment the slow burn. Two best friends who did everything together. One of them, lovesick Kelly, tries to get over the other by trying to put some distance. The other, oblivious Blue, tracks him down despite having zero free time due to his job as a famous football player. They spend the weekend remembering old childhood stories that show me how beautiful their relationship is. Something happens that makes Blue finally realize he might be attracted to Kelly while Kelly is oblivious of the change. The stakes are high, we are at 30% of the book and everything you’ve been dying for may finally happen.


And that’s when Blue decides to stop being a good friend and start behaving as a selfish prick. I understand that he didn’t want to be gay, that living with his homophobic dad left him with internal homophobia despite not having any problem with Kelly being gay. I understand that he was confused, needed time and didn’t want a bf being in the NFL. What I don’t understand is how he did not think for a single moment about Kelly. Everything he had shown me up to 30%, how much Kelly meant for him, was thrown overboard. He’d say yes, a hot minute would pass and it would become a no, even after he finally understood how much this must have been hurting Kelly. It started annoying me a little but the cycle went on going for so long I ended up not enjoying anything about the story anymore.


“You tell me you want to be friends, and then you push all those boundaries that you created aside. You tell me to go ‘have fun’ when I left earlier tonight, but when I actually attempt to do that, you’re ready to fake death to have me all to yourself.”


I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I would have enjoy this more if there were less sex. I couldn’t understand how there was progression in the smut while keeping the feelings/romance static. To be honest, reading it made me feel uncomfortable and got me out of the story even more. As much as I loved Kelly, it made me feel like I didn’t know him anymore. He jumped at every opportunity he had and pushed the sexual encounters further and further even though Blue was always hurting him when they were over.


Overall, this was a lot more toxic than I thought it would be and did not live up to the expectations the first 30% set for me. I’m aware this probably deserves a higher rating for the author’s writing, Kelly and his family, but I like to rate based on enjoyment and I was so disappointed for the missed opportunity I was only glad it was over.

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread

SE Harmon does OFY a little differently.

Blue is an NFL player on the field and a get-himself-some player after hours. It's not as if it's difficult for a famous NFL star to line up some company for the night. He takes advantage of the easy opportunities, there are no expectations, and no sleepovers.

Kelly is a college physics professor, tatted and pierced up, but a total nerd by his own admission. Openly gay, he has zero fucks to give about what people think. Except for Blue, of course - his best friend since grade school.

Kelly and Blue have a really close relationship. They talk multiple times a week, even with Blue travelling for football. Oh, and Kelly has been in love with Blue since forever, too.

I want to point out that this book does not delicately handle the OFY arc. Harmon has a knack for making her characters blunt with biting honesty and sarcasm. These MCs more so than any of her others. It totally worked for me.

"[...]This was fairly anticlimactic."
My mother blinked at me. "That's a good thing, isn't it?"
"I need a story, Ma. This is not a good coming-out story." I raised an eyebrow. "They're going to take my gay card for this. I hope you're happy."

Kelly knows it's a lost cause with Blue. He knows there is no amount of bend to his sexuality. So he doesn't shy away from a random date or two.....or a quick hookup, during this story. (And for that matter, there is some page time with Blue and his lady friend of the night too - not too explicit, so don't worry).

Blue has some niggles about Kelly's dates though. He writes it off, for a while, as just wanting to keep his best friend to himself. He doesn't want to share Kelly's time with people.

And then a tipsy Blue decides to get his curiosity on.

This is the part of the story that made me a tad uncomfortable. Of course Kelly isn't going to say no. He's been in love with the man for years and has a chance to touch Blue! I can't say I blame him too much. But Kelly shares his feelings with Blue, and Blue is kind of a dick about it. He just wants his best friend. There's no need to go there or for things to be any different than they've always been. And, unltimately........

"I'm in the NFL. You know how people are. That would be making a statement that I'll never be willing to make."

Shot to the heart. But fair enough, right? Everyone should be able to make that choice for themselves, but, damn, their honesty with each other consisted of repeated punches to the gut.

I was mad at Blue for satisfying his curiosity with his best friend, knowing how Kelly felt about him. How can you call yourself a best friend?

But, make no mistake, it ends well. I appreciated the way Blue's acceptance of his evolving sexuality played out. It wasn't hearts and flowers. But for an NFL player, I found it to be very realistic. All that internalized homophobia, I imagine, has to be a very real thing for athletes, especially the ones with fathers who felt a certain way about "the gays."

I'd say that if you want your OFY/Bi-FY to be a delicate evolution with tons of self-insight and discovery, using PC terms, this isn't the story for you. Harmon writes blunt and in-your-face characters with matching dialogue.

The relationship angst was like crack to me. Add in best friends-to-lovers? I loved it. Recommended.

I've already figured out what I want. It's time for you to do the same."

[Gustaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I love this series. It's my go to series whenever I need something to take my mind of things.

Merged review:

I've read this book many, many times and I love it just much this time as the first.

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

Something amazing happens in your world when the person you think is crazy special thinks you're kind of special too.

I don't know if it was just good timing or what, but I really liked this one. And I'm kind of mad at myself for waiting so long to read it.

It pretty much ticked all of my boxes:

Friends to Lovers - check
GFY/OFY - check
Banter - check
Sports - check
Steam - check
Plus relatively low angst.

I was worried a bit about Blue toying with Kelly. But it felt pretty authentic to me the way it all played out, given who Blue was and his background and being in the NFL. Yeah, Blue was an ass about it at times. But I really believe his brain just hadn't caught up with his body when it came to Kelly.

Now, with that being said the ending was HFN at best. I kind of wanted to thump Kelly for his reaction to Blue. So in one way, I am glad there will be another book but I also don't want a bunch of drama to go down.

For now, I'll be cautiously optimistic.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 you were made for me stars!

I don’t know what it is that I love about gfy reads. I guess is the fact that you think your this person your whole life and then you meet or realized this ONE person you fall for changes your whole existence.

That what happens to Blue his been best friends with Kelly since childhood more than friends his family. A football player for the NFL and straight he doesn’t understand why the attraction he starts to feel for Kelly, who is gay. And then we have Kelly who’s is secretly in love with Blue. In other words a big angsty mess but one that I enjoyed.

There’s plenty of pull/push from Blue but I don’t know I didn’t find myself frustrated, well, not much anyway. I sympathize with Blue having the career he had all the pressure for appearance sake. I kinda felt bad for him and one thing was for sure though, Blue really loved Kelly, that was never a doubt.

I really liked the way the relationship was played out even in those frustrating moments. The angst and emotions these two battle, it wasn’t easy for either of them to give or take. The chemistry they had was hot more so, because they had this deep bond.

My first book by S.E. Harmon another author that impressed me! Love the story, the flow, and an added bonus for me, the dry sense of humor. Which if you know me you know I’m super picky about but this one was the right amount and at right parts that had me laughing. Can’t wait for book 2! ♥️

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was piddling on Amazon & noticed this is one 94¢! IDK how long but as of 12/4/18 it's 94¢

Get it while it's hot: https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-S-Ha...


3.5 Hearts

Tag Team Review with The Ginger

Sometimes the heart just wanted what the heart wanted, and to hell with the consequences.

There is SO MUCH to like/love about this story: the banter, the heehawlarious family dynamics, these characters, witty writing, great team dynamics and verisimilitude that spoke to me. The Blueprint is the story of the evolution of platonic into romantic love and how uneasy that road can be. It's not fluffy and possesses a genuine melange of emotions. Maybe I would've liked more fluff, but throughout I respected where Harmon took the narrative. She stayed true to them and I applaud her for that.

Part best friends to lovers, part sports romance and part jock/nerd trope this is the story of Blue and Kelly who have been best friends since forever. Through thick and thin. Through a mom leaving. Through bunk beds and a shitty father. Through a metric ton of peanut M&Ms and a surprise peanut allergy. Through a trouble making sister and a plethora of bad decisions. Through high school when the jock/geek dynamic was fertile ground for a breakup and even their experimental college days. So something as fickle as the NFL doesn't stand a chance at separating them. They are family.

Family could be awkward, but you stayed.

Kelly has always been in love with Blue. No relationship has ever worked because they all suffer by comparison. Blue is straight and Kelly knows his pining is futile but there's a big difference between knowing a thing and accepting a thing. Even more confusing, every time Kelly tries to pull away, Blue tightens his hold. Blue knows he needs Kelly, knows he loves Kelly. He just doesn't know what that means or what to do with or about those confusing feelings.



The Blueprint tells the story of their watershed moment from both of their perspectives.

The things that I loved about this story are many including how accurate I found the portrayal of the NFL to be (it's NFL heavy) from the locker room dynamics to the pressure to perform and conform. Blue is 30 but in NFL years, that's old. He's two years older than Gronkowski, who's basically held together with twine, duct tape and Gorilla glue, so that sense of always looking over his shoulder for the replacement that's breathing down his neck resonated. I also loved how much he loves the game, because it's literally all he knows.

Which is why I think Kelly will be good for him long-term. Kelly won't allow him to give up once he's hung up his cleats; he'll bolster his self-worth. Because he is an indomitable SassMonster who will stay on his heels like a terrier. That's precisely what endeared him to me. He's snarky, witty and kind of a dick at times. Gawd, I hearted him and his dry erase markers and love of all things Star Wars.

Neither one of them are perfect, but they are soulmates.



The sex was true to them and sometimes funny. Really, many things about their interactions had me tittering and I liked that they could have fun during the sexy times. They have a synchronicity in all things that translated well to the bedroom. What they do seemed like a natural progression for a virgin. I enjoyed their size difference most of all, but there is also a big guy bottoming, rimming, frottage and oral. Also, there are mentions of sex with other people and some on page kissing for those that are sticklers for the couple to be true blue.

As much as I appreciated the truth of Harmon's narrative, the organicity of it, the push/pull is interminable. Harmon showed me why, showed the emotion and the angst they both struggle with, and as much as I understood their struggle I needed more of a payoff at the end. I would've liked more of them being incandescently happy together once they decide they're going to give boyfriending a go, though I did appreciate that there wasn't a manufactured/unrealistic ending. But an epilogue probably would've gone a looooonnnnggggg way.

There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.

Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed Harmon's writing style and look forward to reading her in the future and were she inclined to write Connor's story, I would be tickled pink to read that.

Recommend to readers who enjoy a hefty dose of realism in their friends to lovers romance and sports romance fans.



An ARC was provided by the publisher.

[nark · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf @ 40%. boring

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 2 out of 5]

***2.5 Stars***

For me, the best about this book were the visuals that popped up in my head...

Just ignore me. It's not the book, it's me. Or the author and me? We definitely don't share the same humor... On the one hand, I didn't find it remotely funny, on the other hand I couldn't take Kelly and Blue seriously. I'm all into the rebellious-teen-type, but Kelly's mind seemed like it didn't get beyond that stage and this guy is twenty-nine for crying out loud! And Blue's back and forth -or push and pull or whatever - (although I could understand him to some extent) frustrated the hell out of me.

And don't get me started on the audiobook... I usually like both narrators, but this was not their best performance in my humble opinion. Sean Crisden ("Blue") pulled out his nice deep voice, but sometimes he mumbled so heavily that my ears were almost glued to the speakers in my car because I could barely understand him and juggling not to end up in a roadside ditch was a bit of a challenge. Alexander Cendese's voice for Kelly was annoying - to put it mildly -, but so was Kelly for me, so in reverse this probably means he did a good job. He grated on my nerves, though, so that didn't make it any better. I might or might not listen to the sequel, only time and mood will tell. ;-)

[Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeping my original review and rating.


--------------------Original Review Feb 2018-----------------------------
I have a weakness for self discovery stories, the best-friends-to-lovers trope, and banter. In my opinion, SE Harmon nails all three, here. I love her style of storytelling and relationship development, too. It wasn't an easy road, for the MC's, but I liked it.

Britton "Blue" Montgomery is a veteran NFL player. He works hard, plays hard, and knows what he wants. Well, career-wise, anyway. He's never really been in the market for a relationship, preferring to play that field, too. Finding sex isn't difficult when you're a rich, built, tight-end in the NFL, after all, but trusting that someone is interested in you and not your status, is tough.

Kelly Cannon is a physics professor. Geeky and academic, but with the twist of piercings and tattoos. He's a bit unconventional in the class room, but he loves his job (most days) and his life (again, most days). He teaches, meets friends at the local pub, goes to Blue's home games and has what he wants. Mostly. He's also in love with his best friend...but doesn't see any way that could end well.

Blue and Kelly have been practically inseparable since they were 12 years old. They each have the other's back. They speak their minds and tend to be pretty open and honest with one another. The one exception was Kelly's feelings toward Blue. I mean, Blue knew Kelly loved him, but didn't know Kelly was in-love with him. For Blue's part, he wasn't honest with himself about his feelings toward Kelly, so he sent all kinds of conflicting signals Kelly's way, being possessive of Kelly, wanting more and then backtracking several times. Blue just had all kinds of trouble finding his feet, sexually speaking, and it really showed.

I thought I'd be bothered by how Blue kept backtracking, but I kind of got it, here. Blue does not shift gears quickly, at all, and though - once he started seeing Kelly in a sexual way - he acts on his curiosity, he has a lot of trouble reconciling his feelings for his best friend with the expectations of his father and the NFL. You could say he has some trouble getting out of his own way, but once he finally made the decision to move forward, I trusted it. He took the time and thought it out and made the decision.

Though I trust Blue and Kelly's HEA, here, I would have loved to have gotten an epilogue, just to seal the deal, further. I see other story opportunities, here though, with other MC's, so maybe we'll get to see them happy and settled in a future book. That is my hope, anyway!

-------------------
ARC of The Blueprint was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 2 out of 5]

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*A letdown*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

The book centers around professor for a smaller private college, Kelly ‘Kel’ Holden Cannon (29) and NFL standout (tight end for the Aventura Outlaws), Britton ‘Blue’ ‘Blueprint’ Montgomery (30). Kelly is in love with his best friend, and though Blue loves his best friend, he believes himself straight. However, he doesn't like other men circling around Kelly. He's a jealous man. But he has no right to be jealous, now does he...? Overall, the book has huge potential, Kelly had that sarcasm that I like in characters, however so much was missing for the story. The big miss was pain. There was absolutely no pain in the book. I though that being rejected or having ones heart pulled back and forth would make one feel pain. But there was nothing. Not even mentioning of pain. That kinda ruined the book for me. There was also the fact that I didn't like how Blue kept pulling Kelly in, only to let go again. I hate selfish people. I did like his jealousy though...

Despite my bitterness about the subject, deep down inside, I think I was waiting on the fantasy, still hoping for the impossible. And I wasn’t willing to compromise. I sighed inwardly. I was as delusional and optimistic as any Disney princess. It was going to look fantastic on my eHarmony profile. I’d use Snow White as my fucking avatar. She found seven men. Surely I could scrounge up one.

Other characters:
↦ Robert ‘Rob’, an architect and Kelly's ex.
↦ Kennedy Cannon, Kelly's sister.
↦ Connor O’Rouke, Kelly's coworker.
↦ Paige, one of Kelly's coworkers
↦ Evan ‘E’ Ivanovich, fellow teammate of Blue, and the best damn defensive lineman in the NFL (according to him anyway), good friends of Blue.
↦ Austin Warnerm, Blue's team's cornerback.
↦ Andrew McAdams, a rookie and had a two dates with Kelly.
↦ Mike, Kelly's father, Kelly Ann, his mother. Awesome parents.

“No one treats my brother like that.”
“You’re right,” I said. “But people only treat you how you allow them to. One of my favorite quotes growing up was from Eleanor Roosevelt. Remember? I had it on my door. Mom had it made into a poster. I guess now I know why. She understood what I was up against before I ever did.”
“You kept that thing up there until the decal peeled and the letters went white.” Kennedy shook her head and recited, “‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.’”

Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series (Standalone?), Book One.
Love triangle? - No.
Cheating? - No.
HEA? - Yes, of sorts.
Favorite character? - Kelly ‘Kel’ Holden Cannon.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Not sure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Not really.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5/2 stars.

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I’d like to make this official now – I LOVE S.E. Harmon’s writing.
I simply adore the first class banter and the snarky, sarcastic humour, not even talking about all the feels!

Here we have a classic: best friends to lovers.
Gay, high-flying science professor Kelly has been in love with very straight top NFL athlete Blue since he’s been twelve. And as best friends they are … as they say … virtually ‘attached at the hips’.
Kelly is 29 now and, as expected, things are coming slowly to a head. Cause how much longer can he pine for something he will clearly never have?

S.E Harmon does a fabulous job with all the UST (on Kelly’s side), all the extreme jealousy (on Blue’s side) and all the feelings and complications that both men have to face once truths are revealed and the question whether they have a future together or not is thrown on the table.

Tbh, Kelly’s hot and cold treatment by Blue is enough to drive any person insane. The thing is … he has got so many issues to address, so many hoops to jump through to even acknowledge to himself how he feels about Kelly, it’s no wonder he is totally confused.

I actually adored Kelly. Yes, he does fall in the same ‘trap’ of giving Blue yet another and another chance because he simply can’t help himself, but apart from that he’s certainly no push-over. And his snark and sass made me chuckle again and again.

This would have been a five-star read for me, had it not been for two major niggles, both happening towards the end.
1. I have no idea why Kelly who has clearly stated a few times he would never go in the closet for anyone, more or less insists that they keep their relationship secret at the end. What happened here? It makes no sense. Particularly as Blue is all get and go about it.

2. I felt that their relationship was too new for Blue to agree to bottoming. I would have been quite happy waiting for this (if it was happening at all) in the second book).

But that aside, I really really enjoyed this! And I'm onto book 2 right now!

[Darien · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Story: 4 Pants Off

Two of the things I love most in the world is best friends discovering they wanna bone each other, and a once previously straight dude discovering he’s bisexual, the Blueprint gave us both and they gave it to us well...

Kelly is in love with his best friend Blue who happens to be an NFL superstar and also Blue is not gay and that has been firmly verified by the amount eye candy sexy ladies he parades around. Kelly has accepted the fact his love will not be reciprocated and he’ll die alone and with cats. What he doesn’t know is that Blue is having an existential crisis and he might really want to get his dick firmly in Kelly’s ass (I just write it like I see it folks 🤷🏽‍♀️).




This ends up being a lot of push and pull and two men who can’t get their heads out of what seems to be firmly planted in their ass. But hell, friendship is magic and fucking and that's what we get here 😈

I freaking loved the banter between are MCs there is never a doubt that they have a solid foundation even with the new dynamics of their relationship. Kelly is a wiseass and Blue loves him just the way he is. Solid Read!

The Narration: 4.5 Pants Off

It’s freaking Alexander Cendese and Sean Crisden.

[BWT · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me begin with what I liked about the story: I loved the humor, the banter, and the snark.

I checked under the throw pillows and between the couch cushions, and she scowled. “What’re you looking for?”
“Someone who gives a rat’s ass about your opinion.”

I should’ve known he was lying to me. Mostly because Bel Biv Devoe had it right—never trust a big butt and a smile.

I loved Blue's friend Ivanovich, Kelly's family, and Kelly's friend Connor (and really hope he gets a happy ending some day). The supporting characters here were really well done and fleshed out and wonderful on their own.

“How long have you been in love with him?” Connor asked.
I finally shrugged. “It’s hard to remember a time when I wasn’t.”
“Messy road, that is.” He took a sip of his drink. “Or do you really believe in that gay-for-you nonsense?”
I worked my jaw. That’s exactly what it was. Nonsense. Despite that, I found myself asking, “You don’t think someone can… turn?”
“Sure. Into vampires, zombies, and the like”—his mouth kicked up on one side—“which is just about as likely.”
“Fuck. Forget I even said that.” I sighed. I was a little embarrassed to even voice the thought. I was a walking, talking cliché—the gay man secretly pining for his straight best friend. Ugh.

I liked that the story is told from both Kelly and Blue's POV. Unfortunately, it's much harder to explain why I didn't like the story as a whole. It's a bit slow-paced at times without actually being a slow burn, and the friends to lovers aspect didn't really work for me here, mostly because of the almost schizophrenic changes in attitude that Blue kept having.

I wasn’t gay or bisexual. It was just that simple.

I'll admit that Kelly and Blue's whole will-they-won't-they simmering tension was real, folks - and it kept pulling me back in.

“You don’t get to play with me, Blue.” I wiped a hand over my mouth as though I could erase his taste from my lips, from my mind. I stabbed a finger in his direction. I was strong, and I was resolved, shaking finger be damned. “You don’t get to play with my feelings.”

And because of the dual POV I could see where both Kelly and Blue coming from, but even though Kelly occasionally stood up for himself, it made me sad more than hopeful that the one thing he couldn't get away from was the one thing that was destroying him, because Blue kept pulling him back in like a tractor beam.

“You’re afraid if you lose me, you’re going to lose your family, and that’s just not true.”
“That doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
“Doesn’t it?” We stared at one another and had an entire angry conversation with eyes alone. “You tell me that you were feeling it the way I was feeling it, and I’ll let this whole thing go. Just tell me that.”
I could see the misery in his eyes as he swallowed. “I’m not willing to lose you over this. If this is what we have to do to make it work, then that’s fine by me. I can deal.”
“You can deal.” I laughed, and the sound was so bitter that we both winced. “I’m glad you can fucking deal with me wanting you.”
“You’re being so fucking dramatic. It’s sex. Just sex.”

I found it hard to follow along with how often Blue changes his tune...

When he finally spoke, his voice was so quiet I could barely hear him. “I’m in the NFL. You know how people are. That would be making a statement that I’ll never be willing to make.”

So even though they get together, they keep breaking apart...

Part of me thinks I could fall in love with you. The other part of me knows I already have.

Which brings me to the part I hated the most and colors the way I feel about the rest of the story - the tentative "Happy For Now" ending.



The entire book is a will-they-won't-they kind of story, so at the very end when you get that tentative HFN ending, I didn't trust it because the entire book is Blue making an advance toward a relationship or physicality with Kelly and then immediately retreating.

It's frustrating because good points are made along the way about why this won't work in the long run, and things that will inhibit the relationship from working, and then the ending is so abrupt that it doesn't give the reader an indication about whether those details actually come into play, or whether they were inflated because of fear, or founded but possibly easily overcome.

An epilogue would have gone a long, long way in assuaging those concerns - but there's no epilogue.



I wanted to know about Blue's father's reaction. I wanted the reactions of the coaching staff and players. I wanted the reaction of Kelly's family (which probably would have been hysterically funny). I wanted to know how Kelly's department head and school handled the media storm that was going to hit. I wanted to know how their relationship plays out, and I didn't get that, and it just made me very angry initially, and quite disappointed after I'd had some time to think about it.

So I liked parts of it, but for those reasons, on the whole, this was a miss for me.

2.5 Stars

Advanced Review Galley copy of The Blueprint provided by publisher in exchange of an honest review.

This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.

**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**

Initial thoughts: I am very dissatisfied with that ending. Very.

[Papie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread June 2023
I love these guys as much as the first time. Sweet, sexy, hilarious, emotional rollercoaster. Perfection.

First read August 2020
This is my first book by SE Harmon and I fell so in love with these guys! Blue and Kelly have been best friends all their life. The kind of intense codependent friendship that feels a lot like love. They are basically in a relationship already. Except Blue is a straight NFL star hooking up with a ton of girls, and Kelly is a gay science professor, who is desperately in love with his best friend.

I loved the way their relationship developed. Yes, Blue was not perfect, and he hurt Kelly in the process, but it felt so much more real than a lot of other GFY books where it’s insta love and no big deal. Blue is freaking out, but it makes sense, he has so much to lose, being a professional athlete. Kelly gets hurt, but he is not capable of resisting Blue, so they keep getting together and then going back to their only friends relationship. But Blue is realizing a lot of things about himself, including that he really can’t live without Kelly.

It ends with a HFN, but you know these guys are forever. So many feelings. Off to read book 2! ❤️

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I love friends-to-lovers trope, nothing frustrates me more than when the story focuses on hot-and-cold attitudes, especially when it comes to two adult men. While there are books with such plots that can satisfy me – always depends on how the author works on the plot device — The Blueprint , unfortunately, is not one of them.

Kelly and Blue have been best friends for years. Kelly is gay. Blue is not (or he thinks he is not). Kelly is a professor, Blue is an athlete. Kelly has been sabotaging his relationships because of his feelings for Blue. Blue wants Kelly to be in his life forever, over the course of this book, and starts to get jealous when Kelly wants to ‘move on’.

Basically, Blue acts like a jerk and totally wishy washy – oh you know, he’s an athlete in a masculine sport; he is not “gay” or at least “bisexual” blah blah blah. Don’t get him wrong, Blue doesn’t have problem if other people are gay. And Kelly … sometimes I wish Kelly would stand up for himself.

And then there are plot devices that are so cliché – at least for me who has been reading this genre for years – I wanted to throw my Kindle at the wall. Namely: jealousy, drunken proposal/act, AND injury.

I think the only highlight of this book for me was when Kelly tells his parents that he’s gay. Their reaction is ENTERTAINING. I don’t think I’ve encountered such scene before *laugh*.

Bottom line, the only reason I finished this is because I received the ARC. I have no patience for how these two men behave. Interestingly, I recently read a similar friends-to-lovers situation from a young adult book, and they behave WAY more mature than these two “adults”.




A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls



The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[Em Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.00 ⭐️⭐️

Well...this was quite a reading experience. I'm trying to be a better person, so let me start with the positives of this book. The writing style and dialogue were very smooth. I liked the secondary characters such as Kelly's family, Connor, and Ivan. They were funny and good to dish out the periodical doses of reality. Kelly's coming out was very funny honestly.

Ok, now that's out of the way so I'm ready to move on to being the not better person that I actually am 😇

To put it plainly, a book has not made me this mad in possibly ever. I have not disliked an MC to this extent possibly ever. I have never internally rooted this hard against the MCs being together in possibly ever. I have never wanted to fling my iPad out the window in frustration in poss...ok you get the drift. It was a lot of firsts for me and not good ones.

The story follows Kelly a gay, tatted and pierced professor who is desperately in love with his long time BFF Britton "Blue" Montgomery, a straight football star jock and all-around f-ckboy extraordinaire. I mostly liked Kelly. He was sweet and witty, but unfortunately had zero self-respect when it came to Blue and that became very hard to stomach. Blue was a grade A a—hole. Selfish, immature, selfish, self-centered, selfish, controlling, selfish, toxic, etc. Did I mention selfish? There was not a single act in this book that he did for anyone but himself, including wanting to be with Kelly. Everything that fueled him was his own personal wants and feelings, and if Kelly didn't like it then too f-cking bad for him because he'd be railroading his life anyway.

There was no romance in this, at least not for me. Even Blue's inner monologue was fueled by possession over Kelly not desire or love or feelings. He used Kelly selfishly repeatedly throughout the book, and Kelly was too forgone in his own feelings that he let him. Even taking away the romance, as a friendship they had a completely co-dependent, toxic relationship. Blue demanded, and Kelly gave. Rinse, lather, repeat. Aside from that, the plot was not structured well. There was no reprieve from the hot and cold, back and forth. No real growth (?) until the literal very end. No good depictions of this lifelong friendship they had. All we got to see was the unhealthy dynamic it turned into, so I had a hard time even buying that.

All right, I'm going to shut up now. People seem to either love this or hate it, and unfortunately I was not on the "love it" side. Oh well 🙂

[Jel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see many of my fellow readers loving Kelly and disliking Blue. I’m quite the opposite lol. Kelly is so pushy and demanding. Although I love a strong character who stands up for themselves and doesn’t put up with crap, Kelly push some of my buttons. He low key gaslights Blue into being in a relationship with him.

🤯🤯

Come on dude. blue just found out about his sexuality. Kelly have been in the closet his entire life because he was too afraid to come out and yet he expects Blue to instantaneously be fine with the fact that he’s bi or gay. What a hypocrite. He also kept telling Blue to stop playing football instead of supporting him. I understand that he is afraid that Blue would get injuries but you are supposed to support your loved ones with their interest regardless of how you might feel. Football is blue’s life. Just like his books and nerdy hobbies. Jesus.

Anyways Blue is also selfish but at least he changed and had some character progression.

When they got together, I hated how Kelly said he wasn’t ready to publicize their relationship when Blue said he knows Kelly wants it. Then Kelly starts to complain how he isn’t happy with being in the closet in the relationship in the next book. Again. A hypocrite.

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it! This story incorporated some of my favorite tropes. GFY, Sports, Friends to Lovers, it's all in here. Plus, it's a rom-com featuring Kelly's awesome dry wit. My favorite kind of humor.

Kelly made the story for me. A science nerd with a hopeless lifelong crush on his straight, athlete, best friend. His sarcasm and self-effacing ramblings were LOL moments.

Kelly's best friend, super star NFL player, non hetero, Britton "Blue" Montgomery was a little harder for me to like. His decisions and reactions sometimes rubbed me the wrong way. I also wondered at a couple of plot flows with him. I came away thinking he was very lucky to have someone like Kelly in his life.

Overall a lovely, enjoyable read.


A huge thank you to Elf Wide Minds and Blue Skies for gifting me this book.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe if I'd read the book instead of listened to the audio I might have enjoyed this one more. Wasn't a fan of the narrators and I think that's my problem with this one.