Not So Cookie Cutter

by Aidan Wayne

Jerrell has never been worth more than a fling.

Other guys tend to treat him like a piece of meat they’re entitled to, and Jerrell has given up on hoping for something more. Instead he keeps his head down and doesn’t engage. He loves his job as second baker at a cafe. His work is enough for him.

When Rafi, a regular customer, expresses an interest in Jerrell, Jerrell can’t believe it at first. Rafi is stunning, put together, kind, and acts as though Jerrell is someone worth loving.

But is Rafi too good to be true?

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Short Stories, Fiction

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 23, 2019

About the author

Aidan Wayne has been publishing LGBTQ+ fiction since 2016. While they usually stick with contemporary romance (both adult and YA), some soft sci-fi/fantasy has been known to sneak in as well. They primarily write character-driven stories with happy endings, because, dammit, queer people deserve happy endings too.

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Reviews

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the title, this was pretty cookie cutter: two guys have a meet-cute, date a couple of times, boink (off page) and have a misunderstanding before learning to communicate. Awwww! *sigh* I did love the fact that both MCs are queer men of color, and the attention that was paid to how that impacts Jerrel's search for love.

Unfortunately, because this is so short, there's not much substance to other things. For instance, both men have some other issues that are just mentioned in passing but not really given proper attention, and I never felt like I got to know Rafi beyond him being a super nice guy. All that cooking and baking and no recipes!

If you're in the mood for something light, breezy and quick, this should hit the spot.

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aidan Wayne’s novella Not So Cookie Cutter is an opposites attract, “first-time” love story. The sweet and timid exchanges between these two characters warmed my heart, and the playful, flirty moments kept me smiling. Not So Cookie Cutter is a thoroughly enjoyable romance.

Jerrell, a gentle giant, has such low self-esteem he doesn’t think anyone could be attracted to him, much less like him for who he is. When Rafi, a customer at the cafe where he works, admires his baking, Jerrell can’t quite believe it when the handsome silver fox asks for a date, and a tentative courtship ensues.

Once Jerrell finds out it’s Rafi’s first time dating a man, he figures Rafi’s only using him to get one thing. After all, that’s what guys have done to him in the past. Rafi is sure to dump him after he gets what he wants...

Though this is only my second novel by Aidan Wayne I knew I could count on them for a happy ending, and I love the way Not So Cookie Cutter wraps up! The men discover communication is key when just starting out, and not taking your partner for granted is the foundation of a successful (and very fulfilling) relationship.


a copy of Not So Cookie Cutter was provided to me by the author for the purpose of my review

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a small story that felt a big hug. Terrell, is a large bodied vet who’s now a Baker who is gently persuaded by a Docter. The heat level is low. The story is told at sweet, seasoned pace. Being honest the story resonated well with this reader but when it ended I wanted more. I wanted deeper but I enjoyed what I got.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this short novella in the morning, and OMG THIS WAS SWEET AND ADORABLE, JERRELL WAS SUCH A DARLING!!!! and it made me smile and happy and ready to face the day. This novella has interracial relationship also Rafi, the love interest, is in wheelchairs.

I adore everything right from the very beginning. I might be annoyed with the "conflict" (Rafi had his phone broken, so he was incommunicado and Jerrell thought it was over) -- but then I thought, nobody had LANDLINE anymore, did they?

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read and enjoyed a few of this author’s titles and especially appreciate that their characters are always a bit different than those that tend to populate the genre. That tendency carried over to Not So Cookie Cutter, which is a cute short story with unique characters and a sweet romance.

Shorts always run the risk of a rushed love story or feeling incomplete, but that wasn’t the case here at all. I immediately liked Jarrell and found the tentative sweet flirting between him and Raffi adorable. The characters in Not So Cookie Cutter were well flushed out and I really got a good sense of both men’s personalities. Additionally, the romance was realistically paced, offering a great meet cute, some sweet dates, and time for the characters to get to know each other. While the details didn’t all play out on page, I certainly never felt like I was missing out on the connection between the men. Instead, the narrative and dialogue flowed smoothly and complemented the diverse characters with good backstories, creating an easy read with plenty of “aww” moments and relatively low angst.

*Received eARC from author. The author had no influence over this review*

[Shelba · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but with a noticeable amount of typos. Sometimes it was just a word missing, other times the wrong word was used all together, like "the only thing people cared around" instead of "about", or shirt instead of shift.

The filigree chapter headers was oddly distracting.

[Victoria (Eve's Alexandria) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, cosy novella about a shy Black army veteran turned baker and an Indian neurologist with chronic pain, with lots of cheesecake and frosting. Perfect for a sunny Sunday afternoon, with low low angst and kissing on page only.

[Georgiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

~3.5 Stars~
Sweet romance with low drama.

Jerrell and Rafi are both kind and gentle men. Jerrell has a few insecurities which does cause a low drama scene, but I thought it was needed to help the relationship grow. I enjoyed how accepting Jerrell was of Rafi’s disability. Just like Rafi did, I found Jerrell’s shyness to be sweet.

This is my first story by this author. It flowed smoothly and had a nice gentle feel to it. There’s not much backstory of the characters as it’s a short read, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it.

[Teal Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not So Cookie Cutter by Aidan Wayne is a quick and sweet read. Jerrell and Rafi are fun characters and captured my heart. The story is low on drama and high on sweet romance. Definitely satisfying treat.

[Jacqueline Duczek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love everything by Aidan and this novella was no exception. It was sweet and fluffy and heartwarming and exactly the kind of thing I needed on a rainy, miserable day.

[Tame · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet & satisfying

I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me to not assume the worst and to be vulnerable to new people and future opportunities ❤️

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not So Cookie Cutter is a wonderful and sweet novella about a baker and customer who meet one day in a diner. Jerrell is ex-military and taken over the role of primary baker in the diner while Rafi is a frequent customer. Rafi asks to speak with the baker after a new pie flavor is put on the menu and he tastes it. From that point on, Rafi asks to speak with Jerrell every time he visits the diner. The romance slowly evolves from that point and it is a heart-warming read perfect for any day. I keep re-reading this and falling in love with Jerrell and Rafi.

[Carrie Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Jerrell and Rafi's story quite a bit. It was a sweet low drama romance that kept me smiling throughout. They were adorable. Though, I couldn't help but wish this was a little longer and fleshed out more. Definitely, enjoy Aidan Wayne's writing and I will be picking up more of their stories.

[KH · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short, queer novella was soft and very sweet. These two gentle men were so careful with each other. Even the heat level is gentle: kisses and fade to black.
I enjoyed all the details of Jerrell's job as a baker. It sounds physically tiring; he starts work at 4 am. But it also fulfills him creatively and allows him to channel his hyper focus productively.

[... · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still enjoyed this one, but it wasn't quite as much of a heart-eye read for me simply because Jerrell's... take on their relationship felt a little ridiculous by the time they actually had the conversation to clear things up.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
RTC

[Natalija · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is entirely based on Jerrell's insecurities and assumptions. It got tiresome pretty fast.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, lovely, gentle as always. (And made me cry.)

[Riska Sleepless · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely story

[Alex Onwuli · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very interesting and the disabled rep was done very well. The book is enjoyable and a very fun read.

[peach · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet contemporary love story, with a nice dash of angst. I enjoyed it, but I wish the off-page sex scene had been a bit clearer about the fact that they actually had sex – I ended up drawing that conclusion based on what happened after, but it really could have been hinted at a bit more clearly when it was such a big deal to the main character.

[Mer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5