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Starting Over #1
The Divorce
Sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together.
Aled is in a rut. Thirty-three, separated from his wife and avoiding his best friend so he doesn’t have to see how well her love life is going doesn’t make for a good time. So, when a friend suggests a one-night stand to shake off the dust, Aled decides to play along. Maybe some no-strings-attached sex is exactly what he needs to get himself going again and give him the energy to get his life back on track.
But when Aled’s dominant streak meets Gabriel’s flirtatious submission, the one-night stand rapidly spills over into the following days and weeks. And what started out as just sex doesn’t stay that way for long, from the flour fight in Aled’s kitchen to the homemade curry in Gabriel’s flat.
Happiness is right in front of him—but Aled has to stop looking back if he wants to reach it.
Aled is in a rut. Thirty-three, separated from his wife and avoiding his best friend so he doesn’t have to see how well her love life is going doesn’t make for a good time. So, when a friend suggests a one-night stand to shake off the dust, Aled decides to play along. Maybe some no-strings-attached sex is exactly what he needs to get himself going again and give him the energy to get his life back on track.
But when Aled’s dominant streak meets Gabriel’s flirtatious submission, the one-night stand rapidly spills over into the following days and weeks. And what started out as just sex doesn’t stay that way for long, from the flour fight in Aled’s kitchen to the homemade curry in Gabriel’s flat.
Happiness is right in front of him—but Aled has to stop looking back if he wants to reach it.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2019
27 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Matthew J. Metzger
33 books351 followersMatthew is an asexual, transgender author from the wet and windy British Isles.
Matt writes LGBT novels, both adult and young adult, and particularly enjoys digging into the weird and wonderful diversity of people all across the sexuality and gender spectrums. When not writing, Matt is usually asleep, or crunching numbers at his day job. Free time is not really a concept here.
He is also owned by an enormous black cat. Approach with caution.
Matt writes LGBT novels, both adult and young adult, and particularly enjoys digging into the weird and wonderful diversity of people all across the sexuality and gender spectrums. When not writing, Matt is usually asleep, or crunching numbers at his day job. Free time is not really a concept here.
He is also owned by an enormous black cat. Approach with caution.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 21, 2020
I really like Matthew J. Metzger, and I've read a ton of his stuff, so I had high hopes for The Divorce, even if the description didn't seem quite like the usual book that I would chose. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the story, though the reasons are partly my own fault.
Reading some of the other reviews, I feel really passionately that some of the readers didn't quite understand the story. This is a romance between two men, one of whom is trans and the other a cis, bisexual (or pansexual, I don't remember exactly) man. The way that the trans MC refers to his body may be confusing for some who haven't read a book with a trans MC, especially an explicit book with a trans MC, but I understood everything. I love how the author doesn't shy away from treating trans MCs like the sexual beings that they are/can be. He treats his trans MCs like people, with issues and desires and needs like everyone else (!), and that's really important for me in a romance. So many authors don't get trans characters right, and this author does every time.
Now, the romance and the plot was another story.
I have read and enjoyed books with poly MCs, but they are certainly more of a struggle for me. I think for me to enjoy a poly romance, there needs to be super strong romantic connection between the two MCs for me to get that romance vibe, and I just didn't feel it here. I know the book is part of a longer series, but I struggled with the romance through the whole story. I wasn't feeling the connection.
I liked the discussions on consent and boundaries with the BDSM scenes, and I like dirty talk a great deal, but the kink scenes weren't really my kink. They weren't quite what I enjoy reading about, but that is really personal preference and totally on me.
I also struggled a bit with the pacing. The story is fairly long, and I had to really push myself to finish by the end. Mostly because I wasn't loving these two men together, but also I just found it to be a little... slow. Just draggy. Maybe it's because I wasn't connecting with some of the other parts of the story.
I took a shot with this one, and it worked for many of my friends, but it wasn't the right book for me. Next time, Matthew J. Metzger!
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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Reading some of the other reviews, I feel really passionately that some of the readers didn't quite understand the story. This is a romance between two men, one of whom is trans and the other a cis, bisexual (or pansexual, I don't remember exactly) man. The way that the trans MC refers to his body may be confusing for some who haven't read a book with a trans MC, especially an explicit book with a trans MC, but I understood everything. I love how the author doesn't shy away from treating trans MCs like the sexual beings that they are/can be. He treats his trans MCs like people, with issues and desires and needs like everyone else (!), and that's really important for me in a romance. So many authors don't get trans characters right, and this author does every time.
Now, the romance and the plot was another story.
I have read and enjoyed books with poly MCs, but they are certainly more of a struggle for me. I think for me to enjoy a poly romance, there needs to be super strong romantic connection between the two MCs for me to get that romance vibe, and I just didn't feel it here. I know the book is part of a longer series, but I struggled with the romance through the whole story. I wasn't feeling the connection.
I liked the discussions on consent and boundaries with the BDSM scenes, and I like dirty talk a great deal, but the kink scenes weren't really my kink. They weren't quite what I enjoy reading about, but that is really personal preference and totally on me.
I also struggled a bit with the pacing. The story is fairly long, and I had to really push myself to finish by the end. Mostly because I wasn't loving these two men together, but also I just found it to be a little... slow. Just draggy. Maybe it's because I wasn't connecting with some of the other parts of the story.
I took a shot with this one, and it worked for many of my friends, but it wasn't the right book for me. Next time, Matthew J. Metzger!
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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September 6, 2019
And Matthew Metzger strikes again. Why pick up this book ? Because what I remember from the first book I read from this author was that, surprisingly, his writing works for me while it wouldn’t from others. Hard to explain, but his stories exude a sense of respect and many feels that move me.
Aled is bisexual, into “open-relationships”, separated from his wife for a year but not yet ready to admit that their paths are not converging anymore. Gabriel is a gay transgender man, into submissive and polyamourous relationships.
Being together is exactly what they both need, even if Gabriel seems a bit sceptical and Aled still has to leave the past in the past.
So, even if, for the second time, this is not about a relationship that would fuel my dreams, I loved the communication between Aled and Gabriel, the sexiness of their encounters and feeling so much respect and understanding between them or with their close ones. RL would be so much better with this kind of attitude.
So, the relationship between Aled and Gabriel is not my ideal of “romance”, but the characterization definitely is and that makes a winner for me.
And a special note about the “flour fight” mentioned in the blurb : that was hot !!!
ARC of “The Divorce” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Aled is bisexual, into “open-relationships”, separated from his wife for a year but not yet ready to admit that their paths are not converging anymore. Gabriel is a gay transgender man, into submissive and polyamourous relationships.
Being together is exactly what they both need, even if Gabriel seems a bit sceptical and Aled still has to leave the past in the past.
So, even if, for the second time, this is not about a relationship that would fuel my dreams, I loved the communication between Aled and Gabriel, the sexiness of their encounters and feeling so much respect and understanding between them or with their close ones. RL would be so much better with this kind of attitude.
So, the relationship between Aled and Gabriel is not my ideal of “romance”, but the characterization definitely is and that makes a winner for me.
And a special note about the “flour fight” mentioned in the blurb : that was hot !!!
ARC of “The Divorce” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2019
When I read the blurb I didn't expect to get the story that I got in the end, so I guess you could say the blurb is not a very good one, but luckily I still enjoyed the story.
Aled is separated from him wife for about a year, but he plans to contact her again and try to rebuild their relationship. Eventually.... In the future.... Some time....
In the meanwhile, he meets Gabriel and they start a passionate relationship. At first everything is casual and carnal, but as they get to know each other better and spend time together Aled starts to realise that he's moving on from his failed marriage and begins to have feelings for someone new.
Two things that I didn't expect to get here based on the blurb are the fact that this is an erotic romance (thankfully with a nice plot to keep my interest and make me care about the characters and what happened to them) and that Gabriel and Aled's relationship is an open one since Gabriel is polyamorous.
There's no confusion about who the main characters are, but at the same time Aled is just one of a few people that Gabriel sees regularly. They talk about what that means and there's no cheating since everyone is aware and accepting of their status.
The book ended kind of abruply and I was confused, but after checking Goodreads it turns out this is just the first book in a series about three guys and the relationship between them. The series is supposed to recount events that span over five years. So I'm glad this sudden end to the book wasn't supposed to be the end of Aled and Gabriel's story, but at the same time I'm not sure if I'll keep up with the series.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. *
Aled is separated from him wife for about a year, but he plans to contact her again and try to rebuild their relationship. Eventually.... In the future.... Some time....
In the meanwhile, he meets Gabriel and they start a passionate relationship. At first everything is casual and carnal, but as they get to know each other better and spend time together Aled starts to realise that he's moving on from his failed marriage and begins to have feelings for someone new.
Two things that I didn't expect to get here based on the blurb are the fact that this is an erotic romance (thankfully with a nice plot to keep my interest and make me care about the characters and what happened to them) and that Gabriel and Aled's relationship is an open one since Gabriel is polyamorous.
There's no confusion about who the main characters are, but at the same time Aled is just one of a few people that Gabriel sees regularly. They talk about what that means and there's no cheating since everyone is aware and accepting of their status.
The book ended kind of abruply and I was confused, but after checking Goodreads it turns out this is just the first book in a series about three guys and the relationship between them. The series is supposed to recount events that span over five years. So I'm glad this sudden end to the book wasn't supposed to be the end of Aled and Gabriel's story, but at the same time I'm not sure if I'll keep up with the series.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. *
May 11, 2020
3.5 stars
So I just binged this whole series, which is on KU right now, and I would give the series as a whole 4.5 stars. But this first book is definitely the weakest link, mostly because of Aled's frustrating mental hangup with his separation/impending divorce.
After a certain point, it becomes almost impossible to sympathize with the way he's handling it -- but that ends up being the point of the whole thing and it all comes together in the end.
This still doesn't feel quite as polished as Metzger's usual work, to the extent that I had to read many, many passages over a few times to make sure I got the gist of them, but this was mostly just a problem with this first book. (Although there were a few instances that stood out in the rest of the series as well.)
But once you get through the first book, the series is a very interesting exploration of what polyamory can mean to different people. I've been on a major non-monogamy kick lately, and I think it's because by their very nature, the relationships are non-formulaic. Non-monogamy is going to look different for everyone, and Aled and Gabriel's relationship takes a different path than anything I've read before.
This first book is still better than average, just to be clear, but I also read it knowing it was just the first of four books. I'm not sure how I would have felt about it as a standalone, but ... it's not :) It ends just as Gabriel and Aled agree to progress from sex to attempting a relationship, which is a pretty big concession for Gabriel, so there's nothing conclusive about this agreement at all. I do think each of the other books ends in a satisfying place for the relationship(s), but you probably want to plan on at least reading the first two together.
Gabriel is also a fascinating character, and I remember finishing this first book wondering why we spent so much time in the POV of the less-interesting MC. I don't feel that way about Aled anymore, but I still really don't give a shit about Aled's ex-wife!! A lot of this background is important to understand Aled's mindset further down the road, but I don't think we needed to linger on it this much. I get why Aled's lingering on it, and it's a very effective tool for showcasing Aled's awesome relationship with his best friend Suze, but it dragged this first installment down a bit. Still very worthwhile as an entry point into this series.
So I just binged this whole series, which is on KU right now, and I would give the series as a whole 4.5 stars. But this first book is definitely the weakest link, mostly because of Aled's frustrating mental hangup with his separation/impending divorce.
After a certain point, it becomes almost impossible to sympathize with the way he's handling it -- but that ends up being the point of the whole thing and it all comes together in the end.
This still doesn't feel quite as polished as Metzger's usual work, to the extent that I had to read many, many passages over a few times to make sure I got the gist of them, but this was mostly just a problem with this first book. (Although there were a few instances that stood out in the rest of the series as well.)
But once you get through the first book, the series is a very interesting exploration of what polyamory can mean to different people. I've been on a major non-monogamy kick lately, and I think it's because by their very nature, the relationships are non-formulaic. Non-monogamy is going to look different for everyone, and Aled and Gabriel's relationship takes a different path than anything I've read before.
This first book is still better than average, just to be clear, but I also read it knowing it was just the first of four books. I'm not sure how I would have felt about it as a standalone, but ... it's not :) It ends just as Gabriel and Aled agree to progress from sex to attempting a relationship, which is a pretty big concession for Gabriel, so there's nothing conclusive about this agreement at all. I do think each of the other books ends in a satisfying place for the relationship(s), but you probably want to plan on at least reading the first two together.
Gabriel is also a fascinating character, and I remember finishing this first book wondering why we spent so much time in the POV of the less-interesting MC. I don't feel that way about Aled anymore, but I still really don't give a shit about Aled's ex-wife!! A lot of this background is important to understand Aled's mindset further down the road, but I don't think we needed to linger on it this much. I get why Aled's lingering on it, and it's a very effective tool for showcasing Aled's awesome relationship with his best friend Suze, but it dragged this first installment down a bit. Still very worthwhile as an entry point into this series.
September 23, 2019
I'm sorry, this is one of the times where there were such issues with a book, that not only did I not finish it, but I had to add a review about it.
1. Okay, so Gabriel is described as transgender. He has both a cock and a vagina. That's not what a transgender is, and the author as a transgender himself shouldn't confuse that. What Gabriel is, is an intersex person (meaning he has both genitals, both chromosomes, etc). He hasn't had any surgery to change his parts, he wasn't raised as a girl, as far as I read at least. If he had, he could maybe be considered transgender, but he hasn't. So, intersex.
2. The writing seemed...sloppy?
3. The MCs, Aled and Gabriel. Aled seemed totally clueless about some things, even though he's supposed to be such a good judge of the body and its language. Gabriel...I don't know if it's because of the writing style, but he comes along like a slutty bimbo, who thinks she dabbles in kink, but doesn't really follow rules. You let another person cum in you, with no thought to disease or anything, not knowing if they're clean etc, but you expect us to believe that you're very careful during a BDSM scene, with safewords and such? Please. You met that man through Grindr! Not a BDSM club, where applications and health tests are screened by monitors.
All in all, most of the characters were cringy, the writing needs work and the author needs to do better research, at least in the rules of the kink department.
1. Okay, so Gabriel is described as transgender. He has both a cock and a vagina. That's not what a transgender is, and the author as a transgender himself shouldn't confuse that. What Gabriel is, is an intersex person (meaning he has both genitals, both chromosomes, etc). He hasn't had any surgery to change his parts, he wasn't raised as a girl, as far as I read at least. If he had, he could maybe be considered transgender, but he hasn't. So, intersex.
2. The writing seemed...sloppy?
3. The MCs, Aled and Gabriel. Aled seemed totally clueless about some things, even though he's supposed to be such a good judge of the body and its language. Gabriel...I don't know if it's because of the writing style, but he comes along like a slutty bimbo, who thinks she dabbles in kink, but doesn't really follow rules. You let another person cum in you, with no thought to disease or anything, not knowing if they're clean etc, but you expect us to believe that you're very careful during a BDSM scene, with safewords and such? Please. You met that man through Grindr! Not a BDSM club, where applications and health tests are screened by monitors.
All in all, most of the characters were cringy, the writing needs work and the author needs to do better research, at least in the rules of the kink department.
February 16, 2021
It's been awhile since I read this kind of Metzger. Really raw and interesting characters, with a lively plot which rolls along at a steady pace. Plenty of raw darkness in the characters, which Metzger always does well.
September 25, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
With a title like The Divorce, this book may not seem like a romance up front. But it is Aled’s divorce that leads him to meet Gabriel, which sets his life on a completely new path. When we first meet Aled, he is miserable. He cannot get over the fact that his wife left and he is just waiting for her to come back. He hasn’t seen her in a year and hasn’t done anything to get her back and their issues are fixed and unchanging. But that doesn’t stop Aled from gripping tightly to the smallest amounts of hope that she will return. She does finally come back, but only to give Aled divorce papers.
When Aled became aware of his dominant desires years ago, he was afraid and thought there was something wrong with him. But in having the right partner, Aled was able to have the relationship he wanted. Aled and his wife had an open relationship and understood each other’s needs, but there is more to why Aled is resisting the divorce and his character is well layered and defined as the story progresses.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
With a title like The Divorce, this book may not seem like a romance up front. But it is Aled’s divorce that leads him to meet Gabriel, which sets his life on a completely new path. When we first meet Aled, he is miserable. He cannot get over the fact that his wife left and he is just waiting for her to come back. He hasn’t seen her in a year and hasn’t done anything to get her back and their issues are fixed and unchanging. But that doesn’t stop Aled from gripping tightly to the smallest amounts of hope that she will return. She does finally come back, but only to give Aled divorce papers.
When Aled became aware of his dominant desires years ago, he was afraid and thought there was something wrong with him. But in having the right partner, Aled was able to have the relationship he wanted. Aled and his wife had an open relationship and understood each other’s needs, but there is more to why Aled is resisting the divorce and his character is well layered and defined as the story progresses.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
September 17, 2019
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Enjoyed these characters but I've never been able to enjoy a book that has polyamorous relationships. This is obviously not everyone's opinion but it is mine and I couldn't get past it. I did like that it included a transexual.
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Enjoyed these characters but I've never been able to enjoy a book that has polyamorous relationships. This is obviously not everyone's opinion but it is mine and I couldn't get past it. I did like that it included a transexual.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2019
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
It has been a year since Aled’s wife left him. His friends drag him out to the pub and at their encouragement, he agrees to meet up with a hot guy they found on Grinder. A night with Gabriel has him feeling better but the reappearance of his wife causes emotional chaos for Aled.
Aled’s is desperate to hold on to his old life while starting a new relationship with Gabriel, even if it is just a friends with benefits deal. His struggles made for good reading. I liked the honesty between Gabriel and Aled’s as they explore each other both in and out of bed and Gabriel’s strength to be who he is and to ask for what he wants. Also the steamy scenes are hot, varied and never boring.
The Divorce felt a bit like an entre – small and delicious and left me wanting more. I’m looking forward to reading book 2, The Other Man in the coming weeks.
It has been a year since Aled’s wife left him. His friends drag him out to the pub and at their encouragement, he agrees to meet up with a hot guy they found on Grinder. A night with Gabriel has him feeling better but the reappearance of his wife causes emotional chaos for Aled.
Aled’s is desperate to hold on to his old life while starting a new relationship with Gabriel, even if it is just a friends with benefits deal. His struggles made for good reading. I liked the honesty between Gabriel and Aled’s as they explore each other both in and out of bed and Gabriel’s strength to be who he is and to ask for what he wants. Also the steamy scenes are hot, varied and never boring.
The Divorce felt a bit like an entre – small and delicious and left me wanting more. I’m looking forward to reading book 2, The Other Man in the coming weeks.
October 15, 2019
I received a free copy to read and review for Wicked Reads
I actually read this book because I found the blur for the second book in the series and wanted to read that book and I needed the backstory. I was excited to jump in and get to reading when this hit my e-reader. I will have to say that the book wasn't what I expected. It wasn't bad, it just didn't hold my attention because I didn't feel a connection between Aled and Gabriel. The book is just over 200 pages but it seemed much longer to me. This book contains a poly relationship, which if written well works for me, this time I am on the fence about it. There is also a trans person in this book, however, if you read some of the reviews some people don't agree that the character is trans and use other words to describe the character. Just know going in that this book isn't your traditional M/M love story. I do want to read the next book to see what happens next, if there is a third book I am not sure if I will read it or not yet.
I actually read this book because I found the blur for the second book in the series and wanted to read that book and I needed the backstory. I was excited to jump in and get to reading when this hit my e-reader. I will have to say that the book wasn't what I expected. It wasn't bad, it just didn't hold my attention because I didn't feel a connection between Aled and Gabriel. The book is just over 200 pages but it seemed much longer to me. This book contains a poly relationship, which if written well works for me, this time I am on the fence about it. There is also a trans person in this book, however, if you read some of the reviews some people don't agree that the character is trans and use other words to describe the character. Just know going in that this book isn't your traditional M/M love story. I do want to read the next book to see what happens next, if there is a third book I am not sure if I will read it or not yet.
November 5, 2019
3.7 ~
nope
October 2, 2019Read a few reviews and have to say - this is not for me.
January 18, 2022
A ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords Review. This review can also be found here.
Aled is wallowing at the end of his marriage while his best friend, Suze and her husband, Tom try to get him out of it, be getting him rip-roaring drunk and getting him laid via a Grindr profile. When his one-night stand with angel23 turns out to be something more, it might just be the thing that forces Aled to let go and move on.
Buckle in people, this is a long one…
This book just won’t stop. I can’t, I tried, I really tried but I couldn’t switch my brain off. When I read I mostly dissociate from who I am as a person and I almost always read from the character’s perspective which is bad because I borrow the character’s perceptions and therefore find myself susceptible to manipulation. I often can’t pick up harmful stereotyping and words when the character doesn’t pick up on them. I have come to realise that that is why my POV can get very limited and I might not be the best person to tell you if a book might have harmful themes but you know what I do know. I know what it is like to read a book which has a theme I can’t behind, it is horrible. It feels like a bad threesome starring me, the book and my brain and can I just say, it's horrible.
This book has multiple instances of unsafe sex, like don’t even ask how many. By the 57% mark, I was still having a fits of rage every time I come across this aspect of the book. Romance traditionally has a habit of romanticizing unsafe sex but unsafe sex is against every fibre of my being and I can't overlook it.
But, when a book keeps on doing it without at least a veneer of excuse, I just can’t. Like, I will happily take the werewolves don’t get ill excuse as long as you actually give it to me. Anything will do, just give me something to blindfold my eyes. Anything.
At this point, I have to say that they have unsafe sex multiple times in this book which becomes increasingly problematic considering that both Aled and Gabriel have sex with multiple partners. Like, that’s just putting salt on my wounds. I know some people can’t read a book with cheating in it, apparently I have a hard time getting through books with unsafe sex. And it’s bad, every time they have a sex scene I have to stop reading so I could brace myself for what will in all eventuality follow and because bracing for it doesn’t work I then have to rant to my walls. I keep trying to see those scenes as fantasy and I KEEP reminding myself its just a book but then my brain comes back with the counter-argument that if the book doesn’t challenge it how is anyone reading the book going to know it’s wrong. Also, what is Gabriel’s problems with condoms? I really, really don’t understand how these two to plan to avoid STDs if they continue to have multiple sexual partners. It is so so stupid, I have no words.
This book was a literal experience, I literally can’t say where it goes on the rating scale. There were so many things happening in RL while I was reading this book and also while reading it I learned that this book is planned as the first in a series and the author has a series blurb up on Goodreads which is different than this book's blurb and actually the direction that the series blurb offers isn't even hinted at in the first book, so I felt like I was being cheated into reading something that might later turn into something else and I’m not sure if I actually have been cheated but it does feel that way.
Aled and Gabriel are rational characters aside from that complete asinine need to contract STDs, they are amazing characters. They are both very gritty and Gabriel did start off on my wrong side but later I really came to appreciate his character though I continue to disagree with his choices during sex. I kind of get him, I totally don’t get his aversion to condoms and I can’t believe Aled gave in without a word? Aled is a good guy though there is a literal asterisk next to the word good which implies just what you though it does.
How am I going to write this review? I liked Aled and Gabriel as characters and the author had me invested in the storyline and I liked where the story is going and I liked how this story starts with Melissa and Aled’s impending divorce and how it comes full circle with that point but I don’t condone unsafe sex. I want to read the next in this series but believe me, I am already dreading the review for that one as well.
How can I say that I liked this book while not agreeing with something that is shoved in your face every few minutes? There is a lot of sex in this book which would have been amazing because I love Gabriel’s kinks but instead it was torture and not at all in a good way.
I wanted to talk themes that were approached in this book but yeah the fact is that I can’t isolate the story from the sex because it is pretty intermingled and I don’t want someone to twist my words because I don’t know how I can get my feelings across in the right measure.
So Melissa and Aled's divorce was a refreshing topic something that you don’t see much in romance and I liked how it was done and how it was ultimately resolved. It was certainly a very unique take on an occurrence that I have never actually read being discussed in a romance. But, while the book's title might make you think that this would be the biggest plot point it isn't. The Divorce is in all actuality meant to be a romance and while the divorce plays a part in it, it remains just that - a part of the story.
I liked Aled’s friends Suze and Tom who are the only vanilla anything in this book. Though I was personally offended by the way they took Gabriel’s transgender status and yeah when it blows up, I was actually glad that it got addressed but I didn’t like the fact that that had to happen at the expense of Gabriel’s feelings.
I like Gabriel and Aled but I have a major problem with the way they are leading their life. How can people have a discussion about polyamory and not talk about ways to keep themselves safe. Gabriel never wanted to use condoms from the very first time he met Aled on Grindr like literally give me something to keep me disillusioned and Aled was even more pathetic in a way because he tries to use condoms and then forgets about them so easily that I was left reeling.
I would have preferred a disclaimer for unsafe sex because it was really off-putting especially because after a while it starts resembling a train wreck to me.
It was actually also interesting to see an open relationship because Aled and Gabriel have a very unconventional relationship because Gabriel has sex with other individuals independent of Aled and that is definitely something I have never seen discussed in romance and frankly, if the discussion on safe sex is going to be bloody non-existent I actually don’t want to read it again.
I find myself in a big dilemma because while I am invested in these characters and their story I don’t know how I can get over this roadblock.
It was a very big obstacle for me. It might not be for others, so in a way, this might be a book you might have to judge for yourself. This is a pretty unique book a lot of what I read about in this book I have never seen discussed anywhere else and it is written in a very engaging manner which was probably the only reason I got through it so well. Overall, I’m going to give it three stars but that comes with a serious disclaimer because I feel this book would have been pretty good if it had some semblance of safe sex. I can’t say that with surety because the whole safe sex thing was such a big deal to me that I might have missed subtler problems that I might have picked up on otherwise, if not for the very distracting reading experience I had.
Cover Art by Erin Dameron-Hill is very aesthetically pleasing and does a good job of illustrating the title.
Aled is wallowing at the end of his marriage while his best friend, Suze and her husband, Tom try to get him out of it, be getting him rip-roaring drunk and getting him laid via a Grindr profile. When his one-night stand with angel23 turns out to be something more, it might just be the thing that forces Aled to let go and move on.
Buckle in people, this is a long one…
This book just won’t stop. I can’t, I tried, I really tried but I couldn’t switch my brain off. When I read I mostly dissociate from who I am as a person and I almost always read from the character’s perspective which is bad because I borrow the character’s perceptions and therefore find myself susceptible to manipulation. I often can’t pick up harmful stereotyping and words when the character doesn’t pick up on them. I have come to realise that that is why my POV can get very limited and I might not be the best person to tell you if a book might have harmful themes but you know what I do know. I know what it is like to read a book which has a theme I can’t behind, it is horrible. It feels like a bad threesome starring me, the book and my brain and can I just say, it's horrible.
This book has multiple instances of unsafe sex, like don’t even ask how many. By the 57% mark, I was still having a fits of rage every time I come across this aspect of the book. Romance traditionally has a habit of romanticizing unsafe sex but unsafe sex is against every fibre of my being and I can't overlook it.
But, when a book keeps on doing it without at least a veneer of excuse, I just can’t. Like, I will happily take the werewolves don’t get ill excuse as long as you actually give it to me. Anything will do, just give me something to blindfold my eyes. Anything.
At this point, I have to say that they have unsafe sex multiple times in this book which becomes increasingly problematic considering that both Aled and Gabriel have sex with multiple partners. Like, that’s just putting salt on my wounds. I know some people can’t read a book with cheating in it, apparently I have a hard time getting through books with unsafe sex. And it’s bad, every time they have a sex scene I have to stop reading so I could brace myself for what will in all eventuality follow and because bracing for it doesn’t work I then have to rant to my walls. I keep trying to see those scenes as fantasy and I KEEP reminding myself its just a book but then my brain comes back with the counter-argument that if the book doesn’t challenge it how is anyone reading the book going to know it’s wrong. Also, what is Gabriel’s problems with condoms? I really, really don’t understand how these two to plan to avoid STDs if they continue to have multiple sexual partners. It is so so stupid, I have no words.
This book was a literal experience, I literally can’t say where it goes on the rating scale. There were so many things happening in RL while I was reading this book and also while reading it I learned that this book is planned as the first in a series and the author has a series blurb up on Goodreads which is different than this book's blurb and actually the direction that the series blurb offers isn't even hinted at in the first book, so I felt like I was being cheated into reading something that might later turn into something else and I’m not sure if I actually have been cheated but it does feel that way.
Aled and Gabriel are rational characters aside from that complete asinine need to contract STDs, they are amazing characters. They are both very gritty and Gabriel did start off on my wrong side but later I really came to appreciate his character though I continue to disagree with his choices during sex. I kind of get him, I totally don’t get his aversion to condoms and I can’t believe Aled gave in without a word? Aled is a good guy though there is a literal asterisk next to the word good which implies just what you though it does.
How am I going to write this review? I liked Aled and Gabriel as characters and the author had me invested in the storyline and I liked where the story is going and I liked how this story starts with Melissa and Aled’s impending divorce and how it comes full circle with that point but I don’t condone unsafe sex. I want to read the next in this series but believe me, I am already dreading the review for that one as well.
How can I say that I liked this book while not agreeing with something that is shoved in your face every few minutes? There is a lot of sex in this book which would have been amazing because I love Gabriel’s kinks but instead it was torture and not at all in a good way.
I wanted to talk themes that were approached in this book but yeah the fact is that I can’t isolate the story from the sex because it is pretty intermingled and I don’t want someone to twist my words because I don’t know how I can get my feelings across in the right measure.
So Melissa and Aled's divorce was a refreshing topic something that you don’t see much in romance and I liked how it was done and how it was ultimately resolved. It was certainly a very unique take on an occurrence that I have never actually read being discussed in a romance. But, while the book's title might make you think that this would be the biggest plot point it isn't. The Divorce is in all actuality meant to be a romance and while the divorce plays a part in it, it remains just that - a part of the story.
I liked Aled’s friends Suze and Tom who are the only vanilla anything in this book. Though I was personally offended by the way they took Gabriel’s transgender status and yeah when it blows up, I was actually glad that it got addressed but I didn’t like the fact that that had to happen at the expense of Gabriel’s feelings.
I like Gabriel and Aled but I have a major problem with the way they are leading their life. How can people have a discussion about polyamory and not talk about ways to keep themselves safe. Gabriel never wanted to use condoms from the very first time he met Aled on Grindr like literally give me something to keep me disillusioned and Aled was even more pathetic in a way because he tries to use condoms and then forgets about them so easily that I was left reeling.
I would have preferred a disclaimer for unsafe sex because it was really off-putting especially because after a while it starts resembling a train wreck to me.
It was actually also interesting to see an open relationship because Aled and Gabriel have a very unconventional relationship because Gabriel has sex with other individuals independent of Aled and that is definitely something I have never seen discussed in romance and frankly, if the discussion on safe sex is going to be bloody non-existent I actually don’t want to read it again.
I find myself in a big dilemma because while I am invested in these characters and their story I don’t know how I can get over this roadblock.
It was a very big obstacle for me. It might not be for others, so in a way, this might be a book you might have to judge for yourself. This is a pretty unique book a lot of what I read about in this book I have never seen discussed anywhere else and it is written in a very engaging manner which was probably the only reason I got through it so well. Overall, I’m going to give it three stars but that comes with a serious disclaimer because I feel this book would have been pretty good if it had some semblance of safe sex. I can’t say that with surety because the whole safe sex thing was such a big deal to me that I might have missed subtler problems that I might have picked up on otherwise, if not for the very distracting reading experience I had.
Cover Art by Erin Dameron-Hill is very aesthetically pleasing and does a good job of illustrating the title.
April 23, 2021
I somehow missed the publication of this entire series of 5 books, so was able to read them one after the other over the last few days. I've read all Matthew J Metzger's previous books.
Alex and Gabriel start as a hookup. It's a "sex first, slowly building into a relationship" sort of situation. An open relationship, with boundaries.
Much (all?) of the sex in the books is kinky and some of it involving a fair bit of force including things that cause bleeding.
I was a bit taken aback by some of the force/blood play but there was a good deal of consideration demonstrated (although not always spelled out to the reader right at the outset) of the importance of limits and consent. There are scenes which end early if one of the characters calls a halt.
There are a few scenes (not sure if it is first mentioned in book 1 or later as they've all joined together in my mind) that I'm still not sure about from a safe/sane point of view but I'm reassured by so many other mentions of safe words, checking in on how their partner is doing physically and mentally, etc, that I can let it go and assume there's a strategy to make it less risky than it seems.
Nonetheless I enjoyed the sex scenes and enjoyed seeing the different ways of having sexual partners and/relationships to meet everyone's different needs.
This series covers a good swathe of LGBT and human condition.
Alex and Gabriel start as a hookup. It's a "sex first, slowly building into a relationship" sort of situation. An open relationship, with boundaries.
Much (all?) of the sex in the books is kinky and some of it involving a fair bit of force including things that cause bleeding.
I was a bit taken aback by some of the force/blood play but there was a good deal of consideration demonstrated (although not always spelled out to the reader right at the outset) of the importance of limits and consent. There are scenes which end early if one of the characters calls a halt.
There are a few scenes (not sure if it is first mentioned in book 1 or later as they've all joined together in my mind) that I'm still not sure about from a safe/sane point of view but I'm reassured by so many other mentions of safe words, checking in on how their partner is doing physically and mentally, etc, that I can let it go and assume there's a strategy to make it less risky than it seems.
Nonetheless I enjoyed the sex scenes and enjoyed seeing the different ways of having sexual partners and/relationships to meet everyone's different needs.
This series covers a good swathe of LGBT and human condition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
This was my first time reading this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Matthew’s writing style worked well for me.
I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea especially since it’s an unconventional relationship but I enjoy books that are unconventional and are not what society considers “normal”
Aled is a cis bisexual/pansexual man who is coming to terms with his upcoming divorce and ok with open relationships.
Gabriel is a transgender man who is very poly and has a few different relationships. Both men are into kink and I will say this book and all following books are heavy on the kink. Some of the kinks were not for me, but I appreciate how everything was negotiated and handled and consent was very clear.
In trying to keep this as spoiler free as possible we follow both men as the go from casual to maybe something more, with Aled trying accept that the life you always wanted isn’t necessarily the one you can have and coming to terms with that. The author didn’t sugarcoat things and situations the characters went through felt authentic, especially Gabriel.
There were some pacing issues throughout but I was able to get through them and by the end I was ready to continue. I ended up finishing the entire series over a weekend and have no regrets.
I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea especially since it’s an unconventional relationship but I enjoy books that are unconventional and are not what society considers “normal”
Aled is a cis bisexual/pansexual man who is coming to terms with his upcoming divorce and ok with open relationships.
Gabriel is a transgender man who is very poly and has a few different relationships. Both men are into kink and I will say this book and all following books are heavy on the kink. Some of the kinks were not for me, but I appreciate how everything was negotiated and handled and consent was very clear.
In trying to keep this as spoiler free as possible we follow both men as the go from casual to maybe something more, with Aled trying accept that the life you always wanted isn’t necessarily the one you can have and coming to terms with that. The author didn’t sugarcoat things and situations the characters went through felt authentic, especially Gabriel.
There were some pacing issues throughout but I was able to get through them and by the end I was ready to continue. I ended up finishing the entire series over a weekend and have no regrets.
July 17, 2024
It starts off with not thinking about sex, to considering finding sex on an app, to jumping into the sex act, then the post-coital sex-talks, following on with lots of sexy-innuendoes ... which of course preludes further sex ... you get the idea? I lost interest around the 45% way mark and fast-forwarded to the ending chapters where there's some more sex. I'd hoped for much much more from bisexual and trans MCs but alas this fell far short - 1.5 stars.
September 30, 2020
It's good to see confident trans characters
November 13, 2019
You just never know what you’re going to get in a Matthew Metzger book!!!!. I still read this in a day (like I do most of his books) but I feel I’m only just getting to know the characters - which is why I waited to read this knowing there was a sequel. I’m feeling a bit unsure at the end of this but an trusting in Matthew that there will be a happy ending I will be satisfied with. Now on to read the sequel.
August 26, 2019
The Divorce by author Matthew J. Metzger is the first book in the Starting over series. This is a story about accepting love might not be in the package you thought it would be in.
Aled his wife left him because he cannot have children. Aled doesn’t really even want them. I really thought his wife was shallow for this. Before the split is even fully over, she has someone new, it was just cold. The author tries to make her out to be a semi-good person, but I was not feeling it.
Aled I felt very sorry for. He is a good person with a heart. He might want different things but at the core, he is honorable and strong.
Gabriel is female to male transgendered. Fun, flirty, strong, and submissive. He does not commit to just one person. Even in this story. I am okay with that but the romantic in me would rather see him with just Aled.
This is a good story, with an okay for now ending. I tend to like my stories a little more romantic not sex wise but commitment wise than this story gives. I like true love winning the day this is more like lukewarm love winning the day. I hope it grows to be more the story itself is well written and I love the themes it explores.
Four Twinkling Stars
Aled his wife left him because he cannot have children. Aled doesn’t really even want them. I really thought his wife was shallow for this. Before the split is even fully over, she has someone new, it was just cold. The author tries to make her out to be a semi-good person, but I was not feeling it.
Aled I felt very sorry for. He is a good person with a heart. He might want different things but at the core, he is honorable and strong.
Gabriel is female to male transgendered. Fun, flirty, strong, and submissive. He does not commit to just one person. Even in this story. I am okay with that but the romantic in me would rather see him with just Aled.
This is a good story, with an okay for now ending. I tend to like my stories a little more romantic not sex wise but commitment wise than this story gives. I like true love winning the day this is more like lukewarm love winning the day. I hope it grows to be more the story itself is well written and I love the themes it explores.
Four Twinkling Stars
December 16, 2019
Read as part of the Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge 2019, to fill 25) Four books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #3 Something Borrowed.
4.5 stars.
I got this book as an ARC, but that doesn't influence my review, because I for sure would have bought it anyway. This whole genre is exactly up my alley and I absolutely adored this.
This book is an unflinching, sex-positive exploration of queer polyamory, which doesn't shy away from... anything, really. The main two characters are Gabriel and Aled, and the book is told in alternating perspectives. Gabriel is a gay trans guy, Aled is a bisexual cis guy. Gabriel is polyamorous, with multiple long-term and short-term hookups on the go at any one time. Aled is going through a divorce from his childhood sweetheart, of whom he is not yet ready to let go.
I'm not sure whether it's appropriate to describe a book which contains rape fantasy as 'wholesome', but... it kind of is. It just gave me a lot of feelings, okay? I liked it a lot.
4.5 stars.
I got this book as an ARC, but that doesn't influence my review, because I for sure would have bought it anyway. This whole genre is exactly up my alley and I absolutely adored this.
This book is an unflinching, sex-positive exploration of queer polyamory, which doesn't shy away from... anything, really. The main two characters are Gabriel and Aled, and the book is told in alternating perspectives. Gabriel is a gay trans guy, Aled is a bisexual cis guy. Gabriel is polyamorous, with multiple long-term and short-term hookups on the go at any one time. Aled is going through a divorce from his childhood sweetheart, of whom he is not yet ready to let go.
I'm not sure whether it's appropriate to describe a book which contains rape fantasy as 'wholesome', but... it kind of is. It just gave me a lot of feelings, okay? I liked it a lot.
July 16, 2023
4.5 stars
A great story depicting the story of a divorcee and a trans man. Aled is recently separated, still grieving and not ready to accept the divorce papers from his ex wife. So, when his best friends push him to go out and hook up, Aled surrenders and his first hook up is Gabriel. Now Gabriel is a trans man ( not done the surgeries), he is poly and currently has three relationships. Also he is a submissive which meshes perfectly with Aled's Dom urges.
I loved the development of their relationship, how good they are both to each other. I also loved the sex scenes with BDSM included. I don't get the poly aspect of Gabriel and how Aled is okay with that. Hoping to find out more in the coming book.
2nd reread.
5 stars - upgrading.
Still wonderful. One of my favorite series. Love Gabriel and Aled.
A great story depicting the story of a divorcee and a trans man. Aled is recently separated, still grieving and not ready to accept the divorce papers from his ex wife. So, when his best friends push him to go out and hook up, Aled surrenders and his first hook up is Gabriel. Now Gabriel is a trans man ( not done the surgeries), he is poly and currently has three relationships. Also he is a submissive which meshes perfectly with Aled's Dom urges.
I loved the development of their relationship, how good they are both to each other. I also loved the sex scenes with BDSM included. I don't get the poly aspect of Gabriel and how Aled is okay with that. Hoping to find out more in the coming book.
2nd reread.
5 stars - upgrading.
Still wonderful. One of my favorite series. Love Gabriel and Aled.
September 21, 2019
Yes... Just yes.
I've been a fan of MM literature for years and I haven't come across anything that discusses a relationship with a trans man. At least nothing that piqued my interest and felt real. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Kindle will be charged and ready on Oct 29. I appreciated the different relationships throughout the story that she'd more light on different dynamics. Anything with good sarcasm makes me smile. This made me laugh and angry and sad and hopeful. I can't wait to see how their relationship continues to develop.
I've been a fan of MM literature for years and I haven't come across anything that discusses a relationship with a trans man. At least nothing that piqued my interest and felt real. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Kindle will be charged and ready on Oct 29. I appreciated the different relationships throughout the story that she'd more light on different dynamics. Anything with good sarcasm makes me smile. This made me laugh and angry and sad and hopeful. I can't wait to see how their relationship continues to develop.
April 14, 2024
Diving into the world of open or poly relationships was a bit like stepping into uncharted territory for me. But hey, that's part of the adventure, right? While I struggled to fully empathize with the protagonists due to my lack of experience in that department, I couldn't help but root for them and get invested in their journey.
There were moments when the text felt boring and repetitive and I skipped through a lot of it but it was good while it lasted though I am done with this series for now.
There were moments when the text felt boring and repetitive and I skipped through a lot of it but it was good while it lasted though I am done with this series for now.
March 5, 2022
The sex scenes could have been written better, but liked the story,
Read
June 11, 2022Well written but not my kind of book. I finished it though so it says very good things about the writing because this was really not for me.
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