May the Best Man Win

by J.R. Gray, Kate Hawthorne

I hate Jasper Marshal.
Hate is a visceral and terrible word, but it's the right one.

This guy is everything I’m not.
Jock.
Sports ball obsessed.
Testosterone fueled.
Jacked up.
He's also sexy as hell with a submissive side I discovered by accident.
Definitely an accident. If you want to call him on his knees in my kitchen an accident.
He pushes all my buttons good and bad.
And to top it off, he’s my best friend Sam's brother.

I’d become really good at avoiding Jasper since high school, but then Sam asked us both to be the best men at his wedding. Now, not only do I have to work with him to plan a bachelor party in Vegas, we need to survive a destination wedding…in Hawaii.

It's hard enough to be civil so we don't ruin the wedding, but on top of that, I have to resist the urge to drag Jasper into every back room I can find and show him how much I hate him, all while trying not to get into a fist fight.

One of us isn’t going to survive this, so may the best man win.

May the Best Man Win is an enemies to lovers romance with the promise of pineapple bushes, tit-glitter (whatever that means), and one definitely unfixable bed.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Gay

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 10, 2020

About the author

When not staying up all night writing, J.R. Gray can be found at the gym where it's half assumed he is a permanent resident to fulfill his self-inflicted masochism. A dominant and a pilot, Gray finds it hard to be in the passenger seat of any car. He frequently interrupts real life, including normal sleep patterns and conversations, to jot down notes or plot bunnies. Commas are the bane of his existence even though it's been fully acknowledged they are necessary, they continue to baffle and bewilder. If Gray wasn't writing…well, that's not possible. The buildup of untold stories would haunt Gray into an early grave, insanity or both. The idea of haunting has always appealed to him. J.R. Gray is genderqueer and prefers he/him pronouns.

Reviews

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰]

Time of death... 48%/NR

Part of me wants to soldier on and see how events transpire but the larger part of me is squicked the F out at the power dynamic happening between Lincoln and Jasper. Don't get me wrong, I like my kink. I especially have a penchant for force play but you have to negotiate that beforehand, develop parameters and have a blankity blank blank safe word. The enemies to lovers + kink is what drew me to this read in the first place but if someone says 'no', you respect the no. You don't say but your cock says otherwise. Because that's rapey AF and IMHO that sort of shit has no place in "romance". You want to go down that road in an admittedly bad wrong book, go right ahead! I'm there with bells on. But romance????



That coupled with the atrocious editing is making me lean heavily towards calling it a day. I'm not one to harp on editing but the error in paragraph one should've clued me in. If the authors don't care enough about what they crank out between the two of them and presumably an editor or at least a beta or two then I don't feel super bad about DNFing.

The final nail in the coffin is both of these characters feel like caricatures. The dialogue felt unnatural more often than not and both come across as poseurs. Alas, I am a glutton when it comes to the enemies to lovers trope but I think I'll quit before I develop resting rage face.

However, I'm probably overthinking it; the sex is pretty hot if you don't think too much about how they got there. But, as always my opinions are my own. YMMV.

[Megan [At The Cottage] · Rating 1 out of 5]

MM Romance
Enemies To Lovers
1 Star ⭐️

2024 Ugly Cover Challenge: Reading books I’ve had on my TBR forever and put off due to their covers.

📕This cover is just so cringy. His matching blue jean denim jacket and pants reminds me of bad outfit choices I made in the 90s. Even if I could get over the bad denim, his sunglasses, facial expression and the big pineapple in front of his junk have made me avoid this book for 2 years despite liking the blurb. However, the shit cover was actually better than anything inside so in this case it appears I was right to judge this book by its cover. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Where to even start? I wish I could unread this. What started as an enemies to lovers best friend’s older brother story just kind of stayed there but threw in some slightly kinky sex scenes and their besties getting married. I mean absolutely nothing happened in this book past the 50% mark and yet nothing really happened at the start either. Am I making sense yet? 😂

These guys are in their late 20s, I think? But they acted like idiots and held stupid high school shit against the other but because they were both best friends and/or brothers with the bride/groom they constantly had to deal with each other. These two loved to jab at the other whether it was calling them a name they knew they hated or just acting like a moron around them, they lived to get under each other’s skin. But they are expected to be the best men at their friends/brother’s wedding. From what I gathered Lincoln was two years younger than Jasper and a bit of a nerd who livestreams over Twitch to his fans and apparently makes bank doing it because he could retire if he wanted to but he’s also a dirty talking, arrogant wannabe dom of sorts who apparently never settles down. Then there’s Jasper who was going to be a professional baseball player but an injury changed all that and I have absolutely no idea what his career is now or anything else about him except that he likes to be bossed around in bed. The sex scenes were probably the best part but they even sizzled out during the second half of the book. So these two have to get together to plan the bachelor party and end up fucking around in Lincoln’s kitchen at 15% which was a bit rushed for me because enemies to lovers needs to be dragged out for tension to build but whatever. I’m still trying to work out why there’s a pineapple on the cover at this point.

So these two start having this weird enemies with benefits situation but Lincoln wants more and Jasper says he does but keeps changing his mind. It was exhausting and I didn’t understand Jasper’s rationale at all because while Lincoln was a bit arrogant he was legit trying to date him and be a good guy. The Vegas bachelor party was probably the best part of the book and I thought their relationship was going to evolve once they came back only for the next chapter to say Jasper ghosted Lincoln when they got back. Huh? Isn’t this a romance? Why? There was no explanation.

Fast forward and we’re at the wedding reception and these two aren’t getting along at all but aren’t hate fucking anymore either because Jasper can’t make up his mind again. The bride & groom find out about them and it almost ruins the wedding. I have got to stay away from these best men wedding stories because there’s always some OTT drama that just annoys me. Jasper and Lincoln manage to have some heart to hearts and there’s some fade to black sex scenes much to my annoyance. The pineapple finally becomes relevant but groannnn 🙄 *bangs head against wall*. (Is this almost over yet?) There’s no “I love you” grand declaration scene anywhere but suddenly they are saying it to each other like they’ve been doing it for years. We get back to real life and Jasper wants to end it again 🙄🙄🙄 We’re at 95% here people, like what in the actual fuck? That’s fixed with sex but I’m still unclear what these two even like about each other. There’s opposites attract and then there’s whatever the fuck this is. We fast forward 8 months but it doesn’t tell us it’s been that long or it’s an epilogue. I only know it is because the bride was 1 month pregnant at their wedding and in this scene she’s going into labor. And this chapter that I didn’t realize was an epilogue ends in such a bizarre way that I’m left wondering what in the actual fuck just happened.

I feel like these two authors put a bunch of words together and then scrambled them up and hoped for the best. Alphabet soup to a novel. Even worse, the spelling and grammar were just abysmal especially finding typos in the first paragraph and misspelled words that a spell check would have picked up. 🤦🏻‍♀️ And lastly, this book title doesn’t make a lick of sense.

Reading this book caused me to create a worst books read in 2024 shelf the same day I made a best of 2024 shelf. 🤣

[Chelsey Nixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

#SpoilerWarrior

I’m almost speechless. What was even happening with this book?! I could not get a finger on Jasper’s train of thought to save my life. And it all just felt so chaotic. I was annoyed with the editing errors at the beginning of the book but I could have let that go. Eventually. If it had been a good book.
I felt super frustrated throughout the whole book with basically every single character involved in the story, and then suddenly we jump 8 months into the future, and then it just ends. Also I’m unsure how the title fits into the story at all? Which wouldn’t be a huge point of contention for me but it makes it sound like some contest is going on (spoiler, there isn’t).
I think I have to stop reading books written by multiple authors because they all make me want to just scream.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.25 stars

I have enjoyed books by both of these authors, but I was not able to settle into this book. The book overall had an unclear and fuzzy feel to it and there was a distinct lack of character and relationship development.

We are told that Lincoln and Jasper hate each other. They can’t stand to be around each other and are rude to each other at every turn, but the history that was shown between them and the reason they hated each other so intensely was too weak for me. We are told they hate each other and I felt like I just had to go along with that so they could get to the hate sex.

There is supposedly this sexual tension between them, but that didn’t come across for me either. The move from them trash talking each other to Jasper being on his knees didn’t have the transition I needed to make it believable. Then, Lincoln can’t say one word to Jasper before he leaves him there and the reason for that was weak as well.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[kitamikeita · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I had never read a book where the main couple felt so forced as this one before.

At the beginning I thought it was one of those times when I liked the general idea of the plot but not the execution and where the book lacked in something, I could use my imagination to fill the gaps. It quickly turned out this wasn't the case. It was unfixable.

I was truly cringing almost the entire time. Neither of the main characters cared in the least about the other. It was so poorly done.

I'm sorry I wasted my time on this.

[Jairo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sex was good. Everything else was sometimes predictable.

[Bati · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wiecie, jak to jest? Czytacie opis i od razu myślicie: tak, kocham każde słowo. Będzie cudnie! Potem czytacie kilka naprawdę fajnych teaserów i podkręcacie się na maksa, bo wszelkie znaki na niebie i ziemi wskazują na to, że ty i ta książka jesteście sobie pisani. Jaracie się jak choinka.

A potem zaczynacie czytać i jest w miarę spoko, a potem już nawet nie jest spoko tylko…

Zupełnie nie moja dynamika, wkurzali mnie obaj, jeden jak dupa wołowa, a drugi jak buhaj po zastrzykach z testosteronu. I rzecz najgorsza ze wszystkich. Wyznanie miłości. Love you, love you, tararara i te sprawy. A ty myślisz sobie, taaa jasne, akurat.

Nie moja bajka. Nie dla mnie te ananaski.

[Essie]

DNF 45%
Although enemies-to-lovers can be a great storyline, this story didn’t work for me. The characters were two dimensional and their feelings were all over the place. I wasn’t sold on their connection.

[Jacquie Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm torn over this because I think I'm supposed to feel a certain way over the characters and I don't. The hate they had seemed a little forced and honestly Jasper was at fault for a lot of it. A huge deal was made about the fact that Lincoln was supposedly this asshole because he was forceful in bed but he wasn't. He pushed boundaries but only when Jasper was into it. Lincoln actively tried and was put in an awful position by Jasper. So yeah, Jasper is not my fave and Lincoln deserved better

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

More trashy than fun.
Unrepentant sluts are dull,
so are weddings. Meh.

[luluandherbooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf at 80% I tried to finish this book but oh my god what the hell?!? The line of consent was so blurred. The communication was literally terrible. And like they behave like children? Idk this book was not it.

[Fatimama · Rating 3 out of 5]

If hate sex is your jam then this is it. I really wanted Lincoln to back off completely coz Jasper is a jerk who doesn’t know what he really wants.

[Natalie H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one for me. Read for a challenge but I lost interest in this one at 40%. The story is mainly sex and drama. There were a couple of bits I liked but other than that the relationship felt bitter even after everything is resolved. Everything to do with the couple felt forced, especially on Linc’s part. It was an uncomfortable read.

[Jojo92 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non assez indécis dans l’écriture et un peu trop dominateur et pas de sentiments sincères
Je n’ai pas accroché !

[mich ⚘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rtc..

[woahvickyyy · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was brutal to read tbh. I finished it because I drank a bit too much wine and felt horny for sexy scenes but other than the really good (in my opinion) sex scenes, this was not a very good book. sometimes I felt like Lincoln was forcing Jasper into consenting for sex??? the consent lines felt really blurry for me and it sort of pulled me out of the steamy mood for most of the times.

also. what the hell is wrong with Jasper? he is due for some therapy sessions imo. one paragraph he s super into it and he loves the dirty talk and the dominant attitude, then next second he pulls the "I can't do this anymore" card. I absolutely did not grasp the concept of his decision making process.

I liked Linc better out of the two of them, though he was far from being a good guy himself. overall, it felt like a contradiction reading this book, with one chapter being romantic and hot and couple-y and the next consisting of them two breaking things off (again). all in all, sex was good but lacked any sort of depth, even though the characters were supposed to be deep and scarred and imperfect.

[Tammy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best enemies-to-lovers books I've ever read. To top it off, it also had a nerd/jock component which is totally my jam! Lincoln and Jasper have hated each other since high school, when Jasper stole Lincoln's "girlfriend" away from him. Since Jasper's brother is Lincoln's best friend, they've had to endure each other over the years, but now with Jasper's brother getting married, they have to be co best men and are forced to try to get along. Not an easy thing to do when all you want to do is throttle the other person. As the barbs fly and tensions rise, the line between hate and lust gets a little blurry. There's more than one way to shut someone up! ;) I loved the way Lincoln is this nerdy teacher/gamer but has this filthy dominant streak that brings Jasper, who is a total jock to his literal knees! Talk about swoon worthy material! Hate sex is seriously HOT in this book! The characters were absolutely brilliant and were so much fun to get to know.

[Pablito · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept, though the story of two best men falling out of hate and into love could have been much, much shorter.

I liked the bedroom control charades, though they might have ramped it up a notch.

I liked the settings.

I even liked the characters . . . as constructs . . .

and therein lies the problem.

Lincoln and Jasper I could not feel. They felt as shadowy as their names. And I like their names . . . on somebody real.

The first-person perspective, even when it flip-flops between two main characters is usually not a deterrent to my appreciating a story, but I kept second-guessing myself as I struggled to recall whose voice the "I" of most given chapters was supposed to be referring to.

So it took me a long time to read something I thought I liked.

[jazmin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this so much, because the blurb totally sound like my jam, but already in the first chapters I could tell I wouldn't enjoy this as much as I had thought I would. I don't really know how to explain how I feel, but the book kind of felt like a mess to me ... I didn't enjoy the writing (the first person POV didn't help) and I never connected with any of the characters, they made me frustrated most of the time. The MC's "banter" just felt awkward and they, especially Jasper, made me really confused with his mood swings all the time. The were some parts that were fine, but overall, I sadly have to give the book two stars.

[blue night · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this was an interesting book. I think the pacing was off and I didn’t feel like we had a real meeting of minds and hearts by the end. I liked how the characters were flawed, and those flaws didn’t go away. The power dynamic was definitely odd through much of the book, but it felt more real than not. These guys definitely didn’t really know either what they were doing nor what they wanted! In a sense, it was refreshing, but I can see how other people might not have dug that. I wish there had been a more gradual shift from “not working” to “happy for now.” But hey, so it goes.

[James Quentin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wasn't expecting any of the sub/dom stuff so really ended up disliking it. But I try and finish the books I start so stuck with it for better or for worse. Looking at the author's previous work it became instantly apparent this is their wheelhouse *after* I'd read it.

So, overall, it's adequately written. However, the lead characters basically change their personalities when they first have sex. All of a sudden Jasper goes from cool jock to sniffly and unsure of everything and Lincoln goes from a sympathetic and nice guy with a snarky side to just plain unlikeable...like...actually really quite a horrible person who emotionally manipulates Jasper, only wants him for sex, won't take no for an answer and doesn't seem to like him at all but demands his time and attention. I found some of the sex scenes a bit iffy in terms of consent.

If it hadn't been for the sub/dom kink where Lincoln railroaded everything Jasper did or said, and their personalities hadn't done the 180 it would have been fairly bland and unimaginative.

[bridgetann · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG...I loved this!!!

I love a good enemies to lovers story. This wasn't just good, it was fantastic! I was laughing through most of it as Lincoln and Jasper teased each other. They played the cat and mouse game very well. Everyone around them knows there's a thin line between love and hate. When the two MCs finally realize it and come together, it's explosive!!! So, so very hot!!

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny. Enemies-to-lovers with some kink, humiliation and hate fucking. It’s good. I wish Jasper had been better able to articulate what he wanted from Linc, it was frustrating to read about.

KU

[Angie]

DNF-46%

This book is so weird. The hate seems really real. The sexy times are boarderline assultey which is icky. The whole kink thing made it worse for me because it was like I hate this guy I want to dominate him but it just felt really wrong. Other enemies to lovers stories I've read were more like annoyed or irritated by something the person did and it turns out to be a misunderstanding or something. The things these MCs did were real.

Possibly Spoiler Alert-

Some of my big problems include-

1) Terrible friendships. If your friend sides with someone else and you are offend- then spoiler alert-they don't have to be your friend. Just walk away. This MC is always mad at his friends for choosing the other MC over him well that isn't good for his mental health...clearly!

2)Poor use of plot devices- if there is a plot. I'm not sure. Why is this guys presumably gay ex boyfriend at a straight strip club in Vegas where these guys just happen to be? What are the chances?!? What about that weird flooding business?!? It only flooded 1 room what are the chances?!

3) This book needs an editor. Literally a typo on page 1 paragraph 1. 🤦‍♀️


Basically this was a HOT MESS! Even if you can get passed the sexy time (maybe it makes more sense to people who do the kink thing?) The weird plot devices and odd relationship probably will still confuse you.

[martina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not really sure about what happened in this book.

First of all, I didn’t get the connection between Jasper and Lincoln. Sure, they hated each other for a totally absurd reason, but supposedly there was this sexual tension amid them and I really couldn’t feel it. I don’t know if it was because of the way this was written or whatever, but the chemistry felt off.

Then, there wasn’t any character nor relationship development, and the suddens changes of attitude and dynamic between Jasper and Lincoln were way too fast and unexpected considering their character build-up. I’m all down for the kink, but it seemed fake and out of place. I mean, we have Lincoln talking about the aftermath of subspace like two words into the book but he doesn’t think of explaining what is going on to Jasper or in safewords before an “scene”? It just doesn’t make sense. It was like the whole book doesn’t add up.

This story fell short to me.

[Rithu Mukund · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everything about this book was lame.

This is my first book of both the authors and I don't think I m gonna read other books of them.

Actually this book ruined my mood. The story seemed so forced inorder to bring it under hate to love/enemies to lovers category. The background story for two people to hate each other so much seemed so inadequate.

I don't know whom I didn't like, Jasper or Lincoln. Both of them tested my nerves.
Nothing in this worked for me.

[Meghannf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the dynamic from the beginning but it starting to get on my nerve about halfway to the book. Jasper's character is so hot and cold and has no consistency in terms of personality! Why? In the end, it doesn't make sense.

A little bit disappointed by the characters, I'm confused by their reactions. Though, I think they are even more confused that I am.

[Zoë Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, a disclaimer, I typically don't gravitate to enemies-to-lovers stories and am not a member of the BDSM community so I don't necessarily think I am the target audience for the book.

That being said, I'm having a hard time rating/reviewing this one, my thoughts are a little chaotic, much like this story felt to me.

I liked it overall, I think. I mean, I finished the book and all but truthfully I really don't see Jasper and Lincoln going the distance. I don't think either character is necessarily, or objectively, a terrible human being. Flawed? Certainly, but not irredeemable. Their individual personalities independent of each other was something that could have been fleshed out, especially with Jasper.
I never got a true sense of who each person was. What is abundantly clear, is the lens through which they view each other seems awfully distorted, and doesn't significantly change over the course of the story.

I don't truly understand why they hated each other, the explanation finally given was weak at best, so most of the book it seems like they are just being sniping and being horrible to each other for no reason at all. But if they do, then fine, it is what it is, I just think you need a pivot point that would suggest that that perception is changing to make their attraction and yearning for more to be believable. Jasper watching Lincoln gaming with the Make a Wish child, or Lincoln seeing Jasper show up with face-paint he forgot to wash off his face after coaching - something, anything, that would let them soften for each other. For all their interactions I don't actually recall either of them articulating why they were attracted to each other, aside from the chemistry in the bedroom (which was incredible once they got going - whew!); why would they want a relationship outside of sex?

Ironically, for all Lincoln's domineering ways I had a harder time understanding/sympathizing with Jasper, perhaps because he couldn't really understand himself. I don't know, but if anyone's theme song in life could be Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold", it would be Jasper, right until the bitter end. Dozens of other reviews have already touched on the dom/sub dynamic in the bedroom being better portrayed and I agree, since it does the community a disservice to gloss over the idea that consent, safe words, etc. are important to protect all parties involved.

One of my main issues as a reader was I never got a clear sense of each respective characters thoughts/feelings/motivations from their perspective, which seems like an insane statement when you consider that this book is written in the first-person POV. There's a fine line between endless internal monologues and explaining where they are coming from, it felt like there was a lot of subtext and I really don't see the point in trying to read the minds of the characters, especially when they are written in the first-person.

I'm wondering if it is because this was a book that was co-authored that it didn't feel cohesive to me. I'll probably read other books by each author to get a better sense of whether they are for me, but am not in a rush to do so.

[Love Bytes Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 heart review by Kat

I was looking forward to this book. It is from two terrific authors. It’s has a Bachelor Party trip to Vegas and a destination wedding in my beloved Hawaii. Plus it has a submissive character. It’s a total win/win for me…or at least that’s what I thought.

I enjoy a good enemies-to-lovers book. The sexual tension and angst can lead to some explosive sex. Add in a submissive with a good dominant and it can be gold! Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. Yes Jasper seemed to enjoy being more dominated during sex but that was the only place he was in my opinion. And he and Jasper never set any rules or even discussed it. That fell apart for me completely. As for their years long “Feud” over a girlfriend that one stole to use as his beard from the other in high school. That was so lame.

Another major reason for opting on this book was that it was set in Hawaii for the wedding. Yes there was a defender to going down to the beach and eating pineapple before oral sex but it didn’t even refer to what island they were on. At least when they went to Vegas I felt that the authors had been there before and threw in some references that made me feel like the characters went there.

Then there was the editing at the beginning of the book. I felt like the proofreader didn’t check the first few chapters. I’m usually pretty lenient on this but it was pretty darn bad and kept pulling me from the book. I did actually finish the book but I kept setting it down so it took me much longer than usual to get through. I just didn’t connect with the characters the way I usually do. I want to be clear though. I’m not saying this is a bad book but that, with the errors, lack of character development and misleading blurb, it just didn’t work for me.

This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.

[Patti Schmotzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

We forgive and we keep loving even after we’ve been hurt

This enemy to lovers' books is full of laugher, tension, love, and of course, all the other emotions. The relationship of having to be cordial and friendly to someone that you have been avoiding since high school. The tension between Jasper and Lincoln is one that everyone can relate too. We have all have that one person where you hated them so much you actually started to fall for them. The batter that happens between these two characters is fun to watch and makes this book fun to read.

Catching feelings was dumb. People kept telling me sex led to feelings and I never
believed them. I was so wrong.

J.R. Gray and Kate Hawthorne did a fantastic job developing these charters and the dialog that that that went on. Anyways, who does not like a little sneaking around for a bit of sex every now and then. That sometimes the fun part. The sex and sneaking around turns out to be more than that; sex leads to feelings. There we moments in this book that I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next and moments, where I was laughing so hard, was crying. There were heart-melting moments as well.

This book is an excellent book to read if you are in a reading funk and want something fun and quick to read. This one of my favorite books of 2020!

I leave you with this one last quote, probably my favorite.
“Love is work and commitment. Love is tireless and fulfilling, but it takes effort. Falling is the easy part, but the journey isn’t all roses and spring fields. It’s as much winter as it is summer. Cold barren wastelands of gray skies working to a better day. These two—I’ve been there through it all.