What do you think?
Rate this book
Gold Coast Collage #1
The New Normal
Brian Stagliano’s life should be pretty sweet right now. Two of his closest friends are getting married, and he’s taking a new, exciting step in his career as a doctor. Most amazing though, his best mate has been given the all clear from cancer. But Brian’s normal has just been tipped A over T and the friendship he’s relied on for years is in danger. All because of five little words.
Andrew Fitzroy should be on top of the world. The cancer that’s haunted him is gone. He can finally get on with his life—except he doesn’t know what that life is anymore. Is he brave enough to come out as bisexual? Should he pursue architecture or stay in construction? Either way, Andrew knows happiness won’t be his until he has what his engaged friends have—love, joy, passion. So, he says those five little words to Brian—I’m in love with you.
Friends since childhood, Brian and Andrew have always been closer than brothers. Best mates. Nothing could ever tear them apart. Except for those five little words. Now, Brian’s not sure about so many things—their friendship, his own desires—and the foundation Andrew’s built his world on feels like its crumbling. But if they manage not to destroy everything they have together, Andrew and Brian might just find a new normal with each other.
Andrew Fitzroy should be on top of the world. The cancer that’s haunted him is gone. He can finally get on with his life—except he doesn’t know what that life is anymore. Is he brave enough to come out as bisexual? Should he pursue architecture or stay in construction? Either way, Andrew knows happiness won’t be his until he has what his engaged friends have—love, joy, passion. So, he says those five little words to Brian—I’m in love with you.
Friends since childhood, Brian and Andrew have always been closer than brothers. Best mates. Nothing could ever tear them apart. Except for those five little words. Now, Brian’s not sure about so many things—their friendship, his own desires—and the foundation Andrew’s built his world on feels like its crumbling. But if they manage not to destroy everything they have together, Andrew and Brian might just find a new normal with each other.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2020
44 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
L.J. Hayward
21 books614 followersL.J. Hayward has been telling stories for most of her life, a good deal of them of the tall variety. She loves reading but doesn’t seem to have enough time between wanting to be a more disciplined writer, being the actual erratic writer she is, and working for dollars in a dungeon laboratory. She also lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, but rarely sees a beach and can’t surf, though she thinks living on a houseboat might be fun. At least then she’d have an excuse to get a cat.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
October 22, 2020
The New Normal was not great, unfortunately.
Though I own a couple of L.J. Hayward's books, The New Normal was my first time reading her work, and I'll admit I had high expectations. My friends all love this author's "Death and the Devil" series, so I was excited to try this contemporary friends-to-lovers book about a cancer survivor. Plus, you guys know how I feel about a sexuality discovery story (!!). I was expecting some sexy, sexy goodness and an engaging plot, but, sadly, I was not impressed.
First of all, this story felt like jumping into the middle of an established series. I had to stop and check to make sure this wasn't an offshoot of another series because there were WAY too many cooks in this kitchen. The multitude of characters and their interwoven relationships was a web too complicated for me to untangle. It was a mess of indistinguishable characters, and it needed a firm editor, badly.
Also, the characters were so dramatic with one another. Lots of storming off, lots of miscommunications, lots of focus on specific labels and not a lot of chemistry. In fact, by the time the romance picked up, I was barely interested anymore. Brian was... not great, the friends were meddlesome and actually a big detractor from the story, and, overall, it left me feeling underwhelmed and not engaged.
A miss for me.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
Though I own a couple of L.J. Hayward's books, The New Normal was my first time reading her work, and I'll admit I had high expectations. My friends all love this author's "Death and the Devil" series, so I was excited to try this contemporary friends-to-lovers book about a cancer survivor. Plus, you guys know how I feel about a sexuality discovery story (!!). I was expecting some sexy, sexy goodness and an engaging plot, but, sadly, I was not impressed.
First of all, this story felt like jumping into the middle of an established series. I had to stop and check to make sure this wasn't an offshoot of another series because there were WAY too many cooks in this kitchen. The multitude of characters and their interwoven relationships was a web too complicated for me to untangle. It was a mess of indistinguishable characters, and it needed a firm editor, badly.
Also, the characters were so dramatic with one another. Lots of storming off, lots of miscommunications, lots of focus on specific labels and not a lot of chemistry. In fact, by the time the romance picked up, I was barely interested anymore. Brian was... not great, the friends were meddlesome and actually a big detractor from the story, and, overall, it left me feeling underwhelmed and not engaged.
A miss for me.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
August 1, 2020
3.5 Hearts
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t mighty curious as to what else Hayward could bring to the table, having immensely enjoyed and been impressed by what I’ve read so far of her Death and the Devil series.
This story starts with your typical friends to lovers trope. Andrew has been through an understandable rough two years which has turned his life upside down. Ever by his side has been Brian, who’s been his best friend since they were kids. Since Andrew’s mortality has been threatened, he’s no longer willing to let his feelings go unsaid anymore, and hence, confesses to Brian how he feels. What unfolds is the push pull of requisite doubt and worry, and ultimately, once they consummate things, if and how to make things officially official.
Be forewarned that there’s a lot of emphasis on defining and labeling one’s self here, which was thankfully mild on the angst meter. This felt very NA, and Andrew and Brian belong to a close knit group of friends that brings some entertainment value, but also lots of interconnected drama-lama. Admittedly, Brian was difficult to warm up to, his reactions at times insensitive, selfish, and rash. He’s still a great guy, especially in his loyal protectiveness towards Andrew, but I often flinched at how he dealt with his confused emotions. In turn, though Andrew had a huge tendency to not communicate well, he was quite dreamy boyfriend material in his infinite patience and unwavering feels.
Be reassured that Hayward’s talent is not diminished here. The writing is strong. The smex is spot on, and when these two besties start trying things out, it unravels quite nicely. Also, the promise of double virgins to MM goodness was capitalized on in explicit glory (reminiscent of Hart’s Crossroads) and one should equally enjoy witnessing Andrew and Brian learning together what it’s all about. *wink wink*
Overall, I will say that if you prefer these sorts of stories, be comforted by the fact that this is seriously straight forward contemporary romance, and good romance it is. It’s clear to me though, that where Hayward shines is romantic suspense but that’s just personal preference. Unlike Death and the Devil, there's no flash and bang, no double crosses, no high stakes shenanigans (and nor should there be) with nary a thing spectacularly blowing up in the background.
What I’m trying to say is that lately, I’ve been notorious for judging an author’s works amongst themselves, and Death and the Devil is original, engaging, smart as well as swoony, and there’s really no comparison. Again, if you don’t like that sort of thing, stay here with Hayward’s exceptional writing, and most likely one will equally, if not more, enjoy her first foray into this genre with absolutely no qualms. However, if you want more excitement then check out Where Death Meets the Devil if you haven’t already, and please proceed with the above information that’s only meant to be well intentioned.
Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t mighty curious as to what else Hayward could bring to the table, having immensely enjoyed and been impressed by what I’ve read so far of her Death and the Devil series.
This story starts with your typical friends to lovers trope. Andrew has been through an understandable rough two years which has turned his life upside down. Ever by his side has been Brian, who’s been his best friend since they were kids. Since Andrew’s mortality has been threatened, he’s no longer willing to let his feelings go unsaid anymore, and hence, confesses to Brian how he feels. What unfolds is the push pull of requisite doubt and worry, and ultimately, once they consummate things, if and how to make things officially official.
Be forewarned that there’s a lot of emphasis on defining and labeling one’s self here, which was thankfully mild on the angst meter. This felt very NA, and Andrew and Brian belong to a close knit group of friends that brings some entertainment value, but also lots of interconnected drama-lama. Admittedly, Brian was difficult to warm up to, his reactions at times insensitive, selfish, and rash. He’s still a great guy, especially in his loyal protectiveness towards Andrew, but I often flinched at how he dealt with his confused emotions. In turn, though Andrew had a huge tendency to not communicate well, he was quite dreamy boyfriend material in his infinite patience and unwavering feels.
Be reassured that Hayward’s talent is not diminished here. The writing is strong. The smex is spot on, and when these two besties start trying things out, it unravels quite nicely. Also, the promise of double virgins to MM goodness was capitalized on in explicit glory (reminiscent of Hart’s Crossroads) and one should equally enjoy witnessing Andrew and Brian learning together what it’s all about. *wink wink*
Overall, I will say that if you prefer these sorts of stories, be comforted by the fact that this is seriously straight forward contemporary romance, and good romance it is. It’s clear to me though, that where Hayward shines is romantic suspense but that’s just personal preference. Unlike Death and the Devil, there's no flash and bang, no double crosses, no high stakes shenanigans (and nor should there be) with nary a thing spectacularly blowing up in the background.
What I’m trying to say is that lately, I’ve been notorious for judging an author’s works amongst themselves, and Death and the Devil is original, engaging, smart as well as swoony, and there’s really no comparison. Again, if you don’t like that sort of thing, stay here with Hayward’s exceptional writing, and most likely one will equally, if not more, enjoy her first foray into this genre with absolutely no qualms. However, if you want more excitement then check out Where Death Meets the Devil if you haven’t already, and please proceed with the above information that’s only meant to be well intentioned.
Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review
May 24, 2020
The New Normal is a “friends-to-lovers” MM romance, relationship-oriented.
When the story starts, we are introduced to a group of six close friends, meeting for a drink : Carly and Troy, twins, James and Elle, soon to be married and Brian and Andrew, friends since their childhood, currently sharing a house. For Andrew, that night is a bit overwhelming : he has just been declared “cancer-free”, result of a fight he went through with the unfaltering support of Brian, and seeing James and Elle being so happy together, he needs to tell Brian that he had been feeling more friendship for him for quite a while.
This is the starting point for a lot of revaluations and confessions for Andrew, for Brian but also for the whole group of friends, on a lot of point of view : sexuality, career moves, friendship,…No angst, but some drama.
It’s well written…after all, it’s L.J. Hayward…But it felt too crowded for me, with all these friends, some drama that frankly eluded me, many talks about labels, a few “too many quick-appearing and quick-solved” twists”. For me, it overshadowed the romance and I didn't find the “intensity of feels” between the 2 MCs that I was expecting and looking forward to, after experiencing this “whoah” intensity from L.J. Hayward’s former characters.
Nice light read, though, with some good sexy times : I read it quickly with no efforts. And I expanded a bit my “Australian” vocabulary, a positive point for me.
ARC of “The New Normal” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
When the story starts, we are introduced to a group of six close friends, meeting for a drink : Carly and Troy, twins, James and Elle, soon to be married and Brian and Andrew, friends since their childhood, currently sharing a house. For Andrew, that night is a bit overwhelming : he has just been declared “cancer-free”, result of a fight he went through with the unfaltering support of Brian, and seeing James and Elle being so happy together, he needs to tell Brian that he had been feeling more friendship for him for quite a while.
This is the starting point for a lot of revaluations and confessions for Andrew, for Brian but also for the whole group of friends, on a lot of point of view : sexuality, career moves, friendship,…No angst, but some drama.
It’s well written…after all, it’s L.J. Hayward…But it felt too crowded for me, with all these friends, some drama that frankly eluded me, many talks about labels, a few “too many quick-appearing and quick-solved” twists”. For me, it overshadowed the romance and I didn't find the “intensity of feels” between the 2 MCs that I was expecting and looking forward to, after experiencing this “whoah” intensity from L.J. Hayward’s former characters.
Nice light read, though, with some good sexy times : I read it quickly with no efforts. And I expanded a bit my “Australian” vocabulary, a positive point for me.
ARC of “The New Normal” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2020
3.5 stars
May 25, 2020
Love that Hayward is writing contemporary, my favorite subgenre. This was such a "normal" book, in the sense that this could be happening to you, or a friend, or a neighbor, right now. That's the refreshing part.
December 26, 2020
I want to start this review saying that L.J. Hayward is one of my favourite suspense authors. The "Death and the Devil" series is amazing and her writting is something unique and exciting.
Having said that, I don't know what happened here. because I really struggled with this story. I couldn't get into it no matter how many times I tried. The beginning was fine, but by the time I reached the half mark something had changed. I don't know what it was, maybe it was too ordinary and mellow compaired to what I'm used to getting from this author, but he hardest part about it was that it was written by the same author who gave us Jack and Ethan. I had some very mixed feeling about that.
I ended up skimming parts of it because I didn't want to just quit but my feelings didn't change.
I'll still read her next release because one no-match is not enough to turn me away from this author.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review.*
Having said that, I don't know what happened here. because I really struggled with this story. I couldn't get into it no matter how many times I tried. The beginning was fine, but by the time I reached the half mark something had changed. I don't know what it was, maybe it was too ordinary and mellow compaired to what I'm used to getting from this author, but he hardest part about it was that it was written by the same author who gave us Jack and Ethan. I had some very mixed feeling about that.
I ended up skimming parts of it because I didn't want to just quit but my feelings didn't change.
I'll still read her next release because one no-match is not enough to turn me away from this author.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review.*
June 17, 2020
4.5 stars!
This was so good, I loved it! My first venture with this wonderful author outside her Why the Devil Stalks Death series, and it held up for me.
To be honest, I was weary of starting this because I was so surprised by the fairly low rating, a below 4.0 average, so I was like "oh no am I not going to like this? I love this author so I hope not!"
Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed.
Aside from it being a tad slow at times and Brian coming across a tad frustrating at times, I loved this.
Andrew and Brian have been best friends for about 20 years, since they were kids. For a long time, they've both thought they were straight.
Also, for the two years before this starts, Andrew goes through cancer treatment. We start off this book learning that he is cancer free (yay!) and as he, Brian and their four other friends gather for some drinks, he and Brian leave together and Andrew confesses to his best friend that he's in love with him.
Brian doesn't take it the best at first, but it does cause him to pause and think and wonder about Andrew, if he's attracted to him.
After some time and an argument or two, these two finally fully communicate and once they have their first kiss, things slowly progress from there.
It takes Brian awhile to get to where Andrew is at the start of this, and while that felt a tad frustrating at times, I also understood it because Brian didn't have as long to think about it as Andrew had, so he needed some time.
The side characters were good, although James annoyed me at times. But they were at least fully dimensional, with their good and bad qualities. I could see why they were friends with them but even as friends we get annoyed with each other.
Brian and Andrew were both sweet and hot together, and the sex was pretty great in this, I enjoyed it. Their slow build up from hand jobs to anal was awesome. The plot was interesting enough as well, I liked it. The main plot mostly centers around the fact that two of their friends have a wedding coming up, and some other things in each of their jobs as well.
Overall I enjoyed this a lot, it was great and interesting to read this author without the spy espionage in concert with the romance.
Idk if any of you are weary of reading this like I was because of the rating, but don't be. It's better than the overall rating suggests, in my opinion. Yeah, it might drag at times, but not too badly, and it's so good overall.
Definitely recommended! Two thumbs up from me.
This was so good, I loved it! My first venture with this wonderful author outside her Why the Devil Stalks Death series, and it held up for me.
To be honest, I was weary of starting this because I was so surprised by the fairly low rating, a below 4.0 average, so I was like "oh no am I not going to like this? I love this author so I hope not!"
Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed.
Aside from it being a tad slow at times and Brian coming across a tad frustrating at times, I loved this.
Andrew and Brian have been best friends for about 20 years, since they were kids. For a long time, they've both thought they were straight.
Also, for the two years before this starts, Andrew goes through cancer treatment. We start off this book learning that he is cancer free (yay!) and as he, Brian and their four other friends gather for some drinks, he and Brian leave together and Andrew confesses to his best friend that he's in love with him.
Brian doesn't take it the best at first, but it does cause him to pause and think and wonder about Andrew, if he's attracted to him.
After some time and an argument or two, these two finally fully communicate and once they have their first kiss, things slowly progress from there.
It takes Brian awhile to get to where Andrew is at the start of this, and while that felt a tad frustrating at times, I also understood it because Brian didn't have as long to think about it as Andrew had, so he needed some time.
The side characters were good, although James annoyed me at times. But they were at least fully dimensional, with their good and bad qualities. I could see why they were friends with them but even as friends we get annoyed with each other.
Brian and Andrew were both sweet and hot together, and the sex was pretty great in this, I enjoyed it. Their slow build up from hand jobs to anal was awesome. The plot was interesting enough as well, I liked it. The main plot mostly centers around the fact that two of their friends have a wedding coming up, and some other things in each of their jobs as well.
Overall I enjoyed this a lot, it was great and interesting to read this author without the spy espionage in concert with the romance.
Idk if any of you are weary of reading this like I was because of the rating, but don't be. It's better than the overall rating suggests, in my opinion. Yeah, it might drag at times, but not too badly, and it's so good overall.
Definitely recommended! Two thumbs up from me.
May 25, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
I am a huge fan of L.J. Hayward’s amazing Death and the Devil series, a set of high-octane suspense stories. Hayward’s unique approach to the story structure is part of what makes those books so exciting. So I was really curious to see how the author would approach a contemporary without the suspense element. I also tried really hard not to compare this book to the other series, but rather to evaluate the one on its own merits.
I think what worked really well here is the friends to lovers part of the story between Andrew and Brian. I enjoyed watching the friendship move into a relationship, and while we don’t know them long before they are making that transition, I could feel enough of a connection that it worked for me. The guys are sexy together and I liked watching them both explore a sexual dynamic that was new to both of them. I also liked the way Andrew and Brian are there for each other when needed. They count on and depend on each other, and adding a romance to the mix just enhances the feelings they have for each other.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
I am a huge fan of L.J. Hayward’s amazing Death and the Devil series, a set of high-octane suspense stories. Hayward’s unique approach to the story structure is part of what makes those books so exciting. So I was really curious to see how the author would approach a contemporary without the suspense element. I also tried really hard not to compare this book to the other series, but rather to evaluate the one on its own merits.
I think what worked really well here is the friends to lovers part of the story between Andrew and Brian. I enjoyed watching the friendship move into a relationship, and while we don’t know them long before they are making that transition, I could feel enough of a connection that it worked for me. The guys are sexy together and I liked watching them both explore a sexual dynamic that was new to both of them. I also liked the way Andrew and Brian are there for each other when needed. They count on and depend on each other, and adding a romance to the mix just enhances the feelings they have for each other.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
July 4, 2020
3 stars from me. As far as I'm concerned, there is plenty of room for improvement with LJ's new series...let's hope the next one in the series is a winner.
Liked Andrew very much, was sorry for what he'd gone through as far as his health was concerned. Andrew's long-time best friend Dr Brian Stagliano on the other hand...well, it took me a helluva lot longer to warm to him I'm afraid. He just couldn't make his mind up as to what or who he wanted, which 'label' he should call himself by [gay/bi/demi], whether to out himself or not. I wanted to give him a good kick up the backside on several occasions I have to admit.
Their incestuous little group of friends [Drew had gone out with Elle. Brian had gone out with Drew's sister...you get the picture] also couldn't seem to decide whether gay 'friends' were acceptable on the whole, and I hated that their nickname for Brian was 'Bri Bri'...how old were they for God's sake!! Add in to the storyline a pretty bigoted bunch of construction workers and a sleazy married architect who was after some extra on the side [and not above a little blackmail to try and get it], and it all adds up to a very mixed bag for me unfortunately. Can't say I really liked any of the characters that much except for Drew and Sean, the phlebotomist at Brian's hospital.
Liked Andrew very much, was sorry for what he'd gone through as far as his health was concerned. Andrew's long-time best friend Dr Brian Stagliano on the other hand...well, it took me a helluva lot longer to warm to him I'm afraid. He just couldn't make his mind up as to what or who he wanted, which 'label' he should call himself by [gay/bi/demi], whether to out himself or not. I wanted to give him a good kick up the backside on several occasions I have to admit.
Their incestuous little group of friends [Drew had gone out with Elle. Brian had gone out with Drew's sister...you get the picture] also couldn't seem to decide whether gay 'friends' were acceptable on the whole, and I hated that their nickname for Brian was 'Bri Bri'...how old were they for God's sake!! Add in to the storyline a pretty bigoted bunch of construction workers and a sleazy married architect who was after some extra on the side [and not above a little blackmail to try and get it], and it all adds up to a very mixed bag for me unfortunately. Can't say I really liked any of the characters that much except for Drew and Sean, the phlebotomist at Brian's hospital.
July 1, 2020
I've given this a B at AAR.
L.J. Hayward’s action-packed, sexy romantic suspense Death and the Devil series is one of my absolute favourites, and if you’re a fan of the genre and haven’t read it, then you’re missing out big time. Having loved those books for many reasons, not least of which were the strong characterisation, dialogue and writing, I eagerly picked up the author’s newest release, The New Normal, which is her first foray into contemporary romance and book one in her Gold Coast Collage series, set in and around the Australian city of the same name. It’s an engaging, well-written story featuring a group of long-standing friends in their mid-twenties that asks the question - what happens to a friendship that’s lasted for two decades when one friend tells another – his best friend and housemate – that he’s in love with him?
Andrew Fitzroy and Brian Stagliano have been best friends for almost all their lives and, now in their mid-twenties, they share a house and a Russian Blue, called either Schrodinger (according to Brian) or Archimedes (according to Andrew). Brian, a junior doctor, is about to start his Accident and Emergency rotation at the local hospital, and Andrew works for a construction company; they’ve got a great group of friends, two of whom have recently announced their engagement, and best of all, Andrew has just got the all-clear from cancer. The last couple of years have been tough, but Brian was there for him through all of it, with him at every appointment, driving him to and from surgery and every chemo session, recognising the resulting depression and helping him through it. Andrew has come out the other side and is doing really well. Life is good.
But a night out takes a weird and unexpected turn when Andrew gets plastered and, on the way home, tells Brian he’s in love with him. Brian tries to shrug it off, but Andrew is adamant. He doesn’t just love Brian as a friend, he’s IN love with him. Brian is completely blindsided and has no idea what to do with that - and the next few days pass awkwardly as he and Andrew either deliberately avoid seeing each other, or avoid talking when they can’t avoid each other. But Andrew’s declaration sets Brian thinking. He’s never questioned his sexuality; he doesn’t really do casual sex, but he’s had a couple of girlfriends in the past, and while he may not have been in love with them, they were good friends and he cared about them and enjoyed their company. Andrew, however, is a different matter entirely. The more Brian thinks about it, the more he realises that what he feels for Andrew is nothing like the way he felt about his girlfriends… or anyone, really. Plus, when he looks at him – really looks at him - Brian starts to realise that while Andrew is, objectively, an attractive man, the attraction he’s feeling is far from objective. He really is attracted to his best friend, and Andrew’s declaration of love is (kind of) the permission he’d needed to let himself go there.
Once Brian admits that he wants Andrew, things move fairly quickly, and they embark on a sexual relationship but agree to keep things under wraps for now. Andrew has known he’s bisexual for a while; even though he’s only ever slept with women and hasn’t explored his attraction to men (over the last few years, he’s had other things to worry about), so he’s had a little longer to come to terms with his sexuality, while it’s all new to Brian, who is trying to sort things out in his head while also keeping his head above water on his incredibly stressful A&E rotation. Things are really good between them; the sex is fantastic, Andrew loves him and Brian… well, he’s not exactly sure what he feels but it’s working for them and he doesn’t want it to end. But Brian is the sort of person who worries himself into a panic and is forever second-guessing himself about the things that really matter to him, and this thing with Andrew is sending that impulse into overdrive. He’s struggling to find his sexual identity, and finds it difficult to accept that he’s lived twenty-six years and never suspected he was anything other than straight, and he wants – needs – to be sure of it before he can commit fully to Andrew.
Further complications are caused by their friendship group when one of them jumps to an unwelcome conclusion about Brian (which confuses him even more) and by an uncomfortable situation Andrew finds himself in at work when he’s singled out for attention by the architect who designed the homes he’s working on. (As an aside, I never quite understood why Andrew, who had been training to be an architect before his diagnosis, opted not to return to the career he so obviously loved; the reasons given are vague and made no sense to me.) We also follow Brian at work as he finds his footing in A&E; he wants to make a career in emergency medicine, so a lot is riding on his making his rotation a success, and I appreciated being shown something of both their lives outside of their relationships with each other and their friends.
When it comes to the secondary characters, I really liked Michael, one of Brian’s more senior colleagues, who is encouraging and supportive, and Sean, the phlebotomist who becomes a friend and confidante, and helps Brian figure a few things out. Andrew’s colleague, Terri, is a no-nonsense, kickboxing, part-Filipino woman (and one of a small group of female construction workers) who took him under her wing when he first joined the crew.
In fact, I liked Michael, Sean and Terri more than I liked Brian and Andrew’s long-time friends. They play a large part in the story, and actually at times, I felt it was too large a part, as their drama takes the focus away from what’s going on with Brian and Andrew, and I confess I had to force myself to concentrate on the scenes featuring them which didn’t relate directly to the romance.
Apart from that, however, I enjoyed The New Normal, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a new contemporary romance author to try. The central characters are well-drawn and easy to like, there’s plenty of humour and steam, and I appreciated that the relationship between Andrew and Brian didn’t change a great deal once they made the transition from friends to lovers; their feelings for one another have always been anchored in deep affection and understanding, and adding a sexual element to their already loving relationship only enhanced what was already there. For a first contemporary romance, it’s pretty good, and I’m keen to see what the author comes up with next.
L.J. Hayward’s action-packed, sexy romantic suspense Death and the Devil series is one of my absolute favourites, and if you’re a fan of the genre and haven’t read it, then you’re missing out big time. Having loved those books for many reasons, not least of which were the strong characterisation, dialogue and writing, I eagerly picked up the author’s newest release, The New Normal, which is her first foray into contemporary romance and book one in her Gold Coast Collage series, set in and around the Australian city of the same name. It’s an engaging, well-written story featuring a group of long-standing friends in their mid-twenties that asks the question - what happens to a friendship that’s lasted for two decades when one friend tells another – his best friend and housemate – that he’s in love with him?
Andrew Fitzroy and Brian Stagliano have been best friends for almost all their lives and, now in their mid-twenties, they share a house and a Russian Blue, called either Schrodinger (according to Brian) or Archimedes (according to Andrew). Brian, a junior doctor, is about to start his Accident and Emergency rotation at the local hospital, and Andrew works for a construction company; they’ve got a great group of friends, two of whom have recently announced their engagement, and best of all, Andrew has just got the all-clear from cancer. The last couple of years have been tough, but Brian was there for him through all of it, with him at every appointment, driving him to and from surgery and every chemo session, recognising the resulting depression and helping him through it. Andrew has come out the other side and is doing really well. Life is good.
But a night out takes a weird and unexpected turn when Andrew gets plastered and, on the way home, tells Brian he’s in love with him. Brian tries to shrug it off, but Andrew is adamant. He doesn’t just love Brian as a friend, he’s IN love with him. Brian is completely blindsided and has no idea what to do with that - and the next few days pass awkwardly as he and Andrew either deliberately avoid seeing each other, or avoid talking when they can’t avoid each other. But Andrew’s declaration sets Brian thinking. He’s never questioned his sexuality; he doesn’t really do casual sex, but he’s had a couple of girlfriends in the past, and while he may not have been in love with them, they were good friends and he cared about them and enjoyed their company. Andrew, however, is a different matter entirely. The more Brian thinks about it, the more he realises that what he feels for Andrew is nothing like the way he felt about his girlfriends… or anyone, really. Plus, when he looks at him – really looks at him - Brian starts to realise that while Andrew is, objectively, an attractive man, the attraction he’s feeling is far from objective. He really is attracted to his best friend, and Andrew’s declaration of love is (kind of) the permission he’d needed to let himself go there.
Once Brian admits that he wants Andrew, things move fairly quickly, and they embark on a sexual relationship but agree to keep things under wraps for now. Andrew has known he’s bisexual for a while; even though he’s only ever slept with women and hasn’t explored his attraction to men (over the last few years, he’s had other things to worry about), so he’s had a little longer to come to terms with his sexuality, while it’s all new to Brian, who is trying to sort things out in his head while also keeping his head above water on his incredibly stressful A&E rotation. Things are really good between them; the sex is fantastic, Andrew loves him and Brian… well, he’s not exactly sure what he feels but it’s working for them and he doesn’t want it to end. But Brian is the sort of person who worries himself into a panic and is forever second-guessing himself about the things that really matter to him, and this thing with Andrew is sending that impulse into overdrive. He’s struggling to find his sexual identity, and finds it difficult to accept that he’s lived twenty-six years and never suspected he was anything other than straight, and he wants – needs – to be sure of it before he can commit fully to Andrew.
Further complications are caused by their friendship group when one of them jumps to an unwelcome conclusion about Brian (which confuses him even more) and by an uncomfortable situation Andrew finds himself in at work when he’s singled out for attention by the architect who designed the homes he’s working on. (As an aside, I never quite understood why Andrew, who had been training to be an architect before his diagnosis, opted not to return to the career he so obviously loved; the reasons given are vague and made no sense to me.) We also follow Brian at work as he finds his footing in A&E; he wants to make a career in emergency medicine, so a lot is riding on his making his rotation a success, and I appreciated being shown something of both their lives outside of their relationships with each other and their friends.
When it comes to the secondary characters, I really liked Michael, one of Brian’s more senior colleagues, who is encouraging and supportive, and Sean, the phlebotomist who becomes a friend and confidante, and helps Brian figure a few things out. Andrew’s colleague, Terri, is a no-nonsense, kickboxing, part-Filipino woman (and one of a small group of female construction workers) who took him under her wing when he first joined the crew.
In fact, I liked Michael, Sean and Terri more than I liked Brian and Andrew’s long-time friends. They play a large part in the story, and actually at times, I felt it was too large a part, as their drama takes the focus away from what’s going on with Brian and Andrew, and I confess I had to force myself to concentrate on the scenes featuring them which didn’t relate directly to the romance.
Apart from that, however, I enjoyed The New Normal, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a new contemporary romance author to try. The central characters are well-drawn and easy to like, there’s plenty of humour and steam, and I appreciated that the relationship between Andrew and Brian didn’t change a great deal once they made the transition from friends to lovers; their feelings for one another have always been anchored in deep affection and understanding, and adding a sexual element to their already loving relationship only enhanced what was already there. For a first contemporary romance, it’s pretty good, and I’m keen to see what the author comes up with next.
May 30, 2020
2.75-ish Stars?
I don’t even know exactly how I felt about this. On the one hand I love reading about sexual exploration and I liked that neither of our MCs had been with men before and were long term best friends. I found Andrew very likeable and charming, and some of the steam was quite nice, but that’s about where my pleasantries stop.
Brian acted irrationally and rudely several times throughout (I hate when MCs run off), and I really didn’t understand his obsession with a label and how it affected his interactions with Andrew; especially considering the actual conversation where he figures it out was about 3 lines.
There’s also a smorgasbord of side characters who our MCs have complicated, over-involved relationships with. It read more like this was the 2nd or 3rd book in a series, and we were just getting reminders of who people were instead of proper world building. That combined with the unnecessary drama with Andrew’s job was overkill. Especially the douchebag architect. I don’t feel like the set up for that was even believable, and it added nothing to the story as it was glossed over in the end anyways.
It may seem like I hated the book, but I really didn’t lol. I think the author just needed to pull back on all the moving pieces a little. I’m bummed that I didn’t love this more considering her other work, but alas - you can’t win them all.
I don’t even know exactly how I felt about this. On the one hand I love reading about sexual exploration and I liked that neither of our MCs had been with men before and were long term best friends. I found Andrew very likeable and charming, and some of the steam was quite nice, but that’s about where my pleasantries stop.
Brian acted irrationally and rudely several times throughout (I hate when MCs run off), and I really didn’t understand his obsession with a label and how it affected his interactions with Andrew; especially considering the actual conversation where he figures it out was about 3 lines.
There’s also a smorgasbord of side characters who our MCs have complicated, over-involved relationships with. It read more like this was the 2nd or 3rd book in a series, and we were just getting reminders of who people were instead of proper world building. That combined with the unnecessary drama with Andrew’s job was overkill. Especially the douchebag architect. I don’t feel like the set up for that was even believable, and it added nothing to the story as it was glossed over in the end anyways.
It may seem like I hated the book, but I really didn’t lol. I think the author just needed to pull back on all the moving pieces a little. I’m bummed that I didn’t love this more considering her other work, but alas - you can’t win them all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2020
What others said. I LOVE LJ Hayward, but this book needed more revision. There were too many characters (which made it hard to keep track of who was who) and there wasn't enough build-up emotionally between the two MC's. It was weird how blase both were about going from friends to lovers and yet act like naive virgins at the same time. And why all the angst about sexuality labels? It felt like a storyline I would have read in the 1990's. Again, I adore LJ Hayward and have her on my auto-buy list. This one just proved to be a little disappointing, likely because I had such high expectations for it.
November 18, 2024
2.5 stars
Good things:
>Doesn't follow the typical formula, so it doesn't feel like something you've read 50 times
>Once it gets hot, it's HOT
>The BFF part of their dynamic is spot-on perfection
>The larger friend group feels much more realistic than the usual cutesy fictional creations
But:
>One piece of the formula Hayward skipped was the prolonged UST -- and I *love* some UST!! It's almost non-existent here :(
>Establishing all the characters got pretty clunky in the beginning.
>And here's the BIG problem: I couldn't figure out the motivation behind half of Brian's major plot-driving actions. It just didn't track. I much appreciated the lack of an internal homophobia plot, and I *think* I get what she replaced it with in theory...but the execution did not work at all. I just could not make it compute it my brain, no matter how hard I tried. Especially where it intersected with The Feels portion of the romance. There was just something off there, and it was especially frustrating since I really do think she put all the right puzzle pieces in play. The end result just didn't reach its full potential.
Good things:
>Doesn't follow the typical formula, so it doesn't feel like something you've read 50 times
>Once it gets hot, it's HOT
>The BFF part of their dynamic is spot-on perfection
>The larger friend group feels much more realistic than the usual cutesy fictional creations
But:
>One piece of the formula Hayward skipped was the prolonged UST -- and I *love* some UST!! It's almost non-existent here :(
>Establishing all the characters got pretty clunky in the beginning.
>And here's the BIG problem: I couldn't figure out the motivation behind half of Brian's major plot-driving actions. It just didn't track. I much appreciated the lack of an internal homophobia plot, and I *think* I get what she replaced it with in theory...but the execution did not work at all. I just could not make it compute it my brain, no matter how hard I tried. Especially where it intersected with The Feels portion of the romance. There was just something off there, and it was especially frustrating since I really do think she put all the right puzzle pieces in play. The end result just didn't reach its full potential.
December 13, 2020
This is mediocre.
And their friends fucking suck.
And in case it presents an issue for anyone, though it's not a prominent feature of the story, one hero used to be in a sexual relationship with the other hero's sister.
And their friends fucking suck.
And in case it presents an issue for anyone, though it's not a prominent feature of the story, one hero used to be in a sexual relationship with the other hero's sister.
May 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this friends to lovers romance from L.J. Hayward. Andrew, especially, is so incredibly likeable. It took me a bit longer to warm up to Brian. He was more the react first, ask questions later kind of guy, and that got old real quick. But when Andrew and Brian were connecting, they were truly on the same wavelength. I loved their friendship and they were cute when they finally got over themselves and became a couple.
I didn't love the secondary characters who make up Andrew and Brian's group of friends. I liked some more than I liked others, but more than that, some of their drama overshadowed Andrew and Brian's story, and one secondary character in particular I thought was subtly manipulative.
That being said, I like L.J.'s writing a lot. I absolutely love the Death and the Devil series; it's so incredibly well-written, and so is The New Normal. I really liked the subplots here, with both Andrew and Brian's jobs. I really, really hope we find out more about the Vaughn Sheridan situation in follow-up books in this series! I can't believe it was left hanging like that! L.J., I need more please!
I liked that this novel wasn't overly angsty. This was exactly what I needed right now. If you're looking for something that's fun and well-written with loads of sexy times, I highly recommend this one. It's the perfect dash of cute and sexy and low-angst that will leave you with all the feels.
I didn't love the secondary characters who make up Andrew and Brian's group of friends. I liked some more than I liked others, but more than that, some of their drama overshadowed Andrew and Brian's story, and one secondary character in particular I thought was subtly manipulative.
That being said, I like L.J.'s writing a lot. I absolutely love the Death and the Devil series; it's so incredibly well-written, and so is The New Normal. I really liked the subplots here, with both Andrew and Brian's jobs. I really, really hope we find out more about the Vaughn Sheridan situation in follow-up books in this series! I can't believe it was left hanging like that! L.J., I need more please!
I liked that this novel wasn't overly angsty. This was exactly what I needed right now. If you're looking for something that's fun and well-written with loads of sexy times, I highly recommend this one. It's the perfect dash of cute and sexy and low-angst that will leave you with all the feels.
May 27, 2020
I love friends to lovers and this one was so well written. They are childhood bestfriends and while their progress to lovers were not without a few bumps, they do make a really cute couple. I love that Brian actually thought over Andrew's confession instead of dismissing it.
I love both MCs but I do like Andrew a bit more. I mean he is perfect and also he was in love with Brian for years! Brian's sexuality is another sub plot in this book. I honestly thought it would go 'not everyone needs labels' route. But yeah, I get it. Most people just want to fit into those perfectly labelled boxes.
There's some amazing side characters and some arseholes too. James and Elle pissed me off a lot. They came across as sort of manipulative. And truthfully, Carly might be the only one I truly like out of their friends. Michael and Sean from Brian's work fall into the amazing category. I couldn't put it down especially because some moments were filled with tension.
Overall I really enjoyed reading A New Normal and would totally recommend if you're looking for a low angst, sweet and sexy friends to lovers story!!
*ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
I love both MCs but I do like Andrew a bit more. I mean he is perfect and also he was in love with Brian for years! Brian's sexuality is another sub plot in this book. I honestly thought it would go 'not everyone needs labels' route. But yeah, I get it. Most people just want to fit into those perfectly labelled boxes.
There's some amazing side characters and some arseholes too. James and Elle pissed me off a lot. They came across as sort of manipulative. And truthfully, Carly might be the only one I truly like out of their friends. Michael and Sean from Brian's work fall into the amazing category. I couldn't put it down especially because some moments were filled with tension.
Overall I really enjoyed reading A New Normal and would totally recommend if you're looking for a low angst, sweet and sexy friends to lovers story!!
*ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
June 26, 2020
Brian and Andrew alone would be 4 stars but their friends brought this book down so much!!!
I really liked Andrew and Brian, their friendship turning into love was sweet and hot. Together they had great chemistry and I enjoyed reading each of their POV’s. If this book didn’t stray from this relationship so much I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more. I got very annoyed because Andrew & Brian’s friends take up so much of the story.
This may be a spoiler so I warn you! I’ll try to put a spoiler tag but it may not work. So SPOIKERS COMING BECAUSE I GAVE TO VENT!!! I don’t understand why authors make characters have sex within their group of friends so much. I understood that Andrew used to date Elle who was now engaged to their friend James. What I thought was a bit icky (in my opinion) was that Brian had lost his virginity to Andrew’s sister and had a sexual relationship with her until Andrew said he wasn’t comfortable with it. I don’t know why that was something Hayward needed to add to the story because it didn’t fit into the storyline in any way except to make Andrew jealous at one point when his sister visits and is handsy with Brian. The idea of being with a siblings ex just turns me off. It can and does happen but I don’t think it needed to happen in this story.
My main issue with this book was the friends. Brian and Andrew are friends with Elle, James, Carly & Troy. We see so much of Elle & James’ wedding woes that it felt like it cut into the story between Andrew and Brian. Then we have their friends being so selfish, first with asking Andrew to be the best man, something he isn’t totally comfortable with, then with them all assuming Brian is gay just because he hasn’t had many girlfriends. Then there’s this huge mess when James throws a fit at his bachelor party when he finds out Andrew and Brian are together. It was so much unnecessary drama! Plus they all made very insensitive remarks to both Andrew and Brian. I really hated Elle, James & Troy!
The story was supposed to be about Andrew and Brian but it seemed as though Hayward kept trying to push a book about these friends who I really didn’t like! Then we have added drama with Brian who walks out when things get “tough” and then more unnecessary drama because Andrew gets hurt and is in the hospital. This was at 88% and I was done with this nonsense book! The more I type the more I realize I didn’t like this that much at all. If it was a story that wasn’t taken up by friends crap and unnecessary drama from everyone involved I would’ve really enjoyed it. Let’s hope the next LJ Hayward contemporary romance is better because I love her Death & The Devil series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2020
*Received A Copy To Review From The Author*
A really nice read that delves into some pretty deep topics in a great way. I really enjoyed how the topic of sexuality and labels was discussed and addressed here. It's murky and there's no "right" answer to be had. There's only what is comfortable for the individual. I liked that a lot. There's a little too much drama, but it does make sense for the plot so it works for the most part. I loved when the focus was on Brian and Andrew coming together as a couple and moving beyond friends. It moves both smoothly and hits some bumps on the way. I really enjoyed that part. Their friends were nice for the most part and I had some issues with them as I read but luckily they were called out on the major ones. I am interested in reading the next in the series, I'm curious if it'll be a character from the friend group or a new character completely removed. I feel like there was a hint for who.
A really nice read that delves into some pretty deep topics in a great way. I really enjoyed how the topic of sexuality and labels was discussed and addressed here. It's murky and there's no "right" answer to be had. There's only what is comfortable for the individual. I liked that a lot. There's a little too much drama, but it does make sense for the plot so it works for the most part. I loved when the focus was on Brian and Andrew coming together as a couple and moving beyond friends. It moves both smoothly and hits some bumps on the way. I really enjoyed that part. Their friends were nice for the most part and I had some issues with them as I read but luckily they were called out on the major ones. I am interested in reading the next in the series, I'm curious if it'll be a character from the friend group or a new character completely removed. I feel like there was a hint for who.
January 18, 2021
A contemporary romance by L.J. Haywood; color me intrigued as I have seen many others. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this during a giveaway when it was then known as "George" ( fans of Haywood in her group will know what I'm talking about here hehe). Though Brian and Andrew were no Jack and Ethan I did enjoy them. This book is
not even in the same stratosphere
as the Death and the Devil series so if that is what you hope to find you're going to be disappointed. There are no guns or running for their lives, like I said this is a contemporary not suspense.
The book is about two lifelong best friends who have always been there for each other coming to terms with the fact they are also attracted to each other. I'd place it in the OFY category rather than GFY. Andrew figures it out first and after a drunken blab he starts Brian on his own journey of soul searching. Naturally Brian has a harder time accepting a label on himself as he has had less time to come to grips with the knowledge. Andrew has already been through the mind hurdles before the book begins. The good thing is Brian has no qualms about putting his feelings for Andrew into his actions. In fact I'd say the man dives head first into the gay pool on the sexy side of things to mine and Andrews shock.
The book also focuses around a group of friends who have known each other for years. Unfortunately, many of them have also been intimate with one another so it makes for some awkward moments. Not to mention friend drama!! It all works out in the end though. Andrew and Brian are solidly in a HFN place. They've agreed they're it for each other, but it is still too early in their relationship for me to pop it into the HEA category. I'm weird like that I guess.
Since this look like it is going to be part of a series I am left wondering who's next!? Many in the friend group are women. I do have my eyes set on a certain twin. I'm wondering if he is the next one to start "exploring" his options. He seemed pretty hurt to find out his friends were together behind their backs and super apologetic over making an outburst over it. Time will tell.
3.5 stars
The book is about two lifelong best friends who have always been there for each other coming to terms with the fact they are also attracted to each other. I'd place it in the OFY category rather than GFY. Andrew figures it out first and after a drunken blab he starts Brian on his own journey of soul searching. Naturally Brian has a harder time accepting a label on himself as he has had less time to come to grips with the knowledge. Andrew has already been through the mind hurdles before the book begins. The good thing is Brian has no qualms about putting his feelings for Andrew into his actions. In fact I'd say the man dives head first into the gay pool on the sexy side of things to mine and Andrews shock.
The book also focuses around a group of friends who have known each other for years. Unfortunately, many of them have also been intimate with one another so it makes for some awkward moments. Not to mention friend drama!! It all works out in the end though. Andrew and Brian are solidly in a HFN place. They've agreed they're it for each other, but it is still too early in their relationship for me to pop it into the HEA category. I'm weird like that I guess.
Since this look like it is going to be part of a series I am left wondering who's next!? Many in the friend group are women. I do have my eyes set on a certain twin. I'm wondering if he is the next one to start "exploring" his options. He seemed pretty hurt to find out his friends were together behind their backs and super apologetic over making an outburst over it. Time will tell.
3.5 stars
May 23, 2020
Reviews are so subjective; this book is definitely a 5 star book for me and will go on my re-reads list, which isn't very common with me in M/M romance. I think some people might have a few problems with this one and will look askance at the five star reviews, so allow me to justify.
I love best friends to lovers stories, so generally that will get an author a couple of stars from me right away. This one I thought was a good one, though, like a legitimately good one in that the author was able to have a wide cast of friends in the book who were interesting and varied and yet still managed to keep the focus on the main characters and make me care about them. That is not as easy as it sounds, and this author did it with the ease of the best of them, like Eden Finley, May Archer, and Lily Morton, who all excel at the art of putting a lot of characters into a book and still keeping the reader interested in the main couple.
I thought the style of storytelling was in keeping with how a group of twenty-somethings would interact with each other. The characters were neither too juvenile nor too mature and were often both at the same time as we are in our twenties, and that balance struck it exactly right with me. There was also enough realism in the attitudes of the tertiary characters to satisfy the cynic in me which sometimes looks askance at the M/M romance books which portray all the characters as being so accepting and inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ communities. We all know the real world ain't like that, and I like to see that portrayed in my contemporary romances. You may not like that, so you've been warned going in.
The one thing that I didn't like as much as other things about this book is how one of the main characters agonized for so long about his sexuality label. I think the author kept it going for too long in the story even though it was the main conflict I suppose. There were a lot of other things happening in this book though, so that could have maybe wrapped itself up a bit quicker. In a different mood I may have even knocked a star off over it, but in our hetero-normative culture I think it is realistic to agonize over labels sometimes, especially if a person has a later in life bi-awakening.
All told, I loved this book and would recommend it. It is the first in the series and I think the first non-action contemporary for this author, so you can get right into it without worrying that you need to read anything else by this author first.
I love best friends to lovers stories, so generally that will get an author a couple of stars from me right away. This one I thought was a good one, though, like a legitimately good one in that the author was able to have a wide cast of friends in the book who were interesting and varied and yet still managed to keep the focus on the main characters and make me care about them. That is not as easy as it sounds, and this author did it with the ease of the best of them, like Eden Finley, May Archer, and Lily Morton, who all excel at the art of putting a lot of characters into a book and still keeping the reader interested in the main couple.
I thought the style of storytelling was in keeping with how a group of twenty-somethings would interact with each other. The characters were neither too juvenile nor too mature and were often both at the same time as we are in our twenties, and that balance struck it exactly right with me. There was also enough realism in the attitudes of the tertiary characters to satisfy the cynic in me which sometimes looks askance at the M/M romance books which portray all the characters as being so accepting and inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ communities. We all know the real world ain't like that, and I like to see that portrayed in my contemporary romances. You may not like that, so you've been warned going in.
The one thing that I didn't like as much as other things about this book is how one of the main characters agonized for so long about his sexuality label. I think the author kept it going for too long in the story even though it was the main conflict I suppose. There were a lot of other things happening in this book though, so that could have maybe wrapped itself up a bit quicker. In a different mood I may have even knocked a star off over it, but in our hetero-normative culture I think it is realistic to agonize over labels sometimes, especially if a person has a later in life bi-awakening.
All told, I loved this book and would recommend it. It is the first in the series and I think the first non-action contemporary for this author, so you can get right into it without worrying that you need to read anything else by this author first.
May 23, 2020
I really like The New Normal. There's plenty of feels right from the start where we learn that Andrew, very recently recovered from cancer treatment confesses he's in love with Brian, the best friend who has been by his side every horrible step of the way. The emotional roller-coaster continues as both men try to navigate their way through bisexual awakening, trying to label their sexuality and working out what a romantic relationship between them might be like.
Considering it's not the usual action you might expect from LJ Hayward if you've read her other works (especially the Death and the Devil series), there is plenty to keep you engaged in the plot aside from the men's developing relationship: we have Andrew figuring out whether he wants to leave his current construction job to reignite the passion for architecture he had to put aside when he was diagnosed with cancer. We also have Brian's diving into rotation as a new A and E doctor...two pretty good subplots.
In terms of the characters, I do like both MCs, though I can appreciate why it might take a bit more time to warm towards Brian. Andrew is sweet and patient with Brian, however he does have some very natural insecurities. Meanwhile Brian's self-discovery takes a little more work which initially might come across as rejection. There are some side characters that I really like and some I could happily shake until they stop being @sses. In the 'like' column are Michael and Sean from the hospital Brian works at and Terri, Andrew's friend from the construction site. In the other column, sadly, are almost all of Andrew and Brian's closest friends; one or two of whom come across as being childish, self-centered and manipulative. This is the reason for the dropped star in my rating...these just aren't the kind of characters I want in a story like this.
Overall, The New Normal is a fine read and if your thing is sweet, low-angst, best friends to lovers books, this one will be right up your street. 4*
An ARC was provided by GRR in exchange for an honest review.
Considering it's not the usual action you might expect from LJ Hayward if you've read her other works (especially the Death and the Devil series), there is plenty to keep you engaged in the plot aside from the men's developing relationship: we have Andrew figuring out whether he wants to leave his current construction job to reignite the passion for architecture he had to put aside when he was diagnosed with cancer. We also have Brian's diving into rotation as a new A and E doctor...two pretty good subplots.
In terms of the characters, I do like both MCs, though I can appreciate why it might take a bit more time to warm towards Brian. Andrew is sweet and patient with Brian, however he does have some very natural insecurities. Meanwhile Brian's self-discovery takes a little more work which initially might come across as rejection. There are some side characters that I really like and some I could happily shake until they stop being @sses. In the 'like' column are Michael and Sean from the hospital Brian works at and Terri, Andrew's friend from the construction site. In the other column, sadly, are almost all of Andrew and Brian's closest friends; one or two of whom come across as being childish, self-centered and manipulative. This is the reason for the dropped star in my rating...these just aren't the kind of characters I want in a story like this.
Overall, The New Normal is a fine read and if your thing is sweet, low-angst, best friends to lovers books, this one will be right up your street. 4*
An ARC was provided by GRR in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2020
Universal Link
Brian and Andrew have been best friends for most of their lives. They've been through it all together, the most recent being Andrew's cancer diagnosis a few years ago that sent him into depression. But now that he's been given the all clear from his doctor, he's realized how much he loves his best friend, how much he's IN LOVE with him. But Brian's reaction to Andrew's declaration? Let's just say it was not particularly positive. And it sets off a lot of back and forth, some angst, and Brian questioning himself for far, far too long. Now don't get me wrong, I understand that questioning one's sexuality cannot be easy, but Brian took it wayyyy too far and it took up too much time in the story for my tastes. It also made it hard for me to like Brian until right around the end, which is, of course, too far into the story for a character to have made himself likable.
Aside from Brian's negative qualities, though, I mostly enjoyed the rest of this story. Andrew is a sweetheart, and their circle of friends is a varied and realistic bunch. 3.5 stars rounded up seems fair.
ARC via Gay Romance Reviews for an honest review.
Review & Release Blitz: Live Through Books Blog.
Blog | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
May 25, 2020
Independent reviewer for Gay Romance Reviewers, I was gifted my copy of this book.
I really REALLY enjoyed this book!
Andrew and Brian have been best friends for a long time. Andreww is now cancer free, and Brian starting his final rotation in Accident and Emergency. Life should be perfect. Til Andrew tells Brian he is in love with him, and Brian starts to question everything. What did that touch mean, those words, this weird feeling that keeps bubbling when Andrew is near? Will they do this, or will it tear them apart?
I loved that Brian and Andrew have a say. Loved that Andrew kept his feelings for Brian quiet for so long. Loved that, once he got over the shock of Andrew's confession, he doesn't dismiss it totally. He ponders, he thinks, he works things out on his own.
I found the physical side of their relationship growing and developing along nicely, but at times, a little . . .clinical . . maybe . . .is the right word. I hate not being able to find the right word! It was just a little teachy, you know? Both of them had not been in a same sex relationship before, and they both needed to move slowly, but I just found it weird reading, you know, about HOW to do the stuff, rather than them just practising the stuff!
Emotionally, they move along together, Andrew a slight step ahead of Brian, but I think, deep down, that step is not as big as you might think. Brian knows he would be devastated if he lost Andrew, he just doens't really fully understand WHY he feels that way, not yet.
So much going on, besides Andrew and Brian, and I did get a little lost at points, with all the background drama, but I caught up quick enough. However, I think its all needed for these two to get their act together! The supporting cast are great, don't get me wrong, but I found it all a bit weird how everyone was connected to everyone else. Probably just me! I felt a little bit like I was missing something from them, you know? Like THEIR story should have come first. Again, probably just me seeing or missing things!
From what I can see, the first I have read of this author. Some other titles pique my interest too!
4 good solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
I really REALLY enjoyed this book!
Andrew and Brian have been best friends for a long time. Andreww is now cancer free, and Brian starting his final rotation in Accident and Emergency. Life should be perfect. Til Andrew tells Brian he is in love with him, and Brian starts to question everything. What did that touch mean, those words, this weird feeling that keeps bubbling when Andrew is near? Will they do this, or will it tear them apart?
I loved that Brian and Andrew have a say. Loved that Andrew kept his feelings for Brian quiet for so long. Loved that, once he got over the shock of Andrew's confession, he doesn't dismiss it totally. He ponders, he thinks, he works things out on his own.
I found the physical side of their relationship growing and developing along nicely, but at times, a little . . .clinical . . maybe . . .is the right word. I hate not being able to find the right word! It was just a little teachy, you know? Both of them had not been in a same sex relationship before, and they both needed to move slowly, but I just found it weird reading, you know, about HOW to do the stuff, rather than them just practising the stuff!
Emotionally, they move along together, Andrew a slight step ahead of Brian, but I think, deep down, that step is not as big as you might think. Brian knows he would be devastated if he lost Andrew, he just doens't really fully understand WHY he feels that way, not yet.
So much going on, besides Andrew and Brian, and I did get a little lost at points, with all the background drama, but I caught up quick enough. However, I think its all needed for these two to get their act together! The supporting cast are great, don't get me wrong, but I found it all a bit weird how everyone was connected to everyone else. Probably just me! I felt a little bit like I was missing something from them, you know? Like THEIR story should have come first. Again, probably just me seeing or missing things!
From what I can see, the first I have read of this author. Some other titles pique my interest too!
4 good solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
May 25, 2020
3.5 Stars
The New Normal, the first book in LJ Hayward's Gold Coast Collage series, is an interesting friends to lovers read.
This is the story of mixing a friendship with sex and feelings, and all the problems that come with doing so. Both men are floundering with what they want out of life, including if they want to be together.
At it's heart, this is a story of struggling to define one's sexuality. In a time when Andrew has just survived cancer and has a second chance, he's struggling with his career choices as well as his love life. He's a closeted bisexual who fears taking his friendship with Brian to the next level. And Brian has his own doubts.
At the beginning, the reader is thrown into a large group of friends, which I found overwhelming. But soon after, things slowed down and we got to know the two main characters. Their story has a lot of subplots taking place, which all add to the character development and growth.
The humor is fantastic, with a lot of banter and innuendoes sprinkled throughout. That is definitely the thing that kept me invested. The pace is slow, but it's not a mood killer. My biggest issue is that it's told in alternating third person pov. I would have preferred first person pov, as it would have brought a little more to the story.
Overall, The New Normal is a good read. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and this LJ Hayward read is a decent, fresh take on this idea. I will definitely give the next book a try, as there is a lot of potential with this group of friends.
The New Normal, the first book in LJ Hayward's Gold Coast Collage series, is an interesting friends to lovers read.
This is the story of mixing a friendship with sex and feelings, and all the problems that come with doing so. Both men are floundering with what they want out of life, including if they want to be together.
At it's heart, this is a story of struggling to define one's sexuality. In a time when Andrew has just survived cancer and has a second chance, he's struggling with his career choices as well as his love life. He's a closeted bisexual who fears taking his friendship with Brian to the next level. And Brian has his own doubts.
At the beginning, the reader is thrown into a large group of friends, which I found overwhelming. But soon after, things slowed down and we got to know the two main characters. Their story has a lot of subplots taking place, which all add to the character development and growth.
The humor is fantastic, with a lot of banter and innuendoes sprinkled throughout. That is definitely the thing that kept me invested. The pace is slow, but it's not a mood killer. My biggest issue is that it's told in alternating third person pov. I would have preferred first person pov, as it would have brought a little more to the story.
Overall, The New Normal is a good read. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and this LJ Hayward read is a decent, fresh take on this idea. I will definitely give the next book a try, as there is a lot of potential with this group of friends.
Read
June 1, 2020DNF @ 50%. Got bored.
dnf-or-skipped
June 25, 2025Where's the sharpness that made Where Death meets the Devil so enjoyable? Nowhere to be found in this aimless sugar-fest, with charmless MCs.
June 22, 2020
The story was great, the characters not so much. Brian was a big baby with a quick temper. I hated how every time things got rough he just packed up and left. Andrew was too understanding and tolerant, Elle was annoying, and James at then the end should have been choked. Other than that, it was good book.
March 13, 2021
Read a pretty different kind of series from the author but, despite my "dislike" for contemporary, was glad to see her good writing translated even here.
Car chases or races, detectives and assassins are relatively removed from... your normal life. Which this is trying to be. Contemporary you know? Even when it's the complete opposite of my life, it still feels way too mundane and boring, dealing with problems and issues too close to my own to a) get me out of ma head b) into someone's else's life c) that is way more exciting and "cooler" than mine.
And I am not saying this book did not have that part, that it managed to miss it completely - sure, sometimes it did have that feel of watching a playground of 5 years old bicker about who said what and who's whose friend and who's suddenly angry or hurt and just trying to nagivate the dynamics of those few relationships reminded me why I definitely need me books to revolve about more than these "silly" worries - I have enough of them on my own and my friend found is at its introvert level low.
Part of what made it different was the time period - which is after cancer. Yup, the MC had just got the all clear, should be no more cancer there and I could probably find tons of books about cancer but focusing instead on the time after? Now that was new and so much better.
Another great aspect was the... realisticity? That's like a real word, huh... Of the relationship. Neither MC had prior experience with a guy and, whoa, it actually showed! They didn't suddenly work out how to do it just be touching each other. They even made some kind of "research", they asked people around... You know, two people trying to discover and work towards something new, as they often do. I may not be an expert of any sense but if I was supposed to decide, this definitely feels truer.
Figuring out and navigating sexuality was somewhere in the middle - some good, some bad. But it does make some interesting points of why we are (who are we that I do not know though) heading towards expanding labels and knowledge and having this more complex system than one word and fairly straightforward straight, bi, gay. I think there is this funny notion that straight or gay means you're attracted to men or women by which it's somehow meant yes, men or women, as some kind of homogenous mass when attraction is fairly complicated and most people of any label are definitely not attracted or interested in any specific "group" in its entirety. Feelings are complicated enough of their own without trying to get them into words other people might understand or bother to know about - as a certain character pointed out, we are still mostly in a world where, if you need to come out as... anything other than gay, maybe not even that, you need to make a whole presentation with pie charts and graphs and statistics and definitions to get people to actually bend their understanding enough to get you.
Anyway, on the large, I am fairly satisfied - the fact I was not feeling like pulling my hair out is a compliment in this genre so enjoying it is a win.
Recommend.
Car chases or races, detectives and assassins are relatively removed from... your normal life. Which this is trying to be. Contemporary you know? Even when it's the complete opposite of my life, it still feels way too mundane and boring, dealing with problems and issues too close to my own to a) get me out of ma head b) into someone's else's life c) that is way more exciting and "cooler" than mine.
And I am not saying this book did not have that part, that it managed to miss it completely - sure, sometimes it did have that feel of watching a playground of 5 years old bicker about who said what and who's whose friend and who's suddenly angry or hurt and just trying to nagivate the dynamics of those few relationships reminded me why I definitely need me books to revolve about more than these "silly" worries - I have enough of them on my own and my friend found is at its introvert level low.
Part of what made it different was the time period - which is after cancer. Yup, the MC had just got the all clear, should be no more cancer there and I could probably find tons of books about cancer but focusing instead on the time after? Now that was new and so much better.
Another great aspect was the... realisticity? That's like a real word, huh... Of the relationship. Neither MC had prior experience with a guy and, whoa, it actually showed! They didn't suddenly work out how to do it just be touching each other. They even made some kind of "research", they asked people around... You know, two people trying to discover and work towards something new, as they often do. I may not be an expert of any sense but if I was supposed to decide, this definitely feels truer.
Figuring out and navigating sexuality was somewhere in the middle - some good, some bad. But it does make some interesting points of why we are (who are we that I do not know though) heading towards expanding labels and knowledge and having this more complex system than one word and fairly straightforward straight, bi, gay. I think there is this funny notion that straight or gay means you're attracted to men or women by which it's somehow meant yes, men or women, as some kind of homogenous mass when attraction is fairly complicated and most people of any label are definitely not attracted or interested in any specific "group" in its entirety. Feelings are complicated enough of their own without trying to get them into words other people might understand or bother to know about - as a certain character pointed out, we are still mostly in a world where, if you need to come out as... anything other than gay, maybe not even that, you need to make a whole presentation with pie charts and graphs and statistics and definitions to get people to actually bend their understanding enough to get you.
Anyway, on the large, I am fairly satisfied - the fact I was not feeling like pulling my hair out is a compliment in this genre so enjoying it is a win.
Recommend.
May 19, 2020
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I really loved this story. New adult angst at it’s best, it’s a book about two lifelong friends who slowly realise they might want something more with each other.
I absolutely love Brian and Andrew. Brian is a junior doctor struggling to meet his professional challenges. Andrew has recently returned to work after recovering from cancer. Both men are wonderfully vulnerable and their voices feel real and familiar. I love the slightly mad group of friends that surrounds them and the Aussie setting is a welcome change from the many American m/m romances.
There is a whole lot of drama and angst as Brian and Andrew work through their sexualities and as the relationships within their friendship group grow, strain and sometimes explode. The angst feels realistic and familiar for characters in their early twenties but it is a lot. The Aussie humour mitigates some of the emotional turmoil and there are a few scenes that had me laughing out loud.
I really loved this book. Something about the characters and their experiences really resonated and I immediately fell in love with both Brian and Andrew. There is something really special about this story and these characters - it’s the kind of book that I can see myself rereading and recommending to friends.
I really loved this story. New adult angst at it’s best, it’s a book about two lifelong friends who slowly realise they might want something more with each other.
I absolutely love Brian and Andrew. Brian is a junior doctor struggling to meet his professional challenges. Andrew has recently returned to work after recovering from cancer. Both men are wonderfully vulnerable and their voices feel real and familiar. I love the slightly mad group of friends that surrounds them and the Aussie setting is a welcome change from the many American m/m romances.
There is a whole lot of drama and angst as Brian and Andrew work through their sexualities and as the relationships within their friendship group grow, strain and sometimes explode. The angst feels realistic and familiar for characters in their early twenties but it is a lot. The Aussie humour mitigates some of the emotional turmoil and there are a few scenes that had me laughing out loud.
I really loved this book. Something about the characters and their experiences really resonated and I immediately fell in love with both Brian and Andrew. There is something really special about this story and these characters - it’s the kind of book that I can see myself rereading and recommending to friends.
January 15, 2021
This was bad. Normally, I rate books on the low end of the scale because of spelling errors or continuity issues but this one was just regular, old bad.
Whole sections of it made no sense. Example: spoiler alert
The majority of their friends were annoying and meddling. Ella Bella was the absolute worst. The way these people enabled her to be self-absorbed and insensitive and demanding was too much to bear. I made it about a third of the way through and decided I loved myself enough to stop reading.
Whole sections of it made no sense. Example: spoiler alert
The majority of their friends were annoying and meddling. Ella Bella was the absolute worst. The way these people enabled her to be self-absorbed and insensitive and demanding was too much to bear. I made it about a third of the way through and decided I loved myself enough to stop reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews