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Rough Play #2
Playing House
After six months deeply in love with each other, childhood best friends Logan and Christian are excited for their first summer away from home. With one year of college under their belts, they’re ready to grow up and see what the rest of their lives will be like together by strengthening their relationship over the next few months. But fate has never followed their neat plans.Christian receives an opportunity to pursue one of his greatest unfulfilled acting. It’s a chance to explore a talent his parents crushed before he could dream of spending his life studying it—but is he up to the challenge? Is it worth taking the risk, knowing his family won’t support him?Logan struggles with his attachment to Christian and his fears of being left behind. If Christian’s career on the stage takes off, will he abandon Logan and replace him with far better lovers? And how can Logan be so hypocritical when another man has caught his eye? Or has that man perhaps captured Christian’s attention as well?Their relationship will be tested far beyond their imagination—but love always has room to grow, even in the face of fear.
- GenresPolyamory
359 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2020
20 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Clay
12 books58 followersSuzanne Clay (she/he/they) is an asexual enby with a great love for writing erotic romance, and enjoys spending her time confusing people with that fact. They live with her wife and two cats, and, when not writing, Suzanne enjoys reading, playing video games poorly, and refusing to interact outdoors with other human beings.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 3, 2020
Logan and Christian are into each other, deeply, first as friends and now as lovers and boyfriends.
Both going to college in Fulton, a hundred miles from home, and that’s the point, together and away. Now being lovers is a huge difference, here they can express their feelings, it’s safe. Being queer and POC, is safe here and even more at some special places. At home there is family, demanding, religious family, and church who wouldn’t accept them.
So away from home it is the best shot to be together and happy.
Christian has a dream, to be an actor. When the chance is there, he grabs it with two hands. Logan is happy for him, in the back of his mind he’s scared, afraid to be left behind. Christian is the center of his world.
Christian is aware of this and thinks Logan has to expand his personal life. With Logan already developing feelings for their trans roommate Noah, Christian encourages him.
I enjoyed watching these boys, but not always. The story dragged a bit. Communication wasn’t their best side, their inner turmoil without speaking wasn’t my thing. I’m sorry to say I didn’t like those parts; they worked my nerves.
The time, chosen in this story, where Logan got feelings for Noah was a bit predictable. I did love the way Logan and Noah got closer. I loved Noah’s open and direct personality.
A story full of struggle, to feel grounded in this world, to feel comfortable in a relationship. Their personalities are plausible, flawed characteristics to love. I didn't feel a connection with Logan and Christian all the time and didn’t always understand their motivations. With Noah, on the other hand, I felt the connection instantly. The threesome was well done, it was sexy, sweet, emotional and honest.
The communication and reflections throughout this story were a bit repetitive. In my opinion, this story would have had the same results with half of it.
Overall a story I enjoyed but also had mixed feelings about.
Both going to college in Fulton, a hundred miles from home, and that’s the point, together and away. Now being lovers is a huge difference, here they can express their feelings, it’s safe. Being queer and POC, is safe here and even more at some special places. At home there is family, demanding, religious family, and church who wouldn’t accept them.
So away from home it is the best shot to be together and happy.
Christian has a dream, to be an actor. When the chance is there, he grabs it with two hands. Logan is happy for him, in the back of his mind he’s scared, afraid to be left behind. Christian is the center of his world.
Christian is aware of this and thinks Logan has to expand his personal life. With Logan already developing feelings for their trans roommate Noah, Christian encourages him.
I enjoyed watching these boys, but not always. The story dragged a bit. Communication wasn’t their best side, their inner turmoil without speaking wasn’t my thing. I’m sorry to say I didn’t like those parts; they worked my nerves.
The time, chosen in this story, where Logan got feelings for Noah was a bit predictable. I did love the way Logan and Noah got closer. I loved Noah’s open and direct personality.
A story full of struggle, to feel grounded in this world, to feel comfortable in a relationship. Their personalities are plausible, flawed characteristics to love. I didn't feel a connection with Logan and Christian all the time and didn’t always understand their motivations. With Noah, on the other hand, I felt the connection instantly. The threesome was well done, it was sexy, sweet, emotional and honest.
The communication and reflections throughout this story were a bit repetitive. In my opinion, this story would have had the same results with half of it.
Overall a story I enjoyed but also had mixed feelings about.
March 26, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Playing House follows Playing Around and is best read in order, as the first book builds the foundation for Logan and Christian’s relationship. They have been dating for six months and are living together over the summer and are completely into each other. But being 19, they know there are a lot of changes ahead of them and while Christian knows Logan will always be his, Logan struggles with fear of being left behind.
The guys are also living with Noah, who revealed to them in the last book that he was transgender. Noah and his boyfriend, Daiki, have an openness about seeing other people. Daiki is especially onboard with Noah hooking up with Logan and Christian, as he knows he is attracted to both of them.
The book is character driven and relationship driven. While there were parts that seemed slower as I was reading, there is a lot of movement to their story by the end. Logan is all in with Christian, but also develops feelings for Noah. He talks to Christian about it and once the idea is sparked, Christian realizes what Logan sees in Noah and feels it as well.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Playing House follows Playing Around and is best read in order, as the first book builds the foundation for Logan and Christian’s relationship. They have been dating for six months and are living together over the summer and are completely into each other. But being 19, they know there are a lot of changes ahead of them and while Christian knows Logan will always be his, Logan struggles with fear of being left behind.
The guys are also living with Noah, who revealed to them in the last book that he was transgender. Noah and his boyfriend, Daiki, have an openness about seeing other people. Daiki is especially onboard with Noah hooking up with Logan and Christian, as he knows he is attracted to both of them.
The book is character driven and relationship driven. While there were parts that seemed slower as I was reading, there is a lot of movement to their story by the end. Logan is all in with Christian, but also develops feelings for Noah. He talks to Christian about it and once the idea is sparked, Christian realizes what Logan sees in Noah and feels it as well.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
March 24, 2020
Suzanne Clay's Playing House is absolutely mesmerizing! The second book of the Rough Play series, it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone, yet reading Playing Around first is recommended.
Words cannot express how deeply I fell into this story. To say it is all-consuming is an understatement. I felt every single moment of tension, insecurity, fears, and chemistry. I felt like I couldn't breathe...waiting...waiting to see what was gonna happen. I was fully consumed by the underlying sense of angst and anticipation.
The writing is absolutely gripping, powerful in it's development, and impressive in the issues that are tackled. There is seriously a lot going on in this book.
Christian and Logan. Aww... The reader can feel the intense connection between these best friends and boyfriends. As well, the reader can feel every single moment of tension, doubts, and declarations of love. There is no doubt these two men love one another.
But they have a lot of issues to deal with. One is facing his fears about his dreams and forging the path he wants in life. The other is realizing the depth to which his life revolves solely around the other.
And then there's Noah, their roommate. His contribution to this story is life changing. Personally, I love the way he is written. I find his character to be realistic and his sensitivity to be handled with care and understanding. Damn, I just love him.
This story tackles co-dependency, racism, polyamory, family issues, and life dreams. It tackles the conflict between self worth, love and sacrifice. It tackles the conflict between love and letting one be happy without you. It tackles the intense fear when two lives don't quite match up. And it tackles the over-bearing weight of family expectations.
Playing House is way more than I could have ever anticipated. Suzanne Clay powerfully tackles some heavy issues in the most impressive of ways. This entire story is character driven, focusing solely on the heavy emotions involved. I love it! Every single second of it.
Words cannot express how deeply I fell into this story. To say it is all-consuming is an understatement. I felt every single moment of tension, insecurity, fears, and chemistry. I felt like I couldn't breathe...waiting...waiting to see what was gonna happen. I was fully consumed by the underlying sense of angst and anticipation.
The writing is absolutely gripping, powerful in it's development, and impressive in the issues that are tackled. There is seriously a lot going on in this book.
Christian and Logan. Aww... The reader can feel the intense connection between these best friends and boyfriends. As well, the reader can feel every single moment of tension, doubts, and declarations of love. There is no doubt these two men love one another.
But they have a lot of issues to deal with. One is facing his fears about his dreams and forging the path he wants in life. The other is realizing the depth to which his life revolves solely around the other.
And then there's Noah, their roommate. His contribution to this story is life changing. Personally, I love the way he is written. I find his character to be realistic and his sensitivity to be handled with care and understanding. Damn, I just love him.
This story tackles co-dependency, racism, polyamory, family issues, and life dreams. It tackles the conflict between self worth, love and sacrifice. It tackles the conflict between love and letting one be happy without you. It tackles the intense fear when two lives don't quite match up. And it tackles the over-bearing weight of family expectations.
Playing House is way more than I could have ever anticipated. Suzanne Clay powerfully tackles some heavy issues in the most impressive of ways. This entire story is character driven, focusing solely on the heavy emotions involved. I love it! Every single second of it.
March 14, 2024
I enjoyed this book. Imma just go Google search "how to be Noah" brb
April 2, 2020
This book was such a lovely read at such a stressful time. I loved the first book in this series, which was so sexy I had to put it down at several points and cool off, but this one is a different animal, with a stronger focus on deep character work outside the bedroom. The way the characters develop in this one was really wonderful.
Christian finally decides to pursue his dream of being an actor instead of clinging to what he thinks he should do, and Logan has to work out his insecurity to support him. At the same time, both of them are really attracted to their roommate Noah and have to figure out what that means for all three of them.
The main draw for me about this book was the deep look at how couples become poly. Often in poly romance, the deep work necessary to make a threesome or moresome work is ignored in favor of external conflict. Not this time. The characters are careful to check in with each other and talk through their changing feelings. There was also great rep in the form of Noah, a trans man written with as much care and thought as everyone else in this book. I'm really looking forward to the last book in the series.
Christian finally decides to pursue his dream of being an actor instead of clinging to what he thinks he should do, and Logan has to work out his insecurity to support him. At the same time, both of them are really attracted to their roommate Noah and have to figure out what that means for all three of them.
The main draw for me about this book was the deep look at how couples become poly. Often in poly romance, the deep work necessary to make a threesome or moresome work is ignored in favor of external conflict. Not this time. The characters are careful to check in with each other and talk through their changing feelings. There was also great rep in the form of Noah, a trans man written with as much care and thought as everyone else in this book. I'm really looking forward to the last book in the series.
March 28, 2020
This series just gets better and better. I am so glad I stumbled on it through the current NineStar sales and freebies. (And I am already on pins and needles waiting for Book 3!!!)
I love these two so much, and Noah is a fantastic addition. Book 2 finds Logan and Christian in love and moving in together and realizing they have some unhealthy communication issues to work on, among other things.
I was so relieved to see these issues addressed, and the author continues her commitment to realism as they fumble through this transition from best friends to boyfriends. The emotions are raw and not always pretty, but they are committed to each other and to figuring it out, and their utter devotion to each other's happiness is ultimately a thing of beauty.
They are continuing to pull away from their parents' narrow-minded expectations and starting to thrive outside the confines of their conservative town. Christian more so than Logan, which is where some other issues come to light.
Noah was a key source of Logan's insight into his and Christian's relationship dynamic in Book 1, and he becomes an even larger part of Logan's day-to-day life in this new chapter. Since Logan and Christian are learning to talk to each other about anything and everything as it happens and not let things snowball or fester, Logan tells Christian when he realizes he's developed an attraction to their roommate, even though he is horrified that he's let this sneak up on him.
But Christian, being so beautifully schooled in all the different version of polyamory by ex-girlfriend Charlotte, is not bothered by this development. He knows he and Logan are in this for life and is confident their relationship can weather whatever that attraction leads to.
And where it leads is AWESOME. It's hot, it's sweet and it provides some fantastic trans rep to boot. Noah is a fascinating combination of shy but bold, and I love how firmly he addresses certain issues when they arise.
I have no idea where we're going from here, but I can't wait to find out. Suzanne Clay clearly has a firm handle on who these guys are and how they fit together, and I am all in for Book 3.
I love these two so much, and Noah is a fantastic addition. Book 2 finds Logan and Christian in love and moving in together and realizing they have some unhealthy communication issues to work on, among other things.
I was so relieved to see these issues addressed, and the author continues her commitment to realism as they fumble through this transition from best friends to boyfriends. The emotions are raw and not always pretty, but they are committed to each other and to figuring it out, and their utter devotion to each other's happiness is ultimately a thing of beauty.
They are continuing to pull away from their parents' narrow-minded expectations and starting to thrive outside the confines of their conservative town. Christian more so than Logan, which is where some other issues come to light.
Noah was a key source of Logan's insight into his and Christian's relationship dynamic in Book 1, and he becomes an even larger part of Logan's day-to-day life in this new chapter. Since Logan and Christian are learning to talk to each other about anything and everything as it happens and not let things snowball or fester, Logan tells Christian when he realizes he's developed an attraction to their roommate, even though he is horrified that he's let this sneak up on him.
But Christian, being so beautifully schooled in all the different version of polyamory by ex-girlfriend Charlotte, is not bothered by this development. He knows he and Logan are in this for life and is confident their relationship can weather whatever that attraction leads to.
And where it leads is AWESOME. It's hot, it's sweet and it provides some fantastic trans rep to boot. Noah is a fascinating combination of shy but bold, and I love how firmly he addresses certain issues when they arise.
I have no idea where we're going from here, but I can't wait to find out. Suzanne Clay clearly has a firm handle on who these guys are and how they fit together, and I am all in for Book 3.
March 23, 2020
Logan and Christian became a couple when they were younger, long before they became lovers. Logan couldn’t imagine his life without Christian, very in love with him but so fearful Christian would leave him behind. “I hate just waiting for him to move past me.”
Christian had wanted to act since middle school. His parents took it away from him telling him his life just couldn’t go in that direction. “You’re wasting your time.” Being with Logan eased the longing but it was never far away. When he gets a second chance to be on stage, he has to take it.
This was a strange book for me. Logan was so needy it got annoying. I realize that the point of the book was to show Logan finally maturing but I just didn’t feel it. Then to throw another person into the mix didn’t seem very productive relationship wise. The main characters are in their late teens so maybe the behavior wasn’t so out of place.
I did like the positive inclusion of different sexuality’s into the daily life of these guys. Gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual. It was written as a normalcy, very matter of fact.
This is the first time I’ve read this author so it may be I just wasn’t familiar with the writing style.
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review. Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Christian had wanted to act since middle school. His parents took it away from him telling him his life just couldn’t go in that direction. “You’re wasting your time.” Being with Logan eased the longing but it was never far away. When he gets a second chance to be on stage, he has to take it.
This was a strange book for me. Logan was so needy it got annoying. I realize that the point of the book was to show Logan finally maturing but I just didn’t feel it. Then to throw another person into the mix didn’t seem very productive relationship wise. The main characters are in their late teens so maybe the behavior wasn’t so out of place.
I did like the positive inclusion of different sexuality’s into the daily life of these guys. Gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual. It was written as a normalcy, very matter of fact.
This is the first time I’ve read this author so it may be I just wasn’t familiar with the writing style.
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review. Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews