Theo Sandoval doesn’t belong here, there, or anywhere. Klein Warren doesn’t believe in a damn thing. Malachi ‘Mac’ O’Shea isn’t interested in trying to behave. One wants to be the best but can’t get past his meager beginnings. One wants to be famous but can’t overcome his crippling fear. One wants to be free from the heavy chains of his dangerous legacy but has no way out. Three young men from very different backgrounds, whose paths would never normally cross, will ultimately end up shaping each other's futures. With little in common and a million unanswered questions about the growing feelings between them, it shouldn’t be an easy feat for the three boys to fall in love. However, the past has proven that anything is possible at Castle Pines, an elite, boys only private school tucked away high in the Colorado mountains that brought these very different boys together. Somehow this unexpected trio makes learning all about love and sex look effortless... until cold, hard reality comes crashing in. The truth is, some differences are just too big to overcome, and making the choice to walk away from what you’ve always known can be impossible.
Imogene Kash in an international bestselling romance author who writes across multiple genres. She’s never met a romance category she didn’t like. That includes the exciting and ever-growing world of M/M romance!
She has an obsession with opposites attracting and enemies-to-lovers love stories, which is why so many of her books feature unlikely lovers. For Imogene, those are the best kind of reads and stories to write about.
When she’s not binge-watching Criminal Minds, Snapped, or glued to old episodes of Forensic Files, Imogene takes full advantage of living in the most beautiful state in the U.S. She’ll leave it up to you to guess which one that might be.
Hint: it is full of wonderful, big mountains and is home to more craft beer than any one person can sample in a lifetime.
I couldn't rate this book any higher because of the shenanigans. There was just too much of it. This was billed as like a polyamorous-type romance between three of the boys we met in book 1. Each of them very different from the other, but having some sort of magical chemistry. It was... a lot. If this book had been like 30% more realistic it would have been great. But everything that happens is so unbelievably and unnecessarily over the top. These young men neither acted nor sounded like the teenagers that they were, it felt so disingenuous. All I want is a preppy boarding school story with normal high school goings-on, not whatever this drama factory was.
I’m so bummed, but this didn’t appeal to me nearly as much as the first book. I feel like the relationship between our 3 MCs wasn’t as fleshed out as it needed to be. All the POV switching just left me jostled, and feeling like I didn’t spend enough time with any one character enough to truly know who they were. Their love for each other felt premature, and their reunion in the end didn’t have enough fanfare or conversation for me.
Despite my lackluster feelings towards this one I am still looking forward to Cutter’s story. I love him, and only want good things for him. 😭
3.6 stars actually. I love Mac, Theo and Klien and I was really looking forward to their story. Some parts were good but there’s a lot telling than showing and 200 plus pages aren’t enough for this threesome’s love story. I love Edge’s cameos in this. My favourite character in this book is of course Mac but I wish there’s was more to read.
The author mentions in the forward that she struggled to write this for various reasons and sadly, it shows. A lot of this book seems very disjointed but more frustrating is how much "telling" this book does to move the story along. All of the "telling" is stuff that was important to "show" in order for the reader to really sink into the relationship. The last 10% of this book would have been a fabulous book all on it's own rather than a means to an end to get through a year of trauma to reunite. Also, it seemed like the author is still more in love with Edge and crushing on Mac than she was with Klein and Theo. I felt the relationship between Edge and Mac much, much more strongly than I did between all three male MC's. That was really frustrating.
I also was not a huge fan of the info dump that Edge dropped on Klein, but besides that, what did Klein do with that info?
It took me three days to read this book. That is never a good sign of a compelling book for me.
Finally, the missing comma after "The Allstar" in the title drives me crazy. I can buy the gimmick of misspelling gangster for the kitch title, but leaving out the comma seems like a lazy mistake.
I have been waiting years for this story....and it was worth the wait! I will disclaimer this that I re-read The Prep and the Punk prior to starting this book. I wanted to refresh my memory, re-submerge myself in the world, and remind myself why I loved Mac so much!
The re-read reminded me of all the animosity and tension that lingered between Theo, Klein, and Mac. Which I honestly forgot about the first time around because I was so blinded by Bash and Edge. *swoon* The drama between these three is a very real thing. While Theo and Klein continue to float around each other but never towards...Mac starts his evil, meddlesome ways. Hilarity and sexual tension ensues. I loved how everything started off as a game and before these boys even knew it, they were all in over their heads. I lived for the banter and contrasting personalities that complimented each other so well.
I was a little concerned before starting the book that the character development and the characters themselves wouldn't have their moments to shine, but Imogene nailed the balance between these personalities. Klein is so damaged and he probably did the biggest character arc. Over the course of the story, he found his voice, courage, and confidence. Theo is the solid foundation throughout the story but he really learns to trust, love, and open up his heart. He doesn't shine quite as brightly but he is the constant variable.
But, I just can't get enough of Mac, he is hands down my favorite. I really enjoyed seeing him develop a deeper relationship with Edge. Mac seemed to really put down some roots over the course of this story and develop real relationships. For once he finally started caring about someone other than himself, and it had me feeling ALL THE FEELS. Mac just grew so much, I want say almost as much as Klein. He really took hold of his own life and his own future and I the way he did it...I wouldn't expect anything less than a complicated plot from Mac.
I know the story is set in a high school but these boys are bananas! Seriously, the endless twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat. Given Mac's dangerous family, I was dying to see if these men were going to get an HEA. And while I don't want to ruin the plot at all, I adored how it all played out. I laughed, I blushed like crazy, and I even cried. I am so d*mn invested in these boys. I think my only grievance is I want more! Also I am not sure if I am ready to forgive Cutter yet...
Oh my beating heart! Little did I know at the end of book 1, The Prep and The Punk, that book 2 would be a threefer! That’s a three for one, not only do we get Mac’s story (yep the adorable demented fairy) who roomed with Bash, but we also get Bash’s other two roomies, Klein and Theo. What a super sexy, super sweet, super emotional read. Who would have thought when I started reading this series the demented fairy would end up being such a favourite characters of mine. He always had that cheeky vibe going for him, but we actually see so much more depth to him in this story than I ever thought he had within him. I want to bring him into my inner circle and just never let him go, I wanted to protect him and love him. Three lives interwoven for life, even though they may not always know where each other are, they know they belong together, that they fit together, not one, not two, but three. Oh, and the sexy times are off the charts hot, you can’t be shy reading this, Three boys, zero boundaries. I loved it.
Book 2 in the Boys Only series bring us back to Castle Pines, the elite all boys high school where the rich and famous send their dirty little secrets to be pampered all while staying out of the public eye. Everyone who goes to Castle Pines is related to someone important, well everyone except Theo. He's one of the only boys there on a scholarship for baseball and they never let him forget it. Even the coach is a complete dick and would be happy as a clam to have some no name off his team no matter what his Allstar talent level is.
"I was used to having my own back, because anytime I turned to look behind me, no one else was there."
Then there is Klein. Klein is the son of a famous singer and that talent has manifested in him as well. He dreams of being a Rockstar, while also dealing with crippling anxiety and stage fright. Klein is quiet and keeps to himself. The only time you really hear him speak is when he's arguing with Theo over something stupid like leaving towels on the floor. For some reason Theo gets under his skin, when no one else ever has and both of them have a healthy dose of fear when it comes to Mac.
Malachi O'Shea or Mac to most is their suite mate. His elfin appearance and mischievous smile makes it easy to underestimate him, but the man is clearly out of his mind. I loved this lunatic from his first appearance in book 1 The Prep and the Punk and couldn't wait to learn more about him. He's secretive and manipulative, his perception of others is uncanny, but that's what happens when you grow up the son of an Irish mob boss. You learn the hard way how to swim with sharks and Mac is a pro at navigating the shark infested waters of Castle Pines. He knows how to get what he wants and make it so you have no idea he's been pulling all the strings all along. He's a devious little shit and I am not exaggerating when I say the boy is cray cray. He's definitely more than one fry short of a happy meal and it makes him all the more interesting when he sets his sights on Theo and Klein.
"No one should trust me. Especially when I told them to."
The dynamic between these three men was such an enigma to me. They were all so different on the surface. Klein is skinny, shy, and pure as the driven snow, Theo is the quintessential jock who's rocking 8 pack abs, and Mac is like a flame with with his red hair and downright flirty nature. Each one brings something different to the table the other needs. Theo was the steady one, the rock. He was the glue that kept them together. Both him and Mac were fiercely protective of Klein, but simultaneously helped him to stand on his own two feet. Mac was Mac and no one was going to figure him out if he didn't want them to.
He called me and Klein stars, but so was he. He was the sun. Bigger and brighter than we were."
This story was not without its angst. I mean these boys are seniors in high school, even though like Edge and Bash from book one they read much older. I think it has something to do with all of them having to grow up much sooner than anyone living in the normal world would. These boys, apart from Theo, have never wanted for anything, that is anything except love from the people who brought them into this world. Money doesn't buy happiness isn't a cliché for no reason. Klein, Theo, and Mac had to go through quite a lot to get to their HEA. I'm not sure I wouldn't have given up myself at some point if I were one of them, but thankfully they didn't. They put in the work and the trust in order to come out the other side together and in the end it was a beautiful thing.
"We did love each other. It wasn’t always pretty. It was hardly ever easy. It wasn’t unconditional, but it was a love that worked for the three of us."
First I would like to say that even though I have a lot to say about this book, that does not mean I do not love this book. Because I do and that is why I give 4 stars even though quality of this book is about 3 stars, but I like the feels of this book and the characters too much to give them on the same level as books I did not care about at all. So just be aware that this critique is being said with love. What I like about the book? Definitely every main characters. I love that every boy has a distinctive voice and character and that they are not same. I love cameos od Edge, I just slightly missed Bash, I would make him appear more with Edge. But still the conversations between Edge and Mac. They have interesting friendship relationship. What I also loved was that this is how I picture polyamory relationship (regardless of their miscommunication and mistakes that they made) in sense of that Theo had unique relationship with Mac versus with Klein and same with Mac and Klein. It felt really equal and also their relationship together was different and it was fun to read about it even though it was so short. But I really appreciate this kind of polyamora romance relationship because it is really tough to find equal polyamory relationship in romance books. It is rare to find this and that is maybe why I am so kind with 4 stars, because I am constantly disappointed with other polyamory books even though they have better plots or writing... So now to what I hate or did not like about this book. First it was so quick, they barely got together and talk about their relationship and suddenly there is this big plot issue which will seperate them. And I think everything from that event I hated because it was not like we were reading about something that happens in this moment but like we are reading about something which already happened and now we only listen to how the three main characters are talking about it. Which felt really disconnected and confused. If this book had anothere 100 pages about the events of 2 last capitoles I would be so happy but everything is resolved quickly and you feel disconnected to the story and it leaved a very bad aftertaste for me. We even get the main issues the throuple have resolved. We do not have their issues resolved on page we just read that it was hard but they overcome their issues but we do not read these important scenes. So I was very disappointed by the last pages but I think it is still worh reading I just wish the writer did not give up on these capitols I would honestly prefer to wait longer time for more satisfying end. But it is still work of art because I love Mac, Klein and Theo and their relationship is beautiful even though with every basic mistakes they made in their relationship like some basic communication would not hurt. And if we could read scenes with their communication that would be even better because that is missing from this book the most. I mean I appreciate that there are a lot of scenes wih Theo and Mac, Mac and Klein, Klein and Theo and that is wonderful because this is really missing from so many poly romance books. But author forgot about scenes with the throuple if we do not count the sex scenes which are really hot but some important conversations are really missing. Also it bothered me that so many times they named themselves as the rockstar or allstar I would prefer if they would use their names much more, but that is maybe just my hold-up because I do not like nicknames I think in real life nicknames are not so much used as in movies or books. So that bothered me slightly because it felt like these scenes with nicknames lacks intimacy because would you rather in intimate scene call your partner with their name instead of some stupid nickname? Maybe it is just me... So overall I recommend this book just count that the end might not be satisfying.
This may have taken me awhile to get through. The world got NUTS, but I've finally been able to sit and finish this.
Would I say this was my favorite? I won't lie. It felt like this was rushed. I would have loved to have spent more time with these characters. To truly understand them inside and out. The dynamics and the chemistry of the main characters, I could feel that, but I just wished it was pushed further. It just felt like the author was holding back, but don't get me wrong, the potential is still very much present. I'd say it about near the halfway mark, that was where things got zesty.
I certainly say I was ever bored, but I do wish there could have been more. A lot more. All it would need is a few more layers, and carry more depth. Things could have been a lot wilder and chaotic, but I believe in a good way.
All in all, I'd give this a 3.5 It's got potential, it just doesn't carry enough depth for me.
3.5* La historia me atrajo mucho por los personajes y sus personalidades tan dispares. Mac es un loco lindo y esperaba su historia desde que apareció en el primer libro. Disfruté leyendo sobre su particular relación, sin embargo la resolución dramática de Mac no me llegó. Entiendo que era necesario algo drástico dado la familia que debía dejar atrás pero fue muy novelesco, así como la participación de Edge. El resto, su relación, me encantó.
I loved the 1st book so much it was one of the 1st m/m books I read. This did not disappointed it was a long time coming but so glad it came thank you for so much for sticking with it I don’t care how long we have to wait for cutter’s story but please write it as I can’t not have his HEA in my life!!
There’s no way to decide which of these boys is your favorite, and that’s the very best part. Excellent switching from distinct viewpoints. Well worth the wait, and more!