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Hot Mess
Kieran Harrington's life is a hot mess.
After losing his job, apartment and his girlfriend, Kieran is forced to return to his small hometown and live with his older brother. It is a humiliating ordeal for the uptight 26-year-old who swore he would never return to the place he was bullied mercilessly as an unpopular teen.
A welcoming distraction comes Kieran's way though when his brother's best friend, the fun-loving Ziggy Zurakowski, invites him for a weekend away to a secluded cabin. Kieran jumps at the opportunity, keen to try and forget his troubles for a few days. However, it soon becomes apparent Ziggy has more than just rest and relaxation on his mind.
Kieran doesn't know what to do. Sure, Ziggy is an incredibly handsome guy but Kieran's straight... Isn't he? As Ziggy turns up the charm, and the sexual tension between them increases to boiling point, Kieran realizes he's fighting a losing battle. What follows is a night of reckless passion filled with deviant exploits that take Kieran places he needed to go, exploring things he needed to explore, but...
But what happens now?
HOT MESS is a standalone gay romance packed with scorching hot scenes and the promise of new beginnings. It was very briefly released as a novella titled Something So Right but has been rewritten and extended by 25,000+ words.
After losing his job, apartment and his girlfriend, Kieran is forced to return to his small hometown and live with his older brother. It is a humiliating ordeal for the uptight 26-year-old who swore he would never return to the place he was bullied mercilessly as an unpopular teen.
A welcoming distraction comes Kieran's way though when his brother's best friend, the fun-loving Ziggy Zurakowski, invites him for a weekend away to a secluded cabin. Kieran jumps at the opportunity, keen to try and forget his troubles for a few days. However, it soon becomes apparent Ziggy has more than just rest and relaxation on his mind.
Kieran doesn't know what to do. Sure, Ziggy is an incredibly handsome guy but Kieran's straight... Isn't he? As Ziggy turns up the charm, and the sexual tension between them increases to boiling point, Kieran realizes he's fighting a losing battle. What follows is a night of reckless passion filled with deviant exploits that take Kieran places he needed to go, exploring things he needed to explore, but...
But what happens now?
HOT MESS is a standalone gay romance packed with scorching hot scenes and the promise of new beginnings. It was very briefly released as a novella titled Something So Right but has been rewritten and extended by 25,000+ words.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2020
118 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Zane Menzy
42 books99 followersZane lives way down under on the west coast of New Zealand; the wet side. He is a fan of ghost stories, sport, ducklings and nights out that usually lead to his head hanging in a bucket the next morning.
He enjoys creating characters who have flaws, crazy thoughts and a tendency to make bad decisions. Zane’s stories are emotionally-charged and don’t shy away from darker themes. After all, they do say there is no light without the dark.
He enjoys creating characters who have flaws, crazy thoughts and a tendency to make bad decisions. Zane’s stories are emotionally-charged and don’t shy away from darker themes. After all, they do say there is no light without the dark.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 29, 2020
I'm not really sure how I felt about this book. It was crude, a bit obnoxious, and just different. I'm not saying those are necessarily bad things but again... different.
I couldn't get a feel for Ziggy. He came across as a man slut that would always be a man slut.
He also came across as wanting his best friend's brother for sex and nothing else. He was very crude about it, even bragging in detail about all his other sexual conquests. I went back to the blurb on Amazon to make sure I'd read it correctly when it said this was a romance with a HEA. It surprised me because I seriously wasn't feeling it.
I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. Again, not really sure how I feel about it.
I couldn't get a feel for Ziggy. He came across as a man slut that would always be a man slut.
He also came across as wanting his best friend's brother for sex and nothing else. He was very crude about it, even bragging in detail about all his other sexual conquests. I went back to the blurb on Amazon to make sure I'd read it correctly when it said this was a romance with a HEA. It surprised me because I seriously wasn't feeling it.
I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. Again, not really sure how I feel about it.
December 25, 2020
I have a few things to say about this book, and of course it is my opinion and you can agree or disagree with me and that’s alright ❤️
That being said...
I didn’t like it at all. It is weird, awkward, and I really really REALLY dislike Ziggy, which never really happened to me before. I don’t like that he’s kind of forcing Kieran into doing things at first, even if he says things like “I don’t wanna make you feel uncomfortable” or whatever, it just feels so fake to me, like he doesn’t mean it and he doesn’t really care if Kieran is uncomfortable. I felt like if Kieran would’ve said he didn’t want to hook up with him, Ziggy would have completely ignore his decision and force him into hooking up anyway. We shouldn’t create characters like that. I don’t like that he shows Kieran Ryan’s pictures, I don’t care whatever the reason, it really bothered me.
Kieran and Ziggy’s relationship feels so unnatural to me, so forced, and the instant love? I know they knew each other for a long time and Kieran had a crush on Ziggy when they were younger I guess? But still, it feels so rushed and not natural.
And here it goes the thing that bothered me the most about this book: what is wrong with Paul? I mean...He makes fun of Kieran even though he was obviously upset about what happened with Ziggy over the weekend, and then he started asking a bunch of awkward and weird questions about their sexual activities because he wants to live his sexual life through his little brother? like, why do you want to fantasize about your brother and your best friend having sex? And then when he overheard Kieran’s moans he flat out tells him he could’ve jerked off to it. I mean, he’s your brother, why would you say stuff like that to him? It made me really uncomfortable.
Over all, I, personally, don’t think it’s a really good book, I didn’t enjoy reading it, and most of the time I just wanted to be over. Yikes. I know.
If you liked it, that’s great! But it is just not for me 🙄
That being said...
I didn’t like it at all. It is weird, awkward, and I really really REALLY dislike Ziggy, which never really happened to me before. I don’t like that he’s kind of forcing Kieran into doing things at first, even if he says things like “I don’t wanna make you feel uncomfortable” or whatever, it just feels so fake to me, like he doesn’t mean it and he doesn’t really care if Kieran is uncomfortable. I felt like if Kieran would’ve said he didn’t want to hook up with him, Ziggy would have completely ignore his decision and force him into hooking up anyway. We shouldn’t create characters like that. I don’t like that he shows Kieran Ryan’s pictures, I don’t care whatever the reason, it really bothered me.
Kieran and Ziggy’s relationship feels so unnatural to me, so forced, and the instant love? I know they knew each other for a long time and Kieran had a crush on Ziggy when they were younger I guess? But still, it feels so rushed and not natural.
And here it goes the thing that bothered me the most about this book: what is wrong with Paul? I mean...He makes fun of Kieran even though he was obviously upset about what happened with Ziggy over the weekend, and then he started asking a bunch of awkward and weird questions about their sexual activities because he wants to live his sexual life through his little brother? like, why do you want to fantasize about your brother and your best friend having sex? And then when he overheard Kieran’s moans he flat out tells him he could’ve jerked off to it. I mean, he’s your brother, why would you say stuff like that to him? It made me really uncomfortable.
Over all, I, personally, don’t think it’s a really good book, I didn’t enjoy reading it, and most of the time I just wanted to be over. Yikes. I know.
If you liked it, that’s great! But it is just not for me 🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2021
Unfortunately, not at all for me. The book title pretty much sums up my experience with this one – a Hot Mess. The characters felt very juvenile in actions as well as dialogue, I did not feel any connection to them whatsoever, and many of the descriptions as well as dialogue were cringe-worthy for me which had me skimming the majority of the story. I don’t ever want to be exposed to another similar fantasy or Ziggy Special, just no. And while some may find the following erotic or stimulating, they just didn’t work for me: his manly ball-funk, his cum-filled babymakers, salty dick sweat, tangy fumes, thick column of fuck-meat, or any variety of shitter (my aching shitter, my abused shitter, my convulsing shitter, or flooding his shitter). I don’t quit books, so I mustered my way through, but it was not enjoyable for me.
March 7, 2021
Well..huh.. 3 Stars for a recycled plit ⭐⭐⭐
It occurs to me that instead of writing all the ways this book is like Game Night..because it is, why not ask the obvious question:
How can you churn out the same book? Why not look for a different theme & add some of the dirty talk? Is that hard?
You have a basic difference is two guys who knew grew up together until Kieren & Ziggy. Ziggy was the older brother's friend while Kieren silently, unknowingly lusted after him. Now, Ziggy is talking about Kieren being hot & inviting him to a weekend cabin where he gets his sexy times in with whomever goes.
Sex happens, dirty talk happens, alpha top smacks his bottom happens..
They come to an agreement, & leap off into happy humpy times...
It occurs to me that instead of writing all the ways this book is like Game Night..because it is, why not ask the obvious question:
How can you churn out the same book? Why not look for a different theme & add some of the dirty talk? Is that hard?
You have a basic difference is two guys who knew grew up together until Kieren & Ziggy. Ziggy was the older brother's friend while Kieren silently, unknowingly lusted after him. Now, Ziggy is talking about Kieren being hot & inviting him to a weekend cabin where he gets his sexy times in with whomever goes.
Sex happens, dirty talk happens, alpha top smacks his bottom happens..
They come to an agreement, & leap off into happy humpy times...
January 2, 2021
DNF 50%. I don't mind characters being promiscuous or whatever. They had a life before their relationship with the MC, and that's fine. Ziggy, however, had literally no personality other than being a slut. He talks about past sex details non-stop. And then you find out Ziggy intended this entire weekend to be a creepy seduction plot. Yuck. Then he shows off his ex's sex pics like revenge porn. What's to like about this guy? He's gross.
January 28, 2021
Hot Mess is the perfect way to describe this. I was determined to finish this despite the numerous, painful, typos and severally unsexy language. There was numerous times I was about to throw in the towel. I don't recommend.
March 26, 2021
This gay raunch fest was called a romance with a HEA in its Amazon description, and I just don't know why. There were so many issues with this novella. First, none of the characters ever came across in a positive way and especially not Ziggy who was a, pardon my language, a total manwhore who totally admitted that he invited Kieran up to his cabin for the purpose of seducing him even with the understanding being that Kieran is straight. Second, there were so many grammatical issues, and while I'll accept the differences in spelling being due to the author being from New Zealand and setting the story there, I don't accept the dire lack of commas. Third, I have never run across such cringeworthy sex scenes full of seriously unsexy language before. Fourth, no one falls in love in a weekend of seduction followed by one restaurant date and more sex. I don't care if these guys grew up together (Ziggy being Kieran's brother's best friend) and had crushes on each other as teens; they haven't seen each other in 8 years, so they don't know each other anymore and didn't know each other well as kids either.
March 22, 2021
DNF of sorts - I sort of skimmed this whole book, would start to get somewhat interested, and then something . . . off would happen and I’d skim a bunch. This book is like, a sort of degrading gfy situation? The only thing I kind of liked about it was the MC’s brother being all sly bc he knew that his friend was into his brother, but then it just got . . . really weird and kinda gross. I’ve never seen the phrase ‘piss slit’ used so frequently, or maybe ever. It bugs me when books that are mostly erotica try to put this veneer of romance overtop, bc there’s nothing wrong with just writing erotica. But as a romantic relationship? This was a disaster. It could have just been two guys getting off.
February 19, 2021
Raw and good!
This is the romance of Kieran and Ziggy. Two men that had crushed on one another since they were teens unbeknownst to one another. Kieran lost everything he thought was important in Auckland: his job, his girlfriend and his apartment. Eight years later he returns to his small town of Waitara and finds more than he ever dreamed. He repairs his relationship with his brother, former bullies have matured and become his friends, a job even though it’s part-time and he also finds the love of his life and home in Ziggy. There were raw moments here but it was such a good read! Will definitely read other titles by Zane Menzy!
This is the romance of Kieran and Ziggy. Two men that had crushed on one another since they were teens unbeknownst to one another. Kieran lost everything he thought was important in Auckland: his job, his girlfriend and his apartment. Eight years later he returns to his small town of Waitara and finds more than he ever dreamed. He repairs his relationship with his brother, former bullies have matured and become his friends, a job even though it’s part-time and he also finds the love of his life and home in Ziggy. There were raw moments here but it was such a good read! Will definitely read other titles by Zane Menzy!
March 22, 2021
Kinky and sweet
This was surprisingly sweet for how kinky it gets. Ziggy is delightfully arrogant and an unrepentant flirt. Kieran is lacking in confidence and down on his luck. Somehow these characters fit together seamlessly and they have oodles of chemistry.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of Smalltown life, clearly written by someone who understands the pain of shopping in a small town supermarket after living in a big city.
This was surprisingly sweet for how kinky it gets. Ziggy is delightfully arrogant and an unrepentant flirt. Kieran is lacking in confidence and down on his luck. Somehow these characters fit together seamlessly and they have oodles of chemistry.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of Smalltown life, clearly written by someone who understands the pain of shopping in a small town supermarket after living in a big city.
May 14, 2022
I mostly liked the book. I like m/m romance books and I like this author’s style of writing. Granted, this wasn’t my favorite book of his because I felt Kieran was a wuss and Ziggy was a player. I mean, how could Kieran take Ziggy seriously and jump in bed with him at first opportunity knowing his reputation? Kieran was too easy and I can’t see how he fell that fast. Anyway, the sex being descriptive doesn’t bother me. I like it that way!!
December 10, 2025
would've rated it higher if not for the re-used scenes.
⭐️⭐️/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
Spoilers ahead.
the book was fine but it bothered me a shit tone that there were so many copied scenes from another book by the same author. or maybe it's the other way around idk but I read this one after the other.
scenes include:
catching cheating gf in bed with best friend
top being flexible enough to give head while fucking
dude taking & keeping pictures of conquests
⭐️⭐️/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
Spoilers ahead.
the book was fine but it bothered me a shit tone that there were so many copied scenes from another book by the same author. or maybe it's the other way around idk but I read this one after the other.
scenes include:
catching cheating gf in bed with best friend
top being flexible enough to give head while fucking
dude taking & keeping pictures of conquests
December 20, 2020
Love it!!!
I have to give it to you Zane... you make an awesome romantic writer and of course the kinkiest thing is about the darkness that you create. Your ability to reach inside each one of us and pull out the darkness is so awesome and amazing I know you left it quite unfinished I guess second book will be definitely in making!!!
I have to give it to you Zane... you make an awesome romantic writer and of course the kinkiest thing is about the darkness that you create. Your ability to reach inside each one of us and pull out the darkness is so awesome and amazing I know you left it quite unfinished I guess second book will be definitely in making!!!
March 20, 2022
Well, what to say about this one, it was dirty, very dirty, a fuck fest even, every kink you can think of was mentioned. As base as he first came across I couldn't help but like Ziggy, crude but fun. It was a likable read, I always enjoy a 'gay for you' story, a new author to me, you did alright mate!
November 20, 2023
Ehh Not My Favorite
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did. Ziggy is kind of an awful character. Kieran is also not great but slightly better. The use of foreshadowing was essentially beating us over the head. The story itself was ok. The spice was pretty decent.
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did. Ziggy is kind of an awful character. Kieran is also not great but slightly better. The use of foreshadowing was essentially beating us over the head. The story itself was ok. The spice was pretty decent.
December 29, 2020
My first by this author
Definitely a hot little read but there is a lot of heart as well. The
author sums up his intent in likeable but flawed characters that push the edge. I hope Ziggy and Kieran go the distance...Ziggy has me a bit concerned if he can truly commit but he's trying.
Definitely a hot little read but there is a lot of heart as well. The
author sums up his intent in likeable but flawed characters that push the edge. I hope Ziggy and Kieran go the distance...Ziggy has me a bit concerned if he can truly commit but he's trying.
January 13, 2021
Hot Mess🥰😜
This is a sweet and sexy first time gay romance story with great characters with full on feels. It’s not as dark as some of his books . Mild anx,snarky banter and sexy snappy humour with with steaming hot sexy love and tenderness ❣️❣️💃🏻🙆🏻♀️
This is a sweet and sexy first time gay romance story with great characters with full on feels. It’s not as dark as some of his books . Mild anx,snarky banter and sexy snappy humour with with steaming hot sexy love and tenderness ❣️❣️💃🏻🙆🏻♀️
January 14, 2021
Super hot and sweet
I have loved every book of Zane Menzy and now I love this one too. Great story about one brother coming home broken only to find the boy he had a teenage crush might like him too.
I have loved every book of Zane Menzy and now I love this one too. Great story about one brother coming home broken only to find the boy he had a teenage crush might like him too.
did-not-finish
May 29, 2024Got about third of the way through before DNFing. The way the MCs were portrayed made me uncomfortable and read enough romance to know when to cut my loses instead of powering through something I couldn't fully get behinde.
August 6, 2025
DNF
I got to about 39% and could not continue. Just was not the kind of book I thought it was. There are some kinks in this story that can be though of as unsavory so proceed with caution.
I got to about 39% and could not continue. Just was not the kind of book I thought it was. There are some kinks in this story that can be though of as unsavory so proceed with caution.
March 5, 2021
I’m not sure what to think of this story. It’s not really what I thought it would be and some of the stuff is just a no from me
March 13, 2021
Great read, lots of sex and a happy ending. What’s not to like?
December 28, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
May 7, 2024
2.5 stars. So many unbelievable parts :/
December 22, 2020
Kieran Harrington lost his job and found his best friend fucking his girlfriend all in the same day. He moves back to his small hometown in the countryside of New Zealand and lives with his brother while he is getting back on his feet. He didn’t count on being seduced by his brothers best friend, Ziggy.
In typical Zane Menzy fashion, this book is deliciously filthy. Ziggy is hot, bi, and cocky (In more ways than one), and he has his eyes set on the “straight” Kieran now that he’s finally back in town. There’s a lot of filthy sex, but the romance is actually very sweet too.
There were a lot of aspects of the book that felt very similar to Game Night, another of Zane’s books, but it was well written so I didn’t mind the obvious similarities. This book contains sub/dom dynamics.
In typical Zane Menzy fashion, this book is deliciously filthy. Ziggy is hot, bi, and cocky (In more ways than one), and he has his eyes set on the “straight” Kieran now that he’s finally back in town. There’s a lot of filthy sex, but the romance is actually very sweet too.
There were a lot of aspects of the book that felt very similar to Game Night, another of Zane’s books, but it was well written so I didn’t mind the obvious similarities. This book contains sub/dom dynamics.
January 3, 2026
After having read another few books that were part of a series by this author, I was hesitant to try out more, mainly because some of the subject material felt a little too much for me in how...earnest it seemed the characters believed in the fantasy being crafted around the story. I'm glad I gave this author another chance. This story was hot in all the right ways, and the separation between what was just kink and the real world was clear and separate. The buildup was believable, and the characters were fun. I look forward to seeing what else this author does.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews