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Jake Ruiz #1
Is There Still Room in Your Life for Me?
HE’S GOING BACK TO THE PLACE HE NEVER PLANNED TO SEE AGAIN: HIS HOMETOWN
Chef and Restaurateur Jake Ruiz left Newport, Washington and never looked back. After his parents had practically disowned him for being gay, the town was nothing but bad memories for Jake.
But, years later, a family emergency brings him back to his hometown. Grappling with the death of his husband and suddenly finding himself a single father to his five-year-old, Jake also has to now deal with his disapproving mother, his ailing father, a crumbling family restaurant and the sudden reintroduction of Jake’s childhood crush into his life, Colton Humphrey. Before he knows it, the feelings that Jake once had for Colt begin to resurface and Jake begins to wonder if perhaps Newport could be in his future as well.
Chef and Restaurateur Jake Ruiz left Newport, Washington and never looked back. After his parents had practically disowned him for being gay, the town was nothing but bad memories for Jake.
But, years later, a family emergency brings him back to his hometown. Grappling with the death of his husband and suddenly finding himself a single father to his five-year-old, Jake also has to now deal with his disapproving mother, his ailing father, a crumbling family restaurant and the sudden reintroduction of Jake’s childhood crush into his life, Colton Humphrey. Before he knows it, the feelings that Jake once had for Colt begin to resurface and Jake begins to wonder if perhaps Newport could be in his future as well.
298 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2021
42 people are currently reading
689 people want to read
About the author
Will Manwill
3 books40 followersWill was born and raised in Newport Washington, just north of Spokane. He graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington with a degree in Criminal Justice but his love of writing never diminished. He now lives in Seattle, with his husband.
When he isn't writing, Will enjoys kayaking and hiking in the Puget Sound area. He also enjoys drinking Mai Tai's and pretending he is on a warm, sandy beach on a rainy, Seattle day.
When he isn't writing, Will enjoys kayaking and hiking in the Puget Sound area. He also enjoys drinking Mai Tai's and pretending he is on a warm, sandy beach on a rainy, Seattle day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
July 28, 2021
If you like romantic, poignant stories of second-chance love and finding the courage to move on, you'll want to check out Will Manwill's
Is There Still Room in Your Life for Me?
Jake Ruiz is a chef and restaurateur whose restaurants are struggling because of the economic hardship so many have faced. But that’s not his only problem—his husband died and left him with their five-year-old son, and he’s afraid to go anywhere other than in case something should happen to him, thus orphaning his son. And don’t even think about dating again; his first date left him in tears.
When a family emergency summons him back to Newport, his small Washington hometown, he’s not looking forward to seeing his parents, who disapprove of his being gay and have almost no part in his life. And even though he continues fighting with his angry, highly religious mother to the point he’s ready to leave, he finds that his parents’ restaurant is in desperate need of help as well.
He’s also not prepared to come face to face with Colton Humphrey, his childhood best friend and first serious crush. Jake was in love with Colt through high school, but their relationship hasn’t been the same since one Halloween night during college, when things were said and done.
Being home in Newport for a while reignites Jake’s feelings for Colt. Could this be the chance to finally have what he dreamed of when he was younger? But can he stay in a place where his mother is so constantly cruel and manipulative?
I love friends to lovers stories as well as stories of second-chance love, so Is There Still Room in Your Life for Me? was an enjoyable, sometimes emotional story. It’s told from both Jake and Colt’s perspectives so you see certain incidents through both of their eyes. They’re just great characters and you can’t help but root for them.
This is also an all-too-familiar story of the rejection so many LGBTQIA+ people have to deal with at the hands of family and others, and the importance of chosen family. Like many rom-coms, you know what will happen but I know I loved going on the ride anyway!
Thanks to Pride Book Tours and Will Manwill for inviting me on the tour for this book and providing a complimentary copy in exchange for an unbiased review!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Jake Ruiz is a chef and restaurateur whose restaurants are struggling because of the economic hardship so many have faced. But that’s not his only problem—his husband died and left him with their five-year-old son, and he’s afraid to go anywhere other than in case something should happen to him, thus orphaning his son. And don’t even think about dating again; his first date left him in tears.
When a family emergency summons him back to Newport, his small Washington hometown, he’s not looking forward to seeing his parents, who disapprove of his being gay and have almost no part in his life. And even though he continues fighting with his angry, highly religious mother to the point he’s ready to leave, he finds that his parents’ restaurant is in desperate need of help as well.
He’s also not prepared to come face to face with Colton Humphrey, his childhood best friend and first serious crush. Jake was in love with Colt through high school, but their relationship hasn’t been the same since one Halloween night during college, when things were said and done.
Being home in Newport for a while reignites Jake’s feelings for Colt. Could this be the chance to finally have what he dreamed of when he was younger? But can he stay in a place where his mother is so constantly cruel and manipulative?
I love friends to lovers stories as well as stories of second-chance love, so Is There Still Room in Your Life for Me? was an enjoyable, sometimes emotional story. It’s told from both Jake and Colt’s perspectives so you see certain incidents through both of their eyes. They’re just great characters and you can’t help but root for them.
This is also an all-too-familiar story of the rejection so many LGBTQIA+ people have to deal with at the hands of family and others, and the importance of chosen family. Like many rom-coms, you know what will happen but I know I loved going on the ride anyway!
Thanks to Pride Book Tours and Will Manwill for inviting me on the tour for this book and providing a complimentary copy in exchange for an unbiased review!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
July 2, 2021
I blame the reviews for making me pick this up. I’m generally not a cynical reader and I do appreciate that, at the end of the day, a book is someone’s piece of work and art but man, I struggled so much to stop rolling my eyes at almost every other page.
It is a book of two parts and the first one take a present day/past approach in the form of flash back chapters, which became too annoying too quickly because I wanted to get along with the story but by that time I was back from what happened in the past, I’d forgotten why I was there in the first place. A big part of it was also pointless high school drama, which didn’t help at all.
The second part starts when a big misunderstanding is being resolved, and from there is happily ever after. To be fair, the two main MCs are quite lovely and you can tell how much they regret having spent so much time apart and they want to make up for it. Which justifies them going from 0 to 100 in about two chapters but I found the dialogue between them, when discussing their relationship, felt a bit forced and matter of factly, with no real emotion.
Then there’s the evil mother, which adds some twists and a bit of comedy to the story, there’s the son, who spends most of the first half on his iPad, somewhere in the background, and in the second half acts like a grown up; find me a 5 year old, who starts a sentence with “Don’t get me wrong…”! The rest of the characters are quite funny and thank god for them for adding a bit of much needed humour.
In conclusion, this has its heart in all the right places and the intention is certainly good, but the execution for me is being let down but writing that feels ‘wooden’, lazy and with no emotion, a love story that’s a bit meh and inner monologues and reflections that go on and on and on; it made me skip page after page and it slows down an already not particularly exciting narrative.
Two stars for the wedding proposal and the clever use of the title.
It is a book of two parts and the first one take a present day/past approach in the form of flash back chapters, which became too annoying too quickly because I wanted to get along with the story but by that time I was back from what happened in the past, I’d forgotten why I was there in the first place. A big part of it was also pointless high school drama, which didn’t help at all.
The second part starts when a big misunderstanding is being resolved, and from there is happily ever after. To be fair, the two main MCs are quite lovely and you can tell how much they regret having spent so much time apart and they want to make up for it. Which justifies them going from 0 to 100 in about two chapters but I found the dialogue between them, when discussing their relationship, felt a bit forced and matter of factly, with no real emotion.
Then there’s the evil mother, which adds some twists and a bit of comedy to the story, there’s the son, who spends most of the first half on his iPad, somewhere in the background, and in the second half acts like a grown up; find me a 5 year old, who starts a sentence with “Don’t get me wrong…”! The rest of the characters are quite funny and thank god for them for adding a bit of much needed humour.
In conclusion, this has its heart in all the right places and the intention is certainly good, but the execution for me is being let down but writing that feels ‘wooden’, lazy and with no emotion, a love story that’s a bit meh and inner monologues and reflections that go on and on and on; it made me skip page after page and it slows down an already not particularly exciting narrative.
Two stars for the wedding proposal and the clever use of the title.
June 6, 2021
4.5 Stars
Will Manwill’s debut novel, ‘Is There Still Room In Your Life For Me?’ is a definite winner and an absolute must read.
For me, the true test of a good book is that I don’t want it to end. I did not want this book to end.
Manwill has created two main characters who are easy to like and easy to care about what transpires in their lives. They are Jake Ruiz, a celebrated chef and owner of a highly successful restaurant chain in Seattle, and his childhood best friend - and first serious crush - Dr. Colton (Colt) Humphrey, who still lives and practices medicine in their hometown of Newport, WA.
Much of this wonderful rom-com is set in Newport where Jake returns to help care for his father who has been hospitalized with a stroke. Of course his father’s attending physician is none other than Colt. The story alternates between the present time (truly present including the COVID-19 pandemic and contested elections) and events in the past as seen through the eyes of these two fascinating men.
There are frequent meetings in the Newport Hospital, a current Halloween costume party, the retelling of a past Halloween when costumed Colt and Jake were dared by friends to actually enter Dempsey’s - a gay bar in Spokane (a bar that’s unfortunately now closed, another permanent casualty of the pandemic) - and at Colt’s house on Lake Sacheen, where a tree still stands on which Jake and Colt had carved their initials years before.
Manwill’s supporting characters command just as much attention as the protagonists themselves. And much of the novel’s fun - ranging from chuckles to genuinely hysterical laugh-out-loud humor - comes from Charlie, the five-year old son of Jake and Paxton, Jake’s recently deceased husband. Additional humor is provided by Jake’s best friend from high school, Gigi, and from Gigi’s mother Helen, a pot-smoking, free-spirited ‘artist’ lacking any ability to filter her communications even in front of 5-year old Charlie.
Jake’s parents, his father, Carlos, who had established a once flourishing family restaurant in Newport, and his overbearing, disapproving mother, Consuela, who does everything possible to dismiss Jake’s homosexuality, including an almost cruel denial of Charlie, are also central characters as the story develops.
While there are nit-picking issues that can be noted - such as the all too rapid conclusion of the narrative and some almost verbatim duplication of text when past events are presented first Jake’s perspective and then from Colt’s - they are minor compared to the overall satisfaction of this delightful read.
Do not miss this debut novel from Will Manwill who - thank goodness - has promised to bring back all his wonderful characters in an as yet untitled sequel in 2022.
Will Manwill’s debut novel, ‘Is There Still Room In Your Life For Me?’ is a definite winner and an absolute must read.
For me, the true test of a good book is that I don’t want it to end. I did not want this book to end.
Manwill has created two main characters who are easy to like and easy to care about what transpires in their lives. They are Jake Ruiz, a celebrated chef and owner of a highly successful restaurant chain in Seattle, and his childhood best friend - and first serious crush - Dr. Colton (Colt) Humphrey, who still lives and practices medicine in their hometown of Newport, WA.
Much of this wonderful rom-com is set in Newport where Jake returns to help care for his father who has been hospitalized with a stroke. Of course his father’s attending physician is none other than Colt. The story alternates between the present time (truly present including the COVID-19 pandemic and contested elections) and events in the past as seen through the eyes of these two fascinating men.
There are frequent meetings in the Newport Hospital, a current Halloween costume party, the retelling of a past Halloween when costumed Colt and Jake were dared by friends to actually enter Dempsey’s - a gay bar in Spokane (a bar that’s unfortunately now closed, another permanent casualty of the pandemic) - and at Colt’s house on Lake Sacheen, where a tree still stands on which Jake and Colt had carved their initials years before.
Manwill’s supporting characters command just as much attention as the protagonists themselves. And much of the novel’s fun - ranging from chuckles to genuinely hysterical laugh-out-loud humor - comes from Charlie, the five-year old son of Jake and Paxton, Jake’s recently deceased husband. Additional humor is provided by Jake’s best friend from high school, Gigi, and from Gigi’s mother Helen, a pot-smoking, free-spirited ‘artist’ lacking any ability to filter her communications even in front of 5-year old Charlie.
Jake’s parents, his father, Carlos, who had established a once flourishing family restaurant in Newport, and his overbearing, disapproving mother, Consuela, who does everything possible to dismiss Jake’s homosexuality, including an almost cruel denial of Charlie, are also central characters as the story develops.
While there are nit-picking issues that can be noted - such as the all too rapid conclusion of the narrative and some almost verbatim duplication of text when past events are presented first Jake’s perspective and then from Colt’s - they are minor compared to the overall satisfaction of this delightful read.
Do not miss this debut novel from Will Manwill who - thank goodness - has promised to bring back all his wonderful characters in an as yet untitled sequel in 2022.
May 30, 2021
This book is sweet and adorable in all the best ways. ❤️
September 10, 2023
This is a case of expectations vs. reality not met but I'm not going to say it was a bad thing. Just not what foresaw going into this read.
Starting by the cover (which I love), title, and blurb I thought this would be second chance romance between mature adults. On paper it is. And it isn't.
The book is split into two parts titled Jake & Colt but it's really all kind of an omniscient POV. The story is told in present time and flashbacks to two time periods: high school and Halloween when both MC have come back to their hometown(ish) during their college days. These episodes revolve around missed opportunities for them both to come out to each other and profess their mutual attraction. It happens.
The present day has Jake dealing with his parents, his professional life, and reverting to a besotted teen whenever he sees Colt, which isn't un-relatable. However I struggled to get a grasp onto who these people were and/or their actual feelings beyond "we crushed on each other as youths and despite all of life experiences (I think they're in their mid 30's) we're in love". I guess that's romantic but ...
Colt has the most textbook supportive parents, is smart (he's a doctor), and by description is super hot yet he's managed to not have any meaningful relationship. Is it just in service of the trope that he only has eyes & heart for his boyhood crush whom he never had anything with?
To me the story is about second chances but not necessarily the romantic type, that's incidental and where the romance readership could be disappointed. Despite the flashbacks to Jake & Colt's younger selves crushing on each other the issue to be resolved is Jake's situation with his parents. IMO it got the Hallmark treatment.
I'm not a proponent of never forgive, people make mistakes & they can change, but throughout the book, present day & flashbacks, Jake's mother is the bog standard, bible quoting, religious fanatic when it comes to Jake's sexuality and revelations made by her towards the end only make it worse. Meanwhile we're meant to forget all this as she makes a 180 in record time. I didn't believe it. Jake's father on the other hand is portrayed as the good guy while he knew of and condoned by silence the behavior of his wife. Also didn't buy it.
Other things that needled me? I'm glad you asked.
The indeterminate age child who speaks and acts like an adult from another age and validates the choices his parent wants to make rather than be an actual child.
The de rigueur outré female friend which every gay male character seems to have. She's sassy, slutty, and has a mouth on her with zero filter. Here we get two. One for each MC. I'm tired of them.
The present day romance between the MC is just a couple of dates in which the talk (which is good) but so much is off page (I don't care much but forewarned that all of the smexy times are curtains) that I felt like the author is yada yadaing a big chunk of the story.
Anyway enough of my carping. If you're looking for a well written sweet story about second chances in life this isn't a bad read and it's on KU.
As usual YMMV
Starting by the cover (which I love), title, and blurb I thought this would be second chance romance between mature adults. On paper it is. And it isn't.
The book is split into two parts titled Jake & Colt but it's really all kind of an omniscient POV. The story is told in present time and flashbacks to two time periods: high school and Halloween when both MC have come back to their hometown(ish) during their college days. These episodes revolve around missed opportunities for them both to come out to each other and profess their mutual attraction. It happens.
The present day has Jake dealing with his parents, his professional life, and reverting to a besotted teen whenever he sees Colt, which isn't un-relatable. However I struggled to get a grasp onto who these people were and/or their actual feelings beyond "we crushed on each other as youths and despite all of life experiences (I think they're in their mid 30's) we're in love". I guess that's romantic but ...
Colt has the most textbook supportive parents, is smart (he's a doctor), and by description is super hot yet he's managed to not have any meaningful relationship. Is it just in service of the trope that he only has eyes & heart for his boyhood crush whom he never had anything with?
To me the story is about second chances but not necessarily the romantic type, that's incidental and where the romance readership could be disappointed. Despite the flashbacks to Jake & Colt's younger selves crushing on each other the issue to be resolved is Jake's situation with his parents. IMO it got the Hallmark treatment.
I'm not a proponent of never forgive, people make mistakes & they can change, but throughout the book, present day & flashbacks, Jake's mother is the bog standard, bible quoting, religious fanatic when it comes to Jake's sexuality and revelations made by her towards the end only make it worse. Meanwhile we're meant to forget all this as she makes a 180 in record time. I didn't believe it. Jake's father on the other hand is portrayed as the good guy while he knew of and condoned by silence the behavior of his wife. Also didn't buy it.
Other things that needled me? I'm glad you asked.
The indeterminate age child who speaks and acts like an adult from another age and validates the choices his parent wants to make rather than be an actual child.
The de rigueur outré female friend which every gay male character seems to have. She's sassy, slutty, and has a mouth on her with zero filter. Here we get two. One for each MC. I'm tired of them.
The present day romance between the MC is just a couple of dates in which the talk (which is good) but so much is off page (I don't care much but forewarned that all of the smexy times are curtains) that I felt like the author is yada yadaing a big chunk of the story.
Anyway enough of my carping. If you're looking for a well written sweet story about second chances in life this isn't a bad read and it's on KU.
As usual YMMV
July 2, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up.
This second-chance queer romance book was one that sucked me in and made me want to ignore the outside world. By the end I wasn't ready to leave my new friends.
I enjoyed the format of the book where section 1 was Jake alternating past and present and section 2 was Colt doing the same. Seeing the same scenes from each of their perspectives worked for me (but I do know some will not like it). Section 3 then left us with the where do we go from here.
There was a lot on acceptance and coming out to family and friends and it was very emotional at times to see the different acceptance levels shown towards both Colt and Jake. I've come to realize that I absolutely adore any good chosen/found family elements and this one hit for me there as well.
One thing that did irk me was Charlie, Jake's son. Charlie was supposed to be 5 but having a 5 year old I wasn't buying it. Charlie read more like a 10 year old than 5. I mean I loved Charlie but let's just make the age fit the kid.
I have seen complaints about covid being in the book but to me it wasn't over-played and more just a reference/reasoning tool for one plot point and to me it totally made sense and worked. I do know there are so many different opinions on it though so just my 2 cents 🤷♀️
Thank you to Pride book tours for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This second-chance queer romance book was one that sucked me in and made me want to ignore the outside world. By the end I wasn't ready to leave my new friends.
I enjoyed the format of the book where section 1 was Jake alternating past and present and section 2 was Colt doing the same. Seeing the same scenes from each of their perspectives worked for me (but I do know some will not like it). Section 3 then left us with the where do we go from here.
There was a lot on acceptance and coming out to family and friends and it was very emotional at times to see the different acceptance levels shown towards both Colt and Jake. I've come to realize that I absolutely adore any good chosen/found family elements and this one hit for me there as well.
One thing that did irk me was Charlie, Jake's son. Charlie was supposed to be 5 but having a 5 year old I wasn't buying it. Charlie read more like a 10 year old than 5. I mean I loved Charlie but let's just make the age fit the kid.
I have seen complaints about covid being in the book but to me it wasn't over-played and more just a reference/reasoning tool for one plot point and to me it totally made sense and worked. I do know there are so many different opinions on it though so just my 2 cents 🤷♀️
Thank you to Pride book tours for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2021
3.5/5 stars
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Is There Still Room In Your Life For Me? is the debut novel by author Will Manwill. This is a story of coming out, parent relationships, friendships, and second chances.
There was a lot that I enjoyed about this well written debut novel. All the characters are very well-developed through the story from our main characters Jake and Colt to each side character. I love Jake, his son Charlie, his best friend Gigi and her mom Helen. Colt took a while for me to like but him , Jake and Charlie's dynamic was wonderful. I really liked the eventual relationship of Jake and Colt, the very easily slipped back into being each others friends. When they take the next step into a relationship its very low steam and all off page intimacy.
I struggled with the story progression. Part One is Jake's POV and has time jumps and flashbacks, and then Part Two is Colt's POV which as the same exact flashbacks are part One. I'm already not a fan of flashbacks, i'm very big on the start the story at the beginning and go from there , so the second set of flashbacks were book torture for me. . Then finally about halfway through the book we are set in the present and Colt and Jake finally start to get reacquainted with each other. From then the story flowed smoothly for me.
Overall, Is There Still Room In Your Life For Me? was a beautiful story and I look forward to seeing what Will Manwell writes next.
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Is There Still Room In Your Life For Me? is the debut novel by author Will Manwill. This is a story of coming out, parent relationships, friendships, and second chances.
There was a lot that I enjoyed about this well written debut novel. All the characters are very well-developed through the story from our main characters Jake and Colt to each side character. I love Jake, his son Charlie, his best friend Gigi and her mom Helen. Colt took a while for me to like but him , Jake and Charlie's dynamic was wonderful. I really liked the eventual relationship of Jake and Colt, the very easily slipped back into being each others friends. When they take the next step into a relationship its very low steam and all off page intimacy.
I struggled with the story progression. Part One is Jake's POV and has time jumps and flashbacks, and then Part Two is Colt's POV which as the same exact flashbacks are part One. I'm already not a fan of flashbacks, i'm very big on the start the story at the beginning and go from there , so the second set of flashbacks were book torture for me. . Then finally about halfway through the book we are set in the present and Colt and Jake finally start to get reacquainted with each other. From then the story flowed smoothly for me.
Overall, Is There Still Room In Your Life For Me? was a beautiful story and I look forward to seeing what Will Manwell writes next.
June 8, 2021
A Well Written Romance
This was a great second chance story with good character development and supporting cast. There were plot elements which raised an expectation for issues which were skillfully avoided. Lots of anger and emotions, with a great denouement and HEA promise at the end.
This was a great second chance story with good character development and supporting cast. There were plot elements which raised an expectation for issues which were skillfully avoided. Lots of anger and emotions, with a great denouement and HEA promise at the end.
March 31, 2021
This book is a first for me from this author. It absolutely blew me away. This book is all about the relationships and the difficulty of family. If you looking for a hot steamy book, this probably isn’t going to be the one you want to read. I will just be upfront with you right now. But OMG this book is beautiful! Jake left home after being rejected by his family for being gay. He is from a conservative Mexican-American family and his parents just couldn’t accept him as he was so he left. He has carved out a very successful life for himself, but about a year ago his husband died and left him to raise their son alone. Now he is having to go back home because his father suffered a stroke and he is needed to help run their restaurant and help his father recover. Things are definitely strained and then he runs into his childhood crush and former best friend Colt. There is so much in this book to love. Jack and Colt have a lot to unpack between them, including hurt feelings and misunderstandings. As they wade through what they are both feeling, Jake also has to reflect on what he really wants in life and he realizes that maybe his old hometown might not be so bad after all. Now don’t get me wrong; there are a lot of hurt feelings in this book. You get an up close and personal look at how it hurts to have your parents continually reject you as you are and the feelings you have to go through to try and reconcile. I have serious Mom hugs right here for anyone who needs them, let me tell you! I can’t fathom doing that to a child or even a friend but I understand how real the hurt is. This book was amazing! And I love Charlie, Jake’s son. He is adorable and I love how he tries to “speed up” things between Jake and Colt. I would read this book over and over again!
June 29, 2021
Oh, I absolutely loved this.
This is a second chance romance, a small-town romance, but it's also so much more - it's about a son finding peace and acceptance, of coming to terms with a very toxic family and narrow-minded small-town up-bringing. It's about things happening as they were meant to, so that *that* moment is perfect, and how things maybe happen for a reason.
I just adored this lovely story between Jake and Colton. As Jake, widowed and with his young son, returns to his hometown to help his father, he's reminded of the boy he loved back in his childhood, only to find out that Colton is still in town and of course he's just as beautiful as ever! :D
Jake's current story and also past are told throughout back and forth chapters. But I especially love that we got to see the same time from Colton's POV. I also really loved Gigi, Jake's best friend, and her mother, and even though I sometimes thought Charlie (Jake's son) was a bit too serious for a 5 year old, he did have some truly LOL moments. Everyone is rooting for Jake and Colton to make things work - and so was I!
I loved the writing in this book, everything flowed naturally and I found myself unable to put this book down. I also love how the title came to have meaning right at the end. I see that the author has a sequel planned for 2022 and I'm both REALLY excited for it, but also nervous that it will mean tough times for Colton and Jake (who I love together and I cannot handle anything else than an epic HEA for this sequel!)
Thank you to Pride Book Tour for the review copy in exchange for my post and review.
This is a second chance romance, a small-town romance, but it's also so much more - it's about a son finding peace and acceptance, of coming to terms with a very toxic family and narrow-minded small-town up-bringing. It's about things happening as they were meant to, so that *that* moment is perfect, and how things maybe happen for a reason.
I just adored this lovely story between Jake and Colton. As Jake, widowed and with his young son, returns to his hometown to help his father, he's reminded of the boy he loved back in his childhood, only to find out that Colton is still in town and of course he's just as beautiful as ever! :D
Jake's current story and also past are told throughout back and forth chapters. But I especially love that we got to see the same time from Colton's POV. I also really loved Gigi, Jake's best friend, and her mother, and even though I sometimes thought Charlie (Jake's son) was a bit too serious for a 5 year old, he did have some truly LOL moments. Everyone is rooting for Jake and Colton to make things work - and so was I!
I loved the writing in this book, everything flowed naturally and I found myself unable to put this book down. I also love how the title came to have meaning right at the end. I see that the author has a sequel planned for 2022 and I'm both REALLY excited for it, but also nervous that it will mean tough times for Colton and Jake (who I love together and I cannot handle anything else than an epic HEA for this sequel!)
Thank you to Pride Book Tour for the review copy in exchange for my post and review.
June 10, 2021
A beautiful work
This book, a second chance romance if you like, is about more than a second chance at love. I don't want to discuss or divulge plot or character, so I'll say that it is for readers wanting not just two dimensional erotica propped up by a flimsy love story. It's about the family you're born into and the family you choose. Thank you, Mr Manwill , for a wonderful book that was both relatable and aspirational.
This book, a second chance romance if you like, is about more than a second chance at love. I don't want to discuss or divulge plot or character, so I'll say that it is for readers wanting not just two dimensional erotica propped up by a flimsy love story. It's about the family you're born into and the family you choose. Thank you, Mr Manwill , for a wonderful book that was both relatable and aspirational.
December 13, 2022
I am a sucker for second chance romance. I am a sucker for hearing the same story from different character POV’s – if done well. This book pulled BOTH of those elements off so well, and I absolutely adored it.
The characters were all genuine and endearing. I was invested in their happiness and wanted the best for them. The story was beautiful. In so many ways.
It was beautiful to see Jake rebuild his life – to work through his grief, begin to heal, find hope once more, and learn to open his heart again. Jake was such a loveable protagonist, and I loved watching him develop and grow as a human.
It was beautiful to see the story through the eyes of Colt. To understand his thought process and to know that he loved Jake all along – and to empathize with the way he was sabotaged by his own inner turmoil about his sexuality.
Jake and Colt re-connecting and falling in love (again, I should say) was a journey that was a complete joy to watch unfold. Their chemistry was undeniable. They always held love for each other. Colt was so respectful of Jake’s relationship with Paxton and never crossed any boundaries that shouldn’t have been crossed. He was understanding and kind, and honored Paxton as best as he could.
To see Charlie build a relationship with Colt was one of my favorite things about the book – when he told Charlie that he had always had 2 fathers, and to never forget “Daddy Paxton” – I lost it. It was the sweetest thing ever.
The theme of religion dictating the amount of love and respect a child gets from their parents is a recurring one in queer literature. The book did an amazing job of shedding light on that topic and how it impacts kids for the rest of their lives. It was unique in that it took into account Hispanic culture and gave us a look at the themes through that lens.
Repairing / restoring / rebuilding relationships and life plans was a central theme that extended to all the characters. It made the story so impactful.
This book was giving me some vague similarities to Something Like Summer, which is one of my favorite books I read in 2022. Both books are completely different in a lot of ways but had some elements akin to each other that I loved.
Is There Still Room in Your Life for Me? was an unexpected delight. I know there’s a sequel coming, but I’m not sure what to expect of it, given where the story left off. BUT, I know that I will be eagerly awaiting its release and start reading it the moment it becomes available.
The characters were all genuine and endearing. I was invested in their happiness and wanted the best for them. The story was beautiful. In so many ways.
It was beautiful to see Jake rebuild his life – to work through his grief, begin to heal, find hope once more, and learn to open his heart again. Jake was such a loveable protagonist, and I loved watching him develop and grow as a human.
It was beautiful to see the story through the eyes of Colt. To understand his thought process and to know that he loved Jake all along – and to empathize with the way he was sabotaged by his own inner turmoil about his sexuality.
Jake and Colt re-connecting and falling in love (again, I should say) was a journey that was a complete joy to watch unfold. Their chemistry was undeniable. They always held love for each other. Colt was so respectful of Jake’s relationship with Paxton and never crossed any boundaries that shouldn’t have been crossed. He was understanding and kind, and honored Paxton as best as he could.
To see Charlie build a relationship with Colt was one of my favorite things about the book – when he told Charlie that he had always had 2 fathers, and to never forget “Daddy Paxton” – I lost it. It was the sweetest thing ever.
The theme of religion dictating the amount of love and respect a child gets from their parents is a recurring one in queer literature. The book did an amazing job of shedding light on that topic and how it impacts kids for the rest of their lives. It was unique in that it took into account Hispanic culture and gave us a look at the themes through that lens.
Repairing / restoring / rebuilding relationships and life plans was a central theme that extended to all the characters. It made the story so impactful.
This book was giving me some vague similarities to Something Like Summer, which is one of my favorite books I read in 2022. Both books are completely different in a lot of ways but had some elements akin to each other that I loved.
Is There Still Room in Your Life for Me? was an unexpected delight. I know there’s a sequel coming, but I’m not sure what to expect of it, given where the story left off. BUT, I know that I will be eagerly awaiting its release and start reading it the moment it becomes available.
July 4, 2021
Enjoyment: 0.5/5
Execution: 1.5/5
Final: 1/5
Chef Jake Ruiz returns to his hometown after hearing that his father has suffered a stroke. After a disastrous coming out to his parents, the relationship between him and his parents is extremely strained, but he also reconnects with his high school friend and crush, Colton Humphrey.
I was so excited to read this book because of all the stellar reviews and the combination of many of my favorite tropes: single dad, second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, restaurant... This book had all the makings to be a new favorite and it ended up being a big disappointment. To be honest, I'm not sure if there was a single page of this book that wasn't a drag to read. Almost nothing happens in the first half of the book as there are constant flashbacks to petty high school drama. While I'm all for flashbacks and alternate POVs, there is no need to repeat the same scenes including dialogue almost word for word. The writing is also very stilted and dry, with lots of excessive inner monologuing and musing which makes the already glacial pacing feel even worse given the hefty page count. Not much else happens in the second half.
All of the characters are incredibly flat, from the evil mother to the evil exes, and the MCs themselves are also incredibly boring. There is nothing that really makes each character unique and I often found myself wondering whose POV I was reading.
Content warnings (may be incomplete, may contain spoilers): Homophobia including religious homophobia, constant COVID mentions, parental hospitalization, hospital scenes, casual biphobia, fatphobia, alcohol consumption, recreational drug use, mentions of deceased spouse (pre-book)
Execution: 1.5/5
Final: 1/5
Chef Jake Ruiz returns to his hometown after hearing that his father has suffered a stroke. After a disastrous coming out to his parents, the relationship between him and his parents is extremely strained, but he also reconnects with his high school friend and crush, Colton Humphrey.
I was so excited to read this book because of all the stellar reviews and the combination of many of my favorite tropes: single dad, second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, restaurant... This book had all the makings to be a new favorite and it ended up being a big disappointment. To be honest, I'm not sure if there was a single page of this book that wasn't a drag to read. Almost nothing happens in the first half of the book as there are constant flashbacks to petty high school drama. While I'm all for flashbacks and alternate POVs, there is no need to repeat the same scenes including dialogue almost word for word. The writing is also very stilted and dry, with lots of excessive inner monologuing and musing which makes the already glacial pacing feel even worse given the hefty page count. Not much else happens in the second half.
All of the characters are incredibly flat, from the evil mother to the evil exes, and the MCs themselves are also incredibly boring. There is nothing that really makes each character unique and I often found myself wondering whose POV I was reading.
Content warnings (may be incomplete, may contain spoilers): Homophobia including religious homophobia, constant COVID mentions, parental hospitalization, hospital scenes, casual biphobia, fatphobia, alcohol consumption, recreational drug use, mentions of deceased spouse (pre-book)
May 13, 2021
A fantastic story of vulnerability and renewal.
Excited to see what comes next from this up and coming author.
Excited to see what comes next from this up and coming author.
January 21, 2022
Nice romantic read with two well developed MCs. What didn't work for me (which took things down by a star) was the slightly repetitive middle section which reiterates key historical events from the second MC's POV (I ended up skipping forward quite a bit of this). The other main quibble was a rather sudden turnaround of attitude at the end by a key secondary character who up til that point had been singularly depicted as hard-headed and truculent - I wasn't quite sold on this reversal. Otherwise - 3.5 stars and I might give the second book a try when it comes out later on this year.
June 28, 2021
review to come! Thanks to Pride Book Tours for providing me with a free review copy.
Reading this book felt like serendipity for me. And I realize once I tell you guys what this book is about you're going to think but Anna, you're a cis queer woman and her late twenties, what could you possibly have in common with a book about middle-aged gay men? And I'm going to tell you but I also think it's important that we don't have to relate to every character we read and we don't have to identify closely with them in order to relate to their experience. (Swipe to see synopsis)
Jake is trying to be the best person he can be all while struggling with grief and heartache. He's trying to be the best parent to his 5 year son. He's trying to maintain a friendship with his best friend even though he has separation anxiety and worries something will happen to him and leave his son an orphan. He drops everything to return to a hometown that only holds trauma all to help his parents who disowned him for being gay. He is trying to keep his restaurants afloat in the midst of a pandemic that wiped out much of the restaurant industry. And he's trying to discover if his heart can handle romantic love again when his childhood crush reappears in his life. That's all to say that Jake Ruiz has a lot going on, yet everything just fits in this book.
I don't know how to sum up this book in a neat and tidy review because it made me feel of the feels. As a queer person who is estranged from an emotionally abusive mom and has a problematic relationship with my hometown, I felt for Jake during so much of this book. Those little moments where your heart just twists up and crinkles because it can't handle seeing a landmark. Or the moment when you see something that you have really positive memories of but you can't even find the positivity because so much of your hometown is marked by trauma. I saw myself in Jake as he tried to mend a relationship with a woman who for decades had been emotionally abusive towards him because he wanted a relationship with his mom. I saw myself and Jake as he realized that it isn't the job of the child to mend a relationship with a parent or to change themselves to fit the ideal that their parent desires.
Yes there's a romantic subplot in this book but this book is more than that. It's about healing, trauma recovery, found family, and so much love. That special type of queer love that we find in people who are like us and who love us exactly the way we are. The friends who become family and the unique bond that brings.
Really, please, read this book.
CW: homophobia, religious trauma, homophobic slurs, disowned from family, accidental outing, fatphobic comments that are unchallenged
Reading this book felt like serendipity for me. And I realize once I tell you guys what this book is about you're going to think but Anna, you're a cis queer woman and her late twenties, what could you possibly have in common with a book about middle-aged gay men? And I'm going to tell you but I also think it's important that we don't have to relate to every character we read and we don't have to identify closely with them in order to relate to their experience. (Swipe to see synopsis)
Jake is trying to be the best person he can be all while struggling with grief and heartache. He's trying to be the best parent to his 5 year son. He's trying to maintain a friendship with his best friend even though he has separation anxiety and worries something will happen to him and leave his son an orphan. He drops everything to return to a hometown that only holds trauma all to help his parents who disowned him for being gay. He is trying to keep his restaurants afloat in the midst of a pandemic that wiped out much of the restaurant industry. And he's trying to discover if his heart can handle romantic love again when his childhood crush reappears in his life. That's all to say that Jake Ruiz has a lot going on, yet everything just fits in this book.
I don't know how to sum up this book in a neat and tidy review because it made me feel of the feels. As a queer person who is estranged from an emotionally abusive mom and has a problematic relationship with my hometown, I felt for Jake during so much of this book. Those little moments where your heart just twists up and crinkles because it can't handle seeing a landmark. Or the moment when you see something that you have really positive memories of but you can't even find the positivity because so much of your hometown is marked by trauma. I saw myself in Jake as he tried to mend a relationship with a woman who for decades had been emotionally abusive towards him because he wanted a relationship with his mom. I saw myself and Jake as he realized that it isn't the job of the child to mend a relationship with a parent or to change themselves to fit the ideal that their parent desires.
Yes there's a romantic subplot in this book but this book is more than that. It's about healing, trauma recovery, found family, and so much love. That special type of queer love that we find in people who are like us and who love us exactly the way we are. The friends who become family and the unique bond that brings.
Really, please, read this book.
CW: homophobia, religious trauma, homophobic slurs, disowned from family, accidental outing, fatphobic comments that are unchallenged
April 4, 2021
3.5 Stars!
A really well written debut novel that centers around second chances, the family you're born with, and the family you make along the way. I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book. I thought there was really well used flashbacks to really get to know Jake, his family relationships, and his history with Colt. Then when you get to Colt's chapters, you get the entire story and realize how many missed opportunities there really was for these too. I found it beautifully written and was really rooting for it all to work out for the two MCs. The last 1/3 where the MCs were actually together unfortunately didn't work as much for me. I just felt like there wasn't much of a story anymore and it started to drag. Overall I enjoyed it, and think it was a special story that isn't always written, and will look for more from this author in the future.
A really well written debut novel that centers around second chances, the family you're born with, and the family you make along the way. I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book. I thought there was really well used flashbacks to really get to know Jake, his family relationships, and his history with Colt. Then when you get to Colt's chapters, you get the entire story and realize how many missed opportunities there really was for these too. I found it beautifully written and was really rooting for it all to work out for the two MCs. The last 1/3 where the MCs were actually together unfortunately didn't work as much for me. I just felt like there wasn't much of a story anymore and it started to drag. Overall I enjoyed it, and think it was a special story that isn't always written, and will look for more from this author in the future.
May 13, 2021
NO! No no no no no no noooooo! Just no. I did NOT want this book to end.
Y'all. Little did I know that opening this book would change me. But it has. It truly has. Has that ever happened to you? You pick up a book and say, "Here we go. Let's get into it." But then you're halfway through and your emotions have been kidnapped from the words on each page as you take the Reader's Journey the writer so perfectly crafted for you. Because, this book right here, did that to me.
I was blessed to have the author, Will, reach out to me and ask me if I'd be interested in receiving a copy in return for a review. Now, my account is still fairly new to the whole bookstagram community, so when an author reaches out to me and asks something like that I said YES! Not to mention his book truly did sound like a winner. And boy was I not prepared for how right that statement would become. Honestly! And I know I kind of say this a lot, but this might be one of the best books I've ever read. Like, I'm not kidding. I laughed. I cried. I laugh cried. I was anxious and nervous. I was happy with a heart full of love. I HATED some of the characters for what they did. And I fell in love with the MCs along the way.
The first half of the book was split into two POVs that had flashback perfectly integrated, aiding the reader to keep reading to find out what happens next. It was refreshing to see the timeline go so far back. Class of '03?! Now that's a throwback. For me, it had such a nostalgic feel to it that I loved it. Not to mention the fact that we got to see the MCs in high school, college, and in their thirties. I loved that the story continued throughout the different stages of life. The second half was present-day that simultaneously switched between the two POVs in real-time. It was an interesting writing choice that I think paid off.
There was mention of Covid because it was set in the present-day and honestly I kind of loved that too. It made the story and the character real and completely relatable.
Now let's talk about Jake and Colt, the two MCs. Whoa! Serious relationship goals! The angst and sexual tension as time went on. I just was DYING at wanting them to finally be together. But life had different plans. Which I'm grateful for because then Charlie wouldn't be in the picture and, Y'ALL! Charlie is the cutest fictional kid I ever did meet. He had me rolling with his child honesty.
All in all, this book was fantastic! It was like a Hallmark movie for the gays. But better! Y'all need to go support this new author and go buy his first book because it's brilliant!
I can't wait for book two to see what Jolt (that's the couple's name I'm giving to Jake and Colt) are up to next!
Y'all. Little did I know that opening this book would change me. But it has. It truly has. Has that ever happened to you? You pick up a book and say, "Here we go. Let's get into it." But then you're halfway through and your emotions have been kidnapped from the words on each page as you take the Reader's Journey the writer so perfectly crafted for you. Because, this book right here, did that to me.
I was blessed to have the author, Will, reach out to me and ask me if I'd be interested in receiving a copy in return for a review. Now, my account is still fairly new to the whole bookstagram community, so when an author reaches out to me and asks something like that I said YES! Not to mention his book truly did sound like a winner. And boy was I not prepared for how right that statement would become. Honestly! And I know I kind of say this a lot, but this might be one of the best books I've ever read. Like, I'm not kidding. I laughed. I cried. I laugh cried. I was anxious and nervous. I was happy with a heart full of love. I HATED some of the characters for what they did. And I fell in love with the MCs along the way.
The first half of the book was split into two POVs that had flashback perfectly integrated, aiding the reader to keep reading to find out what happens next. It was refreshing to see the timeline go so far back. Class of '03?! Now that's a throwback. For me, it had such a nostalgic feel to it that I loved it. Not to mention the fact that we got to see the MCs in high school, college, and in their thirties. I loved that the story continued throughout the different stages of life. The second half was present-day that simultaneously switched between the two POVs in real-time. It was an interesting writing choice that I think paid off.
There was mention of Covid because it was set in the present-day and honestly I kind of loved that too. It made the story and the character real and completely relatable.
Now let's talk about Jake and Colt, the two MCs. Whoa! Serious relationship goals! The angst and sexual tension as time went on. I just was DYING at wanting them to finally be together. But life had different plans. Which I'm grateful for because then Charlie wouldn't be in the picture and, Y'ALL! Charlie is the cutest fictional kid I ever did meet. He had me rolling with his child honesty.
All in all, this book was fantastic! It was like a Hallmark movie for the gays. But better! Y'all need to go support this new author and go buy his first book because it's brilliant!
I can't wait for book two to see what Jolt (that's the couple's name I'm giving to Jake and Colt) are up to next!
September 17, 2021
It was okay, but for me, the moment we find out Colt's also gay and been harboring a crush for Jake the whole time sort of drained all the tension from the book for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for childhood friend romances and the whole making up for lost time thing, but after that moment, it was just like... okay, there's no way these two won't end up together, there's no way Jake won't turn down the big job to stay in the small town, there's no way everything won't work out and end happily ever after. It all just became a bit too obvious for me. Also, the mom felt a bit too cartoonishly evil for me and it made her sudden change at the end a bit too jarring, especially since it kind of came from nowhere. And the kid acted a bit too much like an adult too. But overall it wasn't bad, it was just a little boring to me.
April 10, 2021
There are not many authors that have the distinction of being a one-click author for me...but Will Manwill has become one for me. I loved this debut book about Jake and his journey to finding what's next for him and his son, Charlie, after his husband dies, his father has a stroke, and he is called back to the town he left after being disowned by his parents. Despite all the success Jake has experienced with his extremely popular restaurant group and the found family he has created since leaving Newport, he still feels the pull of parental acceptance. Though he has tried to bridge the gap between himself and his parents, Jake is still largely not accepted, especially by his mother, accurately named "The Dragon" by Jake's best friend. While in Newport to support this recovering father and their family restaurant, Jake finds a second chance with his childhood crush and first-love, Colt. I really loved the separation of the book into Part I, Part II, and Part III, with each section focusing on different points-of-view and time periods. Going back to when Jake and Colt here in high school, college, and just starting their careers gives the reader a better understanding of the characters and how they were shaped by those past events and are in some ways, still struggling to overcome them. I loved Charlie and thought it was so sweet that he was trying so hard to set his Dad up with Colt; it was equally charming and a little heartbreaking when Charlie kept lamenting he wanted two Dads again. Jake and Colt are both able to find a second chance with each other, through all the other obstacles between them, and the ending is amazing. Without spoiling anything, I was surprised by who the title actually refers to; it's not who I was assuming it would be. This is an excellent story about the importance of found family and finding hope among the stress of life. Will Manwill's writing style is outstanding and I really enjoyed that this was a romance that did not center on the physical interactions of Jake and Colt. Even though there is very little on page steam, it is still a romance and one that gives readers all the feels. I can't wait to see what is next for this author. Highly recommend! I received an ARC for an honest and fair review.
April 12, 2021
Widower Jake returns with his young son to his small, conservative hometown and his estranged parents following his father’s stroke-- only to find that his first love, Colton, is a doctor at the hospital treating his father. What follows is an immersive read that weaves together multiple perspectives (Jake and Colton) as well as flashbacks from different points in their past.
I think this novel really shines in its depictions of relationships-- not just the romance between Jake and Colton, but between Jake and his best friend Gigi and Jake and his parents, the mother who manipulated, gaslit, and ultimately ostracized him for his sexuality and the father who let it all happen. The pain of Jake’s parents choices is a consistent undercurrent within the novel, and I respected how the author didn’t shy away from depicting exactly how much their actions changed the course of Jake’s life. Jake’s mother is, in many ways, a central character, and I thought the unflinching description of the woman through much of the novel was an almost ruthlessly accurate portrayal of malignant narcissism. Always controlling and manipulative, she escalated when given the “provocation” of her son’s sexuality. Hard to watch? Absolutely, but vividly and realistically drawn, so much so that the idea of her redemption, when floated, rang a bit hollow to me.
Overall, I found this book really moving. There are some rough edges-- Jake’s son Charlie sometimes feels more like a convenient plot device than a realistically drawn character, and the nature of the novel’s structure, with part 1 following Jake’s perspective and part 2 following Colton’s, means that there’s a certain amount of repetition. While for the most part, the differing perspectives make seeing the same event twice rewarding, it can sometimes drag a bit. Still, I really enjoyed the novel, and will be thinking about the characters for some time to come. An interesting (in a good way!) read.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I think this novel really shines in its depictions of relationships-- not just the romance between Jake and Colton, but between Jake and his best friend Gigi and Jake and his parents, the mother who manipulated, gaslit, and ultimately ostracized him for his sexuality and the father who let it all happen. The pain of Jake’s parents choices is a consistent undercurrent within the novel, and I respected how the author didn’t shy away from depicting exactly how much their actions changed the course of Jake’s life. Jake’s mother is, in many ways, a central character, and I thought the unflinching description of the woman through much of the novel was an almost ruthlessly accurate portrayal of malignant narcissism. Always controlling and manipulative, she escalated when given the “provocation” of her son’s sexuality. Hard to watch? Absolutely, but vividly and realistically drawn, so much so that the idea of her redemption, when floated, rang a bit hollow to me.
Overall, I found this book really moving. There are some rough edges-- Jake’s son Charlie sometimes feels more like a convenient plot device than a realistically drawn character, and the nature of the novel’s structure, with part 1 following Jake’s perspective and part 2 following Colton’s, means that there’s a certain amount of repetition. While for the most part, the differing perspectives make seeing the same event twice rewarding, it can sometimes drag a bit. Still, I really enjoyed the novel, and will be thinking about the characters for some time to come. An interesting (in a good way!) read.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 8, 2021
This is a debut novel for the author, and if I didn't know that I would never have guessed. It's a lot more accomplished than some I've read from authors who have been writing for years. I hope it's not their last as I'd definitely look out for more.
Straight away I liked Jake, he'd been through so much already by the time we meet him, it was impossible for me not to have some empathy for him. I liked that we got Jake's story in flashback, although I got a little lost at times with the jumping around in time. I thought the story would fully be told from Jake's viewpoint, until Colt's first chapter. It was a good storytelling choice to see their shared history from both viewpoints, but the constant switching between them during a chapter kind of made my head spin a little and I had to keep checking whose viewpoint I was in.
I also liked the supporting cast of characters, even Eli the terrible as I'm sure there are actual people like that, and I'm sure I've met more than one of them. Ultimately this is a story about second chances, not only with love but I think more about family and the terrible things they do in the name of love. Some breaches can't be healed, but it's also a story of change and hope, I think. It's easy to write off Jake's mother as a horrible person who deserves what she gets, but while she was awful, she was written in such a way that I didn't totally hate her, and she did have some redeeming features. It would have been easy to just write her off as the villain of the piece and be happy when she got her just desserts but I was glad things weren't left hanging. I loved seeing where the title of the book came into play too, that made the ending complete for me.
It's probably a little over 4 stars, and I'd definitely look out for more from the author.
Straight away I liked Jake, he'd been through so much already by the time we meet him, it was impossible for me not to have some empathy for him. I liked that we got Jake's story in flashback, although I got a little lost at times with the jumping around in time. I thought the story would fully be told from Jake's viewpoint, until Colt's first chapter. It was a good storytelling choice to see their shared history from both viewpoints, but the constant switching between them during a chapter kind of made my head spin a little and I had to keep checking whose viewpoint I was in.
I also liked the supporting cast of characters, even Eli the terrible as I'm sure there are actual people like that, and I'm sure I've met more than one of them. Ultimately this is a story about second chances, not only with love but I think more about family and the terrible things they do in the name of love. Some breaches can't be healed, but it's also a story of change and hope, I think. It's easy to write off Jake's mother as a horrible person who deserves what she gets, but while she was awful, she was written in such a way that I didn't totally hate her, and she did have some redeeming features. It would have been easy to just write her off as the villain of the piece and be happy when she got her just desserts but I was glad things weren't left hanging. I loved seeing where the title of the book came into play too, that made the ending complete for me.
It's probably a little over 4 stars, and I'd definitely look out for more from the author.
June 28, 2021
Thank you to Pride Book Tours for the copy of this book!
Is There Still Room In Your Life For Me? is a sweet, second chance romance book that deals with lost chances, new opportunities, and toxic family.
Jake Ruiz has lost his husband, and now tasked with taking care of his son alone and running his successful restaurant ventures, he's struggling to stay afloat. When a call comes from his mother informing him that his father has had a stroke, Jake is thrust back into the hometown he left behind. He's forced to face the demons he'd left buried there - a crumbling restaurant, his toxic mother, and his childhood crush. But when Jake and his crush, Colt, come face to face again, he finds it's not so easy to keep things buried.
This book really touched on a lot of different themes here. Grief is chief among them. Jake is still grieving the husband he lost two years ago, but he's also grieving the loss of his son's father and his relationship with his parents. It's a great take on letting that grief settle and accepting it, but also accepting the good things in life that are still worth cherishing.
Jake and Colt are both fully fleshed-out characters that are interesting to read. I really love how we get to see each of their POVs to understand the dynamic of the relationship. Things do appear to move a bit fast, but it makes sense in the scope of their lifelong friendship. The side characters are also well done, and Jake's friend Gigi and her mother were great to read both because they were so obviously flawed and because you could tell how much they love Jake. Jake's son charlie is sweet, my only issue being he was written much older than 5. It felt like he was closer to 10 or 11 when reading him and his personality in some parts.
Overall, a really sweet romance!
Is There Still Room In Your Life For Me? is a sweet, second chance romance book that deals with lost chances, new opportunities, and toxic family.
Jake Ruiz has lost his husband, and now tasked with taking care of his son alone and running his successful restaurant ventures, he's struggling to stay afloat. When a call comes from his mother informing him that his father has had a stroke, Jake is thrust back into the hometown he left behind. He's forced to face the demons he'd left buried there - a crumbling restaurant, his toxic mother, and his childhood crush. But when Jake and his crush, Colt, come face to face again, he finds it's not so easy to keep things buried.
This book really touched on a lot of different themes here. Grief is chief among them. Jake is still grieving the husband he lost two years ago, but he's also grieving the loss of his son's father and his relationship with his parents. It's a great take on letting that grief settle and accepting it, but also accepting the good things in life that are still worth cherishing.
Jake and Colt are both fully fleshed-out characters that are interesting to read. I really love how we get to see each of their POVs to understand the dynamic of the relationship. Things do appear to move a bit fast, but it makes sense in the scope of their lifelong friendship. The side characters are also well done, and Jake's friend Gigi and her mother were great to read both because they were so obviously flawed and because you could tell how much they love Jake. Jake's son charlie is sweet, my only issue being he was written much older than 5. It felt like he was closer to 10 or 11 when reading him and his personality in some parts.
Overall, a really sweet romance!
April 8, 2021
First of all, I have to say that I love learning where the title came into play. I won't spoil it for other readers, but that was something I really liked.
I won't pretend to know all there is about the Mexican culture, but I do know a lot about the Hispanic culture. Like a lot of other ethnic cultures that center on their own version of machismo, the Hispanic culture is rooted in conservatism, and a big part of that conservatism is toxic masculinity that is cemented in the expectations of what roles either gender(s) should fit under. Men loving men? That's a big no no because of *cough cough* homophobic individuals who use their conservative views of religion to dictate what other people can and cannot do. Never mind if that means pushing away your only child and also your only grandchild (Jake and Charlie).
I felt for Jake and wanted to drag his parents, mostly his mom, but I was ready to fight his dad too because of the continuous excuses he made for his bitch of a wife. Consuela is an abominable character who in my opinion did not deserve another chance, especially since Jake gave her so many fucking chances. I did not buy into her redemption, but I can understand why Jake wanted to forgive her. I didn't like it, but clearly Jake is a more forgiving character. I just do not understand nor like parents like Carlos and Consuela.
Loved Jake and Colt getting their own second chance at a happily ever after. Charlie's input and matchmaking skills was adorable.
Apart from Jake’s parents the other thing that put me off a bit were the flashbacks. Generally speaking, I am not a huge fan of numerous flashbacks. Going from present to past in every other chapter jarred me out of the present. I would have to pause and go back to make sure what time I was in whenever it shifted. Then, in part two of the book we get Colt’s pov but also his own flashbacks. I get why it was there, but for me as a reader, it made it hard to focus on the present.
*ARC received through Gay Romance Reviews, and I have given my honest and voluntary review.*
I won't pretend to know all there is about the Mexican culture, but I do know a lot about the Hispanic culture. Like a lot of other ethnic cultures that center on their own version of machismo, the Hispanic culture is rooted in conservatism, and a big part of that conservatism is toxic masculinity that is cemented in the expectations of what roles either gender(s) should fit under. Men loving men? That's a big no no because of *cough cough* homophobic individuals who use their conservative views of religion to dictate what other people can and cannot do. Never mind if that means pushing away your only child and also your only grandchild (Jake and Charlie).
I felt for Jake and wanted to drag his parents, mostly his mom, but I was ready to fight his dad too because of the continuous excuses he made for his bitch of a wife. Consuela is an abominable character who in my opinion did not deserve another chance, especially since Jake gave her so many fucking chances. I did not buy into her redemption, but I can understand why Jake wanted to forgive her. I didn't like it, but clearly Jake is a more forgiving character. I just do not understand nor like parents like Carlos and Consuela.
Loved Jake and Colt getting their own second chance at a happily ever after. Charlie's input and matchmaking skills was adorable.
Apart from Jake’s parents the other thing that put me off a bit were the flashbacks. Generally speaking, I am not a huge fan of numerous flashbacks. Going from present to past in every other chapter jarred me out of the present. I would have to pause and go back to make sure what time I was in whenever it shifted. Then, in part two of the book we get Colt’s pov but also his own flashbacks. I get why it was there, but for me as a reader, it made it hard to focus on the present.
*ARC received through Gay Romance Reviews, and I have given my honest and voluntary review.*
April 17, 2021
When I first started reading is There Still Room
in Your Life For Me, I thought I would be reading in between other books and over a week or so: nope, I literally couldn’t put it down and read it straight through!!
It’s a beautiful debut novel from an author I will be closely following: I already can’t wait until his next novel!
I fell head over heels in love with the main characters (I love Jake and Gigi and Colt and Charlie so much!) and the story. The writing is wonderful, charming, full of humor, but also tells a very important story that covers loss, love, heartbreak and hope.
The world needs more well written, beautiful LGBTQ centered stories JUST like this. Will Manwill gave my heart a powerful and beautiful journey: and the message is resoundingly necessary and uplifting: you are not alone, and there is room for second chances.
Seriously, if you’re wondering whether or not to buy this book, do yourself a favor and read it!! There’s a litany of warmth, hilarity, cute and funny moments to keep it entertaining, and enough soulful, poignant and important moments to keep it everlasting in your memory.
in Your Life For Me, I thought I would be reading in between other books and over a week or so: nope, I literally couldn’t put it down and read it straight through!!
It’s a beautiful debut novel from an author I will be closely following: I already can’t wait until his next novel!
I fell head over heels in love with the main characters (I love Jake and Gigi and Colt and Charlie so much!) and the story. The writing is wonderful, charming, full of humor, but also tells a very important story that covers loss, love, heartbreak and hope.
The world needs more well written, beautiful LGBTQ centered stories JUST like this. Will Manwill gave my heart a powerful and beautiful journey: and the message is resoundingly necessary and uplifting: you are not alone, and there is room for second chances.
Seriously, if you’re wondering whether or not to buy this book, do yourself a favor and read it!! There’s a litany of warmth, hilarity, cute and funny moments to keep it entertaining, and enough soulful, poignant and important moments to keep it everlasting in your memory.
June 24, 2021
This book is all about Jake Ruiz and the stages he takes us through in his life.
At 36 years old, Jake is having a bit of a difficult time dealing with the death of his husband and raising their son Charlie all alone.
When a call from his estranged mother brings news that his father is in the hospital, he takes his son and heads back to his hometown as fast as he can. But being back home causes mixed emotions.
Is There Still Room in Your Life for Me? is about the tumultuous relationship Jake has with his parents (mainly his mother) and their acceptance, or lack there of when it comes to his identity as a gay man. It’s also about the tender time after loss when Jake comes to terms with whether or not he is ready to move on and love again.
Jake’s childhood best friend and the object of his undying unrequited love comes back into his life upon returning home and it brings up all these feelings that Jake isn’t sure he is ready to feel.
I definitely recommend this adorable, organic, funny book to anyone open to forgiveness and second chances.
At 36 years old, Jake is having a bit of a difficult time dealing with the death of his husband and raising their son Charlie all alone.
When a call from his estranged mother brings news that his father is in the hospital, he takes his son and heads back to his hometown as fast as he can. But being back home causes mixed emotions.
Is There Still Room in Your Life for Me? is about the tumultuous relationship Jake has with his parents (mainly his mother) and their acceptance, or lack there of when it comes to his identity as a gay man. It’s also about the tender time after loss when Jake comes to terms with whether or not he is ready to move on and love again.
Jake’s childhood best friend and the object of his undying unrequited love comes back into his life upon returning home and it brings up all these feelings that Jake isn’t sure he is ready to feel.
I definitely recommend this adorable, organic, funny book to anyone open to forgiveness and second chances.
April 7, 2021
When Jake's mom called to tell him that his father was in the hospital, he didn't think twice about packing for himself and his son and rush back home, although the relationship with his parents has been polar cold for many years. At the hospital he had the surprise of finding out that his father's physician was his first crush, Colt, a man Jake hasn't really gotten over yet.
The author chose to tell the story in an interesting jump from present to past, in alternating chapters. I liked it, because it offered not just snippets of memories, but vivid capsules of how relationships and feelings shifted through Jake and Colt's lives, all leading to their present day and the opportunity to clear all misunderstandings and start fresh together.
This story was so very good! Not a simple romance, but a heart-warming tale of family dynamics, friendship, second chances and forgiveness. The characters were detailed and complete, with such deep personalities. They all brought with them feelings, laughter, banter, even heartbreak and a need to heal… I enjoyed the heart and hurt throughout this romance, and I love the emotions I'm left with after reading it.
The author chose to tell the story in an interesting jump from present to past, in alternating chapters. I liked it, because it offered not just snippets of memories, but vivid capsules of how relationships and feelings shifted through Jake and Colt's lives, all leading to their present day and the opportunity to clear all misunderstandings and start fresh together.
This story was so very good! Not a simple romance, but a heart-warming tale of family dynamics, friendship, second chances and forgiveness. The characters were detailed and complete, with such deep personalities. They all brought with them feelings, laughter, banter, even heartbreak and a need to heal… I enjoyed the heart and hurt throughout this romance, and I love the emotions I'm left with after reading it.
April 15, 2021
You can pick your friends, too bad you can't pick your family. Chef Jake, was disowned by his parents for being gay. He returned home to Newport, a widower single father to a sick Dad, a disapproving Mom and his old crush Colton. He is still griefing the death of his husband and now he must contend with his parents' failing restaurant, his Dad's stroke and his Mom's homophobia. It may seem he is accumulating a lot of luggage each succeeding day. This story, yanks at your heart. It's as if Jake has to struggle with each and every person in his life. Does he have the strength to battle everyone? Is anyone on his side? Can his Mom love him? The author provides an insight, up close and personal to a family whose love is not unconditional toward their children. Can Jake reach his Mom? Does Dad recover? The mind maze Jake travels keeps you glued to your kindle. Great story. Nicely done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 14, 2021
A very well written tale of second chances, family and finding love.
The story follows Jake, who's trying to find his footing as a single father after his husband's demise whilst trying to handle his family (who's largely been homophobic always) and fight his growing attraction to his childhood crush-Dr Colt.
In addition to a lovely slow burn romance, I loved how the story also highlighted Jake's journey of rediscovering himself, the importance of family-both related and found , and friends you'll stand by you through the ups and downs.
The writing flows well and though the switch between present and flashbacks to the past takes a bit of getting used to, I found it really enjoyable halfway into the story.
Recommend to those looking for a delicious slow burn romance.
Shall be looking forward to read more from this author.
The story follows Jake, who's trying to find his footing as a single father after his husband's demise whilst trying to handle his family (who's largely been homophobic always) and fight his growing attraction to his childhood crush-Dr Colt.
In addition to a lovely slow burn romance, I loved how the story also highlighted Jake's journey of rediscovering himself, the importance of family-both related and found , and friends you'll stand by you through the ups and downs.
The writing flows well and though the switch between present and flashbacks to the past takes a bit of getting used to, I found it really enjoyable halfway into the story.
Recommend to those looking for a delicious slow burn romance.
Shall be looking forward to read more from this author.
October 18, 2021
With his father in hospital, widowed Jake returns to his small hometown with his son and begins reconnecting with his family (both biological and found) and his former friends, including Colt, the one who got away. I love second chance romance and I loved this book, its exploration of the pain of not being accepted by those who should love you, as well as the resilience and quiet pride of Jake, who made a life for himself and retains his dignity the whole way through. This could have been quite an upsetting story, but with the wonderful friendship of Gigi, the sweetness of Charlie, the breath of fresh air that was Helen, Jake's gradual reconnections with his parents, and of course Colt, it became something much more.
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