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Knoxton Knights #1
About Last Knight
Dacen Becker: New guy in town. Wants to finish high school as peacefully as possible. No angst, no drama, play soccer, make some new friends.
As one of the only hipster-clothes-wearing, luxury-vehicle-driving teenagers in a sea of plaid, camouflage, and loud souped up trucks, he unfortunately sticks out like a sore thumb at Knoxton Falls High School.
Lucky for him, he’s a handsome, fun-loving guy with a heart of gold that everyone warms up to quickly. Well, almost everyone… but Dacen’s not one to back down from a challenge.
And when that challenge comes in the form of one hot boy with the body of a god and the lips of a sinner? That drama-free senior year goes up in a pouf of smoke before it even begins.
~*~
Ryne Sutton: Grouchy. Aloof. Sexy but kind of a jerk. These are the words most people would use to describe him. And that’s the way he’d like to keep it.
He’s spent nearly half his life keeping his shields up, and has no plans of removing them now. His priority is a kick-ass soccer season and preparing for a future in the sport.
Then the new guy crosses his path at tryouts and repeatedly afterwards. He doesn’t like him, wants nothing to do with him, yet can’t help watching for Becker around every corner.
Even if it’s just to give him a few verbal punches and scorching glares, Ryne’s empty shell of a heart flickers whenever he’s near.
-------------
Content warning: This book contains explicit sexual content and is intended for readers 18+.
As one of the only hipster-clothes-wearing, luxury-vehicle-driving teenagers in a sea of plaid, camouflage, and loud souped up trucks, he unfortunately sticks out like a sore thumb at Knoxton Falls High School.
Lucky for him, he’s a handsome, fun-loving guy with a heart of gold that everyone warms up to quickly. Well, almost everyone… but Dacen’s not one to back down from a challenge.
And when that challenge comes in the form of one hot boy with the body of a god and the lips of a sinner? That drama-free senior year goes up in a pouf of smoke before it even begins.
~*~
Ryne Sutton: Grouchy. Aloof. Sexy but kind of a jerk. These are the words most people would use to describe him. And that’s the way he’d like to keep it.
He’s spent nearly half his life keeping his shields up, and has no plans of removing them now. His priority is a kick-ass soccer season and preparing for a future in the sport.
Then the new guy crosses his path at tryouts and repeatedly afterwards. He doesn’t like him, wants nothing to do with him, yet can’t help watching for Becker around every corner.
Even if it’s just to give him a few verbal punches and scorching glares, Ryne’s empty shell of a heart flickers whenever he’s near.
-------------
Content warning: This book contains explicit sexual content and is intended for readers 18+.
460 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2021
283 people are currently reading
2090 people want to read
About the author
Michaela Cole
11 books187 followersMichaela Cole hails from the midwest but transplanted to the south many moons ago to avoid that dreaded four-letter word (S-N-O-W).
She spends her days as a business analyst and her evenings and weekends with family, or writing, reading, and just generally not getting enough sleep.
Caffeine keeps her fueled after nights of binge-reading romance books or rewatching adaptations of Jane Austen movies for the millionth time.
Sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on current projects and new releases. www.authormichaelacole.com
She spends her days as a business analyst and her evenings and weekends with family, or writing, reading, and just generally not getting enough sleep.
Caffeine keeps her fueled after nights of binge-reading romance books or rewatching adaptations of Jane Austen movies for the millionth time.
Sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on current projects and new releases. www.authormichaelacole.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
October 22, 2021
“i don’t know how you did it, but you weaselled your way into my cold, dead heart and breathed life back into it.”
2.5 stars rounded up…
i literally never ever read YA contemporary romances anymore, so the fact that i picked this up is completely unexplainable lmao. the amazing reviews i saw from several people convinced me i guess.
i am glad i picked this up, because it once again convinced me that i should just stay the hell away from contemporary YA high school romances. 🤣
this isn’t a bad book AT ALL, it’s just not for me. it’s actually well written and pretty cute overall if you look past all the unnecessary angst and drama.
if you like all of these things -
• grumpy/sunshine romances
• possessive & jealous mcs
• romances set in high school
• angsty YA contemporary romances
• sports romances
• supportive friend groups
- you’ll most likely love this book.
Dacen was a sweet and lovable character overall, but Ryne repeatedly annoyed me with the way he acted. the push and pull was exhausting. Ryne was jealous and possessive when he had absolutely no right to be jealous and possessive.
when we FINALLY find out what happened at the camp @ around the 80% mark, and why Ryne started acting like a dick towards Dacen… i gotta admit i facepalmed.🙄 the way Ryne blew everything out of proportion was just dumb and made zero sense. i guess it was kinda realistic since teenagers make no sense in general though.
Dacen finally realised he deserved better and started giving Ryne the cold shoulder just as Ryne realised he was an asshole… then the inevitable cliche break-up happened… the way they wouldn’t just communicate was infuriating.
i do understand why Ryne acted the way he did - he obviously has severe abandonment issues and thought that Dacen would inevitably leave him, and that a relationship/dating would eventually lead to disappointment and pain. it still annoyed me regardless. 🙈🤣
i liked it when they finally sat down together, talked to each other, and decided to be together for real.
“he may not be perfect, but he’s perfect for me.”
some other things i really liked were the supportive family members both mcs had (obviously not including Ryne’s mother) and their friend groups. very refreshing to see so many supportive and kind side characters.
this book was pretty addicting and hard to put down regardless of it being annoying at times.
and look, I GET IT, these guys are 18, so the way they acted was pretty realistic overall, which i guess is a plus. me finding this book annoying is a ME problem and not the book’s fault. 🤣
i definitely think that this should have been at least a 100 pages shorter though - there’s not much here plotwise and it did start to drag a little towards the end.
2.5 stars rounded up…
i literally never ever read YA contemporary romances anymore, so the fact that i picked this up is completely unexplainable lmao. the amazing reviews i saw from several people convinced me i guess.
i am glad i picked this up, because it once again convinced me that i should just stay the hell away from contemporary YA high school romances. 🤣
this isn’t a bad book AT ALL, it’s just not for me. it’s actually well written and pretty cute overall if you look past all the unnecessary angst and drama.
if you like all of these things -
• grumpy/sunshine romances
• possessive & jealous mcs
• romances set in high school
• angsty YA contemporary romances
• sports romances
• supportive friend groups
- you’ll most likely love this book.
Dacen was a sweet and lovable character overall, but Ryne repeatedly annoyed me with the way he acted. the push and pull was exhausting. Ryne was jealous and possessive when he had absolutely no right to be jealous and possessive.
when we FINALLY find out what happened at the camp @ around the 80% mark, and why Ryne started acting like a dick towards Dacen… i gotta admit i facepalmed.🙄 the way Ryne blew everything out of proportion was just dumb and made zero sense. i guess it was kinda realistic since teenagers make no sense in general though.
Dacen finally realised he deserved better and started giving Ryne the cold shoulder just as Ryne realised he was an asshole… then the inevitable cliche break-up happened… the way they wouldn’t just communicate was infuriating.
i do understand why Ryne acted the way he did - he obviously has severe abandonment issues and thought that Dacen would inevitably leave him, and that a relationship/dating would eventually lead to disappointment and pain. it still annoyed me regardless. 🙈🤣
i liked it when they finally sat down together, talked to each other, and decided to be together for real.
“he may not be perfect, but he’s perfect for me.”
some other things i really liked were the supportive family members both mcs had (obviously not including Ryne’s mother) and their friend groups. very refreshing to see so many supportive and kind side characters.
this book was pretty addicting and hard to put down regardless of it being annoying at times.
and look, I GET IT, these guys are 18, so the way they acted was pretty realistic overall, which i guess is a plus. me finding this book annoying is a ME problem and not the book’s fault. 🤣
i definitely think that this should have been at least a 100 pages shorter though - there’s not much here plotwise and it did start to drag a little towards the end.
November 3, 2022
update: 03/11/22 that lil short story Micalea sent in her newsletter has my heart <3 my boys are so sweet, i love them sm. i will legit never get tired of them.
****
i would apologise in advance for the amount of Dacen and Ryne quotes i have in this review... but im not sorry💅🏻
as a society, we need more mm high school romances. i can count on one hand the amount i have read and they just hit different.
the ✨tension✨ between these two actually made me squeal a few times and im not even embarrassed about it. my GOD. any scene with them involving water was immediately *chef’s kiss*
idk how the author did it, but the tension was truly immaculate. like every encounter they had was dripping in anticipation, lust, longing... just everything. they were truly perfect for each other— the sunshine and grumpy trope was executed effortlessly... Ryne’s soft spot for Dacen was truly beautiful to read. gave me all the squishy feels☺️
while simultaneously being so fucking adorable and sweet. how flustered and overwhelmed they were by each other. the way they didn’t know how to act around each other sometimes— eurgh, they own my heart, and i don’t even want it back. they can do with it what they please.
like Ryne’s reluctant crush (aka, obsession) on Dacen was so fun to read omg. this bitch was so grumpy that he was infatuated with the sunshiney Dacen. the way he pretended he was so indifferent to Dacen but was really squirming internally whenever he thought of him (which was all the damn time) just made me smile so hard my cheeks hurt and my heart so full.
Ryne’s obsession with Dacen’s dimples lives in my head rent free, oh my god. the cutest thing i have ever read. i was low-key squealing, eurgh. sooo, commence a plethora of quotes solely about Dacen’s dimples—
i ain’t even sorry about it.
i truly did not want this to end. i could read another 400 pages of them doing domestic, mundane shit and still be fangirling. like yes, go do your laundry, play video games, eat tacos... you’re doing AMAZING sweetie.
the angst. the pining. the longing. the slow-as-fuck-burn was ✨immaculate✨
******
one thing that i noticed almost immediately about this that i really liked and appreciated was that the characters actually felt like high schoolers? not in a super immature way, but they weren’t these over the top caricatures im used to reading in a high school romance— where you have 17 year olds acting like they’re 30, doing shit that no kid would do, having access to things no kid would have access to... stuff like that.
they acted like teenagers. they felt like normal people— like Ryne Googling and researching how to have anal sex to make it good for Dacen😭 it was really sweet and totally something a teenager would do... not the typical sex gods who rule the school like most high school romances seem to have.
also, Dacen with his anxiety felt so realistic. nothing was dramatised— you see his anxiety in an everyday setting, how it constantly fluctuates, how he lives with it... how he doesn’t live with it. and as someone who’s had anxiety from a very young age, it was really refreshing and lovely to read such a regular, mundane portrayal.
his need for planning was something i noticed throughout. it was subtle but acknowledged, but not made a big deal out of and i loved that. it was just something Dacen did to make him feel more comfortable and at ease— it’s literally what i do all the goddam time lol. the things he did were just casual and it contributed to the realistic portrayal of anxiety. media tends to focus on the big dramatic panic attacks, the heavy breathing and spiralling mentally... when most of the time it’s really not like that (occasionally, unfortunately it can be). it’s just subtle, casual things that make him feel safe.
the way he described his planner made me smile bcos im honestly the same: Not only does it have all my notes but it’s like my lifeline, the thing that keeps me grounded when all else fails because I have control over it. There are few things as satisfying as checking items off a list and having a neat and organized schedule all laid out in front of me, especially when I’m feeling anxious. It might seem weird and a bit neurotic to others, my slight obsession with it, but as Dad says, that’s a them-problem, not a me-problem.
it was really nice to read a character similar to myself— planning and organisation is such a low-key way to help combat my anxiety, and it was the same for Dacen. so again, i liked that his anxiety wasn’t dramatised and OTT. it was portrayed really well, honestly.
i also loved how all the characters were open about their sexualities. there was no shame, no hiding, no toxicity. everyone was just who they were. their was no “coming out” for anyone and not that it’s bad or anything, but sometimes i think it makes a bigger statement when it’s not made a big deal of, you know? it’s just universally accepted by everyone... do i make sense?
like in the tv shows, Legacies, and Shadow and Bone, the queer characters are just queer and that’s it. it’s not talked about, emphasised or focused on... like being queer isn’t their personality lmao. some forms of media will have the token queer character and that’s all there is to them, like they’re not a person outside of their sexuality. so, that’s what i loved about this book. Ryne, Tyler, Dacen and several other characters were queer but it’s never discussed or overtly acknowledged. they are who they are, and it was honestly so refreshing.
****
now i gotta give an honourable mention to the friendships here. firstly. Dacen’s friendship with Evie🥺 eurgh, i loved these two. she prepped and made tacos before school on a morning for Dacen’s birthday— girl that is dedication, i ain’t waking up early for no one. she was such a supportive bestie that we all deserve.
honestly can’t wait for Tyler, Evan and Roman’s books. they were such awesome friends to Ryne but also to Dacen, ready to call Ryne out on his shit but also have his back. i need more Evan and Evie after the lil snippets we got of them here... and honestly im curious who tf Roman could fall for bcos that guy is something😭 and his book being mm... colour me shocked, and so damn excited!! i need more by this author ASAP!!
****
i would apologise in advance for the amount of Dacen and Ryne quotes i have in this review... but im not sorry💅🏻
as a society, we need more mm high school romances. i can count on one hand the amount i have read and they just hit different.
the ✨tension✨ between these two actually made me squeal a few times and im not even embarrassed about it. my GOD. any scene with them involving water was immediately *chef’s kiss*
💧the shower scene at their football camp😏 i was low-key squealing— the tension as Dacen slowly wiped the steam off the glass while staring intensely at Ryne... the tension was palpable wow. i mean, they didn’t even touch and i was fangirling omg.
💧when Ryne washes Dacen’s hands for him at the sink— like them just staring at each other while their fingers were all entwined... i am a whore, your honour.
💧HE TOOK DACEN TO A WATERFALL🥺 like y’all know when one MC takes another to like a “special spot” it’s gonna go juicy. and it was.
idk how the author did it, but the tension was truly immaculate. like every encounter they had was dripping in anticipation, lust, longing... just everything. they were truly perfect for each other— the sunshine and grumpy trope was executed effortlessly... Ryne’s soft spot for Dacen was truly beautiful to read. gave me all the squishy feels☺️
while simultaneously being so fucking adorable and sweet. how flustered and overwhelmed they were by each other. the way they didn’t know how to act around each other sometimes— eurgh, they own my heart, and i don’t even want it back. they can do with it what they please.
like Ryne’s reluctant crush (aka, obsession) on Dacen was so fun to read omg. this bitch was so grumpy that he was infatuated with the sunshiney Dacen. the way he pretended he was so indifferent to Dacen but was really squirming internally whenever he thought of him (which was all the damn time) just made me smile so hard my cheeks hurt and my heart so full.
”I SAID,” I snap at him with more venom than I’d intended so I clear my throat and start again. “I said he’s blindingly bright, like an almost hurts the eyes kind of thing.” Heat creeps across my cheeks and for once Tyler is silent. Even though I’m alone in my room, I pull the hood of my sleeveless shirt over both my headset and head and tug it down low.
Ryne’s obsession with Dacen’s dimples lives in my head rent free, oh my god. the cutest thing i have ever read. i was low-key squealing, eurgh. sooo, commence a plethora of quotes solely about Dacen’s dimples—
i ain’t even sorry about it.
It doesn’t work though, and his own expression morphs into a smile so deep dimples appear on his cheeks. I don’t know what’s so amusing though. “What?” My head cocks to the side and my eyes roam over his face. I have the sudden urge to dig my pointer finger into one of his dimples just to see what it feels like.
Ryne fights his smile again and somehow that non-smile is one of the best smiles I’ve ever been on the receiving end of. My face breaks out into a sleepy grin, and then my breath catches when he reaches forward and gently pokes one of my dimples with his index finger.
I know he doesn’t ask for it and certainly doesn’t want it, but at this moment a little piece of my heart breaks free and skips precariously close to Ryne’s open hand as he draws it back to his side.
He shifts his weight from one foot to the other and stares at the glass case while he speaks. “It should be illegal in all fifty states for you to smile with those dimples. They’re major assault weapons.” Ryne turns toward me again and this time when he reaches a hand out he doesn’t pull away. The backs of his fingers brush along my cheek. “These things could easily bring a guy to his knees.”
A grin breaks out on my face and Ryne startles me when he reaches over and pokes my dimple. I wonder if there’s such a thing as dimple kink. The thought deepens my grin even more, and beside me, Ryne sucks in a breath. He lets it out slowly.
When Dacen beams at me, I reach over and brush the backs of my fingers over one of his dimples, because that’s the only way I know how to say the things that are trying to take shape in my head.
i truly did not want this to end. i could read another 400 pages of them doing domestic, mundane shit and still be fangirling. like yes, go do your laundry, play video games, eat tacos... you’re doing AMAZING sweetie.
the angst. the pining. the longing. the slow-as-fuck-burn was ✨immaculate✨
******
one thing that i noticed almost immediately about this that i really liked and appreciated was that the characters actually felt like high schoolers? not in a super immature way, but they weren’t these over the top caricatures im used to reading in a high school romance— where you have 17 year olds acting like they’re 30, doing shit that no kid would do, having access to things no kid would have access to... stuff like that.
they acted like teenagers. they felt like normal people— like Ryne Googling and researching how to have anal sex to make it good for Dacen😭 it was really sweet and totally something a teenager would do... not the typical sex gods who rule the school like most high school romances seem to have.
also, Dacen with his anxiety felt so realistic. nothing was dramatised— you see his anxiety in an everyday setting, how it constantly fluctuates, how he lives with it... how he doesn’t live with it. and as someone who’s had anxiety from a very young age, it was really refreshing and lovely to read such a regular, mundane portrayal.
his need for planning was something i noticed throughout. it was subtle but acknowledged, but not made a big deal out of and i loved that. it was just something Dacen did to make him feel more comfortable and at ease— it’s literally what i do all the goddam time lol. the things he did were just casual and it contributed to the realistic portrayal of anxiety. media tends to focus on the big dramatic panic attacks, the heavy breathing and spiralling mentally... when most of the time it’s really not like that (occasionally, unfortunately it can be). it’s just subtle, casual things that make him feel safe.
the way he described his planner made me smile bcos im honestly the same: Not only does it have all my notes but it’s like my lifeline, the thing that keeps me grounded when all else fails because I have control over it. There are few things as satisfying as checking items off a list and having a neat and organized schedule all laid out in front of me, especially when I’m feeling anxious. It might seem weird and a bit neurotic to others, my slight obsession with it, but as Dad says, that’s a them-problem, not a me-problem.
it was really nice to read a character similar to myself— planning and organisation is such a low-key way to help combat my anxiety, and it was the same for Dacen. so again, i liked that his anxiety wasn’t dramatised and OTT. it was portrayed really well, honestly.
i also loved how all the characters were open about their sexualities. there was no shame, no hiding, no toxicity. everyone was just who they were. their was no “coming out” for anyone and not that it’s bad or anything, but sometimes i think it makes a bigger statement when it’s not made a big deal of, you know? it’s just universally accepted by everyone... do i make sense?
like in the tv shows, Legacies, and Shadow and Bone, the queer characters are just queer and that’s it. it’s not talked about, emphasised or focused on... like being queer isn’t their personality lmao. some forms of media will have the token queer character and that’s all there is to them, like they’re not a person outside of their sexuality. so, that’s what i loved about this book. Ryne, Tyler, Dacen and several other characters were queer but it’s never discussed or overtly acknowledged. they are who they are, and it was honestly so refreshing.
****
now i gotta give an honourable mention to the friendships here. firstly. Dacen’s friendship with Evie🥺 eurgh, i loved these two. she prepped and made tacos before school on a morning for Dacen’s birthday— girl that is dedication, i ain’t waking up early for no one. she was such a supportive bestie that we all deserve.
“And just so you know.” Evie tugs on my wrist and I look down again. “You’re worth every hand squish that has happened and may happen in the future. Okay?”
How did I get so lucky as to have this girl as my best friend?
honestly can’t wait for Tyler, Evan and Roman’s books. they were such awesome friends to Ryne but also to Dacen, ready to call Ryne out on his shit but also have his back. i need more Evan and Evie after the lil snippets we got of them here... and honestly im curious who tf Roman could fall for bcos that guy is something😭 and his book being mm... colour me shocked, and so damn excited!! i need more by this author ASAP!!
“I don’t know how you did it, but you weaseled your way into my cold, dead heart and breathed life back into it. Now my heart, my mind, my body are all filled with your empathy, your love, your weirdness.” I place a gentle kiss on his lips and speak my next words with my forehead against his. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way. You own my heart. I love you, Taco Socks. I’m in this for the long haul.”
January 27, 2022
*** I received an eArc from the author in exchange for an honest review.***
What a Marvelous Debut Novel!!!! I absolutely fell head over heels for both Ryne and Dacen. Their story is filled with angst and drama that makes for a compelling story. Both Ryne and Dacen are complex characters that struggle with their own complicated emotions and backstory. I was excited by the premise of this story. An MM enemies to lovers with bully elements piqued my immediate interest and I was not disappointed. Michaela Cole crafted a fantastic story filled with characters that are vibrant and fun to explore.
Some important topics that are handled with care include mental health and family trauma. These elements of the story help you to understand why certain characters react and behave in certain ways, which I appreciated.
Ryne and Dacen are two soccer athletes that attended a soccer camp the previous summer together, but things did not end well, thus creating great tension when both realize they are attending the same high school for senior year because Dacen has recently moved.
Throughout the course of the story, Dacen and Ryne are intrinsically drawn to one another, which forces them to work through their own issues, which proves more difficult than expected. Towards the end, there are great groveling moments that I particularly enjoyed.
Ryne and Dacen embark on a whirlwind romance that is filled with intense moments of epic proportions. I devoured this story in two sittings and couldn't get enough of these wonderful characters. I look forward to the next installments.
What a Marvelous Debut Novel!!!! I absolutely fell head over heels for both Ryne and Dacen. Their story is filled with angst and drama that makes for a compelling story. Both Ryne and Dacen are complex characters that struggle with their own complicated emotions and backstory. I was excited by the premise of this story. An MM enemies to lovers with bully elements piqued my immediate interest and I was not disappointed. Michaela Cole crafted a fantastic story filled with characters that are vibrant and fun to explore.
Some important topics that are handled with care include mental health and family trauma. These elements of the story help you to understand why certain characters react and behave in certain ways, which I appreciated.
Ryne and Dacen are two soccer athletes that attended a soccer camp the previous summer together, but things did not end well, thus creating great tension when both realize they are attending the same high school for senior year because Dacen has recently moved.
Throughout the course of the story, Dacen and Ryne are intrinsically drawn to one another, which forces them to work through their own issues, which proves more difficult than expected. Towards the end, there are great groveling moments that I particularly enjoyed.
Ryne and Dacen embark on a whirlwind romance that is filled with intense moments of epic proportions. I devoured this story in two sittings and couldn't get enough of these wonderful characters. I look forward to the next installments.
September 5, 2021
note: this story got depictions of panic attacks and abandonment by a parent
my thoughts in a nutshell:
me: ugh i hate clichés
this book: the grumpy one is soft for the sunshine one
me: *sobs* OMG THE GRUMPY ONE IS SOFT FOR THE SUNSHINE ONE
i really enjoyed michaela cole's debut about last knight. was it the best thing ever? honestly far from it. i don't actually recommend this story unless you're into high school drama, all the mumbo jumbo of it, and the constant 'why are you hanging out with him? you're supposed to be with me' dialogues. also, don't expect these dramatic teenagers to do wise decisions because spoiler alert they didn't. my advise is just go with the flow and embrace it. other than the romance, the other thing that i loved down to the bone here was how this book was in a high school setting and it wasn't toxic! good lord the absence of homophobic jerks and their hurtful and usual slurs are just a breath of fresh air in here. they're still jerks but the lovable kind. when ryne sutton's friends caught him checking out the new kid, ryne was just blushing and got grumpier and grumpier. the gay kids here are living and thriving and i was here for it. the only thing that i didn't enjoy was the length of this book. 450 pages for a high school romance? girl i was ready to wave my 'wrap it up' placard. the story was pretty much simple, ryne's not being into commitments, and a part of me wished that it got wrapped way earlier. some parts indeed got dragged but as a whole still highly enjoyable. also, ryne's sweet moments got me swooning!
ryne fucking patrick sutton is both the sweet boyfriend who forces his breakfast to you even you're mad at each other:
and the hot guy with a filthy mouth:
lastly, who is this cover model? sometimes i wish authors put the names of these guys. seriously help me out if you know! lmao
my thoughts in a nutshell:
me: ugh i hate clichés
this book: the grumpy one is soft for the sunshine one
me: *sobs* OMG THE GRUMPY ONE IS SOFT FOR THE SUNSHINE ONE
i really enjoyed michaela cole's debut about last knight. was it the best thing ever? honestly far from it. i don't actually recommend this story unless you're into high school drama, all the mumbo jumbo of it, and the constant 'why are you hanging out with him? you're supposed to be with me' dialogues. also, don't expect these dramatic teenagers to do wise decisions because spoiler alert they didn't. my advise is just go with the flow and embrace it. other than the romance, the other thing that i loved down to the bone here was how this book was in a high school setting and it wasn't toxic! good lord the absence of homophobic jerks and their hurtful and usual slurs are just a breath of fresh air in here. they're still jerks but the lovable kind. when ryne sutton's friends caught him checking out the new kid, ryne was just blushing and got grumpier and grumpier. the gay kids here are living and thriving and i was here for it. the only thing that i didn't enjoy was the length of this book. 450 pages for a high school romance? girl i was ready to wave my 'wrap it up' placard. the story was pretty much simple, ryne's not being into commitments, and a part of me wished that it got wrapped way earlier. some parts indeed got dragged but as a whole still highly enjoyable. also, ryne's sweet moments got me swooning!
ryne fucking patrick sutton is both the sweet boyfriend who forces his breakfast to you even you're mad at each other:
"Here. Take them. They're for you."
I bite my lip and slip my bag on. "What's it for?"
"Just take the damn things," he snaps out when I don't reach for them. The drink and bag get unceremoniously deposited into my hands
and the hot guy with a filthy mouth:
"Take all of me into that sassy mouth of yours and swallow. I want to feel myself in here." I grip his throat with one hand and squeeze gently. "While I fuck you here." I brush my thumb over his lips and shove it inside. He swirls his tongue, tasting me until I pull it out and grab my dick. I pump twice slowly.
"Open up, D."
lastly, who is this cover model? sometimes i wish authors put the names of these guys. seriously help me out if you know! lmao
October 7, 2021
A new all time favorite for me! About Last Knight made me so happy. I knew nearly nothing about this book or author going into it and I am so blown away by how much I enjoyed this. The romance, the characters, the friendships, the writing, the banter?!?!?! I died and I was sent to my own personal book heaven.
Our two leading men are Ryne and Dacen. We get a dual first person POV from them. Ryne is the perpetually pissed off hottie who has no need or time for relationships and a life permeated by tragedy. Dacen is the sunshine to Ryne’s grump. The dimpled smile to Ryne’s permanent frown. The chatty to Ryne’s stoic. You get the idea. They balanced each other out beautifully. Opposites attract goodness! They met at soccer camp in June before their senior year started and Ryne had no idea that Dacen was going to transfer to his high school. Dacen is the New York transfer to Ryne’s Georgia raised. Okay I’ll stop. That was the last one, I promise!!! They had a ~mysterious~ falling out at camp and nobody knows what happened. It’s possible one of the parties involved doesn’t even know why they’re enemies!👀
Ryne was my favorite character because I love grumps with tragic backstories who are secret softies for the people they love but I also adored Dacen and I saw so much of myself in him when it came to his anxiety.
“For me, anxiety is like a constant stream of white noise in the background. You can ignore it for a while but then something triggers you; a comment, a misinterpreted look, a real or perceived failure. You hone in on the white noise and it becomes all you can hear, all you can focus on. Then all hell breaks loose. The white noise turns into a buzzing sound, then into a blaring alarm. As it gets stronger, it comes at you from all angles, pressing and threatening to crush your bones. Your eyes are laser-focused looking for the threat, yet nothing registers in your vision.”
He also tells Ryne about how lonely it can be. It’s exhausting and all consuming but that’s definitely something many forget -- it’s incredibly lonely. For me personally, I have a hard time interacting with people because I don’t know if something said could trigger me to go into that state of peril. One wrong move and I’ve denoted an explosive inside myself. Reading this and getting to know Dacen, I felt a little less alone.
A grin breaks out on my face and Ryne startles me when he reaches over and pokes my dimple. I wonder if there’s such a thing as dimple kink. The thought deepens my grin even more, and beside me, Ryne sucks in a breath. He lets it out slowly.
The romance was absolute perfection!!!!! There was so much unresolved sexual tension, chemistry, jealousy and possessiveness...safe to say I was having a grand time. They had a I hate you but I actually like you and I hate how much I like you thing going on. As I mentioned in an update, someone could brush shoulders with Dacen and Ryne would go insane with jealousy. I love that for him. 🤭🤭🤭 It wasn’t a one off either, we got to see plenty of jealousy and I for one, was thrilled!!!! Ryne was torn between wanting Dacen fully and wanting to keep his walls up and keep himself safe. He would downplay what they had to himself and his friends, but everyone saw through his B.S. but he had to be the one to acknowledge it. They had so many adorable moments. I swooned plenty. Ryne’s penchant for touching Dacen’s smile and touching his dimples sent me into orbit several times. Ryne’s birthday present to Dacen??? That was everything! I loved seeing them grow as individuals and together. Ryne was the calm to Dacen’s storm. He learned about Dacen’s anxiety and what he could do to help him and that…that is something truly swoon worthy.
The banter and the friendships!!! So many moments had me smiling and chuckling to myself as I read. Yes, I do not drive but that is neither here nor there. I will be saying this all the time now.
"Dude, I may drive a Ford but I recognize a dodge when I see one. Answer my question."
I adored the characters and loved how everyone in this universe was either queer or were supportive. Ryne’s friend group AKA the four horsemen, Ryne’s family, Evie, Noah, everyone was so full of life and felt so real to me. They might have been side characters in this book but they were main characters in my heart!!!!🥰 The guys were always there for Ryne. Being supportive, (sometimes trying and failing at that) … but always trying. I love them and all I have left to say is TYLER’S BOOK...WHEN?👀🤞
I truly had such a wonderful time reading this and I am now an official Michaela Cole stan. Thank you! Such stellar writing that transported me into a world I never wanted to leave. 💙💙💙
Our two leading men are Ryne and Dacen. We get a dual first person POV from them. Ryne is the perpetually pissed off hottie who has no need or time for relationships and a life permeated by tragedy. Dacen is the sunshine to Ryne’s grump. The dimpled smile to Ryne’s permanent frown. The chatty to Ryne’s stoic. You get the idea. They balanced each other out beautifully. Opposites attract goodness! They met at soccer camp in June before their senior year started and Ryne had no idea that Dacen was going to transfer to his high school. Dacen is the New York transfer to Ryne’s Georgia raised. Okay I’ll stop. That was the last one, I promise!!! They had a ~mysterious~ falling out at camp and nobody knows what happened. It’s possible one of the parties involved doesn’t even know why they’re enemies!👀
Ryne was my favorite character because I love grumps with tragic backstories who are secret softies for the people they love but I also adored Dacen and I saw so much of myself in him when it came to his anxiety.
“For me, anxiety is like a constant stream of white noise in the background. You can ignore it for a while but then something triggers you; a comment, a misinterpreted look, a real or perceived failure. You hone in on the white noise and it becomes all you can hear, all you can focus on. Then all hell breaks loose. The white noise turns into a buzzing sound, then into a blaring alarm. As it gets stronger, it comes at you from all angles, pressing and threatening to crush your bones. Your eyes are laser-focused looking for the threat, yet nothing registers in your vision.”
He also tells Ryne about how lonely it can be. It’s exhausting and all consuming but that’s definitely something many forget -- it’s incredibly lonely. For me personally, I have a hard time interacting with people because I don’t know if something said could trigger me to go into that state of peril. One wrong move and I’ve denoted an explosive inside myself. Reading this and getting to know Dacen, I felt a little less alone.
A grin breaks out on my face and Ryne startles me when he reaches over and pokes my dimple. I wonder if there’s such a thing as dimple kink. The thought deepens my grin even more, and beside me, Ryne sucks in a breath. He lets it out slowly.
The romance was absolute perfection!!!!! There was so much unresolved sexual tension, chemistry, jealousy and possessiveness...safe to say I was having a grand time. They had a I hate you but I actually like you and I hate how much I like you thing going on. As I mentioned in an update, someone could brush shoulders with Dacen and Ryne would go insane with jealousy. I love that for him. 🤭🤭🤭 It wasn’t a one off either, we got to see plenty of jealousy and I for one, was thrilled!!!! Ryne was torn between wanting Dacen fully and wanting to keep his walls up and keep himself safe. He would downplay what they had to himself and his friends, but everyone saw through his B.S. but he had to be the one to acknowledge it. They had so many adorable moments. I swooned plenty. Ryne’s penchant for touching Dacen’s smile and touching his dimples sent me into orbit several times. Ryne’s birthday present to Dacen??? That was everything! I loved seeing them grow as individuals and together. Ryne was the calm to Dacen’s storm. He learned about Dacen’s anxiety and what he could do to help him and that…that is something truly swoon worthy.
The banter and the friendships!!! So many moments had me smiling and chuckling to myself as I read. Yes, I do not drive but that is neither here nor there. I will be saying this all the time now.
"Dude, I may drive a Ford but I recognize a dodge when I see one. Answer my question."
I adored the characters and loved how everyone in this universe was either queer or were supportive. Ryne’s friend group AKA the four horsemen, Ryne’s family, Evie, Noah, everyone was so full of life and felt so real to me. They might have been side characters in this book but they were main characters in my heart!!!!🥰 The guys were always there for Ryne. Being supportive, (sometimes trying and failing at that) … but always trying. I love them and all I have left to say is TYLER’S BOOK...WHEN?👀🤞
I truly had such a wonderful time reading this and I am now an official Michaela Cole stan. Thank you! Such stellar writing that transported me into a world I never wanted to leave. 💙💙💙
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September 8, 2021
"I haven't been able to get these lips out of my mind, Dacen, since the dance but really long before that." His words echo my thoughts as he runs his lips across my cheek, breathing the words into my skin. "Ever since that first time you opened your mouth at camp." His lips brush over mine. "And all the sass and attitude poured out then and from that moment on. I've wanted to taste you again for so long."
ok but this was so good?? i noticed this and my previous read, henry hamlet's heart, are debut novels that were released this year and gotta love it when you immediately click with both new authors' writing styles. 🤩
the tension between Ryne and Dacen was my fav part about their romance. i love a good tension where you can feel it through the words and the push and pull is chefs kiss, but you also just want them to be together already. their "non-dates" were soo cute, every time they just hung out and talked, it was so simple yet i was invested and found myself smiling bc of them. 🥺 there were times when they both got jealous over the little things, but did i care? no. i ate that shit up. ✨ I LOVED THE FRIENDSHIPS, whether it was between Ryne's friend group or Dacen's friend group, i enjoyed the interactions between each characters.
RYNE OBSESSING OVER DACEN'S DIMPLES WAS CUTE AS HELL, it literally had me screaming every time a scene came up when he would poke them.
if i had any complaints about this book, it's the whole anticlimactic vibes of what happened between Ryne and Dacen when they were still in camp bc the why made me go that's it?? + the fact that Ryne was tryna push Dacen away (during the second half) bc he thought Ryne "deserved better". i swear, this is like the main excuse of break ups in romance books (mainly in a high school/college setting, i've noticed) so it got tiring for me, personally. i understood where Ryne was coming from, but i also wished he would have communicated better with Dacen, but they're in high school and bound to make mistakes—i get it. 🤣 BUT!! i have to admit, Ryne's groveling actually had me swooning ok. the way he was texting Dacen little facts about himself and listed reasons why he should give him a second chance, I JUST-
im so excited for Evan, Tyler and Roman's (ESPECIALLY MY BB ROMAN) stories!! 🥰🥰
ok but this was so good?? i noticed this and my previous read, henry hamlet's heart, are debut novels that were released this year and gotta love it when you immediately click with both new authors' writing styles. 🤩
the tension between Ryne and Dacen was my fav part about their romance. i love a good tension where you can feel it through the words and the push and pull is chefs kiss, but you also just want them to be together already. their "non-dates" were soo cute, every time they just hung out and talked, it was so simple yet i was invested and found myself smiling bc of them. 🥺 there were times when they both got jealous over the little things, but did i care? no. i ate that shit up. ✨ I LOVED THE FRIENDSHIPS, whether it was between Ryne's friend group or Dacen's friend group, i enjoyed the interactions between each characters.
RYNE OBSESSING OVER DACEN'S DIMPLES WAS CUTE AS HELL, it literally had me screaming every time a scene came up when he would poke them.
if i had any complaints about this book, it's the whole anticlimactic vibes of what happened between Ryne and Dacen when they were still in camp bc the why made me go that's it?? + the fact that Ryne was tryna push Dacen away (during the second half) bc he thought Ryne "deserved better". i swear, this is like the main excuse of break ups in romance books (mainly in a high school/college setting, i've noticed) so it got tiring for me, personally. i understood where Ryne was coming from, but i also wished he would have communicated better with Dacen, but they're in high school and bound to make mistakes—i get it. 🤣 BUT!! i have to admit, Ryne's groveling actually had me swooning ok. the way he was texting Dacen little facts about himself and listed reasons why he should give him a second chance, I JUST-
im so excited for Evan, Tyler and Roman's (ESPECIALLY MY BB ROMAN) stories!! 🥰🥰
February 7, 2022
Time of death 50 %
It's me! not the book.
I keep getting the MC's names wrong in the middle of chapters, I can't really tell who is who. I find the POVs similar.
Anyhoo, again shit happens.
It's me! not the book.
I keep getting the MC's names wrong in the middle of chapters, I can't really tell who is who. I find the POVs similar.
Anyhoo, again shit happens.
October 21, 2022
"See something you like?" My voice is husky and raw.
Err yes I did, thanks for asking 😈 .
I absolutely loved About Last Knight, which is Michaela Cole's debut novel. It's a stunning first piece of work, and a chunky one at that. It's so annoying when you get excited about a book and it never lives up to the hype, and then just peters out with a whimper....well not this one.
I'm never 100% sure about high school sports romance books, because sometimes they have a certain 'ick' factor, but again, not this one. The characters are of age and this is an 18+ read 🖤.
Our MCs are Ryne and Dacen, but there is a good support cast too. Ryne is one of the 'four horsemen' - the 'it' guys at Knoxton Falls HS - and they are each getting their own stories too, which they all totally deserve (personally, I can't wait for Roman's😈).
About Last Knight is angsty at times and there are some triggering backstories/issues (death in the family, desertion, some bully features, commitment issues, mental health), but it's also funny and steamy and romantic and empowering.
If you love the m/m enemies-to-lovers trope, with a slow burn romance, a great story line and some steamy scenes🔥🔥🔥, then this should be the next book on your TBR 😍.
Highly recommended.
5 steamy stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Err yes I did, thanks for asking 😈 .
I absolutely loved About Last Knight, which is Michaela Cole's debut novel. It's a stunning first piece of work, and a chunky one at that. It's so annoying when you get excited about a book and it never lives up to the hype, and then just peters out with a whimper....well not this one.
I'm never 100% sure about high school sports romance books, because sometimes they have a certain 'ick' factor, but again, not this one. The characters are of age and this is an 18+ read 🖤.
Our MCs are Ryne and Dacen, but there is a good support cast too. Ryne is one of the 'four horsemen' - the 'it' guys at Knoxton Falls HS - and they are each getting their own stories too, which they all totally deserve (personally, I can't wait for Roman's😈).
About Last Knight is angsty at times and there are some triggering backstories/issues (death in the family, desertion, some bully features, commitment issues, mental health), but it's also funny and steamy and romantic and empowering.
If you love the m/m enemies-to-lovers trope, with a slow burn romance, a great story line and some steamy scenes🔥🔥🔥, then this should be the next book on your TBR 😍.
Highly recommended.
5 steamy stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 9, 2021
I love the guy in this cover you guys🤤
“I’m not afraid of emotions. I’m allergic to them. There’s a difference.”
I love high school MM romances. They’re probably one of my favorites to read especially because the relationships could be toxic and there’s so much push and pull and drama and friend circles. It’s always fun and there’s great grovelling because shit always goes down.
This book wasn’t any different. I didn’t love it like so many reviews I read but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Dacen is the new guy in school and I luck doesn’t seem to be on his side when he meets Ryne on the soccer team. Ryne and Dacen have a history together from soccer camp and old forgotten feelings resurface when they meet again.
>> this was fun to read because it was a grumpy-sunshine trope. The MCs balanced out each other and so there were equal parts bullshit : understanding ratio.
>> the found family aspect was on point. The way Ryne’s friends - the four horsemen (ofcourse🙄) - bring Dacen into their inner circle was a slow process but so smooth and you don’t even notice the heartwarming and supportive gestures that they do for Ryne and Dacen until you actually think about it. Because it’s so effortlessly added into this.
>> this was sllooowwww. They don’t have sex until well over 70-80% of the book. They do make out and give blowjobs and all that fun stuff throughout so it still has that steamy but I’m surprised this wasn’t as smutty as I expected (*cough wanted cough*)
Ryne —->>
“Saturday
I’ll get over it.
Sunday
Over him.
Monday
It’s fine.
Tuesday
I’m fine.
Wednesday
I’m not fine.”
>> I did have problems with this though. We hear about Ryne’s shitty mother and her trying to get in touch with Ryne. But that storyline started and ended so abruptly that I’m beginning to wonder if it was even necessary. She appeared at Ryne’s house to ask for money but then immediately disappears and we get 0 closure regarding that sub-plot.
>> there’s a lot of push and pull in this but I loved it. Dacen was very patient with Ryne and gave him space when he needed it. Both of them also came of as needy and clingy in the right times so it was fun to read.
>> absolutely adorable grovelling
“Reasons Why Dacen Should Give Ryne Another Chance:
1. He’s really, really sorry for being a dickhead. Really.
2. He wishes he could take it all back and start over.
3. He misses Dacen’s dimples. Both sets. A lot.
4. But mostly he misses talking with Dacen.
Reason number five makes me laugh out loud as I walk into class.
5. Orgasms. Nuff said.”
>> we also see what happened in the past and how the original conflict between them began. I have to say that Ryne’s “I’m gonna fucking kick your ass” bullshit in the beginning really got on my nerves.
Overall this was cute. I liked it. If there are more MM romances in this series then I’ll definitely read it.
“I’m not afraid of emotions. I’m allergic to them. There’s a difference.”
I love high school MM romances. They’re probably one of my favorites to read especially because the relationships could be toxic and there’s so much push and pull and drama and friend circles. It’s always fun and there’s great grovelling because shit always goes down.
This book wasn’t any different. I didn’t love it like so many reviews I read but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Dacen is the new guy in school and I luck doesn’t seem to be on his side when he meets Ryne on the soccer team. Ryne and Dacen have a history together from soccer camp and old forgotten feelings resurface when they meet again.
>> this was fun to read because it was a grumpy-sunshine trope. The MCs balanced out each other and so there were equal parts bullshit : understanding ratio.
>> the found family aspect was on point. The way Ryne’s friends - the four horsemen (ofcourse🙄) - bring Dacen into their inner circle was a slow process but so smooth and you don’t even notice the heartwarming and supportive gestures that they do for Ryne and Dacen until you actually think about it. Because it’s so effortlessly added into this.
>> this was sllooowwww. They don’t have sex until well over 70-80% of the book. They do make out and give blowjobs and all that fun stuff throughout so it still has that steamy but I’m surprised this wasn’t as smutty as I expected (*cough wanted cough*)
Ryne —->>
“Saturday
I’ll get over it.
Sunday
Over him.
Monday
It’s fine.
Tuesday
I’m fine.
Wednesday
I’m not fine.”
>> I did have problems with this though. We hear about Ryne’s shitty mother and her trying to get in touch with Ryne. But that storyline started and ended so abruptly that I’m beginning to wonder if it was even necessary. She appeared at Ryne’s house to ask for money but then immediately disappears and we get 0 closure regarding that sub-plot.
>> there’s a lot of push and pull in this but I loved it. Dacen was very patient with Ryne and gave him space when he needed it. Both of them also came of as needy and clingy in the right times so it was fun to read.
>> absolutely adorable grovelling
“Reasons Why Dacen Should Give Ryne Another Chance:
1. He’s really, really sorry for being a dickhead. Really.
2. He wishes he could take it all back and start over.
3. He misses Dacen’s dimples. Both sets. A lot.
4. But mostly he misses talking with Dacen.
Reason number five makes me laugh out loud as I walk into class.
5. Orgasms. Nuff said.”
>> we also see what happened in the past and how the original conflict between them began. I have to say that Ryne’s “I’m gonna fucking kick your ass” bullshit in the beginning really got on my nerves.
Overall this was cute. I liked it. If there are more MM romances in this series then I’ll definitely read it.
September 30, 2021
4.5⭐
WOW, THIS WAS SO GOOD. Even though it was a little long, I loved it! The characters were brilliant and not shallow at all. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series and I'm totally gonna read it. I'm officially Evie's footrest btw ❤️
WOW, THIS WAS SO GOOD. Even though it was a little long, I loved it! The characters were brilliant and not shallow at all. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series and I'm totally gonna read it. I'm officially Evie's footrest btw ❤️
September 6, 2021
2.5 stars ⭐️ Geez! There are so many positive reviews on this book and I feel like one of the evils who happened to find a little fault in every book she is reading. Yeah, I think something is wrong with my readars. Certainly, seems like it's me, not the book. I was so ready to dive into the story because it has been a long time since I read a good high school romance. But I can not stand these constant dramas, probably because my eyes cannot roll any longer than necessary.
I honestly like it when a good possessive alpha version character emerges from a book, and it may be a plus point for me to rating a book a bit higher. Yeah, I'm so into the ‘you’re mine’ trope, but if a book uses it way too much, I'm not so into it.
I like both Ryne and Dacen to some extent but they failed to provide something prominent to keep my attention until the end. Ryne and Dacen dramas felt immature and irrational to me and what appeared like the exact schoolboys' version.
More importantly, Ryne’s jealousy felt childish and silly, and it surged in unwanted situations.
I think all the problems are just only for me. Most readers really enjoyed reading the story, reviewing it highly positively. So, don't deter my review not to read the book❤️
Anyway, a random thought, who is the hottie on the cover? 🤓
I honestly like it when a good possessive alpha version character emerges from a book, and it may be a plus point for me to rating a book a bit higher. Yeah, I'm so into the ‘you’re mine’ trope, but if a book uses it way too much, I'm not so into it.
I like both Ryne and Dacen to some extent but they failed to provide something prominent to keep my attention until the end. Ryne and Dacen dramas felt immature and irrational to me and what appeared like the exact schoolboys' version.
More importantly, Ryne’s jealousy felt childish and silly, and it surged in unwanted situations.
I think all the problems are just only for me. Most readers really enjoyed reading the story, reviewing it highly positively. So, don't deter my review not to read the book❤️
Anyway, a random thought, who is the hottie on the cover? 🤓
September 6, 2021
I loved this book, such a fun NA/YA read. It was cheesy, ridiculous, but so addictive. Not much happens, they keep getting together and pushing each other away, but it made me swoon. Although it’s over 400 pages, I was having so much fun, I wanted more more more. Normally by page 250 I want it to wrap up and be done.
Ryne and Dacen met at soccer camp during the summer. Something happened at camp that made them hate each other. Now they are at the same school, and the same soccer team, and they are not happy about it. But they are so attracted to each other they can’t stay away.
I loved all their friends, I loved the HS setting, and the relationship drama. I loved their families. But mostly I loved Ryne and Dacen (ok why the weird names?) together. So sexy and passionate and sweet. I loved Ryne going all alpha male and jealous. (Guilty pleasure! Don’t judge me!) I loved how sexuality is not a big deal in this story. You like boys? You like girls? You like both? It’s all good, nobody even needs to come out, no judgment, no homophobia. It’s the world I want for my children.
I’ll admit that it won’t be for everyone. It’s kinda cheesy, and not very realistic in terms of how teenagers act, and talk, and how good the sex is. 😂🤷♀️ And the whole camp thing? It’s very anticlimactic when you finally find out what happened. But I had a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to the next books in this series!
Ryne and Dacen met at soccer camp during the summer. Something happened at camp that made them hate each other. Now they are at the same school, and the same soccer team, and they are not happy about it. But they are so attracted to each other they can’t stay away.
I loved all their friends, I loved the HS setting, and the relationship drama. I loved their families. But mostly I loved Ryne and Dacen (ok why the weird names?) together. So sexy and passionate and sweet. I loved Ryne going all alpha male and jealous. (Guilty pleasure! Don’t judge me!) I loved how sexuality is not a big deal in this story. You like boys? You like girls? You like both? It’s all good, nobody even needs to come out, no judgment, no homophobia. It’s the world I want for my children.
I’ll admit that it won’t be for everyone. It’s kinda cheesy, and not very realistic in terms of how teenagers act, and talk, and how good the sex is. 😂🤷♀️ And the whole camp thing? It’s very anticlimactic when you finally find out what happened. But I had a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to the next books in this series!
December 15, 2021
5++++ stars! All the freaking stars!
I had the wonderful privilege of Beta reading Michaela Cole's debut novel (which I groveled for heheh) and I do not have the words to express how much I LOVED this book! I dropped everything because of how much I anticipated reading this book, and she not only hit it out of the park, she destroyed the park. THAT EPILOGUE! THAT FREAKING EPILOGUE! Excuse me while I go cry at my blatant singleness.
The Characters:
Dacen -
Also known as Taco Socks. Honestly hands down the most relatable and loveable character I've had the pleasure of meeting. He just has such a beautiful heart and golden, take-no-shit personality that makes me want to sign up to be his best friend immediately! I would say more about Dacen, but you'll have to meet him yourself ;)
Ryne -
Referred to as Sweet Cheeks, sometimes (but only by Dacen because he'd probably cuss anyone else out). How did I want to strangle this boy and squish his face at the same time? I don't know! He frustrated me to no end, but his protectiveness and possessiveness, sheeeeeesh!!! Basically he's hot and I want one of him. Thanks.
I need to shoutout Evan, Tyler, and Roman because their interaction with Ryne and other characters gave me life! I just about died of laughter at every comeback and joke and interaction. I am in awe of how the author gave each of them their own voice, and I'm so obsessively in love with them that I try to imagine how each one would react to real life situations I encounter. Send help.
This is a thicc book, and I am not sure how the author accomplished this, but I was intrigued throughout because the characters were just so likable that I just wanted more of every interaction; which she delivered. I can also confidently say that every scene that occurred was necessary to the progression and world building of the series, as it should be for the first book.
The fact that this is a debut novel!? How?!?! The way Michaela Cole weaved this story of love, and of the importance friendships, and of the challenges teenagers face and overcome, was truly beautiful! She has a way with words and I found myself laughing with the characters, and feeling every single pain and angst and heartbreak! Truly a work of art. I am patiently-not-so-patiently waiting for the other books in this series!
I had the wonderful privilege of Beta reading Michaela Cole's debut novel (which I groveled for heheh) and I do not have the words to express how much I LOVED this book! I dropped everything because of how much I anticipated reading this book, and she not only hit it out of the park, she destroyed the park. THAT EPILOGUE! THAT FREAKING EPILOGUE! Excuse me while I go cry at my blatant singleness.
The Characters:
Dacen -
Also known as Taco Socks. Honestly hands down the most relatable and loveable character I've had the pleasure of meeting. He just has such a beautiful heart and golden, take-no-shit personality that makes me want to sign up to be his best friend immediately! I would say more about Dacen, but you'll have to meet him yourself ;)
Ryne -
Referred to as Sweet Cheeks, sometimes (but only by Dacen because he'd probably cuss anyone else out). How did I want to strangle this boy and squish his face at the same time? I don't know! He frustrated me to no end, but his protectiveness and possessiveness, sheeeeeesh!!! Basically he's hot and I want one of him. Thanks.
I need to shoutout Evan, Tyler, and Roman because their interaction with Ryne and other characters gave me life! I just about died of laughter at every comeback and joke and interaction. I am in awe of how the author gave each of them their own voice, and I'm so obsessively in love with them that I try to imagine how each one would react to real life situations I encounter. Send help.
This is a thicc book, and I am not sure how the author accomplished this, but I was intrigued throughout because the characters were just so likable that I just wanted more of every interaction; which she delivered. I can also confidently say that every scene that occurred was necessary to the progression and world building of the series, as it should be for the first book.
The fact that this is a debut novel!? How?!?! The way Michaela Cole weaved this story of love, and of the importance friendships, and of the challenges teenagers face and overcome, was truly beautiful! She has a way with words and I found myself laughing with the characters, and feeling every single pain and angst and heartbreak! Truly a work of art. I am patiently-not-so-patiently waiting for the other books in this series!
September 7, 2021
Wish I had gone to Knoxton Falls High School and had Ryne give me dirty looks in the halls.
if you like books with:
hot broody boys
tight childhood friend groups
small towns
mine, mine, mine
intense staring
great kissing scenes
a lot of smirking
hot boys leaning against things
dark, broody boys going soft for the boy they love
then you will love this.
if you like books with:
hot broody boys
tight childhood friend groups
small towns
mine, mine, mine
intense staring
great kissing scenes
a lot of smirking
hot boys leaning against things
dark, broody boys going soft for the boy they love
then you will love this.
September 10, 2021
Angsty teen drama, but with sex!
This book has me torn. It was like 1 star in the beginning, had some 4 star moments, and just generally frustrated the hell out of me. Maybe that means it’s realistic?
The book was so bad I thought about not finishing it around 10 times before 16%. I really hated the angsty internal monologues, the weird and excessive family scenes, and the ridiculous amounts of intense looks. The author literally describes a look as “laser beams” and characters have entire conversations with a look. It was a choice…not a good one.
One of the MCs doesn’t date and he has “reasons.” Actually, his reasons turn out to be legitimate and they’re explained later on, but his actions are so awful in the beginning it was hard to like him. The other MC was actually well done. He suffers from anxiety and it was depicted well without being overwhelming for the reader. I was quite impressed and Dacen was probably the only reason I kept reading. It ended up working out because I thought the sex scenes were hot. So there’s that.
This book was mediocre, but I did finish it. If you don’t like teen angst and overly dramatic writing, then skip this one. The author does have some really well-written scenes so if you like the unnecessary angst, then this might be for you.
Oh there’s also like zero homophobia in this book! Everyone’s accepting and it’s quite nice.
This book has me torn. It was like 1 star in the beginning, had some 4 star moments, and just generally frustrated the hell out of me. Maybe that means it’s realistic?
The book was so bad I thought about not finishing it around 10 times before 16%. I really hated the angsty internal monologues, the weird and excessive family scenes, and the ridiculous amounts of intense looks. The author literally describes a look as “laser beams” and characters have entire conversations with a look. It was a choice…not a good one.
One of the MCs doesn’t date and he has “reasons.” Actually, his reasons turn out to be legitimate and they’re explained later on, but his actions are so awful in the beginning it was hard to like him. The other MC was actually well done. He suffers from anxiety and it was depicted well without being overwhelming for the reader. I was quite impressed and Dacen was probably the only reason I kept reading. It ended up working out because I thought the sex scenes were hot. So there’s that.
This book was mediocre, but I did finish it. If you don’t like teen angst and overly dramatic writing, then skip this one. The author does have some really well-written scenes so if you like the unnecessary angst, then this might be for you.
Oh there’s also like zero homophobia in this book! Everyone’s accepting and it’s quite nice.
September 2, 2021
I’m still thinking about this book ya’ll.
Dacen and Ryne are just *chefs kiss*. Michaela made me feel so many things in this book. I laughed, I teared up, my skin tingled with the tension and the voice of each character was near perfection.
I basically want to live in Knoxton Falls, ok?
I ended up buying an ebook copy of this book but I need a paperback STAT. Also I can’t wait for the rest of the Horsemen to get their HEAs.
Just read this book. For a debut it is SO AMAZINGLY GOOD!
Dacen and Ryne are just *chefs kiss*. Michaela made me feel so many things in this book. I laughed, I teared up, my skin tingled with the tension and the voice of each character was near perfection.
I basically want to live in Knoxton Falls, ok?
I ended up buying an ebook copy of this book but I need a paperback STAT. Also I can’t wait for the rest of the Horsemen to get their HEAs.
Just read this book. For a debut it is SO AMAZINGLY GOOD!
dnf-bcuz-narrator-not-4-me
July 20, 2022dnf... because of the narrator. He really didn't work for me, and I knew the story would be ruined if I continued. oh well....
September 16, 2021
Having seen mixed reviews for this, I can definitely say I am one of the people who absolutely loved this.
I felt the tension, sexual and otherwise, between Dacen and Ryne from the beginning. I was invested right away, and couldn't put this down.
This starts a few weeks before Dacen and Ryne's senior year in high school, with soccer tryouts. Dacen has recently moved from New York to a small town in Georgia with his parents, as his dad had to move there for his work.
Both Dacen and Ryne are shocked to see each other, and Ryne himself is scowl-y and glaring from the beginning.
We quickly find out that these two met a few months before during a summer soccer camp, and something happened, we just don't know why yet. We just know that Ryne is mad at Dacen from the beginning and acts like a jerk to him more often than not. Dacen is not one to back down, though, and gives back as good as he gets.
But their attraction can't be ignored for long, and soon Ryne is loosening up little bit by little bit, when they eventually kiss at a dance alone in the hallway at the school. Things develop from there, but Ryne still maintains that it's just physical, just something fun and casual, that doesn't mean anything.
Dacen is disappointed but goes along with it. But soon enough they're doing date type things and acting more like boyfriends than anything casual. But Ryne still maintains that it's casual.
See, Ryne's father died when he was 9, and his mother is a complete shit show who abandoned him and his sister not long after, and Ryne is 100% scared of opening his heart up to anyone.
But of course, in trying to protect his own heart, he just ends up hurting Dacen's in the process...and his own in the end anyway.
I loved this. Yeah, it has its angst and these boys - mostly Ryne - act like idiots, but they're 17/18 throughout this book, and they're gonna be idiots sometimes. But Ryne works through his shit eventually and apologizes and works to get back in Dacen's good graces.
The angst was worth it. As frustrating as it was while Ryne was being a moron with his head stuck up his ass, I understood his actions and motivations, and he eventually got his head of his ass anyway, and made up for it.
I loved the journey these two went on. The slow burn was absolutely delicious. Not too slow, and actually just slow enough.
Their chemistry was so good, too. Sexual and romantic. Even as he was trying to deny any romantic feelings for Dacen, we could totally see how Ryne was falling for him too.
I loved the secondary characters as well. Ryne's three friends, Tyler, Roman and Evan, who will be getting their books, were interesting and intriguing. Also the friends Dacen made as well.
The next book will be M/F, so I know I won't read it, but it looks like the last two about Tyler and Roman will be M/M so I'm definitely going to pick those up. This one was such a win for me and I can't wait to read who captures the hearts of those two, especially Roman who seems like such a tough nut to crack.
This was superb, I highly recommend it. Everything just worked for me, even the angsty parts, which felt more idiotic teenager induced angst than just straight up contrived miscommunication or what have you.
And just where these two get at the end just made it all worth it. I can't wait for me, will definitely be tuning into the third and fourths books in this series, and hopefully after that we get more from this author, who seems new and who I already really like ❤️
I felt the tension, sexual and otherwise, between Dacen and Ryne from the beginning. I was invested right away, and couldn't put this down.
This starts a few weeks before Dacen and Ryne's senior year in high school, with soccer tryouts. Dacen has recently moved from New York to a small town in Georgia with his parents, as his dad had to move there for his work.
Both Dacen and Ryne are shocked to see each other, and Ryne himself is scowl-y and glaring from the beginning.
We quickly find out that these two met a few months before during a summer soccer camp, and something happened, we just don't know why yet. We just know that Ryne is mad at Dacen from the beginning and acts like a jerk to him more often than not. Dacen is not one to back down, though, and gives back as good as he gets.
But their attraction can't be ignored for long, and soon Ryne is loosening up little bit by little bit, when they eventually kiss at a dance alone in the hallway at the school. Things develop from there, but Ryne still maintains that it's just physical, just something fun and casual, that doesn't mean anything.
Dacen is disappointed but goes along with it. But soon enough they're doing date type things and acting more like boyfriends than anything casual. But Ryne still maintains that it's casual.
See, Ryne's father died when he was 9, and his mother is a complete shit show who abandoned him and his sister not long after, and Ryne is 100% scared of opening his heart up to anyone.
But of course, in trying to protect his own heart, he just ends up hurting Dacen's in the process...and his own in the end anyway.
I loved this. Yeah, it has its angst and these boys - mostly Ryne - act like idiots, but they're 17/18 throughout this book, and they're gonna be idiots sometimes. But Ryne works through his shit eventually and apologizes and works to get back in Dacen's good graces.
The angst was worth it. As frustrating as it was while Ryne was being a moron with his head stuck up his ass, I understood his actions and motivations, and he eventually got his head of his ass anyway, and made up for it.
I loved the journey these two went on. The slow burn was absolutely delicious. Not too slow, and actually just slow enough.
Their chemistry was so good, too. Sexual and romantic. Even as he was trying to deny any romantic feelings for Dacen, we could totally see how Ryne was falling for him too.
I loved the secondary characters as well. Ryne's three friends, Tyler, Roman and Evan, who will be getting their books, were interesting and intriguing. Also the friends Dacen made as well.
The next book will be M/F, so I know I won't read it, but it looks like the last two about Tyler and Roman will be M/M so I'm definitely going to pick those up. This one was such a win for me and I can't wait to read who captures the hearts of those two, especially Roman who seems like such a tough nut to crack.
This was superb, I highly recommend it. Everything just worked for me, even the angsty parts, which felt more idiotic teenager induced angst than just straight up contrived miscommunication or what have you.
And just where these two get at the end just made it all worth it. I can't wait for me, will definitely be tuning into the third and fourths books in this series, and hopefully after that we get more from this author, who seems new and who I already really like ❤️
September 8, 2021
I’d like to keep the review PG-13, so while the first half of the book had a good slow-burn and genuine, well developed feelings, I’m not sure why the second half went down like that.
It was filled with too many scenes, that were quite short to even count. Not to mention that the book was unnecessarily long.
I liked their friends circle and cocky banters. I liked how Tyler and Evie knocked some much needed sense into Ryne’s obtuse head. Those moments were good. It sucked so bad, when they totally failed to communicate properly. Ryne messes up, Dacen flies to NY, then they plan to talk, Jeremy gets involved, shit goes down again and ugh. That was one big clusterfuck, what happened there.
The three stars are mostly for Dacen’s jokes, dimples and Ryne’s eyes. They lit up the entire book, not kidding.
It was filled with too many scenes, that were quite short to even count. Not to mention that the book was unnecessarily long.
I liked their friends circle and cocky banters. I liked how Tyler and Evie knocked some much needed sense into Ryne’s obtuse head. Those moments were good. It sucked so bad, when they totally failed to communicate properly. Ryne messes up, Dacen flies to NY, then they plan to talk, Jeremy gets involved, shit goes down again and ugh. That was one big clusterfuck, what happened there.
The three stars are mostly for Dacen’s jokes, dimples and Ryne’s eyes. They lit up the entire book, not kidding.
September 13, 2021
2★'s = it was ok. I guess. I can't bring myself to rate it lower than that since I liked the idea of the story.
I’ve been sitting on this review since I finished, now, almost a week ago. I’ve agonized over it and just couldn’t bring myself to post the 1200+ words I’ve typed without giving it some time.
This is one of those times I don’t feel like I read the same book as everyone else. There are so many five star ratings for this book and I’m struggling to give it TWO.
So, I gave it the weekend and I read a book by one of my most favorite authors as a cleanse of sorts.
It helped. I don’t feel as strongly about the book as I did the days right after finishing but, well, I still have feelings.
I mostly liked the story but I absolutely hated how it was told. So much so I Googled “when an author introduces a character with no background” because this was done throughout the entire book.
Google says: narrative exposition is the insertion of background information within a story or narrative. This information can be about the setting, characters' backstories, prior plot events, historical context, etc.
The author DID NOT DO THIS. There was NONE of this in the story. I can’t even tell you how frustrating this made the read. I don’t think I have ever read a book that referenced characters by name like we are supposed to know who they are (unless I was reading a spin-off or series out of order, which, I just don’t do unless on complete accident, but even then there is usually a couple sentence refresh) and then we aren’t ever told who they are. It was such an odd reading experience. I would have preferred an info dump to no info at all. Conversations took place about someone and that would be it, no explanation and they wouldn’t be mentioned again. Mysterious texts with no explanation. Moving with no reason why. Traveling parents. Parents who work on weekends. Dead parents. New home. Even at the very end there was a bet going on with two people who I never heard of! What? It was bad.
The author seems to like to write in secret. I think it is meant to be clever, like a setup for what is to come or to keep you hanging on or something but it WAS NOT clever and it DID NOT keep me hanging on, it kept me taking notes. Everything seemed to be a secret and instead of being intriguing it felt more like I missed something. The entire book was written like this and I could sit here and list a million examples of what I’m talking about but I’m trying to keep the rage in check. But there are a few I just can’t bring myself not to mention.
• Why did Dacen move in his senior year? There isn’t a single mention (unless I missed it) of the why he moved from New York to Georgia in his senior year of high school. It’s what gives this book the story and it was never explained.
• How do you pronounce their names? I have read a lot of books and there are times that unusual names are used for characters but there is always, from the gate, some explanation of the pronunciation. Not here. Wait, there was a comparison for Dacen, his name is supposed to sound like Jason, but I am unsure if there was for a real comparison for Ryne. I’ve never seen either of these names before so every time I read them my brain kind of stopped which totally killed the flow. I think Ryne was supposed to be pronounced Ryan but don’t quote me on that. So, to me, I tried really hard to just see the words Jason and Ryan but it was not easy.
• And, the last point I’ll bring up about this secretive writing was the fact that Dacen and Ryne knew each other. Actually just shared a room at camp for I think three weeks together. THREE WEEKS. If you were sharing a room with someone what is the first thing, after you introduced yourselves, would you ask your new roommate? Me, I’d ask “so, where are you from?”. No. These guys didn’t ask where they were from, it seems like they didn’t talk about anything for three weeks because once reunited, they were shocked! They also knew nothing about each other and acted like they didn’t just live with each other for again, THREE WEEKS! That’s all I’m going to say about that. The actual reunion was just ridiculous.
I’ll be honest, I thought for sure that if I wasn’t going to like this book it was going to be because I couldn’t relate to high schoolers, but that wasn’t the case at all. I actually like to read about high schoolers sometimes and that wasn’t an issue for me at all with this book. It was just how the story was told.
This story could have definitely used an editor and been cleaned up and probably cut in half. It is really long and so many of the words don’t really move the story forward. Believe me, I’m a huge fan of long books but only if all those words move the story along or are at least interesting.
There was so much missing time. They would be standing at their lockers looking at each other one minute on a Thursday and next thing you know it would be like Wednesday afternoon of the next week.
I think the entire series is supposed to take place in their senior year of high school so I am guessing each book is just a couple months of time but who knows.
The sex was so not high school sex. The dialogue was straight out of an erotic M/M romance with adults who have been having sex for years, not for the first time.
The small town, we all grew up together thing didn’t really feel like that.
The panic attacks, anxiety issue which is pretty serious seemed to be inserted when needed and not something that Dacen dealt with all the time. Actually, it seemed like the three times it happened, the first being in the past and not on page, all were because Ryne was a complete jerk. It really read like Dacen only experienced anxiety and panic attacks over Ryne. Not really an ok thing for someone in high school.
These guys haven’t even applied for college yet. I guess they think they can just show up? Ugh.
This was an absolute train wreck but I couldn’t stop reading it. I must be a horrible person. I shouldn’t have continued and got to a point where I knew there was no hope but I just kept going.
I’d tell you this went downhill fast but with 400+ pages it didn’t do anything fast. It went downhill one freaking page at a time.
I do think the story itself, with some help, could have been a good high school enemies (barely) to lovers story. The author had a good idea and had some ok writing skills (aside from the secret writing thing she had going on) but this just was a total fail and I swear I did not read the same book as everyone else.
Oh, oh, I have to mention this.:
He cranks up the volume and Angus Young’s epically shrill voice blasts from the speakers.
No, no, NO!
I’ve been sitting on this review since I finished, now, almost a week ago. I’ve agonized over it and just couldn’t bring myself to post the 1200+ words I’ve typed without giving it some time.
This is one of those times I don’t feel like I read the same book as everyone else. There are so many five star ratings for this book and I’m struggling to give it TWO.
So, I gave it the weekend and I read a book by one of my most favorite authors as a cleanse of sorts.
It helped. I don’t feel as strongly about the book as I did the days right after finishing but, well, I still have feelings.
I mostly liked the story but I absolutely hated how it was told. So much so I Googled “when an author introduces a character with no background” because this was done throughout the entire book.
Google says: narrative exposition is the insertion of background information within a story or narrative. This information can be about the setting, characters' backstories, prior plot events, historical context, etc.
The author DID NOT DO THIS. There was NONE of this in the story. I can’t even tell you how frustrating this made the read. I don’t think I have ever read a book that referenced characters by name like we are supposed to know who they are (unless I was reading a spin-off or series out of order, which, I just don’t do unless on complete accident, but even then there is usually a couple sentence refresh) and then we aren’t ever told who they are. It was such an odd reading experience. I would have preferred an info dump to no info at all. Conversations took place about someone and that would be it, no explanation and they wouldn’t be mentioned again. Mysterious texts with no explanation. Moving with no reason why. Traveling parents. Parents who work on weekends. Dead parents. New home. Even at the very end there was a bet going on with two people who I never heard of! What? It was bad.
The author seems to like to write in secret. I think it is meant to be clever, like a setup for what is to come or to keep you hanging on or something but it WAS NOT clever and it DID NOT keep me hanging on, it kept me taking notes. Everything seemed to be a secret and instead of being intriguing it felt more like I missed something. The entire book was written like this and I could sit here and list a million examples of what I’m talking about but I’m trying to keep the rage in check. But there are a few I just can’t bring myself not to mention.
• Why did Dacen move in his senior year? There isn’t a single mention (unless I missed it) of the why he moved from New York to Georgia in his senior year of high school. It’s what gives this book the story and it was never explained.
• How do you pronounce their names? I have read a lot of books and there are times that unusual names are used for characters but there is always, from the gate, some explanation of the pronunciation. Not here. Wait, there was a comparison for Dacen, his name is supposed to sound like Jason, but I am unsure if there was for a real comparison for Ryne. I’ve never seen either of these names before so every time I read them my brain kind of stopped which totally killed the flow. I think Ryne was supposed to be pronounced Ryan but don’t quote me on that. So, to me, I tried really hard to just see the words Jason and Ryan but it was not easy.
• And, the last point I’ll bring up about this secretive writing was the fact that Dacen and Ryne knew each other. Actually just shared a room at camp for I think three weeks together. THREE WEEKS. If you were sharing a room with someone what is the first thing, after you introduced yourselves, would you ask your new roommate? Me, I’d ask “so, where are you from?”. No. These guys didn’t ask where they were from, it seems like they didn’t talk about anything for three weeks because once reunited, they were shocked! They also knew nothing about each other and acted like they didn’t just live with each other for again, THREE WEEKS! That’s all I’m going to say about that. The actual reunion was just ridiculous.
I’ll be honest, I thought for sure that if I wasn’t going to like this book it was going to be because I couldn’t relate to high schoolers, but that wasn’t the case at all. I actually like to read about high schoolers sometimes and that wasn’t an issue for me at all with this book. It was just how the story was told.
This story could have definitely used an editor and been cleaned up and probably cut in half. It is really long and so many of the words don’t really move the story forward. Believe me, I’m a huge fan of long books but only if all those words move the story along or are at least interesting.
There was so much missing time. They would be standing at their lockers looking at each other one minute on a Thursday and next thing you know it would be like Wednesday afternoon of the next week.
I think the entire series is supposed to take place in their senior year of high school so I am guessing each book is just a couple months of time but who knows.
The sex was so not high school sex. The dialogue was straight out of an erotic M/M romance with adults who have been having sex for years, not for the first time.
The small town, we all grew up together thing didn’t really feel like that.
The panic attacks, anxiety issue which is pretty serious seemed to be inserted when needed and not something that Dacen dealt with all the time. Actually, it seemed like the three times it happened, the first being in the past and not on page, all were because Ryne was a complete jerk. It really read like Dacen only experienced anxiety and panic attacks over Ryne. Not really an ok thing for someone in high school.
These guys haven’t even applied for college yet. I guess they think they can just show up? Ugh.
This was an absolute train wreck but I couldn’t stop reading it. I must be a horrible person. I shouldn’t have continued and got to a point where I knew there was no hope but I just kept going.
I’d tell you this went downhill fast but with 400+ pages it didn’t do anything fast. It went downhill one freaking page at a time.
I do think the story itself, with some help, could have been a good high school enemies (barely) to lovers story. The author had a good idea and had some ok writing skills (aside from the secret writing thing she had going on) but this just was a total fail and I swear I did not read the same book as everyone else.
Oh, oh, I have to mention this.:
He cranks up the volume and Angus Young’s epically shrill voice blasts from the speakers.
No, no, NO!
July 22, 2022
Unlike a lot of my GR friends I really didn’t enjoy this one. I'm glad I listened to the audiobook because there is no way I would have been able to finish this if I had to read it on my own. It's 450 pages of nothing but unnecessary drama between two high school seniors prompted by a misunderstanding that took place the summer before school started. I was bored throughout most of the story but continued listening because I wanted to know the reason behind Ryne's shitty attitude toward Dacen. When I finally found out what it was it made me dislike the story even more. This was a huge waste of time for me but I can understand why others liked it. Despite it being set in a small southern town there was no homophobia whatsoever. Ryne and Dacen’s friends and family were supportive and all of the teenagers were portrayed accurately in terms of speech, action, and experience. 1.5 stars, rounded up.
September 5, 2021
This is how you write a m/m high school romance! The friendships were believable, the main characters were developed and not caricatures, and characters made mistakes without being mean. I loved it!! Also this had most of my favorite tropes into one: enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, push & pull and slow burn. I can’t wait to read more of this series!
September 1, 2021
This is one of the books that surprise you, I fell in love with this author's pen and I still can't believe that this is her debut novel, I really enjoyed this story and I love all the characters, so much that I look forward to the other books in this series eagerly, at the beginning of the plot you can feel the tension between Dacen and Ryne, they brought an ¨I don't want to want you¨vibes, love it! I appreciate the research on soccer that the author did since this is my favorite sport and I usually do not read books about this sport because I know a lot about it and I do not believe it, which in this book did not happen to me, I also highlight that Despite each one of them being mature on their own way, I felt them as teenagers, not as adults in a teenage story, totally recommended for fans of mm, rivals to lovers, sports romance, group of friends.
August 21, 2021
Holy smokes, y'all. This book was fan-fucking-tastic! The fact that it's Michaela Cole's debut novel makes it all the more amazing. Her talent is undeniable. The way she brings *all* of her characters to life and keeps the tension going throughout the story without it devolving into a drama fest is absolutely incredible.
Dacen and Ryne are so adorable and 10000% perfect for each other. Dacen is the little ray of anxious sunshine and Ryne is the grump ass with a sad backstory, but both of them are hilarious. I laughed *so* much during this book. Legit, laugh out loud kind of laughing thanks to the combination of the sarcasm, dry humor, and Southern references.
There was angst back and forth, but it wasn't the typical bully book or Southerners-hate-gays book (*no* shade to those tropes, they just weren't present here). The push-and-pull between these two had more to do with their horrible miscommunication/assumptions and timing than a huge external issue, like homophobia. Their sexual orientation was never a problem in the book and all of the supporting characters were cool with their relationship, if not a little frustrated with a certain someone who kept dragging his feet.
It is the first standalone in an interconnected series and these two definitely get a happy ending. I can't wait to see them pop up in the other books down the road. Or maybe a novella or two... *coughhintcough*
I read this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, but rest assured I already preordered the ebook and will absolutely be buying a paperback copy. As someone who's been steadily consuming dark romance and horror for the past couple of months, this was the *perfect* lighthearted MM book to clear my head and I think it would be perfect for veteran MM readers and someone looking to jump into the genre.
Dacen and Ryne are so adorable and 10000% perfect for each other. Dacen is the little ray of anxious sunshine and Ryne is the grump ass with a sad backstory, but both of them are hilarious. I laughed *so* much during this book. Legit, laugh out loud kind of laughing thanks to the combination of the sarcasm, dry humor, and Southern references.
There was angst back and forth, but it wasn't the typical bully book or Southerners-hate-gays book (*no* shade to those tropes, they just weren't present here). The push-and-pull between these two had more to do with their horrible miscommunication/assumptions and timing than a huge external issue, like homophobia. Their sexual orientation was never a problem in the book and all of the supporting characters were cool with their relationship, if not a little frustrated with a certain someone who kept dragging his feet.
It is the first standalone in an interconnected series and these two definitely get a happy ending. I can't wait to see them pop up in the other books down the road. Or maybe a novella or two... *coughhintcough*
I read this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, but rest assured I already preordered the ebook and will absolutely be buying a paperback copy. As someone who's been steadily consuming dark romance and horror for the past couple of months, this was the *perfect* lighthearted MM book to clear my head and I think it would be perfect for veteran MM readers and someone looking to jump into the genre.
September 8, 2021
About Last Knight is fantastic! I was truly blown away by this debut from Michaela Cole. I felt invested and attached to the both Dacen and Ryne from the get-go, and they are wonderfully crafted, dynamic characters. They grow as individuals and in their relationship with one another.
I cannot wait to see what's in store for the rest of the Knoxton Knights crew in the upcoming books! I fell in love with this world and its inhabitants. Sweet, steamy, funny, and well-written. You can't go wrong with this one.
I cannot wait to see what's in store for the rest of the Knoxton Knights crew in the upcoming books! I fell in love with this world and its inhabitants. Sweet, steamy, funny, and well-written. You can't go wrong with this one.
July 10, 2022
This book has all of the things I adore in a romance novel. Even better all of the things were done so well!
Growly, possessive and jealous but simultaneously ignoring and denying any kind of feelings. And once feelings are admitted being just the sweetest, schmoopiest guy ever. *sigh* SO GOOD!
I am super ready for the rest of this series.
Growly, possessive and jealous but simultaneously ignoring and denying any kind of feelings. And once feelings are admitted being just the sweetest, schmoopiest guy ever. *sigh* SO GOOD!
I am super ready for the rest of this series.
dnf
September 7, 2021DNF @ 18% because all the raving reviews does not always make a great read for ME, despite the great reviews out there. 🤷♀️
August 22, 2021
Ok I think we know by now that I’m a massive MM fan and am always looking for new books! This book just absolutely hit the spot for me! I’d be inclined to say it was more of a frenemies to lovers as I don’t truly feel like Ryne & Deacon were ever real enemies despite Ryne’s intentions 😂
I really enjoyed the story line and how the boys came to meet, they both had issues to work through but in completely different ways and I loved how this story touched on mental health and anxiety. How it described panic attacks was heartbreaking and you just wanted to cuddle Deacon.
Deacon was an absolute bundle of joy, funny, sweet and so loveable and not your typical poster boy for anxiety but that’s why I loved how this story was told, it showed that anyone can suffer despite how they appear on the outside. He was such a lovely character, he was so accepting and loving towards Ryne even when Ryne didn’t perhaps deserve it and was pushing him away.
And Ryne.. god he was such an asshole at times but he was so obviously broken and hurt from the feelings of abandonment that he had. He was a joy to read by the end of the book and his growth throughout the story was phenomenal. He ended up being one of my favourite book characters I’ve read.
I adored their relationship and the push and pull between them, the side characters in this also made the story as good as it was. All their friends were hilarious and I loved how they all rooted for their relationship to work!
I’m in absolute shock that this was Michaela’s debut novel, it was so well written! It was honestly as good, if not better, than some well established authors I’ve read. If you’re a fan of MM I highly highly recommend!
I really enjoyed the story line and how the boys came to meet, they both had issues to work through but in completely different ways and I loved how this story touched on mental health and anxiety. How it described panic attacks was heartbreaking and you just wanted to cuddle Deacon.
Deacon was an absolute bundle of joy, funny, sweet and so loveable and not your typical poster boy for anxiety but that’s why I loved how this story was told, it showed that anyone can suffer despite how they appear on the outside. He was such a lovely character, he was so accepting and loving towards Ryne even when Ryne didn’t perhaps deserve it and was pushing him away.
And Ryne.. god he was such an asshole at times but he was so obviously broken and hurt from the feelings of abandonment that he had. He was a joy to read by the end of the book and his growth throughout the story was phenomenal. He ended up being one of my favourite book characters I’ve read.
I adored their relationship and the push and pull between them, the side characters in this also made the story as good as it was. All their friends were hilarious and I loved how they all rooted for their relationship to work!
I’m in absolute shock that this was Michaela’s debut novel, it was so well written! It was honestly as good, if not better, than some well established authors I’ve read. If you’re a fan of MM I highly highly recommend!
November 3, 2024
This book had NO BUSINESS being 450 pages long.
This was pure torture. The storytelling was so bad.
The book reads like a very bad highschool M/F drama, to be honest with you. The author is putting in dialogues that aren't really believable for 2 high school senior guys, they don't get close until you're 200 pages in, then it's one time frotting or something and another almost 100 pages pass, then it's some oral and at the very end it's sex - very little intimacy and one-on-one time, but the rest of those pages were FILLED with unnecessary crap.
🟣 Soccer players - high school seniors
🟡 Age : 17-18
🟢 What sexuality? Who knows? Nothing is mentioned, this is the South and everyone is completely accepting of these guys being bi or gay, the topic of sexuality isn't mentioned at all
🔵 Stilted, awkward dialogues
🟡 Side characters obnoxious
🌶️ Very little smut, but descriptive; both vers
The main characters Ryne and Dacen spent the majority of the book just dancing around each other.
You get the whole "What happened in summer soccer camp" plot and it's dragged on and on, you have to read the majority of the book to get that they actually know each other, they liked each other, some miscommunication happened and they fell apart. Why isn't this in the prologue??
They're so weird, I can't even. The author takes so much of page time to describe how the other is looking, glaring, gritting their teeth, seething, it's like
and then they step up their game where they're just licking their fucking lips all the damn time, weird, who does that? Like out of the blue all the damn time watching at this
and you get to read about 300 pages of it. Lucky you. Lucky us.
The most pathetic thing ever was Dacen trying to get Ryne to admit he liked him. He was like -- say you like me, come on, admit it, but you like me right, you like me???
And then when the guy didn't say anything, Dacen was pouting and complaining about Ryne not opening up, I mean, just do a M/F tragedy and call it a day!
“Am I that hideous, Ryne?”
“But what you’re really saying is you like me, Ryne, am I right?”
“Admit that you like- like me.”
“I know you like me, Ryne. Even if you won’t explicitly come out and say it.”
“The ugly shit coming from your mouth and the words screaming silently in your eyes are at complete odds with each other. Tell me the truth, Ryne.”
Don't even get me started on the weird ass flirting. Again with pages long glaring and gritting teeth and biting their lips while being absolutely not capable of even saying hi? What is this shit. You don't even get to know why they're hostile for half of the book and when you do, you're thinking ok now it's gonna happen, but no, it's another 200 pages of this
😆😆😆 It was awful!
The author really did some describing of the whole thing here, it was almost comical, completely unappetizing
"Ryne’s face stretches into a wide smirk, only there’s no humor behind it whatsoever. His sharp gaze scans Jeremy top to bottom and the smirk deepens into a grin. When his eyes narrow, he looks a little bit like the Joker."
"When he reaches for my arm again, I yank it away and shake my head stiffly. His nostrils flare but his eyes call to me. I fix him with a glare, but he doesn’t wither."
"He’s camouflaged behind an attitude that’s as likely to be apathetic and dismissive as it is to go from zero to a hundred on the anger scale in point two seconds."
What the hell are you even saying?? These are two 17 year old guys, they just wanna fuck, not the 450 pages of literal dissecting every move they make.
These guys live in a small southern town and just can't seem to talk like even for just a hook-up, forget it, it's not happening. Even when they're in close proximity it doesn't happen. The height of their romance is
“He’s right, Dacen. He helps you chill, and you make him less robot and more human.”
And then the bonus chapter gives you an even crazier story where they went to different colleges and they have a long distance relationship even though the college Dacen goes to is half an hour away from home and has Ryne's program also! Why did Ryne have to move 4 hours away, why not just go to the same college in the first place? Ryne transfers after a year and a half and you're thinking ... WHY? They literally could've gone to the. same. damn. college. from. the. start.
This was just a mess, a complete mess, hardly digestible, 450 pages of yapping that could've fared better as a M/F book. You're not reading a gay romance, that's for sure.
"“Becker. Hey.” I lift my chin in his direction in that annoying way guys do."
In that annoying way guys do? What?
I feel so weird after reading this book, I can't even explain. Where did the author find these guys? These dialogues?
All of it, even the side characters suck.
January 23, 2022
I read the book a couple of weeks ago. Already have forgotten what this book is about and how I felt about it. So, 3 stars, I guess?
One thing I remember though...The book was really funny. Enjoyed the humor and banter.
One thing I remember though...The book was really funny. Enjoyed the humor and banter.
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