Fox

by Sasha Avice

Working as a dish pig and selling drugs on the side, Fox is just trying to survive the tension at home while not looking too closely at himself and his lack of ambition.

Then he meets Taylor. Cool, hot, and did he mention, the cousin of the head of a bikie gang? Paired together to do drug runs, Fox intends to keep his guard up. But Taylor talks to him and listens to him. Taylor sees him, and Fox finds himself looking back with a lot more interest than a straight boy should have.

But Taylor is an enigma with a complicated debt, and Fox has family drama that drags him back in. Together, they must weigh the desire to escape against the price of being free.

A gritty urban gay romance with pining, humour, and first times.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT

244 pages, ebook

First published September 8, 2021

Reviews

[Lady Macbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
Another wonderful story form Sasha Avice, I really love her books.

Fox is a pure soul, he's got an aura of innocence around him, there's nothing artificial or fake, he's spontaneous, bashful and so sweet. Despite his side job, despite all the ugliness that surrounds him, he's still a wonderful young man. He doesn't even take advantage of his size to keep his mother away, on the contrary, he's the subject of her harrassment.

Taylor is confident, reserved, he knows very well how to handle the business, without being swallowed up by it. He's immediately drawn to Fox and he acts all cute and protective with him.

They spend a lot of time together doing drug runs and soon they start feeling comfortable around each other; finally Fox has someone who can listen to him without judging, someone who really gets him. Their strong connection helps Fox to understand his own sexuality: I loved how he didn't fight it, how he embraced that side of himself, how he was adorable and timid and all fluttering on the phone with Taylor, when he came out to him (that phone call is one of the most beautiful and romantic moment ever written!).

I really really wish the author would have written an epilogue far in the future to let us know more about them. I'm not going to stop pestering her for a bonus scene.

Highly recommended

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, but rounding up because I really like Sasha Avice's writing style. This is another novel set in the 90's criminal underworld of Australia. Our protagonist is an aimless young man (Fox) doing odd jobs for a biker gang. Fox is thoughtful and sensitive, he lives with his abusive alcoholic mother and older siblings and just seems to drift along the currents of his life. Then he gets partnered with Taylor, cousin of the gang leader, and the two of them run drugs together while developing a growing attraction. The romance is actually just really normal and sweet, no drama, just two young men falling in love. There's no real plot, we just follow the two of them around, doing stuff. We get some action towards the end, some shocking event that derails the two of them a bit, but things work out in the end. I think what I liked most about this book, and this author, is that the people feel like real people. It's not over the top, not a soap opera. It's just like normal people doing shit, and that's pretty refreshing after how dramatic some romance can be.

[❥ Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was gritty and so, so sweet 💕 Fox was quiet and clumsy and just adorable! I loved how he didn’t realize Taylor was taking him out on dates 😂

The pacing was kind of slow & easy but I really enjoyed the sweetness of “first love” and Fox’s siblings were a hoot. There was just enough grit to tamper the sweetness and a twist toward the end that put the boys in a bit of a predicament.

I wasn’t quite ready for this one to end and I would have loved an epilogue to see them still happy in the future 🖤

[TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ✨

Hmmm I don’t know what to say about this book. It was a really moving story, and the writing style felt like it really gave a meaningful look into the characters’ thoughts and feelings. The fact that it takes place in England in the 90s meant some of the slang made it challenging to understand at times, but I shan’t fault the book for that. I guess the only thing I have to criticize is that the HEA wasn’t really happy enough for me. It felt a little more like HFN than HEA, but I’m going to fill in the rest in my head so it doesn’t drive my crazy. Definitely not a feel-good book, but very good nonetheless.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

First reread in 2024, Fox is still one of my favourite characters ever.
Living in Perth around the same time and at a similar age as the main characters and discovering my own LGBTQ self at that time I am extremely impressed by the accuracy of so many aspects - locations, language, etc. I haven't tried to write a review before but this book is certainly worth attempting one. Highly recommend.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 star read. It kept me entertained and was a quick read. This author had a different style: short sentences, mostly short paragraphs, unfinished dialogue when characters speak, but I actually enjoy that. It’s like they know each other well enough to know what’s being said. This story wasn’t deep and most of it was the MCs spending time with one another but I liked it. I wanted more from the end but then again, I sort of liked the way it ended. I’d like to make up my own HEA for them. Taylor was very sweet to Fox and it was clear Fox needed that in his life. Fox’s siblings were good side characters and I’m glad they looked out for him, especially his brother. Books are set in Australia and I love that. I will continue to read and seek out books from this author.

[MedievalMinstrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Loved it. It has one of the best “get together” scenes I’ve read. I don’t know how to explain but it felt so real, nothing too dramatic but tender and clumsy and funny. Fox, despite his circumstances, is so sweet and loving. He has some insecurities so I think that’s why I love the contrast with Taylor. Taylor is a man sure of himself but he’s not arrogant. They have a perfect chemistry. I love their dialogues. As for the secondary characters, they give depth to the story. I see too often stories where the secondary characters are one dimensional but not here. I liked them. Great story! It pulled my heart strings. I wanted to hug Fox so bad!

[Lyn Tucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love and drugs

I liked this book but the first 1/3 of it was so slow I almost gave up and quit reading. Also, there were a lot of words and phrases probably used in Australia that I had no clue as to their meaning. The main character, Fox, falls for Taylor, a guy he helps to sell drugs with. Because of his relationship with Fox, Taylor decides to quit the business that is run by his cousin Tony. A shooting occurs and Taylor has to go on the run, leaving Fox behind. After many months Fox decides to try to find Taylor. The last 2/3 of the book did become more interesting and I was disappointed that there was not another book to follow up this one.

[Lizva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as the author’s writing really works for me. Still, this series is less appealing to me overall than her contested possession series because of the biker gang theme. Luckily, the biker gang is not over the top, it mostly serves to ambient the characters in a world where they are scrambling to make their way. I didn’t quite understand why Fox was living with his mother and not with his father, though. I do really like the showing not telling, slice of life style of these books. So three stars due to not totally clear family situation and biker gang setting, but besides that the book was well done and held my interest, leaving me wanting more from this author.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very sweet - but these boys deserve it. I also liked how dealing is portrayed as unglamorous, alternately boring and then extremely stressful. It was a bit bleak at times, and so much more compelling and real than the wild mafia drama you so often get in fiction. I mean the ending was a bit extreme, but otherwise reminded me of my ex’s stories about growing up dirt poor in Adelaide in the 90s/2000s, with the casual meth use and petty crime... I am curious about the authors background

[Daje1968 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Very sweet, low key book. I wouldn’t say it was entirely gay awakening, because Fox suspected he was gay for a while but wasn’t ready to face it. But it was a beautiful awakening nonetheless.

I feel like an obnoxious American for saying this, but it was very Australia specific which was kind of nice but took away from the flow a bit. The number of times I asked ChatGPT things like “what is a dish pig” “what does barracked for Collingwood mean” “what are twisties” etc etc. i

[Kristen Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this! Sweet and funny and real - give it a go.

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drugs and biker gangs - not really my ideal, but writing and character development so good, I can’t help but love it. Saving grace is the redemption hea arc. I do love her stuff.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am quite enjoying this author and while there are parts of this book I struggled with, overall I really enjoyed it.

[GIR_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I would like this story-but I did. Fox is adorable and he always makes me feel like a cat and want to rub his belly (or let Taylor rub his belly)

[Miss Pokerface · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a surprise. I did not think i’d love it so much. I love both the mmcs. I wish the author gave us an epilogue with Taylor’s pov. Their reunion also was so short man.

[Vita · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Hey, Fox?”
“Yeah?”
“Wanna go out with me?”
“Yes,” Fox said, no hesitation, just his blush and zero chill.