This I Promise You

Noahverse #4

by Jordon Greene, Kalob Dàniel

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE meets A WALK TO REMEMBER in this gritty tale of finding real love and learning to overcome in the face of adversity.

— — — — —

Easton Belle is living his college dream: living with his best friend, underage drinking, working part-time at a local pet kennel, and running a successful social media campaign to keep a hardline theist out of Congress. However, that dream never included his horrid choice in men causing an unhealthy need to be wanted and his multiple sclerosis with its unpredictable symptoms. He also never expected to accidentally end up at a frat party that leads to a crazy drunk call and maybe the best days of his life. As long as this guy doesn’t find out about his illness, maybe it’ll be different this time.

Paul Acre doesn’t know what his dream is. All he’s ever really wanted was to get as far away from Kansas City as possible. So he did. But running away from the demons of his past doesn’t stop them from catching up to him when his new roommate, Huxley, and the annoying AF man-child who smells like spicy citrus challenge his entire perception on life. Then he gets a random call at 2 am from a number he doesn’t know, and a drunk voice he recognizes demands a knight in shining armor come to his rescue. But can he trust his thoughts and feelings? After all, trust is a weakness that’s hurt him far too many times.

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TW: Mention of Rape/Sexual Assault, Mention of Abuse to a Minor, Mental Health, Chronic Illness, Underage Drinking, Adult Content

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, Adult, Enemies To Lovers, M M Romance

418 pages, Hardcover

First published November 8, 2022

About the author

Jordon Greene is an award-winning author and software engineer raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. His work ranges from tense horror thrillers to cute romance stories, however, Jordon's heart is most invested in writing young adult romance stories where both young and young-at-heart readers alike can feel the acceptance and worth they so deserve. Since his debut young adult novel in 2019, Jordon's stories have reached young readers with messages of diversity, found family, and hope while also handling difficult issues.

An alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a B.S. in Political Science, Jordon works professionally as a senior software engineer. When he isn't writing or at work you can usually find Jordon at his favorite little coffee shop with his found family, cuddling with his little demon spawns (aka cats), or posting online about his latest Asian-pop music or BL drama obsession. Jordon lives in Kannapolis, NC with his children Genji and Freyr (aka the aforementioned demon spawn).

Jordon is the award-winning author of EVERY WORD YOU NEVER SAID and A MARK ON MY SOUL.

Reviews

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

OUT NOW!
Take a look at this stunning cover. At those gorgeous guys. I was excited and anxious when I started reading the book; I have been obsessed with the cover since its reveal and wanted to love the story badly. I think I’ve read the first sentence like a hundred times, too eager and too anxious to concentrate. Then I started rushing through the pages. The story’s tone is quite frantic at first (especially Paul’s POV), and my anxiousness and Paul’s franticness made my heart thud in my throat. After a few chapters, I told myself to take a deep breath and start all over again. So I did.

When Easton and Paul meet, they’re both huge jerks. They act on what they believe they see or hear and immediately hate each other. I furrowed my brows and shook my head. The cover was so beautiful, but those guys? I wasn’t sure if I’d ever like them. But just like in real life, nothing is black and white, and I actually like book characters with flaws. Because we all have them, right? Easton and Paul both have secrets and carry burdens inside them. This I Promise You covers pretty heavy themes, and I strongly suggest reading the trigger warnings in the synopsis if you get triggered easily.
 
At first, I was a little hesitant. Did I like the book because I wanted to like it, or did I really like it? Slowly, my doubts disappeared, and I got more and more invested in Easton’s and Paul’s story. I laughed when they met again because of a goose and got a lump in my throat reading Paul’s thoughts on love. Despite its heavy themes, This I Promise You is an easy and fast read, and I flew through the pages, rooting for those guys so much. I loved the story the most after Easton and Paul found out they liked each other. Feathers in my belly fluttered every time they took care of each other. So, so sweet!
 
Thank you, Jordon and Kalob, for letting me read This I Promise You early! And I loved the dedication, by the way! For those of you who don’t know Jordon Greene and Kalob Dàniel yet, they both also write queer YA stories. So if you love YA as well, check out their profiles! And if you’ve read Jordon’s YA books you’ll meet old acquaintances!

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[Meags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Firstly, this book had me bursting into song every time I saw the title. Needless to say, there’s been a resurgence of love in my heart for JC Chasez—I was here for his voice then and I’m still here for it now! (If this makes no sense to you, move along, but if it does make sense, enthusiastic HIGH FIVES to you, good people of the nineties!).

Secondly, I was aware this new adult MM romance was going to have a heavier, more adult tone to it then the previous books in the series, but I’ll admit I was still bowled over by some of the language and trigger themes that filled these pages. This isn’t a negative for me, I prefer more adult content, but readership definitely needs to be aware if they’re coming at this from a fandom of YA/non-explicit preferences.

This had one of the most intense, in-your-face first meets I’ve read in a romance novel in ages. In true enemies-to-lovers style, MCs Paul and Easton did NOT get off to a good start. At first, I was a bit put off by their hostility towards each other, especially when it came to Paul’s quick-to-anger hair trigger that made him come across as unhinged for a time there.

But, as with all good stories, there was a reason Paul had the issues he had and why he subsequently behaved the way he did towards people he perceived as a threat. The way these co-authors slowly unveiled the details of Paul’s traumatic past gave deeper meaning to his behaviour. It didn’t excuse his attitude or verbal lashings, but it sure did explain it. And the fact the authors didn’t shy away from the themes they had here was commendable, particularly in terms of how they shed positive light and importance on young people seeking mental health support when they desperately need it, as Paul was shown doing here.

His relationship with Easton had it’s ups and downs, no doubt, but as they began to open up and develop trust together, it was easy to see how they went from caustic acquaintances to friends and lovers.

The support cast were solid, too, with some fun crossover appearances from the larger Noahverse that will surely have fans of the series in a flutter. The stand out secondary character here though was Paul’s new roommate and self-proclaimed new bestie Huxley. She was a powerhouse character, providing unwavering support to Paul throughout and never shying away from the hard topics or in giving her opinion, even when it wasn’t asked for. I honestly don’t think this story or the romance would have worked the same way without her presence and positivity.

Mostly, I’ll be remembering this one for its emotional gut punch and the cry-fest I had around the halfway mark, which took me emotionally by surprise and definitely garnered my higher praise.

[Sonja__Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much Jordon and Kalob for letting me have an ARC in exchange for an honest review! While This book didn’t quite hit the spot for me, I really recommend reading both authors’ other works!

At 30% of the way I had to DNF and it makes me feel really bad that I did. I think part of it because I couldn’t vibe with some of the characters and the other reasons are below. So let’s get into what I liked and what I didn’t like.

1. I really disliked the dynamic between Paul and Easton. While I am a sucker for everything enemies to lovers, and so I was super excited to read this book, the enemies dynamic between P and E seemed really forced. Like every step of the way they would seem to forget that they hated each other, and for some reason one of them would accuse the other of being a douche. And then they would just get really heated and blow up on each other. To me that felt really artificial.

2. I really really could not get behind Paul’s character. I understand that he has some deep seeded issues and there’s a reason behind why Paul acts the way that he does. And I am sure that had I continued reading, his reasons would come to light and part of his arc as a character would be real growth. But, 30% of the way in and he hasn’t done anything to address any of his issues. I found his thought processes and actions to lack consistency and I really didn’t like that he was just insufferable.

3. The usage of the word “fuck”. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t give a shit if there’s swearing in a book I’m reading. I swear all the time. I myself, am guilty of overusing the word “fuck”. But the extent to which it was used, especially in Paul’s chapters bothered me to no end. It was used so much that a good 65% of the time it made no sense and didn’t sound good.

Now, what did I like?

1. So I really did like Easton. I thought he was funny and relatable. I liked the way his character was written—mostly. I also really like that he came from a supportive family and that he had an active connection with his father. Oftentimes in queer stories that familial connection is lacking, especially with characters that have backgrounds like Easton’s—country and southern.

2. I loved the sheer amount of different kind of representation that I saw. Most, if not all of the major characters had some sort of queer identity. On top of that a lot of different health issues were represented. Be that Huxley’s BPII diagnosis, her ADHD, Easton’s MS, and whatever Paul has going on(didn’t make it far enough in the book to see). I think that rep like this in books is super important because most often queer stories are told about two white men who lack problems. So the fact that there was a more diverse cast of characters really made me happy.

3. I liked the way that this book approached intimacy and sex when it came to queer college students. It emphasized the importance of safe sexual practices as well as shining a light on queer subcultures that straight people would probably not know about.

4. I really really liked that it approached serious issues with respect.

5. I liked that this book blended different elements of the authors’ lives. I thought that that was really cool. I personally find it really interesting when authors create worlds that bleed of their personal experiences, I think it makes the book that much more important.

[Maisha Farzana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neither bad nor good. It was pretty unremarkable. The plotline was really interesting but I didn't like how it was executed. The characters were so unlikable and annoying. Meh...

[Will · Rating 2 out of 5]

Early copy received in exchange for an honest review.

I always feel a little awkward reviewing an ARC under 4 stars...

(EDIT: thinking on this some more, I've revised from a 3 to a 2 - which Goodreads says means "it was okay". I think that better fits my feelings on this book. The longer I've had to sit with it, the more some of the issues stand out to me.)

This is a super quick read that balances some heavy topics with first love and found family. It's very therapy-positive, which I definitely liked! The chapters are quick and zippy. It definitely has a very contemporary feel - there are a lot of mentions of things like Schitt's Creek and The Song of Achilles and Olivia Rodrigo.

The Meeting
I can deal with a little miscommunication, I can deal with hate to love, I can deal with a character that initially comes across as an asshole but actually has a heart of gold. But for those tropes to land properly, they need to be rooted in something emotionally strong enough; I didn't see it here. The initial fight that sparks Paul and Easton's feud is a bizarrely minimal interaction that escalates quickly and illogically. Easton, who sort of instigates it, even thinks that it's strange that he's acting that way; similarly, Paul later thinks about how shocked he is that he was almost physically violent because he's never been that way before (something that is sort of dropped later, when he threatens to get physically violent with other characters, but that's not the point). They literally hate each other because of a tiny miscommunication that they each blow entirely out of proportion, but they (and ALL of their friends) maintain that it was a Bad Scenario. Then, their follow up interaction is the same sort of thing. A small inconvenience, they refuse to be normal about it, suddenly the other person is the worst.

And that probably does work for some people! But it's not clear that there's a reason why either of them are acting this way. It's blown so out of proportion that it doesn't feel grounded, and then it takes so little for them to start liking each other that it feels a little weird to have spent so much time on it in the first place.

Ultimately, starting them off with this fight in which they're both wrong made it hard to like either of them. Because they're both really mean!

The Dialogue
I don't have a ton to say here really. Most of it was more or less fine other than Paul's weird cursing (see below), but some of it also just read as pretty stilted and awkward. There are people speaking in chatspeak next to people giving monologues about the nature of time and humanity. The character voices aren't super consistent - with the exception of a tattoo artist toward the end who was a written in accent that was, uhh, perhaps inadvisable? Other than her, the most recognizable would probably be Paul, because every line is needlessly profane and angry, even when he's thinking about how he's being nice.

It was very weird switching from people speaking in chatspeak and then a paragraph later have someone trying to make a deep statement in a monologue full of asyndeton, but that's more of a me thing, I think.

The Cursing
Paul curses a LOT. Which, on its own, wouldn't bother me. That's a character choice, and not an outrageous one. People curse, it's not some huge red flag. What bothered me about it was 1) how aggressive he always is with it (see above); and 2) how completely bizarre a lot of the cursing gets, especially when Paul gets angry. Some really eye-rollingly strange compound curses that feel meant to be shocking or funny, but mostly just feel weird and unrealistic. He uses the words "shithell" and "cumdumpster" in the middle of a curse-string insult to a worker at one point and just...it feels like it's trying a little too hard. (EDIT: the authors did send out an email saying that some of the cursing has been edited out due to feedback, so this might not be an issue anymore.)

The Consistency
There are some confusing moments where something will be introduced, then refuted a few pages/paragraphs later (mostly in Paul's sections). For example, in his introduction Paul complains about the leasing office worker asking him questions unrelated to his apartment search, but when we actually are pulled into the scene she's explicitly asking about his relationship with his parents because he can't afford the apartment on his own and with no job. He also later thinks about how he wishes he'd been born into a "family with means", then recounts how he never had to work (and was in fact forbidden from it) and all of the kids were given allowances that covered not only their living expenses, but also allowed him to save up enough money to buy a car, transfer schools, move cross-country, and not have to get a job for several weeks. Little things, but moments that are incongruous and kind of confusing.

The Time of It All
I hesitate to call things pretentious, because it became such a review buzzword in the John Green era that it sort of lost its meaning (and because I like the John Green books, so pot and kettle and all that). But...a lot of Paul's "deep" moments came across very pretentious. The many conversations, monologues, and (long) poems about capital-T Time just...did not land for me. And all of the characters telling Paul that he's so self-aware and deep and he's a "thinker" just made those sections stand out more to me.

There's a moment where Huxley, Paul's roommate, says that time is a construct and that people should go at their own pace. Which is all well and good, but also felt like a justification for how fast the main relationship moves. I know this is a romance but these boys bust out major emotions like me in middle school.

The Spoiler
There is a major plot moment at the end of the book that drove me absolutely crazy because of how the narrative treats blame regarding it, and I can't not mention it but it is a spoiler so it's going under a read more.
I thought the handling of Paul's backstory was handled pretty well, all things considered. He gets the support he needs, everyone gives him time and space, he goes to therapy, he works through some things. That's all good.
However. When Easton has his seizure at Medieval Times, the fallout is completely bizarre. Paul goes on a rampage, screaming and cursing and just generally reacting. But then he starts going off about how Easton LIED to him by not disclosing his MS, how Paul had been upfront about his past so Easton owed this disclosure to him. Which...no?? Paul only shared because something specific happened and he chose to share. If anything, this is an equivalent situation, but Paul acts like this is a Betrayal. This is pushed back on once, but ultimately becomes a major driving factor for the rest of the plot. Paul's therapist backs up his feelings, and Easton gets 100% onboard with the idea that he is responsible for the break up and doesn't deserve Paul because he...didn't tell the guy he's known for a few weeks about a medical condition. Which is his personal choice! So, yeah, really hated that.

Oh! And the title/resolution to the Third Act Break-Up makes no sense. The song referenced is not important to their relationship. Showing up at your ex's door and singing an entire song start to finish as an apology is supposed to be a rom-com move, I think? But it kind of just feels bizarre. And then the book gets named after it. It isn't a bad title, to be fair.

[Gee Rothvoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourth in the Noahverse collection, and first within said series to have been penned in collaboration with another author, Jordon Greene and Kalob Dàniel's "This I Promise You" is a New Adult romance starring Paul and Easton, two young men whose love story is - at the very least - unlikely. When Paul and Easton meet, it's hatred at first sight; Easton can't believe that Paul would hit on his roommate when he just said that he's taken, whereas Paul doesn't understand why this entitled brat is giving him hell for venturing out of his comfort zone to try and make a new friend. Neither of them wants to admit the obvious; that they might've gotten a very wrong first impression. Thankfully, Paul's best friend Huxley isn't about to put up with such a silly misunderstanding ruining what promised to be an otherwise fantastic friendship, and the more she - and other circumstances - pits Paul and Easton together, the more they start to realise how they might be far more compatible than they seem.

If you've read any of Jordon Greene's Noahverse books, you already know that you can expect a cute, fluffy gay romance with a pinch of dramatic angst to keep things interesting. In my opinion, Paul and Easton are the best couple in the whole series thus far (my sincere apologies to Jacob and Skylar, oops), since they share a really beautiful story that might as well have been pitched as "'Pride and Prejudice' meets 'A Walk To Remember', and goes gay". Indeed, watching both boys slowly realise how wrong their first impression of each other was felt quite Austenian, and the way their love story went moved me as much as the aforementioned Nicholas Sparks book. There was beauty in the way they slowly overcame their prejudices, and then their difficulties, together. (If anyone's ever gone through a similar journey with their partner, I'm advising them to get a plus-sized box of Kleenex, since this will make them CRY like a BABY)

Both Paul and Easton were great characters. I really loved how Paul, below his tough guy facade and his gazillion uses for the word "fuck", was a sweet and caring soul, and how being around Easton made him realise that maybe he wanted to show up with his authentic self instead of keeping at pushing everyone away. He might've been my favourite character by far, since I feel like he also provided really nuanced representation in terms of CSA and complex trauma. On the other hand, Easton was a candid, lovely guy, whose chapters read exactly the way first love feels. I got butterflies in my stomach from the way he felt about Paul; which, in any romance, is a sign that you're reading good stuff. Jordon Greene's stories always make me feel really jittery in a vicariously-in-love kind of way, but this one definitely stood out as a particularly well-crafted one at that. Paul and Easton's chemistry was off the charts, as were their feelings for each other, and I teared up more than once at their love and devotion for each other.

The only character that rubbed me the wrong way, slightly, was Huxley. Once we learn what's going on with her, some of her actions make more sense, but I still felt like she was a bit too stereotyped considering what her diagnoses were. It got a lot better towards the end, but I still would've appreciated less attempts at highlighting what everyone thinks these and those symptoms look like, and a slower introduction to why she's the way she is (rather than a really long, info-dumping-ish conversation with Paul). Still, this was a personal opinion, and I don't share most of Huxley's experience - perhaps readers who do will be able to see themselves reflected in her, and I definitely don't want to speak over them. Besides, she became a much more sensible and kind character after a couple of chapters, and I ended up wanting to French-kiss her for saving Easton and Paul's in-denial asses.

As is customary of Greene's books by this point, we got a couple of crossovers (the main one being how Aiden, main character of 'Watching For Comets', is Easton's roommate and best friend), which were so very well done! Sometimes authors will do crossovers that feel really forced, or unnecessary, but every single one that happened here felt only natural, and like a really affectionate wink at Jordon's previous books. I could still tell that there was a slight change, since this book is NA instead of YA like the previous ones, and I think that Kalob Dàniel's own quill gave the book's prose a really unique flavour. I could tell that his and Jordon's styles meshed really well, since the story flowed freely and was really well-written.

In conclusion, "This I Promise You" was a really beautiful story about two lost souls finding a home in each other's arms, and I would highly recommend it as a 2022 Must Read for anyone who enjoys queer stories, romance, and angst with a happy ending. Can't wait for the next Noahverse story!

[Jason Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of the Noahverse books. I have loved every single one of them, and this was no exception. While nothing will ever be able to top A Mark On My Soul -- which will forever be special to me -- This I Promise You comes in second.

Here’s what I loved.

I loved Easton. He was sensitive, he was human, he was strong, and he was adorable. I was so intrigued by the plot line of him starting to understand his relationship with sex and intimacy and his body / whom he shared it with / why. We got to watch him grow and begin to love himself. We got to watch him break the cycle of self-loathing and being ashamed of having MS. Having struggled with neurological issues myself, Easton was very, very special to me. I loved seeing this representation in a queer book. Also, Alexa -- play "cowboy like me" by Taylor Swift.

I loved Paul. Initially, he was obviously perceived as unnecessarily angry, overly reactive, and difficult to be around. And that was the point. Watching Paul’s journey as he learned how to live with the deep-rooted and complex trauma that had controlled his life was something so powerful and moving that it brought me to tears. When we found out just how terrible the events he went through were, I cried. I cried as Paul had a panic attack and trauma response because it broke my heart. I cried as Easton and Huxley sat with Paul as he came down from that panic attack because it put my heart back together. We got to watch Paul break the cycle of the power that trauma has over humans and begin to heal. I understood WHY Paul was angry. His character arc was beautiful because he learned how to live with and control that anger and start to accept the fact that he was worthy of love.

The Noahverse is filled with characters that I absolutely love. Huxley? Queen. Aidan? I would die for him. Tyler, Jacob, Skylar, Noah, and all our returning supporting cast? I was so beyond happy to see all of them together on the same pages in the same book.

Overall, this book did a lot of great things. It explored painful, difficult topics. But it also addressed, debunked, and destigmatized those topics.

A few things I want to make a note of that I have seen in some reviews. I don’t think some people have a great grasp around the fact that trauma survivors can develop severe anger issues that cut to the bone. Swearing is something that can manifest in anger. And while it may be ~ too much ~ for some people, the continued use of the word "fuck" really didn’t bother me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I see some attacks on Paul’s character overall, especially his fallout with Easton. My understanding is this – Paul felt betrayed because he opened himself up completely about his past traumas and felt that something huge was kept from him by Easton. I agree that it was Easton’s story to tell when he was ready, but again — Paul had severe anger issues that he was working on. And while he was cruel in the moment, he immediately realized that what he had said was the wrong way to react. You know, when he CALLED RIGHT BACK TO APOLOGIZE. The entire remainder of the book focused on reconciliation and building trust, and that was catalyzed by this conflict. The level of hostility in some of the things peoples have in reviews is just .... excessive sometimes.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and that is completely fine! I do, however, see a lot of black-and-white thinking in reviews and thought it was worth noting the above. There are also productive ways to criticize versus hateful bashing.

ANYWAYS. Perhaps this book won’t resonate with everyone. But it resonated deeply with me for a great number of reasons and personal experiences. I appreciated and admired the vulnerability, brutal honesty, emotional weight, and overall meaningfulness of This I Promise You. Jordon and Kalob are talented writers, and together, they have crafted an introspective tale of found family, love, and hope. Two great humans wrote a great book!

"Life is emotionally abusive, and time can't stop me quite like you did. // Are we falling like snow on the beach? Weird, but fucking beautiful. // It's coming down, no sound, it's all around -- like snow on the beach."
- Snow on the Beach / Taylor Swift + Lana del Rey

[Trish Skywalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg what a book!!!
This is the story of two college boys who don’t think they can be loved, and how they found love in each other.
Easton really wants a boyfriend, but he worries that it might not happy or him. He sees how happy his roommate Aiden is with his boyfriend, and he wants that. But Easton has a health condition that will worsen with time, and he worries that no one will want to take that on.
Paul has been hurt by people who he trusted, people who he loved. He has accepted that love just isn’t for him, and a relationship is out of the question.
I won’t say “and then they meet” because initially these two hate each other! What starts with a screaming match only devolves, but for some reason they can’t stop thinking about each other. When a meddlesome friend pushes them together, they both discover there’s more to the other than they thought.
This book deals with some heavy topics; issues that are very realistic and have a great effect on the people who experience them. I thought these were handled with grace and sensitivity, and the scope of emotions is so touching.
I absolutely love the Noahverse and it was so great to be back in this world 💜

[Kalob Dàniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUT NOW!! :-D

[Simon Lee (Simon's Bookstagram) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly thank you Jordon and Kaleb for the ARC of This I Promise You, or TIPY I've come to affectionately call it now.

I love Jordon's books and the Noah Verse is something quite magical and wonderful, not only because the writing is great but because the characters are so fantastic and the representation in them all is so important and lovely to see. From all aspects of the LGBTQ spectrum to people with physical and mental disabilities, neurodivergent people and different ethnicities these books cover everything and more but it never seems forced on us, it's natural and there is something very reassuring about that. Books like this save lives.

Anyway, TIPY...
When I started this I'll admit I was worried. I hated Paul. I hated his attitude, his swearing and his intolerance of everything and everyone. But then, I loved him and the way he is portrayed in the beginning makes sense as we watch his story develop and he becomes the person he is meant to be.

"Easton Belle is living his college dream. However, that dream never included his horrid choice in men causing an unhealthy need to be wanted and his multiple sclerosis with its unpredictable symptoms. He also never expected to accidentally end up at a frat party that leads to a crazy drunk call and maybe the best days of his life. As long as this guy doesn’t find out about his illness, maybe it’ll be different this time.

Paul Acre doesn’t know what his dream is. All he’s ever really wanted was to get as far away from Kansas City as possible. So he did. But running away from the demons of his past doesn’t stop them from catching up to him when his new roommate, Huxley, and the annoying AF man-child who smells like spicy citrus challenge his entire perception on life. Then he gets a random call at 2 am from a number he doesn’t know, and a drunk voice he recognizes demands a knight in shining armor come to his rescue. But can he trust his thoughts and feelings? After all, trust is a weakness that’s hurt him far too many times."

I bloody loved this book and devoured it in two days struggling to put it down taking any spare moment to read a page or two.

The story is told with two POV and this works well, each character has there own unique voice and both authors pull this off with apparent ease.
Easton is immediately likeable and his room mate is well known to us all who are invested in the Noah Verse so that was nice to see and felt like a catch up with an old friend. In fact the book is littered with references from other books and previous characters from the series play an important part in the story and I really enjoyed that.

Paul is an absolute arsehole at the start. His attitude to others was cringy at times but as already stated this is the point and as he develops you see why he is the way he is and how this changes over time.
The swearing... this seems to be an ongoing issue with some. I have to be honest it didn't bother me, the authors made a point of saying this is not a YA book and is aimed at older teens/tweens and, much like him being an arse, the swearing is used to highlight things about his character and again this changes as the story progresses.

There was nothing I didn't like about this book. It was well written with engaging main characters and an array of great supporting characters, the pace was good it flowed well and I never felt bored. The sex scenes were steamy without being too much and the cameos from past books was really nice and made me feel at home and at ease.

Jordon has created a ground breaking and important world and Kalob truly added his own magic here.
Highly recommended, as are all the books in this series.
If you feel like you don't quite fit in, feel like you don't know where you belong in the world, you will find a safe home in the Noah Verse.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUT NOW!

"I get to choose who I want to be and how I want to live. I get to choose who I want as my family. I'm not afraid anymore. Because I'm home. Easton is my home."

-Paul Donovan Acre.

How to start reviewing this book? All I know is... I love this book so much! This book is my first new adult and I love the process of reading the whole story so much. My emotions sums up in this book. How I love Paul Acre so much as a person and understand his struggles with his family; his dad and siblings. I love the way he becomes as a human being. He becomes more himself and more vulnerable with Easton and Huxley.

And Easton, I really love him too as a person and understand so much why he hid his illness from Paul because he was afraid that he will be a burden for Paul if he tells him; and it makes sense. This book with all the emotions, make me cried too. I really want to hug both Paul and Easton.

And I love how romantic and poetic Paul is. He has anger issues, yes. And acts like an asshole, yes. But, deep in his heart; he is genuine. I love Paul too much! And I also love that Aidan, Tyler, Jacob and Skylar made cameos here; Noahverse crossover.

Huxley, she is a bestfriend material to Paul, indeed. He helped Paul so much to be a better person by assigned him to meet Dr. Orleen and helped Paul overcome his trauma. And... how she handled her long distance relationship with Jace; top notch! I also love Jace, Dani and Felix. What a lovely minor characters!

And the steamy sex scene... I love how this scene, written beautifully. Such a brilliant way to wrote a sex scene between Paul and Easton. I love this book so so much. This I Promise You has a special place in my heart! 🌹

Thank you for bringing such a lovely story of Paul and Easton to Noahverse. And also... my 1st time reading book with two authors, I love both Jordon's and Kalob's writing. So much! And this book really bring myself back to my 90s heart with This I Promise You by *NSYNC as a soundtrack.

Next, Snowflake Kisses on the way!

[Tyler Bloodworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was so lucky to receive an eARC from the author! The Noahverse is one of my favorite worlds, and this book was a perfect fit to it. Also enjoyed the transition from YA into more grown material! Make sure you check this book out when it comes out in November 😍

[Rain]

Hold my sparkling water while I am obsessing about this cover!!!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ I received a physical arc for an honest review]

This I Promise You is a New Adult romance by authors Jordon Greene and Kalob Daniel. While this is a part of the Noahverse created by Jordan Greene it can be 100% read as a standalone with bonus cameos by past Noahverse characters for fans of the series.

"I think I hate you," I say , but I can't hold back the grin that swallows my face whole. How is he so hot and annoying at the same time?
Paul grins and rolls his eyes. "The feeling's mutual."

College students Easton and Paul do not have a meet cute that will make you yearn for them to be together. A bad first encounter leaves them with nothing but animosity towards each other. Yet fate and a meddling roommate keep making their paths cross and eventually they see there's more to the other than the project to the outside world. But will secrets from one side of their new-found relationship be the end of them, or will they fight for their happily ever after.

"Just when I couldn't be more amazed by you, Paul Donovan Acre, you go and surprise me again."

This is one of those books that grew on me the further I got into it. Paul is not an immediately likeable character. He has major anger issues and until you know the reason behind it, he just comes off as an asshole. When we find out his traumatic backstory he doesn't stop being an asshole but once he lets it out he starts to heal with the help of his best friend Huxley ( who was the best and a gem of a side character) , Easton and therapy. Over time, we get to see the romantic soul under all the attitude and lack of communication skills with his poetry and the way he opens up with Easton. His character just goes through so much wonderful growth that you can't help but love him. He's the one who gets hurt in the relationship with Easton, but it doesn't stop him from fighting for their relationship.

"You are worthy, Easton Belle, of the most perfect love imaginable. And if you'll let me, I will do my best to give it to you."


Easton from the start is a sweetheart, and Paul just happens to bring the worst out in him. He is just adorable with his southern twang, love of country music, and plaid shirts. I love his close relationship with his best friend and his father and sister. It broke my heart that because of his multiple sclerosis, he feels like he's not worthy of a boyfriend and finding love. He feels like a burden and settles for unsatisfying Grindr hookups and pushes away Paul instead of fighting for him. I'm torn with my final feelings towards Easton. On the one hand he was patient and understand when it came to Paul's struggles with be physically intimate and then on the other hand he's the one to emotionally hurt Paul but then doesn't fight for their relationship.

It's just him and me. No one else. No bugs or birds, no stars or sky, no ground beneath us. We're floating in each other's touch, cradled by sweating arms and euphoric motions that swirl in my mind, losing ourselves in each other's love.

I loved the representation in the book. We have Easton, whose mentally and physically living with a chronic illness. Paul and Easton both struggle with social anxiety. The importance of mental health and positive representation of therapy. I liked that Paul continued to work on his mental health, even though he didn't know where his relationship with Easton would end up. He wasn't getting help just for someone else, he was doing it for himself, which is important.

The heat of his mouth seeps into mine and radiates through my entire body. I want this to last forever. I want this. Why do moments like this have to end?

Overall, This I Promise You had a good mixture of really heavy topics and lighthearted moments that will make you smile. A Queer New Adult hate to love romance with mild steam, with supportive best friends, games of pool, killer geese , poetry slams, trivia night , pickup truck picnics , stargazing, healing from trauma and fighting to be with the one you love.


P.s. The Skylar and Jacob cameo made me giddy 🥰

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back to the Noahverse! This I Promise you is co-authored by Jordon Greene and Kalob Dàniel and is set in the Noahverse created by Greene. Don't despair... even though this book is set in the same world as some of Greene's other books, you don't have to read them all to enjoy the story. I'm going to put this out there now thought, you'll want to read them! The characters from previous books pop up from time to time in other novels - nothing that you'll miss out on in this book. I love this new book - but if you love the queer stories, then I would suggest reading all the books from this verse.

On to This I Promise you! Two distinct voices by two great authors make this book a joy to read. This has all the steam and complexity you could want in a story while, at the same time, it's sweet and tender. I will admit that this story brought tears to my eyes a few times; not so much because of what the characters went through, but because of the choices they made and the motivation behind it. These are characters I fell in love with as I got to know them... they'll be sticking with me.

Easton is a college student and activist living with MS. His own special way of running from his woes involves drinking and partying and sex. The problem is that Easton isn't really happy - there are things he is struggling to deal with and growth that needs to happen.

Paul is foul mouthed, gruff and desperately avoiding a past he doesn't want to confront. He is quite the opposite of Easton in some ways but it's not that simple as you'll discover while reading.

When these two characters come together, it's with a clash of personalities. There's instant chemistry but there's also instant friction which brings some of the humour to the story. After all, it's quite possible to be attracted to someone that annoys the hell out of you; I'm sure we've all been there. Sparks fly and it's only because of a meddling friend that these two characters end up speaking to one another again and again.

I think what I enjoyed most about this novel is the growth that each of the characters experienced. Easton and Paul are on two very different journeys but they struggle to find ways to support one another. Despite the trauma that each character has lived with, they are open and gentle. It's a pleasure to read a book that presents such realistic characters who react in genuine ways to things that happen to them. This book has a real authentic feel and that is a pleasure.

This I Promise You is a wonderful novel. There are switching POVs which I find always lends itself well to character development. I really enjoy being able to see both sides of a story. In this story in particular, there's a lot going on in the characters minds and it was great to have a window to each of them. The switching POV made the initial meet up of Easton and Paul even more entertaining.

There is an undercurrent of seriousness in this novel. If you've read Greene's books before, this won't surprise you. His characters are always multi-dimensional and have a variety of experiences. I'm new to Dàniel's writing but will definitely look up more! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good queer story with great characters.

[Ferddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

• Aidan getting caught video calling Tyler with his pants down. Oop 👀
• I loved Huxley immediately. What a cool human being.
• I really felt Easton's jealousy of A and Ty's relationship.
• That Ryan Cook story was hilarious and relatable. 🤣
• "STOP. IT'S STUPID" - felt that
• I loved how Huxley was giving Alexis-from-Schitts-Creek vibes. And she really didn't have a filter.
• Paul's tattoos were pretty hot. Those flowers. 🌷
• Omg not Paul hitting on Aidan. Awkwaaard
• Aidan introducing Easton to Paul and saying E was single.
• Not Easton thinking of Paul's hand on his neck while confronting him. Damn. 🥴
• ok Paul's reaction was too much. He was mad mad
• Easton was gooped when Aidan says that Paul was E's type. 🤣
• Easton's dad shipping him with Aidan while A was just sitting with E was hilarious. The secondhand embarrasment omg.
• Paul was so mad at everything. He'also rude and violent. Damn
• I don't like when men, esp cis men, says the word b*tch. I don't care if it's in jest, it still sounds wrong.
• Plow?! 👀
• Break the balls?!!! Damn! The amount of double entendre was funny.
• Paul and Easton jumping and hugging each other when they won, and then breaking apart when they realized they hate each other was the cutest and funniest. And then Hux said her work is done. 🤣
• F*CK IS ANOTHER FOUR LETTER WORD, THE MOST UNIVERSAL WORD
• The amount times Paul said the word fvck was a bit too much, and that's coming from me who says that word a lot. He said it a lot of times that it became diluted. For someone who loved word, he forgot that when you say a word over and over again, it loses its meaning over time. 🤷🏽‍♂️
• oh wow Paul's reaction when Hux called him Paulie was intense.
• IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE I'VE HAD SOMETHING REAL INSIDE ME
• this was graphic. Damn 🥵
• That's right East!! Use a condom!!
• Yes Paul. You fvcking need therapy.
• EVERYTHING HAS A PLACE AND EVERY PLACE HAS A THING
• I loved Paul and Hux's banter.
• Drunk Easton just called Paul "the grumpy love of my life" 🤭
• ohhh that moment when time slowed down. You in danger Paul!
• That morning when Easton woke up at Paul's apartment was hilarious. I loved every minute of it esp when Paul told East what the latter said to him when he's drunk.
• THAT'S THE FUNNY THING ABOUT TRAUMA, ISN'T IT? IT CAN ALTER YOUR REALITY
• Huxley coming out of her room then going in again after seeing Paul and East was funny. The sudden realization the two had when they saw Huxley. 🤣
• my gosh Paul was such a drama queen.
• omg Easton. You're drunk. No one should be touching you in that way.
• Paul calling Easton "cute baby deer"
• That push and pull at the Waffle House was cute.
• ughh Paul and his non-apologies
• Pegging?! 👀
• omg they kissed. Wait not just kiss, but full on make-out sesh. Damn
• LIKING MEANS LOVING AND LOVING MEANS PAIN
• Paul's past was horrible. That was so hard to read.
• NOW I'M FRETTING OVER SOMETHING THAT NEVER WAS
• I loved how Easton was smart about his hook-ups like he told his sister his whereabouts just in case. Smart guy.
• East feeling like he should be degraded 😢
• Twice in one day?!! Good job Paul!
• East showing up at Paul's apartment. He was like go big or go home. Loved that
• AND JUST THEN I REALIZE I DON'T THINK I REALLY KNEW WHAT MY FAVORITE COLOR WAS BEFORE THIS MOMENT, BEFORE I LOOKED INTO HIS EYES.
• That moment was cute esp when East asked Paul on a date.
• Paul critisizing Easton's clothing was so me. 🤣
• That moment when Paul offerred his sugared finger to Easton, then E licking it while looking at Paul was hot damn. And they're in public.
• The way Paul said "ew" when East asked if he's into sport was relatable. Same Paul, same.
• Easton offering his hand to Paul so they could hold hands while walking was adorbs. And then Paul kissed E's hand. Ughhh
• Easton kissing Paul at the bookstore. Ughh what a dream
• HOW ARE YOU HERE AND SO BEAUTIFUL AT THE SAME TIME?
• Jeremy's cool and hot. Such a daddy
• I loved how Paul said East was a cat. 😻
• I loved that setup Paul made on the truck. That was lovely.
• Babe?! 🤭
• Paul asking Easton to be his boyfriend, and then adding please was the cutest.
• ohhh Paul was ready for some action. Still shooketh at how graphic this was.
• Easton's bigger than Paul. Interesting 👀
• That scene was so heavy I had to put the book down to breathe. Pls look up the trigger warnings before reading this.
• Huxley and Easton were such angels for not leaving Paul when he had a breakdown and told them what happened to him. The release of all his pent up trauma.
• Paul in therapy. Loved that.
• "CHEMISTRY SUCKS BALLS" "JUST LIKE ALL OF US" - gagged 🤣
• Huxley was so extra. I was living for all of it. I mean a beach house?!!! Come thru!!
• I LIKE IT WHEN YOU REFER TO US AS WE
• ohh slapping cock??!! Coming in the mouth?!! Wild 🥵
• yasss Space Cowboy. Taste 👌
• Easton teasing Paul in the bed. Ughhh
• Huxley interrupting Paulston was hilarious.
• Huxley and Devine were cute together.
• THE SUN HAS KISSED HIS SKIN, PRONOUNCING HIS FRECKLES EVEN MORE, LIKE CONSTELLATIONS IN THE NIGHT SKY
• Skylar wearing a beach dress was a serve 🔥
• Paul saying East walked like an elaphant was so funny.
• IF YOU FEEL IT, SPEAK IT. SIMPLE AS THAT.
• the number of bjs??!! 👀
• omg Easton. That was scary.
• Paul was such an a*hole at the hospital. Calm down dude.
• He was so rude to the staff, even to East's dad.
• omg wtf??!! that was fvcking awful.
• DO NOT EVER EXCUSE BAD BEHAVIOUR!!!!
• nooooo Devine and Huxley broke too?!!!
• Jace and Hux flirting was hilarious, but I'm not buying it.
• Jace and Paul's confrontation was heartbreaking. The trauma they shared omg.
• Felix was a cutieeeee.
• Easton was gooped when Aidan said he was such a bottom. 🤣
• Paul's performance at Easton's door was cute. He was such a drama queen.
• Paul saying to Easton that E can have all the dick he wanted. Damn 🥵
• Easton telling Paul to shut up so he could say his I love yous was the cutest. Ughhh
• HE IS HOME. NO MATTER WHERE HE'S AT, HE'S HOME TO ME
• oh damn 🥵🔥🥵🔥🥵🥵🔥🥵
• Paul helping East at the gym. And they're flirting while working out?!! Ughhhh
• Easton not knowing how to wink was adorbs
• "KILL 'EM WITH KINDNESS" IS WHAT MY DAD ALWAYS SAYS, SO CONSIDER YOURSELVES DEAD
• Huxley dressed as the Scarlet Witch was a serve 🔥
• Easton in a tight Spidey costume and Paul in a smallest maid outfit was hot.
• Easton trying not to get a boner in his costume was hilarious.
• ohhh Easton's wanna do it in their costume. Damn
• I GET TO CHOOSE WHO I WANT AS MY FAMILY
• That was lovely. I had so much fun reading it. 💗🌷

[JennyBuysBooks | Find me on Fable! · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This was a lot heavier than I was expecting, but I feel like the authors really did so good at covering those topics just want to call it out at the top for anybody hoping for a light fluffy romance!

What worked for me:
• the discussions around sexual assault. It was handled with the care it needed. I loved seeing Paul go to therapy and seeing his growth throughout the book. Just A+!
• how Easton dealt with his MS. It felt so authentic to how a 19 year old would handle the situation.
• the friendships! I love the little found family they created!
• the way Paul and Easton hates each other in the beginning but kept internally saying how cute the other was. I eat the stuff up!!! It was really cute as hell!

What pulled down the rating from 4 stars for me was the swooney love declarations. I know this is a me thing, but I just don’t love overly sentimental declarations of love. I know a lot of people do so this is totally probably not an issue for most people! I also wish there was a little more build up between hate to love bc it was one of more favorite parts of the story.

Overall I think this is a good read and I think people who like the swoon factor turned up will be really into this one!

[Pierre (pierrereads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad for rating this one so low, because I'd love nothing more than to help promote indie queer authors, but this genuinely was not a good book, at least to me, and it shows that even queer authors can write less than good books, which is normal, isn't it?
If you loved it then good for you but in my personal experience, no bueno.

I'll start off this review by mentioning the aspects I actually enjoyed about this book:
. I loved the representation in here, whether the sexuality rep or the mental and chronic illneses, this book just had a lot going for it representation wise.
Also there were no straight people in it so I did love that lol.
. The sex scenes were quite well done and very enjoyable.
. Even though Paul's trauma shocked me to the core, and I feel weird saying this, but it also helped add another level to his character that made him more interesting to read about.
. I enjoyed the actual romance development, once those two forgot they HATED one another, especially how Easton was always there for Paul even when he was losing his mind.
. It read very quickly, if that's a good thing? Like I gobbled it up pretty quickly, so there's that.

Now, to the many, many negatives:
. I'mma kick this off with the thing that annoyed me the absolute most in this book: Paul's constant cussing which got old real quick.
I don't get it? Like yeah, he explained why he cusses that much and it made sense but homeboy, who's an English major, couldn't get through ONE sentence without throwing the word Fuck in the mix.
Most of the time, the cussing didn't even belong in whatever he was saying, and it got real weird at some points, like it never felt natural, not once, so that character choice was a big mishap in my opinion.
. Back to Paul, the majority of his "deep" moments and quotes felt very... Pretentious, I'd say.
. The writing in this book... Like fuck, I feel bad for saying this but, Paul's POV especially, felt very amateur-ish, in a way? I'm not going to insult the author, obviously, but I wasn't a fan of the writing style, nor did I enjoy it very much.
. Okay, and this is a big one, so these two assholes spent almost 40% of this book absolutely HATING, and by hating I mean HATING in all capitals, one another for the stupidest and most nonsensical reasons, so much so that they've both almost went the physical violence route on one another and then suddenly they like each other out of nowhere? Like I genuinely do not get how that works?? How do you go from absolutely hating someone to suddenly liking them so much that you say the L word a couple weeks after?
Don't get it.
. There were a lot of consistency issues throughout this book as well, which I found to be baffling. Basically characters saying or admitting one thing only to reveal that the opposite is the truth a couple chapters later, like when Paul says that he wishes he had been born into a family with means only for it to be revealed later on that homeboy was forbidden from working and was getting money from his father for the entirety of his life, for example.
. I hated, hated, HATED the conflict in this book, so much so that it honestly ruined Paul's already questionable character for me.
So you're trying to tell me that Paul's reaction to Easton having a seizure is to full on attack the boy and go ham on him, while he's at the hospital recovering, because he didn't feel comfortable enough, didn't trust you enough, to tell you about his pretty serious illness? Like that's a normal reaction to get from the love interest we're supposed to like?
Honestly, good for Easton for ignoring his ass for that long because that was such an ugly reaction and the worst possible conflict because it puts your character's actual character in question.
. The I'mma get you back because I love you thing... Paul puts on this random ass song that we've never heard about before, nor has it ever been related to these characters nor their relationship, and he sings it and they're suddenly good? MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE!!!!

Like I'm sorry for losing it over the course of this review but this has been one of the most bizarre and badly put together books I've read in a very long time and I genuinely mean no offense to the authors whatsoever but I also needed to express how I felt about it on here because I needed to get it out lol.
Strongly advise you to not pick this up but if you do then I hope you love it, at least?

[its.mandolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to be a bit more personal than the way I usually review books. As I’m taking most of this review directly from my own Bookstagram, but I think I’ve included a good portrait of why I connected to this novel.

I pre-ordered this book right after I read Jordon Greene’s Every Word You Never Said, which I just adored. I didn’t read the summary, I just told myself I needed it and checked out. After an extended back order and obtaining the kindle version as well I have finished reading this story and I can’t think of better timing.

This story is about Paul and Easton. Easton has MS and Paul has been traumatized by SA. It is their love story. It is also a story of their mistakes, redemption and found family.

Here’s the personal bit:

At the beginning of September of this year I lost vision in one of my eyes, I’ve been experiencing fatigue like I never have before and have seen numerous eye doctors and neurologists who have all been consistently under the assumption I have MS. I’ve had MRI’s, blood draws, eye exams, CT scans, an overnight hospital stay and a spinal tap. I still don’t know for sure, though I am hoping I will in December, as MS doesn’t have a specific test so everything else has to be ruled out.

I am married, so my partner has known about these things and been by my side since the beginning but reading Easton and Paul’s journey; it was so hard to decide how I felt and how I would feel in their situation where I’d have to disclose to a new partner; my heart felt for both of them and I felt their resolution was mature and admirable. I just know Jordon and Kalob already both know important representation is in media (as LGBTQIA+ authors, this seems obvious) but I want to say thank you to them for including a character who is loved wholeheartedly regardless of his disability/chronic illness. The only other romance I’ve read with MS so far is Love from A to Z by S. K. Ali (which is also lovely).

The fears Easton is experiencing about when his vision will go out permanently have been so similar to just some of the things that have been plaguing my mind lately, the realistic way in which they are portrayed was both scary and validating.

This is my first time sharing all this publicly, thank you for listening. ❤️

Also TJ Klune is my favorite author and I loved the nod to Wolfsong!

[Brooke Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO MANY SEXY AND CUTE SCENES!! But the CAMEOS though… I’M SCREAMING!

This I Promise You is a lot to take in! There’s cameos galore (did I mention that?), and I swear I freaked out with every one! I love all of Jordon’s characters and this book had all the right moments with them! Found family all the way!😭

Let’s talk about Paul first. Aggressive - or rather, guarded - not to mention the trauma he endured. Poor thing was so traumatized but still found a way to be utterly himself, and was glorious! He’s extra at times yet intellectual, sweet, and FIT AS ALL GET OUT (I borrowed that from Jordon, not gonna lie)! He also writes poetry like me! The things that happened to him though… There’s a special place in hell for people that would do that to another person, much less a kid. BUT the people who go through those things and still keep moving forward are tough, which I find so admirable.

And now Easton… Man, did he surprise me! I wasn’t expecting his fiery personality but, more than that, his little side thing (Naughty boy!😱). I kept finding myself eager for the time when he and Paul could do those things! I want to say that I’m not weird, I promise… That would be a lie. Still, Easton was just as complex as his significant other and his reasons for being cautious with a relationship made sense. Bringing an illness like MS (Multiple Sclerosis) into the story was an interesting take. I didn’t know much about it so I did look it up because I wanted to know. It added another layer to Easton and his reluctance to accept himself as someone who can be loved, rather than a burden like he believed.

The cast of characters was definitely my favorite element of the book, and especially the layers within Easton and Paul. I was so thrilled with how Kalob and Jordon’s writing styles fit together too! I’ve never read a co-authored book before so I was a little nervous - for nothing! Seeing Noahverse characters make their appearances is satisfying as well and This I Promise You delivered maximum satisfaction! I certainly teared up!

The thing that blew my mind the most was the STEAM! SO MUCH STEAM! All the sexy scenes… WOW! I thought once I realized it was going to be THAT kind of different from Jordon’s other books, I might hesitate but I didn’t. Consent being the biggest reason. Since Easton and Paul weren’t trying to take advantage of the other, I relaxed a lot. AND WHO KNEW EASTON WOULD BE THE KINKY ONE??? I expected Paul to be the one willing to ‘experiment’, but I was not disappointed! Those steamy scenes were just so - I don’t know if I should finish that sentence but it would be a good response.

Anyway, This I Promise You is 100% a 5 star read for me!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down

This story, just like all the Noahverse books had a very strong effect on me. Despite its heart breaking content, A Mark On My Soul remains the book I can't stop thinking about more than anything, it literally left a mark on my soul but this book left its own mark.

I honestly felt such a connection to Paul, the things he went through, the reactions he had to certain situations hit a little too close to home for me but that made me adore him even more. Even when he was being an arse. Lol I LOVE him, adore him, his reactions and actions felt so real and natural to me a lot of the time and it was painful but a beatififul read.

As for Easton, the things he went through, the way he tried so hard to be himself and to be normal despite his condition was also something that resonated with me. He felt so real and I thought it was all written pretty well.

I adored every second of this book even when it hurt and I would absolutely read it again no questions asked.

Another heartbreakingly beautiful addition to the Noahverse series. Jordon and Kalob left me sobbing and I will continue to than them for it honestly.

[Wendi Dennison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thankful to have received an ARC of this book from the authors. This is a very sweet tale of love with a contemporary feel. It's much more mature thematically than I even expected, and though there is enough light heartedness to make the reader smile, it doesn't shy away from tough subject matter or real-world issues within the LGBTQIA+ community, or any community for that matter. Easton is just the sweetest and yet strongest young man, while Paul's edge balances him out, especially since he's not without his own bit of softness on the very inside. I very much enjoyed this read, and encourage anyone else who enjoys contemporary New Adult romances to give it a try!

[Mags Dares · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited for this book and it did not disappoint! I absolutely adored Every Word You Never Said and could not wait for the next book in the series. This I Promise You was romantic, sometimes heartbreaking, but always hopeful and was an absolute delight to read. Now I need to go back and read Aiden and Ty's story, Watching For Comets.

[Katie ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Things I Questioned:
Do people born in the early 2000s know who London Tipton is?
Did they watch Lizzie McGuire?

✨Things I Didn’t Like:
The overuse of “Gah!”
And every time I read “shooketh” I cringed.

✨Things I LOVED:
The found family
The poetry
The chronic illness & mental illness rep
Paul being a total softie
The other noahverse characters
The beautiful cover art

[Joshua’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, I would say this is one of my favorites in the series. I’m really hoping for a sequel to this one! Great job writing this book, it was very well written.

[Riven · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, thank you to Jordon Greene & Kalob Daniel for the ARC copy! I’m super grateful!

My review won’t contain spoilers!!

I absolutely loved Paul and Easton. I think both characters are so different to one another and yet both are equally as interesting. I think Huxley was my favorite though. I loved her energy and her humor. Just every scene she had, I liked her even more.

Each character was created with such care and detail and I was blown away. I’d been anticipating this book for a while so being able to see each character come to life this was the best feeling ever. I loved both authors writing styles. I think their styles really compliment one another’s and that’s always important.

The humor aspect was top tier might I add. Though I did have tears welling up once in a while. (We love angst in this house!!)

The representation throughout the book was SO important to me. It’s always a great thing when you feel represented in media. And the enemies to lovers trope gets me every time. How could I not love this???

Thank you both once again for the opportunity to review the ARC!!

[Henri Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

“After a traumatic experience, the human system of self-preservation seems to go onto permanent alert, as if the danger might return at any moment.” ― Judith Lewis Herman

I couldn’t get any work done because every time I put this book down, I had the overwhelming urge to pick it back up.

I went into this like I usually do, completely blind, I knew the names of the main characters, I knew it was part of the Noahverse and I knew who the Authors were, and that was it.
I’ve read all the previous Noahverse novels, so I somewhat knew what I was getting myself into since nothing is perfect or fairytale like in the Noahverse. What I was not expecting was all my own unresolved trauma being pushed front and center. (Which I won’t discuss because that would give away too much of the storyline)

However, I do want to say that after I finished reading this book, I decided that I was going to read a few of the reviews just to see if anyone else had the same response as me in relating to Paul, and I came across a review that said they hated the dynamic between Paul and Easton.
The only reason I am addressing that comment is because their interactions is almost spot on with interactions I’ve had, and for the longest time I hated myself for the outburst I’d have, and I’d push everyone away because I felt safer putting distance between me and them and in return, they would push me away as well. It wasn’t until I was much older that I found out that my outburst were a trauma response and my anxiety convinced me that I was better off alone than to ever let someone close to me again.

My point is this is a great book that has a pretty good representation of trauma, mental illness, and chronic illness.
But be warned because if you suffer from trauma or chronic illness this book will probably bring those feelings back to the front.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot

[Jennifer Upright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed seeing the kids of the Noahverse start to grow and handle more mature issues. This book does a great job of really making sure communication is key, and it’s okay if you “effed up.” Everyone makes a mistake or two, but you handle it, and what you choose to do to reconcile with those you love… that’s what makes all the difference.

[Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very rewarding!

Read this book, you will love it! Some of its topics are hard to take; some of its characters have suffered terribly, just as in life, especially for LGBTQ+ persons. So, there will be tears and laughter just as in life. It's well written and well proofed.
I very much hope there's a 5th book in Noaverse!