Double Take

Caught Off Guard #3

by Willow Thomas

Falling in love with my straight best friend is not the smartest thing I’ve ever done. It’s not as if he can ever love me back. Right?

Zeke has been my best friend since we were kids, and I’ve been in love with him the whole time. Even moving a thousand miles away for college doesn’t make my feelings go away.

When Zeke and my brother get into a rough situation, they turn to me. I will do anything to help them. I don’t care if it means I’ll get hurt in the long run.

After we share a scorching kiss under the mistletoe, I realise Zeke might not be as straight as I thought. Does this mean I have a chance for something I’ve only ever dreamed about?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Hockey, LGBT, Sports, College

96 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2022

About the author

Willow Thomas is a MM romance author who loves to write sweet and spicy stories that will leave you smiling. She is a queer, neurodivergent, feminist, with tea running through her veins. Willow does the best procrastinating; usually in the form of googling weird facts and adopting random animals.

Reviews

[Kaitlyn Using StoryGraph Only · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You wrecked me in the best way possible."

Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
POV: Dual
HEA: Yes
Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

Overall Opinion
This was such a sweet novella that I devoured in one sitting. Tyler and Zeke were just the cutest, as both friends and otherwise! The mutual pining for each other was emotional and got all the feels going, and the author captured how each felt about the other perfectly. There was a dash of miscommunication and fear from these two, and it lead to a great plot that had me clinging for their happy ending. It was entertaining and spicy and an all-round wonderful read, and I am excited for the next book!

Read if you like:
❣️ M/M Romance
❣️ Best Friends to Lovers
❣️ Mutual Pining
❣️ Sassy Side Characters
❣️ Novellas
❣️ HEA

[Hanna W · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*ARC Review*

One of the first words that came to my mind was wholesome. Just wholesome.
The book was so cute I literally had a smile on my face almost the entire time while reading.

The book is rather short but still lacks nothing.
I loved everything about Zeke and Tyler. They were so perfect and the way they joked around was so funny and sweet. Just adorable. I honestly can’t stop swooning over them.

The book was acutely good written. I loved the writing style. It was very descriptive and therefore easy to read. The author managed to convey the feelings sooo well, even I felt the butterflies 🥹🦋.

Ugh, I just freaking loved the book🥺💕It was worth reading. And I will definitely re-read it soon whoopsie.

I really can’t wait for the next one.

[I received an digital arc and this is my honest opinion]

[Book Binge: Reviews by Melissa DaSilva · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a best friends to lovers romance between Tyler and Zeke. This is the first book that I’ve read in the series and as much as the other characters from previous books are mentioned I didn’t feel like I missed anything by not reading them. There is not great communication between the MCs but once they do talk they finally confess all and have a great HFN. There was one part that was absolutely hilarious and made me laugh out loud. Always funny reading about guys picking out period products! If you like this author then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book.

[E.L. Ough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book given in exchange for review

This is the next book in the series, you can read as stand alone but the characters do cross over so always best to read from the beginning!

This book is about two best friends Tyler and Zeke, they both love each other but as they got older it turned from friendship love to more. Neither knows the other has feelings so they both suffer in silence, being there for each other but not in the way they want.

Zeke is friends with Tyler’s younger brother and they get in a spot of trouble and run for the hills, or In this case to Tyler’s, where they crash till they can sort out their current situation.
All the feelings between Tyler and Zeke all come crashing back, now they both need to decide what they are gonna do about them!!

This is a low angst, sports, supposed straight best friends to lovers book, with great sexy times!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Jozey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hockey player, bestfriend, second start in a new town

Contains: bestfriend to lovers, gayfriend crushing on his "straight" bestfriend, coming out to his bestfriend, hockey player, bartender.

Lovely and sweet. I fell in love with all the caracters once again. This group is so so nice, warm like a second family for them when one is in need they all put their heads together to find a solution.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Take is the third book in the Caught Off Guard book series. It features a sweet story about Zeke and Tyler, best friends since childhood. They are secretly in love with each other but afraid to tell the other for fear of ruining their friendship. This one of those stories that will keep you flipping the pages with a smile on your face half the time or wanting to smack them and yell open your eyes! Loved it!! Overall, a funny and sweet read, fast paced and well written.

[Bookloversofantastic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what it looks like when two best friends are in secretly in love with each other without the other one knowing 😅 one thinks his best friend is straight and then doesn’t do relationships because he cannot have him and the other one is scared to have his heart broken and lose his friendship because his best friend doesn’t do relationship. Lots of miscommunication between the two but the reunion is just so sweet.

[megan]

This did not work for me at all unfortunately. I like friends to lovers but these two “best friends” never talk much beyond surface level and then the big confession was so OTT dramatic I just can’t. I won’t be continuing this series.

**the version I read is from the box set.

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 5 out of 5]

old post reposted


Trying to cross another author off my to-binge list (which, yes, for those of you who are following along, is my third TBR list in 24 hours--I have at least another three). Caught Off Guard is another one of Willow Thomas's series. The third book is "Double Take."
["Falling in love with my straight best friend is not the smartest thing I’ve ever done. It’s not as if he can ever love me back. Right?

Zeke has been my best friend since we were kids, and I’ve been in love with him the whole time. Even moving a thousand miles away for college doesn’t make my feelings go away.

When Zeke and my brother get into a rough situation, they turn to me. I will do anything to help them. I don’t care if it means I’ll get hurt in the long run.

After we share a scorching kiss under the mistletoe, I realize Zeke might not be as straight as I thought. Does this mean I have a chance for something I’ve only ever dreamed about?"]

There was some series lack of communication in this one (in a good way). I mean, if they would have just talked about their mutual feelings, the mutual pining wouldn't have been so heartbreaking. Sure, they eventually figured it out, but after a mistletoe kiss, some ghosting, some not-actually-as-talked-out-as-you-think-Tyler steamy time, some overly-dramatic (in a good way) third act antagonism, they finally had their HEA. ;)

#boltfromtheblue #unexpected #knockedforsix #doubletake #blownaway #caughtoffguard #caughtoffguardseries #willowthomas #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[Trouble89 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willow Thomas had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion with this tale of best friends to lovers. Zeke and Tyler have been best friends forever, and secretly in love with each other. Tyler prefers hook ups and one-night stands, since he can’t be with the person he loves. His straight best friend. Zeke is afraid to tell Tyler he is gay, and in love with him, because he doesn’t want to end up as just another notch on Tyler’s bed post. His heart would break, and he’d just like to avoid that happening all together.

When circumstances land Zeke and Tyler’s little brother, Benny, on Tyler’s doorstep, all of Zeke’s long pushed aside feelings come bubbling right up to the surface. As do Tyler’s. And after a scorching, kiss under some mistletoe these two have a lot of things they should discuss. Yet, they don’t. Tyler is thrown for a confusing loop by the kiss and Zeke is still terrified of winding up as a one and done, and losing his best friend.

I cheered for these two right from the beginning, and their coming together (pun intended) was a wonderful mix of sweet and scorching hot. The side characters are fantastic and funny. Celeste is the absolute best, and had me snort laughing. And if Benny doesn’t get a book and his HEA, I might just have a temper tantrum.

Willow Thomas scored with this one, and I can’t wait for the next book.

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 5 out of 5]

story of Tyler and Zeke

This is a best friends to lovers romance, featuring Tyler and Zeke, and is the third book in the Caught Off Guard series. This is a novella sized book.

Tyler and Zeke have been best friends for a long time but have been apart since Tyler moved away for college, leaving Zeke and Tyler’s brother, Benny behind. When Zeke and Benny lose their jobs and apartment, they pack up and make their way to Tyler.

Tyler is thrilled to have his BFF and brother around him again. Tyler has been in love with Zeke since they were young but thinks nothing will come of it as Zeke is straight, little does he know Zeke is in closet and also in love with Tyler.

There is a fair bit not being said between the two MMCs, the mis-communication holding them both back from confessing their feelings. The longing they both feel for each other is felt by everyone in the book but they are both obvious to it out of fear of losing each other.

I am loving this series and my adventure into Willow Thomas’s book catalogue. Loving her writing style, every book so far has been low angst and full of feelings and love, with a bit of spice thrown in.

Things to expect in this MM romance are:
College romance
Best friends to lovers
Both longing/pining
Mis-communication
Love of my life
HEA

[Dear Reader 0801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this novella series from Willow Thomas. This is the third book in the series that focuses on this particular college hockey team. They are fun, quick reads with just enough angst to keep the pages turning and keep you coming back for the next book.

I’ve been on a friends to lovers streak for my reading and this book fits right in. Zeke and Tyler are childhood friends and the two of the living in two different states. Change of circumstances happen for both Zeke and Benny (Tyler’s brother) and they travel to Tyler. The relationship between these two is adorably sweet and exactly what you’re looking for in a friendship to relationship book, not heaps of drama and angst but goofy smiles while you’re reading. There’s a little bit of drama to make it a well earned HEA for these two.

Looking forward to the next book in the series. It looks like Chase is getting his story and from the set up in this book, it looks to be an interesting story. I received an early copy of this book and this is my honest and fair review.

[Shannon Rugg · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short and sweet novellas that Willow have given us, have been quite the experience to read! In book three we see Tyler and his best friend Zeke figure out what they want from one another.

Zeke and his friend Benny (who is Tyler’s brother) fall on some hard times and run to Tyler for help. Zeke has a BIG secret he has been keeping from Tyler, but Tyler also has one he’s been keeping from Zeke!

Tyler is absolutely hilarious; his personality was infectious and I found myself smiling and laughing at the odd things that he would say. Zeke is much more laid back, but the banter between them was good! You could feel the friendship radiating off of these two, and the move from friends, to lovers, was written well for this being a novella!

I definitely enjoyed this one; it read quick, had the right amount of story and spice, and as all novellas do, left me wanting more of this couple!

[Heather Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook


Tyler and Zeke, two of the bestest friends, who are both secretly pining for each other. It seemed like it would stay secret until Zeke and Tyler’s younger brother ended up at his doorstep needing his help.

Tyler believes Zeke is straight. Zeke believes Tyler doesn’t do relationships. A recipe for disaster. But thanks to some mistletoe and some meddling friends and family, these may just have a chance.

This is a short-ish, new-adult, low-angst, sweet story of friends finding love. They are lovely guys who just need to find the gumption to discuss their feelings. Book 3 in the series, but can be read as a standalone.

[Traci S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyler & Zeke
This was a really sweet take on best friends to lovers. The author does an excellent job establishing how important Tyler and Zeke are to each other which gives their romance added depth. It’s pretty obvious to everyone but them that these two are in love with each other, but Zeke and Tyler remain frustratingly clueless. Both are afraid of getting hurt or damaging their friendship which provides just the right amount of angst and tension to keep you invested in their happy ending. I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series and my favorite part is all the wonderful characters and how strong and genuine their friendships are. This was a fun, sweet and steamy addition to the series. Looking forward to more!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Claire Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Take is an m/m best friends to lovers romance in the Caught Off Guard Series.
Tyler & Zeke are just the sweetest, I love these guys and Tyler is so protective over him even though they haven’t been living close to each other.
When Tyler’s brother and Zeke get into a sticky situation and come to Tyler for help, he’s there in an instant and so are his friends.
They don’t know about the feelings for each other and I was really routing for them to sort it out and confess!
I love how they finally come together and are so adorable.
Tyler’s brother is hilarious too and I’m hoping we get his book. These guys are great to read about. Hot & steamy, great banter, and lol funny moments.
Highly recommend.

[Shae Michaels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Take centers around two best friends, Tyler and Zeke. Tyler is in love with Zeke, but thinks he’s straight so goes through life content with only hookups. Zeke is also in love with his best friend, but hasn’t told him that he’s gay or wants to be with him because he thinks he’ll only get his heartbroken when Tyler hooks up with him and then carries on in his usual fuckboi way. The majority of this book revolves around these two bumbling, but adorable, idiots being obviously— to all their other friends— in love with each other but too scared to take the leap and actually communicate their feelings. Even after they do start sleeping with each other, there is a strong layer of assumptions and miscommunications going on.

This book was a very fast read, entertaining, and had likeable characters. I did find some of the transitions slightly too abrupt and felt the pace could’ve been more drawn out and slower at times. However, as long as you don’t mind characters that need to be smacked upside the head until they realize their problems would go away if they’d just TALK to each other, this is a fun book and a wonderful continuation of this series about a bunch of oblivious college hockey guys finding their HEAs.

*Disclosure- I received an ARC of this book, but this is my honest opinion.

[Nicole Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sweet Best Friends to Lovers Tale

I love these quick reads by Willow Thomas! Just like the previous books in this series, Double Take takes me to a happy place. A sweet best friends to lovers story. When two characters have known each other for so long, it makes you wonder how and why they kept their true feelings hidden. They are clearly meant to be or they wouldn't have been best friends for so long. I look forward to reading more stories and getting to know more of the hockey team members in upcoming books!

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take two clueless best friends who have been in love with each other for years, add in that one hasn't told the other that he's gay and the other doesn't get serious with anyone because he's pining for his 'straight best friend' - and everyone can see it but them...

There's a little bit of forced proximity, a dash of humour, some adorable hockey related scenes and a truly fun, quick read as long as you understand that you'll want to slap these young men for missing ALL the signs... when they do a Double Take

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am new to reading Willow's books and this was a hockey m/m romance. But when I read this shorter, sweet book I fell for Tyler and Zeke, best friends who didn't know they loved each other. Everyone else seems to know it and they are adorable. I enjoyed their eye opening and awakening and now have to read the others in the series. I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and especially this book. I love the best friends to lovers trope, and 'Double Take' is a great one. Tyler and Zeke are best friends who everyone seems to realize they love each other except them. Like the two books before this, it was a fun and great read. I loved these guys and all the other wonderful characters and can't wait to see what comes next.

[Lizzie V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He invades all my senses and I never want it to stop..." Loved this sweet novella by Willow Thomas. It had humor and steam and it was just an overall fun read. If you want to read a cute best friends to lovers romance, this is for you.

[Alice Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

BFF’s to Love!!! 🥰

This is my absolute favorite trope friends to lovers and this beautifully sweet short story delivered 100%. It had a little bit of angst. Lots of chemistry lots of heat lots of sizzle. I loved every second of it. ❤️❤️

[Rugby8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun!

I love the guys in this series - each for different reasons. Tyler and Zeke are great together and they supporting cast is fun, and sweet, and a bunch of smart-asses 😀😀😀
On to the next one!

[C. Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so flipping happy Tyler got his man finally. I hate what happened to Zeke and Benny but it was obvious they belonged wherever Ty was. These two melted my heart some more. I can’t wait for Benny’s book next, he is a sassy firecracker. 🖤🔥🏒🔥🖤

[Stephanie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler and Zeke 💚

Oh man, I have no words..okay maybe I have a few lol. I laughed…a lot and again got teary eyed. By the time this is posted the next book will either be read or in the process of reading. I’m loving this series that much 💜

[Jaclyn]

this book was fun to read

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, flirty best friends to lovers hockey romance. What else needs said it has all the feels, a great fun group of friends and hot hockey players!

[Jodi_ice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cawpile: 8.14 4.5*

[Landy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, my least favorite of the stories.
Still cute story.