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Jackals Wild
It's OnlyFans meets the Ivy League in this MM college romance about friendship, quiet courage, and what it's like to fall in love for the very first time.
Quiet, studious Adam Hatchard is ready to reinvent himself and be the leading man in his own life.
- Survive his first frat party? Check.
- Talk to the hot TA in math class? Halfway(ish) there.
- Coexist in peace with his Neanderthal roommate? Send help.
From day one, Carter Ellison has given Adam nothing but cocky smirks, secondhand embarrassment, and dirty underwear all over their room—the perfect storm for Most Annoying Roommate Ever.
His ridiculously toned body deserving to be the eighth wonder of the world is beside the point.
But Carter has a secret: an unconventional side hustle involving cameras and a distinct lack of clothing. When Adam stumbles upon Carter’s online alter ego, the last thing he expects to feel is…compassion.
And when Carter asks him to hold the camera? Adam discovers there’s more to his roommate than the irritating frat boy persona Carter puts on.
What begins as a way for both of them to earn extra cash develops into something more. Something involving longer-than-appropriate stares, stolen touches, midnight confessions—and the realization that Adam just may have found his own leading man.
Quiet, studious Adam Hatchard is ready to reinvent himself and be the leading man in his own life.
- Survive his first frat party? Check.
- Talk to the hot TA in math class? Halfway(ish) there.
- Coexist in peace with his Neanderthal roommate? Send help.
From day one, Carter Ellison has given Adam nothing but cocky smirks, secondhand embarrassment, and dirty underwear all over their room—the perfect storm for Most Annoying Roommate Ever.
His ridiculously toned body deserving to be the eighth wonder of the world is beside the point.
But Carter has a secret: an unconventional side hustle involving cameras and a distinct lack of clothing. When Adam stumbles upon Carter’s online alter ego, the last thing he expects to feel is…compassion.
And when Carter asks him to hold the camera? Adam discovers there’s more to his roommate than the irritating frat boy persona Carter puts on.
What begins as a way for both of them to earn extra cash develops into something more. Something involving longer-than-appropriate stares, stolen touches, midnight confessions—and the realization that Adam just may have found his own leading man.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2022
33 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
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April 25, 2022
➥ 2 Stars *:･ﾟ✧
Buddy read with Kati <3 here's her fab review (go read it or i'll haunt you): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
At least this book made me laugh, sometimes because the humour was generally well-written, and sometimes due to the utter shitshow this book was. There were some things I liked, but more things I hated, unfortunately.
To begin with something positive, I quite enjoyed the characters.
⤷ Carter is our typical fuck-boy (but not really), confident, funny guy and he reminded me quite a bit of Ilya. Ilya is unbeatable of course, but I appreciated how lighthearted, funny and charismatic his character was. He loves animals :(((. Carter films gay porn in attempt to end his financial reliance on his father, who is someone undeserving of the redemption he got, more on that later.
⤷ Adam is the nerdy, awkward, poor guy who doesn't fit in because everyone at his college is rich (🙄). I didn't mind Adam too much but he was pretty insisting on his "I'm not like other guys" perception of himself. He was definitely depicted as being this innocent shy guy which was fine but then he came to conclusions that really bothered me, considering he's supposed to be the "smart guy".
There were also some funny moments, so there's that.
Lmao, Mateo was a funny side character. I didn't mind him.
Now I'm left with trying to find another positive thing about this book...*crickets*. To be fair, I enjoyed the trope itself; "and they were roommates" so if anyone has more recommendations for that trope, please send them my way.
It's important to consider that this book is this author's debut novel, so of course, it will be far from perfect, but certain things were obviously at fault.
⤷ The misogyny? Something that is unfortunately common in mm (written by women), is the need to make the mmc's degrade or put down women in order to emphasize the fact that they're not attracted to them/are attracted to men. At the beginning of the book, I endured reading more or less 2 pages about the two mmcs complaining about how a girl "forgot to put on a bra". It was so shameful, what??
Excuse me?? #freethenip. This just made me so uncomfortable, is it impossible for them to just go on with their day without giving such an unnecessary, degrading opinion? This was just so utterly unnecessary, it served no purpose. This author needs to get her internalised misogyny in check.
⤷ The cover...enough said.
⤷ The side drama, ugh. Lucas? He was so unnecessary. The family issues (which were handled awfully), also unnecessary. Jackals wild? (ik it's in the title but idc), also extremely unnecessary and unrealistic, if i do say so myself. There was so much time dedicated this this mess and it greatly took away from the romance. Most mm books I've read tend to be more around the 270-300 pages range, but this one was longer, unnecessarily. It did not improve the romantic/emotional development, whatsoever.
⤷ The pacing, the drag and the inner monologue...basically everything that took away from the romance. We didn't get any mmc interaction until we were 10% in, and then it was only sprinkled throughout the book. Their moments were cute, don't get me wrong, but there weren't enough of them, consistently.
⤷ The writing. God, what even was the writing. Worse, it was particularly bad during the sex scenes...
⤷ The badly handled family drama/daddy issues. Carter's dad cheated on his mom with a co-worker, they got into an argument about it so the mom left in her car, his mom got in a car accident and died, the dad peer pressures Carter into studying pre-med rather than pre-vet, he was absent from his childhood and didn't attend his birthdays, he got mad when Carter asked for help with his homework. BUT NO!!!!!! He has this stupid little fucking redemption arc because APPARENTLY his he felt like he wasn't enough for his in-laws 🥺🥱 and he apparently wasn't as rich as them (poor guy, even though he is mega-rich, he just wasn't old-money rich {he literally says that}), and he gets mad when his in-laws try to take away his "only son" by wanting to let him go to the best school in France. Carter's dad is a fucking joke, why the fuck did this author make a whole redemption arc for him. Actually, not EVEN. He just says "I'm sorry", and "I'm proud of you" and Carter melts at his feet (poor guy, I don't blame him) but he should not have been forgiven whatsoever. He was deadass giving Ryle with his half-assed apologies for cheating, guilt-tripping Carter by saying that "he regrets cheating on his wife every day of his life". Yeah, too bad, that's not enough lolol. No one cares about your guilt, you deserve it.
And the worst part about all of that is the fact that every time Carter is upset about the shit his Dad pulls, Adam defends the dad??? He literally says this shit:
Excuse me? If your first reaction isn't to believe your friend about his lowkey neglectful parent, you are a shitty friend. Why is Adam invalidating everything ugh. And there's more.
Boy, get out. And then he shames Carter from reacting naturally to literal homophobia???? When Carter was younger, he was about to kiss his bff (who also liked him back), but people walked by and saw, so his friend shoved him and called him the f-slur. And what does Adam have to say about this? This bullshit:
Adam was so unsupportive and inconsiderate of Carter and it made me so so upset. I cannot fathom why the author thought it was a good idea to come to these dumb conclusions.
⤷ The porn-making was so cringey, sm second-hand embarrassment, help.
...*more crickets*
Even though this book was a definite dissapointment, I still had a great time buddy-reading it with Kati <333. Looking forward to buddy reading with you more!
When the hands twisted in his hair, Adam gripped Carter's biceps to keep himself from joining the deodorant on the floor.
Carter pulled away and traced a thumb along Adam's bottom lip. His eyes had turned to a warm, dusty blue. "You're too cute to make anyone mad."
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
Buddy read with Kati <3 here's her fab review (go read it or i'll haunt you): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
At least this book made me laugh, sometimes because the humour was generally well-written, and sometimes due to the utter shitshow this book was. There were some things I liked, but more things I hated, unfortunately.
To begin with something positive, I quite enjoyed the characters.
⤷ Carter is our typical fuck-boy (but not really), confident, funny guy and he reminded me quite a bit of Ilya. Ilya is unbeatable of course, but I appreciated how lighthearted, funny and charismatic his character was. He loves animals :(((. Carter films gay porn in attempt to end his financial reliance on his father, who is someone undeserving of the redemption he got, more on that later.
⤷ Adam is the nerdy, awkward, poor guy who doesn't fit in because everyone at his college is rich (🙄). I didn't mind Adam too much but he was pretty insisting on his "I'm not like other guys" perception of himself. He was definitely depicted as being this innocent shy guy which was fine but then he came to conclusions that really bothered me, considering he's supposed to be the "smart guy".
There were also some funny moments, so there's that.
Mateo now had a glint in his eye. “Hey, speaking of fire hazards...how’s the Carter situation?”
Adam tightened his grip on the highlighter. The mere mention of that name was enough to deflate his spirits for the rest of the day. “My roommate is an animal.”
“In bed?”
Lmao, Mateo was a funny side character. I didn't mind him.
Now I'm left with trying to find another positive thing about this book...*crickets*. To be fair, I enjoyed the trope itself; "and they were roommates" so if anyone has more recommendations for that trope, please send them my way.
It's important to consider that this book is this author's debut novel, so of course, it will be far from perfect, but certain things were obviously at fault.
⤷ The misogyny? Something that is unfortunately common in mm (written by women), is the need to make the mmc's degrade or put down women in order to emphasize the fact that they're not attracted to them/are attracted to men. At the beginning of the book, I endured reading more or less 2 pages about the two mmcs complaining about how a girl "forgot to put on a bra". It was so shameful, what??
Carter nudged Adam's foot with the toe of his show and whispere, "She's not wearing a bra."
"Damn, she's about to poke Brandon's eye out. Do you think she knows? How can you forget to put on a bra? I mean, you'd think something like that would be a second skin for women."
Excuse me?? #freethenip. This just made me so uncomfortable, is it impossible for them to just go on with their day without giving such an unnecessary, degrading opinion? This was just so utterly unnecessary, it served no purpose. This author needs to get her internalised misogyny in check.
⤷ The cover...enough said.
⤷ The side drama, ugh. Lucas? He was so unnecessary. The family issues (which were handled awfully), also unnecessary. Jackals wild? (ik it's in the title but idc), also extremely unnecessary and unrealistic, if i do say so myself. There was so much time dedicated this this mess and it greatly took away from the romance. Most mm books I've read tend to be more around the 270-300 pages range, but this one was longer, unnecessarily. It did not improve the romantic/emotional development, whatsoever.
⤷ The pacing, the drag and the inner monologue...basically everything that took away from the romance. We didn't get any mmc interaction until we were 10% in, and then it was only sprinkled throughout the book. Their moments were cute, don't get me wrong, but there weren't enough of them, consistently.
⤷ The writing. God, what even was the writing. Worse, it was particularly bad during the sex scenes...
“The tip of his cock gave the back of Carter’s throat a high five” (WHAT)
“It felt like a sexy bolt of lightning had just struck his ass.”(it was literally a finger touching your booty, dude)
⤷ The badly handled family drama/daddy issues. Carter's dad cheated on his mom with a co-worker, they got into an argument about it so the mom left in her car, his mom got in a car accident and died, the dad peer pressures Carter into studying pre-med rather than pre-vet, he was absent from his childhood and didn't attend his birthdays, he got mad when Carter asked for help with his homework. BUT NO!!!!!! He has this stupid little fucking redemption arc because APPARENTLY his he felt like he wasn't enough for his in-laws 🥺🥱 and he apparently wasn't as rich as them (poor guy, even though he is mega-rich, he just wasn't old-money rich {he literally says that}), and he gets mad when his in-laws try to take away his "only son" by wanting to let him go to the best school in France. Carter's dad is a fucking joke, why the fuck did this author make a whole redemption arc for him. Actually, not EVEN. He just says "I'm sorry", and "I'm proud of you" and Carter melts at his feet (poor guy, I don't blame him) but he should not have been forgiven whatsoever. He was deadass giving Ryle with his half-assed apologies for cheating, guilt-tripping Carter by saying that "he regrets cheating on his wife every day of his life". Yeah, too bad, that's not enough lolol. No one cares about your guilt, you deserve it.
And the worst part about all of that is the fact that every time Carter is upset about the shit his Dad pulls, Adam defends the dad??? He literally says this shit:
"If you show your dad how serious you are about becoming a vet, maybe he'll come around. He seems like a nice guy."
Excuse me? If your first reaction isn't to believe your friend about his lowkey neglectful parent, you are a shitty friend. Why is Adam invalidating everything ugh. And there's more.
"He's the one who hurt me." Carter slammed his fist on the mattress. "He killed everything I cared about. Including me. Every time I have to look at him or talk to him, I feel dead."
"But he was so friendly when I met him..." (Adam).
Boy, get out. And then he shames Carter from reacting naturally to literal homophobia???? When Carter was younger, he was about to kiss his bff (who also liked him back), but people walked by and saw, so his friend shoved him and called him the f-slur. And what does Adam have to say about this? This bullshit:
"You're a runner."(Adam)
"Yeah, I told you that I used to run track. I still jog a couple miles every week."
"No, you run away from thing. You ran out on your dad at the steakhouse. You ran away from Derek (the old bff)-"
"After he called me a crazy [f-slur]! What else was I supposed to do? Hug him?"
Adam was so unsupportive and inconsiderate of Carter and it made me so so upset. I cannot fathom why the author thought it was a good idea to come to these dumb conclusions.
⤷ The porn-making was so cringey, sm second-hand embarrassment, help.
"...stretch me out, baby. I want to feel your fingers circling inside me. Then thrusting. Go as hard as you want. I'm all yours. Do you see this? I'm so fucking hard for you. Whenever I imagine you at the gym, all I can see is your tight ass flexing under those insufferable shorts. I'm jealous of your clothes. I want to rip them off and throw them out the window."
...*more crickets*
Even though this book was a definite dissapointment, I still had a great time buddy-reading it with Kati <333. Looking forward to buddy reading with you more!
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
April 23, 2022
3*** stars
I did a buddy read on this one with lovely gloria ◦○ °. That was really fun. Hope to do that again soon.
********
(btw I AM an accountant and cake is actually one of the highlights of my week)
********
The story is light and I had a lot of good laughs throughout the book. The banter between various characters was just hilarious.
There were a few things that bugged me but nothing major to really rant about. gloria ◦○ ° did that for the both of us *lol
Carter and Alex were both adorable characters and their love story was very sweet and tender. No angst, no relationship drama.
What/who I also really liked was the group of friends that had formed and grew closer and closer. In the end they felt a little like the four musketeers.
The most interesting part for me was … (well, you would think it was the amateur porn video thing and that was fun, though… but no) it was the troubled relationship between Carter and his dad. I had a feeling that there was more to it than just a high and mighty father who gives a shit about his son.
All in all it was an okay read but nothing I would necessarily recommend to anyone.
**********
This is going to be a series but I think I quit it here after the first one.
I did a buddy read on this one with lovely gloria ◦○ °. That was really fun. Hope to do that again soon.
********
“No, the point of college is to cram as much crazy shit as you can into four years without getting STDs or arrested. So when you’re forty-five and Fred from accounting tells you there’s chocolate cake in the breakroom and you know that’s going to be the highlight of your entire week, at least you’ll have memories of epic ragers to remind yourself that you used to be alive.”
(btw I AM an accountant and cake is actually one of the highlights of my week)
********
The story is light and I had a lot of good laughs throughout the book. The banter between various characters was just hilarious.
There were a few things that bugged me but nothing major to really rant about. gloria ◦○ ° did that for the both of us *lol
Carter and Alex were both adorable characters and their love story was very sweet and tender. No angst, no relationship drama.
"I’m just a guy who’s crazy about you. … I’ve burned so many calories just thinking about you.” … “I know that’s not a very romantic statement. But when I think of you, I have to use my entire body. That’s how much space you take up inside me.” Awwww, Carter!! ♡
What/who I also really liked was the group of friends that had formed and grew closer and closer. In the end they felt a little like the four musketeers.
The most interesting part for me was … (well, you would think it was the amateur porn video thing and that was fun, though… but no) it was the troubled relationship between Carter and his dad. I had a feeling that there was more to it than just a high and mighty father who gives a shit about his son.
All in all it was an okay read but nothing I would necessarily recommend to anyone.
**********
This is going to be a series but I think I quit it here after the first one.
January 15, 2023
A cute and steamy geek/jock college roommate romance!
Adam is a shy nerd who spends his time studying hard and playing an online video game with his best friend Matteo. His roommate Carter is - in Adam's eyes - a typical frat boy, handsome, muscular and extremely untidy, Adam's main source of frustration. Carter has a secret: he is saving money to chase his carreer dream through a rather unconventional means - adult industry.
The romance is sweet and without silly setbacks, the side characters (Matteo, Fern, Max) are interesting, the messages on harassing, invading privacy, bullying and cyber-bullying spot on, and the book is also touching the issues of family and background.
An exciting debut novel from Abby Kaitz !
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Adam is a shy nerd who spends his time studying hard and playing an online video game with his best friend Matteo. His roommate Carter is - in Adam's eyes - a typical frat boy, handsome, muscular and extremely untidy, Adam's main source of frustration. Carter has a secret: he is saving money to chase his carreer dream through a rather unconventional means - adult industry.
The romance is sweet and without silly setbacks, the side characters (Matteo, Fern, Max) are interesting, the messages on harassing, invading privacy, bullying and cyber-bullying spot on, and the book is also touching the issues of family and background.
An exciting debut novel from Abby Kaitz !
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
March 11, 2022
I liked this book so much! It had me pulled in from the start and it was so hard to put down. Both Adam and Carter were such likeable characters, and together they were even better. I'm sad it's over, but the ending made me feel so happy and satisfied. I'm looking forward to reading Max's story in the next book. 4.5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 5, 2022
this book sounded similar to show me by neve wilder. i love that book, so i was happy to begin this.
this was a bit of a mess.
if a character describes himself as awkward, i want to see him being awkward, i don’t want to read that he thinks that is awkward for like 278226282929 times.
carter was frustrating. he took the hot and cold treatment to a new level.
not terrible, but it could’ve been a thousand times better.
this was a bit of a mess.
if a character describes himself as awkward, i want to see him being awkward, i don’t want to read that he thinks that is awkward for like 278226282929 times.
carter was frustrating. he took the hot and cold treatment to a new level.
not terrible, but it could’ve been a thousand times better.
March 19, 2022
This is a cute jock/nerd story, with the twist that the jock is secretly doing porn on the side, but in the end, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. This book could be a good read for someone more into the college roommate set-up and the jock/nerd trope than I am. After all, it was cute and the writing style is not bad at all, but I quickly became bored and just wasn’t connecting to the story.
Even though I’m not usually looking for college stories, there are still some NA books I’ve read and really liked, because the chemistry between the MCs was compelling, so college romance is not a hard No for me. Now I will admit that the nerd character archetype is not my favorite, and that’s a “me” thing that influenced my appreciation of the book. I can say though that I liked that Adam wasn’t totally helpless in society, compared to other nerd characters I’ve read. Out of the two of them, he’s even the one with the most accomplished social life. In fact, both MCs were good characters and likable. The “porn star and his cameraman” was a fun plot device. The message about cyber-bullying and invasion of privacy was also well-done.
But in the end though, I just didn’t connect to either of the characters, and didn’t feel any stakes or tension in their relationship. The execution of the plot ended up being a little lack-luster and I wish the OnlyFans filming scenes were steamier instead of mostly comedic. I quickly lost interest, not because of anything bad, but because everything was just fine.
I received a free copy (ARC) on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Even though I’m not usually looking for college stories, there are still some NA books I’ve read and really liked, because the chemistry between the MCs was compelling, so college romance is not a hard No for me. Now I will admit that the nerd character archetype is not my favorite, and that’s a “me” thing that influenced my appreciation of the book. I can say though that I liked that Adam wasn’t totally helpless in society, compared to other nerd characters I’ve read. Out of the two of them, he’s even the one with the most accomplished social life. In fact, both MCs were good characters and likable. The “porn star and his cameraman” was a fun plot device. The message about cyber-bullying and invasion of privacy was also well-done.
But in the end though, I just didn’t connect to either of the characters, and didn’t feel any stakes or tension in their relationship. The execution of the plot ended up being a little lack-luster and I wish the OnlyFans filming scenes were steamier instead of mostly comedic. I quickly lost interest, not because of anything bad, but because everything was just fine.
I received a free copy (ARC) on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2023
4 Stars
This was a nice read. Adam and Carter were both likable and sweet. My heart broke for Carter and the pain he’d suffered in the past. He was sweet and kinda goofy, but when you dug deeper he had a big heart and was much more than just the obnoxious frat boy that Adam believed him to be in the beginning of the story.
Adam was also sweet and I really loved that when he discovers what Carter is doing, he doesn’t think less of him as most people would. He was perfectly fine with it and unlike others, made an attempt to get to know the real Carter.
Together, they were nice, but I guess my biggest issue was I wasn’t sure how Carter felt about Adam for a big portion of the book. It wasn’t really clear to me and it felt like they were just roommates having sex for a while. I think I wanted a bit more romance and a deeper connection between them throughout the story.
Still, this was an enjoyable read and I absolutely loved Adam’s friends, Mateo and Fern. I’d have no issues recommending.
**copy provided by published/author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
April 8, 2022
3.5 stars
RTC but I really enjoyed this one. It included a lot of tropes I enjoy in books. It was really cute and romantic and it was hot too, so really, it was great. I had a really good time reading this one.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
RTC but I really enjoyed this one. It included a lot of tropes I enjoy in books. It was really cute and romantic and it was hot too, so really, it was great. I had a really good time reading this one.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
March 18, 2022
Genre/Tropes: MM, Roommates
POV: 3rd, Dual
Standalone
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥
——————
So 3rd person isn’t my favorite but I found myself completely immersed in this story to the point I often forgot it was in my least favorite POV. That’s saying something.
It’s all in the details, y’all. Carter is a contradiction of cocky and sweet, dominant and gentle. He is absolutely crazy about Adam but it’s found in his obsession with his smiles and laughter, caring for him, and embracing his awkwardness. The way he “bottled up” Adam’s smiles made me SWOON.
|| 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙰𝚍𝚊𝚖 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚡𝚢. 𝚆𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚒𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚎, 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚞𝚕. ||
Adam is a bit stilted due to a lifetime of bullying and he’s endearingly innocent. He caves when he’s subjected to harsh commentary and it makes Carter and his friends, Matteo and Fern, go all protective for him, but Adam just wants to stand on his own. I need to hug him. (PS, it’s Carter who ends up helping him stand on his own 😍)
I honestly adored these two together. They came together and loved each other so easily it almost didn’t feel like it developed but IT DID. Details, y’all. I love the freaking details. The spicy scenes were spicy but not TOO spicy. Again, it was quite sweet, which sounds weird to say, but gah! These two were everything. There was little angst, so many “tiny” moments, and so much love in this book.
|| “𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚖𝚎.” ||
March 19, 2022
So, um... I was not expecting that story. I knew that it would be an interesting romance between college roommates. However, I was not expecting the turn of events that take place. I don't want to go into details and ruin anything, because when I realized what was happening, my jaw hit the floor. It was one of those moments where I was completely in shock at the revelation.
One thing that I really liked about this story was the way the author wrote the characters. Adam is an introvert nerd who would much rather study alone in his room than hang out with friends and go to parties. His roommate is the opposite. Carter is a bit of a slob who is never in his room, except when he's passed out in his bed. Needless to say, Adam has never really given his roommate a seconds thought. However, when he finds out his roommates secret, things get a lot more interesting.
Not only did I really like the story twist that takes place, but I also enjoyed the character development. Adam only recently came out as gay. So, he's still very reserved when it comes to embracing his sexuality. Then there's Carter who has felt lost and forgotten for years, and has learned to keep people are arms length. Add onto that that there is a stalker out there harassing Carter, and you have one very interesting story.
This was a pretty solid read. It was real and felt raw at times. I really enjoyed watching the characters grow and learn to embrace who they are. If you are in the market for a steamy m/m college romance, then I would give this book a read.
One thing that I really liked about this story was the way the author wrote the characters. Adam is an introvert nerd who would much rather study alone in his room than hang out with friends and go to parties. His roommate is the opposite. Carter is a bit of a slob who is never in his room, except when he's passed out in his bed. Needless to say, Adam has never really given his roommate a seconds thought. However, when he finds out his roommates secret, things get a lot more interesting.
Not only did I really like the story twist that takes place, but I also enjoyed the character development. Adam only recently came out as gay. So, he's still very reserved when it comes to embracing his sexuality. Then there's Carter who has felt lost and forgotten for years, and has learned to keep people are arms length. Add onto that that there is a stalker out there harassing Carter, and you have one very interesting story.
This was a pretty solid read. It was real and felt raw at times. I really enjoyed watching the characters grow and learn to embrace who they are. If you are in the market for a steamy m/m college romance, then I would give this book a read.
March 25, 2022
3.5 Rounded to 4
This was a good story - Adam, a maths geek who finds his college roommate hot and frustrating until he finally starts to get to know him. Carter, whose life motto is to not let people get close, and who also has a porn side hustle. Along with some fun side characters and a few interesting side plots it had enough to hold my attention. It definitely had some sweet moments
But to be fair, this didn’t wow me. I never really fell in love with Adam. The recipe was there, awkward, a little bumbling, shy, but he was actually a bit judgemental and heartless to Carter - he frustrated me a lot. Carter on the other hand was wonderful, layered, fun, heartfelt - you rooted for him. It was Carter’s happy ending you were excited about.
In the end, I'm glad I read it, and I’ll most likely give the next book a try. Sometimes I just don’t connect with the first book in a series, so maybe it’s more a me problem.
< ARC provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review >
This was a good story - Adam, a maths geek who finds his college roommate hot and frustrating until he finally starts to get to know him. Carter, whose life motto is to not let people get close, and who also has a porn side hustle. Along with some fun side characters and a few interesting side plots it had enough to hold my attention. It definitely had some sweet moments
But to be fair, this didn’t wow me. I never really fell in love with Adam. The recipe was there, awkward, a little bumbling, shy, but he was actually a bit judgemental and heartless to Carter - he frustrated me a lot. Carter on the other hand was wonderful, layered, fun, heartfelt - you rooted for him. It was Carter’s happy ending you were excited about.
In the end, I'm glad I read it, and I’ll most likely give the next book a try. Sometimes I just don’t connect with the first book in a series, so maybe it’s more a me problem.
< ARC provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review >
May 13, 2022
This was a cute, sweet romance with a decent amount of spice. Also for once we didn't get the 3rd quarter break up so that was nice.
I got quite frustrated with Adam and the way he pushed Carter to open up. It just seemed like he was being overly pushy, really quickly and wasn't necessarily reciprocating. Also his reactions to Carters stories werent great, he was always questioning Carter whether it was as bad as he thought. In fairness it is believeable for a 19 year old to say that kind of stuff but still was frustrating.
I got quite frustrated with Adam and the way he pushed Carter to open up. It just seemed like he was being overly pushy, really quickly and wasn't necessarily reciprocating. Also his reactions to Carters stories werent great, he was always questioning Carter whether it was as bad as he thought. In fairness it is believeable for a 19 year old to say that kind of stuff but still was frustrating.
April 3, 2022
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first book I have read from this author and omg my freaking heart. From the summary I was expecting something a little different but this story still didn't disappoint. It has growing pains, past traumas, a cute little romance and a dash of amateur porn. I can't wait to see what the author does with this world and its characters.
This was the first book I have read from this author and omg my freaking heart. From the summary I was expecting something a little different but this story still didn't disappoint. It has growing pains, past traumas, a cute little romance and a dash of amateur porn. I can't wait to see what the author does with this world and its characters.
April 5, 2022
What an outstanding read
Firstly let me say I got this book from gay romance reviews and this is me leaving my honest review.
This is the first book that I’ve read by Abby Kaitz And I’ve got to admit I am just blown away. There is so much depth in this book that you just cannot help but turn the pages faster and faster.
The two main characters in the story of Adam Who is a nerdy mathematician gay guy who has got no self-confidence. Then you have Carter who comes across as this easy going over exuberant character whereas in all honesty this man is an iceberg because there’s so much going on that you just don’t even realise when you start this book.
Adam can’t stand having Carter as his roommate he is the messiest slob you’d ever wanna meet but then something changed. Adam saw something that made him look at Carter in a totally different light and they started to talk. And then things just started to happen so fast but Adam being Adam needed to know everything about Carter and he wasn’t willing to let him just hash over questions and Adam would also self doubt about himself , was he good enough for Carter he could do so much better than him. But Carter only seems to have eyes for Adam.
Then they come up with this crazy idea and then the journey really begins.
I could not put this book down I broke my heart over Carter I just wanted to give him a big hug and let him know that he was good enough. I am so glad he found somebody like Adam because when they’re together it’s like the world just disappears. And the difference that we seen Carter is just amazing how he opens up to Adam. But the twist interns just keep coming.
Just an amazing Read! You will not be disappointed in this book.
Firstly let me say I got this book from gay romance reviews and this is me leaving my honest review.
This is the first book that I’ve read by Abby Kaitz And I’ve got to admit I am just blown away. There is so much depth in this book that you just cannot help but turn the pages faster and faster.
The two main characters in the story of Adam Who is a nerdy mathematician gay guy who has got no self-confidence. Then you have Carter who comes across as this easy going over exuberant character whereas in all honesty this man is an iceberg because there’s so much going on that you just don’t even realise when you start this book.
Adam can’t stand having Carter as his roommate he is the messiest slob you’d ever wanna meet but then something changed. Adam saw something that made him look at Carter in a totally different light and they started to talk. And then things just started to happen so fast but Adam being Adam needed to know everything about Carter and he wasn’t willing to let him just hash over questions and Adam would also self doubt about himself , was he good enough for Carter he could do so much better than him. But Carter only seems to have eyes for Adam.
Then they come up with this crazy idea and then the journey really begins.
I could not put this book down I broke my heart over Carter I just wanted to give him a big hug and let him know that he was good enough. I am so glad he found somebody like Adam because when they’re together it’s like the world just disappears. And the difference that we seen Carter is just amazing how he opens up to Adam. But the twist interns just keep coming.
Just an amazing Read! You will not be disappointed in this book.
April 4, 2022
College roommates to lovers, opposites attract. Hot AF. Carter is a massive slob and kinda mysterious and even though Adam doesn’t really know anything about him he just rubs Adam the wrong way even though he’s been nothing but nice to him. Carter is used to keeping people at arms length and is intent on only having friendships at a surface level but Adam manages to burrow under his defenses without even trying. Once Adam discovers Carter’s big secret they decide to work together each for their own reasons while falling in love in private. I felt the book took a few chapters to find its groove but once it did it was full steam ahead! The s3x is hot but they also work to build a relationship with a firm foundation as they truly support each other through tough times. There were times I felt Adam wasn’t the most likeable character and I became frustrated with his quick judgment of Carter, especially about his relationship with his dad despite not knowing absolutely anything about their history. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
March 19, 2022
This was a sweet story about roommates Adam and Carter finding their way to each other after a rocky start. Carter had a secret job of being in adult films that Adam found out by mistake. They agreed go into business together to include Adam as the camera guy for extra income. As they navigate from business partners to more it was cute to see Adam develop his self esteem and self confidence. I liked all the friends especially Fern and Mateo who were very supportive to Adam. My only complaint was the ending. I felt that it was rushed and a bit confusing. Overall, though I liked the book. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
April 4, 2022
Adam and Carter ❤️
4 Stars 🌟
Omg!! Sweetness overload in this geek/frat boy roommate romance. Not only was this one really cute...it was spicy as hell 🔥 I adored both of these MC'S, Adam was adorkable, awkward and shy....Carter was your typical on the surface frat boy, popular and loved by everybody however he was so much more than that...he had secrets, past hurts and pain. I loved the relationship development as well as individual character development in this story, the author did such a good job writing the story of Carter and Adam. This was my first read from this author and I will definitely be looking into other reads from them...I most definitely recommend this book.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
4 Stars 🌟
Omg!! Sweetness overload in this geek/frat boy roommate romance. Not only was this one really cute...it was spicy as hell 🔥 I adored both of these MC'S, Adam was adorkable, awkward and shy....Carter was your typical on the surface frat boy, popular and loved by everybody however he was so much more than that...he had secrets, past hurts and pain. I loved the relationship development as well as individual character development in this story, the author did such a good job writing the story of Carter and Adam. This was my first read from this author and I will definitely be looking into other reads from them...I most definitely recommend this book.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
March 13, 2022
This was such a sweet and easy read—with a heck of a lot of spice and moments thay will make your heart melt! 🔥
It was lovely to see the story jot only focus on Adam's journey and development into himself, but how Carter developed throughout too.
Each had their own flaws and hurdles to get over, but they did it together and it was honestly wonderful to see the nerdy kid come into his own and them find each other together!
The spice was other level and totally worth the read if M/M romance is up your alley—and the modern setting of how it was portrayed was brilliant!
Looking forward to reading the next instalment!!
It was lovely to see the story jot only focus on Adam's journey and development into himself, but how Carter developed throughout too.
Each had their own flaws and hurdles to get over, but they did it together and it was honestly wonderful to see the nerdy kid come into his own and them find each other together!
The spice was other level and totally worth the read if M/M romance is up your alley—and the modern setting of how it was portrayed was brilliant!
Looking forward to reading the next instalment!!
March 26, 2022
When Adam, a math nerd and model student, learns his obnoxious frat boy roomie Carter is secretly a gay pornstar, he starts seeing him in a very different light. The pair strike up a working friendship that soon turns into more, and *swoon*.
I really loved Adam and Carter together. Adam, although shy, wasn’t afraid to push past Carter’s boundaries and get him to open up about himself, and Carter help Adam become more confident. They were also super cute together and their chemistry was 🔥
I really loved Adam and Carter together. Adam, although shy, wasn’t afraid to push past Carter’s boundaries and get him to open up about himself, and Carter help Adam become more confident. They were also super cute together and their chemistry was 🔥
June 1, 2022
This story is adorable. Okay, Adam is adorable, Carter is kinda mysterious but charming and I came to like him a lot by the end of the book. Jackals Wild follows college undergrads and roommates Adam and Carter as they get to know each other and eventually fall in love. Of course it’s not that simple, Adam is suffering from critically low self esteem and Carter? Well, he hides himself from everyone, putting on masks so no one gets close to him. For the most part he succeeds until Adam discovers his side-hustle as a gay porn star and the pair go independent together with Carter as the on-screen talent and Adam as the videographer. This goes great except not everyone is accepting of Carter’s alter-ego and the pair have to lean on each other to navigate the discrimination and hate that gay adult entertainers can face.
The story is well paced and cute, it’s mostly told from Adam’s point of view at first but as Adam gets to know Carter we get more and more insight into his side of things and it work well for the story. It’s a little different than a lot of the two person POV we see where it swaps back and forth consistently and it’s kind of refreshing to see that done a little different.
Pick up your copy of Jackals Wild when it releases on March 25, 2022
I received a copy of Jackals Wild for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story is well paced and cute, it’s mostly told from Adam’s point of view at first but as Adam gets to know Carter we get more and more insight into his side of things and it work well for the story. It’s a little different than a lot of the two person POV we see where it swaps back and forth consistently and it’s kind of refreshing to see that done a little different.
Pick up your copy of Jackals Wild when it releases on March 25, 2022
I received a copy of Jackals Wild for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2022
As a math major, I had to root for Adam to find his guy, but who knew it would be the irritating roommate from "you know where", lol. This is a great story of opposites attract, sort of enemies to lovers in college. Carter turned out to be a much deeper and interesting character than his first appearance suggested.
August 14, 2023
What a delightful afternoon read! I wanted something that I could easily read while reading on a Sunday afternoon and I ended up finding that and so much more. The story was well written and so incredibly sweet. For a love story that is based upon characters that is more than meets the eyes at first glance plus a lovely resolution for all, look no further!
April 15, 2024
Do porn, catch feelings.
Clumsy writing, but heartfelt.
Solid, sweet debut.
Clumsy writing, but heartfelt.
Solid, sweet debut.
March 13, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Why did I like this book :
The relationship between the characters was really well written, especially the way it evolved throughout the book.
The characters and the way they grew during the story. The fact that the guy who first seemed like the cliché of the popular guy could be sweet and vulnerable. And that the shy nerd could turn into a fierce protector when needed.
The story was well written and the events were interesting. I was invested in it and wanted to know what would happen next.
The pace of the book made the story progress easily.
The spicy scenes were also really nice!
As you can tell, I really enjoyed reading this book and if you’re looking for a really sweet yet steamy MM romance in a college setting, you should really give this one a chance!
I’m definitely keeping an eye out for the next book in this series.
TW: Death of a parent (before the book)
Why did I like this book :
The relationship between the characters was really well written, especially the way it evolved throughout the book.
The characters and the way they grew during the story. The fact that the guy who first seemed like the cliché of the popular guy could be sweet and vulnerable. And that the shy nerd could turn into a fierce protector when needed.
The story was well written and the events were interesting. I was invested in it and wanted to know what would happen next.
The pace of the book made the story progress easily.
The spicy scenes were also really nice!
As you can tell, I really enjoyed reading this book and if you’re looking for a really sweet yet steamy MM romance in a college setting, you should really give this one a chance!
I’m definitely keeping an eye out for the next book in this series.
TW: Death of a parent (before the book)
March 15, 2022
This story had me from the start. These two characters had a lot to them separately and even more once things brought them together. I love the funny quips throughout and Adam's mom brought more fun too. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 18, 2022
Jackal's Wild had an interesting plot and set of characters but the writing style and execution just didn't click with me. The romance felt off and a little lack-luster and I just didn't really get the stakes? This was decent enough and I read it pretty quickly but it wasn't great.
March 28, 2022
This is the first book by Abby Kaitz I've read and I can assure you it will not be my last. Because this book was amazing. College roommates turned lovers is a trope I can always get behind, but this one had more than that. It had two men who grew to become one another's best friends. It also had a fun business angle, some found family, the right amount of angst, and a lot of other really good sprinkles.
Let's start first with our characters.
Adam is a nerd. There's no other way of putting it. He's a math nerd who met his best friend, Mateo, because they both liked the same video game. At the beginning of the book, his world revolves around studying and his work study, because unlike a lot of students at his school he didn't come from money and is there on scholarship. He's also the first kid in his family to go to college, so he feels a lot of pressure. However, when Mateo drags him out one night, he makes a conscious decision. He is going to finally become the main character in his life.
He just never expected his costar to be his roommate, Carter. Carter is Adam's opposite. He's outgoing and loud and comes from money. He also does not let people get close to him. He has a whole mantra about it and he doesn't let that waver if he can avoid it. However, he's intrigued by Adam from the jump - and we can see it before either he or Adam mention it with the simple action of muffins being left at Adam's desk without a word. Oh and Carter also does porn as a side hustle.
Adam and Carter's annoyance morphs quickly to something else and soon the chemistry is too great for them to overlook. And the chemistry is amazing. I loved that part between them, because it was a lot of exploration. Adam is inexperienced, and Carter makes him feel comfortable when they're together. He makes little jokes and I love watching as Adam becomes more confident through both his time with Carter physically and also his time helping Carter make his videos as a camera boy.
This book doesn't suffer from a lot of the same pitfalls other books fall into. There's no 70% breakup. The times when they have slight communication errors, they're solved quickly by the simple method of talking to one another. When Adam is upset that Carter doesn't open to him, he talks to Carter about it and learns why Carter doesn't open up easily. When Adam is upset by things in Carter's life, Carter tries to reassure him and be there for him. It all felt incredibly real.
The side characters also felt real and those relationships felt just as important to Adam as his relationship with Carter. They also felt just as important to the plot. They were treated with just as much seriousness and I loved that, because sometimes platonic love takes a backburner and it always makes me happy when it doesn't.
Jackals Wild is the first book in a new series. It can be read as a standalone. It is a dual POV told in third person with a pretty high level of heat and a low to mid level of angst. If you're looking for a new author and this is on your list, I recommend you take the chance.
** DISCLAIMER: ARC provided by GRR and this is my fair and honest review **
Let's start first with our characters.
Adam is a nerd. There's no other way of putting it. He's a math nerd who met his best friend, Mateo, because they both liked the same video game. At the beginning of the book, his world revolves around studying and his work study, because unlike a lot of students at his school he didn't come from money and is there on scholarship. He's also the first kid in his family to go to college, so he feels a lot of pressure. However, when Mateo drags him out one night, he makes a conscious decision. He is going to finally become the main character in his life.
He just never expected his costar to be his roommate, Carter. Carter is Adam's opposite. He's outgoing and loud and comes from money. He also does not let people get close to him. He has a whole mantra about it and he doesn't let that waver if he can avoid it. However, he's intrigued by Adam from the jump - and we can see it before either he or Adam mention it with the simple action of muffins being left at Adam's desk without a word. Oh and Carter also does porn as a side hustle.
Adam and Carter's annoyance morphs quickly to something else and soon the chemistry is too great for them to overlook. And the chemistry is amazing. I loved that part between them, because it was a lot of exploration. Adam is inexperienced, and Carter makes him feel comfortable when they're together. He makes little jokes and I love watching as Adam becomes more confident through both his time with Carter physically and also his time helping Carter make his videos as a camera boy.
This book doesn't suffer from a lot of the same pitfalls other books fall into. There's no 70% breakup. The times when they have slight communication errors, they're solved quickly by the simple method of talking to one another. When Adam is upset that Carter doesn't open to him, he talks to Carter about it and learns why Carter doesn't open up easily. When Adam is upset by things in Carter's life, Carter tries to reassure him and be there for him. It all felt incredibly real.
The side characters also felt real and those relationships felt just as important to Adam as his relationship with Carter. They also felt just as important to the plot. They were treated with just as much seriousness and I loved that, because sometimes platonic love takes a backburner and it always makes me happy when it doesn't.
Jackals Wild is the first book in a new series. It can be read as a standalone. It is a dual POV told in third person with a pretty high level of heat and a low to mid level of angst. If you're looking for a new author and this is on your list, I recommend you take the chance.
** DISCLAIMER: ARC provided by GRR and this is my fair and honest review **
April 5, 2022
***4.75 stars!***
I am so mad. ONCE AGAIN, I find a book by an author that I really and truly enjoy…and it’s the author’s first damned book. Yes, this means that the quality will only get better as the author continues to write and bless us with funny and heartbreakingly realistic characters but, like imitable Veruca Salt once screeched, “I WANT IT NOW!!!”
Ahem. Anyway, this book was great. From the first pages, when one of the college-aged MC’s friends slammed his face up against a window to scare him and then licked it, I knew I was reading an author who definitely knew and understood college kids… (I work at a university. It is so much less frat parties and sex in the library, and much more stressing about grades and “how much will you give me if I drink this bottle of maple syrup right now?”)
Jackals Wild is New Adult jock/nerd roommates to lovers, with a side of secret sex work to spice things up. But honestly, it was the relationship between Adam and Carter that really sold it for me.
Adam was at once insecure (in his social skills) and confident (in his intellect and sense of right/wrong) but also adorably sweet and earnest. Carter could have easily have been the dude-bro-est of the dude-bros, but from his first POV chapter you find out that there’s hidden depths and self-awareness beneath the snapbacks and trackpants. Carter employs the attitude of FIT, “Funny, Impersonal, and Transient.” Friendly to everyone, but friend to no one. It’s just heartbreaking when you realize what leads him to act this way, especially as you watch him break into non-sequiturs or just straight up disassociate in order to deal with his life and feelings, but it makes for excellent character development. It’s fascinating to see Carter’s FIT through Adam’s eyes, as it shows how much Carter is hiding but also how much Adam sees through the persona. It also made me desperately want to hug both of them and feed them cookies and then book them many, many therapy appointments.
Despite my need to feed Adam snacks and Carter antidepressants, this novel is fun and funny! My only quibble is there is kind of a lot going on. I think some of the plot could have been trimmed down and it would not have suffered. Honestly, the sex work storyline felt pretty secondary. It takes a bit for it to be relevant and while it does move the plot along, it didn’t feel as vital as the synopsis makes it sound.
I super enjoyed this one and I’m super mad that I have to wait for Fall of 2022 to get the next book, which promises to be enemies to lovers. Definitely pick this one up, y’all!
**I received this as an ARC and this has been my honest and unbiased review.
I am so mad. ONCE AGAIN, I find a book by an author that I really and truly enjoy…and it’s the author’s first damned book. Yes, this means that the quality will only get better as the author continues to write and bless us with funny and heartbreakingly realistic characters but, like imitable Veruca Salt once screeched, “I WANT IT NOW!!!”
Ahem. Anyway, this book was great. From the first pages, when one of the college-aged MC’s friends slammed his face up against a window to scare him and then licked it, I knew I was reading an author who definitely knew and understood college kids… (I work at a university. It is so much less frat parties and sex in the library, and much more stressing about grades and “how much will you give me if I drink this bottle of maple syrup right now?”)
Jackals Wild is New Adult jock/nerd roommates to lovers, with a side of secret sex work to spice things up. But honestly, it was the relationship between Adam and Carter that really sold it for me.
Adam was at once insecure (in his social skills) and confident (in his intellect and sense of right/wrong) but also adorably sweet and earnest. Carter could have easily have been the dude-bro-est of the dude-bros, but from his first POV chapter you find out that there’s hidden depths and self-awareness beneath the snapbacks and trackpants. Carter employs the attitude of FIT, “Funny, Impersonal, and Transient.” Friendly to everyone, but friend to no one. It’s just heartbreaking when you realize what leads him to act this way, especially as you watch him break into non-sequiturs or just straight up disassociate in order to deal with his life and feelings, but it makes for excellent character development. It’s fascinating to see Carter’s FIT through Adam’s eyes, as it shows how much Carter is hiding but also how much Adam sees through the persona. It also made me desperately want to hug both of them and feed them cookies and then book them many, many therapy appointments.
Despite my need to feed Adam snacks and Carter antidepressants, this novel is fun and funny! My only quibble is there is kind of a lot going on. I think some of the plot could have been trimmed down and it would not have suffered. Honestly, the sex work storyline felt pretty secondary. It takes a bit for it to be relevant and while it does move the plot along, it didn’t feel as vital as the synopsis makes it sound.
I super enjoyed this one and I’m super mad that I have to wait for Fall of 2022 to get the next book, which promises to be enemies to lovers. Definitely pick this one up, y’all!
**I received this as an ARC and this has been my honest and unbiased review.
April 9, 2022
I don’t know why I keep picking up books with porn stars, but Jackals Wild was pretty different from what else I’ve read.
Roommates Adam and Carter are about as different as you can get. Adam’s a studious overachiever on an academic scholarship and Carter is a fun loving young man from a wealthy family. Initially there’s a lot of animosity between them, with Adam struggling with Carter’s slobishness and generally thinking Carter is way cooler. Carter meanwhile has his own issues that he hides incredibly well. The two become closer when Carter starts spending more time in their room and when Adam discovers Carter has been working as a porn star. After an incident means that Adam needs a bit of cash, the two decide to start a FanLust account (pretty much OF’s) with Adam as the camera man to Carter’s star.
It’s an interesting storyline because while the two get closer, Adam has a crush on one of his TA’s, and Carter is trying hard to keep all the relationships in his life casual. But even though their romance starts very casual, it’s clear to see they’re lying to themselves. I love good character growth and both characters had awesome arcs aside from the main romance that was really compelling. For Adam, his confidence, or lack thereof was something he struggled with daily. And Carter’s past was hurting his future by keeping him closed off to everyone around him. So seeing the two of them grow, helping each other, was so lovely. And it created some great moments.
I loved this. It was such a fun story, I loved the relationship between Carter and Adam. I loved the secondary characters. Adam’s friends, Madeo and Fern were awesome people. Carter’s relationship with his father was so fascinating. The villain twist was great. Jackals Wild was simply a fun story with wonderful characters and a fitting end, and what more could you want?
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.
Roommates Adam and Carter are about as different as you can get. Adam’s a studious overachiever on an academic scholarship and Carter is a fun loving young man from a wealthy family. Initially there’s a lot of animosity between them, with Adam struggling with Carter’s slobishness and generally thinking Carter is way cooler. Carter meanwhile has his own issues that he hides incredibly well. The two become closer when Carter starts spending more time in their room and when Adam discovers Carter has been working as a porn star. After an incident means that Adam needs a bit of cash, the two decide to start a FanLust account (pretty much OF’s) with Adam as the camera man to Carter’s star.
It’s an interesting storyline because while the two get closer, Adam has a crush on one of his TA’s, and Carter is trying hard to keep all the relationships in his life casual. But even though their romance starts very casual, it’s clear to see they’re lying to themselves. I love good character growth and both characters had awesome arcs aside from the main romance that was really compelling. For Adam, his confidence, or lack thereof was something he struggled with daily. And Carter’s past was hurting his future by keeping him closed off to everyone around him. So seeing the two of them grow, helping each other, was so lovely. And it created some great moments.
I loved this. It was such a fun story, I loved the relationship between Carter and Adam. I loved the secondary characters. Adam’s friends, Madeo and Fern were awesome people. Carter’s relationship with his father was so fascinating. The villain twist was great. Jackals Wild was simply a fun story with wonderful characters and a fitting end, and what more could you want?
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.
April 3, 2022
Jackal's Wild is a very good debut book from Abby Kaitz. Two very different young men come to mean so much to each other even though they never meant to get close. Adam is a quiet, nerdy sweetheart who shares a room with Carter, ever-so-slightly untidy, charasmatic yet secretive. Each man is attracted to the other, though Carter is the more happier about it, Adam having made one or two snap judgements before he gets to know him.
There is a fair amount going on in regards to the individual characters and their own stories and then what they come to share together. Getting information out of Carter is like getting blood form a stone but he's learnt to protect himself that after a bad experience. They have very different experiences with families and that, when revealed shows such heartbreak for one of them and it has in turned shaped who they are and what they do. I found it quite entertaining when Adam discovers Carter's secret business and even more so his shock at being invited to be Carter's new cameraman. The extra time together brings them even closer, knowing each other better and even helping to change themselves for the better.
It's quite an entertaining cast of characters with the MC's, though pretty much everyone is people that Adam knows even though he is the shy one what with Carter keeping so much to himself.
Definitely a recommended read with several tropes covered - opposites attract, college roommates, first times. There are a couple of plot points that really shine a light on college life in modern times, including online bullying/trolling. It's written very well and handled with care though there is some language used that may be offensive to some.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
There is a fair amount going on in regards to the individual characters and their own stories and then what they come to share together. Getting information out of Carter is like getting blood form a stone but he's learnt to protect himself that after a bad experience. They have very different experiences with families and that, when revealed shows such heartbreak for one of them and it has in turned shaped who they are and what they do. I found it quite entertaining when Adam discovers Carter's secret business and even more so his shock at being invited to be Carter's new cameraman. The extra time together brings them even closer, knowing each other better and even helping to change themselves for the better.
It's quite an entertaining cast of characters with the MC's, though pretty much everyone is people that Adam knows even though he is the shy one what with Carter keeping so much to himself.
Definitely a recommended read with several tropes covered - opposites attract, college roommates, first times. There are a couple of plot points that really shine a light on college life in modern times, including online bullying/trolling. It's written very well and handled with care though there is some language used that may be offensive to some.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
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