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Remember When

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A night to remember, a confession, and a lifetime of love in this small town, friends to lovers Christmas romance. Andrew Lawson’s life in Sacramento has turned from being everything he dreamed of growing up, to a lonely place where finding someone special to share his life with is impossible. When the first person he meets on returning home for Thanksgiving is his childhood friend Link, it’s a reminder of happier times when his whole future lay in front of him. Agreeing to a drink before heading to his parent’s place is a way to reconnect, and a great way to start the holiday. Link Stanton never considered leaving the small farming town he grew up in, but he misses Andy more than he’ll ever admit. Secretly lusting after a friend is bad enough but being in love with him is so much worse. One drink with friends seems harmless enough, after all, catching up on old times can’t be a bad thing, until beers turn to shots, and Link reveals how he really feels. Everything could change, and if Andrew doesn’t remember Link’s heartfelt confession, they could carry on as friends. But, if he does remember, this could be either the worst, or the best, Christmas of all.

195 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2021

55 people are currently reading
255 people want to read

About the author

B.L. Maxwell

87 books383 followers

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5 stars
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65 (26%)
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57 (23%)
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19 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Profile Image for Megan [Semi-Hiatus].
1,013 reviews390 followers
July 10, 2022
MM Romance
Childhood Friends To Lovers/Christmas
2 Stars ⭐️

This read just like a cheesy yet awkward Hallmark Christmas movie and while I didn’t hate it, I can’t say I liked it all that much either. I probably would have DNF’d this but kept at it because this book takes place in and around Sacramento, California, *our* state capital, a city I’ve been to lots of times plus I live about 90 minutes north of there so I liked reading about a place I know so well. This takes a place during Christmas and mentions an event called Victorian Christmas that happens in the town right next to me. It’s a small town zany event where the townspeople dress up in clothes from the 1800’s, sing carols, roast chestnuts, have food/drinks, shop and they close the streets off for horse drawn carriages etc. I’m not a huge fan of the holidays but this event is fun and sometimes it’s snowing which adds to the magic.

This is a childhood friends to lovers story which is one of my favorite tropes but this just wasn’t executed all that well. I just finished this book and can’t remember either character’s name 🤣 which should really convey my excitement while reading this. But ok, had to go look it up and this book is entirely from Andy’s POV which was part of the reason I started skimming because while this is a short book at around 190 pages, his POV was just kind of boring.

Andy goes home to his small town for the holidays and runs into his old friend group and has a drink with them. They end up drinking tequila all night and when Andy wakes up the next day it’s obvious something happened between him and his childhood bestie, Link, but he can’t remember what. Link won’t tell Andy what happened and wants him to figure it out himself. These two have always been close but lost touch over the years so Andy is surprised to have such an attraction to his old friend now. Link starts to visit Andy in Sacramento blah blah and they rekindle their friendship and become more than friends while Andy works out what Link won’t tell him from that night.

Because we are only in Andy’s POV, this story dragged quite a bit and had a lot of telling but not showing. The author would tell the reader conversations Andy and Link would have together as a summary instead of just showing the conversation. When it was shown, it was a lot of “Remember When this happened as kids…” so it was hard to get invested in two characters that felt one dimensional. I knew Link was really nice and sweet and gave thoughtful presents and Andy had incredible work ethic opening his own salon in Sac but other than that, I couldn’t tell you a thing about either of them. This is a slow burn but in a weird way as these two kiss, hold hands and even sleep together naked but don’t do anything sexual until 91% and even then it felt like they had no chemistry whatsoever because the act was summarized and not shown. I believed they were friends but I never saw how they became more than friends and that was my issue.
Profile Image for Gustaf.
1,444 reviews186 followers
August 27, 2022
For being under 200 pages this felt like a reallllllyyyy long book.
Profile Image for Len Evans Jr.
1,500 reviews219 followers
November 29, 2021
Truly incredible!

Sweetest and most wonderful m/m romance I have read in a very long time! Link and Andy are two incredible characters and the author truly brings them to life!
Profile Image for Ed Davis.
2,844 reviews119 followers
November 24, 2021
I liked this ok. I love a slow burn, but this was at a snails pace. These two didn’t have sex until almost the end. I also found the fact that Link wouldn’t tell Andy what he said kind of stupid. Also, Andy was kind of a creep. I just didn’t warm up to him much. The writing was good, but the story just didn’t quite inspire me.
Profile Image for Dan.
1,706 reviews48 followers
December 13, 2021
This one was sweet. A nice, traditional friends to lovers fare, but it's traditional because it works. I liked it.
Profile Image for AL.
1,688 reviews13 followers
November 12, 2021
A very enjoyable slow burn story with holiday vibes and a great execution of the friends to lovers trope.
The MCs were likable from the get go and the plot idea really held my attention. I don’t want to give the story away, but I loved it all!
Profile Image for Devoted❤️Reader.
1,611 reviews29 followers
December 31, 2021
Two hearts

All the swoons for this incredibly heartwarming and beautiful friends to lovers, small town romance. Andy and Link stole my heart with their friendship, memories and their unforgettable love story. “I think I’ve wanted you forever, there’s a part of my heart that’s been waiting for you all along.” There’s something extra special about these two and I love how thoughtful, how fun and how romantic Link and Andy are. They gave me all the feels and reminded me why I love small town romances so much.
Profile Image for Tiuri.
457 reviews
December 29, 2021
This was a weird one. I loved the characters but hated the storyline.
Drinking so much that you pass out and don't remember anything is not romantic, it's stupid. Friends that encourage you to drink that much aren't good friends. Encouraging someone who you told that you love him, to get this drunk makes no sense.
This was followed by weeks of acting like boyfriends without actually discussing anything except for vague references to the events of the first night. It all made zero sense to me.
Like I said, I really loved the main characters and the supporting characters but did not like the storyline at all.
Profile Image for Cindi.
1,698 reviews85 followers
November 17, 2021
4.5 stars.

This is a sweet friends to lovers story. Link and Andy have been close for years, though they kind of fell out of touch a little when Andy moved out of town to become a stylist. One Thanksgiving visit back home and Andy's noticing different things about his 'straight' (or so he thought) friend. It feels like Link might actually be feeling something for Andy that goes way beyond platonic friendship.

That something is told to Andy while they're in a bar his first night back home. Unfortunately, Andy remembers very little of what happened that night after his last shot. The whole book is him trying to remember something important Link had told him, and Link trying to help him remember. Sure, Link could just tell him, but he wants Andy to remember on his own.

The entire book is told in Andy's point-of-view. It was nice enough but I wanted to be inside Link's head too. He was the one taking a major chance by putting his heart out there. I wanted to feel what he was feeling during all that time. I loved Link - seriously loved him. I liked Andy well enough, I suppose, but he's a little slow on the uptake on pretty much everything.

This isn't a gay-for-you or out-for-you story. Link is pansexual. Andy just didn't know that until his visit back home for the holiday.

Overall, a nice story.

Full review can be found at -

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Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.6k reviews356 followers
November 19, 2021
Sharing a Secret . . .

Andrew Lawson left home and moved to Sacramento to follow his dream. Now he is sharply aware of the loneliness when he can’t seem to find that special person to share his life with. When he comes home for Thanksgiving, he sees his childhood friend, Link Stanton, and they decide to have a drink together.

When one drink leads to another, Link confesses the feelings he has always had for Andy. But before that can lead anywhere, Andy’s “one drink too many” makes him forget what Link told him. Although all their friends plainly see the truth, Andy just can’t recall what Link told him. Will they just continue to be friends-only? Will Andy go back to Sacramento and never realize what he really left behind?

This was a well-written story that touched the reader’s emotions as we hoped for the best for the two of them. Would they be spending their Christmas together… perhaps as a couple?
4,725 reviews18 followers
November 20, 2021
Christmas is a good time to renew the heart! Andy, works as a stylist in Sacramento. He left town after he graduated and did not look back. He occasionally returned home, but he didn't stay. Linc, worked on the family farm. He initially went to school after graduating, but it was inconvenient and he was needed at home. When they were younger, Andy and Linc, did everything together. Andy was gay and out. No one really knew Linc's preferences. Andy returned home for Thanksgiving and went drinking before he made it to his parents' house. He blacked out and didn't remember the evening. His friends all seemed to know and it may have been significant. He and Linc did a guess what dance contest. Will Andy ever remember? Does Linc give Andy a hint? The author draws a fun canvass of the two old friends getting reacquainted over the holidays. They get to know each other as adults. It is a fun story. The friends and family support structures are fun. Christmas shopping is always a delightful, feel good background. Nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2,936 reviews19 followers
November 18, 2021
Andrew and Link were really good friends. Andrew has moved away and when he returns and is hanging out with his friends. There had been a time when the opportunity presented itself for Link, with a little liquid courage, to confess that he has feelings for Andrew. What was not clear was whether or not Andrew heard or remembered and most importantly how did he feel? This holiday season became the time for them to finally get on the same page. All of their friends saw it but they finally realized they had feelings for one another and were meant to be more than friends. This is such a sweet friends to lovers story. A lovely 4.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
8 reviews
November 17, 2021
Of all the christmas themed books i've read this year this was my favorite so far. The relationship seems so genuine and the story isn't rushed like so many others i've read.
Friends to lovers are one of my favorite genres and this book really does everything right.
However the premise of forgetting and trying to remember is almost forgotten due to all the sweet bonding between Link and Andy. The stakes of not remembering disappered early on. But this almost made the book a lot more sweet.
I can absolutely recommend this book to anyone who'd like to read a sweet holiday book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jerri.
710 reviews4 followers
November 7, 2021
Spoilers- Cross a nostalgic walk back to your glory days and ending up with your high school crush and best friend, and this is what you get.
Andrew/Drew/Andy left his small town behind. He couldn’t be himself there or follow his dreams. He is uniquely himself. Link has mixed emotions about home, but truly loves his work on the family farm. His ideas about new avenues and methods are proof of that.
I really enjoyed the way the two get back into their friendship. I REALLY enjoyed that it became so much more! The fact that they were willing to make a go of it, put in the work, despite living in different places is telling.
It’s a the-one-that-got-away store, and it works beautifully!
Profile Image for Janet Hunt.
3,534 reviews46 followers
November 11, 2021
Felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie! Andy left home after school and moved to Sacramento to become a hairdresser. Andy comes home for Thanksgiving. He runs into his friend Link. They were childhood friends who were always together when they were young. Link never left the small town they grew up in. When they get drunk one night, Link confesses something to Andy, but Andy doesn’t remember what it was. The story left me with a smile on my face. The characters are fun. It was really well written, highly recommend. I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received.
Profile Image for Cathy Brockman.
Author 5 books95 followers
November 7, 2021
This is a really sweet, feel good Holiday romance.
It’s like reading a Hallmark Holiday Movie. All I needed was snow, my Cosy blanket and cocoa for a perfect pick me up!
It’s a charming small town romance with some City romance blended in. The settings were cheery. I loved the trips to the markets. I felt like I was there.
The romance is sweet, the little sex is the perfect accompaniment and blend.
If you like Holiday romances, winter settings, hair stylists, farmers, and a sweet friends to lovers. This is for you!
Profile Image for R.
2,099 reviews
November 7, 2021
Link and Andy have been friends forever but the holidays turn them into so much more.

Cute story about finding love when not looking for it. Slow burn/friends to lovers holiday story. Both main characters were very likable (even if Andy was a bit dim). As established friends their shared memories gave the book a good backstory. Their friends and family added to the depth also.

Nicely written sweet story with almost no angst, made this book a wonderful holiday read.

Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Profile Image for Brei-ayn.
581 reviews6 followers
November 16, 2021
I loved this book. Andrew Lawson comes home for Thanksgiving and runs into his friends at the local bar. After a few drinks he forgets something important his friend Link told him. Link Stanton has always loved a Andy. After a few shots he tells Andy how he feels. Andy forgets due to the shots but Link wants him to remember so he gives Andy until Christmas to remember or he will tell him. Can Andy remember the secret that Link shared with him that night and find true happiness?
Profile Image for Amber.
1,683 reviews7 followers
November 16, 2021
I loved Remember When by BL Maxwell. This was a sweet friends-to-lovers story. I loved Link and Andy and how they kept visiting each other and then going to the various Christmas-themed craft fairs to buy Christmas presents. I also liked that Link is demisexual and that the story is told through Andy's POV. Overall, a charming holiday story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews.
2,698 reviews139 followers
November 18, 2021
Remember When is a fantastic, feel good holiday romance. I love this BL Maxwell tale.

If you enjoy friends to lovers romances, you will fall in love with Andy and Link's journey.

This involves a drunken moment that leads to a lot of sweet moments and pondering. It's all sweetly done and a delight to read.

Remember When is like a warm hug. This BL Maxwell tale is a wonderful tale of finding love when you're not looking for it. It's a perfect choice the next time you're in the mood for a sugary sweet friends to lovers story.
Profile Image for RedsBookReads.
475 reviews20 followers
November 9, 2021
A super sweet seasonal story of friends to lovers and the perils of too much tequila!

I loved the concept of this book and thought the way Link and Andy were together was super cute. I enjoyed the different take on friends to lovers as well. The way the relationship developed was really sweet too and I loved how you get to understand more of their background as the story developed
Profile Image for Syd Springer.
3,992 reviews6 followers
November 16, 2021
4.5 Stars
This was my first book by B.L. Maxwell and I will be back for more. I thought that this was a really sweet book. I really enjoyed the connection and the chemistry between these two. Andy and Link were best friends growing up and now that they are around each other again, thanks to the holidays, truths come out. I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,197 reviews4 followers
November 18, 2021
Beautiful story. Remember When is a sweet slow burn between two friends who become more than friends. I loved following their progress to happiness.
41 reviews1 follower
December 1, 2021
Wonderful Story

Loved this book. Also the book was very interesting. The best part to me was when he finally did remember what was really said that night that he drank too much. Even if they were best friends, sometimes they really do make the best partners.
Profile Image for Cynthia Brooks.
2,301 reviews11 followers
November 29, 2021
Andy and Link have been best friends forever. Andy gets drunk the night before Thanksgiving and can't remember what happened. Link won't tell him, he wants Andy to remember on his own. The more Andy sees Link he realizes he wants more than friendship. I really enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Edga.
2,211 reviews23 followers
November 24, 2021
Sweet romance

What a cute story. Link knew Andy was the love of his life, even though Andy was slower to catch on. A nice love story, well written, with a little irony thrown in. What a lovely ending. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
1,044 reviews10 followers
November 14, 2021
Remember When is a sweet friends to lovers holiday story about Andy and Link, two friends who grow up in a small town. Andy is back in town visiting for Thanksgiving when he runs into Link and ends having a few drinks. When Link tells him something important, because of the drinking, Andy has a hard time remembering what his friend had said. Will Andy remember what Link told him before it's too late? Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this book I definitely recommend. Andy and Link are super sweet together, you just can't help but want them to find a way to be together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lisa.
526 reviews4 followers
November 14, 2021
What a wonderfully heart-warming holiday story by one of my favorite authors! Remember When is a sweet and romantic best friends to lovers story about Andy moving away from his small town and returning for holidays to hang out with Link and the gang. Andy tries to remember what Link confessed to him one night and it seems like everyone within their social circle realizes that these two men are meant to be together. Sweet and low-angst with two of my favorite men making a surprise appearance in Andy and Link's story :)
911 reviews3 followers
May 8, 2022
I really loved reading this contemporary (childhood) friends to lovers holiday story.
Andrew, Andy for his friends and family back home and Drew for his coworkers in the city and Link, just Link for all, have been friends for as long as they and everyone else can remember.
I found the title well chosen since all the characters remenisce a lot, especially the the mc's. But also the fact that Andy is trying to remember when or what Link said or did when he had one to many shots at Thanksgiving. He needs to find that memory.The way how both Andy and Link go about this is sweet.
I really appreciate that the author has taken the opportunity to write a pan character, Link, in this story for me it was so good to read about a character that was not defined by restrictions on who he is supposed to love. I also appreciate the fact that the characters, whilst being in a relationship keep their independence and are true equals, both have their own bussiness, in the relationship.
Ofcourse by now you susprected the story has a hea/hfn.
I was given arc to leave an honest review.

About the audiobook:
Jack Watson was a new (to me) narrator and he did the book justice. The story was given another dimension by the pleasant voice of the narrator. I enjoyed listening to the book after having read it a couple of months ago. Even tough the story is placed in the winter holiday season the tale of frendship, love and finding home is a good one year round .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews

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