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Unbreak Me
Young Englishman, David Hammond, discovers life on a remote farm in South Africa isn’t at all what he was expecting. He expected the change in climate to do him good. To lift his mood. He certainly didn’t expect farmer, Jonathan Rosseau, to be so rugged or handsome. It turns out, it’s more than the warm weather that gets David hot under the collar.
David deals with his emotions the only way he knows how. By keeping a diary. A very detailed diary. A diary you get to read.
Use the 'Look inside' feature to find out more about whether Unbreak Me is the book for you.
David deals with his emotions the only way he knows how. By keeping a diary. A very detailed diary. A diary you get to read.
Use the 'Look inside' feature to find out more about whether Unbreak Me is the book for you.
363 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2022
548 people are currently reading
1691 people want to read
About the author
Jesse H. Reign
19 books1,362 followersI'm Jesse, and I write contemporary and paranormal MM romance.
Whether my characters are born magical, or whether magic is something they make between the sheets, I strive to take the reader into the mind of the narrator. My ultimate goal is to leave the reader feeling like they’ve made a new friend or have spent a few hours flirting with a brand-new book boyfriend.
I love coffee, chocolate and daydreaming, in no particular order. I love conflicted characters, lust at first sight and angst – no seriously, ALL the angst. Give it to me!
Whether my characters are born magical, or whether magic is something they make between the sheets, I strive to take the reader into the mind of the narrator. My ultimate goal is to leave the reader feeling like they’ve made a new friend or have spent a few hours flirting with a brand-new book boyfriend.
I love coffee, chocolate and daydreaming, in no particular order. I love conflicted characters, lust at first sight and angst – no seriously, ALL the angst. Give it to me!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
December 30, 2023
“I wasn’t expecting you, Davey. I didn’t see you coming, and maybe that’s how you got under my skin. Deep under my skin. So deep, you got into my blood. Now you’re like napalm running through my veins and I can’t imagine wanting anyone else.”
Some bad, but for the most part, it was good.
I struggled with the beginning. Specifically till the ~35% mark. The beginning felt like a chore to get through—very dull, boring, with no excitement about anything or anyone. I was worried the story would be a total miss with how lazily I’d been reading, skimming a little to get to the point. The writing is done like a journal, as we follow David’s narration and point of view through his journal entries. This wasn’t an issue, but it became agonizing with how mechanical it felt at first. Both characters were tedious, with nothing making them stand out. They weren’t exactly one-dimensional, but they both felt unoriginal. The lack of emotion in the writing didn’t help, since the characters weren’t doing much to make their personalities more vibrant.
The pace of this is slow, with both David and Jon starting off as strangers first, roommates second, fuck buddies third, and finally, lovers. Normally, I’d love a slow and gradual pace, but with the dull, mechanical writing feeling robotic, uneasy storyline, monotonous characters, and passivity, it didn’t help strengthen the tone of the story. We see Jon and David engage in daily, mundane tasks, which isn’t a complaint, per se, since I personally love seeing characters doing these boring activities. However, there wasn’t any type of gentle pull the relationship was giving me. I wasn’t invested in the relationship, felt like sexual tension was lacking despite their sexual encounters, and couldn’t point out when, where, and what made both characters see each other differently. I became worried, thinking I was going to need to skim large quantities of this to get to the point. And in a way, I did, but fortunately, I preserved and it was worth it.
The second half felt completely different.
The first quarter of this was possibly the poorest. Then, the build up toward the second quarter offers a little more depth, with the readers learning more about David and Jon, but especially Jon, as he starts off as an enigma. We see Jon and David learning more about each other emotionally and sexually. One of the best things about this is the lack of filler from David and complete honesty from Jon. Both characters are different in personalities and have different knowledge of everything related to sexuality, sex, and relationship, but Jon is ever-so patient to David’s rambling and continuous questions. Honestly, I loved this. I loved that we saw David asking questions we don’t see often. Whether answers are correct or not is not my problem; I’m just glad he knew he didn’t know everything, coming off as an unsure and, quite literally, a virgin. Nothing like a bumbling, stereotypical one, but one full of questions and confusion, showing his eagerness to learn and explore.
As this develops, so does the relationship between Jon and David. Their friendship is a sort of friendship with benefits at this point, but I was here for it, which is unusual for me since it’s not my favorite trope. The story becomes sex heavy, but not the type to overtake the story, offering nothing intimate outside of the bedroom. I mentioned in my pre-review how I think this is the first time I read a romance where one main lead admits it hurts and the other pulls out immediately. Which is sad. It was…refreshing, to say the least. Realistic, of course. This doesn’t happen enough in romances. I’d even go as far as saying it hardly ever happens. I get it, they’re not meant to be realistic, but sometimes I want that realisticness. The awkwardness. The hitting your head against the headboard or laughing about a t-shirt getting stuck. The not knowing what to do because it’s your first time. The uncertainty of being able to take it all in orally or penetratively.
The loud, slapping sound of him slamming into my body reverberated throughout the room. I loved it. I lived for it. It felt so good it hurt. And then, it really did start to hurt. I took a couple of deep breaths, to see if I could breathe through it, but it was still too much.
I remembered words and reached back and pressed my hand against his thigh to slow him. He stopped instantly, pulling all the way out and sinking down on his knees behind me. He spread my cheeks gently, examining me carefully, before sinking his mouth onto me.
This wasn’t even the first sex scene. This was the first time Jon was rough with David because that’s what David wanted. So yeah, even though they had sex before and there was preparation, it goes to show that gentle and rough, are in fact, different. Which you’d think is known and common sense but not in romance books! Virgins tend to take it roughly with no issue whatsoever. Or maybe the person hasn’t had anal sex in a long time yet there’s still hardly any prep or they go in dry. Nice to see a difference.
One thing about me is that I hardly ever comment on the sex in these romances, novels. The only time I do is when the smut feels like it’s too much or if there is a lack of emotional connection and all the characters do is fuck. I’m happy to say though, that for me, a very vanilla reader, this had a lot of sex that worked so well. Each one has a reason to be there and didn’t feel like it was just filler or added for the sake of adding two characters fucking. So much intimacy that grew and helped the relationship develop. The sex is intimate, rough, gentle, sexy, hot, and becomes a big part of the relationship. It’s a way for the two to show their love for each other, but it’s not the only way.
There’s a lot to appreciate about it compared to other novels, especially in MM: lots of preparation, usage of lube, talk about testing and being clear before sex (although I’m confused why they didn’t just use condoms?? Did they not have any where they lived in South Africa???), kink exploration, talk of past relationships, safety words and measures, different positions, feeling embarrassment and apologizing for coming too fast or for being loud (like moaning a lot or making lots of noise), mention of some anatomy like sphincter (this is all I made note of but also when do you ever see this?), David learning to swallow and ride and clench and relax (because he isn’t a wizard and magically knows how to do everything when he was a virgin just because he has sex once). Also, we see David have his butthole cleaned. This is super rare. I wish more romances depicted this because it’s realistic. Like yes, thanks for mentioning that David had his ass cleaned because it’s necessary and hygienic and realistic. Cleaning, douche, enema use—whatever. It’s nice to see a virgin character who doesn’t know what they’re doing, is shocked and confused, has to learn different things, and doesn’t just take it in as if it slides in super easily.
The only thing left was my desire to serve him. To house him. To please him. All I was, was a hole for him to fill.
As the second half approaches, we see more substance from the characters. They become more developed, offering more emotional depth, more reliance for themselves and the reader. We see the two men dive into routines, the same ones full of mundane, daily tasks that become relevant to their day to day chores. Throughout this, we’re filled with many different things to love from them, ranging from the sex, to them spending time together reading or writing, cooking, going out, spending time with other family members of Jon (like Luna), learning even more from each other, exploring each other’s bodies more, having heart to heart conversations on different forms of intimacy and connection, and so much more.
The author does an amazing job of building relationship development till the end of the story, never stopping their connection just because they’ve formed it. This is another uncommon trait I see in other romance novels. I think it shows the strength of an author, to continue building intimacy and connection, showing that just because they are at a stronger point does not mean it is done. The novel is over 350 pages, and while this is normally long for me, the length never felt tiresome. It probably has to do with the fact that no page felt meaningless, and the story never felt like it dragged. I applaud this author for building such a strong, relevant connection without dragging it and adding unnecessary filler and dialogue.
Jon’s character is one of my favorites. Respectful, kind, consensual, loving, patient, gentle, tender, rough, dominating, willing, honest. Jon is the reason my standards keep getting raised. His dedication and willingness to teach and mentor David with no shame is glorious to watch. He hides nothing from David, offering answers to questions without second thought and uncertainty. He’s communicative on what he wants, desires, and loves, but he’s also respectful, setting up boundaries for both men, taking into account the fact that David has never been with a man before.
I loved how Jon was probably bisexual or pansexual yet leans more towards pansexual, admitting the person comes first and then the gender. Although he doesn’t care so much for the label, he embraces this, unashamed of who he is, what he has done, his previous relationships, etc. He talks about his previous encounters, with women and men, to David, but only because it’s necessary. Never does he bring up past encounters for the sake of jealousy, drama, or pettiness. He also asks David if it bothers him if he talks about his previous relationships, which goes to show how secure he is in his sexuality but also respects David’s feelings. Jon is incredibly mature, never acting like anything else.
David grew on me a lot. His personality was equally refreshing. He’s eager, but he never felt overbearing. He’s struggling mentally, and his trip to South Africa was done by his parents so he can be “fixed,” which is an issue I had, but nothing too bothersome. He’s a little contradicting with Jon’s personality. Both are very different in appearance and general life experience, but they balance each other well. David was a mixed bag at first. I struggled with him, not because I found everything and everyone boring, but because he came off as a little prudish. He was the type to develop some sort of “macho persona” to prove himself. Regardless, David has his own character development. We see him go from unsure, unwilling, shy, and physically weak, to accommodating, confident, and much stronger, taking advantage of the physical labor he’s put to do in the farm with Jon. His character is mostly a bundle of joy, with his difficult days challenging him sometimes.
This story has a five year separation, and I’m not putting this under a spoiler because this is something many people don’t like and wish they were warned about before. Personally, they don’t always bother me, but they need to be angsty, and it worked in my favor here. Separations are torturous, showing a different form of miserableness. The separation couldn’t be avoided here, which is why I didn’t mind it at all. It would show how the two would take advantage of the time they had together because they knew it was inevitable to change the future.
We kissed and moved together until we both found our release. I sobbed when I found mine. He stroked me and kissed me until I was hard again and then he did what he could to make me feel good again. We didn’t stop. We couldn’t. We fell asleep intermittently, only to wake and reach for each other. In the early hours of the morning I woke up choking on tears and my hand found him. I coaxed him to life, though I had almost nothing left to give. The pain as he entered me was unreal. Not like that. It wasn’t that kind of pain. That would have been better. This pain was in my psyche. This pain was in my soul. It was the type of pain that can only be caused when both people know deep in their hearts; this is the last time.
One of my only other issues, besides the slow, boring start, is how the mental health felt irrelevant after a while. With David’s journal entries, we see how there are days where he struggles and doesn’t write much, so the day/chapter ends quickly. It’s not to say David was cured, since we know he still struggles with anxiety and his mental health is still something that takes a toll on him. And while I do and can believe David did start doing better, mentally, after his time on the farm, my issue is more with how we don’t exactly know this, since we aren’t told and updated on how he’s doing. In the beginning, David is clearly struggling, but as time passed, it’s as if his depression was not as relevant to himself anymore. I wish there was more depth on this when he and Jon became a thing, because in a way, it can imply that David just needed a partner, or to be fucked into oblivion.
I liked the representation at first, because it went to show that depression is something that can’t always be seen and isn’t obvious. It affects us in different ways, at different times. We see how David struggles the most in the beginning, which is understandable. But then we didn't see it, and I didn’t like that. Even if we don’t see David experiencing it every day, because, again, it is very possible his stay in South Africa is helping him, we aren’t really updated on this. David never really writes down how his mental health is doing. His entry on September 29th, 2016 was really the last time David was “tired.” Every time after that, it’s as if David is doing better because of his relationship with Jon…as if all he needed was Jon. I wish we had more backstory on David and his mental health. His clinal depression, his anxiety, his self-harming, his relationship with his parents. When they reunited, there was even a point where David told Jon he was broken five years ago when they met, but Jon fixed him for good…
All in all, I was a little apprehensive when I started this, mostly because while I have heard a lot about this author and many of my friends have read her books, she tends to lean into a more…smutty side of romance, which is why I’ve avoided her books. I’m glad I read this, and reading the reviews of my mutuals helped a lot because many of them mentioned this was emotional and heart-wrenching. Personally, and surprisingly, it was not as emotional as I was expecting. Maybe the five year separation was supposed to provide those gut-wrenching emotions, but I didn’t really feel them. Still, it’s not like I was bored, and I still enjoyed this despite my skimming. I’m curious about some of this author’s other books, despite them being more high-heat than anything else, which isn’t my favorite because the emotional connection isn’t as prevalent. We’ll see what next year offers.
“I still love you,” I said. “I tried to stop loving you. I tried my best, but I can’t stop. I don’t know how not to love you.”
Some bad, but for the most part, it was good.
I struggled with the beginning. Specifically till the ~35% mark. The beginning felt like a chore to get through—very dull, boring, with no excitement about anything or anyone. I was worried the story would be a total miss with how lazily I’d been reading, skimming a little to get to the point. The writing is done like a journal, as we follow David’s narration and point of view through his journal entries. This wasn’t an issue, but it became agonizing with how mechanical it felt at first. Both characters were tedious, with nothing making them stand out. They weren’t exactly one-dimensional, but they both felt unoriginal. The lack of emotion in the writing didn’t help, since the characters weren’t doing much to make their personalities more vibrant.
The pace of this is slow, with both David and Jon starting off as strangers first, roommates second, fuck buddies third, and finally, lovers. Normally, I’d love a slow and gradual pace, but with the dull, mechanical writing feeling robotic, uneasy storyline, monotonous characters, and passivity, it didn’t help strengthen the tone of the story. We see Jon and David engage in daily, mundane tasks, which isn’t a complaint, per se, since I personally love seeing characters doing these boring activities. However, there wasn’t any type of gentle pull the relationship was giving me. I wasn’t invested in the relationship, felt like sexual tension was lacking despite their sexual encounters, and couldn’t point out when, where, and what made both characters see each other differently. I became worried, thinking I was going to need to skim large quantities of this to get to the point. And in a way, I did, but fortunately, I preserved and it was worth it.
The second half felt completely different.
The first quarter of this was possibly the poorest. Then, the build up toward the second quarter offers a little more depth, with the readers learning more about David and Jon, but especially Jon, as he starts off as an enigma. We see Jon and David learning more about each other emotionally and sexually. One of the best things about this is the lack of filler from David and complete honesty from Jon. Both characters are different in personalities and have different knowledge of everything related to sexuality, sex, and relationship, but Jon is ever-so patient to David’s rambling and continuous questions. Honestly, I loved this. I loved that we saw David asking questions we don’t see often. Whether answers are correct or not is not my problem; I’m just glad he knew he didn’t know everything, coming off as an unsure and, quite literally, a virgin. Nothing like a bumbling, stereotypical one, but one full of questions and confusion, showing his eagerness to learn and explore.
As this develops, so does the relationship between Jon and David. Their friendship is a sort of friendship with benefits at this point, but I was here for it, which is unusual for me since it’s not my favorite trope. The story becomes sex heavy, but not the type to overtake the story, offering nothing intimate outside of the bedroom. I mentioned in my pre-review how I think this is the first time I read a romance where one main lead admits it hurts and the other pulls out immediately. Which is sad. It was…refreshing, to say the least. Realistic, of course. This doesn’t happen enough in romances. I’d even go as far as saying it hardly ever happens. I get it, they’re not meant to be realistic, but sometimes I want that realisticness. The awkwardness. The hitting your head against the headboard or laughing about a t-shirt getting stuck. The not knowing what to do because it’s your first time. The uncertainty of being able to take it all in orally or penetratively.
The loud, slapping sound of him slamming into my body reverberated throughout the room. I loved it. I lived for it. It felt so good it hurt. And then, it really did start to hurt. I took a couple of deep breaths, to see if I could breathe through it, but it was still too much.
I remembered words and reached back and pressed my hand against his thigh to slow him. He stopped instantly, pulling all the way out and sinking down on his knees behind me. He spread my cheeks gently, examining me carefully, before sinking his mouth onto me.
This wasn’t even the first sex scene. This was the first time Jon was rough with David because that’s what David wanted. So yeah, even though they had sex before and there was preparation, it goes to show that gentle and rough, are in fact, different. Which you’d think is known and common sense but not in romance books! Virgins tend to take it roughly with no issue whatsoever. Or maybe the person hasn’t had anal sex in a long time yet there’s still hardly any prep or they go in dry. Nice to see a difference.
One thing about me is that I hardly ever comment on the sex in these romances, novels. The only time I do is when the smut feels like it’s too much or if there is a lack of emotional connection and all the characters do is fuck. I’m happy to say though, that for me, a very vanilla reader, this had a lot of sex that worked so well. Each one has a reason to be there and didn’t feel like it was just filler or added for the sake of adding two characters fucking. So much intimacy that grew and helped the relationship develop. The sex is intimate, rough, gentle, sexy, hot, and becomes a big part of the relationship. It’s a way for the two to show their love for each other, but it’s not the only way.
There’s a lot to appreciate about it compared to other novels, especially in MM: lots of preparation, usage of lube, talk about testing and being clear before sex (although I’m confused why they didn’t just use condoms?? Did they not have any where they lived in South Africa???), kink exploration, talk of past relationships, safety words and measures, different positions, feeling embarrassment and apologizing for coming too fast or for being loud (like moaning a lot or making lots of noise), mention of some anatomy like sphincter (this is all I made note of but also when do you ever see this?), David learning to swallow and ride and clench and relax (because he isn’t a wizard and magically knows how to do everything when he was a virgin just because he has sex once). Also, we see David have his butthole cleaned. This is super rare. I wish more romances depicted this because it’s realistic. Like yes, thanks for mentioning that David had his ass cleaned because it’s necessary and hygienic and realistic. Cleaning, douche, enema use—whatever. It’s nice to see a virgin character who doesn’t know what they’re doing, is shocked and confused, has to learn different things, and doesn’t just take it in as if it slides in super easily.
The only thing left was my desire to serve him. To house him. To please him. All I was, was a hole for him to fill.
As the second half approaches, we see more substance from the characters. They become more developed, offering more emotional depth, more reliance for themselves and the reader. We see the two men dive into routines, the same ones full of mundane, daily tasks that become relevant to their day to day chores. Throughout this, we’re filled with many different things to love from them, ranging from the sex, to them spending time together reading or writing, cooking, going out, spending time with other family members of Jon (like Luna), learning even more from each other, exploring each other’s bodies more, having heart to heart conversations on different forms of intimacy and connection, and so much more.
The author does an amazing job of building relationship development till the end of the story, never stopping their connection just because they’ve formed it. This is another uncommon trait I see in other romance novels. I think it shows the strength of an author, to continue building intimacy and connection, showing that just because they are at a stronger point does not mean it is done. The novel is over 350 pages, and while this is normally long for me, the length never felt tiresome. It probably has to do with the fact that no page felt meaningless, and the story never felt like it dragged. I applaud this author for building such a strong, relevant connection without dragging it and adding unnecessary filler and dialogue.
Jon’s character is one of my favorites. Respectful, kind, consensual, loving, patient, gentle, tender, rough, dominating, willing, honest. Jon is the reason my standards keep getting raised. His dedication and willingness to teach and mentor David with no shame is glorious to watch. He hides nothing from David, offering answers to questions without second thought and uncertainty. He’s communicative on what he wants, desires, and loves, but he’s also respectful, setting up boundaries for both men, taking into account the fact that David has never been with a man before.
I loved how Jon was probably bisexual or pansexual yet leans more towards pansexual, admitting the person comes first and then the gender. Although he doesn’t care so much for the label, he embraces this, unashamed of who he is, what he has done, his previous relationships, etc. He talks about his previous encounters, with women and men, to David, but only because it’s necessary. Never does he bring up past encounters for the sake of jealousy, drama, or pettiness. He also asks David if it bothers him if he talks about his previous relationships, which goes to show how secure he is in his sexuality but also respects David’s feelings. Jon is incredibly mature, never acting like anything else.
David grew on me a lot. His personality was equally refreshing. He’s eager, but he never felt overbearing. He’s struggling mentally, and his trip to South Africa was done by his parents so he can be “fixed,” which is an issue I had, but nothing too bothersome. He’s a little contradicting with Jon’s personality. Both are very different in appearance and general life experience, but they balance each other well. David was a mixed bag at first. I struggled with him, not because I found everything and everyone boring, but because he came off as a little prudish. He was the type to develop some sort of “macho persona” to prove himself. Regardless, David has his own character development. We see him go from unsure, unwilling, shy, and physically weak, to accommodating, confident, and much stronger, taking advantage of the physical labor he’s put to do in the farm with Jon. His character is mostly a bundle of joy, with his difficult days challenging him sometimes.
This story has a five year separation, and I’m not putting this under a spoiler because this is something many people don’t like and wish they were warned about before. Personally, they don’t always bother me, but they need to be angsty, and it worked in my favor here. Separations are torturous, showing a different form of miserableness. The separation couldn’t be avoided here, which is why I didn’t mind it at all. It would show how the two would take advantage of the time they had together because they knew it was inevitable to change the future.
We kissed and moved together until we both found our release. I sobbed when I found mine. He stroked me and kissed me until I was hard again and then he did what he could to make me feel good again. We didn’t stop. We couldn’t. We fell asleep intermittently, only to wake and reach for each other. In the early hours of the morning I woke up choking on tears and my hand found him. I coaxed him to life, though I had almost nothing left to give. The pain as he entered me was unreal. Not like that. It wasn’t that kind of pain. That would have been better. This pain was in my psyche. This pain was in my soul. It was the type of pain that can only be caused when both people know deep in their hearts; this is the last time.
One of my only other issues, besides the slow, boring start, is how the mental health felt irrelevant after a while. With David’s journal entries, we see how there are days where he struggles and doesn’t write much, so the day/chapter ends quickly. It’s not to say David was cured, since we know he still struggles with anxiety and his mental health is still something that takes a toll on him. And while I do and can believe David did start doing better, mentally, after his time on the farm, my issue is more with how we don’t exactly know this, since we aren’t told and updated on how he’s doing. In the beginning, David is clearly struggling, but as time passed, it’s as if his depression was not as relevant to himself anymore. I wish there was more depth on this when he and Jon became a thing, because in a way, it can imply that David just needed a partner, or to be fucked into oblivion.
I liked the representation at first, because it went to show that depression is something that can’t always be seen and isn’t obvious. It affects us in different ways, at different times. We see how David struggles the most in the beginning, which is understandable. But then we didn't see it, and I didn’t like that. Even if we don’t see David experiencing it every day, because, again, it is very possible his stay in South Africa is helping him, we aren’t really updated on this. David never really writes down how his mental health is doing. His entry on September 29th, 2016 was really the last time David was “tired.” Every time after that, it’s as if David is doing better because of his relationship with Jon…as if all he needed was Jon. I wish we had more backstory on David and his mental health. His clinal depression, his anxiety, his self-harming, his relationship with his parents. When they reunited, there was even a point where David told Jon he was broken five years ago when they met, but Jon fixed him for good…
All in all, I was a little apprehensive when I started this, mostly because while I have heard a lot about this author and many of my friends have read her books, she tends to lean into a more…smutty side of romance, which is why I’ve avoided her books. I’m glad I read this, and reading the reviews of my mutuals helped a lot because many of them mentioned this was emotional and heart-wrenching. Personally, and surprisingly, it was not as emotional as I was expecting. Maybe the five year separation was supposed to provide those gut-wrenching emotions, but I didn’t really feel them. Still, it’s not like I was bored, and I still enjoyed this despite my skimming. I’m curious about some of this author’s other books, despite them being more high-heat than anything else, which isn’t my favorite because the emotional connection isn’t as prevalent. We’ll see what next year offers.
“I still love you,” I said. “I tried to stop loving you. I tried my best, but I can’t stop. I don’t know how not to love you.”
December 9, 2024
An intriguing premise, a city boy sent to a remote South African farm to heal. Unfortunately, this story stumbles in its execution, relying on miscommunication and problematic dynamics.
The story revolves around Davey (23), recovering from a serious mental health crisis and struggling with his sexual identity. Jonathan (30), is a rugged, self-proclaimed "equal-opportunity pervert" who runs the farm Davey visits.
The diary-style, single POV writing offers a glimpse into Davey’s perspective. His depression and suicide attempt are mentioned but ultimately set aside in favor of the romance. The idea that being around Jonathan, who is good with broken animals, would somehow fix Davey feels very dismissive of the complexities of recovery.
I wanted to scream so long and so loudly that someone would hear me. The rest of me didn’t want to make a sound. The rest of me wanted to give in. It wanted to let go. It wanted to fall. The rest of me wanted to be flung into the abyss.
They soon begin a sexual relationship, and it’s all consuming for Davey. They have an incredible sexual connection.
Their reunion, FIVE YEARS LATER, is marked by a brief sexual encounter and almost no meaningful conversation, feels abrupt and hollow. They are both with multiple other people during their separation.
“I knew the farm was no place for you. What I wanted, no, needed, to hear was…I needed to hear you asking me to go with you.”
Ultimately, the miscommunication and emotionally manipulative undertones detract from what could have been a moving story of healing and second chances. I value clear communication and genuine growth in romance, so this story was a frustrating read.
The vast majority of my friends loved this story, so don’t let my negativity deter you if you want to give it a read.
The story revolves around Davey (23), recovering from a serious mental health crisis and struggling with his sexual identity. Jonathan (30), is a rugged, self-proclaimed "equal-opportunity pervert" who runs the farm Davey visits.
The diary-style, single POV writing offers a glimpse into Davey’s perspective. His depression and suicide attempt are mentioned but ultimately set aside in favor of the romance. The idea that being around Jonathan, who is good with broken animals, would somehow fix Davey feels very dismissive of the complexities of recovery.
I wanted to scream so long and so loudly that someone would hear me. The rest of me didn’t want to make a sound. The rest of me wanted to give in. It wanted to let go. It wanted to fall. The rest of me wanted to be flung into the abyss.
They soon begin a sexual relationship, and it’s all consuming for Davey. They have an incredible sexual connection.
Their reunion, FIVE YEARS LATER, is marked by a brief sexual encounter and almost no meaningful conversation, feels abrupt and hollow. They are both with multiple other people during their separation.
“I knew the farm was no place for you. What I wanted, no, needed, to hear was…I needed to hear you asking me to go with you.”
Ultimately, the miscommunication and emotionally manipulative undertones detract from what could have been a moving story of healing and second chances. I value clear communication and genuine growth in romance, so this story was a frustrating read.
The vast majority of my friends loved this story, so don’t let my negativity deter you if you want to give it a read.
August 9, 2025
This. Was. INCREDIBLE!
This book is quite unique, as it is told via ‘diary entries’ by our narrator Davey.
Davey, who at the beginning of the story is really, really struggling and who because of that decides to go to a farm in the gorgeous middle of nowhere, South Africa, to flee everyday life for a bit. To heal. To get better. To not feel so broken anymore.
There he meets the owner of the farm, Jonathan, to whom he’s immediately drawn and oooh boy, do I get where he’s coming from, because same, babe, SAME! I don’t think there’s anything more attractive than a man who’s gentle with animals 🫠🫠
I absolutely adored Jonathan. He’s such a quiet, strong, gentle mountain of a man. But he’s also teasing, laughing, a little (okay, a lot) wicked and I LOVED these two sides to him. Tbh I think I just fell in love with him alongside Davey, because he’s just my kind of guy. Hello, new book boyfriend.
Davey was also INCREDIBLY loveable. So flustered, so awkward, so funny, so real, so full of depth. And even though I wished for Jonathan’s POV sometimes, Davey was a really compelling narrator for their story.
Tbh, I thought I would struggle more with the format. Diary entries are notoriously hard to write authentically, which is why it took me so long to pick this up. And I wasn’t wrong - this doesn’t read like diary entries at all - but what surprised me was that I didn’t mind?! The short chapters - though not written journal style - were still powerful, emotionally engaging glimpses into everyday life: the farm, the animals, Davey’s struggles and endless pining, Jonathan’s care and comfort and guidance, their growing connection, their developing big, BIG love and their sexy times.
Speaking of which. This was SCORCHING HOT, JFC 🥵🥵 The hottest thing I’ve read in a while, that’s for damn sure. Their chemistry was… uff. Electric.
Also: ‘More’ might be my new fav micro trope, just saying. Holy shit.
BUT, here’s some important info:
Past relationships and sexual encounters with men and women are described in quite a bit of detail - especially from Jonathan’s side and I did wish it hadn’t been. I didn’t want to picture him with anyone else because I was so in love with his love for Davey y’know? When Davey felt jealous, I did too, and I didn’t like it.
Also: there’s a five year seperation and both MCs are with other people during that time. It doesn’t take up a lot of page time (just one chapter and a later conversation) but it is fairly detailed. So, heads up, I suppose.
BUT THIS WAS STILL 100% A FIVE STAR READ FOR ME DESPITE ALL THAT AND I ALREADY WANT TO REREAD BECAUSE I LOVED THIS SO SO MUCH 😭
The ending was literal perfection. FUCK.
Where do I go from here?!
This book is quite unique, as it is told via ‘diary entries’ by our narrator Davey.
Davey, who at the beginning of the story is really, really struggling and who because of that decides to go to a farm in the gorgeous middle of nowhere, South Africa, to flee everyday life for a bit. To heal. To get better. To not feel so broken anymore.
There he meets the owner of the farm, Jonathan, to whom he’s immediately drawn and oooh boy, do I get where he’s coming from, because same, babe, SAME! I don’t think there’s anything more attractive than a man who’s gentle with animals 🫠🫠
I absolutely adored Jonathan. He’s such a quiet, strong, gentle mountain of a man. But he’s also teasing, laughing, a little (okay, a lot) wicked and I LOVED these two sides to him. Tbh I think I just fell in love with him alongside Davey, because he’s just my kind of guy. Hello, new book boyfriend.
Davey was also INCREDIBLY loveable. So flustered, so awkward, so funny, so real, so full of depth. And even though I wished for Jonathan’s POV sometimes, Davey was a really compelling narrator for their story.
Tbh, I thought I would struggle more with the format. Diary entries are notoriously hard to write authentically, which is why it took me so long to pick this up. And I wasn’t wrong - this doesn’t read like diary entries at all - but what surprised me was that I didn’t mind?! The short chapters - though not written journal style - were still powerful, emotionally engaging glimpses into everyday life: the farm, the animals, Davey’s struggles and endless pining, Jonathan’s care and comfort and guidance, their growing connection, their developing big, BIG love and their sexy times.
Speaking of which. This was SCORCHING HOT, JFC 🥵🥵 The hottest thing I’ve read in a while, that’s for damn sure. Their chemistry was… uff. Electric.
“What have you done to me?” he moaned, pulling my shirt open, kissing a path along my shoulder and up the side of my neck. “What have you done to me, Davey? What have you done to me with those eyes and this body?” He pressed two thick fingers into my mouth. I accepted them gratefully, swirling my tongue around them. He kissed me along my jaw, scraping his teeth on my stubble. “What have you done to me, with this mouth and this mind?” 😮💨
Also: ‘More’ might be my new fav micro trope, just saying. Holy shit.
BUT, here’s some important info:
Past relationships and sexual encounters with men and women are described in quite a bit of detail - especially from Jonathan’s side and I did wish it hadn’t been. I didn’t want to picture him with anyone else because I was so in love with his love for Davey y’know? When Davey felt jealous, I did too, and I didn’t like it.
Also: there’s a five year seperation and both MCs are with other people during that time. It doesn’t take up a lot of page time (just one chapter and a later conversation) but it is fairly detailed. So, heads up, I suppose.
BUT THIS WAS STILL 100% A FIVE STAR READ FOR ME DESPITE ALL THAT AND I ALREADY WANT TO REREAD BECAUSE I LOVED THIS SO SO MUCH 😭
The ending was literal perfection. FUCK.
Where do I go from here?!
February 6, 2024
This was unexpectedly intense, heartbreaking, joyous and towards the end I couldn’t put it down. Beautiful South African setting. I would have loved Jonathon’s POV occasionally. At some points I didn’t overly enjoy reading this but it was impactful and made me feel things.
August 5, 2022
“Jonathan and Davey forever” stars ⭐️
It feels like ages ago when I read a book that blew my mind right off. This book is exactly what I was looking for. After reading this story, I felt so content. No big dramas, no cheating; this is just two guys who are disgustingly in love with each other.
“I wasn’t expecting you, Davey. I didn’t see you coming, and maybe that’s how you got under my skin. Deep under my skin. So deep, you got into my blood. Now you’re like napalm running through my veins and I can’t imagine wanting anyone else.”
This story is from David’s journal. You won't feel this as reading a journal, because this is hot AF, and everything is so detailed.
“I’ll never love anyone else the way I love you,” I sobbed.”
I'd like to recommend this book to every one of you, please do read this, you won't regret it! :)
It feels like ages ago when I read a book that blew my mind right off. This book is exactly what I was looking for. After reading this story, I felt so content. No big dramas, no cheating; this is just two guys who are disgustingly in love with each other.
“I wasn’t expecting you, Davey. I didn’t see you coming, and maybe that’s how you got under my skin. Deep under my skin. So deep, you got into my blood. Now you’re like napalm running through my veins and I can’t imagine wanting anyone else.”
This story is from David’s journal. You won't feel this as reading a journal, because this is hot AF, and everything is so detailed.
“I’ll never love anyone else the way I love you,” I sobbed.”
I'd like to recommend this book to every one of you, please do read this, you won't regret it! :)
May 22, 2025
Oh wow, this book was so beautiful. All the stars!!
A story about soul mates. Of companionship and healthy love, of healing, growth, and self-acceptance.
Written in a dreamy prose like style with journal entries by Davey about his experience staying on a South African farm with Jon. We see the world through Davey's eyes which is written with humour, humility and growing self awareness.
Davey begins his journey struggling with his mental health and at his parent's behest, goes to the farm to recover through honest, hard work and fresh air. Jon is portrayed as a type of "horse whisperer" but for people with lost or hurt souls.
The story goes into detail about what they do on the farm every day, what time they get up and go to bed, what they eat, etc etc. It's almost monotonous but very effective in creating routine and providing backdrop as well as showing the reader that there is beauty in simplicity. These chapters do well with building the tension between the MCs brought on by their constant close proximity, stolen glances, and what was 'not' being said between them.
It's a slow burn but with a simmering tension between the MCs, which results in high heat. I like my books steamy, and this was probably one of the most passionately raw and honest books I've ever read. The emotional and physical journey taken together by the MCs is both healing and relevatory. It provides catharsis to the characters and to the reader. To observe how the MCs love and accept one another this much was so bittersweet to witness and created a craving within. I was so here for it!
Tropes -
Hurt/comfort
Forced proximity
Mental health rep
Found family
Self-harm (off page)
Coming Out / first time gay sex
First Love
Hard earned HEA
Spoiler below
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There's a third act break-up with a 5 year timeline where the MCs are apart and there's angst+++ that I didn't like. It was totally necessary for character growth, but it made me really sad. But it all ended up ok in the end. So, well played, Jesse H Reign 👏
A story about soul mates. Of companionship and healthy love, of healing, growth, and self-acceptance.
Written in a dreamy prose like style with journal entries by Davey about his experience staying on a South African farm with Jon. We see the world through Davey's eyes which is written with humour, humility and growing self awareness.
Davey begins his journey struggling with his mental health and at his parent's behest, goes to the farm to recover through honest, hard work and fresh air. Jon is portrayed as a type of "horse whisperer" but for people with lost or hurt souls.
The story goes into detail about what they do on the farm every day, what time they get up and go to bed, what they eat, etc etc. It's almost monotonous but very effective in creating routine and providing backdrop as well as showing the reader that there is beauty in simplicity. These chapters do well with building the tension between the MCs brought on by their constant close proximity, stolen glances, and what was 'not' being said between them.
It's a slow burn but with a simmering tension between the MCs, which results in high heat. I like my books steamy, and this was probably one of the most passionately raw and honest books I've ever read. The emotional and physical journey taken together by the MCs is both healing and relevatory. It provides catharsis to the characters and to the reader. To observe how the MCs love and accept one another this much was so bittersweet to witness and created a craving within. I was so here for it!
Tropes -
Hurt/comfort
Forced proximity
Mental health rep
Found family
Self-harm (off page)
Coming Out / first time gay sex
First Love
Hard earned HEA
Spoiler below
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*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
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There's a third act break-up with a 5 year timeline where the MCs are apart and there's angst+++ that I didn't like. It was totally necessary for character growth, but it made me really sad. But it all ended up ok in the end. So, well played, Jesse H Reign 👏
July 27, 2024
Reread 7/24
My Davey and my Jonathan ❤️ they’re mine🥹
________________________
Reread and… my heart just melted all over again… this is as beautiful as the incredible landscapes of South Africa described here… I love them!
I think I suffered more this time around… cried more… I admit I passed 2 chapters because they were infuriating for me… some choices leave me… idk ready to riot, but maybe that why the end was so satisfying and real.. because people make stupid decisions… people don’t talk and suffer alone… all ends well actually, ends with pure perfection ❤️ this is my favorite book from Jesse and I totally recommend this to anyone who believes in true love and what’s meant to be finds it’s way!
Jonathan and Davey ♾️❤️🫠🔥🥹🥰
________________________
So I read this book and it completely moved to the top of my favorites ever!
I absolutely loved everything about this story… my heart…
Quoting eloquently Davey:
More.more.more ❤️🔥
The story is so epic, intense, beautiful, hot and sexy that I can’t even put in more eloquent words!
Thank so so much for Davey and Jonathan. This was pure perfection and filled my heart with all the emotions an incredible book can give a reader, because you laugh, cry, swoon, blush, scream, suffer and simply fall in love with these characters forever! The story feels so true, raw and real that putting is down to eat or sleep was simply not an option!
Jesse you are so talented and you blow my mind with every book I read from you!
PS: I will Fangirl over you till eternity 🥹❤️🔥🖤 See less
My Davey and my Jonathan ❤️ they’re mine🥹
________________________
Reread and… my heart just melted all over again… this is as beautiful as the incredible landscapes of South Africa described here… I love them!
I think I suffered more this time around… cried more… I admit I passed 2 chapters because they were infuriating for me… some choices leave me… idk ready to riot, but maybe that why the end was so satisfying and real.. because people make stupid decisions… people don’t talk and suffer alone… all ends well actually, ends with pure perfection ❤️ this is my favorite book from Jesse and I totally recommend this to anyone who believes in true love and what’s meant to be finds it’s way!
Jonathan and Davey ♾️❤️🫠🔥🥹🥰
________________________
So I read this book and it completely moved to the top of my favorites ever!
I absolutely loved everything about this story… my heart…
Quoting eloquently Davey:
More.more.more ❤️🔥
The story is so epic, intense, beautiful, hot and sexy that I can’t even put in more eloquent words!
Thank so so much for Davey and Jonathan. This was pure perfection and filled my heart with all the emotions an incredible book can give a reader, because you laugh, cry, swoon, blush, scream, suffer and simply fall in love with these characters forever! The story feels so true, raw and real that putting is down to eat or sleep was simply not an option!
Jesse you are so talented and you blow my mind with every book I read from you!
PS: I will Fangirl over you till eternity 🥹❤️🔥🖤 See less
July 15, 2022
Unbreak Me is the first book I have read from this author and will not be my last. I am always looking for that one author that grips your attention and keeps it. Unbreak me not only held it, but it also took me on an emotional rollercoaster.
Unbreak me is an original, unique, and remarkable story. What a journey the author put us on. I love the writing style and how we got to read Davey’s journal. I felt more of a connection with his character. He is more of a complex nature, which I love.
Jonathon is a handsome farmer. I love reading about his journey, and his character development thought the book. He slowly opens up and shows himself for the man he is. You just can but help but love him.
The chemistry and steam between the two is a scorcher. Just a bonus to the book, to be honest. Overall I am impressed with the author's writing and look forward to more books from this author—a must-read for my MM readers.
December 24, 2023
Exactly my kind of book. The relationship building, the heartbreak, the time apart and the reunion....all perfect! I cried so much 🥹
I could not put this book down until I finished it - it's now 3am and I have to be up early to finish painting my son's bedroom in time for Christmas, but the tiredness will be so worth it!
I just loved Jonathan and David 🥰
I could not put this book down until I finished it - it's now 3am and I have to be up early to finish painting my son's bedroom in time for Christmas, but the tiredness will be so worth it!
I just loved Jonathan and David 🥰
September 21, 2024
How do I kindly but firmly tell an author that their romcoms are fine and dandy but angst is ABSOLUTELY their forte? How do I give a book ten stars?
'He’s everything I remember.'
'I wasn’t crazy. He is amazing.'
This book was everything I want in a book and then some. Had me feeling all the angst without falling back on overused tropes.
I love when there are problems that are not a direct consequence of one MC being an Unforgivable Dick™
Why can't we have more of this? THIS is why I read romance. I like wanting them together, in spite of everything. This is one of those books where I don't feel like either MC settled.
“I’ll never recover from this.”, said Davey, that dramatic MF, at least THIRTEEN times this book. He was right, though.
And, honestly? Same.
'He’s everything I remember.'
'I wasn’t crazy. He is amazing.'
This book was everything I want in a book and then some. Had me feeling all the angst without falling back on overused tropes.
I love when there are problems that are not a direct consequence of one MC being an Unforgivable Dick™
Why can't we have more of this? THIS is why I read romance. I like wanting them together, in spite of everything. This is one of those books where I don't feel like either MC settled.
“I’ll never recover from this.”, said Davey, that dramatic MF, at least THIRTEEN times this book. He was right, though.
And, honestly? Same.
April 24, 2023
This was sublime. I want to reread it immediately. But I think I have to declare my bias first because this book is set in South Africa, and I happen to be South African. And I've gotta say - Jesse Reign got the vibe exactly right. It's not often (as in literally never) that I get to read an MM romance so close to home, I was thrilled.
Geographical and cultural accuracy aside, this was gorgeous. We get quite a colonial concept to start with - depressed British boy (David) is shipped off to a farm in the middle of nowhere to get his head straight. But there he meets the world's sexiest farmer (Jonathan) and when I say sparks fly. Like holy shit. This book probably 65% sex, possibly more. And I have zero complaints. It was so raw and intimate and breathless, it had my head spinning. It's written in the form of David's journal, so we only ever get his perspective, but it was so, so lovely and bittersweet in places. David is a mess when he arrives on the farm and he is so relatable, you can't help but like him. Jonathan was too good to be true, and I would pay quite a lot of money to read this exact same book from his POV.
It's a long ass book, but honestly, I wanted it never to end. I kept rereading passages to make it last longer. There's no plot to speak of, just David's internal world. But it was honestly a perfect read for me.
Jesse, if you're reading this, I am wildly curious about and impressed by how good your Afrikaans is.
Geographical and cultural accuracy aside, this was gorgeous. We get quite a colonial concept to start with - depressed British boy (David) is shipped off to a farm in the middle of nowhere to get his head straight. But there he meets the world's sexiest farmer (Jonathan) and when I say sparks fly. Like holy shit. This book probably 65% sex, possibly more. And I have zero complaints. It was so raw and intimate and breathless, it had my head spinning. It's written in the form of David's journal, so we only ever get his perspective, but it was so, so lovely and bittersweet in places. David is a mess when he arrives on the farm and he is so relatable, you can't help but like him. Jonathan was too good to be true, and I would pay quite a lot of money to read this exact same book from his POV.
It's a long ass book, but honestly, I wanted it never to end. I kept rereading passages to make it last longer. There's no plot to speak of, just David's internal world. But it was honestly a perfect read for me.
Jesse, if you're reading this, I am wildly curious about and impressed by how good your Afrikaans is.
April 21, 2025
"Thank god and thank fuck." How right you are Davey... my sentiments exactly. Reign has struck gold again!🥇
If ever there was a sweet sweet HEA, it's here. Although I'm not sure I'll ever quite forgive Reign for the angst she put my poor heart through to get there in the end. I'm sure she can make it up to me somehow. 😏
And whoever cast Nathan Wolfe as the narrator on the audiobook deserves a medal. His voice is liquid gold and reads all of the British quirks perfectly!
Coupled with his incredible voice, what I found fascinating was the different style that Reign brought to this book. How is it something can 'feel' American or English??? I have no idea, but it did. The text felt more 'melodic' this time. Sure it had Reign's trademark snark and humorous moments, but it felt paired back a tad. This could have been the diary style entries which gave it a different pace to her other books. The story being entirely told from Davey's point of view gave it an emotional depth, particularly as the whole premise was him dealing with some heavy duty mental health issues and finding himself on a farm in South Africa owned by Jonathan (doubly fascinated to learn that Reign grew up here!). Here comes the sun! 🌞
Oh my... 🔥🔥🔥 *fans self
My brain is still in melt down mode, so forgive me for my lack of adequate vocabulary to describe our Jonathan (ok, I'll share him with Davey 😏). His physicality, his presence, his kindness, his emotional IQ. I could fangirl about this man forever. But his level of perfection reached scorching point when he lead Davey through his emotions and journey of self discovery. It was like watching a veterinarian birthing a colt.
I
Love
Him! 😍
And Davey is just glorious in all his layers too! His self derision is deliciously cute and awkward as he tries to grapple with how to live in his own skin. If I had to align myself with any character in the whole Reign universe, it would have to be Davey. I felt as though I was inside his head, or he in mine, when his self talk spoke volumes about how his anxiety hit.
This author has an uncanny knack for making you laugh in the midst of both emotive and hot AF scenes that will leave you breathless. She drew complex emotions from me (particularly in the latter chapters) that had me wrenching my headphones off and needing to walk away and take a breather, almost as if I were running from a crime scene as the feelings were just too intense. I adored the duality of the meaning behind the title too, that both boys were broken in their own way. 🤗
Did I mention hot? 🔥😈
The innuendos around drought and thirst were hilarious and adorable and the description of the electricity of arousal was on point. We all need to sign a petition for Reign to write extra chapters (did I say chapters? I meant book. We need a whole other book of the sweet goodness that is Davey and Jonathan) to dig into the Dom/sub of these beautiful boys.
"I'm telling you Davey, every time you open your mouth, you check boxes I didn't even know existed for me." ❤️❤️❤️
*faints from emotional exhaustion
READ THIS!!!
If ever there was a sweet sweet HEA, it's here. Although I'm not sure I'll ever quite forgive Reign for the angst she put my poor heart through to get there in the end. I'm sure she can make it up to me somehow. 😏
And whoever cast Nathan Wolfe as the narrator on the audiobook deserves a medal. His voice is liquid gold and reads all of the British quirks perfectly!
Coupled with his incredible voice, what I found fascinating was the different style that Reign brought to this book. How is it something can 'feel' American or English??? I have no idea, but it did. The text felt more 'melodic' this time. Sure it had Reign's trademark snark and humorous moments, but it felt paired back a tad. This could have been the diary style entries which gave it a different pace to her other books. The story being entirely told from Davey's point of view gave it an emotional depth, particularly as the whole premise was him dealing with some heavy duty mental health issues and finding himself on a farm in South Africa owned by Jonathan (doubly fascinated to learn that Reign grew up here!). Here comes the sun! 🌞
Oh my... 🔥🔥🔥 *fans self
My brain is still in melt down mode, so forgive me for my lack of adequate vocabulary to describe our Jonathan (ok, I'll share him with Davey 😏). His physicality, his presence, his kindness, his emotional IQ. I could fangirl about this man forever. But his level of perfection reached scorching point when he lead Davey through his emotions and journey of self discovery. It was like watching a veterinarian birthing a colt.
I
Love
Him! 😍
And Davey is just glorious in all his layers too! His self derision is deliciously cute and awkward as he tries to grapple with how to live in his own skin. If I had to align myself with any character in the whole Reign universe, it would have to be Davey. I felt as though I was inside his head, or he in mine, when his self talk spoke volumes about how his anxiety hit.
This author has an uncanny knack for making you laugh in the midst of both emotive and hot AF scenes that will leave you breathless. She drew complex emotions from me (particularly in the latter chapters) that had me wrenching my headphones off and needing to walk away and take a breather, almost as if I were running from a crime scene as the feelings were just too intense. I adored the duality of the meaning behind the title too, that both boys were broken in their own way. 🤗
Did I mention hot? 🔥😈
The innuendos around drought and thirst were hilarious and adorable and the description of the electricity of arousal was on point. We all need to sign a petition for Reign to write extra chapters (did I say chapters? I meant book. We need a whole other book of the sweet goodness that is Davey and Jonathan) to dig into the Dom/sub of these beautiful boys.
"I'm telling you Davey, every time you open your mouth, you check boxes I didn't even know existed for me." ❤️❤️❤️
*faints from emotional exhaustion
READ THIS!!!
February 26, 2023
Per-fucking-fection!! Damnit Jesse! This book wasn’t what I expected at all and I adored every word of it. I laughed. I cried. I came. JK! The purest hurt/comfort ever!! Truly!
So unique in the way the story is told from David’s POV in journal format. There’s this raw vulnerability laced with hesitation and even self loathing that makes for an utterly captivating and heart wrenching romance. But it’s not a sad book at all (well for the most part.) It’s a book about finding self acceptance and then learning to love yourself and allowing others to love you as well. David had so much to give, so much to offer but was terrified of his truth. He needed to believe in himself and own it without compromise.
When I tell you Jonathan is the epitome of book boyfriends, that is not an exaggeration. He was everything!! In every way. Kind, loving, passionate, resolute, loyal, funny, brave, open, dirty, compassionate, generous - shit! I fell madly in love with a character yet again!
So unique in the way the story is told from David’s POV in journal format. There’s this raw vulnerability laced with hesitation and even self loathing that makes for an utterly captivating and heart wrenching romance. But it’s not a sad book at all (well for the most part.) It’s a book about finding self acceptance and then learning to love yourself and allowing others to love you as well. David had so much to give, so much to offer but was terrified of his truth. He needed to believe in himself and own it without compromise.
When I tell you Jonathan is the epitome of book boyfriends, that is not an exaggeration. He was everything!! In every way. Kind, loving, passionate, resolute, loyal, funny, brave, open, dirty, compassionate, generous - shit! I fell madly in love with a character yet again!
December 29, 2023
I am not in the mood to write a long ass review which is why I reserve the right to only say what needs to be said.
This book, this story, was all kinds of beautiful. I liked it a lot.
The time jump in the last third or so of the book wasn’t my favourite but it made a whole lot of sense if you really think about it. The jump just worked. I shouldn’t be complaining.
The characters were perfect. There is really nothing else to be said.
There was a lot of spice in this book which was really rather fun and I loved the realism in a few of those scenes (douching and pain for example). Nice to see that for once.
All in all a pretty damn good book.
This book, this story, was all kinds of beautiful. I liked it a lot.
The time jump in the last third or so of the book wasn’t my favourite but it made a whole lot of sense if you really think about it. The jump just worked. I shouldn’t be complaining.
The characters were perfect. There is really nothing else to be said.
There was a lot of spice in this book which was really rather fun and I loved the realism in a few of those scenes (douching and pain for example). Nice to see that for once.
All in all a pretty damn good book.
September 26, 2022
As a diary person I really appreciated this
October 30, 2022
I always appreciate a good story about falling in love for the first time and discovering things about yourself and this one really worked for me. This book wasn’t a short book, which isn’t my preference when it comes to reading, but I never once felt like this book was dragging because I was so invested in the story, and thats saying a lot of praises coming from me.
The relationship in this book was also very romantic and lovely to read it.
All in all, this was a very good reading experience and I really enjoyed it.
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
The relationship in this book was also very romantic and lovely to read it.
All in all, this was a very good reading experience and I really enjoyed it.
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
February 16, 2025
6 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
I don’t think any other book has ever made me sob the way this one did.
This is a romance that is just so pure and good, which is nearly impossible to come by. But Davey and Jonathan were just so perfect for each other, and were so sweet together.
I was a bit hesitant with the writing style of this. Basically it’s written as David’s journal while he spends a few months with a distant family friend in South Africa after a mental health crisis. Everything is in his POV, and there were a few times that entries were very short or completely uneventful—but I wound up really loving the way the story unfolded.
I’ve seen a lot of people say the beginning of this story is boring because things progress very slowly between David and Jonathan, but I actually really liked learning about South Africa and the culture and people, and just Jonathan’s life in general. Jesse H. Reign is truly an artist, and she makes beautiful murals out of words. I could see the landscape in my mind and I loved every second of it.
The spice and romance were perfect. They were simultaneous hot and soft together. Just absolutely wonderful. But the angst and pining in this book was on another level. No one does heartache quite like Jesse does.
This is now competing with Romeo Falling for my top spot of Jesse’s work. I already know this is a future reread for me.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
I don’t think any other book has ever made me sob the way this one did.
This is a romance that is just so pure and good, which is nearly impossible to come by. But Davey and Jonathan were just so perfect for each other, and were so sweet together.
I was a bit hesitant with the writing style of this. Basically it’s written as David’s journal while he spends a few months with a distant family friend in South Africa after a mental health crisis. Everything is in his POV, and there were a few times that entries were very short or completely uneventful—but I wound up really loving the way the story unfolded.
I’ve seen a lot of people say the beginning of this story is boring because things progress very slowly between David and Jonathan, but I actually really liked learning about South Africa and the culture and people, and just Jonathan’s life in general. Jesse H. Reign is truly an artist, and she makes beautiful murals out of words. I could see the landscape in my mind and I loved every second of it.
The spice and romance were perfect. They were simultaneous hot and soft together. Just absolutely wonderful. But the angst and pining in this book was on another level. No one does heartache quite like Jesse does.
This is now competing with Romeo Falling for my top spot of Jesse’s work. I already know this is a future reread for me.
March 31, 2023
This book has such a quiet beauty. The one word I would use to describe it is comfort. It felt quiet, and slow, but also so gorgeous and comforting. It is thoughtful, and introspective. The kind of book that I will definitely come back and reread.
This is told in diary format - and it’s done so well. Davey is on a journey of self-discovery while visiting an isolated farm in South Africa, where he meets Jonathon. Jonathon gently helps him heal and grow and in the process they fall deeply in love with each other.
This book felt so different from anything else I have read by Jesse but in the best way possible. It is so unique and the characters felt so real. I will say Jonathon is now one of my top book boyfriends ever. This man 👌 Dependable, strong, compassionate, confidant, happy (literal sunshine), sweet, and intuitive to others' needs. Not to mention pretty much physical perfection - big with muscles for days.
“No-one dresses sluttier than a South African farm boy.”
Their chemistry was off the charts 🔥🔥 They were all at once tender, respectful, open and honest and absolutely filthy hot. The perfect combination 🥵
They had amazing communication throughout the whole book and they were just so healthy. No wonder they had the kind of love that neither of them could ever get over. They were soulmates.
This is a long book. I’ll admit there was a point where I felt like putting it aside. But I think it’s just a book meant to be savoured and not binged. So I slowed down and enjoyed it. I would’ve absolutely regretted not finishing it. This one will be in my top books of this year hands down.
I wish I could put every quote I highlighted here but then this would become a 200 page novel in itself....
“I wasn’t expecting you, Davey. I didn’t see you coming, and maybe that’s how you got under my skin. Deep under my skin. So deep, you got into my blood. Now you’re like napalm running through my veins and I can’t imagine wanting anyone else.”
“I knew it was big, this thing with you, Davey."
This is told in diary format - and it’s done so well. Davey is on a journey of self-discovery while visiting an isolated farm in South Africa, where he meets Jonathon. Jonathon gently helps him heal and grow and in the process they fall deeply in love with each other.
This book felt so different from anything else I have read by Jesse but in the best way possible. It is so unique and the characters felt so real. I will say Jonathon is now one of my top book boyfriends ever. This man 👌 Dependable, strong, compassionate, confidant, happy (literal sunshine), sweet, and intuitive to others' needs. Not to mention pretty much physical perfection - big with muscles for days.
“No-one dresses sluttier than a South African farm boy.”
Their chemistry was off the charts 🔥🔥 They were all at once tender, respectful, open and honest and absolutely filthy hot. The perfect combination 🥵
They had amazing communication throughout the whole book and they were just so healthy. No wonder they had the kind of love that neither of them could ever get over. They were soulmates.
This is a long book. I’ll admit there was a point where I felt like putting it aside. But I think it’s just a book meant to be savoured and not binged. So I slowed down and enjoyed it. I would’ve absolutely regretted not finishing it. This one will be in my top books of this year hands down.
I wish I could put every quote I highlighted here but then this would become a 200 page novel in itself....
“I wasn’t expecting you, Davey. I didn’t see you coming, and maybe that’s how you got under my skin. Deep under my skin. So deep, you got into my blood. Now you’re like napalm running through my veins and I can’t imagine wanting anyone else.”
“I knew it was big, this thing with you, Davey."
July 17, 2022
The effortlessness and intricacy of the plot and the appeal of the characters are so deeply thoughtful that there is no way for someone to read right to the end and not feel every bit of emotion this book was meant to portray. You become completely drawn into this story and are kept glued to every word.
We follow the young and beautiful Englishman, David Hammond on his captivating journey to South Africa for a much needed change of scenery and here we experience him overcome his fears and insecurities with accepting who he really is. He is completely and utterly blown away when he meets the gorgeous and rugged farmer, Jonathan Rosseau.
David’s initial awkwardness around Jonathan made him hilarious, lovable and all the more real.
And Jonathan – OMW, he should be labelled [ Too sexy for public transportation ] – he was such a beautifully written character overall. The number on times he made me melt and swoon was unbelievable…😍🥵🔥🥰♨️
Together, they fall deeply and powerfully in love as they begin exploring the tender side of that love and experiencing all of the steamiest moments that just leaves you salivating.
That physical ache in my chest at one particular point in the book further verified how wonderfully written this book is.
David’s character arc was such a beautiful thing to witness... 🥰🥰
I remember thinking of the first 20% as slightly slow while I was reading but when I got to the end, I realized that it was needed to get a thorough understanding of these two amazing characters.
And I have to say, being a South African myself, the little bits of the South African heritage thrown in here and there was wonderful to see.
If you love books with kind and loving characters and deep emotions then this is a book you should definitely read. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommended... 💙💙
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We follow the young and beautiful Englishman, David Hammond on his captivating journey to South Africa for a much needed change of scenery and here we experience him overcome his fears and insecurities with accepting who he really is. He is completely and utterly blown away when he meets the gorgeous and rugged farmer, Jonathan Rosseau.
David’s initial awkwardness around Jonathan made him hilarious, lovable and all the more real.
And Jonathan – OMW, he should be labelled [ Too sexy for public transportation ] – he was such a beautifully written character overall. The number on times he made me melt and swoon was unbelievable…😍🥵🔥🥰♨️
Together, they fall deeply and powerfully in love as they begin exploring the tender side of that love and experiencing all of the steamiest moments that just leaves you salivating.
That physical ache in my chest at one particular point in the book further verified how wonderfully written this book is.
David’s character arc was such a beautiful thing to witness... 🥰🥰
I remember thinking of the first 20% as slightly slow while I was reading but when I got to the end, I realized that it was needed to get a thorough understanding of these two amazing characters.
And I have to say, being a South African myself, the little bits of the South African heritage thrown in here and there was wonderful to see.
If you love books with kind and loving characters and deep emotions then this is a book you should definitely read. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommended... 💙💙
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August 4, 2025
No part of my soul believes it’s over. It isn’t. I know it. It can’t be. How can it be? How can it possibly be, when there are chapters and chapters and chapters yet to be written?
Ugh THIS BOOK. Admittedly, it took me a little while to get in to, but then it just captivated me and left me in a sobbing heap by the end.
Whilst recuperating from a mental health crisis, David's family encourages him to stay on their friends farm in South Africa, for a change of scenery. There he meets Jonathan, and over the weeks and months that follow they grow closer, irrevocably falling for one another, despite their limited time together.
Since the book is written in the style of a journal, the first 30% or so felt a bit disjointed, and took getting used to. There's some parts that felt a bit dull, and others that felt rushed. There was very little dialogue in the first few chapters too, however, once Davey and Jon got together, I found the journal entries to be much more detailed and 'complete'.
The second half of the story just had me in a chokehold, as by then I was deep into their love story, and the inevitable Jonathan Pain™. The writing was beautiful and intense, and I can already tell that I'm going to be thinking of this couple for a while to come.
Alongside their swoony romance and devastating heartbreak, there's also some great spice in this book. Jonathan and Davey have such incredible chemistry, and it's also refreshing to see so much talk of prep in a MM book (not just the stretching kind!).
Overall, I really loved this story, and it made me feel such a whirlwind of emotions. It has a very different vibe from Jesse's other books that I've read, and I hope that she writes more like this in the future!
4.5★
![Profile Image for Lb [worlds longest slump] .](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1757735729i%2F106122777._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 22, 2024
4.5⭐️
Adding this to the list of books that sort of destroyed me (in a good way)
I loved this so much but STOP MAKING ME CRY (don't stop)
It's a coming out/mental health rep/hurt x comfort/second chance-ish romance set on a South African farm and it somehow balances being sickeningly sweet and obscenely dirty all at once. I did not know I had a thing for South African farm boys but you learn something new every day.
Like, wow. On my knees for Jonathan, the man that you are 🧎♀️
Jonathan is like, the creme de la creme of book boyfriends imo. He is so dirty, but so sweet and wholesome and loving. He is so soft but so masculine. The way he puts Davey back together, I just can't even out into words. And Davey... he is SO funny. He is so relatable and considering he's depressed and in the closet idk what that says but the way this is written is just so human.
⚠️⚠️Spoilers⚠️⚠️ but at 73% we got into real tears territory:
“I know you’re doing the right thing by leaving. I know you are, so I really, really need you to ignore this, but also, I just…I need to hear myself say the words.”
“Okay. You can say whatever you want and I’ll ignore you.”
He crushed me to him again and whispered so softly into my ear I almost didn’t hear him say, “Please don’t leave me.”
😭😭😭
He lifted my hand and pressed his lips to my scar. Then he unbuckled the leather strap of his grandfather’s watch and fastened it tightly around my wrist. The strap was wide and almost covered the scar completely.
“Jonathan, no. I can’t take it. It belonged to your…”
“Ag,” he said with a wry smile, “’course you can take it. It’s not a big deal. After all, that watch is broken.”
I smiled as everything went misty. I took one shaky breath and then another and finally said, “What’s so bad about being broken?”
Good god. When I tell you this book had me SOBBING.
It's kind of insane to have something so horny pull at your heartstrings this way.
Jesse Reign says that this is the book of hers she'd most like people to read, and you can tell. This could only have come from the depths of someone's heart, and it's now got a place in mine too.
Adding this to the list of books that sort of destroyed me (in a good way)
I loved this so much but STOP MAKING ME CRY (don't stop)
It's a coming out/mental health rep/hurt x comfort/second chance-ish romance set on a South African farm and it somehow balances being sickeningly sweet and obscenely dirty all at once. I did not know I had a thing for South African farm boys but you learn something new every day.
Like, wow. On my knees for Jonathan, the man that you are 🧎♀️
Jonathan is like, the creme de la creme of book boyfriends imo. He is so dirty, but so sweet and wholesome and loving. He is so soft but so masculine. The way he puts Davey back together, I just can't even out into words. And Davey... he is SO funny. He is so relatable and considering he's depressed and in the closet idk what that says but the way this is written is just so human.
⚠️⚠️Spoilers⚠️⚠️ but at 73% we got into real tears territory:
“I know you’re doing the right thing by leaving. I know you are, so I really, really need you to ignore this, but also, I just…I need to hear myself say the words.”
“Okay. You can say whatever you want and I’ll ignore you.”
He crushed me to him again and whispered so softly into my ear I almost didn’t hear him say, “Please don’t leave me.”
😭😭😭
He lifted my hand and pressed his lips to my scar. Then he unbuckled the leather strap of his grandfather’s watch and fastened it tightly around my wrist. The strap was wide and almost covered the scar completely.
“Jonathan, no. I can’t take it. It belonged to your…”
“Ag,” he said with a wry smile, “’course you can take it. It’s not a big deal. After all, that watch is broken.”
I smiled as everything went misty. I took one shaky breath and then another and finally said, “What’s so bad about being broken?”
Good god. When I tell you this book had me SOBBING.
It's kind of insane to have something so horny pull at your heartstrings this way.
Jesse Reign says that this is the book of hers she'd most like people to read, and you can tell. This could only have come from the depths of someone's heart, and it's now got a place in mine too.
March 19, 2024
This story was heart-meltingly beautiful. The pacing felt a bit slow but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy every second of it, seeing how the two MCs got to fall in love. It wasn't just about their physical intimacy - which I find tiresome in books where they try to convince us that the characters fell in love by banging each other. It was about all their interactions, their chemistry and genuine connection, and all those little moments in between that brought them together. I loved their funny conversations, and especially the hurt/comfort aspect in the story.
We only get David's POV in this where the book is basically his diary. David has dealt with depression and self-loathing (off page), years of not being able to accept himself for who he was, and after an unfortunate incident, his parents send him to a farm in South Africa where he meets Jonathan. Jonathan is one of the sweetest, kindest, most wholesome MCs I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. He was everything David deserved.
Also I loved the beautiful, vivid scenes the author created, like the one in the desert where Jonathan dances as the rain comes after the drought, or the intimate aftermath of sleeping together where they stay in that moment and their love solidifies into something real. They felt very cinematic.
Overall it was a lovely, medium to low angst read, fluffy, cozy, and heartbreaking, and had me sobbing and laughing and feeling so... content.
And oh man, I love Jesse's writing so much. Something about it really does it for me.
I will never recover from this.
We only get David's POV in this where the book is basically his diary. David has dealt with depression and self-loathing (off page), years of not being able to accept himself for who he was, and after an unfortunate incident, his parents send him to a farm in South Africa where he meets Jonathan. Jonathan is one of the sweetest, kindest, most wholesome MCs I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. He was everything David deserved.
Also I loved the beautiful, vivid scenes the author created, like the one in the desert where Jonathan dances as the rain comes after the drought, or the intimate aftermath of sleeping together where they stay in that moment and their love solidifies into something real. They felt very cinematic.
Overall it was a lovely, medium to low angst read, fluffy, cozy, and heartbreaking, and had me sobbing and laughing and feeling so... content.
And oh man, I love Jesse's writing so much. Something about it really does it for me.
I will never recover from this.
October 18, 2023
It took me a long time to get into this just because of my own crap going on but I stuck with this. I honestly just don’t get why they had to be apart at all. The need for each other was amazing it was hot and steamy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
won-t-read-bc-nopes
September 28, 2024I own the book but I'm not going to read it. There is a long separation--5 years--that honestly just sounds no thanks, Nope for me.
June 8, 2023
😭😭😭 this book... almost gutted me. It all hurt so good. My poor little heart almost wanted to give up.
Oh this was just incredibly beautiful, such a wonderful love story but so much heartbreak. 🤧🤧🤧
Not an easy book even without all the heavy stuff in it, but very exceptional. The narrative in diary style, reads great. Only the way in which David writes is perhaps not for everyone. Here and there it gets a bit poetic. For me, absolutely perfect.
In any case, one dives deep into his world of thoughts even if much remains unsaid. But not in such a way that anything was missing. The questions I had were not all answered, but I felt very satisfied when the book was over.
the silence was deafening. Ear-piercing. I had no idea how much I enjoy the company of others. Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if I’m an introvert after all. Perhaps I’m an extrovert who just doesn’t like people? Is that a thing? It’s never good when I descend this deeply into myself. Never once has anything good ever come of it. 🖤🖤🖤
Anyway, you have to have some patience. I was not bored at any second, but the spicy and exciting events start a bit later in the book. But then there are plenty of them. 😉
David and Jonathan's relationship is something all of its own, I've never read anything like it before. The cut that there is then, as I said, almost killed me, but you know it's coming, just by reading the table of contents. So I could prepare myself for it, but still couldn't help but cry a lot.
In terms of triggers, David's depression is portrayed relatively mildly. It's always there and he has his swings, but I think it's okay for the sensitive reader. The condition is sort of always there, but is only really in the foreground at certain points. However, he is not magically cured, thank God.
I wanted to scream so long and so loudly that someone would hear me. The rest of me didn’t want to make a sound. The rest of me wanted to give in. It wanted to let go. It wanted to fall. The rest of me wanted to be flung into the abyss. 🥺🥺🥺
Sex. Babies, that was terrific. Again, unlike anything I've read, just wow ...
“More.”
“Davey, you’re empty. No more,” he murmured.
My head rolled to the side as I dragged my eyes to meet his. My lips felt swollen and thick as I spoke.
“More…more…more…” 🤣🔥🤣
And yes, he gets more ... greedy bastard.
Ok, decided to buy the book now, it's going on the reread list anyway, might as well archive it for anytime.
Oh this was just incredibly beautiful, such a wonderful love story but so much heartbreak. 🤧🤧🤧
Not an easy book even without all the heavy stuff in it, but very exceptional. The narrative in diary style, reads great. Only the way in which David writes is perhaps not for everyone. Here and there it gets a bit poetic. For me, absolutely perfect.
In any case, one dives deep into his world of thoughts even if much remains unsaid. But not in such a way that anything was missing. The questions I had were not all answered, but I felt very satisfied when the book was over.
the silence was deafening. Ear-piercing. I had no idea how much I enjoy the company of others. Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if I’m an introvert after all. Perhaps I’m an extrovert who just doesn’t like people? Is that a thing? It’s never good when I descend this deeply into myself. Never once has anything good ever come of it. 🖤🖤🖤
Anyway, you have to have some patience. I was not bored at any second, but the spicy and exciting events start a bit later in the book. But then there are plenty of them. 😉
David and Jonathan's relationship is something all of its own, I've never read anything like it before. The cut that there is then, as I said, almost killed me, but you know it's coming, just by reading the table of contents. So I could prepare myself for it, but still couldn't help but cry a lot.
In terms of triggers, David's depression is portrayed relatively mildly. It's always there and he has his swings, but I think it's okay for the sensitive reader. The condition is sort of always there, but is only really in the foreground at certain points. However, he is not magically cured, thank God.
I wanted to scream so long and so loudly that someone would hear me. The rest of me didn’t want to make a sound. The rest of me wanted to give in. It wanted to let go. It wanted to fall. The rest of me wanted to be flung into the abyss. 🥺🥺🥺
Sex. Babies, that was terrific. Again, unlike anything I've read, just wow ...
“More.”
“Davey, you’re empty. No more,” he murmured.
My head rolled to the side as I dragged my eyes to meet his. My lips felt swollen and thick as I spoke.
“More…more…more…” 🤣🔥🤣
And yes, he gets more ... greedy bastard.
Ok, decided to buy the book now, it's going on the reread list anyway, might as well archive it for anytime.
May 11, 2025
First of all - THANK YOU JESSE H REIGN FOR THIS BOOK! I received it in a giveaway <3
With that being said, this book absolutely destroyed me. It made me have ALL of the feels. I genuinely care so much about these two characters and hope they get another story because I need to know just how happy their life was and all the adventures and growth they have. Everybody, please stop questioning if you should get this book or not. You need to get it. Like now.
I will 100% be coming back to this author! I just recently got into sports romance and enjoying watching the NHL Playoffs. I hear SOMEONE has a few very very good hockey books that I'm just gonna have to read!
With that being said, this book absolutely destroyed me. It made me have ALL of the feels. I genuinely care so much about these two characters and hope they get another story because I need to know just how happy their life was and all the adventures and growth they have. Everybody, please stop questioning if you should get this book or not. You need to get it. Like now.
I will 100% be coming back to this author! I just recently got into sports romance and enjoying watching the NHL Playoffs. I hear SOMEONE has a few very very good hockey books that I'm just gonna have to read!
July 23, 2023
Twenty something David has traveled from London to a sheep farm in South Africa run by thirty year old Jonathan to further heal from an emotional breakdown that included a suicide attempt. He is almost dumbfounded by the masculinity and physical beauty of Jonathan, who also has a beautiful soul. Through the six months that David lives and works at the farm, his psyche heals and his body strengthens. He realizes and accepts his sexuality, which he has been repressing around his family. Jonathan is open to all sexuality and he reveals that he has been quietly taken aback by David’s presence at the farm. Theirs was a beautiful love with a total sharing of their hearts and bodies. I loved how they would talk for hours in and out of bed. Their physical connection was sublime. David becomes a part of life on the farm and comes to like this barren area of South Africa and its inhabitants. The book is a single POV and is told through a daily journal that David begins and keeps while on the farm. The journal entries are more like the narrative of the days and months of falling in love. When it is time for him to return to London he and Jonathan talk about his staying and he is more than welcome to. With the deep physical and soul attachment these two have I was waiting for this. I was not expecting them to decide to part and for David to go back to his job and family and live as a healed person, and that their time together be treated as a happy memory instead of a foundation for the future.
Their parting was agonizing for both.
I was shocked and unhappy that the author had them parting for five years. Five years!! No communication except for Jon’s parents passing, who had liked David, and it was just an awkward phone call. No hugs and comfort for him. Bizarrely, some years in, David calls Jonathan in a drunken stupor and berates him. My dismay had me skimming as David has a relationship with a former friend who has come out. The relationship is unfulfilling for David.
David and Jonathan get back together in England, not in a joyous way, but what seemed tentative.
The direction the author took was horrible.
I am very sorry that I read this beyond disappointing book.
It was a true WTF? reading experience.
Their parting was agonizing for both.
I was shocked and unhappy that the author had them parting for five years. Five years!! No communication except for Jon’s parents passing, who had liked David, and it was just an awkward phone call. No hugs and comfort for him. Bizarrely, some years in, David calls Jonathan in a drunken stupor and berates him. My dismay had me skimming as David has a relationship with a former friend who has come out. The relationship is unfulfilling for David.
David and Jonathan get back together in England, not in a joyous way, but what seemed tentative.
The direction the author took was horrible.
I am very sorry that I read this beyond disappointing book.
It was a true WTF? reading experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2023
All the stars to this book ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
mm
July 11, 2024I want to read this only because I live in South Africa and this is ''set in'' my country lol
July 15, 2022
I’m a big fan of Jesse’s previous books, in particular Unrequited and Requited and I was looking forward to this book.
The story of Davey and Jonathan is quite a journey. I love the feel of how it’s told in single POV from Davey in a journal writing style. Jesse makes it feel like the character is talking directly to you, telling a story.
It takes a while for things to kick off but it doesn’t feel like a slow burn. I love how it’s set in South Africa on a farm, gives it a great edge to the story and you can see the amount of research that has been done on South Africa, you did feel like you were there.
Around halfway I found myself getting more emotionally involved, and this story certainly got a couple of tears from me at a certain point. It’s was quite refreshing to have both the MCs vulnerable.
Davey for me had a lot of moments where I found I felt the embarrassment on his behalf of how he acts and thinks, whilst very sweet, it was great that you could feel that awkwardness through the writing.
Jonathan was an enigma to me at the beginning but he is such a gorgeous man and soul. His personality slowly reveals itself through the story so you can see the real him. He’s a definite farm stud.
Their story is truly beautiful, the sex and chemistry is very hot in typical Jesse style. I just really enjoyed this book and it hits all the emotions. Highly recommend this for those romance lovers.
The story of Davey and Jonathan is quite a journey. I love the feel of how it’s told in single POV from Davey in a journal writing style. Jesse makes it feel like the character is talking directly to you, telling a story.
It takes a while for things to kick off but it doesn’t feel like a slow burn. I love how it’s set in South Africa on a farm, gives it a great edge to the story and you can see the amount of research that has been done on South Africa, you did feel like you were there.
Around halfway I found myself getting more emotionally involved, and this story certainly got a couple of tears from me at a certain point. It’s was quite refreshing to have both the MCs vulnerable.
Davey for me had a lot of moments where I found I felt the embarrassment on his behalf of how he acts and thinks, whilst very sweet, it was great that you could feel that awkwardness through the writing.
Jonathan was an enigma to me at the beginning but he is such a gorgeous man and soul. His personality slowly reveals itself through the story so you can see the real him. He’s a definite farm stud.
Their story is truly beautiful, the sex and chemistry is very hot in typical Jesse style. I just really enjoyed this book and it hits all the emotions. Highly recommend this for those romance lovers.
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