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IOU #3
Oblivious
My hot best friend has no idea what he’s doing to me.
He sends me naughty texts at the most inappropriate times. He lets me fall asleep on top of him when we watch movies. And his protective side comes out if I dance too close to anyone at our favorite club.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but those are things a boyfriend does. Except August isn’t my boyfriend, he’s my best friend, and those lines are drawn in permanent marker. The one time we tried to cross the boundary between friends and lovers, it failed so spectacularly that we never did it again. So … “friends” is good enough. That’s what I tell myself. Because at least I have him in my life. Without him, I’d be lost.
But after we’re dared to kiss, and that kiss reshapes reality, we agree to be friends who do things with each other. Nakey things.
That makes my life so much better. And so much worse. After all, August doesn’t want to settle down, and he never wants to get married. While I do.
Most importantly, no matter how our relationship changes, he can’t find out I’m desperately in love with him.
Oblivious is a sweet and steamy contemporary m/m romance about best friends who don’t know they’re already dating. Noah and August are always touching, finish each other’s sentences, and bristle whenever the other gets within six feet of a date, but they can’t see what’s crystal clear to everyone else. Oblivious features badly timed schmexy texts, a hot kiss that rocks two men’s universes, and (unofficially, but likely) the highest number of heartfelt marriage proposals in a romance novel ever.
He sends me naughty texts at the most inappropriate times. He lets me fall asleep on top of him when we watch movies. And his protective side comes out if I dance too close to anyone at our favorite club.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but those are things a boyfriend does. Except August isn’t my boyfriend, he’s my best friend, and those lines are drawn in permanent marker. The one time we tried to cross the boundary between friends and lovers, it failed so spectacularly that we never did it again. So … “friends” is good enough. That’s what I tell myself. Because at least I have him in my life. Without him, I’d be lost.
But after we’re dared to kiss, and that kiss reshapes reality, we agree to be friends who do things with each other. Nakey things.
That makes my life so much better. And so much worse. After all, August doesn’t want to settle down, and he never wants to get married. While I do.
Most importantly, no matter how our relationship changes, he can’t find out I’m desperately in love with him.
Oblivious is a sweet and steamy contemporary m/m romance about best friends who don’t know they’re already dating. Noah and August are always touching, finish each other’s sentences, and bristle whenever the other gets within six feet of a date, but they can’t see what’s crystal clear to everyone else. Oblivious features badly timed schmexy texts, a hot kiss that rocks two men’s universes, and (unofficially, but likely) the highest number of heartfelt marriage proposals in a romance novel ever.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2023
243 people are currently reading
2538 people want to read
About the author
Leslie McAdam
35 books1,457 followersLeslie McAdam is a California girl who loves romance and well-defined abs. She lives in a drafty old farmhouse on a small orange tree farm in Southern California with her husband and two small children. Leslie's first published book, The Sun and the Moon, won a 2015 Watty, which is the world's largest online writing competition. She's gone on to receive additional literary awards and has been featured in multiple publications, including Cosmopolitan.com. Her books have been Top 100 Bestsellers on both Amazon and Apple Books. Leslie is employed by day but spends her nights writing about the men of your fantasies.
USA Today interview: http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/20...
Cosmopolitan: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love...
USA Today interview: http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/20...
Cosmopolitan: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love...
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April 22, 2024
Oblivious is book three in the IOU series by Leslie McAdam. I’ve really been enjoying this series and now its time for the two owners of the Weston & Ramirez law firm. Two best friends who are completely oblivious to their true feelings for each other. Well, one of them at least is oblivious.
August Ramirez and Noah Weston are both thirty four years old. They have been best friends, inseparable, since they were nine years old. They went to law school together, and they opened their law firm together. August is bi-sexual and Noah is gay so they wanted to open a practice that focused on the rights of the LGBTQIA community.
Noah has been in love with August pretty much from the start. He has always dreamed of a forever love, marriage, the whole thing. But August has no clue. And a forever love is not what he wants. So Noah keeps his feelings hidden. Instead, they are best friends who do everything together. They work at their practice, they work out together, they even live on the same street. They touch each other constantly and have a hilarious prank war going where they send each other sexy gifs! But everything changes the night they are dared to kiss. The kiss blows their minds. And opens the door to maybe making some of those sexy gifs become a reality!
These two really were adorable. I had a little trouble with putting Noah and August, super smart lawyers together with Noah and August, best friends cuddling on the couch. This had such an adorable ending though and so many swoons. If you want a sweet, sexy, swoony read, then this is for you. The next book is Shelby, the receptionist at Weston & Ramirez’s book called Curious.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
August Ramirez and Noah Weston are both thirty four years old. They have been best friends, inseparable, since they were nine years old. They went to law school together, and they opened their law firm together. August is bi-sexual and Noah is gay so they wanted to open a practice that focused on the rights of the LGBTQIA community.
Noah has been in love with August pretty much from the start. He has always dreamed of a forever love, marriage, the whole thing. But August has no clue. And a forever love is not what he wants. So Noah keeps his feelings hidden. Instead, they are best friends who do everything together. They work at their practice, they work out together, they even live on the same street. They touch each other constantly and have a hilarious prank war going where they send each other sexy gifs! But everything changes the night they are dared to kiss. The kiss blows their minds. And opens the door to maybe making some of those sexy gifs become a reality!
These two really were adorable. I had a little trouble with putting Noah and August, super smart lawyers together with Noah and August, best friends cuddling on the couch. This had such an adorable ending though and so many swoons. If you want a sweet, sexy, swoony read, then this is for you. The next book is Shelby, the receptionist at Weston & Ramirez’s book called Curious.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
December 12, 2025
⭐️ 2.5 stars ⭐️
Just meh. A basic friends to lovers romance, with no real feels or flavor.
My main problem with this was the writing. Wayyyy too many repeated dialogues, too much talking about their relationship with other people (but never with each other), too much talking in general. Just look at this sentence:
‘I can tell I’m stimulating his prostate because he tells me so.’
…. You can tell. Because he tells you..
The spice was okay, but the rest was pretty boring. And the writing didn’t help.
CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Parental abandonment
- Death of a sibling (referenced)
- Dementia
- Jealousy
- Top/bottom
- Semi-public sex
- Office sex
“August and I are best friends and nothing more,” I continue, and slam my locker shut. “And that’s the way it’s always going to be.”
Just meh. A basic friends to lovers romance, with no real feels or flavor.
My main problem with this was the writing. Wayyyy too many repeated dialogues, too much talking about their relationship with other people (but never with each other), too much talking in general. Just look at this sentence:
‘I can tell I’m stimulating his prostate because he tells me so.’
…. You can tell. Because he tells you..
The spice was okay, but the rest was pretty boring. And the writing didn’t help.
August tastes like home to me, and he feels like my other half.
CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Parental abandonment
- Death of a sibling (referenced)
- Dementia
- Jealousy
- Top/bottom
- Semi-public sex
- Office sex
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Read
June 26, 2023MM Romance
No Rating
I enjoyed the first 30% of this book kind of and then I skimmed the rest so I’m not going to rate it. If these guys had been 10 years younger I think this book would have made more sense but they were so immature for 34 that I just couldn’t take anything seriously. Add to that the OTT cheesiness from 50% on and I checked out.
No Rating
I enjoyed the first 30% of this book kind of and then I skimmed the rest so I’m not going to rate it. If these guys had been 10 years younger I think this book would have made more sense but they were so immature for 34 that I just couldn’t take anything seriously. Add to that the OTT cheesiness from 50% on and I checked out.
Read
June 10, 2023I’m leaving off a rating because I have mixed feelings.
Basically we have two life-long best friends, Noah & August. One is gay, one is bi, they tried to fool around as teens but it was awkward so they assumed they had no chemistry. Everyone can see they have feelings for each other but they remain oblivious. Years later they are dared to kiss and omg hello chemistry!
What made this not work for me was mostly their age I think. These guys are supposed to be in their 30s - they co-own a law firm!!! And not once in decades of friendship did they try again or confess their feelings?! And a person completely outside the relationship had to just straight up tell them that the other guy liked them… it felt very juvenile.
The smut was okay. It often felt like the story was being told instead of shown.
But I really liked the two characters as people/friends. Their banter was fun and I liked how they pushed each other in different ways. And the “Will you marry me?” “Not yet but keep asking” bit was so sweet, I really enjoyed seeing how big and elaborate August was going to make his proposals. It would’ve been really cute if Noah had turned around and planned a big dramatic proposal for August but as was it was a cute book just not totally enjoyable for me.
I received an advanced copy for review - all opinions are my own.
Basically we have two life-long best friends, Noah & August. One is gay, one is bi, they tried to fool around as teens but it was awkward so they assumed they had no chemistry. Everyone can see they have feelings for each other but they remain oblivious. Years later they are dared to kiss and omg hello chemistry!
What made this not work for me was mostly their age I think. These guys are supposed to be in their 30s - they co-own a law firm!!! And not once in decades of friendship did they try again or confess their feelings?! And a person completely outside the relationship had to just straight up tell them that the other guy liked them… it felt very juvenile.
The smut was okay. It often felt like the story was being told instead of shown.
But I really liked the two characters as people/friends. Their banter was fun and I liked how they pushed each other in different ways. And the “Will you marry me?” “Not yet but keep asking” bit was so sweet, I really enjoyed seeing how big and elaborate August was going to make his proposals. It would’ve been really cute if Noah had turned around and planned a big dramatic proposal for August but as was it was a cute book just not totally enjoyable for me.
I received an advanced copy for review - all opinions are my own.
June 3, 2023
- best friends
- office romance
- low angst/high steam
Besties and now business partners, Noah and August’s friendship blurs the lines between friends and boyfriends, leaving most of their friends and family confused as to why they don’t try to become more. After Noah and August admit they tried and failed as teenagers, a mutual friend dares them to kiss and sparks fly.
These two adorable idiots 😍😍 I loved them so much. Their story was sweet and lighthearted, and absolutely bingeworthy.
- office romance
- low angst/high steam
Besties and now business partners, Noah and August’s friendship blurs the lines between friends and boyfriends, leaving most of their friends and family confused as to why they don’t try to become more. After Noah and August admit they tried and failed as teenagers, a mutual friend dares them to kiss and sparks fly.
These two adorable idiots 😍😍 I loved them so much. Their story was sweet and lighthearted, and absolutely bingeworthy.
December 9, 2023
* 3.5 stars *
Oblivious is a best friends-to-lovers romance with an abundance of sweet moments and a seemingly endless marriage proposal.
August and Noah have been best friends for years and their relationship can almost be called codependent. They live in the same building, they work together, they own their law firm together and they spend most of their free time together, yet they aren't a couple. I mean, in name, because their behavior says otherwise.
After a dare to kiss they decide to keep crossing the line between friendship and romance. They have a few hangups and Noah is reluctant to trust that August's feelings are as deep as his since he's the one who was in love with his best friend for years before anything happened.
The reason I'm not rating higher is totally subjective and based on my reading preferences. Cutesy, sugary stories aren't my thing so I tend to avoid them when I see them. I read this one because I didn't know what I was in for and the blurb grabbed my attention but I can honestly say that it wasn't my kind of story.
I think it would make a nice read for anyone in the mood for a light, fun story verging on the edge of too sweet.
~ Copy provided by Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement. ~
Oblivious is a best friends-to-lovers romance with an abundance of sweet moments and a seemingly endless marriage proposal.
August and Noah have been best friends for years and their relationship can almost be called codependent. They live in the same building, they work together, they own their law firm together and they spend most of their free time together, yet they aren't a couple. I mean, in name, because their behavior says otherwise.
After a dare to kiss they decide to keep crossing the line between friendship and romance. They have a few hangups and Noah is reluctant to trust that August's feelings are as deep as his since he's the one who was in love with his best friend for years before anything happened.
The reason I'm not rating higher is totally subjective and based on my reading preferences. Cutesy, sugary stories aren't my thing so I tend to avoid them when I see them. I read this one because I didn't know what I was in for and the blurb grabbed my attention but I can honestly say that it wasn't my kind of story.
I think it would make a nice read for anyone in the mood for a light, fun story verging on the edge of too sweet.
~ Copy provided by Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement. ~
June 19, 2023
Noah and August are already a couple and don’t know it, yet. They are best friends since they were nine. And now in their thirties, they do everything together, literally everything!
They do have different goals in life, August doesn’t want to settle down while Noah wants to get married one day.
It’s messy, there are so many feelings, but as friends with benefits.
They have to find out how to work with all their feelings. They will, just be patient.
Suddenly marrying is the topic and maybe not how I thought it would go, awesomeness!
A fun and super sweet read, with supportive meddling friends and family.
Lovely written, with a positive vibe, and lovely characters!
They do have different goals in life, August doesn’t want to settle down while Noah wants to get married one day.
It’s messy, there are so many feelings, but as friends with benefits.
They have to find out how to work with all their feelings. They will, just be patient.
Suddenly marrying is the topic and maybe not how I thought it would go, awesomeness!
A fun and super sweet read, with supportive meddling friends and family.
Lovely written, with a positive vibe, and lovely characters!
January 31, 2024
JUST FUCKING COMMUNICATE GODDAMNNN 😭😭😭😭😭
June 16, 2023
I devoured this book in practically one sitting. You have to love a lazy bank holiday Monday with no where to go other than into the garden with a good book.
I knew August and Noah’s book was going to be amazing and it truly was.
How do I get a job at Weston Ramirez? I just love all of the folk who work there. They are all so sexy and thoughtful and kind. I’m not a qualified lawyer but I’m great at answering phones, filing and photocopying. I’m data steward of the year 2022. I make a great brew and I’m the best milk monitor. I buy biscuits for the team. I would even clean the toilets. Where do I apply?
Noah and August went from best friends aged nine to business partners. They’ve been through the ups and downs of life together and always been at each other’s side. God I love those silly boys with their playful games and their sexy bodies. And their cute little nicknames for each other. Best, best, best nicknames ever. I just love best friends who really want to bone each other stories.
That first kiss! It was wow, although it wasn’t really the first kiss as they fumbled that one as teenagers which created this ridiculous oblivion to what they meant to each other. Honestly they made me melt. The sex is hot but they just made me sigh and go all gooey with how adorable they are together.
I loved the quirky introduction and I more than loved the epilogue and bonus scene. It was really, really hot in my garden this afternoon.
I knew August and Noah’s book was going to be amazing and it truly was.
How do I get a job at Weston Ramirez? I just love all of the folk who work there. They are all so sexy and thoughtful and kind. I’m not a qualified lawyer but I’m great at answering phones, filing and photocopying. I’m data steward of the year 2022. I make a great brew and I’m the best milk monitor. I buy biscuits for the team. I would even clean the toilets. Where do I apply?
Noah and August went from best friends aged nine to business partners. They’ve been through the ups and downs of life together and always been at each other’s side. God I love those silly boys with their playful games and their sexy bodies. And their cute little nicknames for each other. Best, best, best nicknames ever. I just love best friends who really want to bone each other stories.
That first kiss! It was wow, although it wasn’t really the first kiss as they fumbled that one as teenagers which created this ridiculous oblivion to what they meant to each other. Honestly they made me melt. The sex is hot but they just made me sigh and go all gooey with how adorable they are together.
I loved the quirky introduction and I more than loved the epilogue and bonus scene. It was really, really hot in my garden this afternoon.
June 16, 2023
Tropes: found family, friends to lovers
Feels: 5/5
Steam*: 4.5/5
Kinks: no
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content themes: abandonment by a parent, death of a sibling, dementia, injury, drug use
Noah and August have been friends since they were 9 years old. They are now 34. They own a law firm together and are lawyers. Noah was abandoned by his mom to be raised by his grandfather and his mom is flakily in his life constantly having boyfriend drama. Noah's grandfather is the only one he has left and he has dementia. Noah has always been in love with August. They tried hooking up as inexperienced teens and it did not go well so they wrote a relationship off. But Noah has been in love with him always and is afraid of losing him.
August has a big supportive family even though it's kind of splintered because his sister died and his parents aren't really there. August loves Noah but doesn't think he's in love with him at least not consciously. August thinks they aren't a possibility and he's just closed that off. They are dared to kiss and it ignites something. They become friends with benefits.
I really liked this story. The author does a really good job writing sexual tension and smut. And I liked the completely solid foundation that August and Noah had for their relationship. All that history and feelings built up, the codependency that they had, the perfect fit that they were for each other was so sweet. I was a bit surprised that secrets and things came out so quickly I thought the tension of the unknown would continue for longer but they just turned to other conflict later on and that worked well. The marriage proposals were the sweetest.
One thing I didn't like was Shelby outing Noah's feelings. He didn't have the right to do that. No matter how confident he thought he was that it was reciprocated.
Some notable moments:
"“Do you want to get married?” I ask him. He sputters. “To you?” “No, dude. To anyone.” Noah nods. “Yes. I want to belong to someone. Not in some weird sense, but”—he shrugs—“I’d like to have someone in my corner. I want to know that someone chooses me, you know? And I’d like the strength in being part of a couple.” His words make my stomach feel funny. I don’t want some guy taking him away from me."
"August interrupts me by slamming me against a wall and kissing me. Hard. He attacks me with his soft lips and insistent tongue."
"“I love you,” I blurt. “I need you. You scared me, and I can’t live without you. I mean, fuck it. We need to be together. Will you marry me, Noah?”"
*FYI, I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink."
Feels: 5/5
Steam*: 4.5/5
Kinks: no
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content themes: abandonment by a parent, death of a sibling, dementia, injury, drug use
Noah and August have been friends since they were 9 years old. They are now 34. They own a law firm together and are lawyers. Noah was abandoned by his mom to be raised by his grandfather and his mom is flakily in his life constantly having boyfriend drama. Noah's grandfather is the only one he has left and he has dementia. Noah has always been in love with August. They tried hooking up as inexperienced teens and it did not go well so they wrote a relationship off. But Noah has been in love with him always and is afraid of losing him.
August has a big supportive family even though it's kind of splintered because his sister died and his parents aren't really there. August loves Noah but doesn't think he's in love with him at least not consciously. August thinks they aren't a possibility and he's just closed that off. They are dared to kiss and it ignites something. They become friends with benefits.
I really liked this story. The author does a really good job writing sexual tension and smut. And I liked the completely solid foundation that August and Noah had for their relationship. All that history and feelings built up, the codependency that they had, the perfect fit that they were for each other was so sweet. I was a bit surprised that secrets and things came out so quickly I thought the tension of the unknown would continue for longer but they just turned to other conflict later on and that worked well. The marriage proposals were the sweetest.
One thing I didn't like was Shelby outing Noah's feelings. He didn't have the right to do that. No matter how confident he thought he was that it was reciprocated.
Some notable moments:
"“Do you want to get married?” I ask him. He sputters. “To you?” “No, dude. To anyone.” Noah nods. “Yes. I want to belong to someone. Not in some weird sense, but”—he shrugs—“I’d like to have someone in my corner. I want to know that someone chooses me, you know? And I’d like the strength in being part of a couple.” His words make my stomach feel funny. I don’t want some guy taking him away from me."
"August interrupts me by slamming me against a wall and kissing me. Hard. He attacks me with his soft lips and insistent tongue."
"“I love you,” I blurt. “I need you. You scared me, and I can’t live without you. I mean, fuck it. We need to be together. Will you marry me, Noah?”"
*FYI, I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2023
Enjoyable enough, August’s feelings went from zero to 100 in a split second which was a bit much for me but all’s well that ends well. Looking forward to Shelby’s book ⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 6, 2023
4 stars
Lovely 3rd book of IOU series.
We've met August and Noah in the previous books since they are the owners of the law firm where Sam, Danny and Alden work too.
They always seemed very closed and in this book we understand why: they've been best friends since they were children, plus Noah has always been in love with August.
I appreciate that the author did not transform the "being in love with my best friends" in an angsty long pining: their relationship is very spontaneous and despite the fact that Noah thinks August won't ever fall in love with him, he's happy with their friendship.
When a friend pushes them to kiss on a dare, August's world implodes and he starts feeling sexual attraction for his friends.
So he proposes a friends with benefits arrangement. Or, better, August think they started a friends with benefits arrangement, but truth is, he's just oblivious on the fact that they're in love.
I loved the second part of the book, because I really appreciate when the authors make their MCs work hard for their HEA
What prevented me from giving a higher rate: Mes and Dos (their nicknames) are stupidly adorable, but sometimes it seemed they're still teenagers, not grown up men with demanding jobs and responsibilities.
I adored August's aunties and Noah's granpa, I'm glad they have them in their lives.
I also loved the epilogue, very sweet.
The next book will be about Shelby and I cannot wait. I also hope the author will give us Johnny Haskell's (aka Velvet The Cowboy) story.
Recommended
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
Lovely 3rd book of IOU series.
We've met August and Noah in the previous books since they are the owners of the law firm where Sam, Danny and Alden work too.
They always seemed very closed and in this book we understand why: they've been best friends since they were children, plus Noah has always been in love with August.
I appreciate that the author did not transform the "being in love with my best friends" in an angsty long pining: their relationship is very spontaneous and despite the fact that Noah thinks August won't ever fall in love with him, he's happy with their friendship.
When a friend pushes them to kiss on a dare, August's world implodes and he starts feeling sexual attraction for his friends.
So he proposes a friends with benefits arrangement. Or, better, August think they started a friends with benefits arrangement, but truth is, he's just oblivious on the fact that they're in love.
I loved the second part of the book, because I really appreciate when the authors make their MCs work hard for their HEA
What prevented me from giving a higher rate: Mes and Dos (their nicknames) are stupidly adorable, but sometimes it seemed they're still teenagers, not grown up men with demanding jobs and responsibilities.
I adored August's aunties and Noah's granpa, I'm glad they have them in their lives.
I also loved the epilogue, very sweet.
The next book will be about Shelby and I cannot wait. I also hope the author will give us Johnny Haskell's (aka Velvet The Cowboy) story.
Recommended
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
June 7, 2023
This is my first book by this author and it started off super cute and I was very much enjoying it. August and Noah are really great together. You can definitely feel their feelings for each other. It was a very easy, quick read.
There were a couple things I had trouble with though. There were some past characters from other books in this story and at times I felt a bit lost and that we should know more about them. Also it seems like there might have been some things brought up about August and Noah in the prior books that we were just expected to know in this book. So I would definitely recommend reading the other books in the series first. I really think that would help. I also felt like a lot of fun scenes were skipped and that we were told a lot of what happened instead of shown.
However, looking at other readers reviews, like I mentioned it is a fun, easy, cute read so if you like best friends to lovers it’s worth checking out!
There were a couple things I had trouble with though. There were some past characters from other books in this story and at times I felt a bit lost and that we should know more about them. Also it seems like there might have been some things brought up about August and Noah in the prior books that we were just expected to know in this book. So I would definitely recommend reading the other books in the series first. I really think that would help. I also felt like a lot of fun scenes were skipped and that we were told a lot of what happened instead of shown.
However, looking at other readers reviews, like I mentioned it is a fun, easy, cute read so if you like best friends to lovers it’s worth checking out!
Read
May 26, 2023✅ Best friends to lovers
✅ m/m
✅ office romance
✅ it's only ever been you
✅ touching/affectionate
✅ cinnamon rolls
✅ possessive heroes
I can’t wait for you all to meet Noah and August June 15. Errr ON June 15. June is August’s sister. Nvm
I hope you love these sweet, silly boys
✅ m/m
✅ office romance
✅ it's only ever been you
✅ touching/affectionate
✅ cinnamon rolls
✅ possessive heroes
I can’t wait for you all to meet Noah and August June 15. Errr ON June 15. June is August’s sister. Nvm
I hope you love these sweet, silly boys
June 14, 2023
After so many hints at something happening between August and Noah in the previous books in the series, I was anxious about their book. It didn’t exactly hit all the spot, but I loved them both together.
Their friendship is heavily referenced to throughout the story: both their need to have a close friend as kids when they first met, the acceptance of the other’s love preferences once they’re teenagers, the support they provide to each other as adults, and the challenges they keep coming up with to get the other out of their shell. And sure, it can be seen as tainted by Noah’s real love for his friend, as it’s bound to change the way he behaves around him. But maybe that’s exactly why they’ve always been way more than just best friends. But the shift happened so early in their friendship that they never understood it for what it was. I really loved that aspect.
I was less a fan of the way they actually get together, and more. None of it was intentional and it bothered me a bit. But okay, it was cute too. Challenged to kiss each other, they feel way too much when their lips touch, and friends with benefits becomes the new norm. Except, as seen above, they were never just friends. They just become a couple that finally does the dirty. Later, another unexpected event further their relationship, and again it felt convenient and inconvenient at the same time–easy way for the author, but it also robs August of the slow realization of his feelings. Maybe by starting with a friendship so symbiotic, it was harder to make it progress to a real relationship. And that’s kind of the whole premise, so…
There were a lot of humor and lighthearted moments, and really little angst and conflict. Most of the sadness comes from past trauma that may have deserved to be more developped. Noah’s abandonment is dealt with plenty, even with some sort of closure, while August’s hangups are barely brushed.
I loved the support they had from people around them, be it family, friends, or co-workers. The author has created a positive world for those male/male relationship to develop, especially by setting those stories in a law firm dedicated to LGBTQ+ people. The lack of casual homophobia is almost believable in that kind of setting. Refreshing.
Quickie
- Series: IOU #3 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #MM romance #office romance #best friends to lovers #friends with benefits #multicultural relationship
- Triggers: parental neglect, past deadly accident, bike accident, dementia
- Main couple: Noah Weston & August Ramirez
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 5/5
- + I loved their friendship and how it looked like dating from the start
- – August’s epiphany wasn’t completely believable
Their friendship is heavily referenced to throughout the story: both their need to have a close friend as kids when they first met, the acceptance of the other’s love preferences once they’re teenagers, the support they provide to each other as adults, and the challenges they keep coming up with to get the other out of their shell. And sure, it can be seen as tainted by Noah’s real love for his friend, as it’s bound to change the way he behaves around him. But maybe that’s exactly why they’ve always been way more than just best friends. But the shift happened so early in their friendship that they never understood it for what it was. I really loved that aspect.
I was less a fan of the way they actually get together, and more. None of it was intentional and it bothered me a bit. But okay, it was cute too. Challenged to kiss each other, they feel way too much when their lips touch, and friends with benefits becomes the new norm. Except, as seen above, they were never just friends. They just become a couple that finally does the dirty. Later, another unexpected event further their relationship, and again it felt convenient and inconvenient at the same time–easy way for the author, but it also robs August of the slow realization of his feelings. Maybe by starting with a friendship so symbiotic, it was harder to make it progress to a real relationship. And that’s kind of the whole premise, so…
There were a lot of humor and lighthearted moments, and really little angst and conflict. Most of the sadness comes from past trauma that may have deserved to be more developped. Noah’s abandonment is dealt with plenty, even with some sort of closure, while August’s hangups are barely brushed.
I loved the support they had from people around them, be it family, friends, or co-workers. The author has created a positive world for those male/male relationship to develop, especially by setting those stories in a law firm dedicated to LGBTQ+ people. The lack of casual homophobia is almost believable in that kind of setting. Refreshing.
Quickie
- Series: IOU #3 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #MM romance #office romance #best friends to lovers #friends with benefits #multicultural relationship
- Triggers: parental neglect, past deadly accident, bike accident, dementia
- Main couple: Noah Weston & August Ramirez
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 5/5
- + I loved their friendship and how it looked like dating from the start
- – August’s epiphany wasn’t completely believable
June 13, 2023
Noah and August have been best friends since Noah moved in next door, with his grandparents, as a child. They have been pranking each other forever, went to college together, started a law firm together and send each other porn gifs at inappropriate times. Noah has also been in love with August forever but after some ill-fated fooling around in their teens, both believe the other to be not interested.
The pranking is hilarious and the amount of time these two spend together, its so clear to everyone but them that they are dating/not-dating until a bar room dare changes everything.
This was pretty cute. the dynamic between Noah and August is sweet. They clearly adore one another and are really already the perfect couple. august's obliviousness, and the emerging reason for it is endearing and his proposals, whilst a bit bittersweet, were also quite funny.
This was a cute, light, low angst read.
ARC received for my honest review
The pranking is hilarious and the amount of time these two spend together, its so clear to everyone but them that they are dating/not-dating until a bar room dare changes everything.
This was pretty cute. the dynamic between Noah and August is sweet. They clearly adore one another and are really already the perfect couple. august's obliviousness, and the emerging reason for it is endearing and his proposals, whilst a bit bittersweet, were also quite funny.
This was a cute, light, low angst read.
ARC received for my honest review
August 7, 2023
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I'm on the fence about this one. It had a good premise and I did enjoy seeing the characters try and figure out what they wanted. But it was also a little too boring for me at times. There wasn't much angst or intrigue since August and Noah were already so close to one another. So throughout the story I didn't feel like their relationship developed much. Overall, I'd say this was just okay for me. I'm still really interested in some of the other books in the series so I'll definitely come back to it.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I'm on the fence about this one. It had a good premise and I did enjoy seeing the characters try and figure out what they wanted. But it was also a little too boring for me at times. There wasn't much angst or intrigue since August and Noah were already so close to one another. So throughout the story I didn't feel like their relationship developed much. Overall, I'd say this was just okay for me. I'm still really interested in some of the other books in the series so I'll definitely come back to it.
January 8, 2024
I've read it before
but I'll read it again. Dumb
dudes do each other.
but I'll read it again. Dumb
dudes do each other.
June 16, 2023
Based on the blurb and how much I enjoyed book 2, surprisingly I didn't really enjoy this.
I liked Noah and August's friendship but they didn't really seem like adults in their 30's and owners of a law firm? It felt like I was reading about guys in their very early 20's.
I liked that August wasn't a manwh*'re and I'm glad Noah confronted his mom.
However, all the proposal rejections got annoying and tedious to me and the proposal that was finally accepted was so lame compared to some of August's other proposals.
I also think it would have been better if Noah ended up being the one to do a big grand proposal in the end.
Oh well, you win some you lose some.
,
I liked Noah and August's friendship but they didn't really seem like adults in their 30's and owners of a law firm? It felt like I was reading about guys in their very early 20's.
I liked that August wasn't a manwh*'re and I'm glad Noah confronted his mom.
However, all the proposal rejections got annoying and tedious to me and the proposal that was finally accepted was so lame compared to some of August's other proposals.
I also think it would have been better if Noah ended up being the one to do a big grand proposal in the end.
Oh well, you win some you lose some.
,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2023
❝ 𝙰𝚞𝚐𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚏. ❞
⭐ 3.5/5
🌶 2/5
💦 4/10「cliterature wetometer」
💬 first-person, dual POV
🏳🌈 MM「gay × bi」
this was kinda cute but also a little boring? idk i found myself skimming through several chapters which i don't usually do so yeah i was sometimes bored.
the MCs were sweet, silly boys - boys, bc even tho they were in their 30s, their maturity was questionable🧐. but they also had their cute moments.
tropes:
⚖️ childhood best friends to lovers
⚖️ secret pinning
⚖️ lawyers
⚖️ Spanish roots
⚖️ friends with benefits
⚖️ idiots in love
⚖️ J/P, borderline codependency
⚖️ "endless" marriage proposals
⚖️ lgbtq+ safe & supportive community
⚖️ medium burn, low angst
⚖️ standalone in a series
⚠️ TWs: abandonment by a parent, death of a sibling (referenced only), dementia, injuries and hospital scenes, mention of homophobia
⭐ 3.5/5
🌶 2/5
💦 4/10「cliterature wetometer」
💬 first-person, dual POV
🏳🌈 MM「gay × bi」
this was kinda cute but also a little boring? idk i found myself skimming through several chapters which i don't usually do so yeah i was sometimes bored.
the MCs were sweet, silly boys - boys, bc even tho they were in their 30s, their maturity was questionable🧐. but they also had their cute moments.
tropes:
⚖️ childhood best friends to lovers
⚖️ secret pinning
⚖️ lawyers
⚖️ Spanish roots
⚖️ friends with benefits
⚖️ idiots in love
⚖️ J/P, borderline codependency
⚖️ "endless" marriage proposals
⚖️ lgbtq+ safe & supportive community
⚖️ medium burn, low angst
⚖️ standalone in a series
⚠️ TWs: abandonment by a parent, death of a sibling (referenced only), dementia, injuries and hospital scenes, mention of homophobia
June 8, 2023
These two are just so cute together that they simply turned my heart to mush. Noah and August's story is funny, sweet and absolutely filled with emotion and feels. I don't think there is anything quite so moving as a friends to lovers romance. After all, the connection is already so strong and the risk is huge because the loss seems unimaginable, and this book delivers on all that perfectly. This is my objective, elective review.
July 6, 2023
It was okay. Nothing really special about this book in my opinion. it was not bad, it just did not keep my attention nor do I feel like its the best. just decent.
October 8, 2023
I love friends to lovers, and the start of this book was really good, but after a while it was too corny.
June 18, 2023
Favourite Trope
Starting out as childhood friends and becoming much more later in life is one of my favourite tropes.
August Ramirez grew up in a large family, he being the only son with four sisters. When Noah Weston is ‘dumped’ at his grandparents house next door to the Ramirez family, by his mother, August is over the moon.
After the introductions are made August is the happiest boy, he now has a best friend forever. And so he does, all through High School they are inseparable. Noah is equally happy if not more so, especially when August comforts him whenever his mother causes all sorts of upsets in his life.
Both boys have acknowledged their sexuality, August is bi and Noah is plain gay. They have ‘fooled around’ but nothing more. When a classmate asks Noah if August is his boyfriend he’s so embarrassed that someone knows his feelings for his friend. He denies it, saying he has no interest in anything like that with his best friend August.
After college and Law School the best friends start up their own Law Practice, which is a great success, they buy their own condos in the same building, work out together, pranks each other with weird GIFs and hang out with all the Ramirez clan at family gatherings. All the while Noah holds his secret feelings close to his chest.
Thing is, friends and colleagues all know these two are meant for each other, their just waiting for August to open his eyes. When they are forced open things start to change in the relationship and Noah is not a happy man.
August and Noah have the most fantastic friendship and so good together as best friends, Noah has alway wished for more. So why can’t he now accept what August is offering him.
Loved August and Noah and there are a few side characters that I believe get their own stories.
OOPs.
(I misquoted an author and source in my initial review. I’ve deleted it from here.)
I’ve added a few to my TBR list as I want to read about more of these characters, August and Noah as Lawyers in Weston & Ramirez crop up too.
Well worth the read, made me feel better on a not so good day.
Starting out as childhood friends and becoming much more later in life is one of my favourite tropes.
August Ramirez grew up in a large family, he being the only son with four sisters. When Noah Weston is ‘dumped’ at his grandparents house next door to the Ramirez family, by his mother, August is over the moon.
After the introductions are made August is the happiest boy, he now has a best friend forever. And so he does, all through High School they are inseparable. Noah is equally happy if not more so, especially when August comforts him whenever his mother causes all sorts of upsets in his life.
Both boys have acknowledged their sexuality, August is bi and Noah is plain gay. They have ‘fooled around’ but nothing more. When a classmate asks Noah if August is his boyfriend he’s so embarrassed that someone knows his feelings for his friend. He denies it, saying he has no interest in anything like that with his best friend August.
After college and Law School the best friends start up their own Law Practice, which is a great success, they buy their own condos in the same building, work out together, pranks each other with weird GIFs and hang out with all the Ramirez clan at family gatherings. All the while Noah holds his secret feelings close to his chest.
Thing is, friends and colleagues all know these two are meant for each other, their just waiting for August to open his eyes. When they are forced open things start to change in the relationship and Noah is not a happy man.
August and Noah have the most fantastic friendship and so good together as best friends, Noah has alway wished for more. So why can’t he now accept what August is offering him.
Loved August and Noah and there are a few side characters that I believe get their own stories.
OOPs.
(I misquoted an author and source in my initial review. I’ve deleted it from here.)
I’ve added a few to my TBR list as I want to read about more of these characters, August and Noah as Lawyers in Weston & Ramirez crop up too.
Well worth the read, made me feel better on a not so good day.
July 29, 2025
oh nononono what is this?
hey i did end up liking the characters i thought they were cute thats why it's one star and not a zero but the plot? it was terrible. so bad. the blurb set it up so it had all the room to be angsty and have miscommunication but nooo.
MAJOR SPOILERS::
only reason i kept reading was because it was so short. but yes don't read this. all the books in this series keep getting worse and i keep giving them chances for some reason. it's kind of funny to read these books and criticise them soo...
1.5 stars
hey i did end up liking the characters i thought they were cute thats why it's one star and not a zero but the plot? it was terrible. so bad. the blurb set it up so it had all the room to be angsty and have miscommunication but nooo.
MAJOR SPOILERS::
only reason i kept reading was because it was so short. but yes don't read this. all the books in this series keep getting worse and i keep giving them chances for some reason. it's kind of funny to read these books and criticise them soo...
1.5 stars
February 21, 2025
Oblivious is book three in the IOU series. It's my favorite kind of story, childhood best friends to lovers.
Noah and August are the founding partners at Weston & Ramirez. They've been best friends since they were nine, and they have been dating without actually dating their entire lives and completely oblivious to it.
This was a quick story but such a good one. I love the mutual pining. I love the ✨️being scared to ruin the friendship✨️ I love the codependency and the bond. I love how they are each other's person, their family.
The push and pull, the feelings, the being scared - it all felt so valid and real. They were terrified of losing each other.
I loved seeing the other couples from the series at the law firm. I read these books out of order, so it's even MORE fun because I know who ends up with who.
Noah and August had cute nicknames for each other. They had a rich history and a brilliant future. Their pranks and dares were adorable, and I just so very much enjoyed their love story.
Leslie McAdam is a trusted author for me. Her books always deliver the goods. 💛
Noah and August are the founding partners at Weston & Ramirez. They've been best friends since they were nine, and they have been dating without actually dating their entire lives and completely oblivious to it.
This was a quick story but such a good one. I love the mutual pining. I love the ✨️being scared to ruin the friendship✨️ I love the codependency and the bond. I love how they are each other's person, their family.
The push and pull, the feelings, the being scared - it all felt so valid and real. They were terrified of losing each other.
I loved seeing the other couples from the series at the law firm. I read these books out of order, so it's even MORE fun because I know who ends up with who.
Noah and August had cute nicknames for each other. They had a rich history and a brilliant future. Their pranks and dares were adorable, and I just so very much enjoyed their love story.
Leslie McAdam is a trusted author for me. Her books always deliver the goods. 💛
July 18, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
This is a fun, friends-to-lovers romance with a longtime unrequited love being pushed to its limits. Noah and August adore one another. They have been each other’s only love all their lives, and to see them connect is a treat. There are lots of sexy times as they work their way through the glossary of wild porn gifs they’ve collected over the years. But that’s only one part of the story. August’s fear of rejection gets tested over and over again, as Noah strives to achieve the love he’s longed for from August. Abandoned in his youth, Noah needs to be cherished by someone, and he dearly wants it to be August to love him unconditionally. He could have just accepted a co-dependent relationship, but fought for better, and forced August to raise his game.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
This is a fun, friends-to-lovers romance with a longtime unrequited love being pushed to its limits. Noah and August adore one another. They have been each other’s only love all their lives, and to see them connect is a treat. There are lots of sexy times as they work their way through the glossary of wild porn gifs they’ve collected over the years. But that’s only one part of the story. August’s fear of rejection gets tested over and over again, as Noah strives to achieve the love he’s longed for from August. Abandoned in his youth, Noah needs to be cherished by someone, and he dearly wants it to be August to love him unconditionally. He could have just accepted a co-dependent relationship, but fought for better, and forced August to raise his game.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
January 26, 2024
This one really has me on the fence. I enjoyed the characters, found them really likable, but I just didn’t connect with them. A lot of what went on in this book felt surface level; very quick and rushed—almost insta-lovey once the one MC realizes his best friend has feelings for him.
August and Noah have been the best of friends since Noah moved in across the street from August’s family at a young age. They were inseparable, so much so that they run a law firm together. August was hilarious, and so oblivious, as the title states! The obliviousness aspect was written well, but there were times when it made August just come off as dense. Noah is the more serious of the two, more reserved, doesn’t live life on the edge like August. That being said I became enamored with the way August pulls Noah outside of his comfort zone—we all need a friend like that!
Their entire story ultimately comes from an ill-timed lie/miscommunication back in high school. They attempted to fool around back then but it just didn’t work out how they wanted. The friend group in this story is fun and their meddling was adorable! This book was just missing something for me; I can’t nail it down what it was, but I just struggled with connecting to these two, and that made it difficult to enjoy their banter and blatant obliviousness at times!
August and Noah have been the best of friends since Noah moved in across the street from August’s family at a young age. They were inseparable, so much so that they run a law firm together. August was hilarious, and so oblivious, as the title states! The obliviousness aspect was written well, but there were times when it made August just come off as dense. Noah is the more serious of the two, more reserved, doesn’t live life on the edge like August. That being said I became enamored with the way August pulls Noah outside of his comfort zone—we all need a friend like that!
Their entire story ultimately comes from an ill-timed lie/miscommunication back in high school. They attempted to fool around back then but it just didn’t work out how they wanted. The friend group in this story is fun and their meddling was adorable! This book was just missing something for me; I can’t nail it down what it was, but I just struggled with connecting to these two, and that made it difficult to enjoy their banter and blatant obliviousness at times!
March 6, 2025
August was told there would be a boy moving in next door. He was so excited to finally have a friend that wasn't one of his sisters. When August met Noah he knew that they would be fast friends. This turns into Noah falling madly in love with August while August doesn't have a clue.
It's adorable how happy August was when Noah moved in. I feel awful for Noah because of the reason why he moved in next door. The fact that they opened up a law firm for all LGBTQ+ people is amazing. Their gif game is definitely different. It's cute that they both know almost everything about each other. This is a reminder to never keep secrets from your best friend. Especially if you're in love with them. You'll miss out on so many opportunities. The ending was quite nice.
It's adorable how happy August was when Noah moved in. I feel awful for Noah because of the reason why he moved in next door. The fact that they opened up a law firm for all LGBTQ+ people is amazing. Their gif game is definitely different. It's cute that they both know almost everything about each other. This is a reminder to never keep secrets from your best friend. Especially if you're in love with them. You'll miss out on so many opportunities. The ending was quite nice.
June 4, 2023
⭐️ARC Review⭐️
“He’s made for me. He’s my other half. Plain and simple.”
What a sweet book! Oblivious, by Leslie McAdam, is the third book in the IOU series.
Highlights:
⭐️best friends to lovers
⭐️friends with benefits to more
⭐️pining
⭐️slow burn
⭐️fun texts 🤗
⭐️found family
This was a fun story about August and Noah, the law partners in the law firm in the past two books. Their journey from best friends to lovers was sometimes frustrating but worth it in the end. August and Noah deserved the best HEA. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
Recommend checking this book out. Can be read as a stand-alone, but you should read the first books because they are great as well! ❤️
“He’s made for me. He’s my other half. Plain and simple.”
What a sweet book! Oblivious, by Leslie McAdam, is the third book in the IOU series.
Highlights:
⭐️best friends to lovers
⭐️friends with benefits to more
⭐️pining
⭐️slow burn
⭐️fun texts 🤗
⭐️found family
This was a fun story about August and Noah, the law partners in the law firm in the past two books. Their journey from best friends to lovers was sometimes frustrating but worth it in the end. August and Noah deserved the best HEA. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
Recommend checking this book out. Can be read as a stand-alone, but you should read the first books because they are great as well! ❤️
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