My first impression of Life Changes Everything? Incredibly hot! I hadn’t read the companion book to this one, and though you don’t need to in order to understand the story, I added it to my reading list after my first read through.
Ben is still in college and rooming with his two best friends, whom he also happens to be in love with, so he hits the bars for meaningless hook-ups as a way of coping. Enter Dr. Aaron Thompson, three years out from a bad break-up and looking to get back on the dating scene. The two spend a passionate night together and tentatively start seeing each other to find out if they’re compatible in more than just the bedroom. Lucky for us, they are! Add in well-meaning friends, jealousy, and family drama on both sides, and Blue keeps this contemporary love story forging ahead at a great pace.
One of the things I loved about Life Changes Everything is that, while Aaron is 29 and established in life, and though Ben is mature for 21, the age difference between them does show at times but it’s not a huge issue. It’s been less than a year since Ben came out, and I like that Blue addresses his struggle with how he perceives a stereotypical young gay lifestyle versus his own instincts and desires. Aaron goes to the bar to try something out of character -- a random hook-up -- but seems to have an easier time accepting that one night stands just aren’t for him. Even when the two are intending to have a one-time hook-up, their emotional connection and the romantic possibilities between them bleed through. They have such busy schedules, though, that entering a steady relationship takes some adjustment for both of them!
I like that the tension continues after Ben and Aaron agree to see each other, because the burgeoning relationship is so fragile that I anxiously read through every new plot development wondering if it would break them or bring them closer together. Blue writes them with just the right amount of uncertainty to keep you guessing. I also liked that the secondary characters are well-developed and integral to the plot lines, rather than just filler. I definitely want to read Life or Something Scary Like That to get all their back stories!
All in all, Life Changes Everything was a well-paced and intriguing story that features characters with whom you genuinely empathize. The sex is sizzling and packs an emotional punch, too. I’m looking forward to more in this universe!
**Copy provided by Torquere Press for peer author review.