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Words We Never Said #2
Resisting You
“Do you think I can go to jail for cutting holes in all the toes of my boss’s socks? Because that’s where I’m at in life.”
Frey’s a single dad, a nurse, and ready to wage a one-sided prank war against the arrogant surgeon with the sexy accent he keeps getting paired up with. And while there might be more to Dr. Renato Agosti, Frey isn’t sure he wants to feel anything but hatred for the man who said his biggest accomplishment was that he never met a resident he couldn’t make cry.
But everything changes the day Frey’s pranks go too far, and Renato corners him behind closed doors. In a series of bad decisions, hate turns into something else—something forbidden and delicious—and it doesn’t take long before Frey realizes the fine line between hate and love has started to blur.
Frey’s not sure he has room in his life for something complicated with a man who doesn’t know what he wants, though. He has a son to worry about, and a future to figure out. Still, the more Frey and Renato keep sneaking around, the more Frey starts to realize his feelings might be real.
He just needs to figure out if resisting Renato is worth the pain, or if loving him is worth the cost.
Resisting You is the second book in the single dads series, Words We Never Said. It contains an enemies to lovers one-sided prank war, hurt/comfort, grumpy surgeon/sunshine nurse, and a spicy, gently angsty, comedic romance that will leave your e-readers steaming.
Frey’s a single dad, a nurse, and ready to wage a one-sided prank war against the arrogant surgeon with the sexy accent he keeps getting paired up with. And while there might be more to Dr. Renato Agosti, Frey isn’t sure he wants to feel anything but hatred for the man who said his biggest accomplishment was that he never met a resident he couldn’t make cry.
But everything changes the day Frey’s pranks go too far, and Renato corners him behind closed doors. In a series of bad decisions, hate turns into something else—something forbidden and delicious—and it doesn’t take long before Frey realizes the fine line between hate and love has started to blur.
Frey’s not sure he has room in his life for something complicated with a man who doesn’t know what he wants, though. He has a son to worry about, and a future to figure out. Still, the more Frey and Renato keep sneaking around, the more Frey starts to realize his feelings might be real.
He just needs to figure out if resisting Renato is worth the pain, or if loving him is worth the cost.
Resisting You is the second book in the single dads series, Words We Never Said. It contains an enemies to lovers one-sided prank war, hurt/comfort, grumpy surgeon/sunshine nurse, and a spicy, gently angsty, comedic romance that will leave your e-readers steaming.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2024
380 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Lindsey
142 books1,405 followersE.M. Lindsey is the author of MM contemporary romance. She presently lives and works in the southeastern United States.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
April 28, 2025
Loved it, despite including one of my least favourite tropes - the dead ex.
I had this on my audio-tbr for a bit, mostly because I love the narrator (Kirt Graves), but kept pushing it back because I read the blurb and wasn’t sure I liked it.
Suffice to say: I’m so happy I picked it up. It’s the story of Renardo, a surgeon, who lost his husband 8 years prior in an accident, and Frey, single father to a deaf son. Frey’s husband left him right after Rex was born, not being willing to deal with a non-perfect child.
Frey is a nurse at the same hospital Renardo works in, and he can’t stand Renardo because the surgeon is mostly mean and unfriendly. The feeling is mutual - Renardo can’t stand the guy who’s friends with everyone except himself, and who keeps playing pranks on him.
They stumble upon each other at an old cinema - Renardo is a regular, because he wants to hear his husband’s voice announcing the movie and whatnot before the film starts (read the book and you’ll understand…), and Frey “hides” there regularly when his well meaning friends send him off on dates.
I don’t even know where to start without spoiling too much of the plot. Firstly: this is enemies to lovers done well, their shift to enemies with benefits, to reluctant friends, and finally to lovers is done beautifully. Also, both their pasts have a role to play in their relationship development, and I loved that they took the pieces and built something new together.
“Because you aren’t taking his place. You’re filling a space that’s all yours.”
Another thing I loved: while I don’t have non-hearing people in my life, I feel like the author portrayed it well, all without sugarcoating it, but without much drama, either. Rex, Frey’s son, behaves exactly as any other 6yo would, and while quite often I’m not a huge fan on how kids are incorporated in romances (they’re usually either overly cute, or behave like quirky little adults), I wouldn’t have wanted to miss Rex in this book 🥰
Also: the scene at Renardo’s office, with Frey under his desk??? 🔥🔥🔥
4.5 stars rounded up because of the happy tears it put into my eyes - definitely a rec!
I had this on my audio-tbr for a bit, mostly because I love the narrator (Kirt Graves), but kept pushing it back because I read the blurb and wasn’t sure I liked it.
Suffice to say: I’m so happy I picked it up. It’s the story of Renardo, a surgeon, who lost his husband 8 years prior in an accident, and Frey, single father to a deaf son. Frey’s husband left him right after Rex was born, not being willing to deal with a non-perfect child.
Frey is a nurse at the same hospital Renardo works in, and he can’t stand Renardo because the surgeon is mostly mean and unfriendly. The feeling is mutual - Renardo can’t stand the guy who’s friends with everyone except himself, and who keeps playing pranks on him.
They stumble upon each other at an old cinema - Renardo is a regular, because he wants to hear his husband’s voice announcing the movie and whatnot before the film starts (read the book and you’ll understand…), and Frey “hides” there regularly when his well meaning friends send him off on dates.
I don’t even know where to start without spoiling too much of the plot. Firstly: this is enemies to lovers done well, their shift to enemies with benefits, to reluctant friends, and finally to lovers is done beautifully. Also, both their pasts have a role to play in their relationship development, and I loved that they took the pieces and built something new together.
“Because you aren’t taking his place. You’re filling a space that’s all yours.”
Another thing I loved: while I don’t have non-hearing people in my life, I feel like the author portrayed it well, all without sugarcoating it, but without much drama, either. Rex, Frey’s son, behaves exactly as any other 6yo would, and while quite often I’m not a huge fan on how kids are incorporated in romances (they’re usually either overly cute, or behave like quirky little adults), I wouldn’t have wanted to miss Rex in this book 🥰
Also: the scene at Renardo’s office, with Frey under his desk??? 🔥🔥🔥
4.5 stars rounded up because of the happy tears it put into my eyes - definitely a rec!
July 27, 2024
Ugggghh no... Por qué pensé que iba a ser mejor que el primer libro... my fault 🤦🏽♀️ me rindo con esta serie 😮💨
September 15, 2025
A rare miss for me with this author. The story felt chaotic, and things were thrown in then never fully addressed.
June 22, 2024
This was all kinds of adorable! But that’s not to say that there wasn’t any angst; it had just the right amount. I love single dad romances and this hate-to-love one about a grumpy Italian surgeon, Renato, and a sunshiney nurse, Frey, hit the spot just right. Of course Renato’s grumpy, heartless facade actually masks a sensitive guy, while Frey presents a flirty slutty persona to fool his friends who worry about him and think he should start dating again. Although the hate-to-love part was a bit childish at times with all the pranks Frey played on Renato, it still didn’t detract from the overall “hate” aspect.
Plus Frey’s son, Rex, is such a cute kid who is obsessed with weddings and wants to be a wedding planner. He is also deaf and has Ménière’s disease, but copes with his health challenges like a champ. However, his poor health is emotionally and physically draining for Frey who is trying to be the best dad he can with a highly demanding job.
You know how the kid factor can be too much sometimes in single dad romances? That wasn’t an issue here and Rex just added to the emotional connection between the MCs. The relationship development between Frey and Renato is great and their transition from hate-to-love is pretty good. I also love how Renato clicks with Rex from the very beginning and their relationship will tug at even a cynic’s heartstrings. I highly recommended the book if you’re a fan of the single dad trope.
Plus Frey’s son, Rex, is such a cute kid who is obsessed with weddings and wants to be a wedding planner. He is also deaf and has Ménière’s disease, but copes with his health challenges like a champ. However, his poor health is emotionally and physically draining for Frey who is trying to be the best dad he can with a highly demanding job.
You know how the kid factor can be too much sometimes in single dad romances? That wasn’t an issue here and Rex just added to the emotional connection between the MCs. The relationship development between Frey and Renato is great and their transition from hate-to-love is pretty good. I also love how Renato clicks with Rex from the very beginning and their relationship will tug at even a cynic’s heartstrings. I highly recommended the book if you’re a fan of the single dad trope.
January 26, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up.
A- / 4.5 stars for both narration and story
Resisting You, the second book in E.M. Lindsey’s Things We Never Said series about a group of single dads, is a welcome return to form after the slightly disappointing series opener, Knowing You: Words We Never Said, Book 1 . Resisting You is an enemies-to-lovers romance between a haughty surgeon and a nurse in which the ‘enemies’ part is very well done (it’s so refreshing to find an enemies-to-lovers story where the leads actually dislike each other rather than simply labouring under silly and/or easily resolved misunderstandings).
We met nurse Frey Millie in Knowing You, where he became a good friend and confidant to Le and introduced him to the group of single dads who get together regularly. Frey has been raising his six-year-old son, Rex, alone since his ex-husband wasn’t prepared to parent a child with a disability. Frey is a great guy; he’s smart and funny and insightful, and he’s damn good at his job – although he’d enjoy it more if he didn’t have to deal with the arrogant and surgeon, Doctor Renato Agosto – aka Doctor Dickhead, aka Doctor Douche – every day. Agosto s bailed not long after Rex was born; complications following the birth left Rex profoundly deaf, and the ex waeems to be on a mission to make those around him either miserable or terrified, and his frequent caustic put downs have been known to make his residents cry. Seeing it as his mission to cut the infuriating doctor down to size, Frey has taken to playing pranks on him – harmless ones like cutting holes in his socks or trying all the legs of his scrubs together – and he’s been storing up his acerbic remarks, writing them down in a book he keeps at home and often entertains the other dads by reading them aloud.
Renato finds Frey every bit as infuriating as the reverse. He knows exactly who is pranking him – although he has no idea why – and makes no apologies for refusing to mollycoddle the residents; they do a tough job and need to be resilient – the last thing they need is someone who isn’t prepared to tell it like it is. Frey might drive him up the wall, but he can’t help noticing that he's absolutely gorgeous or that he’s very well-liked, and is friends with everyone – except him.
Frey and Renato rub each other completely the wrong way, even as the sparks that fly between them indicate there’s more than simple animosity thrumming between them. But they’re both so entrenched in their mutual dislike that they refuse to admit that there’s anything more going on – until they stumble across each other at an old cinema in town (where Frey goes to hide out when his well-meaning friends send him out on ‘dates’ and where Renato goes to listen to the voice of his late husband – whose last acting job was doing voiceovers for cinema trailers and announcements) and very slowly, they start to get to know each other and to break down the walls they’ve both erected to protect themselves.
This is slow-burn romance at its best. Frey and Renato give in to their physical attraction before they admit to themselves that there is more going on between them than just sex, and their move from enemies-with-benefits to reluctant friendship and eventually to falling in love is beautifully done. They’ve both got a fair bit of baggage; Renato lost his husband in a tragic accident and has struggled, for a long while, to come to terms with both it, and the way their relationship was going, and Frey has been reluctant to date since his husband left – he doesn’t want Rex to get attached to someone who doesn’t stick around, but has also come to think that maybe he’s not worth someone sticking around for.
Speaking of Rex… I’m not normally the biggest fan of children in romance novels, but he’s an absolute stand-out in this book and it wouldn’t have worked so well without him. I know the author takes great care with their disability representation, so even though I don’t know any children who are deaf and can’t say whether the rep is accurate from experience, I trust E.M. Lindsey to get it right – and more than that, Rex is a totally believable six-year-old (with an obsession with wedding planning!) – mischievous, loving and sometimes bratty – and I loved the way he and Renato click so easily.
Kirt Graves’ excellent performance is superbly characterised, clearly differentiated and expressive. I admit that I wasn’t too sure about the subtle Italian accent he gives to Renato to start with. But it grew on me, and the deep, slightly gruff tone used for his dialogue works well to convey the air of sadness that often surrounds him. Mr. Graves’ portrayal of Frey is equally good - a higher pitch and more upbeat manner reflect his essential good humour, but there’s a sense of tiredness behind it; Frey is a life-and-soul guy on the outside, but inside, he’s exhausted – he has a demanding job and being a single parent is hard, especially given Rex’s health challenges – and that comes through really well in the parts of the story where he feels he can let his guard down and be himself. I loved everything about Resisting You – the characters, their wonderfully emotional slow-burn romance and the fabulous narration – and am more than happy to recommend it.
Note: This is book two in a series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone.
A- / 4.5 stars for both narration and story
Resisting You, the second book in E.M. Lindsey’s Things We Never Said series about a group of single dads, is a welcome return to form after the slightly disappointing series opener, Knowing You: Words We Never Said, Book 1 . Resisting You is an enemies-to-lovers romance between a haughty surgeon and a nurse in which the ‘enemies’ part is very well done (it’s so refreshing to find an enemies-to-lovers story where the leads actually dislike each other rather than simply labouring under silly and/or easily resolved misunderstandings).
We met nurse Frey Millie in Knowing You, where he became a good friend and confidant to Le and introduced him to the group of single dads who get together regularly. Frey has been raising his six-year-old son, Rex, alone since his ex-husband wasn’t prepared to parent a child with a disability. Frey is a great guy; he’s smart and funny and insightful, and he’s damn good at his job – although he’d enjoy it more if he didn’t have to deal with the arrogant and surgeon, Doctor Renato Agosto – aka Doctor Dickhead, aka Doctor Douche – every day. Agosto s bailed not long after Rex was born; complications following the birth left Rex profoundly deaf, and the ex waeems to be on a mission to make those around him either miserable or terrified, and his frequent caustic put downs have been known to make his residents cry. Seeing it as his mission to cut the infuriating doctor down to size, Frey has taken to playing pranks on him – harmless ones like cutting holes in his socks or trying all the legs of his scrubs together – and he’s been storing up his acerbic remarks, writing them down in a book he keeps at home and often entertains the other dads by reading them aloud.
Renato finds Frey every bit as infuriating as the reverse. He knows exactly who is pranking him – although he has no idea why – and makes no apologies for refusing to mollycoddle the residents; they do a tough job and need to be resilient – the last thing they need is someone who isn’t prepared to tell it like it is. Frey might drive him up the wall, but he can’t help noticing that he's absolutely gorgeous or that he’s very well-liked, and is friends with everyone – except him.
Frey and Renato rub each other completely the wrong way, even as the sparks that fly between them indicate there’s more than simple animosity thrumming between them. But they’re both so entrenched in their mutual dislike that they refuse to admit that there’s anything more going on – until they stumble across each other at an old cinema in town (where Frey goes to hide out when his well-meaning friends send him out on ‘dates’ and where Renato goes to listen to the voice of his late husband – whose last acting job was doing voiceovers for cinema trailers and announcements) and very slowly, they start to get to know each other and to break down the walls they’ve both erected to protect themselves.
This is slow-burn romance at its best. Frey and Renato give in to their physical attraction before they admit to themselves that there is more going on between them than just sex, and their move from enemies-with-benefits to reluctant friendship and eventually to falling in love is beautifully done. They’ve both got a fair bit of baggage; Renato lost his husband in a tragic accident and has struggled, for a long while, to come to terms with both it, and the way their relationship was going, and Frey has been reluctant to date since his husband left – he doesn’t want Rex to get attached to someone who doesn’t stick around, but has also come to think that maybe he’s not worth someone sticking around for.
Speaking of Rex… I’m not normally the biggest fan of children in romance novels, but he’s an absolute stand-out in this book and it wouldn’t have worked so well without him. I know the author takes great care with their disability representation, so even though I don’t know any children who are deaf and can’t say whether the rep is accurate from experience, I trust E.M. Lindsey to get it right – and more than that, Rex is a totally believable six-year-old (with an obsession with wedding planning!) – mischievous, loving and sometimes bratty – and I loved the way he and Renato click so easily.
Kirt Graves’ excellent performance is superbly characterised, clearly differentiated and expressive. I admit that I wasn’t too sure about the subtle Italian accent he gives to Renato to start with. But it grew on me, and the deep, slightly gruff tone used for his dialogue works well to convey the air of sadness that often surrounds him. Mr. Graves’ portrayal of Frey is equally good - a higher pitch and more upbeat manner reflect his essential good humour, but there’s a sense of tiredness behind it; Frey is a life-and-soul guy on the outside, but inside, he’s exhausted – he has a demanding job and being a single parent is hard, especially given Rex’s health challenges – and that comes through really well in the parts of the story where he feels he can let his guard down and be himself. I loved everything about Resisting You – the characters, their wonderfully emotional slow-burn romance and the fabulous narration – and am more than happy to recommend it.
Note: This is book two in a series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone.
Read
May 29, 2024A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Resisting You is the second book in E.M. Lindsey’s Words We Never Said series, following the excellent Knowing You. This is a single dads, found family series and we meet Frey in the first book and learn a bit about his feud with Renato. We also see the group of men appear in each other’s books, so Bowen and Lane play a role as Frey’s good friends here. That said, I think this story stands alone fine plotwise, though reading the first book will give you more familiarity with this engaging group of men.
This one is a full-blown enemies to lovers and I like that Lindsey just goes for it here.
I love a found family story and I am really enjoying the dynamic among the men in the single dads group. I love the way they just show up for each other, ready to jump in with a listening ear or a night of babysitting or a hug.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Resisting You is the second book in E.M. Lindsey’s Words We Never Said series, following the excellent Knowing You. This is a single dads, found family series and we meet Frey in the first book and learn a bit about his feud with Renato. We also see the group of men appear in each other’s books, so Bowen and Lane play a role as Frey’s good friends here. That said, I think this story stands alone fine plotwise, though reading the first book will give you more familiarity with this engaging group of men.
This one is a full-blown enemies to lovers and I like that Lindsey just goes for it here.
I love a found family story and I am really enjoying the dynamic among the men in the single dads group. I love the way they just show up for each other, ready to jump in with a listening ear or a night of babysitting or a hug.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
September 20, 2024
I loved the first book in this series, but this was even better. I have to say that E. M. Lindsey is one of my favorite writers. This was such a wonderful book. I love a good enemies to lovers story, and boy were these two enemies. I did care much for Frey in the first book, but once I got to know his background story I just fell in love with him. When you throw in an adorable little boy like Rex I just melt into goo.
April 7, 2025
Dnf @ 67% I really didn't click with either Frey or Renato.
Frey's depression on his false, self inflicted identity as a promiscuous person was incredibly annoying to me. Not only did he not deny it, he actively went out of his way to be flirty with people further characterizing himself as such. Then he comes out and says he's tired of people calling him slutty? I get it. No one deserves to be slut shamed, but come on. Tell people you aren't actually sleeping around. Call them out. People judge you based on how they perceive your actions, and being flirty and physical with others kind of gives that vibe (especially if you don't say anything to the contrary). His pranks (aka harrassment) in the office was also super annoying. I get Renato was a dick, but physically destroying his things or fucking with his food went too far.
Renato was just an asshole through and through. Making people cry, terrorizing residents. Completely immature to the point where I didn't understand why Frey actually went along with their first sexual tryst in that closet. How did he go from absolutely hating the guy to jacking off? When I read enemies to lovers, I like seeing a clear point where they go from enemies to neutral, but these guys just skip to sex even before they even have a chance of changing their opinions about each other.
Also, why do these guys have so many confidants?
Renato had: Auden, Cosmico, and Foster. They all act as a weird sounding board for his problems (which got a little repetitive since he complained about the same thing like 4-5 times)
Frey had: Oz, Lane, Bowen, Dallas, and Adele. He's more understandable because of the single dads group, but it made it hard to establish a clear voice of reason when it would change to a different person after every problem.
Rex was super annoying as a kid. He was supposed to come across as cute and quirky with his wedding obsession, but his weird irritation at his dad, tantrums, and general lack of positive scenes just made me not like him as a kid.
Oz felt super weird too since I couldn't really grasp what his deal was. I guess he was supposed to be timid but supportive, but only having him be around when Frey was frealing out didn't really give him time to be developed as something other than a reason to get Rex out of the scene. He almost felt inconsequential.
I also really really hate it when stories play the "my dead spouse and I were probably going to separate if he didn't pass away" card. It cheapens the emotional impact of learning to move on (looking at you Renato thinking about Grady)
Tons of high reviews for this book so this is likely just a me thing, but will not be finishing this story.
Frey's depression on his false, self inflicted identity as a promiscuous person was incredibly annoying to me. Not only did he not deny it, he actively went out of his way to be flirty with people further characterizing himself as such. Then he comes out and says he's tired of people calling him slutty? I get it. No one deserves to be slut shamed, but come on. Tell people you aren't actually sleeping around. Call them out. People judge you based on how they perceive your actions, and being flirty and physical with others kind of gives that vibe (especially if you don't say anything to the contrary). His pranks (aka harrassment) in the office was also super annoying. I get Renato was a dick, but physically destroying his things or fucking with his food went too far.
Renato was just an asshole through and through. Making people cry, terrorizing residents. Completely immature to the point where I didn't understand why Frey actually went along with their first sexual tryst in that closet. How did he go from absolutely hating the guy to jacking off? When I read enemies to lovers, I like seeing a clear point where they go from enemies to neutral, but these guys just skip to sex even before they even have a chance of changing their opinions about each other.
Also, why do these guys have so many confidants?
Renato had: Auden, Cosmico, and Foster. They all act as a weird sounding board for his problems (which got a little repetitive since he complained about the same thing like 4-5 times)
Frey had: Oz, Lane, Bowen, Dallas, and Adele. He's more understandable because of the single dads group, but it made it hard to establish a clear voice of reason when it would change to a different person after every problem.
Rex was super annoying as a kid. He was supposed to come across as cute and quirky with his wedding obsession, but his weird irritation at his dad, tantrums, and general lack of positive scenes just made me not like him as a kid.
Oz felt super weird too since I couldn't really grasp what his deal was. I guess he was supposed to be timid but supportive, but only having him be around when Frey was frealing out didn't really give him time to be developed as something other than a reason to get Rex out of the scene. He almost felt inconsequential.
I also really really hate it when stories play the "my dead spouse and I were probably going to separate if he didn't pass away" card. It cheapens the emotional impact of learning to move on (looking at you Renato thinking about Grady)
Tons of high reviews for this book so this is likely just a me thing, but will not be finishing this story.
July 16, 2024
could really use some editing but I loved the storyline and the MCs.
May 18, 2024
5 stars
Frey and Renato have a lot of things in common, the first and more important is the end of their marriages, that left deep scars in their lives.
Renato is a 50 years old italian surgeon, he's grumpy and strict, he often makes residents cry.
Frey is a lot younger, his a nurse and a single dad of an adorable 5 years old Deaf boy, he has the reputation for sleeping around a lot and patients adore him.
Renato lost his husband Grady because of a car accident, he believes he will never find love again, so he gave up.
Frey was cheated on and then left by his husband who didn't want to deal with an "imperfect" child; Frey believes he will never find love again but he craves it.
Their relationship is based on dislike and aversion for each other; they also have a strong sexual attraction but the level of miscommunication is so high that they seem incapable to go past it.
Rex, Frey's son, will be one of the bridge that will bring them together: I adored how Renato was protective and caring towards the little guy.
Another strong bond between them was forged thanks to Renato being extremely attentive during their intercourses: he was confident and commanding without being cruel or mean and Frey felt safe and cherished with him.
Adele, Lane and the other Dads are wonderful and supportive and I really liked how they say "I love you" to each other: I especially appreciated Adele's regret when he found out the truth about Frey's hookups.
I'm really in love with this series, E.M. Lindsey is so good at representing people's conflicted feelings and emotions.
Last two things:
Renato is Italian but he doesn't speak in his native language in this story, just a very few words. I would have liked more of it. But I really appreciated how the author didn't make him a stereotype.
Second, finally we understand why Lane's ex wife left him and little Briar in peace: I adored how Adele took care of that!
Can't wait for the next story. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
Frey and Renato have a lot of things in common, the first and more important is the end of their marriages, that left deep scars in their lives.
Renato is a 50 years old italian surgeon, he's grumpy and strict, he often makes residents cry.
Frey is a lot younger, his a nurse and a single dad of an adorable 5 years old Deaf boy, he has the reputation for sleeping around a lot and patients adore him.
Renato lost his husband Grady because of a car accident, he believes he will never find love again, so he gave up.
Frey was cheated on and then left by his husband who didn't want to deal with an "imperfect" child; Frey believes he will never find love again but he craves it.
Their relationship is based on dislike and aversion for each other; they also have a strong sexual attraction but the level of miscommunication is so high that they seem incapable to go past it.
Rex, Frey's son, will be one of the bridge that will bring them together: I adored how Renato was protective and caring towards the little guy.
Another strong bond between them was forged thanks to Renato being extremely attentive during their intercourses: he was confident and commanding without being cruel or mean and Frey felt safe and cherished with him.
Adele, Lane and the other Dads are wonderful and supportive and I really liked how they say "I love you" to each other: I especially appreciated Adele's regret when he found out the truth about Frey's hookups.
I'm really in love with this series, E.M. Lindsey is so good at representing people's conflicted feelings and emotions.
Last two things:
Renato is Italian but he doesn't speak in his native language in this story, just a very few words. I would have liked more of it. But I really appreciated how the author didn't make him a stereotype.
Second, finally we understand why Lane's ex wife left him and little Briar in peace: I adored how Adele took care of that!
Can't wait for the next story. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
May 24, 2024
This book isn't quite as low angst as the first, but it also isn't high angst. Frey and Renato go through a lot of feelings and pains in their pasts that make it make sense that their start is rocky. The enemies to lovers trope is fun more than anything as they try to pretend they aren't interested in each other.
Frey, as a single dad, is sweet and fun, and his kid is hilarious. Watching Renato interact with Rex is the sweetest as he understands him on a level that most people don't or won't.
I teared up a few times while reading because EM Lindsey books just hit different, but overall, this book is sweet and a nice addition to the series so far.
Frey, as a single dad, is sweet and fun, and his kid is hilarious. Watching Renato interact with Rex is the sweetest as he understands him on a level that most people don't or won't.
I teared up a few times while reading because EM Lindsey books just hit different, but overall, this book is sweet and a nice addition to the series so far.
dnf
July 1, 2024DNF at 50%. Sorry but I found this story kind of juvenile instead of emotional. The sex in the theater scene between an RN and a Surgeon just didn't resonate well with me.
June 30, 2024
“I like how you respond to me,” Renato murmured. “I like how obvious it is that you want it—that you hate it’s me, but you can’t get enough.”
Single dad, Frey’s primary focus has always been his son. Which is why he can’t afford to lose his job as a nurse at the local hospital. But one of the surgeons, Dr. Renato Agosti, doesn’t make it easy for Frey to want to stay. He’s arrogant and often a jerk and Frey can’t resist pranking him any chance he gets. But after a particularly bad dad, Renato corners Frey and confronts him about the pranks and the sparks fly. Neither man is looking for something complicated but the more time they steal together, the harder it is to keep resisting.
“You’re beautiful and maybe a little terrible, but you’re also good.”
This book was so good! I had been looking forward to reading Frey’s story since meeting him in Knowing You. His hatred toward Renato was well documented in that book and I was excited to see how they’d end up together. What I loved about this book was how much it surprised me. Neither character was what I expected based on what I knew of them in the last book, but unexpected in a good way. They both had a lot of emotional damage thanks to their past relationships and I think, once they took the time to look past the surface, their broken pieces were drawn to each other's.
They were so sweet together once they let their guards down but they still got a bit of that antagonistic edge, which I loved and made for a very hot dynamic when it came to the spice. This story tugged at my heartstrings a lot. Both men were so lonely and greatly misunderstood, I loved seeing them finding love again when they never thought they would.
“There’s only one man for me, and God only knows why I want him, but I do.”
“Tell me it’s me,” Frey begged, like he needed to hear it.
“It’s you. It’s only you.”
One of the things I’ve loved about this series is how authentic the single-parent aspect felt. Frey was an incredible father to Rex, but he struggled and wasn’t always perfect. But he tried and he loved his son more than anything. Seeing Renato come into the fold and how kind he was toward Rex warmed my heart. I also loved seeing the rest of the single-dad club. They are such a loving and supportive group of friends and I’m already looking forward to the next installment!
“I see you. From the moment you started working with me, I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you.”
May 26, 2024
Rating: 5
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 3rd person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Main tropes: hate to love, age gap, single dad
Resisting You turned out to be a surprisingly sweet and swoony read, considering the hate to love between Frey and Renato, and I loved it!
Frey and Renato were characters that I never thought I would see together, there were so much animosity between them, and some of their "pranks" were pretty mean. They both had a lot of hurt in their pasts, and I loved how they slowly got to see that there were more to the other one than what they first thought.
I was completely invested in these two right from the start, and I couldn't wait for them to discover and act on the attraction between them. Both of them had been so lonely, and it made my heart ache to realise just how they'd distanced themselves from the people who cared about them. The interactions between Frey and his son Rex were sweet and funny, and it was great to see how Renato understood and communicated with him. The three of them were just so sweet together!
The attraction between Frey and Renato was intense, and it was hot to see how much they both wanted each other. Frey really enjoyed when his doctor got all bossy, and I loved how he basically melted at the smallest hint of dominance from Renato. There were a bit of angst in the story, not a lot, but it felt kind of inevitable with these characters and their history. They weren't the best at communicating, and considering their start it wasn't too surprising, but it didn't take them long to work things out.
Resisting You was a phenomenal read, I loved how E.M. Lindsey wrote the hate to love between Frey and Renato, and it was great to see them both starting to heal together. This series has been fantastic so far and I can't wait for more stories about these single dads, their support and love for each other is just precious!
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Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 3rd person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Main tropes: hate to love, age gap, single dad
Resisting You turned out to be a surprisingly sweet and swoony read, considering the hate to love between Frey and Renato, and I loved it!
Frey and Renato were characters that I never thought I would see together, there were so much animosity between them, and some of their "pranks" were pretty mean. They both had a lot of hurt in their pasts, and I loved how they slowly got to see that there were more to the other one than what they first thought.
I was completely invested in these two right from the start, and I couldn't wait for them to discover and act on the attraction between them. Both of them had been so lonely, and it made my heart ache to realise just how they'd distanced themselves from the people who cared about them. The interactions between Frey and his son Rex were sweet and funny, and it was great to see how Renato understood and communicated with him. The three of them were just so sweet together!
The attraction between Frey and Renato was intense, and it was hot to see how much they both wanted each other. Frey really enjoyed when his doctor got all bossy, and I loved how he basically melted at the smallest hint of dominance from Renato. There were a bit of angst in the story, not a lot, but it felt kind of inevitable with these characters and their history. They weren't the best at communicating, and considering their start it wasn't too surprising, but it didn't take them long to work things out.
Resisting You was a phenomenal read, I loved how E.M. Lindsey wrote the hate to love between Frey and Renato, and it was great to see them both starting to heal together. This series has been fantastic so far and I can't wait for more stories about these single dads, their support and love for each other is just precious!
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Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 24, 2024
Resisting You by E.M. Lindsey was absolutely phenomenal. I loved book 1 in this series, but Frey and Renato’s story was so delicious.
Enemies to lovers is not usually my particular jam but it was so well done here. Neither man was innocent and played a role in the feud they developed at work. Both men also had trauma and grief they were working through. They truly were two broken men who made each other better.
Frey’s story just about broke my heart. He allowed everyone around him to think he was the type of guy to sleep around because it was easier than fending off dates. Every time someone made a snide comment it made me sad. His relationship with his son was so sweet and Rex’s fixation on weddings was hilarious.
Renato was so closed off and it was easy to see why. His anger over everything Frey did was tough to read sometimes, but also completely understandable.
I really, really love these two together and once they got over their tendency to miscommunicate with each other things definitely got better. I hope we get Oz’s story after Adele and Dallas.
I received an ARC from the author for my honest review
Enemies to lovers is not usually my particular jam but it was so well done here. Neither man was innocent and played a role in the feud they developed at work. Both men also had trauma and grief they were working through. They truly were two broken men who made each other better.
Frey’s story just about broke my heart. He allowed everyone around him to think he was the type of guy to sleep around because it was easier than fending off dates. Every time someone made a snide comment it made me sad. His relationship with his son was so sweet and Rex’s fixation on weddings was hilarious.
Renato was so closed off and it was easy to see why. His anger over everything Frey did was tough to read sometimes, but also completely understandable.
I really, really love these two together and once they got over their tendency to miscommunicate with each other things definitely got better. I hope we get Oz’s story after Adele and Dallas.
I received an ARC from the author for my honest review
July 28, 2025
But he was coming to terms with the fact that maybe young, powerful love wasn’t always the forever kind. Maybe the forever kind had rougher edges and harder starts.
So cute omg! I loved Frey and Renato together! I liked their unconventional start, and how when they got together they both realized that they had been making the other feel a bit "othered". They didn't actually know much about each other and as they got closer they realized that they were both making judgements when they didn't know the full story.
I liked how sweet Renato was with Rex, I wish there had been more Rex in the book! I liked how after Renato discovers Frey's book, Frey does go all grand gesture and wants to make sure Renato knew that he was not always that person and that keeping the book was so Frey could protect himself against heartbreak.
I thought they had good chemistry together, the sex was fun between these two, and I thought the way they were sort of opposites in their work persona's was a fun difference.
So cute omg! I loved Frey and Renato together! I liked their unconventional start, and how when they got together they both realized that they had been making the other feel a bit "othered". They didn't actually know much about each other and as they got closer they realized that they were both making judgements when they didn't know the full story.
I liked how sweet Renato was with Rex, I wish there had been more Rex in the book! I liked how after Renato discovers Frey's book, Frey does go all grand gesture and wants to make sure Renato knew that he was not always that person and that keeping the book was so Frey could protect himself against heartbreak.
I thought they had good chemistry together, the sex was fun between these two, and I thought the way they were sort of opposites in their work persona's was a fun difference.
January 5, 2025
A great enemies to lovers story! Frey & Renato definitely do not like each other to start in this one. It’s a slow emotional burn for sure between them but it’s hard won. I liked how Renato being a widow was handled. It showed that he loved his husband but also could see that maybe that love wouldn’t have lasted which I think was very interesting. I wish though that we had a little more time with Frey & Renato being an established couple.
February 1, 2025
OMG I knew I had to read Frey's story after reading the first book in this series....Frey was such a vivid side character in that book and I was super curious about Renato! And can I say that Frey's son is the cutest character!! And I love how Renato - a man who never cared for children really - bonded instantly with Rex. Such a great enemies to lovers story with two characters who have had immense heartbreak and find one another.
February 5, 2025
The series keeps getting better<3
May 29, 2024
I liked the first book of the series with some reservations, a little really but this second installment is closer at my heart because my situation is that of Renato and I hope a happy end for me too. And for this the story feels real and sweet. Frey and Renato have scars from the past , dislike each other but the chemistry is there and impossible to resist. And how cute is Rex as a wedding planner?
May 28, 2024
Love E.M. Lindsey and I enjoyed parts of this - especially the cinema scenes. But some of it, like the stupid pranks, never made sense to me.
May 26, 2024
Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, but in my opinion, it is difficult to find authors who write it well. This E2L story was done very well!
I've been a fan of EM Lindsey's for a long time, and I am totally in love with this single dad's series. EM writes such well-developed characters and engaging plots, it's impossible not to be drawn into the story.
Here, we are reunited with Frey, who was a side character in book 1 of the series. You'd don't have to read that one before this one, but it will definitely make it more enjoyable and some of the references to past events and jokes will land better. Book 1 was also amazing, so no hardship to read Lane and Bowen's story first.
Frey is a nurse with a six year old son, Rex, who is profoundly deaf. The hardships of Rex's birth and the dissolution of Frey's marriage at the same time did a number on Frey. He's now living a somewhat double-life in letting his friends believe he is a hook-up king, when in reality he is incredibly lonely. But trusting is hard and it's not just his heart he has to protect, but his son's too. At work, Frey has also been dealing with a new doctor, Renato, who is a real jerk. He is blunt, rude, and sometimes even cruel to pretty much everyone around him, and he and Frey immediately clash despite both recognizing that the other is very good at their job.
Renato is a successful and talented surgeon and quite a bit older than Frey. He is also a widower, which plays a pretty big role in his character development and motivations. Despite how he treats people, the inside peeks we get into his thoughts and past make him still ultimately likeable and sympathetic.
What starts as mutual distaste for one another explodes into physical chemistry. But just because he is thoroughly enjoying his private time with Frey, Renato doesn't become a sofite overnight and turn over a new leaf. He is still the harsh, opinionated, and outspoken man he always was. I loved that. Frey's attention, and later his affection, don't magically change Renato. Their physical relationship also doesn't make them suddenly get along. They still have all the same issues that they have to work through together and individually. This is where many writers who attempt E2L fall flat. So often once the MCs finally get physical, everything falls into place very quickly and all is roses and sunshine. That's not realistic (or entertaining IMO). EM doesn't fall into that trap, and I love them, Frey, and Renato for that!
Well worth a read and then some. I can't wait for Dallas and Adele's stories to come!
I've been a fan of EM Lindsey's for a long time, and I am totally in love with this single dad's series. EM writes such well-developed characters and engaging plots, it's impossible not to be drawn into the story.
Here, we are reunited with Frey, who was a side character in book 1 of the series. You'd don't have to read that one before this one, but it will definitely make it more enjoyable and some of the references to past events and jokes will land better. Book 1 was also amazing, so no hardship to read Lane and Bowen's story first.
Frey is a nurse with a six year old son, Rex, who is profoundly deaf. The hardships of Rex's birth and the dissolution of Frey's marriage at the same time did a number on Frey. He's now living a somewhat double-life in letting his friends believe he is a hook-up king, when in reality he is incredibly lonely. But trusting is hard and it's not just his heart he has to protect, but his son's too. At work, Frey has also been dealing with a new doctor, Renato, who is a real jerk. He is blunt, rude, and sometimes even cruel to pretty much everyone around him, and he and Frey immediately clash despite both recognizing that the other is very good at their job.
Renato is a successful and talented surgeon and quite a bit older than Frey. He is also a widower, which plays a pretty big role in his character development and motivations. Despite how he treats people, the inside peeks we get into his thoughts and past make him still ultimately likeable and sympathetic.
What starts as mutual distaste for one another explodes into physical chemistry. But just because he is thoroughly enjoying his private time with Frey, Renato doesn't become a sofite overnight and turn over a new leaf. He is still the harsh, opinionated, and outspoken man he always was. I loved that. Frey's attention, and later his affection, don't magically change Renato. Their physical relationship also doesn't make them suddenly get along. They still have all the same issues that they have to work through together and individually. This is where many writers who attempt E2L fall flat. So often once the MCs finally get physical, everything falls into place very quickly and all is roses and sunshine. That's not realistic (or entertaining IMO). EM doesn't fall into that trap, and I love them, Frey, and Renato for that!
Well worth a read and then some. I can't wait for Dallas and Adele's stories to come!
January 21, 2026
Oh this one...My heart broke for both MCs. I wasn't a fan of Frey in book 1 but damn he redeemed himself in this one.
💥Renato was a widower and Grady was divorced both for many years.
💥 Frey might have hated Renato but Renato only disliked Frey making his life harder with pranks.
The only reason they were "enemies" was because Frey had it in his head that Renato was messing with his coffee, lunches, etc. He started pranking Renato, in front of everyone, which caused Renato to dislike him.
Once things come to a head they have some pretty 🥵🥵 encounters, truths start surfacing and feelings evolve. Frey had a lot to make up for but he proved he is willing to work for Renato's forgiveness.
Renato was amazing with Frey's son, Rex. He knew sign language and taught him to cook pasta.
Favorite lines:
The first bouquets were bright daisies like the one Renato had given him that night and a few white roses. It was a mix that shouldn’t have gone well together, but when Frey set eyes on it, he just knew it was for Renato. “This one is for you.”
Renato brought the flowers to his nose and breathed in. When he looked up, his eyes were shining. “No one’s ever bought me flowers before.”
Frey lowered his gaze. He should have done it before, but he wouldn’t make that mistake again. He reached for the second bouquet. This one was a risk, he knew. It could make or break this moment.
“This is for Grady,” he said. Blue irises, ferns, camellias, and peonies. “The guy helped me pick it out. I sort of explained to him the situation. I owed Grady an apology for treating his husband the way I did.”
Heavy spoilers:
💥Frey's "pranks" were childish. It turns out Renato wasn't even the one messing with Frey to begin with. He did all that childish shit to the wrong co worker. We never found out who was messing with Frey though.
💥 I wish Frey had confessed to Renato that he was the first person he had slept with since his divorce. Everyone thought Frey was the office slut but he wasnt sleeping with anyone.
💥 I wanted a scene where the friend group met Renato.
💥My heart stopped when Frey caught Renato reading his journal. Frey created a journal of harsh things Renato said to first year residents and nurses at work. He never thought about the reasons for Renato being harsh when he started the journal.
💥I did not appreciate the scene where Rex walked in on Frey jerking off and asking him about his erect penis. Frey does try to explain some but eventually tells him something are private.
The scene itself was soooooo unnecessary. It added nothing to the story.
💥Renato was a widower and Grady was divorced both for many years.
💥 Frey might have hated Renato but Renato only disliked Frey making his life harder with pranks.
The only reason they were "enemies" was because Frey had it in his head that Renato was messing with his coffee, lunches, etc. He started pranking Renato, in front of everyone, which caused Renato to dislike him.
Once things come to a head they have some pretty 🥵🥵 encounters, truths start surfacing and feelings evolve. Frey had a lot to make up for but he proved he is willing to work for Renato's forgiveness.
Renato was amazing with Frey's son, Rex. He knew sign language and taught him to cook pasta.
Favorite lines:
The first bouquets were bright daisies like the one Renato had given him that night and a few white roses. It was a mix that shouldn’t have gone well together, but when Frey set eyes on it, he just knew it was for Renato. “This one is for you.”
Renato brought the flowers to his nose and breathed in. When he looked up, his eyes were shining. “No one’s ever bought me flowers before.”
Frey lowered his gaze. He should have done it before, but he wouldn’t make that mistake again. He reached for the second bouquet. This one was a risk, he knew. It could make or break this moment.
“This is for Grady,” he said. Blue irises, ferns, camellias, and peonies. “The guy helped me pick it out. I sort of explained to him the situation. I owed Grady an apology for treating his husband the way I did.”
Heavy spoilers:
💥Frey's "pranks" were childish. It turns out Renato wasn't even the one messing with Frey to begin with. He did all that childish shit to the wrong co worker. We never found out who was messing with Frey though.
💥 I wish Frey had confessed to Renato that he was the first person he had slept with since his divorce. Everyone thought Frey was the office slut but he wasnt sleeping with anyone.
💥 I wanted a scene where the friend group met Renato.
💥My heart stopped when Frey caught Renato reading his journal. Frey created a journal of harsh things Renato said to first year residents and nurses at work. He never thought about the reasons for Renato being harsh when he started the journal.
💥I did not appreciate the scene where Rex walked in on Frey jerking off and asking him about his erect penis. Frey does try to explain some but eventually tells him something are private.
The scene itself was soooooo unnecessary. It added nothing to the story.
May 21, 2024
I love E.M.'s stories, they are always so poignant and realistic, and so relatable. Things aren't always happy, life isn't always happy, and I love that they portrays that through the characters in their stories. This author does know how to write angst filled stories and I think this is the angstiest yet.
Frey is a single dad and a nurse, his day to day is taking care of his son and dealing with his boss who's a jerk. He is done with Renato's arrogance and attitude, so he plays pranks on the surgeon whenever he can as revenge. He loathes the man as much as he respects him, but he only respects him when it comes down to Renato being good at his job. Other than that, he's on Frey's bad side.
Renato is a good surgeon who's.. a grumpy. Not a little grumpy but a massive one, he does not go easy on new residents, and he is not amused by the pranks Frey pulls. He has had a lot of loss in his life and has stopped living. He shuts the world out and is a grumpy to everyone around him. Until a little boy works his way through his cold heart and begin to thaw him out.
This story was full of angst and hatred! Frey and Renato goes back and forth throughout most of the story trying to one up each other with how cruel they can be to each other. Not the most mature or healthiest way to handle their feelings, but overtime the characters grow and realize what they are doing isn't okay. I liked how the characters grew during this story, and that they realized that they had a lot to make up and apologize for. I adored Rex, he was so cute! I loved how he was so passionate about weddings and Say Yes To The Dress, I used to watch that show all the time, so I get the appeal.
Both Frey and Renato's characters have been through a lot, love has not been kind to them, and while they lost their partners in different ways, they still share that loss. I appreciated how overtime these two actually started talking to each other and getting to truly know one another, instead of believing all the rumors that circulate at the hospital. The ASL component along with Rex's diagnosis I thought was handled really well.
The scene where Renato found the journal Frey created was a bit heartbreaking, especially because he found it after these two men were finally going to admit how they feel. Sometimes it takes someone else to hold up a mirror, or rather a journal full of all the times Renato was rude, to show us what we can improve on, what we can do to improve.
Overall a terrific story filled with anger, pranks, steam, growth, and plenty of wedding talk!!
Frey is a single dad and a nurse, his day to day is taking care of his son and dealing with his boss who's a jerk. He is done with Renato's arrogance and attitude, so he plays pranks on the surgeon whenever he can as revenge. He loathes the man as much as he respects him, but he only respects him when it comes down to Renato being good at his job. Other than that, he's on Frey's bad side.
Renato is a good surgeon who's.. a grumpy. Not a little grumpy but a massive one, he does not go easy on new residents, and he is not amused by the pranks Frey pulls. He has had a lot of loss in his life and has stopped living. He shuts the world out and is a grumpy to everyone around him. Until a little boy works his way through his cold heart and begin to thaw him out.
This story was full of angst and hatred! Frey and Renato goes back and forth throughout most of the story trying to one up each other with how cruel they can be to each other. Not the most mature or healthiest way to handle their feelings, but overtime the characters grow and realize what they are doing isn't okay. I liked how the characters grew during this story, and that they realized that they had a lot to make up and apologize for. I adored Rex, he was so cute! I loved how he was so passionate about weddings and Say Yes To The Dress, I used to watch that show all the time, so I get the appeal.
Both Frey and Renato's characters have been through a lot, love has not been kind to them, and while they lost their partners in different ways, they still share that loss. I appreciated how overtime these two actually started talking to each other and getting to truly know one another, instead of believing all the rumors that circulate at the hospital. The ASL component along with Rex's diagnosis I thought was handled really well.
The scene where Renato found the journal Frey created was a bit heartbreaking, especially because he found it after these two men were finally going to admit how they feel. Sometimes it takes someone else to hold up a mirror, or rather a journal full of all the times Renato was rude, to show us what we can improve on, what we can do to improve.
Overall a terrific story filled with anger, pranks, steam, growth, and plenty of wedding talk!!
May 20, 2024
CWs and CNs at the end.
EM Lindsey is back with book 2 in this Words We Never Said series featuring single dads and friends, oooooh this one was delivered with all the spice and all the feelings!
We first meet Frey in the previous book when he is discussing his terrible boss who is a surgeon at the hospital at which he is a nurse. Doctor Dickhead, Frey so aptly christens him, refers to Renato, swoony silver fox Italian doctor who has…a bit of a reputation at work for making people cry and generally having the demeanour of an angry bear. And Frey can’t stand him…or so he thinks.
I am usually not a fan of the true enemies to lovers in which the two characters actively dislike each other, but as usual, Lindsey handles this aspect of the trope in a way that really works. While they do begin the story truly despising one another, it soon becomes clear that both men have some badly conceived preconceptions about each other. I really loved how both of them have to really sit with the ways they saw the other and acknowledge that making assumptions is just not done. And underneath Renato’s snappy attitude, and Frey’s chaos, both of them have layers of complex feelings. My heart hurt at the pasts that both characters are trying to still process several years later, and the varying degrees of armour they had cultivated to go through the motions. Their path is not easy and Lindsey incorporates all those messy, complicated ways people feel and really allows space for them to confront their own shortcomings while also helping each other heal. The HEA feels really well won at the end and I loved seeing this incredible arc for both characters. The spice was SPICING, and the angst was ANGSTING which of course makes for a hell of a great read! 5 stars!
CWs: death of a spouse (in the past) and grief; cheating and divorce (not between MCs); ableism and homophobia; parental abandonment; slut shaming language; brief instance of police aggression towards a Deaf character.
CNs: This is the second book in the Words We Never Said series and can be read as a stand alone. It features a workplace, boss/employee romance between a surgeon and a nurse who has a Deaf child. This book is enemies to lovers and is high-heat featuring several on-page sex scenes including, light domination, aspects of humiliation, and praise kink.
EM Lindsey is back with book 2 in this Words We Never Said series featuring single dads and friends, oooooh this one was delivered with all the spice and all the feelings!
We first meet Frey in the previous book when he is discussing his terrible boss who is a surgeon at the hospital at which he is a nurse. Doctor Dickhead, Frey so aptly christens him, refers to Renato, swoony silver fox Italian doctor who has…a bit of a reputation at work for making people cry and generally having the demeanour of an angry bear. And Frey can’t stand him…or so he thinks.
I am usually not a fan of the true enemies to lovers in which the two characters actively dislike each other, but as usual, Lindsey handles this aspect of the trope in a way that really works. While they do begin the story truly despising one another, it soon becomes clear that both men have some badly conceived preconceptions about each other. I really loved how both of them have to really sit with the ways they saw the other and acknowledge that making assumptions is just not done. And underneath Renato’s snappy attitude, and Frey’s chaos, both of them have layers of complex feelings. My heart hurt at the pasts that both characters are trying to still process several years later, and the varying degrees of armour they had cultivated to go through the motions. Their path is not easy and Lindsey incorporates all those messy, complicated ways people feel and really allows space for them to confront their own shortcomings while also helping each other heal. The HEA feels really well won at the end and I loved seeing this incredible arc for both characters. The spice was SPICING, and the angst was ANGSTING which of course makes for a hell of a great read! 5 stars!
CWs: death of a spouse (in the past) and grief; cheating and divorce (not between MCs); ableism and homophobia; parental abandonment; slut shaming language; brief instance of police aggression towards a Deaf character.
CNs: This is the second book in the Words We Never Said series and can be read as a stand alone. It features a workplace, boss/employee romance between a surgeon and a nurse who has a Deaf child. This book is enemies to lovers and is high-heat featuring several on-page sex scenes including, light domination, aspects of humiliation, and praise kink.
May 23, 2024
At the start of this book I thought there was no chance that Frey and Renato would end up together, but outside of the stressful hospital environment and with some time to actually get to know each other, they ended up being a wonderful fit. I'm pretty much always a fan of enemies-to-lovers romances, and this one had me rooting for Team Frey before I got to know Renato better. From an outside perspective I can absolutely understand why Renato wasn't the most liked doctor, but once I got to know his soft underbelly it was hard to go back to seeing him as a jerk who couldn't be redeemed. Renato was harsh, sometimes to the point of making others fear him, but everything he did was intended to give his patients the best treatment possible while under his care. He also carried a deep hurt from losing his husband that he'd never fully allowed himself to process and used his grumpy persona as a mask to protect his heart. I wasn't expecting Frey of all people to be the one who cracked open his defenses, but their fiery clashes softened into something much sweeter once they gave each other a chance. I was pleasantly surprised by how balanced their relationship was between steamy chemistry and heartfelt conversations, and I could see each man growing and changing into better versions of themselves along the way. I also absolutely adored Rex, and seeing the way Frey and Renato interacted with him sold me on the seriousness of their relationship long before they expressed their feelings out loud. The two of them went through a moderate amount of angst as they learned how to be partners and lovers--Frey and Renato were by no means perfect and they got things wrong just as often as they got things right, but I could see genuine remorse every time they screwed up and they always made an effort to resolve things. All in all I was really happy with how their story ended, and it felt like an authentic and hopeful start to a sweet future together.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 24, 2024
Beautiful story
I love EM’s books simply because they always cover a disability/hardship of some sort and it really makes me think of how I interact with individuals and it opens up my eyes to those around me so much. I’ve learned a lot thru their writings.
I adored Frey from the moment he was mentioned in the first book and my heart broke for him when we learn more about his past and his struggles as a single/divorced dad. I can’t imagine the pain and heartache he went thru when Rex was born.
(*sidenote* This quote “Rex isn’t going to need therapy because you took one day forc yourself. You’ll be a better parent for him if you remember that you need to be taken care of too.” just stood out to me because Frey is almost terrified of leaving Rex for more than just work because he’s afraid he’s already gone so much that if he took a fun day, Rex might hate him for being gone even more. I think we all need to remember that kids are resilient and they know when they are loved and cared for. We as parents/caregivers also need to know that we need a self-care day for ourselves every once in a while or we might combust and not be able to be there for those kids.
✨It’s okay…take a day off every so often just for yourself✨)
Renato is still struggling with his husband’s death and it has made him bitter towards others.
These two are the definition of a love to hate, love/hate relationship and to see them both finally open their eyes to each other personal struggles and find ways to exist around each other, to be sweet instead of hurtful, to be caring instead of spiteful…there were moments that made me cry and moments that made me laugh and I loved these two men so much!!
#lovehate #resistingyou #mmromance #queerromance #bookstagram #booklover #lgbtq🌈 #doctornurse #releaseday
I love EM’s books simply because they always cover a disability/hardship of some sort and it really makes me think of how I interact with individuals and it opens up my eyes to those around me so much. I’ve learned a lot thru their writings.
I adored Frey from the moment he was mentioned in the first book and my heart broke for him when we learn more about his past and his struggles as a single/divorced dad. I can’t imagine the pain and heartache he went thru when Rex was born.
(*sidenote* This quote “Rex isn’t going to need therapy because you took one day forc yourself. You’ll be a better parent for him if you remember that you need to be taken care of too.” just stood out to me because Frey is almost terrified of leaving Rex for more than just work because he’s afraid he’s already gone so much that if he took a fun day, Rex might hate him for being gone even more. I think we all need to remember that kids are resilient and they know when they are loved and cared for. We as parents/caregivers also need to know that we need a self-care day for ourselves every once in a while or we might combust and not be able to be there for those kids.
✨It’s okay…take a day off every so often just for yourself✨)
Renato is still struggling with his husband’s death and it has made him bitter towards others.
These two are the definition of a love to hate, love/hate relationship and to see them both finally open their eyes to each other personal struggles and find ways to exist around each other, to be sweet instead of hurtful, to be caring instead of spiteful…there were moments that made me cry and moments that made me laugh and I loved these two men so much!!
#lovehate #resistingyou #mmromance #queerromance #bookstagram #booklover #lgbtq🌈 #doctornurse #releaseday
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January 6, 2026I liked Frey, though some of his pranks were over the top. He let people have the impression that he was promiscuous and then was upset that they couldn't read his mind to see how he was hurting. Orthopedic surgeon Renato was awfully cutting in his criticism of residents and some of the nurses. He assumes things about Frey that aren't true.
Frey's son Rex was born with a serious medical problem, and a drug used to treat it made him deaf. Rex later developed more medical complications. He generally seems like a happy child, though. He's obsessed with "Say Yes to the Dress." I haven't seen the show, but apparently it's about weddings and/or wedding preparations? There's foreshadowing here for explanations to come in Oz's book about some of Rex's more concerning behaviors. Yes, I read Oz's book first, but Rex's behaviors were clear here.
Frey loves Rex, and Renato grows quite fond of Rex also. Frey and Renato start out antagonistic, but Renato does have a softer side, and they eventually became lovey-dovey. They could easily have gotten fired for their physical intimacies in the workplace. Those encounters didn't seem too sanitary, either. It might just be me.
It was good that Renato knew some sign language. He thought it might be useful if he had a Deaf patient, and it was. Frey says that Deaf people are loud. Yes. The first-graders don't realize they're being loud, of course. From what I understand, many Deaf adults gain more awareness of this when hearing people, perhaps their hearing children if they have them, point it out.
There were things I liked about the book, and other things I didn't. Overall, I liked it more than not.
Frey's son Rex was born with a serious medical problem, and a drug used to treat it made him deaf. Rex later developed more medical complications. He generally seems like a happy child, though. He's obsessed with "Say Yes to the Dress." I haven't seen the show, but apparently it's about weddings and/or wedding preparations? There's foreshadowing here for explanations to come in Oz's book about some of Rex's more concerning behaviors. Yes, I read Oz's book first, but Rex's behaviors were clear here.
Frey loves Rex, and Renato grows quite fond of Rex also. Frey and Renato start out antagonistic, but Renato does have a softer side, and they eventually became lovey-dovey. They could easily have gotten fired for their physical intimacies in the workplace. Those encounters didn't seem too sanitary, either. It might just be me.
It was good that Renato knew some sign language. He thought it might be useful if he had a Deaf patient, and it was. Frey says that Deaf people are loud. Yes. The first-graders don't realize they're being loud, of course. From what I understand, many Deaf adults gain more awareness of this when hearing people, perhaps their hearing children if they have them, point it out.
There were things I liked about the book, and other things I didn't. Overall, I liked it more than not.
May 24, 2024
I loved the first book in this new series, it was really lovely. This is book two and Frey and Renato have another emotional story to tell. I loved Frey in Lane’s book, he was full of personality and a really good friend, you just knew his story would be amazing. I loved seeing the person behind the humor and snark, he’s an amazing friend, a dedicated single father, and caring nurse to his patients. He’s also developed quite the volatile relationship with Renato Agosti, the older, polished, and pretty callous surgeon he works with at the hospital. There’s really animosity in their working relationship, Renato is bad tempered and quite harsh and Frey cannot stop himself from escalating things with his pranks. The tension is excellent and made it so fun when it slowly starts to shift, you start to see how amazing their chemistry is and how much hurt they both carry. The writing is quite beautiful, with authentic emotion, and characters that really stand out- E.M. Lindsey is a master at creating lovely and dimensional characters. I’m not a fan of kids in romance generally, but Frey’s son Rex was a favorite of mine and his relationship with Renato so charming. Renato is not always likable in this but his interactions with Rex really sold me on him. Loved this one a lot, and that epilogue is about as perfect for these two as you can get.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
July 31, 2024
I enjoy E.M. Lindsey stories and this story was especially good. Frey was a wonderful dad and nurse who struggled after his now ex rejected their son who had bad heart and treatment and then became deaf due to disease. It was painful to read about how Oz, the son Rex's, mentor was treated by police and now it was not unusual how deaf people are treated and how annoyed people got with Rex because he was loud. Renato, the Italian doctor at the hospital where Frey works, has a reputation for being cruel to new doctors and nurses and Frey can't stand him and retaliates against him with pranks that drive Renato crazy. One day he explodes at Frey for something that Frey had not done but Renatio did not give him a chance to respond and then later when he corners him in his office and the kiss is wild and rather brutal. Their relationship is odd and fraught and Frey has no idea that Renatio had lost his husband in an accident 8 years before and was very lonely. His going to the cinema to hear ads that his husband had recorded for intermission just before his death was so poignant.
I liked how their relationship had ups and downs and the scene where Renato reads the notebook that Frey had kept of Renato's remarks and how cruel he had been was very painful.
Looking forward to the next story.
I liked how their relationship had ups and downs and the scene where Renato reads the notebook that Frey had kept of Renato's remarks and how cruel he had been was very painful.
Looking forward to the next story.
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