The Incredible Ordinary

by Briar Prescott

Milàn: When I return home after years of avoiding the place, the last thing I expect is to inherit a little brother.
After a chaotic childhood, I’ve built my life around one simple never get tied down. I’m not father material, and raising a thirteen-year-old with a chip on his shoulder and a talent for pushing every one of my buttons sounds like a special kind of hell.
Overnight, my life turns into one long tension headache, and I’m barely keeping it together when an incident at school lands Rory and me squarely in the orbit of Jordan and his son, Theo.
Jordan is everything I’m not. Calm. Collected. Completely in control. The kind of father people look at with barely hidden envy.
Spending time with him isn’t part of the plan. Neither is watching my life slowly start to fall into place.
Bit by bit, I build something resembling a relationship with my brother.
Bit by bit, life becomes… better.
And bit by bit, the friendship between Jordan and me grows into something deeper. The kind of feelings that might just be impossible to ignore.
It’s a bad idea from the start.
I’ve spent my whole life running the moment things start to get complicated.
Jordan knows exactly what it feels like to be left behind.
Getting close to him might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Or the worst mistake we could make.
Because sooner or later we have to decide if we’re brave enough to fight for each other…

Genres: Friends To Lovers, M M Romance, Slow Burn, Found Family, Romance

381 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 24, 2024

About the author

Briar Prescott is a work in progress. She swears too much, doesn’t eat enough leafy greens and binge watches too much television. It’s okay, though. One of these days she'll get a hang of that adulting thing.
Probably.
Maybe.
She hopes.

Want to check in occasionally to hear what's up? You can stalk her here:
Newsletter: https://www.briarprescott.com/contact
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/briar...
Email: prescottbriar@gmail.com.
Webpage: www.briarprescott.com.

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this my new favourite Briar Prescott??

I mean, I feel like I say this with every book of the author I pick up - but I’m pretty sure this actually is my new fav?
Because wow.

The cast here was exceptional:
Milán: a famous, somewhat bitter ex tennis player, always drifting, never staying in one place for long, no real clue who he is or where he’s going.
And suddenly he inherits a little brother. Rory, who’s troubled and hurt and all in all very much a teenager. And Milán is so relatably overwhelmed by this task of raising a thirteen year old he just met.

But then he meets Jordan, who we have actually met in Maybe You (he’s Theo’s dad and quasi brother of Wren). He‘s the complete opposite of Milán: He’s calm and collected and competent. He’s also been a dad for thirteen years already, so has a few tricks up his sleeve. And he’s just so damn kind. And isn’t kindness the most attractive trait a person can have? 🥹

So of course I completely understood why Milán was drawn to him from the first moment. I absolutely adored how they became friends first, inexplicably drawn to each other with that vague feeling of yeah, this is my kind of person. And when it got more? When they started PINING (god, I love me some good pining) and then finally giving in?! Uff, butterflies. So, so many butterflies and the most exciting slow burn tension I’ve read in a long time. GAH 🫦 (this was seriously so hot, omg)

But what made this story extra special to me was everything surrounding Rory. I absolutely adored how Milán - after pulling his head out of his ass - was just rooting so hard for him, became his biggest cheerleader, just like me, and realised that caring? Caring about someone? Yeah, that’s what it’s all about 🥹

I love reading stories like this; about kids finally getting what they deserve: a place to call home, feeling safe, feeling wanted and held and supported. Loved.
And I love reading about adults navigating that, while being supported, held and rooted for themselves.
All the support and care here, shown from so many different people and in so many different ways, just felt like a balm to the soul 🥹

If I had to nitpick something, it would be the more dramatic ending I didn’t see coming in a book like this and I would have loved a few more scenes of Milán and Jordan sharing their love with the world. That’s not enough to lower my rating though, because I enjoyed myself so, SO much overall.

So yeah, if you liked the complicated family dynamics of Tal Bauer‘s You and Me or the heartwarming siblings relationship in Made for You by Anyta Sunday, you won’t regret picking up this book. I’ll even dare say you’ll fall head over heels in love with these four. Just as I did.


Thank you so much to the author for giving me the chance to read this beautiful arc, this is my honest opinion!

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

imo Briar Prescott delivers when it comes to writing such good banters and chemistry between the mcs and this was no different. 😌 i really enjoyed the romance and seeing Milàn and Jordan grow close and fall in love as they spend time together, but i think my favorite part of this book was the development between Milàn and Rory and watching their bond grow as we see Milàn make an effort with Rory. i love reading about complicated family dynamics, and complicated characters in general, and it was just heartwarming to see them develop that bond (it reminded me of Tal Bauer’s You & Me a bit, which i loved!!). i also loved seeing Wren and Sutton again, they’re probably my favorite couple in the Until series. 😭🥹

[lakshmi]

don’t want to jinx it but It’s been a streak of good reads for me this past week and I have HIGH hopes for this one because why does it sound ADORABLE???💗💗

[Emelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are reasons Briar Prescott is an auto-buy for me—this is yet another reason. I wanted to highlight so much more than I did!

One thing that drew me in from the very first book I read by Briar was the absolute genius, hilarious, and smart banter that always is. I love it! I'd choose clever banter over plot 9 times out of 10. Safe to say, Briar did it again. I could read pages upon pages with just dialogues from all of the characters that come from Briar's brain.

I loved these characters. I loved how absolutely accurate the teenager portrayal was! I felt it!! The lingo, the eye-rolls... Perfection!

If I had to mention something I didn't absolutely love, it's just a small side plot that happens in the end, which didn't really make that much sense to me, and at least for me, that could've been skipped, but it was small enough I can see past it.


Review of advance copy received by author.

[SaintDelicate _Edits]

so excited for a new Briar Prescott book!

[Jana Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the potential to be my favorite read of the year. The overall narrative is built on all types of relationships, be it romantic, friendly, or familial, and it is a great example of why friends to lovers is arguably the best romance trope to ever exist.

We first meet our MC Milàn when he is returning to the states after his father died. I was unsure of how much I would like Milàn when we first met him; he didn’t come off as the nicest guy. To be fair, though, he was going through weird stages of grief and just found out that he’s going to have a thirteen year old in his custody.

So Milàn and his other brother, Aiden, set roots in Brooklyn, New York to raise their newfound brother, Rory. It’s not the smoothest transition, and after an altercation at Rory’s school, Milàn is introduced to what seems to be the world’s best dad, and our other MC, Jordan.

Jordan has to be one of the most unbothered characters I’ve ever read. His ability to ‘go with the flow’ is unrivaled. I fell in love with him instantly.

This book is quite slow burn, and while I usually like more spice in my romance books, the pace worked perfectly in this case. The foundation of friendship formed between Jordan and Milàn is unshakable, which made their eventual attraction to each other immensely swoon-worthy.

I beg of you to read this book. It’s simple and not very angsty, and it’s beautiful all the same.

A few things to expect from The Incredible Ordinary:
- friends to lovers!!!!
- single dad x sibling guardian
- slow burn
- bi-awakening
- so wholesome you’ll want to cry

[Wicked River Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! The more I read the more I realize how much I enjoy relationship development between main characters. Strangers to friends to lovers is something I’m really excited about lately and this book did it in such a great way.

Jordan and Milan were fun from the start. Jordan gave off well rounded and put together vibes and Milan was just trying to survive in his new circumstances so it was nice seeing they still made a connection and that maybe looks can be deceiving. Turns out they were both winging it and sometimes succeeding.

I really liked seeing their relationship pivot from strangers to best friends to more and them figuring it out along with how to be present parents was interesting. Sometimes as a parent you get it right and sometimes you have to take a step back and correct yourself and the growth was wonderful. The way these two supported each other and their kids (brother but still his kid) was nice. I enjoyed what we got to see of the side characters and Rory and Theo’s budding friendship was sweet. This was such a great read.

💜ARC REVIEW🖤

[Brandy Donato · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute book. I love Milan and Jordan friendship how easy they just clicked. Watching these 2 fall in love was absolutely precious. They are the sweetest. Rory and Theo was the perfect addition to the story. The love they all have melted my heart. We can’t forget about Aiden I feel like that’s a whole new story we will get in the future, hopefully ❤️

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

the ending took an insane turn but i still really liked it

[Theodore · Rating 1 out of 5]

Possibly spoilery but this book reminded me of Silent is the Heart by Dianna Roman and Fauxmance in the Faills by J.E. Birk with how wildly the third act went and I did not enjoy those books either.

It's wild that I'm rating a Briar Prescott book 1.5 stars rounded down, but I guess I am because the first 85% was mediocre and I hated how the last 15% of this book went.

I have lots of thoughts that I'm mainly documenting here for future Theo, so I don't have to wonder why I rated one of my favorite author's books so poorly and force myself to re-read in the future.

Here are the notes I wrote as I was reading.

Super weird to not show us Milàn and Rory starting to live together. There was so much emphasis on Milàn not wanting to take care of him, you'd think it would've been important to actually see the start if that. Instead we get a lazy summary just telling us that he and Rory have butted heads for three whole months already. Why not show us those months? Why just tell us that "everything with Rory was a battle" when we could've seen Rory being combative and how Milàn dealt with that?

Not sure I was a fan of Milàn and Jordan telling each other about their deeply personal problems on their second meeting. I guess it was sort of justified, but idk, talking about how your GF left you because she wanted to go to college and you thought you were gong to stay together seems like it would be a topic reserved for closer friends.

Milàn and Rory suddenly acting all buddy buddy after one soccer practice was kinda wild imo. Their relationship in general felt very underbaked since we didn't see how they started AND Milàn just randomly decided to be Rory's cheerleader (of which even he explicitly states he didn't know why). I feel like this would've been a deeper, more effective dynamic of both Milàn and Rory actually committed to not liking each other but slowly warming up to each other through forced proximity of the soccer games. That's kinda what was set up here, but their dynamic shifts way too quickly to have it be believable. Rory should've been actively belligerent in his first session, then a bit more cooperative in subsequent ones until something happens that forced him to interact with both Milàn and Theo that finally breaks the ice, not just a single session where Milàn breaks through to Rory because he acted like Rory was good at something. Don't get me wrong, that scene where Milàn praises Rory on his speed was good, but it was just too early for me to believe that:
- Rory would've taken it as a compliment as opposed to an attack
- Milàn would've gained feelings of pride towards Rory because there was no reason for him to suddenly believe in the inherent value of family given his own personal experiences. I mean he literally was willing to leave Rory to the foster care system just three months ago, and he'd supposedly been non-cooperative in their time together so why exactly was he now suddenly trying to gain clout with this rude, troublemaking teen?


The super short scenes during the chapters where Rory gets arrested were very distracting. Idk why they needed to be chopped up so much or why they even needed explicit separators when it was only cutting out driving/waiting. The author could've just said that time passed without the need for the horizontal line dividers. Also, I did not understand why Jordan stuck with Milàn throughout that entire scene. Them going to the station was fine, but Jordan going into Milàn's apartment as Milàn was going to discipline Rory was uber weird (Milàn asking him to stay after he already gone in was sort of understandable, but Jordan really shouldn't have been there in the first place)

Ok, despite me not really jiving with the fact that the story sort of bungles Milàn and Rory's dynamic, that fake kiss scene between Milàn and Jordan came just in time for me to not DNF this. I also really liked how Jordan came out and said he was feeling confused after the fake kiss but Milàn told him he was just pent up from not having had sex in a while, echoing Jordan's idea that he might have just been turned on by the physical contact.

I liked the tension when Jordan came home from the good date. It was honestly sort of shocking for him to have seen Milàn just smelling his clothes like that, though I feel like it wasn't too outrageous. I didn't like how the scene abruptly cuts when they say they needed to talk though. Very very weird choice to end the chapter just as they were going to discuss what exactly was going on between them. At the very least, it could've just ended with them agreeing to sleep on things rather than the sudden end. That's about all the good I can say about their relationship as the book goes on though.

I feel like there was something wrong with the set up for Milàn and Jordan's relationship. The way they talk about Milàn being ok with helping Jordan explore his sexuality as friends sort of felt like it ignored the fact that they'd both already indicated emotional attraction to each other? That sort of "I'll help you ease into your exploration of gay sex" only really feels like it works when at least one of the characters aren't aware of their feelings for each other. Milàn and Jordan did already know, so them acting like it was just going to be a casual teaching experience felt very off since it was a very big downgrade from "I have a crush on you". Their fears were:
- Milàn was scared that he wouldn't be able to do the relationship thing with Jordan because he'd never been comfortable in one, and he was scared that trying to be Jordan's boyfriend was going to crash and burn and ruin their friendship.
- Jordan was worried that he wasn't going to actually like gay sex considering he'd never been attracted to a man before AND he'd already done the "dating my best friend" thing which ended poorly.

Them suddenly agreeing to "exploring" felt like it addressed none of those issues (both of which they vocalized during their date), so the whole conversation felt very very odd as they came to a conclusion that didn't actually line up with their concerns.

Then later, Jordan says it's not just sex and it's become this "we're not labeling what we are" thing, which makes sense but really just emphasized how weird the whole "just explore with me" talk earlier was and the story should've just started with that instead.

Wasn't a fan of the whole "don't curse in front of the kids" thing either, especially when Jordan pulled it after just seeing Rory get grabbed by and fight off his uncle.

Uh, wow. That weird-ass third act kind of got me. I didn't think I was going to rate this book a less than a 2, but man was that bad. Jordan continually ignoring Milàn's words saying that he wasn't going to leave was so badly executed, it was insane. Maybe it would have made sense if Jordan's fear of being left alone by people he cared about was developed more with more concrete examples showing how deeply scared he was of that (Kira was an ok start, but she literally disappeared after one scene), but that fear isn't really emphasized at all throughout the story (there were no scenes showing Jordan as anxious when people he cared about left, just one anecdote about Kira all those years ago), so him suddenly crashing out over something Aidan drunkenly told him was INSANE. I mean there wasn't even plausible deniability that he could latch onto and assume that Milàn was lying to him and planning on leaving (no hidden plane tickets, looking at websites for houses back in the UK, etc.) so I honestly don't understand why the author chose to have him react that way. Now, when Rory heard that, it was understandable considering he was shown (albeit kinda poorly) to have a fear of abandonment BUT even that was annoying because it came from an irrational Jordan telling him. The story just telling us about how badly he hurt when Kira left after the crash out was soooooo poorly timed because we should've seen that before he started acting irrational to justify his emotions. It just felt like a very poor melodramatic excuse to add conflict in an otherwise fluffy relationship.

I'm not even going to dignify Rory's uncle suddenly holding him at gunpoint with a response.

Actually, I am.

What the actual fuck? Why was that the climax this author chose to go with? There was like one scene prior where the uncle showed up (like at 75%), but up until then he was literally not a physical issue. Rory's whole spiel was supposed to be a fear of abandonment, so him being scared that he was going to be sent back to his uncle made sense when you put it in context that "They're sending me back because they don't want me" and not "my uncle is actually crazy, please don't send me back because I fear for my life." You're telling me the author chose to have their big, climatic moment to be a freaking out of nowhere hostage situation with a character that hadn't been a main player for a MAJORITY of the book??? Why. There were so many better ways of forcing a confrontation between Milàn, Jordan, and Rory that would've been more grounded AND emotional. At the very least, I think swapping Rory in for Jordan in hearing Aiden's drunken confession about Milàn's original plans of leaving would've made so much more sense given Rory had already been characterized as being insecure and him looking for any hint that he was going to be abandoned (however irrational) would've been more believable than Mr. OTT "I haven't been characterized to be scared of abandonment" Jordan. Speaking of which, Jordan needed to show way more trauma and anxiety around abandonment to justify the mental breakdown he had in the book, which means that I think there needed to be more explicit insecurity between him and Milàn in their relationship (which there really wasn't because it was just mainly smooth sailing).

The whole hostage/kidnapping climax needed to be left on the cutting room floor and changed in favor of something more sentimental that optimally didn't involve a random side character holding people at gun point for money. Maybe Milàn actually does leave then realizes he had everything he wanted with Jordan and Rory then has to grovel when he realizes his mistake? Sure, the whole book would need to be restructured to lead up to that, but the story needed more conflict in the middle anyway, so having Milàn's underdeveloped desire for freedom could've been used as a point of contention.


The book fails as a story about family because Rory's affections aren't hard fought, his defensiveness and antagonism basically go away after one slightly meaningful scene between him and Milàn AND Milàn never has to go through explicit character growth to move past his own personal trauma around the concept of family to begin accepting Rory as someone to care for.

The book doesn't do a good job as a character-focused story because the MCs' individual journeys felt like they were just afterthoughts.
- Milàn's initial reluctance over being a father figure and hangups over what family meant to him basically go away as the book progresses without Milàn needing to fight himself over any of it because he just passively starts to care about Rory.
- Jordan's fears over Kira trying to take Theo stop when she literally disappears after the first fake kiss so there's literally nothing else going on on his side other than his supposed fear of abandonment (which doesn't get developed enough) and his sexual awakening (which wasn't a super big plot point because it was just the bog standard "Am I bi?" thing that didn't affect their relationship once they started)

So the story isn't about Milàn learning the value of family or Jordan having to fight for his kid/dealing with abandonment/learning his sexuality, meaning all that's left is the romance. That's at least executed fine, bu it had some rough parts as well imo, particularly with the tropes it was trying to use and how the MCs resolved them to get together. Milàn's fear of ruining his friendship because of his hangups over long term relationships and Jordan's fear of not being actually compatible with men and also not wanting to ruin his friendship was not adequately solved by Milàn suggesting Jordan "explore" his attraction with him. It was more believably addressed when they went down the "no labels" route since that at least justifies the cognitive dissonance because "what's to break up if we're not together" but it was messy since that wasn't what they started with. It was also generally just pretty fluffy since both Milàn and Jordan were relatively level headed and neither of them did anything that put their relationship in jeopardy (minus Jordan losing his mind at the third act breakup).

See my feelings about the third act in general above.


TL;DR: The book felt super unfocused. The blurb makes it sound like the focus was going to be Milàn's hard fought journey of raising a prickly Rory and using that as a vehicle to carry his romance with Jordan as they spend time together, but it isn't. The chip on Rory's shoulder goes away super quickly and Milàn is apparently just a natural at parenting despite his own lack of role models growing up, so there was no real vehicle on which this romance was being moved forward other than "Milàn and Jordan really like each other". The romance itself is super fluffy because Jordan's anxiety over his sexuality never has an impact on the actual relationship and Milàn doesn't express anxiety after he realizes that Jordan was actually into him. The tension in the romance does show up through one of the worst third act breakups I've read, which is then followed by a mind-boggling climax that had no business being here. 1.5 stars rounded down.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it's not about grand gestures and big moments. Maybe true happiness is a series of ordinary days made incredible by somebody else living that same ordinary life with you.

A commitment-phobic, nomadic fuckboy suddenly finds a reason to stay, and another reason to love. When Milán's father dies, he's shocked to discover that he has a 13 year old half brother he didn't know existed. He agrees to stick around for a year to give his brother a bit of stability, but after that he plans to go back to his playboy lifestyle. His heart isn't in being a parent, and he's putting in minimal effort until an altercation at school leads to him meeting fellow single dad Jordan. Jordan is everything Milán isn't- steady and settled, with roots as deep as they could possibly go. This is a forced proximity, found family, biawakening romance that I'm warning you right now will give you a massive book hangover.

I want him, but that’s all it’s going to remain—an attraction. I will not risk losing this friendship. It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me, and I want to keep it.

The Incredible Ordinary is a Hallmark movie brought to life, where the world weary city boy finds purpose and belonging, along with true love and the real meaning of family. I always adore Briar's writing, and this book was just lovely. It's such a warm, sunny book and it put me in the best mood reading it. There's 2 cute kids who don't take over the plot, a dog called Dog, some amusing intrigue that only a 13 year old boy could cook up, and a beautiful, almost slow burn love story. Jordan and Milán are perfect together- I loved reading their meet cute all the way through to them succumbing to their undeniable attraction, and falling in love.

Kissing him has flipped something inside me. It’s like randomly glancing out a window you’ve looked out of thousands of times and discovering the view has changed since the last time, and you’re trying to figure out how that even happened while also being intensely curious about those new surroundings of yours.

At first I thought that Milán had an easy character arc where his relationship with his family slotted into place a little too easily, but I came to realize that most of the time, giving a crap is half the battle. Once he allowed himself to settle in and care about Rory and Aiden, he realized that it's not so hard after all. Although the story focused on Milán's growth, Jordan also had a lot to deal with, such as his newfound attraction to Milán- a man- and his lingering abandonment issues. I loved how both characters had the same abandonment issues- Milán's thanks to his father, and Jordan's courtesy of his ex- and had such different responses to them. Jordan stayed and became an amazing dad, while Milán spent his life on various amusements. I liked how each lifestyle was presented by Briar as valid, but with varying pros and cons. Milán had an incredible life with tons of adventures, but he came to realize that the day-to-day wonders of a loving family eclipsed all of that. And Jordan discovered that adding some whimsy into his life brings unexpected benefits.

I want to be a team. A family. I want to choose him and for him to choose me. I want shared routines, traditions, quiet moments, and loud happiness. I want trust that shows up when things get hard. I want a future that feels steadier because we’re in it together. I want love that’s active. Showing up. Staying. Trying.

Look, just read this book. It's really good!

Rating: 5 stars
Angst: 2/5
Steam: 3/5

I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[AnnaKitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books I’d like to describe as a soft and warm blanket. It gently wraps around you, easing you into the story and into the characters’ lives, and somehow never lets go until the very last page 😌 
I’d also like to share the song that resonated with it for me:
Turning Page by Sleeping at Last

Briar has the way of writing that feels incredibly honest and deeply human. Each book of hers I’ve read was a solid 5+, absolute favourite of mine (with The Island still living rent-free in my heart), and this one is no exception, which makes me so happy 🥹



Milán and Jordan feel real in an honestly disarming way. They carry their insecurities and flaws quietly and their relationship development is written with so much care - there are no rushed feelings, no instant intensity, there are only the deep feelings that grow and evolve very naturally, with time and attention.
And while it is a slower burn, believe me - being quite wary of those - here it is never frustrating. Each of their interactions feels right and meaningful.
Never once have I felt that the story drags. Never once did I have that ‘nothing is happening’ feeling. 
It was all just right.

So when they finally get together in THAT way.. You’ll not be disappointed for sure 🤭 


“It’s just the two of us. Two ordinary people in their ordinary lives that somehow feel extraordinary now.”

Another one of my favourite things here was the attention to quite ordinary (😅) moments: thoughts in the night, joking via text, late night calls, small smiles and touches.. These simple interactions are written with such emotional precision that it makes your chest ache, reminding of something dangerously close to first love 🥺
Briar writes this quiet, confused, insecure longing in the best possible way, pulling at all the right heart strings 🥹

“I smile. He smiles.
It’s late.
But we keep talking.”

Parental struggles resonate very deeply in me and it was a very strongly executed part of the book. Here I was almost screaming and scaring my cat 😅 because being a 34yo mother of a 10yo these words have literally felt being pulled out of my mouth:


“I’ve been a parent for thirteen-plus years. None of us know what we’re doing. Mainly you just wing it, cross your fingers, and hope for the best.”



“To this day, when there’s a problem, there’s always this moment when I expect a grown-up to step in before I remember that’s me.”
- this one should definitely be put in those adulthood books all of us know nothing about apparently 🫠

As I am not some talented author, you'd just have to believe me when I say that it is a very beautiful story. With all the necessary things you would expect from a solid 5 star: strong setting, meaningful background, loveable side characters (MMCs are both just perfect 🥰). 

And it probably couldn’t have a better name - it actually reminds that a really powerful and extraordinary kind of love can exist in the quiet, in the everyday, in simply finding your person and allowing yourself to be happy with them 💜



Last chapter was a beautiful move.
The tears were flowing without me registering them with me being deeply happy 💜

“It’s like gravity.
They just… drift together.
Not consciously. Not because they’re making some kind of statement.
It’s just because that’s where they naturally end up.
It’s the quiet kind of love that’s just there. Always.”

[patrícia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review: The Incredible Ordinary by Briar Prescott
MC:Milán & Jordan 5⭐

“It’s just the two of us. Two ordinary people in their ordinary lives that somehow feel extraordinary now.”

Tropes & tags
Amazing Friends to perfect Lovers (in adults just hits harder)
Opposites attract dynamic (chaotic vs stable)
Single dad to swoon for
Slices of Life, like groceries, practices and shit
Bi-Awakening, lust, crush, wait what?
Slow burn, like edging you with a hot blanket
Found Family and sibling bonds
Witty banter that should get an award

There’s so much to unpack here and I loved every second of it. The relationships?? Layered, messy, real, and so full of heart. Milán & Rory, Milán & Aiden, Milán & Jordan, Jordan & Theo, Theo & Rory… even little glimpses like Jordan & Kira — everything is so beautifully woven into these quiet, “ordinary” day-to-day moments that somehow feel anything but ordinary.

This book lives in the small things. The routines. The chaos. The showing up. And I ate it up.
Milán, former tennis star, a bit bitter, a bit lost, just… drifting. Then life hits him hard and suddenly he’s the guardian of his 13-year-old brother. He’s overwhelmed, messy, trying and failing and trying again — and it all feels so real. Watching him grow into someone steady, someone safe? Yeah… that got me. And Jordan… Calm, capable, kind — the definition of safe. An experienced single dad who just gets it. He grounds Milán in a way that feels so natural, like he was always meant to be there. He was so much more than his “next project” right? But he’s not perfect either — he has his own insecurities, his own abandonment issues — and that balance made me love him even more.

Rory, oh, this kid 🥺 Hurt, angry, fragile in that quiet way that sneaks up on you. He’s the emotional core of the whole story and honestly, everything revolves around him finding safety, stability, and love. And when he does?? It hits. And I loved just how sweet Theo, who is sooooo his father's son, just helps Rory feel this safety.

This story is really about building something solid out of chaos. Found family, sibling bonds, showing up for each other even when you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s about care, support systems, healing — all wrapped in something that feels soft and comforting, like a balm to the soul.
And the romance?? That sweet pining just does it for me, and after that emotional and physical slow burn… OMG love me some gay for you hotness, that discovery is just up my alley!

Some things…
The Rory drama in the end got a bit more dramatic than I expected and felt slightly out of place with the rest of the tone.

And selfishly… I just wanted more of Milán and Jordan openly together.

That said — the epilogue?? Loved. And I’m sorry but… are we getting a Theo book?? Because I need that.
Also, seeing Wren and Sutton again from Maybe You? Pure serotonin 🥰

I received a copy of this book from Briar , and this is my honest review.

⚠️Content Warnings
No official list provided by the author — based on my own reading:
Neglecting parents
Death of a parent mentioned
Father at 15 years old
Blackmail
Guns/Violence

❣️Book Safety & Content
Cheating: No
Other Person Drama: ish, Jordan goes on a date, that's it.
Sharing: No
Third-Act Breakup:No
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 1st person (dual)
Format: Standalone
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Low ish
Spice Level: Medium
Communication: Some miscommunication
Pining: Mutual

[Lady Macbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
I have no words to say how much I enjoyed this book.
The foundation of this story, like the title suggests, is the ordinariness of life: everyday routines and mundane tasks, that should be part of our normality but that can became overwhelming when fate suddenly drops a baby brother in your life and you have to put your own on hold to take care of him.

Milàn returns to the States for the first time in years after his father's death: they never had a close relationship and he wants to deal with his inheritance quickly and then go back to the UK.
But Aiden, his younger brother, ropes him into staying and helping to look after Rory, their 13 years old unexpected brother.

And so, Milàn's life changes from trips around the world, parties, casual connections to parent/teacher conferences, attempted grocery shopping and ruined dinners. After spending years having just himself to think of, Milàn is now responsible for the well-being of another human being and he's struggling. Until Jordan and his son Theo come into his life.

Jordan is a perfect father, put together and with an organised and well structured life, the exact opposite of Milàn's chaotic one. Jordan had his son when he was very very young, but since he had him in his arms, he devoted his life to him. Theo is such an amazing boy and love has been the constant in his life (unlike Rory's).

Little by little their lives blend together: it starts with a soccer practice and then it quickly becomes Saturday dinners and movies, art supplies shopping, rides to school and so much more.
Milàn finds a true friend: their banter and their connections are amazing, they have fun together, help each other with the kids, and sometimes they just need one another's closeness.
I really liked that they had completely different life experiences: Milàn never cared about anyone but himself, never had to struggle about money or had to make hard decisions, while Jordan has been responsible for his son since he was just a scared 15 years old teenager and he has spent all his life disregarding his own needs, always putting Theo's first. Their fathers were also very dissimilar: one totally supportive even with his son made him a grandpa way too soon and the other too immersed in his own career (and in his parallel family) to pay attention to his son.
But just because of their differences, they can support each other in times of doubts and uncertainties.

I also appreciated how honest they were, especially when Jordan started having more than friendly feelings towards Milàn: after a little hesitation, they navigated this new aspect of their relationship, always keeping the communication open to not jeopardise their friendship. The physical scenes were beautifully emotional.

Lastly, it's impossible not to mention Rory: I can't say how many times I wanted to hug him and tell him that Milàn loved him so much even if he was a quite messy big brother. My heart literally broke when I understood why he didn't want to keep Dog and chose to give him to Theo instead.

I need to thank the author for giving Jordan his HEA. I wanted it for him since he first appeared in one of this author's previous books (not spoiling which book is) and she gave him a very beautiful unforgettable love story.

This is absolutely one of the best reads of the year, I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.

[Katkejt ☾. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Milán • Jordan…♾️.

….

“It’s the quiet kind of love that’s just there. Always.”

.

“See? I know you. I know you a lot. I want to know you best.” <3.

….

This book caught me in a moment, a weak moment, I mean the times I was in tears while reading this book. It’s all on me. It wasn’t the writing. All on me. Believe me. Briar……♾️. I always have a million words floating around for books but every single time I finish a Briar one - I want to hide all my feelings and words from the world. Because that’s how special these books are. For me. I don’t want anyone to tarnish them. They’re sacred thoughts and feelings.

I feel the author is like my kindred spirit twin. I want to be best friends with all of the characters written. I want these fictional characters to have my back and have meaningful conversations with. They remind me of people I surround myself with, the ones I would die on a hill for.

I love reading stories like The Incredible Ordinary - stories and tales that remind me of the simple things, the little things that in the grand scheme of this thing we call life are the most important things. The things that matter. The things that stay with us. The things that shape us. The moments to remember and never take for granted. The ordinary things.

Milán’s, Jordan’s, Theo’s and Rory’s story follows all the genius brand of banter, a heartwarming support system, adult navigation, the hard shit in life, finding your home and save haven, a greater purpose and what matters - most. This tale was like a balm for my soul. It soothed me. It’s so multi dimensional that I never wanted an out. I could read a thousand + pages about them all. So thank you once again Briar for healing something in me reminding me that not all is lost… <3.

….

Alex Warren - Ordinary

.

Matt Hansen - FOUND

….

“The moment is brief, but it stands out like a ray of light in the darkness just because it’s been a long fucking time since I last felt good about anything, let alone myself.” // “Instead, I want to stay here and talk to this stranger because he seems kind. He feels like a break from reality. A moment of reprieve. I want to extend it, even if it’s just for a few more minutes.” // “…I’ve been trying ever since.” // “Jordan sends me a subtle smile. I get that feeling again. The warmth. The relief of an inhale after you’ve been underwater.” // “For suuuuure.” // “And Rory laughs. He laughs like a kid. It bursts out suddenly. Bubbles up, bright and unfiltered.” // “I like you.” - “I like you too.” // “It’s like the two of them glow with warmth and Rory and I can’t help but inch closer and closer to the brightness of them.” // “We talk about the most ordinary things, but everything I hear feels like something worth keeping.” // “I say it like a promise. And I mean it like a promise.” // “I’ve never—not with somebody who matters like you do.” // “Minds click. Thoughts settle. Feelings match.” // “…and maybe that’s the key…” // “There’s a foundation here. The solid building blocks of a friendship so sturdy that it can carry everything else we are to each other with ease.” // “But I’ve learned the important things are the quiet ones. The stuff nobody points out. The everyday things.” …

….

*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. 

….

[lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 stars !!!

i received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

i've been wanting to capture the feeling i had while reading briar's until trilogy for a while now and this book has fully reminded me why i love her books so much.

this story centers around milàn, who is somewhat forced to become the guardian of his newfound 13 year old half-brother after his father's passing. his reluctance to leave his carefree lifestyle changes when he meets the single father of another boy from his brother's school, jordan. what starts out as friendship slowly changes to more and both milàn and jordan must come to terms with leaving the ordinary or not-so ordinary lives they've been living for a different type of incredible life together.

reading about these two falling in love was nothing short of an absolute joy. i think briar has really nailed the pacing and plot development when it comes to the romance in her books. there was such a beautiful friendship as a foundation. they loved being there for one another, helping each other with issues, and navigating the parenting of pre-teen boys. the slow realization of attraction and deeper feelings happened so naturally and it was beautifully done. the characters felt lived-in and real. their chemistry was palpable in every witty conversation and heartfelt compliment. i was kicking my feet and squealing over so many interactions. i felt all of their emotions as well. their inner thoughts always made me feel for them both.

a point that i loved was the concept of "the incredible ordinary". both milàn and jordan are living two different types of lives. milàn tries to stay away from the ordinary life, always on the go and travelling to fill the void, while jordan is pretty content with his seemingly ordinary life, job and family. when they meet one another, they both start to realize in different ways that happiness can be found in the mundane, while also becoming more incredible when you have a special person by your side. i loved the emphasis on the ordinary things that make up one's life and finding beauty in a life well-lived. i really enjoyed reflecting on it myself.

now it was a given that the third act of this book would have that classic melodramatic conflict/plot twist that i've become accustomed to with briar's books. in general, i am not usually a fan of stuff like that. i don't need any suspense or dramatics as i personally feel that they do not fit and are relatively unnecessary. briar usually does it in a way where i tend not to mind it as much. it was pretty much the same thing here. i don't care for it, but it doesn't ruin the book for me. i think if anything it doesn't allow for the other parts of the story to wrap up as nicely and rushes it a bit. that would be my only personal negative of the book.

i just absolutely ADORED this and i'm kinda hoping we get more from this universe. i can't let go of these characters just yet. i inhaled this book in a day and i miss them already !!!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you miss Prescott for yet another book-hangover. How am I to cope now?
✨I’ve received an ARC of this book, thank you Prescott & Team✨

I’ve been dealing with some eye-dryness the past couple of days… Glad to inform you all, that this is behind me now, because man, I’ve been tearing up through the entire book; It’s simply so fuckin’ touching (and I am not easy on that front!)

The story is perfectly ordinary; a rich man who wasn’t very good at being neither a husband nor a father dies, and leaves a 13yo teenager for his fate and his 2 half-brothers - Aidan and Mílan. Mílan is… A mess with a big heart (talking about unreliable narrators, hello, he’s the problem, it’s him), a man with a lot of money and time on his hands, but little substance, agrees to the arrangement because Aidan “guilt-trips him” into it (yeah, no, he simply loves his big-bro enough to do him this favor.) and thus begins his life with a very absent big-brother (we don’t blame him, he was busy with neurosurgery apparently. Though really, 20h shifts? We do 26h here ): a bit jelly, a lot sleep deprived) and a teenager, who has a lot on his plate as it is. Rory, the little brother, is a kitten. He hisses, he takes time, but eventually he opens up. Not before he punches MC2’s, Jordan’s son, a thing that of course marks the beginning of the boys becoming besties (gotta love teens). Jordan is doing his best. Becoming a father at the merry age of 14 (it hit me at some point that the kids in the story are about the same age Jordan became a father, and man…) his life for a long time was all about raising a kid. And he’s done a better job than many, but he’s lacking something, something that Mílan could give him.

It is a story of a found family, of complicated dynamics and dysfunctional relationships. A story about a learning curve and a not-so-linear progress. Mílan at some point describes it as “one step forward, two steps back” and it’s about accurate. But there is so much love in the story. Brotherly, parental, platonic and eventually romantic.

The main focus of this book is not big plot-lines or crazy events (even though we find them there too, but this is a spoiler-free review!), it’s relationships, messy characters and a lot of beautiful moments in the ordinary life.

Prescott has been an instant read for me for many new releases already. Something in the way she writes emotions hits just right. She doesn’t shy away from complicated relationships (I think “The Island” is an amazing example of it), and in the end her stories are utterly captivating, compelling like none others and above all so very painfully human.

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Briar Prescott for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Every time I read a Briar Prescott romance I feel like, when it's all over, I emerge from this special space blinking like I'd done time in a cave for years. It's honestly the best feeling coming to after being immersed in love.

All kinds of love.

The achy stuff. The challenging family stuff. This wasn't dark or disastrous or anything, but there w e r e some jagged parent/guardian-kid moments in between all the soft, heart-eyes, falling for bestie while learning how to be a solid adult for a scared and hurting sibling in need.

This was a swoony romance alongside the vulnerable dimensions of childhood trauma. Prescott explored some of the emotional and physical safety and stability challenges kids face after surviving toxic home environments. I loved how Milan started off raggedy and biting, but eventually grew into his role as guardian to his displaced little brother, after their dad died. And with Jordan's lovely and soothing influence, Milan settled down and relaxed into the joy of his baby bro's peace of mind. Ex-pro tennis star, but read more rock 'n roll. It must have been his primo "no fks to give" energy that I found intriguing.

Milan and Jordan's evolution from friends, to crushing on one another, to the sweet 'n spicy stuff was scrumptious and captivating all the way through. Jordan was a sincere babe and I loved practically everything about him.

Then ofc the 3rd act meltdown was as melodramatic as they come, but it really served to show how much character growth had happened after a year together. I appreciated the realism in the emotional work still to be done, even though their HEA was a real one!

The Incredible Ordinary was a multi-faceted beauty and I enjoyed this book immensely. This was wonderful and sweet, and though I really loved And Then You I dunno but I think THIS might be my new favourite now. I guess a reread might be in order ;p

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah no ordinary lives in this book! Rich tapestry of living the supposedly mundane. Reminds me that even the everyday because it’s fleeting and so intertwined and dependant on others can be so extraordinary and dramatic. Bringing up a family, being driven to prove others wrong, striving for your career goals, being deeply lonely even when surrounded by people, looking for a different love a love that stays, breaking a cycle of trauma because life dumped you on someone else’s doorstep, friends that became family, that friend that became a forever love. Alll the moments in between of joy sorrow irritation peace - it’s all so extraordinary

This book reminds me of that.

It’s such an incredible story, at first a beautiful story of burgeoning family, friendship - takes it’s time doesn’t it to establish and then blossoming love. Both if these come with their misunderstandings because people as perfectly flawed but the people in this story are quick to focus on their priorities , settle things, get back in track, fight for their HEA - all of them

Ah Milán and Jordan are swooooooony! The author is spectacular at conveying that feeling of being in sync when you find your person.

Milán is perfectly sarcastic and has a tough she’ll he has built up but Rory and Jordan crack it quite easily

Jordan is a rock - a hot big hearted loving sweet rock that got a little cracked and he can lean on Milán as he heals 🩷

They have a few - shall we say freakouts- but they manage quite well in my opinion.

I’m curious about Aiden, will he get a story?

Rory gosh I’m still not over what he’s been through he is just 13 now and that ending nearly stopped my heart

Theo and Remy - so steady, absolute goals, love them

I am not a fan of Kira will never be

It was lovely to see Wren and Sutton again.

This is a beautiful romance and it’s more, it’s a story of a building life

[Showarst · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥹

The Incredible Ordinary by Briar Prescott was so hard to put down. This author has become one of my auto-buys over the past few years because she is fabulous at writing books that contain so much emotion and characterization. Milan starts the book as a person who is traveling the world, going where he wants to go, and never putting down roots. When his half-brother asks for help in raising their newly discovered half-brother, Milan makes a deal to stay in place for one year. It would have been easy to make Milan so unlikable, but I actually liked him from the beginning. Even when he was fighting Aidan over staying and helping to take care of Rory, the 13 year old brother. Watching these three learn to be a family was so sweet. It didn’t happen overnight and Briar had such a deft hand in letting them evolve over the course of the story. It took time and trust.

And then to add Jordan and Theo? Man I loved the little group these four made (Milan, Rory, Jordan and Theo). Jordan was so kind and compassionate. He saw what was happening and never pushed, but just offered to be there as a friend. He knew that both Milan and Rory were hurting. Then when he finally realized that he had feelings for Milan, it was frustrating to have Milan push him away for fear that the feelings were not genuine. I just loved all of them so much. Also, Jordan’s dad is kinda great. Seeing Wren and Sutton again was wonderful. I may need to go back and reread their book.

I just really loved this one. I finished it several days ago, and I just cannot get them out of my mind. Plus, the epilogue? It was absolutely perfect. Five years in the future told from Theo’s pov? I may have cried. That’s the beauty of a Briar Prescott book: I know that I will feel so much from beginning to end that will stick with me forever. I highly recommend everything this author has written, but if you want to start somewhere, start here.

I received an ARC from the author for my honest review.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OKAY let’s get into this!

We’ve got Milán and when I say this man is a feather in the wind I mean it. Never in one place too long, never tied down just doing whatever he wants whenever he wants.

Then suddenly he has to come home because his brother Aiden drops a literal bomb on him… enter his new 13 year old brother Rory 😭

So now he’s being thrown into a parenting role when he never even had a proper dad himself and you already KNOW this is not going to be smooth. Especially since Aiden is tied up with his fellowship and can’t be there as much so Milán is the one left to step up. Rory’s angry, acting out, and causing chaos at school.

Enter Jordan a young dad who is the complete opposite. Calm grounded and doing everything he can for his son Theo 🥺

When the boys land in the principal’s office these two get thrown together. Let’s be honest Milán has not a single clue what he’s doing so we already know how this is going 😭

And Jordan steps up and helps out in ways Milán doesn’t even know how to.

And the more time they spend together yeah that friendship starts feeling like it might be something more 👀 but Jordan’s been hurt in the past so can he really open up again?

BUT Milán doesn’t do long term and Jordan feels like someone worth staying for??

Single dad?
Age gap?
Emotional damage?

YUPPPPP

This is a slow burn and I was suffering a little (a lot) I’m not gonna lie 😅 but when it finally gives you something RELIEF 😮‍💨

The friendship the brotherhood the found family I was living for all of it 🫶🏽

When I tell you this was an emotional rollercoaster, I swear my heart was in my stomach more times than I’d like to admit 😭

You know when you finish a book and you sit there with a content sigh and a smile on your face? That was me 😌

[ireadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story!

After reading Maybe You, I desperately wanted Jordan to get his happily ever after. And Briar Prescott delivered in the most beautiful way possible.

Jordan is one of those quietly extraordinary people who has built a full, warm life out of circumstances that would have broken someone else. His relationship with his teenage son Theo is the emotional anchor of the whole book — tender, funny, and so genuinely real. Theo is the kind of kid who makes you feel hopeful about the future.

And then there's Milán. Sharp-tongued, emotionally avoidant, and absolutely a chef's kiss. He arrives in this story with zero intention of staying anywhere — and watching him slowly, reluctantly fall in love with a life he didn't plan for is just deeply satisfying. His chemistry with Jordan is electric from their very first meeting in a principal's office, born out of two men who are both clearly winging parenthood and grateful to have found someone who gets it.

What I didn't expect to love as much as I did was Rory, Milán's surprise younger brother. On the surface he's all sharp edges and crossed arms, but underneath he's just a kid who never learned he was allowed to want things. His arc wrecked me in the best way.

Aiden, Milán's other brother, is a delight. He is the kind of responsible, slightly pompous older sibling energy that makes every scene funnier just by being present.

And that epilogue from Theo's POV? Perfect. It captures something true about love — that it lives in the small, unremarkable moments more than the grand gestures.

I'm already hoping Theo, Rory, and Aiden each get their own stories. Briar Prescott, please and thank you.

[inbookishdreams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Incredible Ordinary is such a soft, heartfelt friends-to-lovers story about family, connection, and the quiet moments that matter most.

Jordan is a young dad raising his 13-year-old son, while Milan suddenly becomes the guardian of his half-brother. Their shared struggles bring them together, and what starts as friendship slowly grows into something deeper. I really loved the slow burn here—it felt natural and necessary, especially since they started as strangers. Watching them build trust, support each other, and grow into their roles as parents (and brother) was so rewarding.

Their dynamic is calm and comforting. There’s equal focus on Milan learning to be a brother and Jordan being a father, which made the story feel grounded and real. The kids, Rory and Theo, were just as lovely to read about their friendship added so much warmth. The teen portrayal felt genuine, and honestly, I could read pages of just their conversations.

This book felt like a warm hug. Gentle, comforting, and hard to let go of. It’s a reminder that in a fast-paced world, it’s often the small, ordinary moments that hold the most meaning. The quiet, everyday kind of love? That’s what makes life truly incredible.

P.S. And Theo’s POV at the end was such a lovely touch. I really loved that part. ;)

“It’s like gravity.
They just… drift together.
Not consciously. Not because they’re making some kind of statement.
It’s just because that’s where they naturally end up.
It’s the quiet kind of love that’s just there. Always.”

[Pauline - Formidablebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

→ Tropes
Friends to lovers
Slow Burn
Strong family vibes
Sexual Awakening

→ What to expect?
Milan has the life he always wanted traveling the world without any attachment. But when his father dies and he ends up having to take care of his younger brother, he needs to pause this life of his. He has no idea how to take care of a teenager who doesn’t even want his help. But then he meets Jordan, a single dad who seems to have everything under control, and if becoming his friend seems like the easiest thing in the world, daring to ask for more might be a bit more difficult.

→ Why a 5⭐?
You can trust Briar to make you feel a thousand little emotions in just one book. I absolutely adore her writing and the way she gives life to her characters. And of course The Incredible Ordinary is an absolute instant fave!

We already know Jordan from Maybe You. He’s Wren’s brother-in-law, single dad to Theo and lives in his Dad’s house. I was so thrilled to see Wren and Sutton again (I just love them so much), and so so excited to discover Jordan’s story! And I can totally say that Milan is the perfect match for him! These two starts as friends, the kind of friendship that just makes sense and that you can’t fight. Milan has no idea how to take care of his brother Rory, and Jordan is full of advice. Witnessing the slow shift from friends to lovers was just beautiful, they communicate as best as they can, and it blooms into a beautiful love story.
But also the family vibes here were just perfect. It reminded me a bit of You & Me by Tal Bauer, with Milan struggling to bond with Rory. There are a lot of small moments that come together, and in the end, family is all that truly matters. This story truly shows just how incredible the ordinary can be!

[whit ❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s just the two of us. Two ordinary people in their ordinary lives that somehow feel extraordinary now”

➻ my rating: ✩✩✩✩.5

Briar, my love, my heart, how this book scratched an itch.

What I loved about the Until You series, is the slow burn between characters; getting to really see how two people gravitate towards one another, find comfort and understanding in each other, and The Incredible Ordinary is no different in that area.

I believe in the relationship between Jordan, whom I’ve loved since Maybe You and was downright shaking when I found out his book was coming, and Milan, who was nothing like I was expecting. I believe that they make each other laugh (Briar has always been amazing at banter), that they want to rip each other’s clothes off off (because Briar is amazing at building tension and writing sex scenes), and that they ultimately love each other (because again, Briar can write her ass off).

The only gripes I have with this book are that I wish we would have gotten some more family scenes with just Aiden, Rory, and Milan to really sell them becoming a family unit and I wish we would have seen more people reacting to Milan. Maybe I'm unaware of the importance Tennis has within the sports hierarchy but for this man to have all these accolades you'd think more people would be aware of him.

Thanks to the author for an advanced copy of the book!

[Lyndsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know, I’ve said this about many authors, that I would literally read their shopping list! Those auto read authors, those authors who you don’t think they have it in them to write a bad book.. Briar Prescott is one of those authors! I have enjoyed everything she’s written (I’m up to 8 at this point) and this book is no exception!

The Incredible Ordinary is just a lovely book. It’s just nice. The premise, the characters, the story is just ‘aww’.. This book gives us humour, it gives us friendship, it gives us normal in the best possible way. For me, I just felt myself smiling, LOL and swooning in all the right places.

We follow Milan who, upon his father’s death is tasked with raising his little brother. As a seemingly lone wolf in the world, we join him as he learns not only how to be a parent to a typical surly teenager but how to, despite his best efforts to deny it, realise that maybe the quote un quote ‘ordinary’ life he fought so hard to run away from may actually be what he’s been searching for all along.

Milan and Jordan’s journey was so lovely to read, their friends to lovers relationship was an absolute joy to read. The development in both of their characters was written so well and the bi awakening aspect was *chefs kiss*

Once again, Briar delivers another cracking book. And once again, I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

***ARC***

[Angela I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book… sigh. It makes you crave the quiet. The routine. The beauty of an ordinary life.

It’s not about big, dramatic moments… it’s about a year in these characters’ lives, the small things, the in-between, the kind of moments that usually go unnoticed but somehow mean everything.

Jordan and Milàn couldn’t be more different.
Jordan lives a steady, simple life as a single parent, grounded and content.
Milàn, on the other hand, is a former professional tennis player, drifting from country to country with no real direction or sense of home.

But when Milàn suddenly becomes the legal guardian of his 13-year-old brother, he’s forced to stop running and build something real… something stable, something ordinary.

And that’s where the magic of this story lies.
There’s something about this book that settles you. It’s hard to explain, but it brings a sense of calm and quiet reassurance, a reminder that the simplest things in life are often the most meaningful.
It’s a beautiful story about choosing the right people, creating a sense of home, and learning to appreciate the gentle repetition of everyday life.

“Maybe true happiness is a series of ordinary days made incredible by somebody else living that same ordinary life with you. Maybe happiness is the ordinary moments with someone you love at home after the end of a normal workday.”

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 2/5

Main characters: Milán & Jordan
Side characters: Aiden, Rory, Theo, Remy, Wren, Sutton, Kira
Page count: 381

First person, dual POV.

This was such a wonderful story about two men who find a soul deep and life changing connection with each other. Most of this book is pretty low stakes (except for one very intense scene toward the end) and we just get to experience these two beautiful men slowly fall deeply deeply in love. There is also so much top tier banter in this book, it’s fantastic and super entertaining.

The family dynamics in this story are really interesting. With Milán, Aiden, and Rory, they are all half brothers, who only share a father. They all carry so much baggage from their respective childhoods, which, as you can imagine, causes the relationships they have with each other to be really complex and sometimes difficult. The three of them have a beautiful arc of growth throughout the story, which I absolutely loved.

Then we have Jordan and Theo, who are father and son, and everyone they have in their orbit. There are also some complex relationships here, but overall they have such a wonderful group of people in their corner supporting them.

Eventually, through Milán and Jordan’s bond, these two wonderful, messy, complicated groups become each other’s family. It’s not always easy, but with effort, communication, and love, where they end up is beautiful.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

Rating: 4.5/5⭐
Spice: 3/5🌶️

WHAT TO EXPECT:
🩷Found Family
🩷Strangers to Friends to Lovers
🩷Single Dad
🩷Slow Burn
🩷Bi-awakening

Portraying the ordinary life and ordinary love in literature as something extraordinary is quite an undertaking, but Briar Prescott manages to make us see the incredulity in even the smallest moments. The storytelling, as per usual Briar, is poetic, introspective, emotional, filled with humor and wit, and endlessly entertaining.

The steadily growing relationship between Milán and Jordan is based on more than chemistry. Yes, the passion is there (although I think I would’ve liked that to be explored a bit more, but let’s face it, my mind has happily taken up residence in the gutter). But I like how Briar leans more into the feeling of “rightness” when you’re with your person. If soulmates can be considered ordinary, then Milán and Jordan definitely fit the bill.

Throw in lots of found family and this book is not just a swoon-worthy romance, but a story of love in all aspects of life.

I wish there was more of their actual relationship in the epilogue, but that could be the book hangover talking. I’ll just be here reminiscing about Milán and Jordan while waiting for the next Briar book!

**I received an ARC and this is my honest review.**

[Vero · Rating 5 out of 5]

5✨

At this point, Briar Prescott is basically my comfort read. Adding this book on my "uplifting books for Sunday evening before work week stressy and depressy" list😭

This scratched all the itches I have when it comes to romance - I love a good slow burn with lots of yearning, and this delivered perfectly. Friends to lovers, believable confusion from Jordan's POV, and what felt like a really natural, gradual progression of their relationship - I loved watching it unfold.

What I also really liked is that even though both Milán and Jordan had their own abandonment issues and underlying fear that comes with them, they didn't drag things out with unnecessary drama. Yes, they got in their heads and felt unsure, but whenever they actually talked, they were honest with each other, which made everything feel so much more real and didn't lead to any annoying miscommunication.

I also really liked the parallels between Milán and Rory - both of them, in their own way, getting used to the idea of being part of a bigger, permanent family.

And as always with Briar Prescott, this made me laugh out loud so many times. The dynamic between the three brothers was great, and I also really enjoyed seeing Rory and Theo's friendship.

Thanks to the author for the advanced copy of this book!