Plenty of Fish

by Josh Lanyon

Finn loves Blair. Blair loves Finn too, but he’s not in love with him. How can you be in love with someone you’ve known your entire life? Shouldn’t in love feel...different? Newer. Bigger. More…exciting?

Sure, maybe Blair is too romantic—but wasn’t Finn the one who always said there were plenty of fish in the sea?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Short Stories, LGBT, Fiction

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2017

About the author

Author of 100+ titles of Gay Mystery and M/M Romance, Josh Lanyon has built her literary legacy on twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance.

Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.

She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.

Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.


Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Reviews

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sea lovers friends to lovers story.



So, I am all things ocean. Even the creepy shiver of juvenile great whites trawling the SoCal shore, right now. That makes the content of this story a +1 because of all the sea life and water time spent. It's a pretty straight forward and sweet childhood friends to lovers' story with a shot of adrenaline. Two young Cali dudes, love and the ocean = delightful interlude. Perfect quick bedtime story or lunch break read.

Still thinking about that tasty lobster.

[drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don’t know why this novella made me cry so much? it’s really not all that sad or emotional, actually. i think it’s just that bone-deep, visceral type of longing both characters had for each other that affected me so badly nn. Josh Lanyon just nailed that feeling with her writing here, ugh.

needless to say, i loved this.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this breathtaking, lobster-tasting snack from Josh Lanyon. It left me with determination to savor the small, happy moments of my ordinary, everyday life. To quote Finn: "---what made a day like this so special was that there wasn't an endless supply of them." Ain't that the truth. And yes, often the best things in life are right in front of us. Thank you for reminding me of that, Josh Lanyon.

[fleurette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this one as much as I liked some of the other short stories by Josh Lanyon. This is probably one of the early books by the author. Still, I really like it, it is a nice read.

The characters are great, as always. There is some proper plotline and action. Everything you need in a good story.

As I said, not my favourite one, but still really good.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends Finn and Blair love each other like brothers, although secretly they always want more. However, there were two events that shaped their (incorrect) perceptions about the other's feeling.

It also doesn't really help that both men have different opinion about romance. Finn prefers the being in love rather than the falling in love parts, which is why he doesn't come as a romantic type. While Blair loves the falling in love parts, he wants to be romanced, and he's not sure Finn is capable of that.

Don't know how Lanyon did it, but this short just clutched my heart. Lanyon definitely knows how to write a story that plays around with my emotion. I loved this little bit, I loved Finn and Blair together... that action during their scuba diving moment was intense. And the ending was romantic. It was lovely and made me happy :)

Blair, you are loved. And as far as moonlight and roses, I… I think you deserve them. I think you deserve anything you want. I would be happy to give you anything you want, if I ever knew what that was. I used to think I did know. Because that stuff matters to you. And if it makes you happy, if it’s a way of letting you see you’re… appreciated… Because you are. You are.

*SIGH HAPPILY*

[Mirjam · Rating 3 out of 5]

". . . what made a day like this so special was that there wasn't an endless supply of them"



Sweet short story about two childhood friends who had somewhat drifted apart, becoming lovers.
Finn and Blair perceived their relationship and each other both in a similar way where as both of them making assumptions to know what the other was thinking and feeling.

It is a short story and I do not want to give away spoilers, so I just recommend reading it.

[Mare SLiTsReaD Reviews]

A NEW JOSH LANYON BOOK,.,,.,.,.,.,,,......

MY BODY IS READY FOR IT

[Trix · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this with some unrealistic expectations that it would resemble Perfect Day. I was expecting the same emotional impact. Sadly, that wasn't the case. A pleasant read but not one to leave a lasting impression.

This story focused on Finn and Blair. Both harboring feelings for the other but believing it was one sided. Blair was thinking back to junior high when Finn rejected his kiss and all of Finn's relationship that were never deep or meaningful. Finn was thinking of Blair's constant search for the perfect romantic love and to a kiss they had shared a year before, which Blair thought was a joke. They just never seemed to be in the same place emotionally, at the same time.

Blair's sudden decision to go diving offers them the opportunity to spend more quality time together and remember how at ease they were in each other's company. There are some moments of adrenaline when Blair was caught in the bowels of the sunken ship and a tense moment when both seemed doomed to a watery death. Luck was on their side and they made it safely back to the surface. Their brush with death spurs them into confession and we get the happily ever after.

I enjoyed the story overall but I didn't get any depth of emotion with either character to make me love them. Happy for how the story progressed but wouldn't care to read a sequel. I'll read "Perfect Day" again and its sequel and see if that fairs any better.

[John Wiltshire · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made me incredibly sad, not because of its content, but because I just couldn't finish it. Josh Lanyon is (was?) my favourite author, so this inability to even finish one of his was a bit heartbreaking. Have I changed or has he? This was just so... lightweight, so banal. Do frothy worlds like this exist where gay guys are so cutesy and the sun always shines and no one has bigger problems than ... does he love me? Little girls pull petals off daisies and ask this question in worlds where unicorns are real.
Sheesh.
I think it's me.
I'm too jaded for this.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate short stories! But no one does them better in this genre than this author. A sweet best friends to lovers tale with a heart-stopping excursion in the middle.

Two things: I did my first dive off Flat Rock circa 1968. It was an unexpected and wonderful memory the author dredged up for me. Also, I'm a bit claustrophobic so a particular scene nearly did me in!

Highly recommended.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josh's short works are always such a pleasure to read. She puts so much, but never too much, into these stories. Emotion, but emotion that rings true. I enjoy the craft involved, savor it. This is a sweet story with scary moments, one that explores the characters' doubts and fears, and then arrives at what they, separately and together, find to be dependable and true.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Enjoyable and well done. It's not my favourite Josh Lanyon short story, but it's still a good one.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about two best friends with a really bad timing :P

Blair, with his romantic streak a mile-long and his bad luck at first dates, is funny and lovely. And Finn... practical, so down-to-Earth, Finn, is deeply in love with him...

This is the story about what happens in a single day, a day in which both are trying really hard to re-capture their easy, deep friendship and end getting a lot more.

Another lovely, quick read :)

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winner

As usual, Josh Lanyon captures more subtle, delicate emotions in a few simple statements, gestures, and words unspoken than most authors capture in a tome. No mysteries here, just a sweet, gentle story of love coming to fruition after years of longing.

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two boyhood friends - not really sure where they stand with each other, afraid of making a move for fear of rejection - go diving in an old wreck and have a life-changing experience. Not my favorite Josh Lanyon tale, but an enjoyable quick read. 3.5 stars.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Friends to lovers! Just what I needed this morning. And it was a believable sort of friends to lovers too. It could have been longer of course ...

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

M/M. A new short story by Ms. Lanyon but in this particular instance I didn't fall in love with it. It took me awhile to even like the MC's and although the ending was splendid overall the story just left me blah when I was done.

[La*La · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story is almost like a slice in the lives of long time friends Blair and Finn. With some heart stopping drama that brings to light what is really important in life, this booklet tore through me and left me wanting more. In under 100 pages, I was significantly moved.

[April Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet friends to realizing its love

I enjoy josh layons books , have them all I think k. This was wonderful story of old friends discovering their also soul mates. Well written, beautifully detailed , and always heart touching .

[E.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* rounded up because it's Josh Lanyon.
I liked the writing a lot, of course, and the story was nice, but it's all based on lack of communication and that's not my favorite trope to read. Good story though

[Anja · Rating 2 out of 5]

So boring. Nothing but naval gazing for 50%. The relationship "developed" after five sentences at the end.

[Laks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful sweet short romance. Best friends to lovers. Finn's words at the end was beautiful. Kudos...

[DeeNeez · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a non-mystery Lanyon story, I loved it, loved it! The diving scenes were great. Detailed enough to really feel and see along with the Blair and Finn. Nice sweet romance.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It was very well written. Josh Lanyon writes a good book whether it's a full length novel or a short story such as this one.

[Tetkaripli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kathleen Kurdziel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

[Toofan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
As always the writing style and editing were fine but the story itself, if you can call it a story, was shallow and boring.

[Shelba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my least favourite Josh Lanyon read so far. I'm not a huge fan of alternating POVs and the diving theme didn't really interest me. However, an "okay" Josh Lanyon read is still a solid read.