"It's Enough" tells the story of Crispin and Wills, high school best friends who lost their virginity together — and whose lives have since taken very different paths. When Wills returns home for break, Crispin's still madly in love with him. But does his best friend share the same feelings?
Three erotic short stories (for me it felt more like three chapters about love).
We can enjoy a small piece of Crispin and Wills their (love) life. Aww, they are so sweet and sensitive together. Insecure about how the other feels, hesitating to be the first to say something, but always hot for each other, always.
They know each other from kindergarten and now both live in different towns, following different studies. Vacation and holidays are highlights because that’s when they can be together. Nobody knows about them. For the outside world, they are best friends. They keep up appearances and meet secretly in hotel rooms. They desperately want to be together.
A smoothly written short read, in such a captivating way that I was instantly involved. We get to know some little aspects of the guys, how they live, study, and how they organize their love life.
I love short reads; I love it when they give me a feeling of contentment. I think it’s quite a challenge to write a few pages with good, steady content, just enough developed to feel connected. This author did a good job with it! Searching and longing for more to know about these guys I was happily surprised there will be a continuation on June 26th yah!
Two southern boys with rigid and traditionally intolerant upbringing learn to admit their love for each other. Wrapped in a setting that is too carnal and not enough emotional and cerebral for me to believe it, but this is still very well done in terms of writing.
I was very impressed by this set of stories. I'll try to avoid direct spoilers, but will be discussing the stories in some detail, so fair warning.
What really struck me was how well the three stories showed these two characters having to actively choose to be with each other instead if just succumbing to the inertia of an already fairly easy life. The three stories each begin with the same basic situation - best friends and habitual lovers meeting at a formal party, secure in the knowledge that they'll hook up with each other later. They've been doing this for years, and have a pretty good system down about how to get away with this without raising suspicions about the nature of their relationship. The plot and the character growth come from the realization they both have, but are terrified to voice: they are in love, and each wants a more committed, deeper connection. The progress of the story then follows them break down these emotional barriers, bit by bit, as they grow closer together And bolder in how open their relationships become.
Quick note on the reluctant-to-voice aspect of the relationship: what they lack in speaking aloud, they more than make up for physically. Some Erotica can pay lip service to character just to get to the sex; these stories use the sex to further what's going on with the characters. Their connection, power dynamics, increasing intimacy - it's all shown to us in their hooking up. It's raw, emotionally honest, and hot.
I read a lot of books that can tend to be a downer, so it was nice to see a relationship play out in a genuinely affecting way without any corniness, and it was very edifying reading erotica that delivered on both the sexual and literary fronts. I hope this author does more, because I'll be waiting for it.
I am going to be honest. I expected more from these three short stories then I got from it. Though there is three shorty stories in this book, it is really just a continuation of the story before it with just a different title. From reading the description of the book, I expected to go more in depth about the guys that this was about instead of being what was given in this book. In my opinion there was not much background leading up to these two guys. You just have to weed your way through to figure out what is going on. So for that I was not too impressed.
From what I gather from this story, Crispin and Wills are not only best friends but have been lovers for some time. The problem with this is for one the town they live in being gay is not accepted. Second, Crispin is staying town to learn carpentry while Wills is going to college out of town,
Though they obviously cannot be together while Wills is away at college, they do have an arrangement between them that they can hook up with girls but no girlfriends and no guys at all. So when Wills is back in town for Christmas, neither guy can keep their hands of the other when they are finally in private. That is where the rest of this story continues to head, these two hooking up. This is where the storyline ends in my perspective. So that reason right there I was. Not impressed by this read.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Crispin has been close friends with Wills for a long time. They have only recently drifted apart due to time and location. When they get together for holidays its like they never left.
Wills has a hard time expressing himself. Well, technically they both have their hang ups. Still being new at this more than friends stuff, they both need to find the courage to tell the other they want more.
I truly became quickly attached to these characters! This author was a new read for me, but I was sucked in with just a few pages. This was a short and sweet - yet extremely hot - new story. I loved the sincerity that came across for these two and I am anticipating more!
***This short story was given in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars for It’s Enough by Julia McBryant. This is book 1 in The Southern Seduction series. This is a male/male romance filled with some heat. It is short but a great start to what I think will be a good story. This book is about two southern boys who fell in love with each other in 11th grade. They lost their virginity to each other and have been together in secret since then. Crispin is at home attending carpentry school while Will is away at college. They both miss each other but they cant be out together. Being gay in the south is not a good thing especially with their parents being who they are. My only issue is I felt like I came into the story in the middle of it. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series. I just wish it was longer and more in depth.
Oh wow! I am so glad that I found this author. I jumped into Audie and Calhoun's story (coming soon!!) before I realized there was Crispin and Wills story.
I just love Crispin and Wills. They have been best friends since kindergarten and as they got older they would sneak peeks at each other not really knowing their true feelings until one day when Wills kissed Crispin and things started falling into place. And being in the family of the high society, they have to keep their relationship a secret.
I just love a short fast paced story and this one did not disappoint. Now, onto the next book "Like Sunshine".
I won't rehash the narrative set up, since other reviews and the description itself more than does that. One of the things I liked immediately is that we weren't presented with a big info dump of the backstory of these characters. McBryant fills in those details organically and incrementally, which is appreciated.
For those of you came here for some steamy action, quite a lot of it is packed into the pages, and McBryant does not shy away from providing plentiful and titillating detail. But more importantly, she understands what makes a good sex scene: not only the erotic, but the emotional aspect as well. She uses the sex to further the plot and reveal character traits and development.
The plot itself plays out in a genuinely sweet way, as these two young lovers, little by little, circle around fully admitting their love for each other, and saying it in words as well as in sex. Kudos to McBryant as well for showing healthy sexual communication without losing the erotic flow and charge of the scene.
It's a fast read, too, so what are you waiting for?
This short story is ALL about the sex (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) and McBryant handles that part of it beautifully. A little more focus on place and atmosphere would be welcomed especially from a work with the word "Southern" right in title but, no matter. I'm going to assume we get more local flavor in the second course which I look forward to reading!
Crispin is so sweet and insecure in the start of this story, watching Wills from across the room and biding his time until they can leave together and what will happen until that point.
It's all about hiding and pretending so no one knows you love someone you shouldn't, which for anyone would be torture in the long run.
But then they come together and it's as if time stood still and they are in a bubble of their own, and it's lovely.
Super short -- as indicated :) nothing inherently bad about the book. Cute, sexy, short, sweet. Not sure if editing was an issue...was rough reading at points with missing words and grammar seemed strange...could be just me though. Would I read more? I did put the next book on my to be purchased list just to see what happens with them...so not a bad book.
Julia McBryant is a new author, after I really enjoyed reading this story, I am going to be reading her books. Will and Crispin's tale read as if there excerpts of the time they spent together and the uncertainty of a loving relationship while they spend time apart pursuing their education, a well written fast read story that keeps you entertained to the last page.
Loved reading this set of three shorts. Seriously. I'm enjoying Crispin and Wills very, very much. I can't wait to read more about them. I was thoroughly engaged in their story.
Is it really enough to have stolen moments with the person you love? Crispin and Wills have to hide their relationship, despite the overwhelming need for each other. It's Enough is short but packs so much intensity of feelings. Great,hot chemistry and sweet young love. I loved it!
This book has good possibilities, but it relies heavily on sex to move the story more then there being a story with sex in it. I like the characters, but I wish there was a little more substance to their story.
This author has an interesting way of writing a love story starting in the middle without the reader feeling like they’ve missed anything. It’s sort of addicting to watch the MCs finally start to open up to each other. I can’t wait for the next one!
Willis and Crispin are perfect together. They are afraid to admit their love at first, but in the end the realize they can not live without each other.
This little book left me wanting more. The idea behind the story was a good one, but I would have loved to have just more of it. More background story, more details...I loved the scenery it played out it, that would really make for a good longer story. I will for sure keep following Julie McBryant, to see whats up her sleeve with her upcoming books.
It's Enough is just my kind of book. Sweet, romantic, but also undoubtedly hot and sexy. Crispin's and Wills' characters are portrayed incredibly well - they seem real. Short, light and fun, I just couldn't love this more. I highly recommend!
Julia McBryant gives readers angst, love and more in the short story It’s Enough. Taking place in the land of high society and tradition that is Savannah we meet Wills and Crispin, two extremely handsome men that live with a secret that they wish could be told to the world. McBryant’s glimpse into their world leaves you begging for more because you fall in love and identify with these characters. Readers will feel every emotion given off by Wills and Crispin. Love is not for the faint of heart and I cannot wait to read more from the powerful story teller that is Julia McBryant.
Life is made up of moments, and we remember the important moments best. In this novella, the most important moments for these two young men are the moments they're together. Wills and Crispin have been best friends since kindergarten, only to finally come together romantically in the 11th grade. Vague promises were made before one went away to college, but it seems neither of them fully revealed the depth of their feelings and commitment to each other.
"You think I didn’t miss you?” Crispin shrugs. "I fucking missed you,” Wills tells him. “You never get it, do you, Crispin?”
I loved how this was written! It had a very dreamy feeling, which was the best set up for the telling of this story. Written in present tense, seeing both POVs really worked here. In such a short amount of time, I was able to get a clear sense of their feelings. There's a lot of sex scenes (which I didn't mind, AT ALL), considering that it isn't very long to begin with, but it really added to the story. I loved being able to see each boy through the other's eyes, and I really felt their love and adoration for each other. Their insecurities felt very real, and I was quickly invested in their relationship. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for their confessions!
"We can make it work. You’re the only one I’ve ever been in —you know —.”
One thing that confused me at first was the timeline. I initially thought the stories were set a year or so apart, at the same yearly event. I was at 83% before I realized that all the stories occurred within days of each other. So be aware and don't be a dunce like me :)
I was freaking out at the end of this novella because I didn't realize there was more. Thankfully, I get to continue following them on their journey to their HEA.
"It’ll work.” He swallows and says it again. “Because I love you.”
It's Enough is delicious. A sweet and sinfully sexy novella. A little heartbreaking, a lot heartwarming, Crispin and Wills are best friends in love and it's delightful. If you need me today, I'll be in my room binge reading everything from this author 😍🤣