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Tattoos and Temptation #1
Marry Me
A fake fiancé never felt so real.
The idea of facing my cheating ex at a friend’s upcoming wedding sends me right back to the chubby, insecure guy I was when I met my very straight best friend. Since then Jude has been the most supportive person in my life. So when I ask him for a favor, he steps up and becomes the best fake fiancé a guy could ask for.
With three months before the big day, my friends rally to make sure we come across as authentic as possible. Jude takes to the lessons better than any of us anticipated. Especially the kissing.
Now the fake engagement is starting to feel kind of real.
This wedding should be really interesting…
Marry Me is a steamy, best friends to lovers, fake fiancé, gay awakening, low angst story. It is book one in the Tattoos and Temptation series featuring hot Miami nights, Latin desserts, and guys with ink.
It can be read as a standalone.
The idea of facing my cheating ex at a friend’s upcoming wedding sends me right back to the chubby, insecure guy I was when I met my very straight best friend. Since then Jude has been the most supportive person in my life. So when I ask him for a favor, he steps up and becomes the best fake fiancé a guy could ask for.
With three months before the big day, my friends rally to make sure we come across as authentic as possible. Jude takes to the lessons better than any of us anticipated. Especially the kissing.
Now the fake engagement is starting to feel kind of real.
This wedding should be really interesting…
Marry Me is a steamy, best friends to lovers, fake fiancé, gay awakening, low angst story. It is book one in the Tattoos and Temptation series featuring hot Miami nights, Latin desserts, and guys with ink.
It can be read as a standalone.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2020
703 people are currently reading
1344 people want to read
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August 1, 2020
This book made me very uncomfortable. It’s one giant cliche made up of a hundred different stereotypes. When Jude agrees to pretend to be Briar’s fiancé for a wedding, their friends decide the best way for him to be a “believable gay” is, “an immersion in gay culture.” To the author, what this means is hitting every gay stereotype while putting every gay man into a single box. Apparently, being gay means knowing all the gay hotspots, knowing how to dance, and being knowledgeable in drag culture. Does the author really think that what would give Jude away as not being gay would be his inability to name drag queens? Are these her requirements for what it means to be gay?
She even turns Briar’s job into a stereotype. Every man that Briar works with at the bakery is gay and, while this is probably to set up characters for future books, how she explains this by saying that most bakers are gay, so it makes sense that everyone who works there is as well. Stereotype much? She also has the character saying things like, “amirite,” “stahp,” “yass, queen,” and “obvs.” The dialogue is stilted, at times the author leaving certain words out of sentences to, I don’t know, make them sound more trendy? More gay? She writes things like, “Tomorrow we brunch because that’s what gays do on Sunday to nurse their inevitable hangovers.”
The author tried her hardest to hit every letter in LGBTQ+. Honestly, this thing read like one giant PSA on sexuality at times. While the messages the characters are speaking are true, they read like they’re straight from a sexualities textbook.
“I think we all know that we should respect anyone’s identification. We’ve all worked hard to be seen, especially the generations before us.”
“Sexuality, and our understanding of where it lies, can definitely shift in the right situation.”
There was so much lecturing and so many “lessons” in this book that I could barley find the storyline. The actual plot of this book is buried in between pages and pages of PSAs on sexuality and identity. Each time the author gets back the the plot, she inevitably goes off on another tangent. The first half of the book is taken up by what are supposed to be informative conversations between the characters that are meant to teach the reader something while they read the book. The book mostly reads less like a work of fiction and more like a textbook on sexuality.
And don’t even get me started on how she handles Jude’s sexuality. In the end, she makes it so Jude fell for Briar, and was thus able to be attracted to him, because how how close they were and the trust they shared. This is basically what demisexulality is, so I could understand that. But there was a scene earlier in the book that really contradicts this, where Jude is watching gay porn and gets himself off to thoughts of the porn actors. If he had been imaging Briar in the place of the actors, it could have still worked, but Briar was barely a passing thought in that scene.
Despite all of this, I found myself very interested in Casper and Saint, so I may actually read the next book anyway, despite my negative experience with this one. Hopefully I’ll enjoy that one as much as a lot of people enjoyed this one.
She even turns Briar’s job into a stereotype. Every man that Briar works with at the bakery is gay and, while this is probably to set up characters for future books, how she explains this by saying that most bakers are gay, so it makes sense that everyone who works there is as well. Stereotype much? She also has the character saying things like, “amirite,” “stahp,” “yass, queen,” and “obvs.” The dialogue is stilted, at times the author leaving certain words out of sentences to, I don’t know, make them sound more trendy? More gay? She writes things like, “Tomorrow we brunch because that’s what gays do on Sunday to nurse their inevitable hangovers.”
The author tried her hardest to hit every letter in LGBTQ+. Honestly, this thing read like one giant PSA on sexuality at times. While the messages the characters are speaking are true, they read like they’re straight from a sexualities textbook.
“I think we all know that we should respect anyone’s identification. We’ve all worked hard to be seen, especially the generations before us.”
“Sexuality, and our understanding of where it lies, can definitely shift in the right situation.”
There was so much lecturing and so many “lessons” in this book that I could barley find the storyline. The actual plot of this book is buried in between pages and pages of PSAs on sexuality and identity. Each time the author gets back the the plot, she inevitably goes off on another tangent. The first half of the book is taken up by what are supposed to be informative conversations between the characters that are meant to teach the reader something while they read the book. The book mostly reads less like a work of fiction and more like a textbook on sexuality.
And don’t even get me started on how she handles Jude’s sexuality. In the end, she makes it so Jude fell for Briar, and was thus able to be attracted to him, because how how close they were and the trust they shared. This is basically what demisexulality is, so I could understand that. But there was a scene earlier in the book that really contradicts this, where Jude is watching gay porn and gets himself off to thoughts of the porn actors. If he had been imaging Briar in the place of the actors, it could have still worked, but Briar was barely a passing thought in that scene.
Despite all of this, I found myself very interested in Casper and Saint, so I may actually read the next book anyway, despite my negative experience with this one. Hopefully I’ll enjoy that one as much as a lot of people enjoyed this one.
September 28, 2021
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 4.5 Stars
The introvert in me didn't like so many people being involved with the relationship development of the MCs, but the story overall, was cute and sweet. I really enjoyed it!
Story - 4.5 Stars
The introvert in me didn't like so many people being involved with the relationship development of the MCs, but the story overall, was cute and sweet. I really enjoyed it!
August 7, 2020
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*I Liked It But...*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
I'm a little on the fence about this book. On one hand it's was extremely cheesy and over the top, but on the other hand it has an honest and true friendship who made each other better. What I mean by honest is that the two characters were very honest about things. But that also meant that things got very... lovey-dovey in a way. One thing that bothered me was that we kept hearing how old Jude was but never Briar. Overall, it was extremely cute, and informative for the LHBT community. It wasn't very deep, or full of angst - I would have liked some angst, some frustration to make more depth in the story. Other than that it was quite straight forward and an easy read. I enjoyed it, but I'm still unsure as to what to rate it...
Th Characters:
→ Briar ‘Bri’ Watts (how old?), works at the bakery. Main Character, POV.
→ Jude Mancuso (34), a tattoo artist at his shop, Black Heart Ink. Main Character, POV.
→ Ron, the guy who's getting married in three months who Briar grew up with, and were best friends until he moved across the country for work. Before Bri met Jude. Chelsea, Ron's fiancée is pregnant, and they don’t want to tell her family, so they’re in a hurry without trying to look like they’re in a hurry, and he asked Briar to be a groomsman.
→ Michael Cullen, Jude's douchebag ex-boyfriend (two years ago) is Ron's best man. Briar’s past struggle with weight, and Michael was a dick about it. Patrick, Michael's fiancé.
→ Elizabeth, Jude's cousin’s girlfriend works at Jude's shop.
→ Dante Higgins, a major NBA sports star who Jude tattooed.
→ Casper, another artist in Jude's shop. Bi.
→ Luca, Sam, and Micah, artists in Jude's shop. Sam's gender-fluid.
→ Saint (43), Briar's boss, owner of Dulce Santo. He’s one of the best Latin bakers in the city, though he's not Latin. His best friend is, and his grandma taught Saint the fine art of Latin pastry. Saint is about as Latin as the Scottish kilt he sometimes wears, but you wouldn’t know it from his baking. Gay.
→ Cairo, Genesis ‘Gen’, and Tate, co-workers of Briar. All gay.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M).
Series: - Series (Can Be Read As A Standalone), Book One.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Jude Mancuso, I think.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Sure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Sure...
Will I read this again in the future? - Don't think so.
Rating - 3 stars.
July 6, 2022
Jude and Briar met in the gym after Bri had his heart broken and they became fast friends, eventual roommates. Fast forward and Bri and his ex’s buddy is getting married and he obviously wants them both to be there.
Of course the ex is bringing his fiancé so to save face Jude has agreed to be his fake fiancé.
Jude being a straight guy is incredibly supportive in this venture. Especially when Bri’s stereotypical gay friends add their two cents. But eventually Jude realizes he’s into it.
This is just brimming with cliches and silly stereotypes. If the characters weren’t so sweet and I didn’t love a GFY/fake fiancé trope so much, I would’ve tossed it.
It was also ultra gooey at some points that I could’ve probably lived without but otherwise this was pretty stinking cute.
Don’t even get me started on the steam. Once these boys were all in, holy hell they were literally all in. Not only was it hot but varied. How is this my first MM with DP?!
Overall there was definitely things I could’ve lived without but super entertaining.
Of course the ex is bringing his fiancé so to save face Jude has agreed to be his fake fiancé.
Jude being a straight guy is incredibly supportive in this venture. Especially when Bri’s stereotypical gay friends add their two cents. But eventually Jude realizes he’s into it.
This is just brimming with cliches and silly stereotypes. If the characters weren’t so sweet and I didn’t love a GFY/fake fiancé trope so much, I would’ve tossed it.
It was also ultra gooey at some points that I could’ve probably lived without but otherwise this was pretty stinking cute.
Don’t even get me started on the steam. Once these boys were all in, holy hell they were literally all in. Not only was it hot but varied. How is this my first MM with DP?!
Overall there was definitely things I could’ve lived without but super entertaining.
September 7, 2021
I was missing something in this story and I'm not quite sure what.
The characters are fine. When I wonder what I was missing, maybe it was that they basically had no flaws. They were perfect in their own way and perfect for each other. Together, they made this pair that is so absolutely in tune with each other that it is annoying in the long run. Which is weird because I usually like when MC fit together well and are exactly what they need for each other. But there was something excessively unreal about their relationship. I had no doubt that Briar and Jude were good friends. But the fact that there were absolutely no disagreements between them was quite annoying.
Maybe this story is just a little too sweet for my current mood. Their relationship has virtually no problems. Even those that could result from the fact that Jude until recently believed that he was straight. Sometimes it's nice to read about such a well-matched couple and such a peaceful and perfect relationship, but since there was no other plot here, something to focus on instead, this relationship seemed just boring and bland to me.
I really like the fake fiancé theme, it's one of my favorites. This time this idea was used to the maximum. I don't believe I'm saying this, but I think maybe this game has been dragged too far. The huge involvement of Briar and Jud's friends was a bit strange to me. Personally, I would feel constrained by so many people modeling my relationship with my partner. The support is good, but sometimes it felt like their friends were pushing too hard.
I found something else strange. I felt that this book was trying to convey some important, profound message to me about non-heterosexual culture, and that didn't suit me at all. I was looking for a light, good story, not the author's views(?) on this topic. Don't get me wrong, I think what was mentioned in this book is important. But it wasn't done very skillfully and it only irritated me. It was a bit like these parables or moralizing tales for children, where a good story was followed by a large fragment explaining why the characters behaved badly, etc.
Overall, I'm a little confused about this story. I'm not sure if the issue is this book or if I just wasn't in the right mood. I think I've read other books by this author before and they were fine. This is the beginning of the series, maybe I'll read other books.
The characters are fine. When I wonder what I was missing, maybe it was that they basically had no flaws. They were perfect in their own way and perfect for each other. Together, they made this pair that is so absolutely in tune with each other that it is annoying in the long run. Which is weird because I usually like when MC fit together well and are exactly what they need for each other. But there was something excessively unreal about their relationship. I had no doubt that Briar and Jude were good friends. But the fact that there were absolutely no disagreements between them was quite annoying.
Maybe this story is just a little too sweet for my current mood. Their relationship has virtually no problems. Even those that could result from the fact that Jude until recently believed that he was straight. Sometimes it's nice to read about such a well-matched couple and such a peaceful and perfect relationship, but since there was no other plot here, something to focus on instead, this relationship seemed just boring and bland to me.
I really like the fake fiancé theme, it's one of my favorites. This time this idea was used to the maximum. I don't believe I'm saying this, but I think maybe this game has been dragged too far. The huge involvement of Briar and Jud's friends was a bit strange to me. Personally, I would feel constrained by so many people modeling my relationship with my partner. The support is good, but sometimes it felt like their friends were pushing too hard.
I found something else strange. I felt that this book was trying to convey some important, profound message to me about non-heterosexual culture, and that didn't suit me at all. I was looking for a light, good story, not the author's views(?) on this topic. Don't get me wrong, I think what was mentioned in this book is important. But it wasn't done very skillfully and it only irritated me. It was a bit like these parables or moralizing tales for children, where a good story was followed by a large fragment explaining why the characters behaved badly, etc.
Overall, I'm a little confused about this story. I'm not sure if the issue is this book or if I just wasn't in the right mood. I think I've read other books by this author before and they were fine. This is the beginning of the series, maybe I'll read other books.
February 2, 2022
Time of death: around 30%
Up until the moment I stopped reading, the entire book felt like an introduction in lgbtq, and I felt like listening to some lecture about it.
I’m not even sure if it’s me or the book, as some of my trusted goodread friends seem to have loved it.
The plot (if you can call it that) is simple: Briar needs a fake fiancé for his best friend’s wedding. And instead of asking one of his numerous gay friends, he enlists Jude, apparently the only straight guy in this book.
Briar‘s friends, who’re all working together at a bakery (because all bakers are gay) decide that Jude (a tattoo artist, who - as well - seems to have only gay colleagues) needs a crash course in gay culture. So they go to gay bars, salsa dancing, to drag shows, make him pick his favourite gay movie, gay pet names for Briar - every single gay cliché you can imagine is ticked. They laugh, gasp, call themselves queens - and underneath all this, there’s supposedly a romantic plot.
Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood, even though I really liked the narrator, I just couldn’t take it any more and quit around 30%. Pretty sure this author isn’t for me, at least not at the moment.
Up until the moment I stopped reading, the entire book felt like an introduction in lgbtq, and I felt like listening to some lecture about it.
I’m not even sure if it’s me or the book, as some of my trusted goodread friends seem to have loved it.
The plot (if you can call it that) is simple: Briar needs a fake fiancé for his best friend’s wedding. And instead of asking one of his numerous gay friends, he enlists Jude, apparently the only straight guy in this book.
Briar‘s friends, who’re all working together at a bakery (because all bakers are gay) decide that Jude (a tattoo artist, who - as well - seems to have only gay colleagues) needs a crash course in gay culture. So they go to gay bars, salsa dancing, to drag shows, make him pick his favourite gay movie, gay pet names for Briar - every single gay cliché you can imagine is ticked. They laugh, gasp, call themselves queens - and underneath all this, there’s supposedly a romantic plot.
Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood, even though I really liked the narrator, I just couldn’t take it any more and quit around 30%. Pretty sure this author isn’t for me, at least not at the moment.
August 1, 2020
*Eye-roll*
What’s it with authors lately being so disrespectful to the LGBTQ+ community? Is that a new trend or something? Please stop it!
Apparently you CAN’T be gay unless you are familiar with gay actors and movies, unless you know the hippest gay clubs and know drag queens by name, unless you can dance and are involved in nightlife (and if you aren’t you at least HAVE to know about it!!!).
Also, when Jude (the “straight” main character, who is oh so supportive of his gay bestie) used the word “c********r” in order to insult a dude who is into other dudes I was already annoyed enough with this book. This would be like saying “I’m totally supportive of black people but I’m still using the n-word for those that I don’t like”. What the… oh and did I forget the sentence “we love a gay bestie”, coming from a woman? Yeah, seriously? Being the "funny gay side-kick bestie for their female friend" is one of the biggest outdated clichés for gay characters in media and I thought we finally moved on from that, but apparently not.
Those are all clichés gay people fought against for years and still do, but here it’s treated like you have to be all those things in order to fit in. Fun fact: no, you don’t!
What’s it with authors lately being so disrespectful to the LGBTQ+ community? Is that a new trend or something? Please stop it!
Apparently you CAN’T be gay unless you are familiar with gay actors and movies, unless you know the hippest gay clubs and know drag queens by name, unless you can dance and are involved in nightlife (and if you aren’t you at least HAVE to know about it!!!).
Also, when Jude (the “straight” main character, who is oh so supportive of his gay bestie) used the word “c********r” in order to insult a dude who is into other dudes I was already annoyed enough with this book. This would be like saying “I’m totally supportive of black people but I’m still using the n-word for those that I don’t like”. What the… oh and did I forget the sentence “we love a gay bestie”, coming from a woman? Yeah, seriously? Being the "funny gay side-kick bestie for their female friend" is one of the biggest outdated clichés for gay characters in media and I thought we finally moved on from that, but apparently not.
Those are all clichés gay people fought against for years and still do, but here it’s treated like you have to be all those things in order to fit in. Fun fact: no, you don’t!
Read
July 30, 2020DNF 40%
No rating. I can see why people liked it and I probably would have liked it if I read this when I started reading MM romance but now I just got bored.. maybe because I read a lot of special book lately so my expectations are high 🤷🏼♀️
No rating. I can see why people liked it and I probably would have liked it if I read this when I started reading MM romance but now I just got bored.. maybe because I read a lot of special book lately so my expectations are high 🤷🏼♀️
September 29, 2021
5 stars audio
4 stars story.
4 stars story.
July 20, 2020
This is one of the first books of Mia Monroe's that I've read, and I love it! The blurb sold me, but the actual story was so so amazing. Would one hundred per cent recommend !
Definitely added it to my favourites, and can't wait to read more of the authors work.
Definitely added it to my favourites, and can't wait to read more of the authors work.
January 10, 2021
This book was an odd mix of lecturing on sexuality, while also spouting remarkably offensive gay stereotypes.
1. the offensive stereotypes
The premise of the book is that Jude (straight) is going to pose as the fake fiance of Briar for a wedding in three months. This gives them time to iron out the fake relationship details to appear legit to the Evil Ex, Michael. This inspires Briar's group of friends from the bakery where he works to initiate Project Fake Fiance, so that Jude will be able to pose correctly as gay. Right off the bat, straight into offensiveness.
The claim is that all gay guys like the same things - drag, clubbing, brunch the morning after clubbing, etc. I mean come on, this isn't even subtle! Gay people are just people, they don't all like the same things. All Jude has to do to "be gay" is to tell people he's gay, and for the premise of the fake relationship, be physically affectionate with Briar during the wedding. No one is going to quiz him on drag queens at the wedding and then be like aha! not a real gay! (spoilers, no one asks anything about him being gay, it's barely a footnote)
2. the token/pandering
Both the bakery where Briar works and Jude's tattoo shop are like a pantheon of sexuality, but in a way that it feels performative. The groups of people are large enough that it's challenging to keep track of who's who, and they're obviously being set up for future books. Given the sheer number of these characters, they're also all flat and feel more like caricatures than characters. They definitively detract from the story.
3. the lecturing
It felt like the first 20% of this book was one giant lecture on sexuality. The characters have long, boring "discussions" about the spectrum of sexuality and what it all means, etc. It really reads like some informative article about various places along the spectrum, and the challenges of being bi (lack of acceptance).
And yet, despite this massive lecturing, the book still leans on the "but he's/I'm not gay!" as a barrier to accepting the relationship between Jude and Briar. You can't lecture the reader on the spectrum of sexuality and then use that barrier (which is lame anyway).
We also suffer through lectures on sexual activities, like Briar's friends explaining frotting in a club to Jude. He literally watched gay porn, why does he need a play by play of how to [sexual activity] from friends? It's just so awkward, and boring to read. Show them figuring it out or something! That's the fun part of reading these gay-for-you books! (one of them, imo) Instead, we get to enjoy what feels like copypasted google answers, or an IKEA manual for gay sex.
4. show, don't tell
Alas, this book is one massive Telling, and no showing. The characters have long (they speak in paragraphs!), stilted conversations info dumping everything necessary to the plot. They also infodump the lectures, of course.
All of this results in flat characters - we never see them react to things, build their personality through actions or thoughts or feelings, only through their dreadful conversations. This is also how the (weak) plot moves forward, via blocks of text. The book was so low angst, that there wasn't any tension. Not even a little. I didn't know I had a bottom limit to my fluff-o-meter, but this makes it clear that I have a limit, and dropping past it means it's just flat boring. too cheesy
5. the astonishingly lame redemption of the Evil Ex
Somehow, this is a boring, condescending, and offensive book all at once, which is almost kind of impressive.
1. the offensive stereotypes
The premise of the book is that Jude (straight) is going to pose as the fake fiance of Briar for a wedding in three months. This gives them time to iron out the fake relationship details to appear legit to the Evil Ex, Michael. This inspires Briar's group of friends from the bakery where he works to initiate Project Fake Fiance, so that Jude will be able to pose correctly as gay. Right off the bat, straight into offensiveness.
The claim is that all gay guys like the same things - drag, clubbing, brunch the morning after clubbing, etc. I mean come on, this isn't even subtle! Gay people are just people, they don't all like the same things. All Jude has to do to "be gay" is to tell people he's gay, and for the premise of the fake relationship, be physically affectionate with Briar during the wedding. No one is going to quiz him on drag queens at the wedding and then be like aha! not a real gay! (spoilers, no one asks anything about him being gay, it's barely a footnote)
2. the token/pandering
Both the bakery where Briar works and Jude's tattoo shop are like a pantheon of sexuality, but in a way that it feels performative. The groups of people are large enough that it's challenging to keep track of who's who, and they're obviously being set up for future books. Given the sheer number of these characters, they're also all flat and feel more like caricatures than characters. They definitively detract from the story.
3. the lecturing
It felt like the first 20% of this book was one giant lecture on sexuality. The characters have long, boring "discussions" about the spectrum of sexuality and what it all means, etc. It really reads like some informative article about various places along the spectrum, and the challenges of being bi (lack of acceptance).
And yet, despite this massive lecturing, the book still leans on the "but he's/I'm not gay!" as a barrier to accepting the relationship between Jude and Briar. You can't lecture the reader on the spectrum of sexuality and then use that barrier (which is lame anyway).
We also suffer through lectures on sexual activities, like Briar's friends explaining frotting in a club to Jude. He literally watched gay porn, why does he need a play by play of how to [sexual activity] from friends? It's just so awkward, and boring to read. Show them figuring it out or something! That's the fun part of reading these gay-for-you books! (one of them, imo) Instead, we get to enjoy what feels like copypasted google answers, or an IKEA manual for gay sex.
4. show, don't tell
Alas, this book is one massive Telling, and no showing. The characters have long (they speak in paragraphs!), stilted conversations info dumping everything necessary to the plot. They also infodump the lectures, of course.
All of this results in flat characters - we never see them react to things, build their personality through actions or thoughts or feelings, only through their dreadful conversations. This is also how the (weak) plot moves forward, via blocks of text. The book was so low angst, that there wasn't any tension. Not even a little. I didn't know I had a bottom limit to my fluff-o-meter, but this makes it clear that I have a limit, and dropping past it means it's just flat boring. too cheesy
5. the astonishingly lame redemption of the Evil Ex
Somehow, this is a boring, condescending, and offensive book all at once, which is almost kind of impressive.
August 14, 2023
This was a really cute story. It’s my first book by Mia Monroe but I absolutely will check out others. I wasn’t sure what kind of book I was in the mood for so I tried a few and couldn’t get into them. Saw this on my kindle and thought I’d give it a try. I got into it right away and it was a perfect story for my mood.
I love the fake dating trope especially when it’s between two people who are already close like Jude and Briar were. My favourite thing is watching the feelings grow on both sides and I felt this was completely believable since it was also a bi-awakening.
The friend group was also a lot of fun and I’m interested in the next book in this series. I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a fun, quick read!
I love the fake dating trope especially when it’s between two people who are already close like Jude and Briar were. My favourite thing is watching the feelings grow on both sides and I felt this was completely believable since it was also a bi-awakening.
The friend group was also a lot of fun and I’m interested in the next book in this series. I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a fun, quick read!
July 21, 2020
3.5 stars.
This should've been a perfect book for me. I love fake relationship, friends to lovers themes, but, I had some issues after say....the first half I guess. 4 stars for the first half I think....maybe. I'm torn.
This was very sweet, bordering on saccharine ... until about 80% where it took a catapulting leap so far into saccharine territory, I had to get up and find something salty to counteract it.
Don't get me wrong. I liked the book, more or less. The story and the meaning behind it were great. I loved it! The message that you don't need to change who you are in order to find someone who loves you is very heartwarming. Especially when it ends up being your best friend.... your straight best friend. I love stories about sexual discovery.
That said, I just don't think it was my cuppa. If you're looking for something to render you into a sickeningly sweet puddle of goo, then this is your couple. Me? I like my men a bit more ...
Jude, who is portrayed as a gorgeous, tattooed god, which does it for me frankly, but his behavior in the book was repeatedly at war with my image of him. YMMV. I just didn't see him as someone who would cry, more than once, during sex. That sort of thing...
But I loved the cast of characters, friends of both men were fun and flirty, and made me laugh on more than one occasion. I'm curious who gets their own books. I liked Casper, Gen and Saint too. They all had a quiet vulnerability that made me want to know more about them. Gen is perhaps my favorite though. I'd like to read him next, but I think the book set up Saint for our next couple. We'll see.
If you're looking for a low angst, quick read with no shortage of warm & fuzzies to get lost in for a few hours, pick it up.
This and more reviews at | Romancing Riley
This should've been a perfect book for me. I love fake relationship, friends to lovers themes, but, I had some issues after say....the first half I guess. 4 stars for the first half I think....maybe. I'm torn.
This was very sweet, bordering on saccharine ... until about 80% where it took a catapulting leap so far into saccharine territory, I had to get up and find something salty to counteract it.
Don't get me wrong. I liked the book, more or less. The story and the meaning behind it were great. I loved it! The message that you don't need to change who you are in order to find someone who loves you is very heartwarming. Especially when it ends up being your best friend.... your straight best friend. I love stories about sexual discovery.
That said, I just don't think it was my cuppa. If you're looking for something to render you into a sickeningly sweet puddle of goo, then this is your couple. Me? I like my men a bit more ...
Jude, who is portrayed as a gorgeous, tattooed god, which does it for me frankly, but his behavior in the book was repeatedly at war with my image of him. YMMV. I just didn't see him as someone who would cry, more than once, during sex. That sort of thing...
But I loved the cast of characters, friends of both men were fun and flirty, and made me laugh on more than one occasion. I'm curious who gets their own books. I liked Casper, Gen and Saint too. They all had a quiet vulnerability that made me want to know more about them. Gen is perhaps my favorite though. I'd like to read him next, but I think the book set up Saint for our next couple. We'll see.
If you're looking for a low angst, quick read with no shortage of warm & fuzzies to get lost in for a few hours, pick it up.
This and more reviews at | Romancing Riley
September 25, 2020
dnf 37 %
I have too many issues with this book.
Apart from the fact that the writing and the conversations didn't flow for me; and instead, kinda felt stilted and forced, the gay coaching project irritated me... a lot. It's not as if gay men are a homogeneous group with the same desires and hobbies... What's that about? Since when is knowing how to dance and name several drag queens a prerequisite for any self-respecting gay man? Seems very cliché to me. Ugh
However, my biggest issue is probably that this book felt incredibly preachy to me, like it's trying too hard to be inclusive and ends up as a kind of LGBTQ+ pamphlet... and thereby detracting from the already unoriginal story.
Yeah. Not for me.
I have too many issues with this book.
Apart from the fact that the writing and the conversations didn't flow for me; and instead, kinda felt stilted and forced, the gay coaching project irritated me... a lot. It's not as if gay men are a homogeneous group with the same desires and hobbies... What's that about? Since when is knowing how to dance and name several drag queens a prerequisite for any self-respecting gay man? Seems very cliché to me. Ugh
However, my biggest issue is probably that this book felt incredibly preachy to me, like it's trying too hard to be inclusive and ends up as a kind of LGBTQ+ pamphlet... and thereby detracting from the already unoriginal story.
Yeah. Not for me.
August 17, 2020
I’m going to throw this out there right off…. this book is super sweet. As in, no drama at all between the two main characters. Far from it. Jude is perfect. When I say that, I mean that he’s seriously perfect. He’s kind, he’s caring, he’s gorgeous and sexy, and he’s about as perfect as a man can get. I liked Briar, but he had a lot of hangups. Understandable hangups but hangups just the same.
Briar's old friend is getting married in three months and has invited Briar. No problem, right? Wrong. Briar's horrible ex has also been invited along with his new fiance. The breakup was bad. The last thing Briar wants is to show up alone. So he asks his very hot and very straight best friend to be his fake fiance for the wedding. Jude readily agrees.
The next three months are hilarious AND sweet. Hilarious because of Briar and Jude's friends who are all in with this fake fiance thing. Sweet because Jude realizes that the person he's been searching for (a partner, soul mate) is his best friend.
I absolutely adored Jude.
I did, however, have a couple of issues with this book, hence 4 stars instead of higher.
One, it should have ended several chapters before it did. I felt that the others weren't necessary. Two, I didn't like the way Briar's ex was handled. He was not a good guy, could never be a good guy. For the author to try to make him good later just bugged me.
Even so, a nice, feel good read.
Full review can be found at -
Briar's old friend is getting married in three months and has invited Briar. No problem, right? Wrong. Briar's horrible ex has also been invited along with his new fiance. The breakup was bad. The last thing Briar wants is to show up alone. So he asks his very hot and very straight best friend to be his fake fiance for the wedding. Jude readily agrees.
The next three months are hilarious AND sweet. Hilarious because of Briar and Jude's friends who are all in with this fake fiance thing. Sweet because Jude realizes that the person he's been searching for (a partner, soul mate) is his best friend.
I absolutely adored Jude.
I did, however, have a couple of issues with this book, hence 4 stars instead of higher.
One, it should have ended several chapters before it did. I felt that the others weren't necessary. Two, I didn't like the way Briar's ex was handled. He was not a good guy, could never be a good guy. For the author to try to make him good later just bugged me.
Even so, a nice, feel good read.
Full review can be found at -
September 8, 2020
Briar asks his best friend and roommate Jude to be his pretend boyfriend at a wedding where he will meet his ex.
Sounds familiar?
Yes, it's a typical fake boyfriend story with few surprises.
But if you love the trope you might just like it, for me it was a fun read and I enjoyed it while reading.
Briar was very self conscious and I would have liked to learn more why Jude fell for him.
Apart from that, there was enough happening to enjoy the book until the end, no big drama which was a plus for me.
Overall a good 3.5 star read.
Sounds familiar?
Yes, it's a typical fake boyfriend story with few surprises.
But if you love the trope you might just like it, for me it was a fun read and I enjoyed it while reading.
Briar was very self conscious and I would have liked to learn more why Jude fell for him.
Apart from that, there was enough happening to enjoy the book until the end, no big drama which was a plus for me.
Overall a good 3.5 star read.
July 12, 2022
I can't believe I'm writing this but this was almost too sugary sweet for me. And I say that as the lover of sugary sweet romance books. Everything just got solved without much conflict even though the build up was intense and then it was presented with a nice bow and everything.
What I did somewhat enjoy was the different take on the fake fiancé trope this book took. A big part of the book is actually about teaching the "straight" guy about gay culture. I thought that was a great take and made it a little bit more realistic even though it got a bit preachy at times. No one talks about lgbtq issues the way the characters in this book talked about it.
The writing itself was a huge improvement to the other book I read by this author, I'll give it that.
What I did somewhat enjoy was the different take on the fake fiancé trope this book took. A big part of the book is actually about teaching the "straight" guy about gay culture. I thought that was a great take and made it a little bit more realistic even though it got a bit preachy at times. No one talks about lgbtq issues the way the characters in this book talked about it.
The writing itself was a huge improvement to the other book I read by this author, I'll give it that.
July 24, 2020
Adorable best friend bisexual awakening romance. The premise worked for me because I’m a sucker for the fake boyfriend trope, and these boys are easy to like.
+ Heaps of feelz, sexual tension, eventual high steam
+ Low-angst read for when you want uncomplicated romance
+ Long-time friends make a reasonably plausible shift to romantic attraction
- Feelz can be a tad much in places. Slightly generous application of dramatic tears
- Characters occasionally come across as blatant author avatars, delivering lines that are so balanced and socially well-considered that they appear to be dropping anvils rather than having more natural, casual discourse. The in-story discussions of bisexuality and the talk one character has with his parents come to mind. It’s sad to say it like this, but I have a hard time accepting it when most of the cast is so well-adjusted and informed! In my mind, real people aren’t consistently like that, but perhaps that says more about me than it does about the story.
+ Heaps of feelz, sexual tension, eventual high steam
+ Low-angst read for when you want uncomplicated romance
+ Long-time friends make a reasonably plausible shift to romantic attraction
- Feelz can be a tad much in places. Slightly generous application of dramatic tears
- Characters occasionally come across as blatant author avatars, delivering lines that are so balanced and socially well-considered that they appear to be dropping anvils rather than having more natural, casual discourse. The in-story discussions of bisexuality and the talk one character has with his parents come to mind. It’s sad to say it like this, but I have a hard time accepting it when most of the cast is so well-adjusted and informed! In my mind, real people aren’t consistently like that, but perhaps that says more about me than it does about the story.
August 26, 2020
Cute story. Nothing really stood out for me but is was entertaining and well written. A very good “Hallmark movie” type read but with sexy times. Wink. Wink.
October 12, 2024
Super sappy & sweet. I liked it.
Why try and make Michael good, tho? He's still a douche bag. I still hate him.
“You can’t lose me, Briar.” His eyes soften. “Because I am you, and you are me.”
Why try and make Michael good, tho? He's still a douche bag. I still hate him.
“You can’t lose me, Briar.” His eyes soften. “Because I am you, and you are me.”
May 21, 2021
PISSED OFF is wt I am! Wt the hell is this!? Wtf is u don't look gay? Can you please fucking respectfully explain wt gay is supposed to look like? R you kidding me?
The stereotypes in this are so horrible! Knowing darg queens make you gay!? So if I am know a few drag queens then I am not straight anymore? STOP BEING SO DISRESPECTFUL!
I am angry. Absolutely steaming. I can't even type properly bcs I am so angry. Aaaagghrrrrrrr!
The stereotypes in this are so horrible! Knowing darg queens make you gay!? So if I am know a few drag queens then I am not straight anymore? STOP BEING SO DISRESPECTFUL!
I am angry. Absolutely steaming. I can't even type properly bcs I am so angry. Aaaagghrrrrrrr!
February 21, 2021
Felt it was way too preachy. A lot of info dump about the LGBTQ+ spectrum and I'm not looking for that class in a romance. (And since I'm queer, a lot of info is very familiar to me) And also didn't like the need to immerse Jude in "gay culture" to be believable. There's no right or wrong way to be queer. You don't need to know gay actors and movies and drag queens.
July 18, 2020
*Received A Copy To Review From The Author*
Cute romance. I enjoyed this couple a whole lot. Though the beginning of the book felt a bit like I was reading a lecture on how to be an ally, that feeling goes away for most of the book, but comes back at the end with a study on how to be an accepting understanding parent tutorial. Which, fine okay, but I feel like it could've felt more natural and less preachy? I don't know. But like I said, the couple was great. I enjoyed their journey together. The shift from friends to lovers was kind of easy in some ways, but not without awkwardness, misunderstandings, reluctance, and fear. That part felt more realistic than some similar ones I've read. I did really enjoy it, mostly.
Cute romance. I enjoyed this couple a whole lot. Though the beginning of the book felt a bit like I was reading a lecture on how to be an ally, that feeling goes away for most of the book, but comes back at the end with a study on how to be an accepting understanding parent tutorial. Which, fine okay, but I feel like it could've felt more natural and less preachy? I don't know. But like I said, the couple was great. I enjoyed their journey together. The shift from friends to lovers was kind of easy in some ways, but not without awkwardness, misunderstandings, reluctance, and fear. That part felt more realistic than some similar ones I've read. I did really enjoy it, mostly.
September 9, 2020
3.5 These guys are adorable.
August 20, 2024
A very cute, very easy read. A great 'how to gay' book. Lovely friends, lovely work places (tattoo shop/bakery). And ultimately, very sexy. Friends to lovers/fiance/husband's.
Bi awakening.
Bi awakening.
July 16, 2020
Looking forward to this one. Fake relationship is one of my favorite tropes.
Briar wants a fake fiance as his date to a wedding. Jude, his straight friend and room mate agrees to help.
A really sweet, somewhat predictable but wholly enjoyable friends to lovers fake relationships story.
I look forward to more of this series.
Briar wants a fake fiance as his date to a wedding. Jude, his straight friend and room mate agrees to help.
A really sweet, somewhat predictable but wholly enjoyable friends to lovers fake relationships story.
I look forward to more of this series.
September 16, 2022
2.5*
*Dialogues are not believable, you can't tell me Jude and Briar live in Miami and talk like that.
*Marriage...really? that soon? Down boy, that went waaay too fast. It didn't even feel like insta love, it just felt like "hey, I'm over 30 and I really like you and you're here, wow, how didn't I think about that before, let's lock this down".
*Michael - his redemption, again, completely not-believable, i scrolled through those pages, because it's not real, it's not how men talk and the four of them together, talking like that? Where, in therapy?
*Jude and Briar going to work and calling A MEETING to tell their co-workers that now they're in a relationship!!
Jude is new to all this. He's straight. He's being the fake fiancee, right?
But it doesn't sound to me like he was straight, doing a favor to his gay roommate and then slowly came to like him. No.
No, to me it looks like Jude was gay. Point blank. How many men cuddle with their roommate and watch tv? Express affection in different ways? You're telling me a 34 year old man never once thought that he might swing that way? He was way too eager to kiss and touch and in this respect the bi-awakening wasn't really an awakening.
I appreciate the author explaining everything queer to the reader, but that much was a little too much. The dialogues become clinical, it's really not how people talk in their free time and I dare say it's not how men talk to each other. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I didn't like the writing and I didn't like the dialogues.
I am interested in the next book, which has a daddy kink, but I don't want to be disappointed.
September 22, 2021
9/22/2021-- Just finished the audio for this and it reminded me just how much I loved Jude and Briar's story. Kale Williams was an excellent choice for the series with his cool, even, sexy tone he really did great with this very large cast of characters. The few glimpses we got of Saint and his Scottish brogue has me eagerly anticipating book 2 on audio!
Wow I really loved this book! It had all of my favorite things wrapped into one...BFF to lovers, fake relationship that becomes real, fabulous dialogue, open and honest communication, a cast of wonderful friends, sexual awakening, two fabulous main characters, romance, intimacy, and smoking hot scenes...this was just such a perfect book! Jude and Briar were just amazing. I liked both of them right from the start. Their friendship was believable, I never doubted they cared for each other. I adored the time they spent together just talking and supporting one another, I absolutely loved all of their friends and how involved they were in their lives and involved in their journey to real love, and I really enjoyed how they both completed each other and watching them figure that out along the way. Stellar book by Mia Monroe, a new author for me...I cannot wait to read more from her and more stories from this world
Wow I really loved this book! It had all of my favorite things wrapped into one...BFF to lovers, fake relationship that becomes real, fabulous dialogue, open and honest communication, a cast of wonderful friends, sexual awakening, two fabulous main characters, romance, intimacy, and smoking hot scenes...this was just such a perfect book! Jude and Briar were just amazing. I liked both of them right from the start. Their friendship was believable, I never doubted they cared for each other. I adored the time they spent together just talking and supporting one another, I absolutely loved all of their friends and how involved they were in their lives and involved in their journey to real love, and I really enjoyed how they both completed each other and watching them figure that out along the way. Stellar book by Mia Monroe, a new author for me...I cannot wait to read more from her and more stories from this world
July 16, 2020
What could be better than best friends falling in love? Who knows you better and reciprocates that need to do anything for them that they can? I swear, sibling's best friend/best friend's sibling was my favourite trope for a while but the whole best friends to lovers thing is my jam nowadays.
This is also why I ADORED Marry Me: Tattoos and Temptation Book 1 by Mia Monroe.
Jude came into Briar's life when he needed him the most. When you breakup with a partner there's always things that you internalize. You can't tell me it's not true, unless you are generally a completely unfeeling person who has zero insecurities at all - it's not possible. Jude became his gym partner, his coffee buddy, his best friend, his roommate... And then he became his fake fiancé. What started as a ploy to show Briar's horrible ex that he'd moved on and done better than Michael could have ever expected turns into one of the sweetest love stories and bi awakening stories I've ever read when Jude realizes that what he's found with Briar is more real than anything he's ever experienced in his life.
Massive props Mia for an honest conversation that covers not only a little bit of bi erasure but how everyone, even members of the LGBTQ+ community can throw shade and hold prejudices towards just how fluid sexuality can be. I saw a lot of things I've heard spewed around me and it was wonderful to see them in print and be able to show just how much of a spectrum a person's sexuality can be. Sometimes there's a label that fits, but a lot of times you're this mixture who identifies with multiple labels and there's nothing wrong with any of it. Besides, everyone should have a bunch of work friends like Jude and Briar who don't bat an eye at questions or educating when people truly want to ask questions even if they aren't 100% sure that it's for their own self-discovery as well as playing a role for a friend.
So much of this book resonated with me and Jude's self-discovery was just enhanced by the beauty of his deepening relationship with his best friend. I wish I could go live with them, be a part of their world because it sounds a lot more fun than the one we're living in.
This is a fabulous start to a series, and I'm going to love every single word written in it!
Favourite Lines -
Side note: I have a very dear friend who calls his husband by the name of whichever sweet is his current favourite so this had me giggling on so many levels because I've heard him call his husband apple dumpling before! XD
Am I excited for the next book? ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY! You should run and one-click this baby today, you won't regret it.
This is also why I ADORED Marry Me: Tattoos and Temptation Book 1 by Mia Monroe.
Jude came into Briar's life when he needed him the most. When you breakup with a partner there's always things that you internalize. You can't tell me it's not true, unless you are generally a completely unfeeling person who has zero insecurities at all - it's not possible. Jude became his gym partner, his coffee buddy, his best friend, his roommate... And then he became his fake fiancé. What started as a ploy to show Briar's horrible ex that he'd moved on and done better than Michael could have ever expected turns into one of the sweetest love stories and bi awakening stories I've ever read when Jude realizes that what he's found with Briar is more real than anything he's ever experienced in his life.
Massive props Mia for an honest conversation that covers not only a little bit of bi erasure but how everyone, even members of the LGBTQ+ community can throw shade and hold prejudices towards just how fluid sexuality can be. I saw a lot of things I've heard spewed around me and it was wonderful to see them in print and be able to show just how much of a spectrum a person's sexuality can be. Sometimes there's a label that fits, but a lot of times you're this mixture who identifies with multiple labels and there's nothing wrong with any of it. Besides, everyone should have a bunch of work friends like Jude and Briar who don't bat an eye at questions or educating when people truly want to ask questions even if they aren't 100% sure that it's for their own self-discovery as well as playing a role for a friend.
"I have a friend who refuses to label himself at all. Is he less than us who feel comfortable identifying a certain way?"
"Of course not," Cairo says.
"No, he's equal," Gen adds.
Tate smiles. "It's a big beautiful rainbow where we can all find the place that fits us best."
So much of this book resonated with me and Jude's self-discovery was just enhanced by the beauty of his deepening relationship with his best friend. I wish I could go live with them, be a part of their world because it sounds a lot more fun than the one we're living in.
This is a fabulous start to a series, and I'm going to love every single word written in it!
Favourite Lines -
"Well, we are in a notoriously gay haven of a neighborhood. Boy's gotta show off his hard work."
Jude laughs. "Which I honestly get, but sitting nude on a bench and rubbing baby oil on your legs? Gross. Who knows who sat there before you."
It's always been easy to keep any longing for him in check. My brain just won't let me go there. Every time my eyes linger on his butt or gaze into his eyes too long, my mind conjures a 'he's straight' billboard in all caps as a reminder. But if I could find a guy like him to love, I'd be truly blessed.
"Tonight, we're going to Tru. Jumping in headfirst. Tomorrow, we brunch because that's what gays do on Sunday to nurse their inevitable hangovers."
"You deserve to feel important, Bri. Because you are to me. More than I can tell you." Maybe more than I can tell myself.
"My little croissant? Biscuit?" He's laughing now. "Oooh, apple dumpling."
"Groans audibly."
"My sexy little cannoli."
"Stahp."
Side note: I have a very dear friend who calls his husband by the name of whichever sweet is his current favourite so this had me giggling on so many levels because I've heard him call his husband apple dumpling before! XD
"How will I know if I'm a tempting top or a bossy bottom unless you fill my ass with all that pretty dick?"
"But we had a very real weekend getting to know each other on a different level."
"Oh, that sounds like some brown chicken cow, cow," Gen says, shaking his hips.
Am I excited for the next book? ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY! You should run and one-click this baby today, you won't regret it.
August 7, 2020
i love the romance but everything else is painful to read, like the stereotype, the dialogue with the friends, are all so cringy i couldn't even look pass them because they're bothered me so much.
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