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Table Topped #4
Plus One Bonus
Our relationship is fake, but my feelings are growing more real by the day.
Max sweeps me off my feet at our bus stop. He becomes my friend. Then, just when I think he might be into me, he throws me a curve ball by asking me to be his fake date to a wedding. He claims his buddies won’t leave him alone about finding a plus one. The catch is, the ceremony is months away, so we’ll have to be pretend datemates for a while.
I suspect there’s more going on than Max’s inability to handle confronting his meddlesome friends. Especially once I meet them all and see how much they care about Max. I keep going around in circles trying to figure out how he truly feels about me, all the while trying not to fall for him.
Plus One Bonus is the fourth book in the Table Topped series. It is an M/X (genderfluid) romance between Max, the newest member of his gaming group who misses home, has a secret penchant for manties, and can’t handle confrontation and Si/Simon/Simone, a snarky genderfluid tea seller.
CW: History of neglectful parents and parental abandonment, a side character’s infertility struggles are mentioned.
Max sweeps me off my feet at our bus stop. He becomes my friend. Then, just when I think he might be into me, he throws me a curve ball by asking me to be his fake date to a wedding. He claims his buddies won’t leave him alone about finding a plus one. The catch is, the ceremony is months away, so we’ll have to be pretend datemates for a while.
I suspect there’s more going on than Max’s inability to handle confronting his meddlesome friends. Especially once I meet them all and see how much they care about Max. I keep going around in circles trying to figure out how he truly feels about me, all the while trying not to fall for him.
Plus One Bonus is the fourth book in the Table Topped series. It is an M/X (genderfluid) romance between Max, the newest member of his gaming group who misses home, has a secret penchant for manties, and can’t handle confrontation and Si/Simon/Simone, a snarky genderfluid tea seller.
CW: History of neglectful parents and parental abandonment, a side character’s infertility struggles are mentioned.
339 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2021
7 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 15, 2022
The good
+ Max doing whatever he can to make sure he never misgenders or otherwise hurts Si
+ Si feeling comfortable around Max, even when Simone is presenting
+ Si not wearing compression vests around Max anymore because Si feels safe with him
+ Si feeling at home with Max's friends
+ Si realizing Max feels lonely and thinks he's unlovable, and thus not making an issue of it when Max goes a little too far sometimes in trying to do well by his friends
+ Max's hobby
+ Max's pan-awakening: "Seeing her made me realize that it's not just how she looks that I'm drawn to. It's the way she glowered so fiercely at the bus after getting splashed by it."
+ The way this book was not an extended epilogue of the previous couples' stories. The story was really about Max and Si, and all the others were only side characters
The neutral
o I didn't read the previous books, so all the role playing game stuff went right over my head. Glad Max enjoyed being the villain, though
The bad
- I have not read the previous books in the series, so I have no background on the personalities of Max's friends. However, I didn't like them very much. Who would abandon their friend with abandonment issues multiple times to set him up on a stealth date that he didn't ask for? He even said he didn't want his friends to set him up with dates, and his friends had definitely never asked what kind of guy Max was looking for anyway. I think the fact that Max went to such great lengths to prevent it from happening again because he seriously thought he'd possibly lose his friends over it really drives home that his friends did not pay enough attention to Max's wellbeing. There should have been extensive apologies about this behavior
- Max's friends had told Max he could always come to them with questions. So Max took them up on the offer to prevent mistakes around Si. And his friends... they laughed at him. Said things like "Seriously?", and generally made him feel bad about asking. What the hell? They were the ones that had offered help in the first place, and it's awful to treat someone badly when they're genuinely trying to do things right
- The will-they-won't-they went on for too long. Both of them had noticed signals in the other that there was mutual interest, but each also individually decided they'd have to break up when it was all over. At some point, it just wasn't fun anymore, but only hurt. It also took up a too large part of the book, and made the developments of their actual romantic relationship really rushed
- The first I love you happened off-page. After this much buildup, I want to read about that
- Many important conversations and events happened off-page, and were described afterwards. For example, the first time they had penetrative sex was not on-page. However, Max had lots of insecurities about being accepted for what he liked (topping with panties on, and bottoming with ripped panties), and Si even had a kink Si liked to indulge in. I think by leaving so much of it off-page or some not even mentioned at all, a big part of the connection was missing. Especially Max had mentioned before that sexual compatibility was really important for him, but I'm left with questions on whether all of his needs were met
I really wanted to like this book. I had looked forward to it for a while until I finally found the time to read it. Unfortunately, there were just too many little things that disappointed me. I'm glad these two people found each other, as they're perfect together. But I don't think I would recommend this book, because I spent a lot of time being sad and frustrated.
+ Max doing whatever he can to make sure he never misgenders or otherwise hurts Si
+ Si feeling comfortable around Max, even when Simone is presenting
+ Si not wearing compression vests around Max anymore because Si feels safe with him
+ Si feeling at home with Max's friends
+ Si realizing Max feels lonely and thinks he's unlovable, and thus not making an issue of it when Max goes a little too far sometimes in trying to do well by his friends
+ Max's hobby
+ Max's pan-awakening: "Seeing her made me realize that it's not just how she looks that I'm drawn to. It's the way she glowered so fiercely at the bus after getting splashed by it."
+ The way this book was not an extended epilogue of the previous couples' stories. The story was really about Max and Si, and all the others were only side characters
The neutral
o I didn't read the previous books, so all the role playing game stuff went right over my head. Glad Max enjoyed being the villain, though
The bad
- I have not read the previous books in the series, so I have no background on the personalities of Max's friends. However, I didn't like them very much. Who would abandon their friend with abandonment issues multiple times to set him up on a stealth date that he didn't ask for? He even said he didn't want his friends to set him up with dates, and his friends had definitely never asked what kind of guy Max was looking for anyway. I think the fact that Max went to such great lengths to prevent it from happening again because he seriously thought he'd possibly lose his friends over it really drives home that his friends did not pay enough attention to Max's wellbeing. There should have been extensive apologies about this behavior
- Max's friends had told Max he could always come to them with questions. So Max took them up on the offer to prevent mistakes around Si. And his friends... they laughed at him. Said things like "Seriously?", and generally made him feel bad about asking. What the hell? They were the ones that had offered help in the first place, and it's awful to treat someone badly when they're genuinely trying to do things right
- The will-they-won't-they went on for too long. Both of them had noticed signals in the other that there was mutual interest, but each also individually decided they'd have to break up when it was all over. At some point, it just wasn't fun anymore, but only hurt. It also took up a too large part of the book, and made the developments of their actual romantic relationship really rushed
- The first I love you happened off-page. After this much buildup, I want to read about that
- Many important conversations and events happened off-page, and were described afterwards. For example, the first time they had penetrative sex was not on-page. However, Max had lots of insecurities about being accepted for what he liked (topping with panties on, and bottoming with ripped panties), and Si even had a kink Si liked to indulge in. I think by leaving so much of it off-page or some not even mentioned at all, a big part of the connection was missing. Especially Max had mentioned before that sexual compatibility was really important for him, but I'm left with questions on whether all of his needs were met
I really wanted to like this book. I had looked forward to it for a while until I finally found the time to read it. Unfortunately, there were just too many little things that disappointed me. I'm glad these two people found each other, as they're perfect together. But I don't think I would recommend this book, because I spent a lot of time being sad and frustrated.
April 16, 2021
I received an ARC of +1 Bonus by Alex Silver from Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Max and Si/Simon/Simone and how fake dating becomes real. I thought it was cute that Max asked Si to fake date because he was too nervous to actually ask Si out and that it lasted for months in advance of the actual event he needed a date for. I loved seeing their friendship grow. There was mutual attraction from the start, but both of them were afraid to make themselves vulnerable because they’d been hurt before. It was a very slow burn.
When Max was introduced in book two of this series, he seemed kind of arrogant and obnoxious at first but then he eased up. We got to see even more of him in this book, and I really liked him. Si is genderfluid and is different genders on different days. Max was always careful to ask what kind of day it was. There are several other trans characters in this series, and while I can’t speak directly to that rep, it seemed respectful to me. There was a lot of open discussion and acceptance. But there were discussions of unsupportive family members.
Also, the friend group are all gamers, tabletop and role playing and video games. I know nothing about gaming but I still enjoyed it. There was insider-speak but it wasn’t off putting.
I give this book four stars and look forward to continuing the series.
This is the story of Max and Si/Simon/Simone and how fake dating becomes real. I thought it was cute that Max asked Si to fake date because he was too nervous to actually ask Si out and that it lasted for months in advance of the actual event he needed a date for. I loved seeing their friendship grow. There was mutual attraction from the start, but both of them were afraid to make themselves vulnerable because they’d been hurt before. It was a very slow burn.
When Max was introduced in book two of this series, he seemed kind of arrogant and obnoxious at first but then he eased up. We got to see even more of him in this book, and I really liked him. Si is genderfluid and is different genders on different days. Max was always careful to ask what kind of day it was. There are several other trans characters in this series, and while I can’t speak directly to that rep, it seemed respectful to me. There was a lot of open discussion and acceptance. But there were discussions of unsupportive family members.
Also, the friend group are all gamers, tabletop and role playing and video games. I know nothing about gaming but I still enjoyed it. There was insider-speak but it wasn’t off putting.
I give this book four stars and look forward to continuing the series.
April 20, 2021
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and I have chosen to leave an honest review.
Max is a cis gay male, Ci is a genderfluid person. This is my first experience with genderfluidity at all so I was thankful to read the genderfluid 101 that max got from some of his friends. I loved Si in all of their states of being, whether male, female, or nongendered.
both of these Characters need a boost in their confidence whether it Si being afraid to cook professionally because their fellow cooks didn't try to understand them or max thinking he is not enough to deserve the friends he has (note his friends love and admire him it is his hangup and maybe his friends didn't realize he felt that way but they tried to show him he was good enough for them.)
It took a little while to get a feel the the different states of Si's gender changes but it was worth the effort. While I might not go out of my way to find genderfluid books, I will not avoid them.
As a gamer, I liked seeing the gameplay in this book.
Max is a cis gay male, Ci is a genderfluid person. This is my first experience with genderfluidity at all so I was thankful to read the genderfluid 101 that max got from some of his friends. I loved Si in all of their states of being, whether male, female, or nongendered.
both of these Characters need a boost in their confidence whether it Si being afraid to cook professionally because their fellow cooks didn't try to understand them or max thinking he is not enough to deserve the friends he has (note his friends love and admire him it is his hangup and maybe his friends didn't realize he felt that way but they tried to show him he was good enough for them.)
It took a little while to get a feel the the different states of Si's gender changes but it was worth the effort. While I might not go out of my way to find genderfluid books, I will not avoid them.
As a gamer, I liked seeing the gameplay in this book.
April 7, 2021
A really good read
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how the characters developed as the story progressed and I also felt the anxiety and gender fluidity issues were dealt with in a really detailed but sensitive way. Will definitely read more from this author.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how the characters developed as the story progressed and I also felt the anxiety and gender fluidity issues were dealt with in a really detailed but sensitive way. Will definitely read more from this author.
April 14, 2021
Definitely my favorite couple of the series!
April 17, 2021
* genderfluid MC
* fake dating
* nerds
* gaming
* lace panties
Both MC have insecurities stemming from childhood/parents.
Plenty of gaming/Venture Quest action.
And all the other couples are included. Theo and Jude's wedding happens. And this runs alongside the previous book.
* fake dating
* nerds
* gaming
* lace panties
Both MC have insecurities stemming from childhood/parents.
Plenty of gaming/Venture Quest action.
And all the other couples are included. Theo and Jude's wedding happens. And this runs alongside the previous book.
December 13, 2021
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
I am a big sucker for Silver’s books. I am an even bigger sucker for trans stories that have realistic trans people. So I was clearly going to love this book.
I was giggling and super into this book. I was shipping Max and Si so hard. I was holding my breath before every kiss that almost happened. I was probably more frustrated than they were about the situations. I wanted to shake them both and demand that they fix their issues. I NEEDED them together.
There were so many cute scenes. The grocery shopping together, the cooking lessons, the tea deliveries. I was so enthralled. I read it all in one sitting. I needed every single detail immediately. I have not loved a group of friends more since I read Xan West’s books. There is something about this nerdy group that makes me feel at home and loved. There is just as sense of humor and support in every action. Everyone matters and no one will ever face anything alone.
Now onto the biggest issue I have with romance books: the sex scenes. I have such strong feelings about condom usage, I teach sex ed so this should not be surprising. This is one of the few books that actually worked for me fully. There was condom usage for everything! The risky behaviors were discussed and made as risk free as they could be. There was talk of getting tested and getting results. This was such a healthy and queer sex experience. This is now the standard for all healthy sex scenes. At one point a kink was brought up without talking first, but then the person even went “oops, I shouldn’t have just sprung that on you, lets talk about it”. It was WONDERFUL. The characters clearly were not perfect, but they were willing to try and be healthy.
The biggest issue I had with the book was there are now a lot of characters and relationships that are going on. If you have not read the other books, then a lot of details won’t make sense. I would want this to be a standalone since it is such a good trans rep book, I want people who want to get trans rep to be able to read it quickly. I can’t complain all that hard though, because I love the series I would recommend every book in it. So just a tiny complaint to show I did try to find one!
If you are looking for a book (or series) that has real queer characters, this is for you. There are people questioning their sexuality, gay people, trans people, bi people, ace people, and more. There are people of different shapes and hairiness. This group feels real and loving.
I got an ARC of this book.
I am a big sucker for Silver’s books. I am an even bigger sucker for trans stories that have realistic trans people. So I was clearly going to love this book.
I was giggling and super into this book. I was shipping Max and Si so hard. I was holding my breath before every kiss that almost happened. I was probably more frustrated than they were about the situations. I wanted to shake them both and demand that they fix their issues. I NEEDED them together.
There were so many cute scenes. The grocery shopping together, the cooking lessons, the tea deliveries. I was so enthralled. I read it all in one sitting. I needed every single detail immediately. I have not loved a group of friends more since I read Xan West’s books. There is something about this nerdy group that makes me feel at home and loved. There is just as sense of humor and support in every action. Everyone matters and no one will ever face anything alone.
Now onto the biggest issue I have with romance books: the sex scenes. I have such strong feelings about condom usage, I teach sex ed so this should not be surprising. This is one of the few books that actually worked for me fully. There was condom usage for everything! The risky behaviors were discussed and made as risk free as they could be. There was talk of getting tested and getting results. This was such a healthy and queer sex experience. This is now the standard for all healthy sex scenes. At one point a kink was brought up without talking first, but then the person even went “oops, I shouldn’t have just sprung that on you, lets talk about it”. It was WONDERFUL. The characters clearly were not perfect, but they were willing to try and be healthy.
The biggest issue I had with the book was there are now a lot of characters and relationships that are going on. If you have not read the other books, then a lot of details won’t make sense. I would want this to be a standalone since it is such a good trans rep book, I want people who want to get trans rep to be able to read it quickly. I can’t complain all that hard though, because I love the series I would recommend every book in it. So just a tiny complaint to show I did try to find one!
If you are looking for a book (or series) that has real queer characters, this is for you. There are people questioning their sexuality, gay people, trans people, bi people, ace people, and more. There are people of different shapes and hairiness. This group feels real and loving.
April 20, 2021
*4.5*
Another wonderful story in this great series by Alex Silver.
Max finds himself wanting a fake relationship when his friends constantly try to set him up, unsuccessfully, as they are all loved up and want him to be just as happy. The perfect person is Si, who he meets on the bus that they both get into town to get to work. They hit it off straight away and this also gives Si the chance to get to know other people as Si only really has is their cousin after being let down by previous friends and family who couldn't understand or accept Si being gender fluid.
Together, they make a great team and have a lot of fun. Si's character really seems to blossom with the new friendship and how open and inquisitive Max is, always wanting to make sure he treats Si right every moment, ensuring he uses the correct name (Si, Simon or Simone) and pronouns. Totally sweet as a couple as well, fake or not. It's obviously believable to all of Max's friends and the feelings and attraction that both are developing jumps off of the page with every interaction that they have. I did end up wanting to bang their heads together after a while but it all worked out in the end, with a healthy dose of angsting that they both experience. They share poor parenting history but it's made up with other family members stepping in and whilst they are quite different in the things they enjoy (Max gaming with his friends, Si cooking and baking), they work so well and balance out each others highs and lows.
Plus One Bonus is yet another story in the Table Topped series that opened my eyes to diverse characters and things that they experience. I've learned a lot and come to love all of the characters we meet throughout the series. They're all involved in this book at some point, especially with Jude and Theo's wedding coming up and it's amazing how welcoming and easy going they are with each other all of the time but you know if needed, they will come to anyone's defence at a moment's notice.
A highly recommended read, both the book and the series. It can be read as a stand alone but I'd say to read in order as the friendship group and relationships grow.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Another wonderful story in this great series by Alex Silver.
Max finds himself wanting a fake relationship when his friends constantly try to set him up, unsuccessfully, as they are all loved up and want him to be just as happy. The perfect person is Si, who he meets on the bus that they both get into town to get to work. They hit it off straight away and this also gives Si the chance to get to know other people as Si only really has is their cousin after being let down by previous friends and family who couldn't understand or accept Si being gender fluid.
Together, they make a great team and have a lot of fun. Si's character really seems to blossom with the new friendship and how open and inquisitive Max is, always wanting to make sure he treats Si right every moment, ensuring he uses the correct name (Si, Simon or Simone) and pronouns. Totally sweet as a couple as well, fake or not. It's obviously believable to all of Max's friends and the feelings and attraction that both are developing jumps off of the page with every interaction that they have. I did end up wanting to bang their heads together after a while but it all worked out in the end, with a healthy dose of angsting that they both experience. They share poor parenting history but it's made up with other family members stepping in and whilst they are quite different in the things they enjoy (Max gaming with his friends, Si cooking and baking), they work so well and balance out each others highs and lows.
Plus One Bonus is yet another story in the Table Topped series that opened my eyes to diverse characters and things that they experience. I've learned a lot and come to love all of the characters we meet throughout the series. They're all involved in this book at some point, especially with Jude and Theo's wedding coming up and it's amazing how welcoming and easy going they are with each other all of the time but you know if needed, they will come to anyone's defence at a moment's notice.
A highly recommended read, both the book and the series. It can be read as a stand alone but I'd say to read in order as the friendship group and relationships grow.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
April 22, 2021
Awww, this was so cute! I am glad it wasn't like super angsty, more like a slow-burn romance where we got to actually know the characters and watch the falling in love process, not just love itself. They were both delightful!
We get a dual POV, first person narrative from Si/Simon/Simone and from Max, which really helps to understand what they are feeling and how they are reaction to each other. I love first person POV for slow-burn romances, because they make the reading experience so much deeper and better! They are both fabulous characters with their dreams, ambitions, fears and quirks. I didn't have to guess what they were feeling or thinking, because it was all written down beautifully, not just their best characteristics, but also their fault and fears. I also liked how Max was adapting and learning about gender-fluidity, even if I did need a dictionary for couple of words. It was still an all-encompassing experience, because I not only got to meet these too characters, but also expanded my knowledge. I will forget the definitions by morning, but nice try ;D
The only thing I was not a fan of was that it centered so much around side characters from previous books. I am not opposed to catching up with previous characters, but the sheer number of all those friends and all the hints about what happened to them in their books were rather confusing. Well at least for me. I did like seeing how they interacting with the main characters from this book, but I wouldn't say this is a standalone. There are no major spoilers from previous books, but enough hints to let you guess, so I would suggest to read the series in order for maximum enjoyment ;)
**I was provided an ARC of this book from the author for an honest review**
April 20, 2021
I think I made the mistake of jumping into this author AND book mid series. I feel like there was a lot I wasn't connected to because I wasn't there from the beginning. Although, I got the gist of everything, I lacked an emotional attachment to any of the characters.
Now, that being said, I really enjoyed Si/Simon/Simone. I haven't read anything about a gender fluid person before and it was great. I loved seeing how Si worked with the differences between their identities and how the dysmorphia can be so troubling. It was something I've never encountered before and it was cool to see it. I can hardly say if it is representative but I imagine it can be exactly that hard going through life so disjointed from societal standards not once but in three different ways while also being on high alert that some idiot somewhere is going to get so offended by your existence that they would harm you. I can't imagine it's easy, and I feel that with Si. I also loved seeing them gain friends who not only don't care what they present as, but accept them wholeheartedly. It's awesome.
The plot. Since this is a fictional book, I need to talk about the plot of course, and not rant about how cool Si was. There wasn't anything bad about it, but it wasn't exciting either. I just enjoyed it. I thought I could use a little less full on gaming snippets, and that's coming from someone who is a D&D nerd. I thought, for me at least, it dragged the story a little bit. Again, I didn't hate it, just felt it was a little too long for my tastes.
In the end, Si and Max get a sweet HEA and I adored that for them. Solid 3 stars.
I received this eARC for free from Gar Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
Now, that being said, I really enjoyed Si/Simon/Simone. I haven't read anything about a gender fluid person before and it was great. I loved seeing how Si worked with the differences between their identities and how the dysmorphia can be so troubling. It was something I've never encountered before and it was cool to see it. I can hardly say if it is representative but I imagine it can be exactly that hard going through life so disjointed from societal standards not once but in three different ways while also being on high alert that some idiot somewhere is going to get so offended by your existence that they would harm you. I can't imagine it's easy, and I feel that with Si. I also loved seeing them gain friends who not only don't care what they present as, but accept them wholeheartedly. It's awesome.
The plot. Since this is a fictional book, I need to talk about the plot of course, and not rant about how cool Si was. There wasn't anything bad about it, but it wasn't exciting either. I just enjoyed it. I thought I could use a little less full on gaming snippets, and that's coming from someone who is a D&D nerd. I thought, for me at least, it dragged the story a little bit. Again, I didn't hate it, just felt it was a little too long for my tastes.
In the end, Si and Max get a sweet HEA and I adored that for them. Solid 3 stars.
I received this eARC for free from Gar Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
April 8, 2021
ARC received for honest review
3.5 stars rounded up.
//I already wrote this once and it all got deleted :L so here’s the tl:dr version because my patience is *thin* rn//
This book is a sweet queer fake dating romance. The characters bring enough personal interest to make it enjoyable and I really love the rep, especially the variety of it (body type, gender, sexuality, and on-). Si’s journey joining in with Max’s friend group was lovely to see on page, that feeling of finding people who just get you and accept you and make you feel at home is always good.
And Max’s friend-group-imposter-syndrome was VERY real for me.
The topics and rep included in this story felt well handled; realistic conversations and experiences explored and all done with care and respect.
The book as whole felt a little flat to me (also partly due to my attention span suffering right now); other than Max’s navigation of Si’s gender fluidity and their ongoing reciprocated regret of it being “fake dating” without talking about it, not much happens. This isnt necessarily a bad thing, its an easy and enjoyable read, the rep is good and the friend group is clearly a cast of characters that the author has spent time with in previous books.
I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a something sweet and easy to read, especially if you’re looking for good gender fluidity rep in your queer romances!
3.5 stars rounded up.
//I already wrote this once and it all got deleted :L so here’s the tl:dr version because my patience is *thin* rn//
This book is a sweet queer fake dating romance. The characters bring enough personal interest to make it enjoyable and I really love the rep, especially the variety of it (body type, gender, sexuality, and on-). Si’s journey joining in with Max’s friend group was lovely to see on page, that feeling of finding people who just get you and accept you and make you feel at home is always good.
And Max’s friend-group-imposter-syndrome was VERY real for me.
The topics and rep included in this story felt well handled; realistic conversations and experiences explored and all done with care and respect.
The book as whole felt a little flat to me (also partly due to my attention span suffering right now); other than Max’s navigation of Si’s gender fluidity and their ongoing reciprocated regret of it being “fake dating” without talking about it, not much happens. This isnt necessarily a bad thing, its an easy and enjoyable read, the rep is good and the friend group is clearly a cast of characters that the author has spent time with in previous books.
I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a something sweet and easy to read, especially if you’re looking for good gender fluidity rep in your queer romances!
April 18, 2021
Title - Plus One Bonus (Table Topped #4)
Author - Alex Silver
Genre - MX Romance
Published - April 2021
Pages - 339 Pages
Summary - When all of Max's friends are paired off and in relationships, they won't stop pestering him about finding a boyfriend, after being set up on several disastrous dates Max decides it's time to do something about it. When Max meets Si (Simon/Simone) he comes up with a plan for them to start fake dating to get his friends of his back. The problem is the more time Max and Si spend together the less fake the relationship feels.
What I thought about this book - Fake relationships is one of my favourite tropes. I did like this book, I think my problem was that I haven't read the other 3 books in the series before I read this one so i would say maybe read the others first before reading this book. I think my star ratingwould be higher if id read the others first. that being said. I loved the characters and I did enjoy the story if I did find it a little slow. i would say this is a slow burn book which im not 100% a fan off i like my books hot and steamy from the get go. but like i say i did enjoy this book and once i have read the others in the series i will rerate
Would I Recommend - Yes
Would I Read Again/Continue The Series - Yes/Yes
Rating - 3*
Reviewed by LucyLui
Author - Alex Silver
Genre - MX Romance
Published - April 2021
Pages - 339 Pages
Summary - When all of Max's friends are paired off and in relationships, they won't stop pestering him about finding a boyfriend, after being set up on several disastrous dates Max decides it's time to do something about it. When Max meets Si (Simon/Simone) he comes up with a plan for them to start fake dating to get his friends of his back. The problem is the more time Max and Si spend together the less fake the relationship feels.
What I thought about this book - Fake relationships is one of my favourite tropes. I did like this book, I think my problem was that I haven't read the other 3 books in the series before I read this one so i would say maybe read the others first before reading this book. I think my star ratingwould be higher if id read the others first. that being said. I loved the characters and I did enjoy the story if I did find it a little slow. i would say this is a slow burn book which im not 100% a fan off i like my books hot and steamy from the get go. but like i say i did enjoy this book and once i have read the others in the series i will rerate
Would I Recommend - Yes
Would I Read Again/Continue The Series - Yes/Yes
Rating - 3*
Reviewed by LucyLui
April 20, 2021
Plus One Bonus is a great addition to the Table Topped series. The fourth book in this Alex Silver series, it's definitely best read as a part of the series to get the full experience of the friend group.
As with the entire series, Max and Si's relationship involves plenty of gaming moments. These aren't my favorite scenes, but I do love the friendships in the group, with the banter and sarcasm.
And of course, Max's friends are the reason everything starts with Si/Simon/Simone as Max needs a fake relationship to get his friends to back off from setting him up.
I adore the way everything unfolds for these two. Slow burn is the key here though, as the two start falling quickly, but take a while to admit it.
The gender fluid aspect is extremely well done. I absolutely love and appreciate every moment of this element. Si/Simon/Simone. The way the author writes all three is fabulous. The reader can clearly feel the differences along with the characters. If you're ever looking for a great gender fluid character, look no further.
I love the way Max deals with and react to Si's different gender feels, and handles it supremely well. The two are clearly wonderful together.
Plus One Bonus is a fun fake relationship romance. Alex Silver definitely delivers with this sweet story.
As with the entire series, Max and Si's relationship involves plenty of gaming moments. These aren't my favorite scenes, but I do love the friendships in the group, with the banter and sarcasm.
And of course, Max's friends are the reason everything starts with Si/Simon/Simone as Max needs a fake relationship to get his friends to back off from setting him up.
I adore the way everything unfolds for these two. Slow burn is the key here though, as the two start falling quickly, but take a while to admit it.
The gender fluid aspect is extremely well done. I absolutely love and appreciate every moment of this element. Si/Simon/Simone. The way the author writes all three is fabulous. The reader can clearly feel the differences along with the characters. If you're ever looking for a great gender fluid character, look no further.
I love the way Max deals with and react to Si's different gender feels, and handles it supremely well. The two are clearly wonderful together.
Plus One Bonus is a fun fake relationship romance. Alex Silver definitely delivers with this sweet story.
April 6, 2021
Plus One is a sweet fake relationship to lovers MM Romance featuring one genderfluid character.
Max and Si/Simon/Simone meet at a bus stop while traveling to work. They get to talking and get fast friends. When Max's friends try to set up dates for him for a wedding, he wants to escape one whole week of well-meant dates and asks Si/Simon/Simone to pose as his boyfriend. But what started as fake will become reality very soon.
I loved the characters. Si/Simon/Simone is my favorite character in the book. The struggle with society accepting genderfluidity is portrayed beautifully and even the struggle of the character with it feels real. And Si/Simon/Simone has not a "perfect" body but is softer around the middle, which I really loved.
I also liked Max. He is soo accepting and his friends are awesome. But it bothered me a bit how long it took that Max finally finds his guts to approach Si/Simon/Simone and confesses his feelings.
I could connect with the characters, the story is amazing and the writing is a real beauty.
A beautiful story and a total recommendation from me to read it!
Max and Si/Simon/Simone meet at a bus stop while traveling to work. They get to talking and get fast friends. When Max's friends try to set up dates for him for a wedding, he wants to escape one whole week of well-meant dates and asks Si/Simon/Simone to pose as his boyfriend. But what started as fake will become reality very soon.
I loved the characters. Si/Simon/Simone is my favorite character in the book. The struggle with society accepting genderfluidity is portrayed beautifully and even the struggle of the character with it feels real. And Si/Simon/Simone has not a "perfect" body but is softer around the middle, which I really loved.
I also liked Max. He is soo accepting and his friends are awesome. But it bothered me a bit how long it took that Max finally finds his guts to approach Si/Simon/Simone and confesses his feelings.
I could connect with the characters, the story is amazing and the writing is a real beauty.
A beautiful story and a total recommendation from me to read it!
April 7, 2021
Max and Si meet and start up a friendship after Max shares his umbrella at their morning bus stop. Max doesn't do relationships very well but he finds that he is becoming very interested in Si and would like to know more. His friends are always trying to set him up and with a big wedding coming up, his friends are going in to overdrive. In a moment of genius, Max asks Si if he would be willing to be his fake boyfriend for the next few months. Si is genderfluid and is worried that Max will not be able to accept all of him but he is willing to help Max out. The author did a very good job at explaining the struggles that come with being genderfluid. I loved how Max was aware and wanted to learn how to be respectful towards Si with whatever persona (he, she, they) decided to represent on any given day. As the months go by and Max and Si/Simon/Simone spend more time together, it becomes apparent that they are really attracted to each other and secretly would like for their arrangement to become real.
April 11, 2021
I really enjoyed this fourth book in the series. I really liked Max from the first time he appeared and I was so happy to see him get his happy ending. I thought that Si/Simon/Simone was such a great character. Si was just so sweet and adorable, I really enjoyed getting to know Si/Simon/Simone and getting to see every aspect of the character's personality. I loved seeing all of the previous characters of the series, they are a really great group of characters. Max's insecurities were just so adorable and I loved that his friends and Si/Simon/Simone worked so hard to make him know that he was a part of their group and that they all really liked him. The book is such a slow burn but I really enjoyed that aspect since it allowed Max and Si to develop a solid friendship. The back and forth of the two of them with the "what happens after the wedding" in their minds was a little frustrating, I just wanted to shake them and tell them to talk to each other. The scenes at the end of the book though were well worth the wait with their steaminess. I absolutely recommend this book.
July 26, 2024
Max sweeps Si/Simon/Simone off their feet at their bus stop. He becomes their friend. Then, just when they think he might be into them, he throws a curve ball by asking them to be his fake date for a wedding. He claims his buddies won’t leave him alone about finding a plus one. The catch is, that the ceremony is months away, so we’ll have to be pretend datemates for a while. They suspect there’s more going on than Max’s inability to handle confronting his meddlesome friends. Especially once they meet them all and see how much they care about Max. They keep going around in circles trying to figure out how he truly feels about them, all the while trying not to fall for him.
This was a sweet story although I did find the fake datemate and deception a little tiresome after a while. I did love the was Max was careful about checking who they were and asking permission to touch them. Si/Simon/Simone was an absolute sweetheart who I would love to hug one day. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an M/X (genderfluid) story with mature content.
This was a sweet story although I did find the fake datemate and deception a little tiresome after a while. I did love the was Max was careful about checking who they were and asking permission to touch them. Si/Simon/Simone was an absolute sweetheart who I would love to hug one day. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an M/X (genderfluid) story with mature content.
April 10, 2021
This is a great story with wonderful characters, an amazing storyline and I really enjoyed it. Si and Max are perfect for each other and I love how their relationship develops. Max is so accepting and supportive of his friends and when he meets Si he is instantly attracted to and intrigued by his new friend. Si is wonderful and I was saddened as well as inspired by the struggles he/she/they faced as well as by the immense courage it took for Si to be exactly who they are in spite of the general lack of understanding and acceptance for being genderfluid. Neither of them have a lot of experience with relationships but they are exactly what the other needs. Their friendship becomes so much more over time and I love that they both have so much to learn from each other. The secondary characters are incredible and I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
April 20, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It was great to read a book that is set in the city I grew up in of Vancouver, which isn’t often. Fake Boyfriends and slow burns are not my favourite tropes, but this works. Now on the with the review. Matt, gamer, and a PA of a videogame software company meets Simon/Si/Simone at the bus stop and share’s his umbrella. Our MCs having watching each other for few weeks and have their an awkward, stumbling flirtation. Unfortunately, Max’s miss genders Simon/Si/Simone. I have so many good things to say about this book. Max and Simon/Si/Simone’s friendship, attraction that moves along with a nice pace. Max not really understanding how to workout the subtle intricacies of being friends with and “fake” dating a genderfluid person. Simon/Si/Simone’s trying to believe that Max could be attracted to him. His friends, gaming, cos-play was icing on the cake.
I would recommend Plus One Bonus. For an honest review I received an arc by GRR
I would recommend Plus One Bonus. For an honest review I received an arc by GRR
April 21, 2021
**ARC Review** This is the first for me with this author and I enjoyed it. I'm late in the series but I don't think I missed out on too much. I will say I learned a lot about genderfluid. A lot of terms I wasn't use to had me doing searches...Loved it. Loved Si/Simon/Simone...being true to oneself and not worrying about how people think of you...well they did have a little anxiety and I was glad that Max was so supportive. Only thing about this story that had me wanting to pull my hair out is there "fake" relationship. The push and pull...the not communicating the true feels had me frustrated. This was the ULTIMATE slow burn romance...this book was little long to not have no kind of intimacy until 3/4 way in...I know a good story shouldn't just be about sex but dang a little flirting, some casual/sensual touches and some kisses would have been nice ...especially what kink Max had that was mentioned throughout the story. All in all I liked it and learn loads. Nice!
April 21, 2021
Who thinks friends providing blind dates for single friends, is a good idea?Max's friends in his gaming group of Venture Quest are his closest friends. He is the newest member of the group. He is pressured by his friends to find a plus one for Jude and Theo's wedding. Max is the victim of the group's matchmaking efforts. The date with Bob, is a must read! Si, a really nice guy, suffers from social anxiety. But, he's an absolutely fun guy. Si, is genderfluid and worried how people will take him. Max is open and accepting and intent on showing compassion and respect. How accepting is Max? Is Si, willing to take a chance on Max? Will Max's friends accept Si? Nice story. Max and Si provide some absolutely funny dialogues. Supporting characters are fun. Well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. Nice cover art!
April 29, 2021
I liked this story, but I thought that there were a few places where it could've slimmed down a little bit. But, that's just a me thing, and your mileage may vary.
I loved Si and how we got to see the identity struggle and trying to deal with dysphoria. A lot of times we see trans or genderfluid characters that are incredibly comfortable with who they are and who are further along in their personal journeys, and I'm happy to see those characters, but it's also nice to see someone who isn't as far along in that journey.
I like Max and the fact that he is the one doing the emotional labor of making sure that Si is comfortable. He doesn't depend on Si to correct him when he makes mistakes, he is proactive at making sure that he is treating Si right.
The friend group is a lot of fun.
I loved Si and how we got to see the identity struggle and trying to deal with dysphoria. A lot of times we see trans or genderfluid characters that are incredibly comfortable with who they are and who are further along in their personal journeys, and I'm happy to see those characters, but it's also nice to see someone who isn't as far along in that journey.
I like Max and the fact that he is the one doing the emotional labor of making sure that Si is comfortable. He doesn't depend on Si to correct him when he makes mistakes, he is proactive at making sure that he is treating Si right.
The friend group is a lot of fun.
April 5, 2023
Summary: Max is sick of his friends’ unrelenting matchmaking, so when he meets Si/Simon/Simone at a bus stop and strikes up a friendship, he asks Si to be his fake date to a wedding.
Review: This is a really nice story. I enjoyed Max and Si, and how they interacted. I loved how respectful Max was of Si, always checking in to see what kind of day it is before he makes assumptions that could hurt Si. I found it immensely interesting and educational to get Si’s POV, to gain insight into what it can be like to have a genderfluid identity. I loved the group of friends and how welcoming and accepting they were with Si.
Even though we’re given insight into why both are afraid of getting hurt, it still makes it a little frustrating that they both want a real relationship with each other but don’t make a move to do that. I think this is frustrating because they both seem to be able to read the other well enough to at least have a feeling that the other feels the same way, yet still they don’t try to change anything. It sort of made the conflict feel a little false. On the plus side, fake dating for so long gave them plenty of time to know that they really did like each other as people and weren't just in lust with each other.
This is an enjoyable book, and I am glad I read it.
Review: This is a really nice story. I enjoyed Max and Si, and how they interacted. I loved how respectful Max was of Si, always checking in to see what kind of day it is before he makes assumptions that could hurt Si. I found it immensely interesting and educational to get Si’s POV, to gain insight into what it can be like to have a genderfluid identity. I loved the group of friends and how welcoming and accepting they were with Si.
Even though we’re given insight into why both are afraid of getting hurt, it still makes it a little frustrating that they both want a real relationship with each other but don’t make a move to do that. I think this is frustrating because they both seem to be able to read the other well enough to at least have a feeling that the other feels the same way, yet still they don’t try to change anything. It sort of made the conflict feel a little false. On the plus side, fake dating for so long gave them plenty of time to know that they really did like each other as people and weren't just in lust with each other.
This is an enjoyable book, and I am glad I read it.
April 13, 2021
ᐯᗴᖇᖇᖇᖇY ꌚᒪOᗯ ᗷᑌᖇᑎ, ꌚᗯᗴᗴT ᖇOᗰᗩᑎᑕᗴ
‘Plus One Bonus’ was a very slow read for me. What should’ve taken 3-4 hours was more like 3-4 days. It just didn’t “grab me”.
Fake Relationship has always been a favorite trope of mine, but lately it seems those involved leave off the “fake” entirely too soon. I loved that Max & Si cherished their budding friendship too much to possibly jeopardize it, even though they both suspected the other had feelings as well.
I appreciated the insight into Si’s days as Simon, Si, and Simone and especially how Max bumbled around but never backed off on learning how to be the best friend he could be, no matter how Si presented that day.
Overall a very sweet story.
‘Plus One Bonus’ was a very slow read for me. What should’ve taken 3-4 hours was more like 3-4 days. It just didn’t “grab me”.
Fake Relationship has always been a favorite trope of mine, but lately it seems those involved leave off the “fake” entirely too soon. I loved that Max & Si cherished their budding friendship too much to possibly jeopardize it, even though they both suspected the other had feelings as well.
I appreciated the insight into Si’s days as Simon, Si, and Simone and especially how Max bumbled around but never backed off on learning how to be the best friend he could be, no matter how Si presented that day.
Overall a very sweet story.
April 17, 2021
4.5 stars
This was a sweet, slow boil easy read.
Max is fed up with being set up by his partnered friends and is too insecure to tell them so. When he meets Si/Simon/Simone he wants to ask them out but suggests a fake date arrangement instead. From there they spend a lot of time together getting to know one another and falling for each other while pretending not to. Max is ruled by his very relatable insecurities and is so sweet and lovely to Si/Simon/Simone whose gender fluidity was portrayed sympathetically and very well. They are lovely together and are by the end, best friends as well as lovers.
I am happy to recommend this as an easy, sweet, rewarding read.
I was given an ARC of this book to review and this is my honest opinion.
This was a sweet, slow boil easy read.
Max is fed up with being set up by his partnered friends and is too insecure to tell them so. When he meets Si/Simon/Simone he wants to ask them out but suggests a fake date arrangement instead. From there they spend a lot of time together getting to know one another and falling for each other while pretending not to. Max is ruled by his very relatable insecurities and is so sweet and lovely to Si/Simon/Simone whose gender fluidity was portrayed sympathetically and very well. They are lovely together and are by the end, best friends as well as lovers.
I am happy to recommend this as an easy, sweet, rewarding read.
I was given an ARC of this book to review and this is my honest opinion.
April 19, 2021
This story of Max and Si/Simone is a wonderful take on the fake date to the wedding trope. Max's friends are trying their best to get him to be himself and find someone to make him happy and for various reasons, he's fighting them all the way. Si/Simone is also struggling to build they life they want. Both are settling for less than they can be and have but when they get together, sparks fly, walls come down, and honesty finally leads to them both getting what they need and want. I really loved the pacing of this story. Both characters had some things to think about and work through and I don't think a faster pace would have worked well for me. It is definitely a slow burn, but a necessary one for both characters and reader.
April 9, 2021
This is my introduction to this author and I was quite impressed. I am not a gamer but the intricacies of the gaming were clear BUT took up more words than necessary. My partner has dressed in elaborate gowns for Pride and indicated to me that it not drag - when dressed that way it feels like a girl and yet most the time presents as male so I related to Si feeling the need to be a girl some days. I thought the character development was excellent. The plot development was good but went a little slowly when it came to gaming. It made me feel like I would like to read some of the author's other books.
April 13, 2021
Enjoyable Story!
Alex Silver is a new to me author. I didn't read any of the other books in the series but I don't think it's necessary. A backstory is given for the important characters in this story. I really liked this story but there was something missing. I can't put my finger on what it is though. Max, tired of his friends trying to play matchmaker, decides to ask someone new. He met Si at the bus stop one morning. The rain and Si not having an umbrella gives him a chance to introduce himself. It actually is a very adorable meet cute. I liked Si's character. Every book I read with a genderfluid MC gives me a chance to learn something new.
Alex Silver is a new to me author. I didn't read any of the other books in the series but I don't think it's necessary. A backstory is given for the important characters in this story. I really liked this story but there was something missing. I can't put my finger on what it is though. Max, tired of his friends trying to play matchmaker, decides to ask someone new. He met Si at the bus stop one morning. The rain and Si not having an umbrella gives him a chance to introduce himself. It actually is a very adorable meet cute. I liked Si's character. Every book I read with a genderfluid MC gives me a chance to learn something new.
April 20, 2021
4.5 Stars
Fake boyfriends finding love, done right.
I am a big fan of Author Silver's writing and I enjoyed each moment of this fake boyfriend /friends to lovers romance.
I loved Si's character from the get go and it was lovely to read the slow burn nature of their romance, their sizzling chemistry below the surface, lots of flirty and the fluff as well as good communication (which is something that I find Author Silver always gets right !)
I enjoyed the side characters, the gaming references and the intimate scenes, even the kisses and cuddles was sweet to read.
Looking forward to more books in this series.
Highly recommend to fans of the fake boyfriend trope.
Fake boyfriends finding love, done right.
I am a big fan of Author Silver's writing and I enjoyed each moment of this fake boyfriend /friends to lovers romance.
I loved Si's character from the get go and it was lovely to read the slow burn nature of their romance, their sizzling chemistry below the surface, lots of flirty and the fluff as well as good communication (which is something that I find Author Silver always gets right !)
I enjoyed the side characters, the gaming references and the intimate scenes, even the kisses and cuddles was sweet to read.
Looking forward to more books in this series.
Highly recommend to fans of the fake boyfriend trope.
April 21, 2021
Perfect!
I love this series. So much love in the family they all have made. And the support they have for each other is amazing. I’ve never been one to believe in gender specific roles and I love how the author shows that here. The respect and acceptance that these friends have for each other and how they are raising their kids to be the same is inspiring. I’m blown away by the author’s skill. Especially admire the way they betrayed Si, Simon, Simone. It takes mad talent to have such smooth transition com one to the next. Wow it’s so beautifully done. I sure I’m not the only one who wishes for friends like this gang.
I love this series. So much love in the family they all have made. And the support they have for each other is amazing. I’ve never been one to believe in gender specific roles and I love how the author shows that here. The respect and acceptance that these friends have for each other and how they are raising their kids to be the same is inspiring. I’m blown away by the author’s skill. Especially admire the way they betrayed Si, Simon, Simone. It takes mad talent to have such smooth transition com one to the next. Wow it’s so beautifully done. I sure I’m not the only one who wishes for friends like this gang.
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