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You're My Home
A love story you can live in…
Zach
Brady is my overprotective best friend, and I love him like this. He’s so much bigger than me and makes me feel safe. We are opposites in so many ways, but when I’m cuddled up against him and he reads to me, all those differences fade away. Brady promises to be friends forever, but what will he say when he finds out my secret? Will I lose my best friend and the boy I love more than life itself?
Brady
Zach is so tiny and tenderhearted. All I want to do is protect him from the world. He’s my sweet bookworm and never wants to hurt anyone. I love my best friend, but how do I give him all of me when I don’t understand myself yet? If nothing else, I can shower him with all the acceptance and love he deserves.
Zach and Brady come from completely different social and religious backgrounds, but they don’t let that weaken their friendship. Both teens have to go through a journey of self-discovery, including all the heartaches and joys that come with growing up. As they get older, will they find themselves and how they fit together?
You’re My Home is a sweet and emotional coming of age story. It’s a slow-burn, hurt/comfort, teen best friends to adult lovers romance. There will be tears, laughter, new friends, and steamy lovemaking as Zach and Brady learn the meaning of true acceptance of oneself and others.
**Trigger warnings: domestic violence, trauma, PTSD, and religious homophobia.
Zach
Brady is my overprotective best friend, and I love him like this. He’s so much bigger than me and makes me feel safe. We are opposites in so many ways, but when I’m cuddled up against him and he reads to me, all those differences fade away. Brady promises to be friends forever, but what will he say when he finds out my secret? Will I lose my best friend and the boy I love more than life itself?
Brady
Zach is so tiny and tenderhearted. All I want to do is protect him from the world. He’s my sweet bookworm and never wants to hurt anyone. I love my best friend, but how do I give him all of me when I don’t understand myself yet? If nothing else, I can shower him with all the acceptance and love he deserves.
Zach and Brady come from completely different social and religious backgrounds, but they don’t let that weaken their friendship. Both teens have to go through a journey of self-discovery, including all the heartaches and joys that come with growing up. As they get older, will they find themselves and how they fit together?
You’re My Home is a sweet and emotional coming of age story. It’s a slow-burn, hurt/comfort, teen best friends to adult lovers romance. There will be tears, laughter, new friends, and steamy lovemaking as Zach and Brady learn the meaning of true acceptance of oneself and others.
**Trigger warnings: domestic violence, trauma, PTSD, and religious homophobia.
460 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 3, 2021
397 people are currently reading
3786 people want to read
About the author
Katie Moore
1 book260 followersKatie Moore is a writer of romance and happily ever afters. She is very compassionate and tries her best to show others kindness. She loves to write and escape into some imaginary world she's created in her head. If she's not writing, she's reading a book. Preferably one with emotion that makes her laugh and cry. Katie is usually snuggled up with her four dogs, Izzy, Bess, Violet, and Skye.
Katie Moore is the author of You're My Home, a gay romance novel. She let her heart write Zach and Brady's story. She hopes all her readers love them as much as she does.
Kindness is a beautiful gift to give someone and love is everything <3
Katie Moore is the author of You're My Home, a gay romance novel. She let her heart write Zach and Brady's story. She hopes all her readers love them as much as she does.
Kindness is a beautiful gift to give someone and love is everything <3
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 872 reviews
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July 9, 2021DNF @ 54%
one of my worst reads no doubt.
one of my worst reads no doubt.
July 24, 2025
~2.5~
This book is heart-felt. The MCs, especially Zach, are pure sunshine. If I were basing my review purely on feels, I'd go with 4 stars because I couldn't help but fall in love with Zach and Brady, as well as Brady's (and eventually Zach's) friends and family.
But (and sadly, the "but" is necessary), this story doesn't feels realistic. The characters are either really, really good or really, really bad. The best villains and heroes are complex and multidimensional. Unfortunately, Moore gives us starkly contrasting opposites, with no shades of gray.
Furthermore, the characters don't act age-appropriate. The story begins when the MCs are 13 and progresses through their final year of high school and the summer after graduation. Zach acts like a little boy at all times. He loves stuffies and cuddles and Disney movies. He and Brady hold hands, and Zach sits on Brady's lap. The entire football team protects Zach.
This is a world with no bullies (except Zach's evil parents), like a fairytale where the best things happen to the wounded princess as the brave hero slays dragons along the way.
Unlike Zach, Brady is the man. He protects Zach and worries about him because Zach is so tiny. Much is made of Zach's small stature (he's barely over 5 feet), which is quite patronizing.
Brady goes off to the police academy and buys a house. Zach decorates it like the little homemaker he is. Brady is possessive and tells Zach what he can eat, where he can go. They're the same age and only 18, yet through most of the book Zach acts like a child, while Brady struts around like a world-weary 40-year-old, paying the bills and taking everyone on vacation.
Numerous stereotypes about feminine men, bottoms, and tops made me cringe. I was truly rooting for the MCs while being distracted by the sheer ridiculousness of the setup. I mean, could Brady's family be any more perfect? 50s TV sitcoms have nothing on the Wellmans.
To break up the sweetness, the author throws in family drama (in the form of Zach's bio parents) and homophobia (Zach's bitchy girlfriend and her horrible family), but these scenes felt scripted and manufactured.
There's also a forced physical separation during which the MCs, who are as close as two people can be, communicate in half-truths. Brady sleeps in the same bed as his friend because he's lonely (but it's okay because she's a lesbian), and Zach gets all buff and has a makeover.
Don't get me wrong. I liked not only Zach and Brady but their friends Kelly and Connor, the main secondary characters, who I'm still hoping will get their own story. Also, while initially the book is very chaste, when the steam arrives at the 75% mark, it's sexy and intimate.
I don't want to give this book a low rating, especially after reading the author's afterword. She's genuinely protective of these characters and initially wrote this story for a special person in her life. I'm rounding up to 3 stars because this is Moore's first published work, and I think she has potential to grow as an author.
This book is heart-felt. The MCs, especially Zach, are pure sunshine. If I were basing my review purely on feels, I'd go with 4 stars because I couldn't help but fall in love with Zach and Brady, as well as Brady's (and eventually Zach's) friends and family.
But (and sadly, the "but" is necessary), this story doesn't feels realistic. The characters are either really, really good or really, really bad. The best villains and heroes are complex and multidimensional. Unfortunately, Moore gives us starkly contrasting opposites, with no shades of gray.
Furthermore, the characters don't act age-appropriate. The story begins when the MCs are 13 and progresses through their final year of high school and the summer after graduation. Zach acts like a little boy at all times. He loves stuffies and cuddles and Disney movies. He and Brady hold hands, and Zach sits on Brady's lap. The entire football team protects Zach.
This is a world with no bullies (except Zach's evil parents), like a fairytale where the best things happen to the wounded princess as the brave hero slays dragons along the way.
Unlike Zach, Brady is the man. He protects Zach and worries about him because Zach is so tiny. Much is made of Zach's small stature (he's barely over 5 feet), which is quite patronizing.
Brady goes off to the police academy and buys a house. Zach decorates it like the little homemaker he is. Brady is possessive and tells Zach what he can eat, where he can go. They're the same age and only 18, yet through most of the book Zach acts like a child, while Brady struts around like a world-weary 40-year-old, paying the bills and taking everyone on vacation.
Numerous stereotypes about feminine men, bottoms, and tops made me cringe. I was truly rooting for the MCs while being distracted by the sheer ridiculousness of the setup. I mean, could Brady's family be any more perfect? 50s TV sitcoms have nothing on the Wellmans.
To break up the sweetness, the author throws in family drama (in the form of Zach's bio parents) and homophobia (Zach's bitchy girlfriend and her horrible family), but these scenes felt scripted and manufactured.
There's also a forced physical separation during which the MCs, who are as close as two people can be, communicate in half-truths. Brady sleeps in the same bed as his friend because he's lonely (but it's okay because she's a lesbian), and Zach gets all buff and has a makeover.
Don't get me wrong. I liked not only Zach and Brady but their friends Kelly and Connor, the main secondary characters, who I'm still hoping will get their own story. Also, while initially the book is very chaste, when the steam arrives at the 75% mark, it's sexy and intimate.
I don't want to give this book a low rating, especially after reading the author's afterword. She's genuinely protective of these characters and initially wrote this story for a special person in her life. I'm rounding up to 3 stars because this is Moore's first published work, and I think she has potential to grow as an author.
July 17, 2021
2.5-2.75stars ⭐
I know now that there is such a thing as 'too much fluff'. People were either hugging or crying or cuddling for 90% of this book.
Meanwhile me waiting for the actual plot:
Really sucks cuz the first 10-20% made me feel like this could be a 5* read (-__-)
I know now that there is such a thing as 'too much fluff'. People were either hugging or crying or cuddling for 90% of this book.
Meanwhile me waiting for the actual plot:
Really sucks cuz the first 10-20% made me feel like this could be a 5* read (-__-)
August 29, 2024
If you are the author, I strongly encourage you to not read this…
Apparently it takes me months to formulate a review for a book like this… but seeing people recommend it constantly spurred me to just get it out there.
This is one of those instances where I am truly baffled and wonder what the eff everyone else is reading because SURELY people aren’t recommending the same book I read.
The abuse is trauma porn. And if Zach’s parents are that strict and ignorant, how did Zach get the books he supposedly taught himself from? That’s A LOT of schooling he did in all that free time he didn’t have with access to all those books he didn’t have.
And patching up EVERY. SINGLE. CONFLICT. because Brady’s dad is a judge is just a lazy way to tie up things without thinking too hard about it.
I don’t think Zach ever truly healed appropriately from his abuse. I think Brady was a crutch and by the end still so emotionally immature I didn’t see an HEA in their future.
The way the author deals with most of the women/girls in this book is sooooo problematic.
This read like a Lifetime movie meets soap opera meets Rudy (the football movie from the 80’s). It was sooooo over the top and it dragged. By 60% I was ready to DNF. But I slogged through….
Only to get Brady still struggling with “Am I gay?” At 95 PERCENT. COME ON PEOPLE.
This book wasn’t organic. It read like they took pieces of other author’s well written work, patched it together, and made a fanfic.
This book holds the number one spot in my Worst Book of 2021. It’s problematic, inorganic, contrived, and written to appeal to straight women who want palatable but dramatic gay fiction.
Apparently it takes me months to formulate a review for a book like this… but seeing people recommend it constantly spurred me to just get it out there.
This is one of those instances where I am truly baffled and wonder what the eff everyone else is reading because SURELY people aren’t recommending the same book I read.
The abuse is trauma porn. And if Zach’s parents are that strict and ignorant, how did Zach get the books he supposedly taught himself from? That’s A LOT of schooling he did in all that free time he didn’t have with access to all those books he didn’t have.
And patching up EVERY. SINGLE. CONFLICT. because Brady’s dad is a judge is just a lazy way to tie up things without thinking too hard about it.
I don’t think Zach ever truly healed appropriately from his abuse. I think Brady was a crutch and by the end still so emotionally immature I didn’t see an HEA in their future.
The way the author deals with most of the women/girls in this book is sooooo problematic.
This read like a Lifetime movie meets soap opera meets Rudy (the football movie from the 80’s). It was sooooo over the top and it dragged. By 60% I was ready to DNF. But I slogged through….
Only to get Brady still struggling with “Am I gay?” At 95 PERCENT. COME ON PEOPLE.
This book wasn’t organic. It read like they took pieces of other author’s well written work, patched it together, and made a fanfic.
This book holds the number one spot in my Worst Book of 2021. It’s problematic, inorganic, contrived, and written to appeal to straight women who want palatable but dramatic gay fiction.
December 31, 2022
I honestly don't know how to rate this.
ETA
2 stars
First off this was EXHAUSTING.
Second, I'm keeping in my mind that this is a debut book, which means that it needed a whole lotta tweaking, editing and a second/third pair of eyes because some things could have been written way better and changed the book drastically.
I loved the IDEA of this book, while the execution was a bit lacking for me.
Brady's family was supportive and kind of perfect, maybe sometimes too perfect, but they were the ones who kept Zach afloat.
Connor, Brady best friend, and then Kelly, Zach's Best Friend, stole this book for me. They were the cutest together and I would gladly read their book. Connor was amazing.
Shout out to twinks who got their moment in the sun here. The clothes and the makeup...loved it.
Now the not so good.
There was insta-everything.
The first encounter for example... a 13 year old boy will never put another boy in his lap, a stranger, and let him cry. I mean... this isn't really believable. Brady wad too perfect and acted too old for his age. The touchy-feely, the kissing, the sleeping on the same bed... I didn't believe it.
Zach spend almost all of the book crying. It really got exhausting. I get trauma, and panic attacks and PTSD. But, for a reader, I don't think that making Zack cry every other page was detrimental to his story. Basically... he didn't grow up from the boy we met in chapter 1, and that was a bummer because someone like him, who had all the support later in the book should have blossomed into a magnificent young man. Yet I couldn't see him as anything other than a crybaby.
The story also dragged alot. It didn't need to be this long. Time jumps would have been so much better to do on a story that spans years. And then towards the end, it's fast and frankly unsatisfying. We don't actually get a proper HEA the dreams these boys had, we needed to actually see them...but we didn't...
The sex when it happens towards the 70% mark or so...
First the reason why they started having sex... after all that pining and the years... it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Second, it was repetitive at times. And then we get only 1 penetration scene. ONE. After years of Zach loving Brady and Brady loving him. It was underwhelming to say the least.
The present tense.
I find that this POV is the one I struggle most with, especially if it isn't polished. It was jarring here, and to think that were moving through YEARS of these boys lives, the past tense would have worked much better IMO.
The contractions.
Not using contractions is not believable to the reader...ESPECIALLY, when it's not historical. What teenager would see We are instead of we're? It was also something that I struggled with while reading.
I didn't like that without Connor, Brady would have stayed clueless. The fact that he was the one to nake Brady see what Zach felt, and then Kelly did the same in another instance... Brady was portrayed as an Old Soul, but in the crucial moments he was anything but.
I think there is more, but I can't remember.
ETA
2 stars
First off this was EXHAUSTING.
Second, I'm keeping in my mind that this is a debut book, which means that it needed a whole lotta tweaking, editing and a second/third pair of eyes because some things could have been written way better and changed the book drastically.
I loved the IDEA of this book, while the execution was a bit lacking for me.
Brady's family was supportive and kind of perfect, maybe sometimes too perfect, but they were the ones who kept Zach afloat.
Connor, Brady best friend, and then Kelly, Zach's Best Friend, stole this book for me. They were the cutest together and I would gladly read their book. Connor was amazing.
Shout out to twinks who got their moment in the sun here. The clothes and the makeup...loved it.
Now the not so good.
There was insta-everything.
The first encounter for example... a 13 year old boy will never put another boy in his lap, a stranger, and let him cry. I mean... this isn't really believable. Brady wad too perfect and acted too old for his age. The touchy-feely, the kissing, the sleeping on the same bed... I didn't believe it.
Zach spend almost all of the book crying. It really got exhausting. I get trauma, and panic attacks and PTSD. But, for a reader, I don't think that making Zack cry every other page was detrimental to his story. Basically... he didn't grow up from the boy we met in chapter 1, and that was a bummer because someone like him, who had all the support later in the book should have blossomed into a magnificent young man. Yet I couldn't see him as anything other than a crybaby.
The story also dragged alot. It didn't need to be this long. Time jumps would have been so much better to do on a story that spans years. And then towards the end, it's fast and frankly unsatisfying. We don't actually get a proper HEA the dreams these boys had, we needed to actually see them...but we didn't...
The sex when it happens towards the 70% mark or so...
First the reason why they started having sex... after all that pining and the years... it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Second, it was repetitive at times. And then we get only 1 penetration scene. ONE. After years of Zach loving Brady and Brady loving him. It was underwhelming to say the least.
The present tense.
I find that this POV is the one I struggle most with, especially if it isn't polished. It was jarring here, and to think that were moving through YEARS of these boys lives, the past tense would have worked much better IMO.
The contractions.
Not using contractions is not believable to the reader...ESPECIALLY, when it's not historical. What teenager would see We are instead of we're? It was also something that I struggled with while reading.
I didn't like that without Connor, Brady would have stayed clueless. The fact that he was the one to nake Brady see what Zach felt, and then Kelly did the same in another instance... Brady was portrayed as an Old Soul, but in the crucial moments he was anything but.
I think there is more, but I can't remember.
did-not-finish
May 21, 2022SOMEONE, STAB ME. PUHLEASE.
God I don't know if I'm more pissed with my self or this stupid book I want to throw out my window, stomp my foot on numerous time and tear all the pages out.
Can ANYONE tell I'm LIVID?
I don't like slowburn. I don't like angst. I don't like too emotional shit because IM A NUMB CLOWN. and yet???????? Y'all, CANCEL me when I do shit like READ THIS BOOK, the exact definition of NOT FOR ME.
And to be FUCKING FAIR. I was enjoying this book, the writing was TRASH but I loved the first half of this book. I adored the friendship of Zach and Brady, fucking LOVED the codependency vibes. And then the second half rolled by and it felt like I was POURING ACID TO my eyes.
NO. NO. NO!!!
(also I'm so fucking salty I wasted half my weekend over a DNF!)
God I don't know if I'm more pissed with my self or this stupid book I want to throw out my window, stomp my foot on numerous time and tear all the pages out.
Can ANYONE tell I'm LIVID?
I don't like slowburn. I don't like angst. I don't like too emotional shit because IM A NUMB CLOWN. and yet???????? Y'all, CANCEL me when I do shit like READ THIS BOOK, the exact definition of NOT FOR ME.
And to be FUCKING FAIR. I was enjoying this book, the writing was TRASH but I loved the first half of this book. I adored the friendship of Zach and Brady, fucking LOVED the codependency vibes. And then the second half rolled by and it felt like I was POURING ACID TO my eyes.
NO. NO. NO!!!
(also I'm so fucking salty I wasted half my weekend over a DNF!)
Read
February 4, 2022DNF @ 34%
I don't think this book is worth giving at least one star. I mean, despite the weird friendship between these two teenagers had, there was nothing I could enjoy in there. From what I've gathered, I can see that there was a lot of masculinity showing in Brady’s side. I couldn't decipher what Zach's problem was. He was so fragile and always crying. Yeah, okay, I get it. But wtf?! Every time he wanted to cuddle and baby with Brady. Is it normal or am I abnormal?
“I’m cuddling my best friend, and it takes away the worry I’ve been feeling. I’m not sure most would understand our relationship, but Connor doesn’t seem to care.”
But I couldn't ignore it even though Connor(Zach and Brady’s friend) could. 😭
If you’re an mm reader, I strongly recommend you to run away from this book. This is not for me and not for you either.
I don't think this book is worth giving at least one star. I mean, despite the weird friendship between these two teenagers had, there was nothing I could enjoy in there. From what I've gathered, I can see that there was a lot of masculinity showing in Brady’s side. I couldn't decipher what Zach's problem was. He was so fragile and always crying. Yeah, okay, I get it. But wtf?! Every time he wanted to cuddle and baby with Brady. Is it normal or am I abnormal?
“I’m cuddling my best friend, and it takes away the worry I’ve been feeling. I’m not sure most would understand our relationship, but Connor doesn’t seem to care.”
But I couldn't ignore it even though Connor(Zach and Brady’s friend) could. 😭
If you’re an mm reader, I strongly recommend you to run away from this book. This is not for me and not for you either.
July 5, 2021
I feel as though I read a different book to the one everyone on here is gushing about.
This is one of those books that left me cold from the beginning.
Zach is "small" for his age and from the beginning of this novel... Brady infantilizes him. Brady is constantly remarking on how "little" Zach is and how that makes him incapable of doing things that a "guy" was capable of.
There's a lot of toxic masculinity hidden in the way that Brady babies Zach. Just because Zach is gentle and quiet... small-statured... doesn't mean he's less of a boy or a man... and that's exactly how the author has written him.
This is one of those stories that reads to me as though it's written to fetishize a gay relationship. Zach is carried around, coddled, and treated more like a stuffed animal than a person.
I'm afraid I couldn't get past that to have any thoughts on the rest of this book.
If you're interested in good YA ... this isn't it. If you're interested in a queer relationship... this isn't the book for you.
This is one of those books that left me cold from the beginning.
Zach is "small" for his age and from the beginning of this novel... Brady infantilizes him. Brady is constantly remarking on how "little" Zach is and how that makes him incapable of doing things that a "guy" was capable of.
There's a lot of toxic masculinity hidden in the way that Brady babies Zach. Just because Zach is gentle and quiet... small-statured... doesn't mean he's less of a boy or a man... and that's exactly how the author has written him.
This is one of those stories that reads to me as though it's written to fetishize a gay relationship. Zach is carried around, coddled, and treated more like a stuffed animal than a person.
I'm afraid I couldn't get past that to have any thoughts on the rest of this book.
If you're interested in good YA ... this isn't it. If you're interested in a queer relationship... this isn't the book for you.
September 12, 2023
Reread update:
This book is still just as beautiful and emotional the second time you read. I needed a comfort book and reach for this one. All of these characters have my heart and I adore them, well most of them. I know I’ll read this again in the future because it’s that amazing. Katie Moore we need another book from you gorgeous 🩵🩵
Original review:
You’re My Home by Katie Moore is an undeniably beautiful emotional tale of Zach and Brady. It’s so much more, all the characters in this book bring so much to the table. I think we all need a bestie like Kelly, god love his sweet sole and a family like the Wellman’s. This book makes you both joyous and so emotional. I guess that’s the beauty of it. I got some looks from my family for the tears this book made me shed but it was so worth it.
The trip to Disney and the epilogue were magical. I adored the emotional connection that Brady and Zach had from the start. I loved the ending and wish we had of got more of that. Less of Brady trying to date other people because he thought that’s what he was suppose to do. I love that Kelly helped him sort himself out.
This book was so full of love, raw emotions, challenges and it was beautiful. I can’t recommend this one enough. It flowed so nicely and I can honestly say I adore it. I want more from this author. We need more Zach, Brady, Kelly and Connor.
I think a second book/sequel would be amazing. Maybe a family trip to Disney, Brady and Zack getting married, Kelly and Connor’s relationship or them fostering/adopting children. Also, where is Kelly’s kitten? We were promised a kitten…. LoL.
TW: Abuse of a minor, panic attacks, abandonment, bullying
This book is still just as beautiful and emotional the second time you read. I needed a comfort book and reach for this one. All of these characters have my heart and I adore them, well most of them. I know I’ll read this again in the future because it’s that amazing. Katie Moore we need another book from you gorgeous 🩵🩵
Original review:
You’re My Home by Katie Moore is an undeniably beautiful emotional tale of Zach and Brady. It’s so much more, all the characters in this book bring so much to the table. I think we all need a bestie like Kelly, god love his sweet sole and a family like the Wellman’s. This book makes you both joyous and so emotional. I guess that’s the beauty of it. I got some looks from my family for the tears this book made me shed but it was so worth it.
The trip to Disney and the epilogue were magical. I adored the emotional connection that Brady and Zach had from the start. I loved the ending and wish we had of got more of that. Less of Brady trying to date other people because he thought that’s what he was suppose to do. I love that Kelly helped him sort himself out.
This book was so full of love, raw emotions, challenges and it was beautiful. I can’t recommend this one enough. It flowed so nicely and I can honestly say I adore it. I want more from this author. We need more Zach, Brady, Kelly and Connor.
I think a second book/sequel would be amazing. Maybe a family trip to Disney, Brady and Zack getting married, Kelly and Connor’s relationship or them fostering/adopting children. Also, where is Kelly’s kitten? We were promised a kitten…. LoL.
TW: Abuse of a minor, panic attacks, abandonment, bullying
November 29, 2021
Right off the bat this reminds me of the movie The Mighty.
It’s a lot of crying like if the movies Crybaby, The Crying Game and Boys Don’t Cry combined, it still wouldn’t result in how much crying takes place in this story.
Because it’s fiction I loved every minute of Brady and Zach’s toxic codependency. Like I understand that Zach had a horrid life and we’re making up for lost time. But there is a line that needs to be drawn so that he’s capable of surviving on his own.
I mean I still found the entire Wellman family’s need to love and coddle Zach entirely adorable but if this was real life it would be considered unhealthy. Not nearly as unhealthy as the relationship between our two leading men … er, boys.
In theory they’re physical relationship makes sense platonically but it did get to a certain point where I found it wholly unbelievable that a straight teenage boy would share his bed and his body with another boy even if it’s just cuddling. That alone should’ve been a wake up call to his own sexuality.
But let me get one thing abundantly clear, none of that matters because this is fiction. I was sucked in pretty early on and I was living for every obsessive, emotional, codependent moment.
I have to say though, that Connor was my favorite character. There were points where I thought he and Zach would be more and I was rooting for them. I seriously adore him!
Omg Kelly! Everyone needs a Kelly in their life.
Everything happens for a reason and Brady going to the police academy gave Zach room to grow. Connor gave him the tough love he needed and more importantly introduced him to Kelly. Kelly was the catalyst for most of Zach’s growth.
This may be a slowburn but there was still plenty of steam and it was hot af. Even before things got heated Brady and Zach had a D/s type of relationship, Brady is extremely possessive and bossy.
I’ve said it a few times, but it bears repeat, this was way too much crying. Yet it’s hard to explain that I still enjoyed a lot of the emotional stuff. This was definitely a X rated Hallmark or Disney movie. The writing was over simplistic at times but overall I enjoyed most of this.
It’s a lot of crying like if the movies Crybaby, The Crying Game and Boys Don’t Cry combined, it still wouldn’t result in how much crying takes place in this story.
Because it’s fiction I loved every minute of Brady and Zach’s toxic codependency. Like I understand that Zach had a horrid life and we’re making up for lost time. But there is a line that needs to be drawn so that he’s capable of surviving on his own.
I mean I still found the entire Wellman family’s need to love and coddle Zach entirely adorable but if this was real life it would be considered unhealthy. Not nearly as unhealthy as the relationship between our two leading men … er, boys.
In theory they’re physical relationship makes sense platonically but it did get to a certain point where I found it wholly unbelievable that a straight teenage boy would share his bed and his body with another boy even if it’s just cuddling. That alone should’ve been a wake up call to his own sexuality.
But let me get one thing abundantly clear, none of that matters because this is fiction. I was sucked in pretty early on and I was living for every obsessive, emotional, codependent moment.
I have to say though, that Connor was my favorite character. There were points where I thought he and Zach would be more and I was rooting for them. I seriously adore him!
Omg Kelly! Everyone needs a Kelly in their life.
Everything happens for a reason and Brady going to the police academy gave Zach room to grow. Connor gave him the tough love he needed and more importantly introduced him to Kelly. Kelly was the catalyst for most of Zach’s growth.
This may be a slowburn but there was still plenty of steam and it was hot af. Even before things got heated Brady and Zach had a D/s type of relationship, Brady is extremely possessive and bossy.
I’ve said it a few times, but it bears repeat, this was way too much crying. Yet it’s hard to explain that I still enjoyed a lot of the emotional stuff. This was definitely a X rated Hallmark or Disney movie. The writing was over simplistic at times but overall I enjoyed most of this.
November 13, 2021
OmG!!! This story is everything, Zach and Brady are beautifully perfect together and their story gave me so many feels.
You're my home is one of the most beautiful slow burn friends to lovers story I have ever read. You're my Home is a pleasant surprise and I cannot wait to read Katie Moore's next story.
You're my home is one of the most beautiful slow burn friends to lovers story I have ever read. You're my Home is a pleasant surprise and I cannot wait to read Katie Moore's next story.
July 8, 2021
5+++++ angsty dark fluffy stars story!
I absolutely adored this story and didn't want it to end.
I absolutely adored this story and didn't want it to end.
November 5, 2023
Second time reading it (novemb3rr 5th, 2023) 4 stars
Original review
This is not as safe as I prefer my childhood friends to lovers be and I normally don’t give it five stars if the safety is not amazing, but I couldn’t rate it lower because I felt their love, I loved all the amazing fictional people and I was deeply moved by all the love and tenderness I felt reading this book.
Safety:
Safe with exceptions/ dual virgin
- they met at 13
- at 15 Zach realized he was gay and in love with Brady and Brady who believes he is straight at 16 started dating girls, the first one he kissed once and didn’t like then he started going on dates with other girls and dated one named Carrie for months, they kissed and made out a few times but he was not into it and the first time she straddled his lap and placed his hands over her breasts he was lost and Zach caught them, after that he was feeling bad and resumed to date her going out once a week to eat something and to the movies. The other time they tried something sexual was off page but she gave him a hand job and he did get hard but felt it was wrong and lost the erection, felling guilty and afraid to hurt her feelings he went down on her and she faked a orgasm, he felt yucky doing it and hate it. After Carrie he went to one or two dates with girls but never felt chemistry. So he kissed a few girls, never felt any arousal doing it not even when Carrie straddled him.
- Brady is very possessive of Zach and before he started dating girls he even says any guy who wants to date Zach must go throw him, he is very bossy and thinks Zach should wait until he is older
- I normally would hate it and I didn’t like the e fact he went down on a girl at all but he is very confused about his sexuality and he is not manwhoring and he is not aware he is in love or even attracted to Zach, he is not also cockblocking him, if another guy had showed interest and Zach really wanted he wouldn’t stop it
- He is a true friend none of this shit when the hero fucks the heroine or other hero’s bully or shit like that, as soon as Carrie showed her true colors he broke up with her, he would never knowingly hurt Zach or jeopardize their friendship
- Zach has never dated or even been on a date with anyone and the book would have been perfect if Brady hadn’t kissed anyone either or if Zach had some experience but I have to admit the context and how the author wrote their dating experiences made sense
- Zach was hurt because Brady dated and I was hurt for him but knowing Brady is dealing with sexuality confusions helped eased me into loving them together. He is demissexual and cmon when I was eighteen I had no idea what it was I can’t image how confuse it is, we live uma society that the standards is being straight so is always hard for any person outside this to come out, but when we are on the gray area like being demi or assexual or bissexual or pan is a little trickier so I can’t be too hard on Brady because as a bissexual myself I also assumed I was straight when I was discovering myself
Brady is flawed and the authors word at the end were perfect, he made mistakes and I was upset and I usually never use this as a excuse but here I can’t forget how young he is.
Brady’s parents are so loving, they are truly amazing human being with so much love to spread, how great they were with Zach and their friends was truly adorable I wish i could met them.
Zach suffered so much hate and how he still managed to be so emphatic was beautiful.
They had a very unique bond, Brady always prioritized Zach, they had such a beautiful relation going on, they were each other anchors, he would put him is lis lap even in front of his girlfriend, he would defend him and stoped anything to be with him, he never avoid confrontation with anyone if people treated Zach with disrespect. He was a truly gentle person.
I loved Zach’s personality, he is a very kind soul, he is such a pure human, I loved how he was all about Disney and how Brady always supported him.
Connor and Kelly were also great, they were the couples best friends and I loved how they balances each other.
Even the brief appearance of their sisters is nice.
A true love story.
EDIT
05/11/2023
I am reading this again and the unsafe really bothered me, it was not malicious but Zack already suffered so much, only to have to watch the guy he loves dating, going on dates often to places like the arcade, making out with a girl at the same room he sleeps at everyday with Brady.
Zack is childsish in a lot of ways, but he is also a survivor and this is attached to a lot of maturity in a way. He is very resilient. His childsish ways are not about being imature, is about his personality, like a "little" in a daddy x little relationship. This book has a heavy daddy dom and little boy undertone, even being teens those roles are a natural part of their relationship. Zack being the little and Brady the daddy.
This coupled with zack being gay, growing up in a homophobic super sheltered and abusived home and being homeschooled until he was 15 makes it very hars for him to he open to meet other people. All this associated with the fact he is love with Brady even thinking it will mosyly likely never happen, he hoped a little until he saw brady making out with his girlfriend that he could be gay or bi, it was not like he was stopping himself from dating because he was waiting, it was his trauma and te fact he is closed off to strangers but yet the end result was the same, he never dated while brady did and he suffered watching jt. So although it makes sense he never dated, I wanted him to grow a little out of the shell he lives with Brady while Brady is exploring with girls to also explore with someone. Another queer kid arriving at the school and being introduced to their group of friends or even someone else coming out who he already met and trusted a little to have some of his first would have made this perfect to me. Imo he already endured so much to yet again being the one suffering because Brady is dating girls while he stays at home watching comfort movies to deal with it was too painful to me and frankly unnecessary in a book already filled with pain. Zack deserved a little more here by the author. It wouldn't have taken away from his personality if it was with a nice person and a nice friend. Someone like Connor but not him.
Also their relationship for many people will be considered unhealthy and they are clearly co dependent. If this was real life it would have worried me, but this is a fictional work and I like my couples a little bit crazy about each other from time to time. They are very touchy feeling, they need to be close, they need te other in order to be happy. Well, you can call whatever you want. Here, I call it romance. However when it was truly needed like career wise, they were able to make the sacrifice of staying away in order for achieving a dream.
Original review
This is not as safe as I prefer my childhood friends to lovers be and I normally don’t give it five stars if the safety is not amazing, but I couldn’t rate it lower because I felt their love, I loved all the amazing fictional people and I was deeply moved by all the love and tenderness I felt reading this book.
Safety:
Safe with exceptions/ dual virgin
- they met at 13
- at 15 Zach realized he was gay and in love with Brady and Brady who believes he is straight at 16 started dating girls, the first one he kissed once and didn’t like then he started going on dates with other girls and dated one named Carrie for months, they kissed and made out a few times but he was not into it and the first time she straddled his lap and placed his hands over her breasts he was lost and Zach caught them, after that he was feeling bad and resumed to date her going out once a week to eat something and to the movies. The other time they tried something sexual was off page but she gave him a hand job and he did get hard but felt it was wrong and lost the erection, felling guilty and afraid to hurt her feelings he went down on her and she faked a orgasm, he felt yucky doing it and hate it. After Carrie he went to one or two dates with girls but never felt chemistry. So he kissed a few girls, never felt any arousal doing it not even when Carrie straddled him.
- Brady is very possessive of Zach and before he started dating girls he even says any guy who wants to date Zach must go throw him, he is very bossy and thinks Zach should wait until he is older
- I normally would hate it and I didn’t like the e fact he went down on a girl at all but he is very confused about his sexuality and he is not manwhoring and he is not aware he is in love or even attracted to Zach, he is not also cockblocking him, if another guy had showed interest and Zach really wanted he wouldn’t stop it
- He is a true friend none of this shit when the hero fucks the heroine or other hero’s bully or shit like that, as soon as Carrie showed her true colors he broke up with her, he would never knowingly hurt Zach or jeopardize their friendship
- Zach has never dated or even been on a date with anyone and the book would have been perfect if Brady hadn’t kissed anyone either or if Zach had some experience but I have to admit the context and how the author wrote their dating experiences made sense
- Zach was hurt because Brady dated and I was hurt for him but knowing Brady is dealing with sexuality confusions helped eased me into loving them together. He is demissexual and cmon when I was eighteen I had no idea what it was I can’t image how confuse it is, we live uma society that the standards is being straight so is always hard for any person outside this to come out, but when we are on the gray area like being demi or assexual or bissexual or pan is a little trickier so I can’t be too hard on Brady because as a bissexual myself I also assumed I was straight when I was discovering myself
Brady is flawed and the authors word at the end were perfect, he made mistakes and I was upset and I usually never use this as a excuse but here I can’t forget how young he is.
Brady’s parents are so loving, they are truly amazing human being with so much love to spread, how great they were with Zach and their friends was truly adorable I wish i could met them.
Zach suffered so much hate and how he still managed to be so emphatic was beautiful.
They had a very unique bond, Brady always prioritized Zach, they had such a beautiful relation going on, they were each other anchors, he would put him is lis lap even in front of his girlfriend, he would defend him and stoped anything to be with him, he never avoid confrontation with anyone if people treated Zach with disrespect. He was a truly gentle person.
I loved Zach’s personality, he is a very kind soul, he is such a pure human, I loved how he was all about Disney and how Brady always supported him.
Connor and Kelly were also great, they were the couples best friends and I loved how they balances each other.
Even the brief appearance of their sisters is nice.
A true love story.
EDIT
05/11/2023
I am reading this again and the unsafe really bothered me, it was not malicious but Zack already suffered so much, only to have to watch the guy he loves dating, going on dates often to places like the arcade, making out with a girl at the same room he sleeps at everyday with Brady.
Zack is childsish in a lot of ways, but he is also a survivor and this is attached to a lot of maturity in a way. He is very resilient. His childsish ways are not about being imature, is about his personality, like a "little" in a daddy x little relationship. This book has a heavy daddy dom and little boy undertone, even being teens those roles are a natural part of their relationship. Zack being the little and Brady the daddy.
This coupled with zack being gay, growing up in a homophobic super sheltered and abusived home and being homeschooled until he was 15 makes it very hars for him to he open to meet other people. All this associated with the fact he is love with Brady even thinking it will mosyly likely never happen, he hoped a little until he saw brady making out with his girlfriend that he could be gay or bi, it was not like he was stopping himself from dating because he was waiting, it was his trauma and te fact he is closed off to strangers but yet the end result was the same, he never dated while brady did and he suffered watching jt. So although it makes sense he never dated, I wanted him to grow a little out of the shell he lives with Brady while Brady is exploring with girls to also explore with someone. Another queer kid arriving at the school and being introduced to their group of friends or even someone else coming out who he already met and trusted a little to have some of his first would have made this perfect to me. Imo he already endured so much to yet again being the one suffering because Brady is dating girls while he stays at home watching comfort movies to deal with it was too painful to me and frankly unnecessary in a book already filled with pain. Zack deserved a little more here by the author. It wouldn't have taken away from his personality if it was with a nice person and a nice friend. Someone like Connor but not him.
Also their relationship for many people will be considered unhealthy and they are clearly co dependent. If this was real life it would have worried me, but this is a fictional work and I like my couples a little bit crazy about each other from time to time. They are very touchy feeling, they need to be close, they need te other in order to be happy. Well, you can call whatever you want. Here, I call it romance. However when it was truly needed like career wise, they were able to make the sacrifice of staying away in order for achieving a dream.
February 18, 2023
Oh boy. I had initially put this firmly in the "not for me" category due to some trusted friend reviews and the feeling that the rec groups were being spammed with 5-star reviews from a review company. Here we are a year and a half later and this book is still CONSTANTLY being recommended for angst and swoon and blah blah so my curiosity finally got the best of me. I get what the author was trying to do and I really don't mind a good co-dependent relationship in fiction, but I had a lot of issues with this book. It wasn't all bad, but some stuff was really hard for me to say "ok it's just fiction".
⚠⚠WARNING - there will be spoilers and rambling ahead ⚠⚠
The story covers about 5-6 years. My heart was immediately breaking for 13-year-old Zach and I adored that Brady wanted to be his knight in shining armor and Zach wants nothing more than that. Brady's very wealthy family was also fantastic. What they did for Zach was above and beyond. They are truly the best of the best, using their money and power for good.
Sure, as time goes on the MCs relationship is unlike any normal teenage friendship and as Zach has fallen head over heels, Brady is straight. So what if he constantly wants to touch Zach, sleep in the same bed, have him on his lap, and kiss him on the head. They both like it. Even when Brady has girlfriends this is the norm and Zach is his BFF above all. That's all well and good if that's what they both want.
Zach has severe PTSD from the trauma inflicted on him by his parents and his sheltered upbringing. He is bullied at school. He is prone to severe panic attacks, and doesn't like crowds and unknown situations. Brady is going to make sure that Zach is always protected to the point he gets the whole football team to rally around Zach and Zach bonds with Brady's friend Connor. Zach is good with all of this protectiveness even as Brady's possessiveness has all the red flags of abuse. He tells Zach what he can and can't do even while Brady lives his own life. Zach wants a job? No. Zach may want to date in the future? No. Zach doesn't want to hang out with all of Brady's friends? No - Brady will just pick him up and bring him (because, as we're told a million times Zach is so tiny). Zach is upset and wants to lay on his bed and sleep in his own room? NO! And if that's what he wants Brady will take the door off the hinges. Tell me if this wasn't Brady and a 17-year-old girl people wouldn't be screaming abuse and waving red flags. As good as Brady's parents are to Zach, having even gotten him therapy in the past for his PTSD (but apparently the codependency was never mentioned) nobody calls out this behavior even though it is happening in their home. They just sort of give it a wink and a nod because they know these two are meant to be.
It becomes clear when Brady leaves to go to the "police academy" after HS graduation (which is a whole new level of ridiculousness) that his actions have not done Zach any favors and have actually stunted Zach's social and emotional growth. After pining for weeks, Connor steps in, takes charge, and Zach blossoms. He finds his interests, he makes friends, he learns to socialize - all while pining, but he grows! His new friend Kellan takes him under his wing and it is so much what Zach needs. During this time Brady barely communicates with Zach. Brady returns, things take a turn and Zach's dreams may all be coming true until a big miscommunication causes Zach to run and for Connor and Kellan to finally call Brady out on some of his behavior and help him sort through his feelings and his concerns about his sexuality.
When it comes down to it, the book was very long and could have been edited down as there was a lot of day-to-day repetition. Zach is emotionally stunted, prone to crying, devoted to Brady and never really grows out of that. Brady truly loves Zach, but the possessive, controlling, codependency is also abusive. So much of it seems to also stem from "Zach is so small he will never be safe". That really just didn't fly for me after a while. There is a lot of over-the-top trauma and soap-opera-like events. Most of the women are awful, and most of the characters are clichés. For most of the book I wanted Zach to wind up with Connor - or at the end with Connor and Kellan - who both stole the show here.
I get this was supposed to be a fairytale-type relationship story, but there was so much WTF here and I don't think the author intended for that to be the case. There is so much more I could say (and other reviews probably say it all better and quicker) but in the end, there was too much that bothered me to give this a higher rating.
⚠⚠WARNING - there will be spoilers and rambling ahead ⚠⚠
The story covers about 5-6 years. My heart was immediately breaking for 13-year-old Zach and I adored that Brady wanted to be his knight in shining armor and Zach wants nothing more than that. Brady's very wealthy family was also fantastic. What they did for Zach was above and beyond. They are truly the best of the best, using their money and power for good.
Sure, as time goes on the MCs relationship is unlike any normal teenage friendship and as Zach has fallen head over heels, Brady is straight. So what if he constantly wants to touch Zach, sleep in the same bed, have him on his lap, and kiss him on the head. They both like it. Even when Brady has girlfriends this is the norm and Zach is his BFF above all. That's all well and good if that's what they both want.
Zach has severe PTSD from the trauma inflicted on him by his parents and his sheltered upbringing. He is bullied at school. He is prone to severe panic attacks, and doesn't like crowds and unknown situations. Brady is going to make sure that Zach is always protected to the point he gets the whole football team to rally around Zach and Zach bonds with Brady's friend Connor. Zach is good with all of this protectiveness even as Brady's possessiveness has all the red flags of abuse. He tells Zach what he can and can't do even while Brady lives his own life. Zach wants a job? No. Zach may want to date in the future? No. Zach doesn't want to hang out with all of Brady's friends? No - Brady will just pick him up and bring him (because, as we're told a million times Zach is so tiny). Zach is upset and wants to lay on his bed and sleep in his own room? NO! And if that's what he wants Brady will take the door off the hinges. Tell me if this wasn't Brady and a 17-year-old girl people wouldn't be screaming abuse and waving red flags. As good as Brady's parents are to Zach, having even gotten him therapy in the past for his PTSD (but apparently the codependency was never mentioned) nobody calls out this behavior even though it is happening in their home. They just sort of give it a wink and a nod because they know these two are meant to be.
It becomes clear when Brady leaves to go to the "police academy" after HS graduation (which is a whole new level of ridiculousness) that his actions have not done Zach any favors and have actually stunted Zach's social and emotional growth. After pining for weeks, Connor steps in, takes charge, and Zach blossoms. He finds his interests, he makes friends, he learns to socialize - all while pining, but he grows! His new friend Kellan takes him under his wing and it is so much what Zach needs. During this time Brady barely communicates with Zach. Brady returns, things take a turn and Zach's dreams may all be coming true until a big miscommunication causes Zach to run and for Connor and Kellan to finally call Brady out on some of his behavior and help him sort through his feelings and his concerns about his sexuality.
When it comes down to it, the book was very long and could have been edited down as there was a lot of day-to-day repetition. Zach is emotionally stunted, prone to crying, devoted to Brady and never really grows out of that. Brady truly loves Zach, but the possessive, controlling, codependency is also abusive. So much of it seems to also stem from "Zach is so small he will never be safe". That really just didn't fly for me after a while. There is a lot of over-the-top trauma and soap-opera-like events. Most of the women are awful, and most of the characters are clichés. For most of the book I wanted Zach to wind up with Connor - or at the end with Connor and Kellan - who both stole the show here.
I get this was supposed to be a fairytale-type relationship story, but there was so much WTF here and I don't think the author intended for that to be the case. There is so much more I could say (and other reviews probably say it all better and quicker) but in the end, there was too much that bothered me to give this a higher rating.
July 10, 2021
Somehow I picked this one up. Several times I contemplated DNF’ing - i should have it just wasn’t for me.
This just felt very contrived, immature and kind of like a bad fan-fic. It could have been half as short
This just felt very contrived, immature and kind of like a bad fan-fic. It could have been half as short
February 9, 2022
What book is everyone giving 4-5 stars to? Because it absolutely cannot be this.
—
Update @ 2%
It’s so funny how they make it seem like Zach is 5 inches tall. I get he’s tiny for his age but talk about an exaggeration. He needs to be picked up to get onto a barstool. So weird, and the author continuously makes it known how tiny and small and weak he is.
Also, what 13 year old boy is going to pull another 13 year old boy onto his lap immediately after meeting him and then give forehead kisses on the regular?
Will keep reading for now but this isn’t seeming very realistic.
Update @ 30%
So. Much. Cuddling. Brady is literally perfect in a way that is very unrealistic for a teenage boy. It’s almost unsettling and definitely frustrating.
Also, there is some serious codependence going on. I cannot believe Zach’s therapist didn’t hit upon that. They even let him lessen his appointments!! Can’t say I had much hope for a fictional therapist but the disappointment stands.
Update @ 44%
I’m still chugging along here. Just barely.
This has become extremely repetitive. The same scenes just keep happening again and again in slightly different ways.
I am also not here for Brady’s controlling nature. He tells Zach, a 17 year old boy, that he can’t have any more Mountain Dew because it’s too much sugar. And Zach listens. When this is questioned by Brady’s date, asking why he can’t have more soda, Brady just says “Because I told him no.”
He also does and says controlling things, like telling Zach he can’t get a job and getting upset when Zach stays up past his bedtime......at 17 years old!
I think there is a fine line between yummy possessiveness and downright creepy, controlling behavior, and this book is tipping into the latter. Alas, I shall forge on.
Update @ 72%
I’ve entered my skimming phase. This book is just so long. Everything and nothing happens at the same time. I feel like I’m reading the same book over and over again with the way they are reusing plot points. I’m tired.
Update @ 100%
I wrote paragraphs on why this book didn’t do it for me but accidentally deleted and don’t care to retype, so here are the highlights:
-Waaaaaaaaay too long. Did not need more than 10% of the book to be about them in DisneyWorld. So much unnecessary filler.
-Too repetitive. All of the hurt/comfort was cookie cutter. The same thing happened again and again and again with the same end result. Zach freaks out, calls for Brady, Brady comes running, whispers reassurances in Zach’s ear. Rinse and repeat. It was cute the first time but by the 5th time, it was eye roll inducing and just cringe.
- Things happen too easily. Brady was portrayed as a flawless character most of the time. His parents were basically saints. They conveniently worked in the justice system/had a lot of pull in town. They were also rich which helped. Any angst/conflict was easily remedied by the very loving and accepting parents.
- Gay stereotypes. The makeover and gay education segment with Kelly (who was forced upon us as a major side character more than 50% into the book) was uncomfortable and inaccurate at times. Zach is tiny and short so he has to be a twink and a bottom, according to basically everyone in the book. Also, gay guys like twinks to be hairless, so twinks should wax and bleach their assholes if they aren’t “naturally pretty” because that makes sense and isn’t potentially dangerous at all.
- Brady was too controlling. Over the most ridiculous things which did not make sense at all. The codependency was unreal. Zach acted like a baby half the time, and everyone treated him like one. I don’t know if the boy ever sat on a chair. It was always Brady’s lap.
Overall, this book had potential but lacked in execution. Cut this book by half (if not 3/4ths), restructure some things, and go through some serious editing and then maybe I could see it working.
Unfortunately, as it stands, it just read like a really long fanfiction.
—
Update @ 2%
It’s so funny how they make it seem like Zach is 5 inches tall. I get he’s tiny for his age but talk about an exaggeration. He needs to be picked up to get onto a barstool. So weird, and the author continuously makes it known how tiny and small and weak he is.
Also, what 13 year old boy is going to pull another 13 year old boy onto his lap immediately after meeting him and then give forehead kisses on the regular?
Will keep reading for now but this isn’t seeming very realistic.
Update @ 30%
So. Much. Cuddling. Brady is literally perfect in a way that is very unrealistic for a teenage boy. It’s almost unsettling and definitely frustrating.
Also, there is some serious codependence going on. I cannot believe Zach’s therapist didn’t hit upon that. They even let him lessen his appointments!! Can’t say I had much hope for a fictional therapist but the disappointment stands.
Update @ 44%
I’m still chugging along here. Just barely.
This has become extremely repetitive. The same scenes just keep happening again and again in slightly different ways.
I am also not here for Brady’s controlling nature. He tells Zach, a 17 year old boy, that he can’t have any more Mountain Dew because it’s too much sugar. And Zach listens. When this is questioned by Brady’s date, asking why he can’t have more soda, Brady just says “Because I told him no.”
He also does and says controlling things, like telling Zach he can’t get a job and getting upset when Zach stays up past his bedtime......at 17 years old!
I think there is a fine line between yummy possessiveness and downright creepy, controlling behavior, and this book is tipping into the latter. Alas, I shall forge on.
Update @ 72%
I’ve entered my skimming phase. This book is just so long. Everything and nothing happens at the same time. I feel like I’m reading the same book over and over again with the way they are reusing plot points. I’m tired.
Update @ 100%
I wrote paragraphs on why this book didn’t do it for me but accidentally deleted and don’t care to retype, so here are the highlights:
-Waaaaaaaaay too long. Did not need more than 10% of the book to be about them in DisneyWorld. So much unnecessary filler.
-Too repetitive. All of the hurt/comfort was cookie cutter. The same thing happened again and again and again with the same end result. Zach freaks out, calls for Brady, Brady comes running, whispers reassurances in Zach’s ear. Rinse and repeat. It was cute the first time but by the 5th time, it was eye roll inducing and just cringe.
- Things happen too easily. Brady was portrayed as a flawless character most of the time. His parents were basically saints. They conveniently worked in the justice system/had a lot of pull in town. They were also rich which helped. Any angst/conflict was easily remedied by the very loving and accepting parents.
- Gay stereotypes. The makeover and gay education segment with Kelly (who was forced upon us as a major side character more than 50% into the book) was uncomfortable and inaccurate at times. Zach is tiny and short so he has to be a twink and a bottom, according to basically everyone in the book. Also, gay guys like twinks to be hairless, so twinks should wax and bleach their assholes if they aren’t “naturally pretty” because that makes sense and isn’t potentially dangerous at all.
- Brady was too controlling. Over the most ridiculous things which did not make sense at all. The codependency was unreal. Zach acted like a baby half the time, and everyone treated him like one. I don’t know if the boy ever sat on a chair. It was always Brady’s lap.
Overall, this book had potential but lacked in execution. Cut this book by half (if not 3/4ths), restructure some things, and go through some serious editing and then maybe I could see it working.
Unfortunately, as it stands, it just read like a really long fanfiction.
dnf
July 8, 2021won’t be giving this a rating because i only managed to get through a handful of chapters.
after reading the synopsis and all the glowing reviews, i really, really wanted to like this, but yeah…. this didn’t work for me at all. the writing is very simplistic and almost juvenile at times? none of the characters feel like actual people; they all seem to be caricatures with only one trait, which, even after only a few chapters, was very grating for me. maybe that changes later in the book, but i couldn’t bother to find out nn. the dialogue is also super clunky and doesn’t feel natural at all, and no one seems to react like an actual human being would in real life.
i also found it very strange how at least one person referred to Zach as either small, tiny, little, etc. on nearly every single page. like… we get it!!! i absolutely hate expository dialogue when it’s so heavy-handed like this. can’t you tell me he’s small and tiny and little through the story, and not just have someone say it every other sentence?? like, sure, use dialogue to establish that ONCE - and then SHOW me how his size impacts what happens after that; don’t just keep having someone mention it constantly.
anyway! it’s a no for me.
after reading the synopsis and all the glowing reviews, i really, really wanted to like this, but yeah…. this didn’t work for me at all. the writing is very simplistic and almost juvenile at times? none of the characters feel like actual people; they all seem to be caricatures with only one trait, which, even after only a few chapters, was very grating for me. maybe that changes later in the book, but i couldn’t bother to find out nn. the dialogue is also super clunky and doesn’t feel natural at all, and no one seems to react like an actual human being would in real life.
i also found it very strange how at least one person referred to Zach as either small, tiny, little, etc. on nearly every single page. like… we get it!!! i absolutely hate expository dialogue when it’s so heavy-handed like this. can’t you tell me he’s small and tiny and little through the story, and not just have someone say it every other sentence?? like, sure, use dialogue to establish that ONCE - and then SHOW me how his size impacts what happens after that; don’t just keep having someone mention it constantly.
anyway! it’s a no for me.
August 19, 2024
“Do I look or act gay?” I roll over so I can see his face and he can see mine. “You act like you. I don’t think there’s one way that gay people act like. If being sweet and gentle and reading tons of books screams gay, then yeah, you look and act gay.”
I’ve never read a book where I liked the side characters more then the actual MC’s. Kelly and Conner stole the show for me.
Soooooooo much crying from Zach it became annoying. I wanted to scream STFU please and if you know me at all you know I’m a crier lol and I was annoyed lol so that’s saying something. Brady was cringe and even more cringe dating girls 😂 I did like the codependency and the cuddling but even that got old I wanted some action or something to happen 😂
🚪🏃♂️💨 xoxox
I’ve never read a book where I liked the side characters more then the actual MC’s. Kelly and Conner stole the show for me.
Soooooooo much crying from Zach it became annoying. I wanted to scream STFU please and if you know me at all you know I’m a crier lol and I was annoyed lol so that’s saying something. Brady was cringe and even more cringe dating girls 😂 I did like the codependency and the cuddling but even that got old I wanted some action or something to happen 😂
🚪🏃♂️💨 xoxox
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2021
RTC 😞
March 24, 2023
This has literally everything but the kitchen sink! I felt like I needed a gay romance bingo card 😂
While I did love Zach and Brady, the writing style really threw me. It was all 'I am', 'we are', 'it is' etc. which my brain interprets as an essay/scientific report. It's not how people naturally speak so my mind assumes I'm reading something educational, which makes it really hard for me to fully get into the story. It happens with every book I've read that has this kind of language 🤦🏻♀️ It's also why articles and textbooks for Uni take me so long to read because it really makes my brain slow down and acknowledge it's not reading for pleasure.
That's my only gripe but it really affected how I enjoyed the book!
The characters were all engaging but I really didn't like Carrie or Stella. I also got to the point where I was thinking what the hell else can Zach be put through!!! Brady was so clueless I wanted to pull my hair out! But I think my favourite character was actually Connor, I just loved how he was with everyone.
While I did love Zach and Brady, the writing style really threw me. It was all 'I am', 'we are', 'it is' etc. which my brain interprets as an essay/scientific report. It's not how people naturally speak so my mind assumes I'm reading something educational, which makes it really hard for me to fully get into the story. It happens with every book I've read that has this kind of language 🤦🏻♀️ It's also why articles and textbooks for Uni take me so long to read because it really makes my brain slow down and acknowledge it's not reading for pleasure.
That's my only gripe but it really affected how I enjoyed the book!
The characters were all engaging but I really didn't like Carrie or Stella. I also got to the point where I was thinking what the hell else can Zach be put through!!! Brady was so clueless I wanted to pull my hair out! But I think my favourite character was actually Connor, I just loved how he was with everyone.
February 8, 2022
Wtf did I just read? I have had so many people recommend this to me, but I don’t understand how they could possibly be referring to this book. Honestly not sure what was the worst part, but will absolutely never forget the cringe factor of Brady and Zach’s entire relationship.
Has this author ever met:
* a teenager
* a queer person or
* a short person?
Has this author ever met:
* a teenager
* a queer person or
* a short person?
July 31, 2021
THIS SLAYED ME. It lost a star because Brady was an IDIOT but Connor and Kelly were super stand-outs.
Also the ending was adorable at the tree house 🥺
Also the ending was adorable at the tree house 🥺
June 10, 2024
Reread
I love this book more every time I read it. I literally sat down and was so consumed again. Nothing else existed until I finished. It gives Daddy/little without saying it. Just so good. Easily my favorite book of the year.
Original Review
There were quite a few moments in this book that were over the top. There were a few places where I was rolling my eyes. There were quite a few moments where I was annoyed with Brady or Zach or both.
I still loved every single moment.
I cried more than once reading this story. I cry a lot during movies, or TV shows, or even commercials. Rarely a book. This one had me ugly crying a few times.
This won't be for everyone. Brady is oblivious to the point I literally screamed "THANK YOU!" when demisexuality was finally brought up. Zach is sweet, to the point of it being too much sometimes. The codependency is real and had me scoffing numerous times.
Yet, it worked for me.
The first half of this book is a hard read. A few instances of on page abuse, homophobia and religious trauma are some of the main themes. These are the reasons I was so able to forgive the imperfectness of the MCs.
I love this book more every time I read it. I literally sat down and was so consumed again. Nothing else existed until I finished. It gives Daddy/little without saying it. Just so good. Easily my favorite book of the year.
Original Review
There were quite a few moments in this book that were over the top. There were a few places where I was rolling my eyes. There were quite a few moments where I was annoyed with Brady or Zach or both.
I still loved every single moment.
I cried more than once reading this story. I cry a lot during movies, or TV shows, or even commercials. Rarely a book. This one had me ugly crying a few times.
This won't be for everyone. Brady is oblivious to the point I literally screamed "THANK YOU!" when demisexuality was finally brought up. Zach is sweet, to the point of it being too much sometimes. The codependency is real and had me scoffing numerous times.
Yet, it worked for me.
The first half of this book is a hard read. A few instances of on page abuse, homophobia and religious trauma are some of the main themes. These are the reasons I was so able to forgive the imperfectness of the MCs.
February 7, 2023
This book is CONSTANTLY being recommended in my MM romance rec group, so I was super excited about it, but oof. It wasn’t a DNF, but I came pretty close a few times. (Let’s call this one “should have DNF’ed but just kept hoping it might get better.) It really needed to be about 250 pages shorter, and at some point, probably around literally the 400th “Zach-cries-Brady-rescues-him” situation, I just got bored. It’s so repetitive with very little plot. The relationship feels like this weird codependence that can’t possibly be healthy. Everyone is sort of cardboard and one-dimensional. Just… really not my cup of tea.
March 1, 2024
♾️/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️
Tropes:
— Childhood friends to lovers
— Hurt/comfort
— Slow burn
— Codependency
— SOULMATES
This book was perfect. I couldn’t put it down. So much raw emotion. Ugh, I love these two SO much. 🥹🫶🏼
2/5 🌶️
Tropes:
— Childhood friends to lovers
— Hurt/comfort
— Slow burn
— Codependency
— SOULMATES
This book was perfect. I couldn’t put it down. So much raw emotion. Ugh, I love these two SO much. 🥹🫶🏼
September 12, 2024
Rtc initial thoughts are: I hated most of this. The infantilisation made my skin crawl and the stereotyping is unreal. Like what do you mean if you're a twink you're a bottom? The last 20% was cute but not cute enough to redeem this.
This reads like mf but with a pronoun change and I firmly believe that if it was mf everyone would hate it. Anyway I'll be back once I've napped.
Also the Austin wolf references should be a cautionary tale for all authors to not include real life people for your characters to be horny over bc jesus christ that one did not age well.
The 2 stars are for Connor.
This reads like mf but with a pronoun change and I firmly believe that if it was mf everyone would hate it. Anyway I'll be back once I've napped.
Also the Austin wolf references should be a cautionary tale for all authors to not include real life people for your characters to be horny over bc jesus christ that one did not age well.
The 2 stars are for Connor.
May 23, 2022
I cannot write this review without spoilers (it is a time jumping book) so I apologize for that. But the tldr is that this book seems like a fetish book. And the tone is all over the place. It goes from little kids playing together to graphic and detailed sex scenes (like very graphic). I really did not enjoy this book at all and cannot suggest enough that you not read it.
You’re My Home follows the lives of two young boys (Bradley and Zach) who meet in the woods one day. As they grow up over many many years we get to see their relationship grow. While at first this comes off as kind of cute, in a older brother protecting a younger brother way, it gets weird and creepy quick. Bradley comes from a rich and well connected family, while Zach is from an abusive and isolated home. When Zach runs into the forest to avoid his dad he meets Bradley in the forests behind his house and they become friends quickly.
———— Spoilers ——————
Over the course of the story Zach is mentally and physically abused by his father, and then abandoned by his mother. Throughout all of this Bradley and Bradley’s family becomes Zach’s entire support network. Zach is adopted by the family and moves in with them, cuts off ties with his old family, etc. At the same time Zach has extreme PTSD and panic attacks from the years of abuse he has endured.
Bradley and Zach relationship starts off with Bradley protecting Zach from the real trauma Zach’s father inflects on him. However, as the story progresses Bradley ends up becoming obsessed with and possessive over Zach. In my mind Bradley becomes abusive and controlling, and uses Zach’s PTSD to control him. However, I do not think the author understood that this is a bad thing. For example, Bradley and Zach share a bed every night because Zach gets night terrors. However, one night Zach and Bradley get in a fight and Zach goes to his own bed. Bradley’s response is to remove Zach’s door and bed and physically force him back into Bradley’s room. This is not healthy or good. This is assault and problematic, but the book treats it like some great love story.
I have mentioned how Zach’s entire life and support structure is based around Bradley. However, Bradley will not allow him to date any men and actively works to keep Zach isolated and dependent only on himself. This is also not healthy or good.
Also the reason I call this a fetish book it because it cannot seem to go ten seconds without mentioning that Zach is “twink,” “weak,” “small,” and a “bottom” that needs to be protected and should be controlled by Bradley who is “strong,” “big,” and a “top.” This is not how gay people work. And it is creepy. Characters say things like “twinks get kidnapped” so we need to protect Zach and not let him have his own life. I was actively grossed out most of the time. An actual quote from this book “I need you to trust me okay? Men like their twinks hairless, especially adorable pale twinks like you.” … another quote “They had us learn about sex trafficking at the academy and it’s made me more protective. Young, small guys like them are a huge target…..I worry about them too you have no idea how much shopping I had to suffer through while you were gone, just to keep an eye on both of them.” This is weird….. people are not objects to be controlled and owned by another, but this books seems to think that is love.
Finally, after all this other problematic shit, Zach and Bradley start a sexual relationship. And for some reason the sex scenes are some of the most graphic I have ever read. I mean this is a story that starts when Zach and Bradley are like 10. So it is weird to have it jump at the end to extremely graphic descriptions of what Bradley is doing with his dick in re Zach. And while I considered this sexual relationship to be abusive and creepy the books seems to think it is again some great love. This is made so much creepier by the fact that the book on multiple occasions informs us that Bradley is reminded of his dead kid brother when he looks at Zach (the guy he is basically mentally manipulating into a sexual relationship). No part of their relationship should be considered good and I am really upset the books seems to think all of this is ok.
Please do not read this book.
You’re My Home follows the lives of two young boys (Bradley and Zach) who meet in the woods one day. As they grow up over many many years we get to see their relationship grow. While at first this comes off as kind of cute, in a older brother protecting a younger brother way, it gets weird and creepy quick. Bradley comes from a rich and well connected family, while Zach is from an abusive and isolated home. When Zach runs into the forest to avoid his dad he meets Bradley in the forests behind his house and they become friends quickly.
———— Spoilers ——————
Over the course of the story Zach is mentally and physically abused by his father, and then abandoned by his mother. Throughout all of this Bradley and Bradley’s family becomes Zach’s entire support network. Zach is adopted by the family and moves in with them, cuts off ties with his old family, etc. At the same time Zach has extreme PTSD and panic attacks from the years of abuse he has endured.
Bradley and Zach relationship starts off with Bradley protecting Zach from the real trauma Zach’s father inflects on him. However, as the story progresses Bradley ends up becoming obsessed with and possessive over Zach. In my mind Bradley becomes abusive and controlling, and uses Zach’s PTSD to control him. However, I do not think the author understood that this is a bad thing. For example, Bradley and Zach share a bed every night because Zach gets night terrors. However, one night Zach and Bradley get in a fight and Zach goes to his own bed. Bradley’s response is to remove Zach’s door and bed and physically force him back into Bradley’s room. This is not healthy or good. This is assault and problematic, but the book treats it like some great love story.
I have mentioned how Zach’s entire life and support structure is based around Bradley. However, Bradley will not allow him to date any men and actively works to keep Zach isolated and dependent only on himself. This is also not healthy or good.
Also the reason I call this a fetish book it because it cannot seem to go ten seconds without mentioning that Zach is “twink,” “weak,” “small,” and a “bottom” that needs to be protected and should be controlled by Bradley who is “strong,” “big,” and a “top.” This is not how gay people work. And it is creepy. Characters say things like “twinks get kidnapped” so we need to protect Zach and not let him have his own life. I was actively grossed out most of the time. An actual quote from this book “I need you to trust me okay? Men like their twinks hairless, especially adorable pale twinks like you.” … another quote “They had us learn about sex trafficking at the academy and it’s made me more protective. Young, small guys like them are a huge target…..I worry about them too you have no idea how much shopping I had to suffer through while you were gone, just to keep an eye on both of them.” This is weird….. people are not objects to be controlled and owned by another, but this books seems to think that is love.
Finally, after all this other problematic shit, Zach and Bradley start a sexual relationship. And for some reason the sex scenes are some of the most graphic I have ever read. I mean this is a story that starts when Zach and Bradley are like 10. So it is weird to have it jump at the end to extremely graphic descriptions of what Bradley is doing with his dick in re Zach. And while I considered this sexual relationship to be abusive and creepy the books seems to think it is again some great love. This is made so much creepier by the fact that the book on multiple occasions informs us that Bradley is reminded of his dead kid brother when he looks at Zach (the guy he is basically mentally manipulating into a sexual relationship). No part of their relationship should be considered good and I am really upset the books seems to think all of this is ok.
Please do not read this book.
January 26, 2022
This was not what I expected...
First off this should have been a YA/NA romance where two people literally grow up together, get past trauma, figure out that they love each other and get their HEA.
What this was actually was a story that showed every aspect of life from 13 to 18 and was a smash your head against the wall until you get that being gay is ok. There were points where the message was so heavy handed that one could be taken out of the story.
This was wish fulfillment to the nth degree. One of the mcs is a horribly abused child who meets a wealthy child who's brother had recently died randomly in the woods. These two had instalove beyond anything I have ever read. The abused one has been raised horribly, never went to school, never went to the dr, clothes don't fit, etc but trusts this random teen who is bigger than he is.
Then, the rich family gets custody of the tiny MC cause they have loved this random boy from day one and his dad hurt him enough to put him in the hospital. These two boys are inseparable from day one and outside of the abused ones parents, no one seems to care. The sleep together, have the same classes, tiny always sits in rich MC lap, and outside the bad kids and bad other parents, everyone loves them. I also have to point out that tiny has panic attacks and asthma, his dad tries to kidnap him, mom has already ditched him, he ends up in the hospital twice, discovered he was gay, stopped an attack on another gay student which led to rich MC giving a massive love is love speech to the school which ends up going viral, is a genius even though he was home schooled, was given the job as a librarian before high school graduation, got an Audi SUV for his birthday, and all this happened before he turned 18.
Now rich kid has a trust fund so at age 18, he buys a 6 bedroom "house" and moves tiny MC into it. He also leaves tiny MC for 6 months to become a police officer (at age 18) which was extended two more months because he decided to be a k9 officer in this small town they live in.
Finally tiny MC finds his own friends and gets a makeover. Tiny also gets a huge amount of money from his dads estate. I actually liked this part, I thought "finally he will stop being codependent and will become stronger!"
Hah, no, the rich one comes home and all is forgiven. Then rich MC gifts the tiny one with a week long trip to Disney World with a stay at a 4 star hotel and he takes tiny's bff and Conner who has been his friend since high school. (These are teens)
Oh during the 6 month separation, rich MC basically ignores tiny, lets a woman sleep in his bed, and never tells tiny any of this. Then rich MC decides he will make sure tiny knows how to sex but is determined that he is not gay as one does.
So at 93%, tiny finds out about this woman (which is alright guys, she's a lesbian) and runs off. Its at this point that rich MC figures out that he is demi and wants to be with tiny.
Does tiny finally get away from this? Nope he just cries until rich MC shows up to take him back home and lets him know that he is demi and wants a relationship and sexytimes. Cue the epilogue and marriage proposal when they turned 20.
Also, this wonderful family also adopts this new bff, cause they are just that nice.
This book was about a really bad codependent relationship where they could have been helped with some therapy. I mean at one point tiny does go to the therapist but rich MC has to go along but tiny refuses to talk to them so rich MC is taught how to help with the panic attacks.
I will give it 3 stars only because I did tear up at times and I made it to the end to find out what happens.
First off this should have been a YA/NA romance where two people literally grow up together, get past trauma, figure out that they love each other and get their HEA.
What this was actually was a story that showed every aspect of life from 13 to 18 and was a smash your head against the wall until you get that being gay is ok. There were points where the message was so heavy handed that one could be taken out of the story.
This was wish fulfillment to the nth degree. One of the mcs is a horribly abused child who meets a wealthy child who's brother had recently died randomly in the woods. These two had instalove beyond anything I have ever read. The abused one has been raised horribly, never went to school, never went to the dr, clothes don't fit, etc but trusts this random teen who is bigger than he is.
Then, the rich family gets custody of the tiny MC cause they have loved this random boy from day one and his dad hurt him enough to put him in the hospital. These two boys are inseparable from day one and outside of the abused ones parents, no one seems to care. The sleep together, have the same classes, tiny always sits in rich MC lap, and outside the bad kids and bad other parents, everyone loves them. I also have to point out that tiny has panic attacks and asthma, his dad tries to kidnap him, mom has already ditched him, he ends up in the hospital twice, discovered he was gay, stopped an attack on another gay student which led to rich MC giving a massive love is love speech to the school which ends up going viral, is a genius even though he was home schooled, was given the job as a librarian before high school graduation, got an Audi SUV for his birthday, and all this happened before he turned 18.
Now rich kid has a trust fund so at age 18, he buys a 6 bedroom "house" and moves tiny MC into it. He also leaves tiny MC for 6 months to become a police officer (at age 18) which was extended two more months because he decided to be a k9 officer in this small town they live in.
Finally tiny MC finds his own friends and gets a makeover. Tiny also gets a huge amount of money from his dads estate. I actually liked this part, I thought "finally he will stop being codependent and will become stronger!"
Hah, no, the rich one comes home and all is forgiven. Then rich MC gifts the tiny one with a week long trip to Disney World with a stay at a 4 star hotel and he takes tiny's bff and Conner who has been his friend since high school. (These are teens)
Oh during the 6 month separation, rich MC basically ignores tiny, lets a woman sleep in his bed, and never tells tiny any of this. Then rich MC decides he will make sure tiny knows how to sex but is determined that he is not gay as one does.
So at 93%, tiny finds out about this woman (which is alright guys, she's a lesbian) and runs off. Its at this point that rich MC figures out that he is demi and wants to be with tiny.
Does tiny finally get away from this? Nope he just cries until rich MC shows up to take him back home and lets him know that he is demi and wants a relationship and sexytimes. Cue the epilogue and marriage proposal when they turned 20.
Also, this wonderful family also adopts this new bff, cause they are just that nice.
This book was about a really bad codependent relationship where they could have been helped with some therapy. I mean at one point tiny does go to the therapist but rich MC has to go along but tiny refuses to talk to them so rich MC is taught how to help with the panic attacks.
I will give it 3 stars only because I did tear up at times and I made it to the end to find out what happens.
November 26, 2022
EDIT: I just reread this and loved it just as much the second time. It's so heartwarming and I just love Brady's family. He has the best parents in the world, especially his dad. I think we all want Mr. Wellman to be our dad! Again, I just loved Kelly and Connor. Zach's friendship with Kelly is so important and life-changing for both of them and I loved that for them! I thought maybe this book wouldn't affect me emotionally as much as it did the first time, but nope, I cried my way through it just like the first time. LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!!
Get ready to take an emotional and uplifting journey with Zach and Brady, two special boys whose love and loyalty is so strong right from the first moment. Our story begins the day the boys meet each other at around 13 years old. The first half of You're My Home is an angsty coming of age story that slowly changes into an emotional best-friends-to-lovers adult romance after the halfway point, once the boys both turn 18. This book is long, but there was never a point when I wanted the story to speed up. I fell in love with these characters and wanted to be there for every step of their journey together. The author clearly loves her characters and took the time to establish Zach and Brady’s close bond through their adolescence. Even though there’s plenty of angst in the first half, the book is just full of love and good feelings. I cried so many times reading this book. Sometimes because of heartbreaking sadness, but usually it was because of the sweetness. You know that wonderful feeling when good things happen to people who deserve it?
Zach, who is very small for his age, is the definition of a cinnamon roll, and Brady is his champion and unwaveringly loyal protector, always at his side. This book has so many of my favorite things; best friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, found family, clueless MC, size difference, fully thought out and lovable side characters (I’m looking at you, Connor and Kelly!), strong secondary friendships (Connor and Kelly again! I just loved them!), and wonderfully accepting parents who fight for their kids. I don’t usually get book hangovers, but I fell in love with this book and have been thinking about it nonstop since I finished it. I think it’s going to be a comfort reread for me for years to come. If you love coming of age stories and best friends to lovers romance (and yes, it does get steamy after they turn 18), please give this book a try. I hope you love it as much as I did.
There are several on-page traumatic events in the book so please read the trigger warnings if you are sensitive to certain topics.
Get ready to take an emotional and uplifting journey with Zach and Brady, two special boys whose love and loyalty is so strong right from the first moment. Our story begins the day the boys meet each other at around 13 years old. The first half of You're My Home is an angsty coming of age story that slowly changes into an emotional best-friends-to-lovers adult romance after the halfway point, once the boys both turn 18. This book is long, but there was never a point when I wanted the story to speed up. I fell in love with these characters and wanted to be there for every step of their journey together. The author clearly loves her characters and took the time to establish Zach and Brady’s close bond through their adolescence. Even though there’s plenty of angst in the first half, the book is just full of love and good feelings. I cried so many times reading this book. Sometimes because of heartbreaking sadness, but usually it was because of the sweetness. You know that wonderful feeling when good things happen to people who deserve it?
Zach, who is very small for his age, is the definition of a cinnamon roll, and Brady is his champion and unwaveringly loyal protector, always at his side. This book has so many of my favorite things; best friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, found family, clueless MC, size difference, fully thought out and lovable side characters (I’m looking at you, Connor and Kelly!), strong secondary friendships (Connor and Kelly again! I just loved them!), and wonderfully accepting parents who fight for their kids. I don’t usually get book hangovers, but I fell in love with this book and have been thinking about it nonstop since I finished it. I think it’s going to be a comfort reread for me for years to come. If you love coming of age stories and best friends to lovers romance (and yes, it does get steamy after they turn 18), please give this book a try. I hope you love it as much as I did.
There are several on-page traumatic events in the book so please read the trigger warnings if you are sensitive to certain topics.
February 9, 2022
Okay. I have a few really big problems with this book.
First, I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I hate demisexuality in romance novels. It's always, always lazy writing. In this case, with Brady? It's ridiculous. The author could have easily explained it much better as Brady being in love with Zach the whole time, so it felt too much like cheating or something and that's why he never felt attracted to anyone but Zach.
Second, the dialogue. Christ above. "Love you, Son." "You, too." "Yes, we are going to the club." It's stilted and awkward and a pain in the neck to read.
Third, and most importantly--this book is double the length it should be. This is a prime example of an author who didn't get that backstory is supposed to be backstory, and instead just shoved it on into the novel. I genuinely believe that, had she written the first chapter where they meet as-is, then jumped forward to when Brady leaves for the police academy, it would've been leagues better.
The writing is lazy. Descriptions of specific Disney merch felt like crutches, and there were constantly unnecessary paragraphs of information that had zero relevance to the plot (like crating a dog).
This book is 170k, and believe me, you feel like you've run a marathon by the time it's over. If you're obsessed with 5-foot-tall grown men having panic attacks every ten pages, you'll enjoy this book. The only reason I finished it was stubbornness, and I really regret it.
First, I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I hate demisexuality in romance novels. It's always, always lazy writing. In this case, with Brady? It's ridiculous. The author could have easily explained it much better as Brady being in love with Zach the whole time, so it felt too much like cheating or something and that's why he never felt attracted to anyone but Zach.
Second, the dialogue. Christ above. "Love you, Son." "You, too." "Yes, we are going to the club." It's stilted and awkward and a pain in the neck to read.
Third, and most importantly--this book is double the length it should be. This is a prime example of an author who didn't get that backstory is supposed to be backstory, and instead just shoved it on into the novel. I genuinely believe that, had she written the first chapter where they meet as-is, then jumped forward to when Brady leaves for the police academy, it would've been leagues better.
The writing is lazy. Descriptions of specific Disney merch felt like crutches, and there were constantly unnecessary paragraphs of information that had zero relevance to the plot (like crating a dog).
This book is 170k, and believe me, you feel like you've run a marathon by the time it's over. If you're obsessed with 5-foot-tall grown men having panic attacks every ten pages, you'll enjoy this book. The only reason I finished it was stubbornness, and I really regret it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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