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The Wingman
Always the wingman, never the one.
Nathan, a college student with a thing for funky hats and a definite not-thing for the great outdoors, has been a wingman extraordinaire for his lifelong best friend Lorcan for as long as either can remember. With his innate ability to talk endlessly about how great Lorcan is to anyone who’ll listen, Nathan has always been the best man for the job—even if he’s secretly waiting for the day when Lorcan will realize that Nathan is the only guy for him.
But then, Lorcan sets his sights on Miles, the suave, leather-jacket-wearing musician with a love of mountaineering and a family of six overprotective sisters, and Nathan must once again put his wingman skills to work.
Trouble is, Nathan is getting tired of the old routine, and Miles is the only human being on the planet immune to Lorcan’s charm. Not to mention that Miles’s interest is immediately piqued by the outspoken and completely oblivious wingman.
Nathan, a college student with a thing for funky hats and a definite not-thing for the great outdoors, has been a wingman extraordinaire for his lifelong best friend Lorcan for as long as either can remember. With his innate ability to talk endlessly about how great Lorcan is to anyone who’ll listen, Nathan has always been the best man for the job—even if he’s secretly waiting for the day when Lorcan will realize that Nathan is the only guy for him.
But then, Lorcan sets his sights on Miles, the suave, leather-jacket-wearing musician with a love of mountaineering and a family of six overprotective sisters, and Nathan must once again put his wingman skills to work.
Trouble is, Nathan is getting tired of the old routine, and Miles is the only human being on the planet immune to Lorcan’s charm. Not to mention that Miles’s interest is immediately piqued by the outspoken and completely oblivious wingman.
Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2021
8 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Ames (A. Poland)
3 books29 followersChristopher Ames (A. Poland) is a writer from Ireland who delights in telling stories about people from all walks of life coming together and falling in love. With the necessary hijinks of course.
His first two novels 'The Wingman' and 'Tripwrecked' are no strangers to swoon-worthy antics, epic declarations of love and happy ever afters.
When he's not writing the next meet-cute, Christopher can be found at the gym, or traveling with his husband and globe-trotting pup, Gizmo.
His first two novels 'The Wingman' and 'Tripwrecked' are no strangers to swoon-worthy antics, epic declarations of love and happy ever afters.
When he's not writing the next meet-cute, Christopher can be found at the gym, or traveling with his husband and globe-trotting pup, Gizmo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
September 10, 2021
The blurb for this one pulled me in completely, but while this was a fun and enjoyable story, it never tipped into true love territory.
As the story began, college incoming-senior Nathan had just returned to LA, after spending a year abroad, ready to resume his all-consuming crush on his best friend, Lorcan.
But when previously-straight Lorcan immediately began gushing about a hardcore crush on a guy of his own, Nathan felt both a sense of dread and hope all at once.
I liked Lorcan quite a bit at the start, but as the story progressed, the reader saw more of his selfish, immature personality bubble to the surface. He was a great friend, as long as he was the center of attention and was getting exactly what he wanted, when he wanted it.
Not that Nathan was perfect, either, though, as he wasn't open and honest with Lorcan about all of the "hanging out" , even when there was absolutely nothing romantic or sexual going on between them (yet).
Any rational, truthful, real BFF would've just come clean with that info before feelings were hurt. That felt like a pretty big betrayal on Nathan's part.
This slow-burn story had a decent bit of humor, mostly in regards to Nathan's clumsy awkwardness, but also from his biting wit, so I did enjoy those parts.
My favorites were the parts with Nathan's deaf father, Ben, and Miles' in-your-face family. And the Camping Adventure of Doom (as Nathan would probably describe it).
A few plot points that I felt went unresolved were the details as to *why* Miles was in foster care at age 15, and for *how long* he had been a ward of the state.
It bugged me and, since it seemed to be such a sore point for Miles, I genuinely wanted him to trust Nathan (and the readers) with that extra info.
So yeah, I liked the book, but it wasn't undying love, so I'd rate it at around 3.5 stars.
April 5, 2022
The Wingman felt so unique. With blunt and direct writing that still manages to feel warm and inviting and characters that feel more like close friends, I simply couldn’t put this down. The pacing is fantastic. There’s no filler and the story flows so organically. It’s a quick read but not a rushed one. Each side character is teeming with just as much life and personality as the main characters even if we don’t get to know them quite as well. This book was full of many intimate and tender moments that I will continue to dreamily think about. 💙💙💙 Gentle head holds, the curious tracing of tattoos on a lover’s body, watching wildlife in the forest late at night. This was pure magic.
August 1, 2021
i really quite enjoyed this. it was a very quick, very easy read.
i don’t usually like love triangle stories, but this one worked for me. i felt like all three of the leads were fleshed out enough that i cared what happened to each of them. all three of them were good guys, still flawed, but still worth rooting for. i went back and forth on how i felt about Lorcan several times over the course of the book, but i think he ultimately won me over by the end.
i don’t usually like love triangle stories, but this one worked for me. i felt like all three of the leads were fleshed out enough that i cared what happened to each of them. all three of them were good guys, still flawed, but still worth rooting for. i went back and forth on how i felt about Lorcan several times over the course of the book, but i think he ultimately won me over by the end.
August 2, 2021
This was a really refreshing read. It was light, funny and sweet, without it being loaded with the Hallmark sugarcoated sweetness I dislike.
This was my first read by this author and it tasted like more. The writing was witty and there were a lot of funny moments that had me laughing. I enjoyed the humor and the refreshing feeling this story gave me. I don't often read about love triangles, but I thought it was done pretty good here.
Nathan has had a crush on his life-long best friend Lorcan (I didn't like that name very much, btw), but he's used to his role as wingman; he makes sure the cute girls notice his friend, so Lorcan can get laid. But then Lorcan tells him he has a crush on a guy and needs Nathan to be his wingman.
Confused, Nathan is hopeful he might still stand a chance at turning their friendship into something more. But then he meets Miles, the handsome, tattooed musician that caught Lorcan's attention and he's not sure he still wants to play the game.
I loved Nathan and enjoyed being in his head. (It's his sole pov we are reading here). He was such an adorable sweetheart! But when it came to Miles, he was completely oblivious about the feelings Miles had for him. Even when he hears Miles say he's having a thing for someone (after they've been hanging out a lot of times), he doesn't get the picture.
There was a great cast of characters, specially Miles's Von Trapp energetic siblings. I loved how protective they were of him, but how they welcomed Nathan to the family.
I loved Ben, Nathan's father, and their dynamics.
I'm still not sure how I feel about Lorcan, though. In the end he might have won me over, but for most of the story I couldn't shake the feeling he was a bit too far up in his own ass; too self centered, everything was too much about him and never about Nathan. And when Nathan finally stands up for his own desires, Lorcan cuts him off. Not a very mature thing to do, Lorcan!
Also, the camping scenes were a lot of fun to read, but again Lorcan was acting a bit too selfish.
It was Nathan's luck to meet Miles. At first I had a hard time reading Miles, he was a bit of a mystery. He was this quiet guy, who had been through a lot of stuff (which we don't read about too much) and who has made a few mistakes in his past where it comes to dating. But turned out he was very sweet and he loved to take care of Nathan, which was refreshing, as opposed to Lorcan's selfishness.
One little disappointment though: I would have liked for Miles's and Nathan's first time to be on page. I was hoping we would get that! Smutty, voyeur me would have liked to witness that. But alas, it's faded to black. Damn. But I guess this isn't that kind of book - there's a lot of insinuating, but never sex on page.
Anyway, if you are looking for a light read, funny with witty dialogues, I would highly recommend this book. I had an enjoyable time reading it.
I was kindly given an ARC by Gay Book Promotions and this is my honest review
This was my first read by this author and it tasted like more. The writing was witty and there were a lot of funny moments that had me laughing. I enjoyed the humor and the refreshing feeling this story gave me. I don't often read about love triangles, but I thought it was done pretty good here.
Nathan has had a crush on his life-long best friend Lorcan (I didn't like that name very much, btw), but he's used to his role as wingman; he makes sure the cute girls notice his friend, so Lorcan can get laid. But then Lorcan tells him he has a crush on a guy and needs Nathan to be his wingman.
Confused, Nathan is hopeful he might still stand a chance at turning their friendship into something more. But then he meets Miles, the handsome, tattooed musician that caught Lorcan's attention and he's not sure he still wants to play the game.
I loved Nathan and enjoyed being in his head. (It's his sole pov we are reading here). He was such an adorable sweetheart! But when it came to Miles, he was completely oblivious about the feelings Miles had for him. Even when he hears Miles say he's having a thing for someone (after they've been hanging out a lot of times), he doesn't get the picture.
There was a great cast of characters, specially Miles's Von Trapp energetic siblings. I loved how protective they were of him, but how they welcomed Nathan to the family.
I loved Ben, Nathan's father, and their dynamics.
I'm still not sure how I feel about Lorcan, though. In the end he might have won me over, but for most of the story I couldn't shake the feeling he was a bit too far up in his own ass; too self centered, everything was too much about him and never about Nathan. And when Nathan finally stands up for his own desires, Lorcan cuts him off. Not a very mature thing to do, Lorcan!
Also, the camping scenes were a lot of fun to read, but again Lorcan was acting a bit too selfish.
It was Nathan's luck to meet Miles. At first I had a hard time reading Miles, he was a bit of a mystery. He was this quiet guy, who had been through a lot of stuff (which we don't read about too much) and who has made a few mistakes in his past where it comes to dating. But turned out he was very sweet and he loved to take care of Nathan, which was refreshing, as opposed to Lorcan's selfishness.
One little disappointment though: I would have liked for Miles's and Nathan's first time to be on page. I was hoping we would get that! Smutty, voyeur me would have liked to witness that. But alas, it's faded to black. Damn. But I guess this isn't that kind of book - there's a lot of insinuating, but never sex on page.
Anyway, if you are looking for a light read, funny with witty dialogues, I would highly recommend this book. I had an enjoyable time reading it.
I was kindly given an ARC by Gay Book Promotions and this is my honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2021
Looking for a sweet, fun, and romantic read? Give
The Wingman
a shot.
Nathan and Lorcan have been best friends for as long as they can remember, and they’ve always had each other’s back. As they’ve grown older, however, Nathan has taken on a different role for Lorcan—as his wingman.
Lorcan is a great-looking guy but lacks confidence in his ability to “close the deal” with the women he’s been interested in. But Nathan is happy to talk about his friend to anyone who’ll listen, and often it’s his praise of Lorcan that helps win people—especially women—over. And while he’s happy to make Lorcan happy, a part of him wishes Lorcan would stop wasting time and realize Nathan is the one for him.
When Nathan returns from attending college abroad, he’s not shocked to find out Lorcan needs his talents again, but he’s shocked to find out whom he must convince. This time it’s a guy, Miles, and he’s a tattooed, leather-jacket-wearing environmentalist who enjoys the outdoors.
As Nathan readies himself to work on his friend’s behalf once again, he realizes it’s not fun anymore. He wants Lorcan to be interested in him instead. And of course, it doesn’t appear Miles is all that impressed by Nathan’s talking up Lorcan—he’s actually more impressed by Nathan himself. Uh-oh…
How far would you go for a friend? At what point do you put your own interests above those of your friend? Should you risk your friendship for a chance at romance?
This was a fun romance with a terrific supporting cast. Thanks so much to Pride Book Tours for inviting me on the tour and providing me a complimentary copy of The Wingman in exchange for an unbiased review!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Nathan and Lorcan have been best friends for as long as they can remember, and they’ve always had each other’s back. As they’ve grown older, however, Nathan has taken on a different role for Lorcan—as his wingman.
Lorcan is a great-looking guy but lacks confidence in his ability to “close the deal” with the women he’s been interested in. But Nathan is happy to talk about his friend to anyone who’ll listen, and often it’s his praise of Lorcan that helps win people—especially women—over. And while he’s happy to make Lorcan happy, a part of him wishes Lorcan would stop wasting time and realize Nathan is the one for him.
When Nathan returns from attending college abroad, he’s not shocked to find out Lorcan needs his talents again, but he’s shocked to find out whom he must convince. This time it’s a guy, Miles, and he’s a tattooed, leather-jacket-wearing environmentalist who enjoys the outdoors.
As Nathan readies himself to work on his friend’s behalf once again, he realizes it’s not fun anymore. He wants Lorcan to be interested in him instead. And of course, it doesn’t appear Miles is all that impressed by Nathan’s talking up Lorcan—he’s actually more impressed by Nathan himself. Uh-oh…
How far would you go for a friend? At what point do you put your own interests above those of your friend? Should you risk your friendship for a chance at romance?
This was a fun romance with a terrific supporting cast. Thanks so much to Pride Book Tours for inviting me on the tour and providing me a complimentary copy of The Wingman in exchange for an unbiased review!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
July 20, 2021
There are no villains in this book, only people, and their challenges, dramas, and triumphs feel deeply, rewardingly real. I can’t say enough good things about Nathan, our protagonist, who’s greatest challenges in life include: the outdoors (yes, all of it), a passel of diabolically clever ground squirrels, and figuring out how to navigate his complicated feelings for his best friend (and the limitations of their somewhat codependent bond). Nathan makes mistakes, but he’s fundamentally an honest, kind, funny, caring person, and watching him with anyone— his amazing dad, his best friend Lorcan, and especially Miles, with whom he vibes so perfectly, but reads so cluelessly— is so much fun. I liked every moment of this story— it made me smile a lot, laugh sometimes, and ended in a good place for everyone involved, which is really everything you could ask for. I cannot recommend it enough.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 22, 2021
A. brings to life a vibrant and diverse cast of loveable characters in their debut — also the drama is spicy as anything and it won’t apologise for it. I read an early draft of this book, and am super pumped to get a hold of the final cut.
September 1, 2021
This is one of the occasions where "Readers Also Enjoyed" recommendation on Goodreads works. See, this one is recommended by Goodreads after I DNF-ed one certain book. I was intrigued with the book summary, even if I know that this kind of conflict may be problematic for me. Because I don't like it if one party feels hurt.
But Poland manages to work this one out. The Wingman is written solely from Nathan's perspective (he's the wingman) and it feels right because, well, the conflict is in him. He LOVES his best friend, Lorcan, but he also feels attracted with Lorcan's interest, Miles. I don't need to know what Lorcan or Miles think. This is Nathan's story.
AND I LOVE NATHAN'S VOICE. Nathan navigates this with humor that fits my reading style very much. He's funny, at times self-deprecating, at times oblivious (about Miles being attracted to him or how people see him as part of Lorcan & Nathan partnership), but always, always feel wonderful and kind and loyal.
And the secondary characters, Nathan's observant father, and Miles' KICKASS SISTERS(!!!) are great characters to spend your day/night with as well. They're EXCELLENT and elevates this novel to something that makes me FEEL GOOD. Yes, there's the triangle conflict, but I feel like everything is resolved in a way that everyone MATURES UP because of it. And that they will be just fine in the end.
I did think that the time-spent between Nathan/Lorcan and Nathan/Miles was a little not balanced, though. I wish there's more scenes of Nathan and Miles where Nathan doesn't think about Lorcan... it doesn't help that for half of the book Nathan still wants to get Lorcan's attraction. That's why I can't rate this higher even if this book is really, REALLY good.
It's definitely a good introduction for this new-to-me author. I think I will keep my eyes for her next book.
But Poland manages to work this one out. The Wingman is written solely from Nathan's perspective (he's the wingman) and it feels right because, well, the conflict is in him. He LOVES his best friend, Lorcan, but he also feels attracted with Lorcan's interest, Miles. I don't need to know what Lorcan or Miles think. This is Nathan's story.
AND I LOVE NATHAN'S VOICE. Nathan navigates this with humor that fits my reading style very much. He's funny, at times self-deprecating, at times oblivious (about Miles being attracted to him or how people see him as part of Lorcan & Nathan partnership), but always, always feel wonderful and kind and loyal.
And the secondary characters, Nathan's observant father, and Miles' KICKASS SISTERS(!!!) are great characters to spend your day/night with as well. They're EXCELLENT and elevates this novel to something that makes me FEEL GOOD. Yes, there's the triangle conflict, but I feel like everything is resolved in a way that everyone MATURES UP because of it. And that they will be just fine in the end.
I did think that the time-spent between Nathan/Lorcan and Nathan/Miles was a little not balanced, though. I wish there's more scenes of Nathan and Miles where Nathan doesn't think about Lorcan... it doesn't help that for half of the book Nathan still wants to get Lorcan's attraction. That's why I can't rate this higher even if this book is really, REALLY good.
It's definitely a good introduction for this new-to-me author. I think I will keep my eyes for her next book.
July 30, 2021
I had so much fun reading The Wingman. A truly funny , heart warming , charming , sweet , inclusive and entertaining, MM, slow burn romance.
A. Poland writing is original , fresh and natural. There is nothing formulaic about The Wingman; it's in a class of his own.
Miles and Nathan are relatable and likeable characters . The have lots of chemistry , their friendship/relationship progression feels organic and real.
The secondary cast of characters are also greatly written. They all play are important and vital to the plotline and not just there as fillers or/props for drama . They , as the heroes , are three dimensional characters with a strong and believable back story.
The Wingman stole my heart. Highly recommend it.
I just reviewed The Wingman by A. Poland. #TheWingman #NetGalley #NineStarPress
A. Poland writing is original , fresh and natural. There is nothing formulaic about The Wingman; it's in a class of his own.
Miles and Nathan are relatable and likeable characters . The have lots of chemistry , their friendship/relationship progression feels organic and real.
The secondary cast of characters are also greatly written. They all play are important and vital to the plotline and not just there as fillers or/props for drama . They , as the heroes , are three dimensional characters with a strong and believable back story.
The Wingman stole my heart. Highly recommend it.
I just reviewed The Wingman by A. Poland. #TheWingman #NetGalley #NineStarPress
August 18, 2021
*happy sigh*
I have so much love for this story.
Crushes, unrequited love, whatever you want to call them. They suck! Huge hairy donkey sized… *coughs* well, you catch my drift.
Been there, done that! *wails* Always the bridesmaid, never the bride! *blushes* But, enough about me, back to Nathan.
A year studying abroad has done nothing to lessen Nathan’s feelings for his best friend Lorcan (love that name btw). Hormones have a lot to answer for, don’t they? After once again being called upon to wave his magic wingman wand (*snorts* that’s all you – not me. I. Am. Innocent), poor Nathan is at his limit.
I repeat; I have so much love for this story.
It’s one of those stories where you find yourself with a permanent smile on your face whilst you’re reading. Even through the angsty bits the smile wasn’t far from my face. I laughed, cringed, and aww’d my way through the book.
Lorcan may be crushing on Miles, but Miles only has eyes for a certain wingman. Even if said wingman is completely clueless. (Side note: I can neither confirm nor deny that I was caught having a one-sided convo with Nathan about this very fact.) It was totally adorbs and so is Miles. I just wanted to boop his nose, lol. His character was like catnip to me.
I also need to give a special mention to Nathan’s dad, Ben. The secondary storyline about Nate’s dad just made my heart melt. Their relationship was just everything.
Engaging characters, easy to read and brimming with humour & feels, The Wingman was the perfect introduction to new-to-me-author, A. Poland.
It’s time for this Wingman to take centre stage!
I have so much love for this story.
Crushes, unrequited love, whatever you want to call them. They suck! Huge hairy donkey sized… *coughs* well, you catch my drift.
Been there, done that! *wails* Always the bridesmaid, never the bride! *blushes* But, enough about me, back to Nathan.
A year studying abroad has done nothing to lessen Nathan’s feelings for his best friend Lorcan (love that name btw). Hormones have a lot to answer for, don’t they? After once again being called upon to wave his magic wingman wand (*snorts* that’s all you – not me. I. Am. Innocent), poor Nathan is at his limit.
I repeat; I have so much love for this story.
It’s one of those stories where you find yourself with a permanent smile on your face whilst you’re reading. Even through the angsty bits the smile wasn’t far from my face. I laughed, cringed, and aww’d my way through the book.
Lorcan may be crushing on Miles, but Miles only has eyes for a certain wingman. Even if said wingman is completely clueless. (Side note: I can neither confirm nor deny that I was caught having a one-sided convo with Nathan about this very fact.) It was totally adorbs and so is Miles. I just wanted to boop his nose, lol. His character was like catnip to me.
I also need to give a special mention to Nathan’s dad, Ben. The secondary storyline about Nate’s dad just made my heart melt. Their relationship was just everything.
Engaging characters, easy to read and brimming with humour & feels, The Wingman was the perfect introduction to new-to-me-author, A. Poland.
It’s time for this Wingman to take centre stage!
August 5, 2021
Cute, low-angst NA-ish romance, though not particularly memorable. I appreciated the diverse cast and I loved Nathan's dad.
I can't pinpoint what caused it but I felt slightly detached from Nathan throughout the entire book. His relationship with Miles was cute but didn't give me the good fuzzy feelings, probably because Nathan is oblivious to them for most of the book.
I don't regret reading it, but I probably won't reread it either.
I can't pinpoint what caused it but I felt slightly detached from Nathan throughout the entire book. His relationship with Miles was cute but didn't give me the good fuzzy feelings, probably because Nathan is oblivious to them for most of the book.
I don't regret reading it, but I probably won't reread it either.
July 29, 2021
Rating: 4.5 stars
I almost DNF'd this in the first few pages because the writing in the opening chapter feels somewhat stilted. It sure doesn't take A. Poland long to get into the swing of things, though, because this book quickly picks up and sucked me right in.
I have to say, I simply ADORE a love triangle that's actually a triangle. Usually when there's a "love triangle" trope it's more Person A likes Person B, and Person C likes Person A. Or maybe person B and C both like Person A but A can't decide who they like. Rarely do you get a full on A likes B, B likes C, C likes A, and I am here for it.
This is such a fun and adorable story. Nathan is a dang mess, and I love him, LOL. There are so many silly and also sweet moments in this book. Nathan is definitely rom-com levels of accident prone, and it makes for some really great moments. To use a cliche (but very true!) statement - this book kept me up way past my bedtime. And then I also woke up early to read a bit more before work. And that's about the best recommendation I can give any book!! I look forward to reading more by A. Poland.
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
I almost DNF'd this in the first few pages because the writing in the opening chapter feels somewhat stilted. It sure doesn't take A. Poland long to get into the swing of things, though, because this book quickly picks up and sucked me right in.
I have to say, I simply ADORE a love triangle that's actually a triangle. Usually when there's a "love triangle" trope it's more Person A likes Person B, and Person C likes Person A. Or maybe person B and C both like Person A but A can't decide who they like. Rarely do you get a full on A likes B, B likes C, C likes A, and I am here for it.
This is such a fun and adorable story. Nathan is a dang mess, and I love him, LOL. There are so many silly and also sweet moments in this book. Nathan is definitely rom-com levels of accident prone, and it makes for some really great moments. To use a cliche (but very true!) statement - this book kept me up way past my bedtime. And then I also woke up early to read a bit more before work. And that's about the best recommendation I can give any book!! I look forward to reading more by A. Poland.
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
February 26, 2022
This is a great story that captures your attention from the beginning and doesn't let go. Although it was my first book by this author, it will not be my last.
July 26, 2021
The Wingman by A. Poland surprised me! I enjoyed it… let me tell you about that.
Nathan is the best possible friend and wingman to Lorcan. He is fantastic at going out with Lorcan and hooking him up with women while he pines secretly for his best friend. Things change suddenly when Nathan returns from a year away to find out that Lorcan is interested in a man.
Lorcan enlists Nathan's help to get to Miles. Miles is a musician who loves hiking and the outdoors. He comes from a family with several over-protective sisters and at first, Lorcan doesn't even know if Miles is interested in men.
For the first time ever…things don't go as expected. Miles seems immune to the usual heart-stopping charm of Lorcan. In fact, maybe he's interested in Nathan. The more time the three of them spend together, the clearer it becomes that it's time for Nathan to make some changes.
Now, I really disliked Lorcan. Let me explain. This isn't a bad thing. I always applaud authors when they write a character that rubs me the wrong way. Lorcan takes his friendship with Nathan for granted and he's quite entitled throughout a lot of the story. He got under my skin, and I found myself rooting for Nathan to get out from under the friendship.
Nathan was easy to love. He's clumsy, bright, funny and a dedicated friend. I enjoyed the way he progressed throughout the novel. At first, he didn't seem to think there was anything unhealthy about his friendship with Lorcan, but slowly he came around to realizing that he deserved better.
The relationship between Nathan and his father was a joy to read. It was very authentic, and I loved the fact that they communicated in ASL. As someone who is fluent in ASL, I love to see it in books when it's just another thing that characters do.
This story felt good. It had a great pace and was fun to read. There were some humorous moments and incidents peppered throughout even though there were some very serious moments. I really enjoyed it!
Nathan is the best possible friend and wingman to Lorcan. He is fantastic at going out with Lorcan and hooking him up with women while he pines secretly for his best friend. Things change suddenly when Nathan returns from a year away to find out that Lorcan is interested in a man.
Lorcan enlists Nathan's help to get to Miles. Miles is a musician who loves hiking and the outdoors. He comes from a family with several over-protective sisters and at first, Lorcan doesn't even know if Miles is interested in men.
For the first time ever…things don't go as expected. Miles seems immune to the usual heart-stopping charm of Lorcan. In fact, maybe he's interested in Nathan. The more time the three of them spend together, the clearer it becomes that it's time for Nathan to make some changes.
Now, I really disliked Lorcan. Let me explain. This isn't a bad thing. I always applaud authors when they write a character that rubs me the wrong way. Lorcan takes his friendship with Nathan for granted and he's quite entitled throughout a lot of the story. He got under my skin, and I found myself rooting for Nathan to get out from under the friendship.
Nathan was easy to love. He's clumsy, bright, funny and a dedicated friend. I enjoyed the way he progressed throughout the novel. At first, he didn't seem to think there was anything unhealthy about his friendship with Lorcan, but slowly he came around to realizing that he deserved better.
The relationship between Nathan and his father was a joy to read. It was very authentic, and I loved the fact that they communicated in ASL. As someone who is fluent in ASL, I love to see it in books when it's just another thing that characters do.
This story felt good. It had a great pace and was fun to read. There were some humorous moments and incidents peppered throughout even though there were some very serious moments. I really enjoyed it!
July 24, 2021
I got this off of Netgalley these opinions are my own. I loved this book! Nathan was a fun protagonist and I always like reading about protagonists who underestimate themselves. I enjoyed Nathan and Miles getting to know each other, it’s a slow but it’s all the more comfortable to me because of that! I love how unaware Nathan is! I think the dynamics for both Nathan and Miles with their families is also really endearing! As a person who works with people with disabilities I enjoyed how A. Poland came up with a unique way to let the reader recognize that there were different communication styles happening in the book. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read more from A. Poland or for The Wingman to come out!
August 18, 2021
Check out our full post for THE WINGMAN on Wicked Reads, which includes an excerpt.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
What a fun story. I devoured this in a day, staying up way past my bedtime to read. The story flowed easily, and it didn't take long before I realised that even though Nathan was crushing on his best friend, I didn't really want them to get together.
I really enjoyed Nathan's clumsy, awkward ways and seeing Nathan mature and look for friendships outside of his bestie. I liked the light tone of this story and the romance that blossoms was really lovely. Also, it's great to see a new adult romance that isn't all about lots of sex
I'm smiling as I write this review. THE WINGMAN left me feeling happy, which is just what I needed.
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed reading this story – it was well written and had a light, sexy vibe.
Nathan has been in love with his straight best friend forever, and has an uncanny knack of enticing women to like Lorcan. He has no trouble with this, in spite of his feelings, but when Lorcan expresses interest in another man, then he is thrown.
Just back from his year of study in Scotland, Nathan is disappointed that his skills in getting Lorcan a date seem to have gone, but then maybe Miles isn't such an easy target. As we enjoy getting to know Nathan and Miles, it becomes clear that maybe Miles' interest is already taken on someone else.
It was fun to see Miles as the performer, as the friend, the outdoorsman, and ultimately, as the one who only has eyes for Nathan. The camping and hiking trip is really very amusing – and gives us plenty of fun scenes to enjoy.
Overall, a book with lots of heart and likeable characters that I read with great pleasure.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
September 6, 2021
Such an enjoyable read!
August 31, 2021
Este me ha gustado, aunque iba a DNF en los primeros capítulos al final ha resultado un NA muy mono. A ver, todo es algo OTT, pero para mí ha funcionado.
July 31, 2021
Three and a half stars.
Nathan has been in love with his best friend Lorcan since forever, but Lorcan has only ever seen him as a friend, and the wingman who talks to women on Lorcan's behalf. Lorcan is muscular and good-looking, a fan of the great outdoors, whereas Nathan is a dorky guy with poor hand-eye coordination, prone to tripping over his own feet. Nathan has resigned himself to chatting up long-legged women on Lorcan's behalf, until Lorcan mentions that his latest crush is a man! Torn between elation that Lorcan might like men and despair that he still doesn't consider Nathan as a potential love-interest, Nathan is horrified that Lorcan wants him to do his wingman thing with Lorcan's crush, Miles. Of course Miles is the male equivalent of Lorcan's previous female interests, he looks like a rock-star, he's a musician and he adores outdoors activities like camping and rock-climbing.
Somehow, against his better judgement, Nathan is persuaded to go on a weekend camping trip with Miles and Lorcan, Nathan blames it on the jetlag, where Nathan is supposed to ascertain if Miles is into men and praise Lorcan to the skies. Only things don't work out quite as planned.
I liked this, but the blurb basically gives away the entire plot so there's not much tension, and it was hard for me to see what Nathan saw in Lorcan because he seemed such a selfish jerk. The blurb mentions slow burn but I would say this was more of a gentle simmer, I think writing in the third person also created a feeling of distance between the reader and Nathan, telling us what Nathan was feeling rather than showing it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Nathan has been in love with his best friend Lorcan since forever, but Lorcan has only ever seen him as a friend, and the wingman who talks to women on Lorcan's behalf. Lorcan is muscular and good-looking, a fan of the great outdoors, whereas Nathan is a dorky guy with poor hand-eye coordination, prone to tripping over his own feet. Nathan has resigned himself to chatting up long-legged women on Lorcan's behalf, until Lorcan mentions that his latest crush is a man! Torn between elation that Lorcan might like men and despair that he still doesn't consider Nathan as a potential love-interest, Nathan is horrified that Lorcan wants him to do his wingman thing with Lorcan's crush, Miles. Of course Miles is the male equivalent of Lorcan's previous female interests, he looks like a rock-star, he's a musician and he adores outdoors activities like camping and rock-climbing.
Somehow, against his better judgement, Nathan is persuaded to go on a weekend camping trip with Miles and Lorcan, Nathan blames it on the jetlag, where Nathan is supposed to ascertain if Miles is into men and praise Lorcan to the skies. Only things don't work out quite as planned.
I liked this, but the blurb basically gives away the entire plot so there's not much tension, and it was hard for me to see what Nathan saw in Lorcan because he seemed such a selfish jerk. The blurb mentions slow burn but I would say this was more of a gentle simmer, I think writing in the third person also created a feeling of distance between the reader and Nathan, telling us what Nathan was feeling rather than showing it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
September 13, 2021
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
What a fun story. I devoured this in a day, staying up way past my bedtime to read. The story flowed easily and it didn't take long before I realised that even though Nathan was crushing on his best friend, I didn't really want them to get together.
I really enjoyed Nathan's clumsy, awkward ways and seeing Nathan mature and look for friendships outside of his bestie. I liked the light tone of this story and the romance that blossoms was really lovely. Also, it great to see a new adult romance that isn't all about lots of sex
I'm smiling as I write this review. The Wingman left me feeling happy which is just what I needed.
What a fun story. I devoured this in a day, staying up way past my bedtime to read. The story flowed easily and it didn't take long before I realised that even though Nathan was crushing on his best friend, I didn't really want them to get together.
I really enjoyed Nathan's clumsy, awkward ways and seeing Nathan mature and look for friendships outside of his bestie. I liked the light tone of this story and the romance that blossoms was really lovely. Also, it great to see a new adult romance that isn't all about lots of sex
I'm smiling as I write this review. The Wingman left me feeling happy which is just what I needed.
August 20, 2021
b o o k t o u r – The Wingman by A. Poland ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ (4)
Thank you so much @pridebooktours and A. Poland for providing me with an arc for the booktour!
r e v i e w
“ Nathan has always been an amazing wingman for his lifelong best friend, Lorcan. But when will Lorcan realise that hé is the only guy for him? Enter Miles - suave, leather-jacket-wearing musician with love for mountaineering and a family of six overprotective sisters. Nathan must once again put his wingman skills to work. However, for the first time ever someone seems to be immune to Lorcan’s charm….. rather Nathan himself seems to pique miles’s interest!”
Oh My Gosh I so freaking adored this book! 🥺 It is THE perfect read to get you out of a reading slump! 👏🏼
I loved the writing style! It has such a good flow and pace that I was just hooked. This book was an emotional roller coaster – BUT DON’T WORRY it was mostly “oh my gosh this is hilarious, pls someone save me this is so cringy *blushes*, oh my gosh that is adorable, omg don’t be such an a-hole” 😂
The author took the time to make you bond with the characters, included hilarious bantering, awkward moments and yes sexy time 😏 However, there was also a lot of attention for Nathan and Lorcan’s friendship. Which also included some serious and heart-breaking moments.
I was so pleased that a lot of attention was put into the side characters! Especially the bond/interactions between Nathan and his dad made this book a joy to read. I was pleasantly surprised when Nathan and his dad communicated in ASL. I feel like I rarely see disabled/deaf (side) characters in books (unless it is the main character and the book is also promoted as diverse with disability read)!
I would absolutely recommend this book if you are looking for a fast-paced book which has you laughing and blushing and out of a reading slump in no time!
Thank you so much @pridebooktours and A. Poland for providing me with an arc for the booktour!
r e v i e w
“ Nathan has always been an amazing wingman for his lifelong best friend, Lorcan. But when will Lorcan realise that hé is the only guy for him? Enter Miles - suave, leather-jacket-wearing musician with love for mountaineering and a family of six overprotective sisters. Nathan must once again put his wingman skills to work. However, for the first time ever someone seems to be immune to Lorcan’s charm….. rather Nathan himself seems to pique miles’s interest!”
Oh My Gosh I so freaking adored this book! 🥺 It is THE perfect read to get you out of a reading slump! 👏🏼
I loved the writing style! It has such a good flow and pace that I was just hooked. This book was an emotional roller coaster – BUT DON’T WORRY it was mostly “oh my gosh this is hilarious, pls someone save me this is so cringy *blushes*, oh my gosh that is adorable, omg don’t be such an a-hole” 😂
The author took the time to make you bond with the characters, included hilarious bantering, awkward moments and yes sexy time 😏 However, there was also a lot of attention for Nathan and Lorcan’s friendship. Which also included some serious and heart-breaking moments.
I was so pleased that a lot of attention was put into the side characters! Especially the bond/interactions between Nathan and his dad made this book a joy to read. I was pleasantly surprised when Nathan and his dad communicated in ASL. I feel like I rarely see disabled/deaf (side) characters in books (unless it is the main character and the book is also promoted as diverse with disability read)!
I would absolutely recommend this book if you are looking for a fast-paced book which has you laughing and blushing and out of a reading slump in no time!
July 26, 2021
The Wingman is a delight to read from start to finish, with engaging, fun characters and a witty protagonist whose inner monologue will keep you smiling. Can't recommend this book highly enough!
August 10, 2021
This was cute, though YA/NA generally isn’t my thing.
It seems a bit odd to me than Nathan is “a college student on a limited budget” but doesn’t have a summer job, seems to eat out regularly, went and bought a bunch of hiking gear as though it wasn’t expensive, didn’t freak when someone purposely slashed his tent… and why do they have plastic tarp tents? Most tents are made of nylon these days, unless it’s one of those emergency ones.
And I didn’t realize until the epilogue that musician is Miles’ job. Though I still don’t know how old he is, just that he graduated from Juliard at some point.
Lorcan (what kind of name is that) wasn’t very likeable to me.
It seems a bit odd to me than Nathan is “a college student on a limited budget” but doesn’t have a summer job, seems to eat out regularly, went and bought a bunch of hiking gear as though it wasn’t expensive, didn’t freak when someone purposely slashed his tent… and why do they have plastic tarp tents? Most tents are made of nylon these days, unless it’s one of those emergency ones.
And I didn’t realize until the epilogue that musician is Miles’ job. Though I still don’t know how old he is, just that he graduated from Juliard at some point.
Lorcan (what kind of name is that) wasn’t very likeable to me.
April 17, 2022
This was so cute! Full review to come.
November 28, 2023
Silly triangle
with not-quite-bi best friend and
new beau. So don't care.
with not-quite-bi best friend and
new beau. So don't care.
September 1, 2021
This book is absolutely amazing, it's adorable and sweet, it's romantic as hell, and I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading. It's so good.
The characters are fantastic. They all feel truly human in a way I wish I could find in more stories. They feel real, and the more you read them the more you wish they were real, because dang near every character is so interesting and cool and lovable, while all staying so unique. Masterfully done.
Poland's writing is also brilliant, it's descriptive and immersive while also keeping a brilliant pace. It's also absolutely hilarious, while staying extremely sweet. It's the very essence of rom-com, in the best possible way.
If you like romance, cute moments, amazing characters, and laughing your butt off, then this is the book for you. I can't recommend it enough!
The characters are fantastic. They all feel truly human in a way I wish I could find in more stories. They feel real, and the more you read them the more you wish they were real, because dang near every character is so interesting and cool and lovable, while all staying so unique. Masterfully done.
Poland's writing is also brilliant, it's descriptive and immersive while also keeping a brilliant pace. It's also absolutely hilarious, while staying extremely sweet. It's the very essence of rom-com, in the best possible way.
If you like romance, cute moments, amazing characters, and laughing your butt off, then this is the book for you. I can't recommend it enough!
August 12, 2021
I loved this book!! It's about Nathan who has always been his bff Lorcan's wingman while at the same time he had a long lasting crush on him. Nathan thinks he'll move on from this crush because Lorcan is straight but then he tells Nathan he has a huge crush on a gorgeous musician called Miles, who is in no way attracted to Lorcan but is somehow interested in Nathan. And suddenly everything gets extra complicated!
Well, said like that you may think this is a huge love triangle full on miscommunication and lies kind of book, and, while there is a bit of that (a tiny bit of the lies part, more like omission of the truth), this book will surprise you in all the best ways. Trust me!!
The book is not about Nathan and Lorcan. The book is about Nathan who is such a sweetheart and a goof and just so much fun to be around! From Nathan's disaster camping trip I could relate to (the outdoors can and will hurt you), to the super sweet relationship with his dad (deaf rep, ASL being used), to understanding who he is without always being associated with Lorcan, to the incredible outings with Miles; just every single little thing that made Nathan the amazing person that I instantly loved! Such a sweetie!
Btw Miles might be described as big, 6ft I think, long haired, tattooed, sort of hipster guy, but he was such a shy, soft spoken, easily embarrassed, incredibly sweet human being, that I had no problem picturing him as this tiny cuddly teddy bear. I wanted to hug him!
The Wingman caught me by surprise being totally different from what I thought it was going to be, and it turned out to be one of the cutest books I've read lately!
NA, college age characters, with mentions of sex but nothing explicit on page, disability rep, gay mc, bi/trans/queer side characters.
Highly recommended!
Well, said like that you may think this is a huge love triangle full on miscommunication and lies kind of book, and, while there is a bit of that (a tiny bit of the lies part, more like omission of the truth), this book will surprise you in all the best ways. Trust me!!
The book is not about Nathan and Lorcan. The book is about Nathan who is such a sweetheart and a goof and just so much fun to be around! From Nathan's disaster camping trip I could relate to (the outdoors can and will hurt you), to the super sweet relationship with his dad (deaf rep, ASL being used), to understanding who he is without always being associated with Lorcan, to the incredible outings with Miles; just every single little thing that made Nathan the amazing person that I instantly loved! Such a sweetie!
Btw Miles might be described as big, 6ft I think, long haired, tattooed, sort of hipster guy, but he was such a shy, soft spoken, easily embarrassed, incredibly sweet human being, that I had no problem picturing him as this tiny cuddly teddy bear. I wanted to hug him!
The Wingman caught me by surprise being totally different from what I thought it was going to be, and it turned out to be one of the cutest books I've read lately!
NA, college age characters, with mentions of sex but nothing explicit on page, disability rep, gay mc, bi/trans/queer side characters.
Highly recommended!
August 16, 2021
The Wingman is a low-to-medium angst light romance with a touch of humor. It’s told strictly from Nathan’s point of view, so we don’t really get any insight into Miles’ or Lorcan’s thoughts which for me made it a bit harder to really get into the story. Contributing to that is Nathan’s tunnel vision when it comes to Lorcan, which means it takes a while before he realizes Lorcan is not the one Miles is interested in.
While clueless at times and also somewhat of a klutz (I can relate), Nathan is still a loyal friend…but that doesn’t quite extend to him truly playing the wingman role for Lorcan with Miles—or at least trying to make sure Lorcan doesn’t realize Nathan’s purposefully tanking his role. Lorcan did come across as kind of selfish to me, and while he was an okay character I didn’t find myself on his side at all.
Of the three, Miles definitely stood out as a wonderful guy. Kind, sincere, friendly, talented, thoughtful, and with an amazing family, all of whom are incredibly supportive and protective of him. The poor guy winds up stuck in the middle when things get sticky with Nathan and Lorcan, but rides it out with grace. When it came to the relationship that developed between him and Nathan, it took a very long time for me to feel like they truly had mutual feelings for each other while the chemistry eventually developed (though honestly it never really felt strong to me).
Overall, The Wingman was a good read and I’m giving it 3.5 stars.
While clueless at times and also somewhat of a klutz (I can relate), Nathan is still a loyal friend…but that doesn’t quite extend to him truly playing the wingman role for Lorcan with Miles—or at least trying to make sure Lorcan doesn’t realize Nathan’s purposefully tanking his role. Lorcan did come across as kind of selfish to me, and while he was an okay character I didn’t find myself on his side at all.
Of the three, Miles definitely stood out as a wonderful guy. Kind, sincere, friendly, talented, thoughtful, and with an amazing family, all of whom are incredibly supportive and protective of him. The poor guy winds up stuck in the middle when things get sticky with Nathan and Lorcan, but rides it out with grace. When it came to the relationship that developed between him and Nathan, it took a very long time for me to feel like they truly had mutual feelings for each other while the chemistry eventually developed (though honestly it never really felt strong to me).
Overall, The Wingman was a good read and I’m giving it 3.5 stars.
August 17, 2021
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
I really enjoyed reading this story - it was well written and had a light, sexy vibe.
Nathan has been in love with his straight best friend forever, and has an uncanny knack of enticing women to like Lorcan. He has no trouble with this, in spite of his feelings, but when Lorcan expresses interest in another man, then he is thrown.
Just back from his year of study in Scotland, Nathan is disappointed that his skills in getting Lorcan a date seem to have gone, but then maybe Miles isn't such an easy target. As we enjoy getting to know Nathan and Miles, it becomes clear that maybe Miles' interest is already taken on someone else.
It was fun to see Miles as the performer, as the friend, the outdoorsman, and ultimately as the one who has only eyes for Nathan. The camping and hiking trip is really very amusing - and gives us plenty of fun scenes to enjoy.
Overall a book with lots of heart and likeable characters that I read with great pleasure.
I really enjoyed reading this story - it was well written and had a light, sexy vibe.
Nathan has been in love with his straight best friend forever, and has an uncanny knack of enticing women to like Lorcan. He has no trouble with this, in spite of his feelings, but when Lorcan expresses interest in another man, then he is thrown.
Just back from his year of study in Scotland, Nathan is disappointed that his skills in getting Lorcan a date seem to have gone, but then maybe Miles isn't such an easy target. As we enjoy getting to know Nathan and Miles, it becomes clear that maybe Miles' interest is already taken on someone else.
It was fun to see Miles as the performer, as the friend, the outdoorsman, and ultimately as the one who has only eyes for Nathan. The camping and hiking trip is really very amusing - and gives us plenty of fun scenes to enjoy.
Overall a book with lots of heart and likeable characters that I read with great pleasure.
August 15, 2021
OMG what a drag!
I really liked the premise of this after seeing the promo and reading the blurb and going through a bunch of reviews.
Even so, I really deliberated over paying close to $7 for this book.
Now I'm really sorry I did.
This is the slowest slow-burn you'll ever read.
To the point that it becomes a painful decision as to whether it's even worth the uphill trudge to see if these "mother Grundy" 20-somethings will ever have the guts to get a move on.
One review has "sexually explicit" among the tags, but I'm not sure where that info originates. This was not fade to Grey, fade to black or any kind of fading in between.
This was zero. (even the promo states 3 flames). This was minus zero flames, or the lowest number known to humanity.
A complete and total (yawn) waste of time and a whack of money.
Never again with this author.
One star for not so bad writing and reasonably good editing.
Terrible cover!
Not recommended.
I really liked the premise of this after seeing the promo and reading the blurb and going through a bunch of reviews.
Even so, I really deliberated over paying close to $7 for this book.
Now I'm really sorry I did.
This is the slowest slow-burn you'll ever read.
To the point that it becomes a painful decision as to whether it's even worth the uphill trudge to see if these "mother Grundy" 20-somethings will ever have the guts to get a move on.
One review has "sexually explicit" among the tags, but I'm not sure where that info originates. This was not fade to Grey, fade to black or any kind of fading in between.
This was zero. (even the promo states 3 flames). This was minus zero flames, or the lowest number known to humanity.
A complete and total (yawn) waste of time and a whack of money.
Never again with this author.
One star for not so bad writing and reasonably good editing.
Terrible cover!
Not recommended.
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