Ache

by Marley Valentine, Gomez Pugh (Narrator), Teddy Hamilton (Narrator)

From USA Today bestselling author Marley Valentine comes an all new emotional, friends-to lovers gay romance standalone.

I couldn’t tell you when I fell in love with Gael Herrera, but I wish I knew how to make it stop.

Falling in love with a straight man is a rookie mistake. But falling in love with my soon-to-be-married-to-a-woman best friend is nothing but heartache.

Through all the years, and all the men I’ve fooled around with, he’s always been at the back of my mind. An unrequited crush I wish I could shake. A dream that was never going to come true.

When I whisk him off to a surprise bachelor party weekend in Vegas, I surrender to the idea that this is an opportunity for me to finally let go of my feelings for him and say goodbye.

But after a heated exchange and an even hotter kiss, everything I thought I knew about our friendship changed.

Maybe I had it wrong. Maybe, after all this time, we were more than best friends. Maybe, just maybe, he felt it too.

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Audiobook, Gay For You

7 pages, Audible Audio

First published June 22, 2021

About the author

Living in Sydney, Australia with her family, Marley Valentine is a USA Today bestselling author and a former social worker who uses her past experiences to write real life, emotional and heartfelt contemporary romance.

She enjoys mixing it up with both M/F and M/M Romance incorporating all forms of life, lust and love as her characters embark on their journey to their happily ever after.

When she’s not busy writing her own stories, she spends most of her time immersed in the words of her favourite authors.

Marley enjoys interacting with her readers so please feel free to reach out to her via Facebook, Instagram, email and/or subscribe to her newsletter.

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Reviews

[Snjez]

dnf at around 60%

I've read the short version of this story, Regrets and Resolutions, and I actually enjoyed that one more. Some things that worked for a short story, didn't work for me here.

First of all, I didn't expect Elena to be such a huge part of the story. And due to the circumstances, she is. If I had known that, I wouldn't have picked this up. When I read an MM romance, I'm definitely not interested in reading about a love triangle involving a woman, nor reading her POV. There's also cheating involved, but I already knew that going in.

Second of all, the relationship development between the MCs doesn't make sense to me. And this is something I had problems with in this author's first book. When the book starts, we are told that Gael and Jordan are best friends, there's secret pining involved on both sides and they've been feeling that way since "the kissing incident" ten years ago. We don't get to experience any of this, which to me often feels like we're thrown in the middle the story, like there's a part of the story missing, and it makes it hard for me to connect to the characters.

I find it hard to believe that all those years Gael and Jordan never talked about how they felt. And now Gael is about to get married for whatever reasons, they go to Vegas and in no time they confess how they feel about each other, numerous sex scenes follow and Gael promises to break off the wedding. Just like that, from not talking for ten years to "I love you's" in a day.

There's a plot twist around the middle of the book that feels very contrived and forced to me and I don't like the direction the story is taking.

[ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was a lot . so much happened while precisely n o t h i n g happened.

im basically gonna split this review in half— the first half recapping the first half of the book, aka, the novella while the second half is all the new material.

the first half, aka, the novella:

so after reading the Regrets and Resolutions novella back when it was released in December 2020, i wanted to pick up Ache to see how Jordan and Gael’s story concluded.

now... was i expecting the full length novel to pick up where the novella left off? absolutely yes i was. the MCs despite finally getting together after years of denial, still had a lot of obstacles to overcome and bridges to mend— mainly confronting Elena about Gael and Jordan having an affair and Gael calling off their wedding. as well as dealing with the fall out of their family too since Gael cheated on Elena (who the family adored) with Jordan.

but i wasn’t expecting Marley Valentine to rehash the entire plot of Regrets and Resolutions with some tweaks and improvements incorporated into Ache... then continue where the novella left off.

i planned on skim reading it, but the author included new information and delved deeper into some characters we’d barely got to know from the novella— namely Elena. she was kinda the faceless, female lover of every straight-boy-turned-gay-or-bi-for-his-life-long-bestie which all MM best friends to lovers seem to have. it’s like authors aren’t allowed to write a MM best friends to lovers if one isn’t openly gay and pining for his supposed straight best friend, who in turn has unexplored feelings for said openly gay best friend.

the *straight guy* always has a girlfriend or fiancé just for shits and giggles, and she’s literally just a plot device and usually a monumental bitch to justify the impending cheating. Elena was definitely the faceless, plot device back in the novella, but here, she was explored a bit more with more personality and back story just within the first few chapters. so i did appreciate that... but then it meant i couldn’t skim what id already basically read since Marley Valentine had included just enough new info that if id have skimmed, id have been confused af.

so rehashing the entire novella wasn’t something i vibed with... and it kinda made the whole book even dumber than the original bcos in this Gael has openly admitted to Elena in the past that he was in love with Jordan .

while in the novella, Gael is very closed-lipped about his feelings and barely acknowledges them, so his reasoning for not being with Jordan made a lil more sense, you know? but having him openly admit and acknowledge those feelings by telling Elena just made everything more real and thus dumber bcos Gael admits he suspects and even knows Jordan is in love with him too...

this is at the 16% mark:

“You think he’s in love with me,” I say, repeating the words Julian has said to me since the first time he met Jordan. 
“You know he is,” he says with conviction, and I don’t bother arguing, because I feel like I’ve known it for a long time.

so... Gael knows Jordan is in love with him, while also being in love with Jordan... but does precisely nothing ? huh. yeah. makes total sense. even later on after the *plot twist* Gael admits that he sees the “unspoken worry and fear and always love shining in” Jordan’s eyes, “the love he didn’t know I saw, the love I hated him hiding.”

sooooo... am i making sense? that these fuckers are dumb? bcos Gael knows Jordan loves him. Jordan knows Gael used to have feelings for him... but Gael is engaged to Elena? and Gael and Jordan aren’t together...

so the reason they weren’t together made zero sense to me.

*Cardi B screaming what was the reason??*

i mean, Jordan thinks Gael is straight since he openly identifies as such and has never indicated otherwise (other than a kiss they drunkenly shared a decade ago) so naturally he would never suspect Gael’s feelings and make a move. if the relationship is to progress, it kinda needs to be Gael who makes the first move.

so the full-length book just made me think both Jordan and Gael were even dumber than their novella counterparts bcos here there was just SO MUCH known information they never bothered to utilise and a fuck-tonne of miscommunication. at least in the novella they came across as naive and too timid to cross the line into a romantic relationship. and being a novella, i don’t expect deep-diving into countless plot lines bcos there simply isn’t the time. but a full length novel has time... so i expected more.

but here they were just two giant dumb fucks.

it felt like they weren’t together for the sake of angst and furthering the plot. not bcos there was an actual, justifiable reason. so hence, dumb fucks . a major pet peeve of mine in romance is when the MCs both have feelings for one another and they know it, but still aren’t together. the reason they’re not together never seems to make any sense lmao. and it was the case here.

other than the fact Jordan insisting he knows Gael’s feelings better than Gael does and convincing Gael he doesn’t actually have feelings for Jordan. i– 💀 like i said ✨ d u m b ✨

“You don’t really want me,” he starts. His voice is soft and lacks conviction, but he continues anyway. “You’re not gay, you’re not into guys. You never were. You’re not.”

My anger bubbles up to the surface. “You think I fucking care about labels?” I scoff, fuming at his repeated dismissal. “Why do you do this? Why do you always try to talk me out of my feelings for you? Why don’t you fucking believe me?”

these two motherfuckers made me wanna gouge my eyes out with a spork at their ridiculous back and forth, their blaming and excuses, all of it so fucking stupid that it didn’t even make sense to me😭 i could not fathom wtf they even argued about half the time. i don’t remember them being this absurdly convoluted in the novella, honestly.

BUT

i was rooting for them. despite their stupidity, i could feel how obsessed and in love with one another they were. their heartache and desperation made me feel for them since they spent so many years without each other, hurting silently. so, when that plot twist happened, i just wanted to roll my eyes and stop reading😭 it was so cliche and ridiculous, my god.

especially bcos unlike in the novella, Gael hadn’t yet told Elena about him and Jordan, and wanting to call off the wedding. so everything was a big clusterfuck of epic proportions.

the second half of the book:

*sighs heavily*

i really have no thoughts of the new material added to the novella. it was not the turn i expected the story to take— i wanted Jordan and Gael to be figuring out how to navigate their relationship once they admitted to their feelings since they’ve been best friends forever. jumping from friends to lovers isn’t smooth and easy. it was gonna be challenging. especially with Gael still being engaged to Elena. i wanted to see the fallout with her too while they grappled with their new relationship.

but no.

we got the melodramatic plot twist that added literally nothing to the story and made me roll my eyes approximately 23 times. i skimmed a lot bcos it was just so dumb. i have read this trope before and when it’s handled well it works amazingly and can be really gut-wrenching. but here... i honestly felt nothing.

and that weird repeated dream sequence? wtf was that about? it was like Marley Valentine gathered every cliche romance plot twist she could think of and dumped em all in a pot, lazily stirred them around a lil, poured the contents into a book and ✨tadaaaaaa✨ Ache was born.

*and the low-key, subtle villainisation of Elena bothered tf out of me. i mean, we’re supposed to sympathise with Jordan when Elena is hostile and standoffish when she knows her fiancé cheated on her with him. she’s made out to be the big obstacle cockblocking their happily ever after... when in reality it was their lack of braincells. the girl just wanted, you know, her fiancé to not cheat on her. hefty demands, i know. Elena’s audacity.*

so suffice to say, this book was not what i was expecting after reading the novella. it had potential. but instead of going down the route of exploring emotions and pain and angst... she just kinda copped out by using cliche plot devices that were just eye-roll inducing. im also sad bcos Marley’s books usually slap. Devilry and Without You hit. so, it’s disappointing that this didn’t live up to her usual potential. those books worked for me so well bcos she didn’t add drama for the sake of drama but really explored the intense heartache and emotions of some of the hard topics she wrote about.

this isn’t even in the same ballpark, honestly. it didn’t feel like something Marley Valentine would even write🥴

the bones of the story were there. like literally right there in Gael and Jordan’s heartache and love... but it was hard to fully sympathise and feel the emotions bcos it was bogged down by so much ridiculous shit. it’s frustrating to read a story that has the potential to be really good and this story had it in spades.

but instead i couldn’t wait for it all to end lol.

[D.L. Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read audio style

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎧🎧🎧

I didn’t feel as much of a connection when listening this time around. I don’t think that’s due to the story. I still love my boys and I still feel so damn sorry for Elena.

Marley dud such a good job with the cheating aspect that I didn’t feel anger toward Gael, even though I probably should have. They just loved each other for so long and it got to the point of now or never. I’m just sad that Elena was caught in the crossfire.

As for the audio, I love Teddy, I’d listen to him read the phone book and would be entirely content. I’d only heard Gomez Pugh one time before when he narrated All Rhodes Lead Here and I quite enjoyed his deep gravelly voice. Unfortunately the gravel was missing in this one and he annoyed me.

Fortunately it didn’t take away my love of Jordan and Gael’s story.

Original review

4.5 Stars

First and foremost I have to wax poetic prose about this cover! It’s not only gorgeous but it’s powerful and emotionally stirring. I wasn’t surprised to discover this is a real couple because you can see the love and feel it in your bones.

I’m going to do my best not to compare this to Without You. (Having said that, I’m so glad they’re in this story. I just love them so much!)

I wonder why he pushed those feelings aside ...

The way Gael’s family not only took Jordan in after his parents disowned him, but the way they treat him is pure gold. He’s not just their son’s best friend, he’s their son too. What beautiful, wondrous people.

I adore how Marley writes the world the way it should be. With love and open arms, with vulnerable conversations and emotions laid bare. Where love is love and the world isn’t black and white but a technicolor rainbow.

The big thing I notice right off the bat is how much they like to poke each other, especially about their love lives. It gives that partial sibling feeling along with somewhat imperceptible jealousy. It really makes me curiouser and curiouser about why Gael pushes his feelings down.

Over him? Was he ever under him?

Oooohhh ... I see.

And when that bandaid was ripped off, it was more than I was hoping for. Even though I’m a little torn because I do feel bad for Elena, this has been long overdue. And the love they can finally express to one another is enthralling. Even just covertly holding hands gives me butterflies.

Silly me was thinking this one isn’t nearly as emotional as Without You. Be careful what you wish for.

I swear Marley is the only person that makes me feel good about crying incessantly. She’s by far the best at writing angst.

It was a tumultuous road but it was worth every step.

[Mila · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3.5 rating***

"I’d thought I was happy, but this time with Jordan just proved that whatever I’d felt before this wasn’t happy. I’m well aware of how terrible that sounds and how unfair it is to Elena, but the hard truth is, this isn’t about her. She has done nothing but love me. Unconditionally. And the reality is, I love her, but just not enough. Not as much as she deserves and not in the same way I love Jordan."

Boy, I have mixed feelings about this book.


Brief Summary:

Jordan and Gael have been best friends since they were in kindergarten. When Jordan turns 17 he comes out to his parents but sadly they disown him. However, not all is lost. The Herrera clan (Gael's family) take in Jordan and treat him like he is their own son and Jordan in the process gains a new family that he thought he had lost. Like they say just because you are related to someone by blood doesn't necessarily make them family. The Herrera clan is his family. From then on, Jordan and Gael have been in each other's lives constantly, forever attached at the hip. But the bond these two share is not in any way brotherly. It extends beyond friendship and "familial". There is unsaid longing, desire, and love between the two men. That bond is tested when Gael sadly gets engaged to someone else, a sweet woman named Elena.

When Gael and Jordan, along with Gael's brother-in-laws go to Vegas for Gael's bachelor party, old feelings of longing resurface. It is in Vegas that their lives change forever. In this story, what happens in Vegas definitely does not stay in Vegas, especially when infidelity occurs.

Emotions run high in this book and there is much angst along with betrayal, lust and love. Sometimes we fall in love with the wrong person and hurt others in the process. But is cheating ever justified? This book attempts to explore that and more.

Thoughts about Ache:

I have to say this book in no shape or form holds a candle to Without You , which is Deacon and Julian's story and the first book I read by Marley Valentine. It was such a beautifully written book that evoked many emotions within me. However, I did not feel the same way about this book. Ache , is a beautifully written book, don't get me wrong. There is angst, longing, sadness and happiness. However, cheating is something I don't feel can ever be justified.

In the book, it is hinted that Jordan and Gael shared a romantic moment 10 years prior to when the story takes place, and since then Gael has had unresolved romantic feelings for Jordan. For many reasons, Jordan holds back and does not explore that relationship which is why he sleeps around. But for Gael to be engaged to Elena knowing he has these deep feelings for Jordan that extend beyond friendship is morally wrong.

"it’s an absolute miracle I’ve managed to hide my attraction to him for all these years. "

"How do you tell your fiancée that she shares your heart with a man you can never have? That you love her, but even when you shouldn’t, and even when you’ve been pushed away, you always have, and always will love him. "

While, Gael had these feelings for Jordan he was engaged to Elena. I felt so bad for her. She deserved so much better. If you are in love with someone else, break up with your current partner. That shit hurts. People are not pawns or things to be played with. Toying with someone's emotions is foul and awful.

There were many instances that both Jordan and Gael knew what they were doing in Vegas was not right. Why? because Gael is fucking engaged to someone else. Elena was patient, kind, loving and deserved so much more than a cheating fiancé who was in love with his best friend. The reason why Gael even proposed to Elena was even more sad, it certainly was not out of love.

Marley Valentine wants the reader to empathize with Gael and Jordan's affair, that their love runs so deep that its okay to cheat. I could not sympathize with these two. Sorry. Sure, the author shows that their actions have consequences and that cheating is wrong but it still didn't justify how these two got together.

Elena was always on the outside looking in, an observer and a third-party in her own relationship. Smh.

I also felt that I needed to know more about what happened 10 years ago between these men. How did Gael fall in love with Jordan? I didn't feel that connection. I did think the intimacy and the bond they shared was written beautifully, I don't expect any less from Marley Valentine but still, Gael's actions pissed me off. I felt sad for Jordan because Gael knew of his feelings and still got engaged to another person. Figure out your shit sir. Tsk tsk.

Another person who deserved better was Frankie, whose story we will read about in the anticipated book that has yet to be released; Unwanted . Frankie and Jordan were involved and not exclusive in any way but still Jordan at times treated him like crap.

I am excited to read about Frankie and Arlo, I hope Frankie gets his happily ever after in Unwanted .

Some parts of the book were also predictable, like what happened to Gael after the car racing. I had to roll my eyes. Sorry. I just expected more from Marley Valentine because she is capable of writing such beautiful stories. This book is not much compared to Without You .

After all is revealed to Elena and the hurt is over, I did like Jordan and Gael together. If their connection and deep feelings had been established better, then maybe I would try to understand why they cheated but the lack of the built up didn't do much for their relationship or the cheating.

One thing that I really loved about this book was that Julian and Deacon were in it. Its so satisfying to see them happy and married after the hell they went through in their book. So, thank you Marley Valentine for giving my babies their well deserved HEA!

All in all, cheating is never okay and Elena deserved much more than a cheating fiancé. I did enjoy Jordan and Gael together after they came clean about their mess. Wish we had more scenes from Elena and how she got over their cheating. She was such a sweet character. Justice for fictional Elenas who often get treated like crap in books smh!

I cannot wait for Frankie's book, May 20th needs to hurry up.

Until next time. 👋

[Crystal (Crystalreads2) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marley Valentine has done it again and gave us an emotional, heartbreaking read. Their love for each other is so deep...

Gael and Jordan have been best friends since kindergarten. Jordan became part of Gael's family when he came out and was kicked out of his house. They shared such a beautiful and unique bond. Jordan has been in love with Gael for years and has loved him from afar, as Gael is engaged to a woman.

Jordan arranges a bachelor party for Gael in Vegas and continues to press down his feelings for him. Gael does some soul searching before he marries the wrong person. It’s actually beautiful, to be honest. Everyone around them can see how their feelings for each other are more than friendship, except for them.


This book is beautiful. My heart broke for them for all the years they were apart. I felt every emotion. Have tissues on hand. You will need them. No worries, there is also humor in the book. I love Marley Valentine's writing style. I read this book in one sitting. There are some triggers, mention of a miscarriage and cheating. I will add they are handled tastefully. My only constructive criticism is I wish it were a little more steamier than what it is. However, it didn’t take away from the plot.

[Renae Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** I received an eArc from the author in exchange for an honest review.***

This was another enjoyable read by Marley Valentine. Ache has elements of angst sprinkled throughout that took me by surprise while elevating the passion between the main characters, Gael and Jordan. Marley Valentine expertly weaves together a story that is both loving and earnest in its depiction of best friends discovering and acknowledging their profound love for one another.

I was pleasantly surprised with the depth this story took because it starts in one place emotionally between the two main characters and evolves to a completely different and more mature place that I was happy to see.

Overall I enjoyed this story and the relationship between Jordan and Gael, you can really tell they have so much love for one another with having dual POVs and it was exciting to see how they achieve their HEA. This was another winning story and I look forward to more from the wonderful Marley Valentine.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio - 4.5 Stars
Story - 3 Stars

Not my favorite by the author. It was too short and rushed. I think the author used the fact that the MCs already knew each other and had history to rush things between them. There was no real build up. We're told about their history through very brief and rare flashbacks. I think that if the author has started from the beginning instead of throwing the reader into the middle of the MCs' story, it would have been more enjoyable.

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book and Without You in the same day because clearly I love pain!!! I loved them both so much but I loved this one a bit more.💙 Marley Valentine is such a gifted writer. I was amazed time and time again.

“I love you,” I breathe out. “I have loved you on the days you told me I couldn’t. I have loved you on the days that I shouldn’t. And I will love you for all the days to come.”

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars ☆

"Why do I feel like a few days changed my whole fucking life?"
"Gael." His voice is a sad whisper now. His hands glide up over my shoulders, settling on either side of my neck.
"And why does it only all feel better when I'm around you?"

it's actually interesting bc, when i first read the blurb, i had a theory in my head on how the story was gonna play out, but there were certain things that happened i did not expect and i feel like the direction it went to made it more enjoyable for me. the first half is still my fav part of the story... everything that happened in the trip (the longing between the mcs, but also the heartbreaking realization that, no matter which decision you make, someone is gonna get hurt) was chefs kiss. i loved Gael's family so much, the way they're supportive and wholeheartedly accepting, i- 🥺

what i didn't like, however, was the way the cheating was executed in this story. i don't mind cheating (in fiction) to an extent, but if there is cheating, i need to feel deeply for the mcs' romance for me to understand it or root for them but, in this, considering we were told Gael had been aware of his attraction to Jordan for years, it's why i don't understand why he led Elena on in the first place. sure, there was a part of him that loved her, but if you can't give your whole heart to someone, it's unfair to start anything in the first place. it's really not that hard to break up with your s/o before kissing someone else. yes, they're gonna get hurt, but it's better to be honest about how you feel. Gael and Jordan's main issue was communicating. if only they had communicated properly years ago, no one would have been hurt. 😐

[Nazanin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

You can’t turn the light off and expect to see.
You can’t take away the flavor and still expect the food to taste good.
You can’t live when you’ve lost purpose.
You can’t love when your heart has stopped beating.

Jordan did a rookie mistake and it was falling for his best friend, his straight best friend who is engaged. But it was out of his hands, he didn’t know how to stop loving him until…

Told in multiple POV (mostly in dual), 1st person, regarding of character crossover from “Without You” but it can be read as a standalone. "Ache" is a bit angsty and an emotional friends-to-lovers story. It may feel like a triangle story for some readers, but it wasn’t like that for me. Overall, I liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book is aptly titled. Spoilers in review below.

This audiobook is fabulous to listen to, but I had some issues with the actual story. Specifically, that it felt like the FMC was only in this story as a pawn. She wasn’t much of a thought except when angst needed to be added.

Love you since childhood
Heart wrenching/emotional
Pining, LOADS of pining
Explosive chemistry
Love triangle
Wild plot twist
Lack of communication
Found family
Amnesia trope
Cheating

I LOVED these men together (what a beautiful love story) but it would have been just as good without the ow/fiancé drama. I guess that’s the “ache” in the title.

They wasted 10 years by simply NOT talking honestly about their feelings and destroyed Elena’s heart along the way.

“For so long, I have loved you from afar, I’m begging you, please, please let me love you up close.”

[sanju (on and off) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t understand

- why this book has so many five star ratings
- why it was love between Gael and Jordan always
- why they chose to hit it off at the bachelorette party, not once else during those ten years
- why Elena’s chapters were written, when the author never bothered to write about how she went on with her life after the turn of events
- why Frankie was there at all
- how I managed to make it through till the end(though I skipped the epilogue).
- quite a lot of things


The writing was excellent. You wouldn’t mind how the story progresses or Gael and Jordan’s “love”, if you don’t look for it. I did, because I’m an idiot who ruins even the nicest things for herself and hence was too busy marking out the flaws to actually enjoy the book.


I couldn’t connect at all. The words just claimed Gael and Jordan went way back, they had this immediate attraction and had been real close ever since. Somewhere along the way, Jordan liked him (or should I say loved him? I really don’t know at this point, they claim it to have been love so much that it almost feels like an insult to love). Everything just felt too unreal for me. It was like reading a narration about feelings and pain inflicted by the other, but both of them had never been ready to spill it out and turned the deaf ear to the issue. And then Vegas happens and everything unfolds, just. like. that.


Sorry, that didn’t do it for me. Just no. I had hopes for this novel. I’m so sad and mad now.

[Marley Valentine]

From USA Today bestselling author Marley Valentine is a brand new emotional, friends-to-lovers gay Romance.

LIVE NOW:

Available NOW and FREE with KindleUnlimited

US: https://amzn.to/3hCvOZ9
UK: http://amzn.to/2X3xJfQ
CA: http://amzn.to/3rGO9Jg
AU: http://amzn.to/35hyZkj
Audible: https://adbl.co/3iazGTi

Narrators Gomez Pugh, Teddy Hamilton and featuring Emma Wilder

Add to your TBR:
→ http://bit.ly/AcheMVBooks

[~✿ Tala✿~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know for some this can be a big no-no and something they adamantly avoid reading so I will start by letting y'all know because even though it's hinted at in the blurb, I didn't fully realize the extent:

❗️⚠️ Warning : This book heavily involves cheating ❗️⚠️

Loves:

Things that I loved about this book was the writing, Marley Valentine did a fabulous job. I felt interested the whole way through and having read the short story that this book was born out of, I really liked how I did NOT see the twist/second half coming at all. The angst was real, and real tears were shed for Jordan and Elena's pain. I also really enjoyed the family in this story, they weren't stereotypical ultra nosey or homophobic families in many mm books but just regular loving people. Especially loved seeing a Latino family shown as accepting and loving 💗 The Epilogue for this one was also PRECIOUS.


Now my niggles :(

Since the MCs are described as both secretly pining away for each other for years, I would have loved to see some more backstory to their friendship and bore witness to the months/years of yearning and secret desperation for each other. In the short story version, this quick dive into their relationship makes sense but I'm a bit disappointed that the author didn't add more in the beginning to get a better feel for the characters.

I wish their getting together had taken a bit longer and had been more of a slow realization of each other's feelings with angst and reservations about pursuing it. Since it happens pretty early on, I didn't feel as much understanding and sympathy for their situation but felt like they had selfishly and stupidly waited to the very last possible second to actually be honest and communicate. I think that would have (at least for me) felt like the cheating was more justified and less icky :(



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Miscommunication was truly the star of the show ✨ I cannot believe Gael knew about Jordan's feelings and despite his own feelings... just never said anything??!! One rejection years ago and they both are just resigned to living in pain? All the world of pain could have just been avoided if they had just talked! Or that Elena was aware of Gael's feelings for Jordan... Gael was aware of his feelings for Jordan.... and they just didn't acknowledge it? Y'all if I think my fiance is in love with someone else 1) WTF am I doing?! but also 2) NO I AM NOT LETTING THEM GO ON A WEEKEND AWAY WITH THAT PERSOn and just saying "please come back to me" ugh Elena, bestie... you deserve better.
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END of Spoiler



All in all, it was a decent read. The author writes angst well and really made me feel the character's pain of loving someone they can't have. Also, I need to reiterate that the epilogue was truly adorable.

[drew]

DNF. no rating.

very disappointed i did not enjoy this as i normally think Marley Valentine is a superb writer. the story just didn’t work for me on any level, unfortunately.

[♡ cal ♡]

DNF @ 65%

This one is not killing me. I have quite issues with the story but more importantly I just didn't feel anything for both mcs. I don't like them. I don't hate them. Nothing. I want my next 4/5 star read and I refuse to settle for stories that were 'okay' to me.

[oshiiy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️ (There might be spoilers in this review) ⚠️ Truth be told, I don't like it when there is a cheating part in a book. But the author did a good job not hating Gael so much as I thought I would be.

Gael was a best friend of Jordan. Gael had a crush on Jordan since he was a teenager, and he thought the feeling was reciprocal since he felt their first kiss was dreamy and real. But Jordan doubted Geal and thought he was in his sexual experiment with Jordan.

Gael had a fiancée who was going to marry him soon. Elena was beautiful inside and outside. She loved Gael. She knew something off between them, but she better knew not to speak of it aloud.

Jordan loved Gael for ten years. He was crushed when he came to know that Gael proposed to Elena. The only thing Jordan wanted to spend four days at Gael’s bachelor party before leaving Gael forever to Elena.


“Sometimes, I’d catch you looking at me. And that look… I knew that look. I knew it, because I felt it”


“It might be wrong, it might be bad timing, it might be the dumbest decision you and I have ever made, but I. Want. You.”


Everything in a tangled mess when both of them visited Vegas for the bachelor party.
Giving what they both caved for when they were teenagers was how everything got started. Together, they found a perfect rhythm to be for themselves. But the immerse acknowledgment of Elena was popping up Gael’s mind constantly and the guilty feeling was tightened in his chest. He had no idea how to face Elena, and everything seemed to be an utter mess.


“Despite my years of pining over Gael, I mean that wholeheartedly. I would go to hell and back for him. No questions asked.”


But he could strong for himself knowing that his love of life has got his back, especially when they were both responsible in the circumstances. It didn't matter how right it all felt, they were still playing with a fire underneath them. But everything happened too quickly. Gael had an accident in Vegas and the memory of him and Jordan falling in love with each other in there vanished from Gael’s mind.

I don't know how much I hate the ‘men don't talk’ trope. Ache is a better example of the circumstances of what happened when you don't open up your feelings with the relevant person. Yes man, you have to cheat on your beloved one when every piece of the puzzle is starting to get to the right sense. The other person might be a victim.

Nevertheless, the book was an okay read. I pretty much enjoyed reading it. Told by dual POV. The author's writing style was special. Despite those niggles, the story was enjoyable. ❤️

[Chellabration · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this will be my last Marley Valentine book :(
DNF 84%
It's crazy because I keep comparing everything I read from her to Without You which really isn't fair.

Trigger Warning: Cheating (with MC) and lots of it.

SO MANY SPOILERS AHEAD (and a crazy lack of punctuation... sue me!)

Seeing Julian and Deacon (from without you) didn't even help to alleviate any of my feelings (actually I didn't appreciate seeing them here. They didn't really seem like themselves and they were condoning bad behavior. For shame Julian!)

I think this book greatly suffered from pacing, and timing. Everything happened around one weekend and it felt so absolutely unbelievable. I realized that this was from a short story? I never read that so I only know what I know from reading ache.

THE TITLE:
With the title I really was expecting to get some more of what I got in Without You watching two people who knew each other for so long trying to slowly navigate through their feelings... I expected there to be well ache but there was barely any of that.

Instead we are TOLD mostly of why they have been in love for over a decade even kissed but neither of them brought it up during their entire friendship even while everyone around them knew and kept bringing it up. This made absolutely no sense... the author should have reevaluated that. There are so many more ways she could have conveyed their love rather than one accidental kiss as teenagers (actually they were 20-21?) that no one brought up again IN A DECADE.



Considering these men talk all day everyday, I find it hard to believe. Not one drunk convo, not one frustrated slip up?
But then day 1 of their trip EVERYTHING comes to the surface? I would have understood if they hadn't seen each other in years but that's not even the case.

CHEATING
Wow... I was really surprised at how far they went. They were sexually active numerous times over the 2 day weekend. I wanted there to be an ache... I wanted to see the story go a different direction.
I was hoping max we'd get some cuddle sessions with feelings revealed, maybe skirting around each other...idk but instead they started having sex so early before I even had a chance to make any sort of connection with the characters...



POV
I had to backtrack at times to double check whose head I was in. Perhaps because Gael never felt bad for cheating on his best (female) friend and fiancé. He was just happily playing with Jordan's D and letting Jordan use his as a giant lollypop.



POV 2
Why do we get to be in Elena's head? I was so shocked I had to go through the chapter headings to see how many times we get to see her pov.
Considering the MCs had a whole affair and sexcapade when Gael was supposed to be marrying Elena I don't appreciate seeing her POV. It just made me dislike Gael's cheating ass more. LOL
Funny because I don't feel that way towards Jordan... maybe because he acknowledge that he wasn't a good person and hated Elena so he felt no loyalty towards her. (Still shitty but... )

We get so much of Elena, her backstory, her pain and suffering, her struggles that you end up empathizing with her. Then to have her cheated on...
I get that Elena knew... but many people have a feeling about stuff and stay in a relationship. Gael should have broken up with her first.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I can see some people enjoying this. Marley Valentine's writing style is beautiful. She knows how to put words to a page... I just wished she would use her powers for good.

I want to give this a negative star... I mean I read so far in and basically stopped when the MCs were officially together. Their family easily accepted everything and the only person who suffered is Elena... well Gael too if you count that whole "let the MC get amnesia after confessing" horrid and outdated plot device.

Also where was the "ACHE" ?



Btw Jordan... I leave you with this:

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The only thing that you need to know is, being attracted to other men doesn’t change a single thing, because it’s only ever been you."

I should have known after reading Without You that Marley Valentine pulls on the heart strings, but this one was a belter too!💗

Jordan and Gael were just divine together and I really felt for Elena too; all of the relationship drama was handled really compassionately and Jordan was just perfect throughout.

Medium steam 🔥🔥.

Some angsty triggers, so be warned.

And I have a feeling that Frankie has a story to tell too…😍

4 ✨✨✨✨

[⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven• · Rating 5 out of 5]

(2025)
I've read the ebook & now got audiobook for free on giveaway!

(2021)
"We’re all a little broken and we’re all a little messy."
10 Heartfelt Stars⭐

An Emotional & Forbidden Besties-To-Lovers MM romance with awesome family & friends, a plot that hooked me up, Heart-ache, Truths, resolutions, healing, love...& finally a sweet HEA!
I loved Gael & Jordan, When I warmed up to them & this story, I very much liked it & the characters! DEVOURED it in 5hrs.

#My 1st by Marley & I'll surely check out more! Along with G+J's POVs we get 2 chapters by Elana's PoV too. This story has a few sub tropes: Miscommunication, Cheating (Glad it's handled well), Amnesia. You gotta go in this with an open mind. It took me few days to figure out how to write its review, so I hope it does the story justice!

Gael; Helpful & Caring; is everyone's buddy, but Jordan's his bestie since childhood. He's a teacher, Elana's his friend-turned-fiance. G's family (So lovely!) took Jor in, when his own family rejected him due to J's being Gay.
Jordan; Aloof & Emotional; has a hard exterior & doesn't let many in but Gael & his family are J's beloved. Everything he is now is due to them. He owns a real estate company.

10yrs ago, A kiss (in Vegas!) Changed G+J forever, but due to the unsaid (& J's fears😭), no lines crossed–hurted. Now, G+J are 31, still in love with eachother, pro at ignoring the feelings (hmm?), but jealousy still sneaks in! However with G soon to be married, it's time J moves on. As a last nod to what they could've been... J's Christmas gift to G is a Bachelor Party with friends in Vegas!
~Deep hurts, Talks & Use, sweet Fam, X-mas celebration, Gifts & Vegas!

In Vegas, G+J with bros & friends had fun together. It's all lively...& the
sexual tension b/w G+J can't be ignored. Soon, With liquid courage & vulnerability, many Truths are finally found, Cue steamy times! For Jordan, Gael will reconstruct his whole world, if only J'll let G love him.
~Party & Rides, Friendly amuse, Casino night, Tension & Liquidity, roomy Truths, Hotties, I love yous, Future talks, New year & resolutions, Racing fun, the accident...

It'd seem all so cute, HEA in G+J's grasp...Then (At 50% of book) its cruely taken away. An almost fatal accident & G's Amnesia at waking up, left J in uncharted waters. What can he do? He has no right to Gael...Elena has. As Gael heals, Jordan pulls away, how can he see the love of his life with another? But Gael missed Jordan terribly & angered at everything. It's hard weeks...Until Elena finds the truth of Vegas *Omg!!*.
~B/W life & Death, Healing, Woken & Forgot, Taunts, Sad & Away, anger, Lies & List, reality...

Elena's hurt, Gael cheated on her (atleast, G+J didn't had sex), her suspicions–fears came true. But without the truth, none can move forward. With Confrontation & Revelations...G+J get their HEA! The later scenes are gorgeous, I love how easily G+J's lives mesh together.
~Facts & confront, Together, Care, Secrets–No-secrets, Healing, Family love, Move in, Housewarming party, Sweet photos, Disneyland!

I'm so glad G fully healed! Also, G's family's reaction to G+J together was fun😍. G+J are so sexy together🔥. The ending & Epilogue were beautiful❤, I'll totally recommend this book!! The feels & grace #Love.
P.S. I'm sad for Elena, Frankie's fun, hope the two get their own books! I also added Julian & Deacon's story to my TBR. So excited!
**ARC Gotten for a Honest Review.**
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[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that will tug on your heart strings…
The perfect mix of angst, pining, love and steam



What I loved:
- The Characters:
Jordan: He is self-made man. His parents threw him out when he came out to them and it was his best friend Gel and his family who took him in and helped him become the man he is today. Since then he does whatever possible to show them his gratitude, spoiling them rotten. He loves them all, but he loves no one more than he loves Gael… his straight, engaged best friend. #Unattainable


Gael: Is a man who loves with his all heart…compassionate, helpful and genuinely nice person. This is what attracts people to him, from his fiancée Elena to his best friend Jordan. Jordan who he has been in love with for years. His feelings have all been put in a neat little box, just aching to break free. #MySecretMyLove


- The Plot:
Jordan and Gael have been circling each other for years…loving the other from afar. Elena, Gael’s fiancé is a nice woman, who loves Gael and his family but has a strained relationship with Jordan.
Throughout the book, Gael and Jordan go through highs and lows. They discover so much, experience so much and lose so much. But through all of that, they are best friends first. They care for each other, are there for each other and will fight for each other. #NoMatterWhat


- The Romance:
From the very beginning we can feel how much these men love each other. Both have loved the other in the dark, pining for the other alone and wishing it was different. The thing is, Gael knows that Jordan loved him, so it’s not really a secret…
Later in the book, they get the chance to love each other in the light. They get a taste of the unattainable and that little taste will snowball into the need to be together in front of everyone, no matter what. They ae so sweet together, so romantic, so devoted that they literally make you cry with how beautiful they are together. #IvewaitedYearsAndItWasWorthIt


- Steam-o-meter: Steamy, sensual and sweet. These men showed their love with their bodies so beautifully, so truthfully that you couldn’t even read a sex scene without smiling and swooning. #TheLanguageOfLove


- Angst-o-meter: Angsty. Between the pining and then what happens later in the book, this book will hit you in all the feels. #AngstAddict


- The HEA: It’s the ending the deserve, after everything they have gone through, all the years they lost and the loss they endured… it’s the ending that is worth the wait. #BetterLateThanNever

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time]

DNF around the time of the plot twist.

It was alright up to that point but then it just lost me.

[Mariam, · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like my opinion might offend someone soooooo toodles(?)👋

I think majority of the people will hold the opinions:

I hate and don't sympathize with Gael
AND Elena deserves better.

Anddd yeah, I see your point.

But in my case, I didn't totally hate Gael-although he wasn't my favorite for a long shot-praise the ground Jordan walks on PuhLEASE 🙇-I didn't hate him for his actions. I know, I know cheating is a complete no-no for people and it shouldn't be empathize with, personally I don't think the author or the point of this book was to empathize with Gael or to justify his actions. I appreciated it from a standpoint of fighting yourself, fighting what you've always believed in and how sometimes the strongest of will always melts and weakens at what the heart wants most.

All I have is my heart and my words and my honesty, and I hope that in the end it’s enough.

I appreciated the look of how sometimes, shit is complicated and people aren't perfect and we always find ways to hurt people we appreciate. To quote this book, “Sometimes we hurt people, and often other people hurt us.”

I know Gael cheated on Elena and I don't justify it but I don't know if it make me sound like a bad person if I just don't judge him for it? I don't judge him for his actions. I don't have to understand or get his reasoning at why. I appreciated the complexity of his emotions, his guilt and his longing, how it showed that people can do wrong-and they do wrong almost every day of their life and sometimes those consequences bear the weight and tears of another. But that doesn't mean that they're a bad person. People do horrible things all the time but they also do good. And for that, no I don't hate Gael.

You can’t turn the light off and expect to see.
You can’t take away the flavor and still expect the food to taste good.
You can’t live when you’ve lost purpose.
You can’t love when your heart has stopped beating

As for Elena, I wanted to feel bad for her, I really do and while she didn't deserve to be cheated on, (although really girl? You know Gael loved Jordan even before you guys got together and you fucking saw the way he reacted to Jordan. Who are you clowning?) it didn't help me when I just noticed how different it was with how she treated Gael and how Jordan treated Gael. Jordan thought of Gael like the whole entire world. He treated him so profoundly and so purely, so delicately but so full of tenderness. He wanted to adore on Gael and for that, I just didn't see the appreciation Elena had for Gael. She said she loved him and I just didn't feel or see it. It just felt like she was holding onto something that just didn't belong to hers-and isn't the irony of that sentence so spot on.

“I’m the kind of man who has loved his best friend for a lifetime and hopes he gets to love him for a million more.”



“I’ll let you love me for a million lifetimes,” he says. “As long as I can love you for a million more.”

Can we talk about the amnesia? Cus fuck that. I JUST KNEW something was going to happen when Gael went into that sports car and I just don't trust authors anymore when two love interests are fucking separated at the middle of a book.

Car Accident? Okay, predicted it.
Amnesia? Okay, I've read it before. I can tolerate it.
Everything else that happened after Gael woke up? REWRITE THE WHOLE DAMN HALF BOOK.

WHY? Because we spent the first half of this book watching two characters pine together and say the words they've been desperate to say, we saw Jordan and Gael fight and struggle and fight and fucking conquer to get the happy ever after they wanted together.

But then, OF COURSE Gael got into the accident, got amnesia and forgot everything he and Jordan fought for. And it wasn't even that where it was my breaking point (yes I actually did finish this book) the turning of events just pissed me off. Srsly. It feels like the start and first half of this book is more about then and their romance and the second half is about the plot. I don't care about the cheating or immature Elena. I wanted to see Then TOGETHER after what? A decade of resisting and it just felt lackluster as fuck. I could count on two hands how many times they were together and it just wasn't enough to solidify me of an everlasting love they two wanted to share. I needed MORE. More of them, more of Gael dotting on Jordan and more of Jordan being hopelessly in love. It became too plot focused for me to appreciate the journey of this characters.

So why am I not rating this two stars? Like I said before, PRAISE THE GROUND JORDAN WALKS ON 🙇🙇🙇

“I don’t know if there’s ever been a day since you’ve been in my life that I haven’t loved you.”

This adorable little munchkin was the saving grace for this book, too kind for his own good, too generous, so extremely loving and giving and providing. He loved selflessly and fearlessly, he was the type that once he decided what it was he wanted, he gave it his all and man did he gave Gael his all. His heart, his soul, his body. Jordan was the type to fall for Gael with no ground to steady on, he just kept falling and falling deeper in love with Gael.

It was heartbreaking and romantic and a little reminder that just because it isn’t always easy, it doesn’t mean it isn’t going to work out

I think the title of this book was so synonymous with Jordan's character, because dear lord did Jordan Ache for Gael.

“For so long”—my voice is hoarse and thick, the words on my tongue waiting a lifetime to come out—“I have learned to love you from afar, and I’m begging you please, please let me love you up close.”

[Alright Hey (Matt) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marley Valentine strikes again!

This is an MM friends to lovers romance. Gael and Jordan have been best friends for a while, both are clearly in love with each other but they never want to mention it or bring it up or admit that they are perfect for each other. There's also the fact that Gael is engaged to a woman named Elena. So that makes things complicated.
The boys go away on a bachelor weekend to Vegas where things get very steamy very quickly.

The first 50% of the book was good until the really unexpected turn of events in the middle - a traumatic incident happens during the bachelor weekend that totally throws a spanner in the works of the whole flow of the direction of the romance - that's what made me love this book. It really turned up the storyline and had me fully invested.

The only part of this book I couldn't get comfortable with was the cheating aspect, I would have loved a clean cut from the FM relationship before the MM took off. Granted, this part of the storyline also had me gooping and gagging at the end when it all came out in the open.
I'm not 100% sold on the friends to lovers aspect - I love an enemies to lovers - but friends to lovers doesn't really excite me, it just seemed a little convenient and lacklustre. From memory it's my first time reading friends to lovers and I'm not sure that it's the trope for me.

This is a spicy book and when it is spice time, it's quick and descriptive, but it's not as spicy as I thought it would be. I will say, one thing that I love about MV's writing is she just gets the scenario correct every time. Often when reading MM romance from female authors, they write about spicy scenarios between two men that just wouldn't happen / aren't anatomically possible and it can be obvious that it's written from a female perspective who doesn't get what two dudes fucking actually looks like. Not sure what kind of research MV has done but she's studied for the test and got a high distinction LMAO.

When it got time to wrap it all up in a bow at the end, the language and almost cliche romance was actually quite special. The conversations in the last few chapters of a romance book usually get a bit lame and on-the-nose which this did to an extent, but alongside the trajectory of the story, it made sense and I so thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish.

For most of the book I thought it would be 4 stars, I'm giving it 4.5, rounding up to 5. Definitely recommend if you've read through the review and think it might be for you.

[Evelyn Bella (there WILL be spoilers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the angriest 5 stars I've ever given.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely LOVED this book. Beyond belief. The way it had me on an emotional roller-coaster 😭

Firstly, it's a very unusual way to do the friends to lovers. I've seen a lot of the straight one starting to feel things for his gay best friend, or the gay best friend having been secretly into his straight friend for ages. This was that, but it also wasn't. The idea of both of them being as into each other but not being together? That was my first hook. I needed to know the why. 29% in, this was already a 5 star book for me. I hoped against hope that it wouldn't lose the momentum and it did not disappoint.

The anger stems from the fact that all the angst could have been avoided had Jordan trusted Gael. That he loved him, that he knew his own mind. But nooooo. Again and again, Jordan second guesses it, and makes decisions for and on behalf of Gael. It's so INFURIATING! I haven't felt this way since Shane kept hurting Ilya.

And just as things got good, that plot twist???? OH MY GOD! Soapy much? My Gael just couldn't catch a break. I freaking loved it. Him being lost afterwards and not knowing? It killed me. The ACHE literally jumped off the pages. 😭😭😭😭😭😭It was so bad! It was so good!

On one hand, I wish Gael had been more annoyed by Jordan's consistent lack of faith. And poor Elena! Oof! Don't you just love when an author has you rooting for the MCs to do something so morally wrong but you're just in the background cheering them on?

Honestly this book had me feeling all the feelings....anger, frustration, hope, pity, pining. And the ache.... So aptly named. At so many points it was like watching a car crash in slow motion. You know it's going to hurt but you can't stop it.

And Teddy Hamilton on the audio? This was always destined to be a banger for me. Second book by this author and a higher rating than the prior one. Fingers crossed that I love all her MMs as much as this. I see there's quite the catalogue.

[Elisa Glendenning (mostly off-line) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 💫

[martina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book: Ache
Rating: 2.5 stars
Trigger Warning: Miscarriage Mention

Summary
Jordan and Gael have been best friends forever. They are like two peas in a pod; honestly, they were probably closer than normal friends were. At times Gael’s family even joked around about them dating. Not surprisingly, the family wasn’t far off because Gael and Jordan were hiding their true feelings from each other. And as Gael’s wedding day is approaching, Jordan plans to have his last four days with Gael before he loses him. Although, more could change then they expect in the next four days.

Review
I’m not going to lie; I was really annoyed with this book in the beginning. However, somehow, I managed to read this in one sitting. In all it was a reasonably decent friends to lovers’ story with low tension and angst.

In terms of plot and writing style, it was okay. I didn’t love it, but props to Marely for a writing a really good plot twist that made the story addictive enough that I had to see how the book ended. However, it did feel a bit predictable and bland at times. I expected some high angst since Gael was getting married and they were best friends. I just wanted more drama, tension and pain, but the book was very low on that scale. Besides the plot twist in the middle, the book felt dull, and I was skimming a bit. I just wish there was more of everything – affection, drama, tension, action, intensity. Nonetheless, I did not feel like I was forcing myself to finish it; the book was easy to read and flowed nicely.

“It’s never going to be enough. How much I want you. It’s never going to be enough.”

In the first 20 % I was going back in forth with Gael and Jordan, on who I was mad at the most. To be honest, if they just had an honest conversation years ago, Gael would not be getting married to someone else. I just found that really annoying. It felt kind of ridiculous that now he was getting married everything was coming out. So, I didn’t really like Gael or Jordan. They were just indifferent to me; you don’t really get to see any prime character traits from them. They just blended together.

“I’m going to make you lose your fucking mind,” he murmurs against my mouth. “I’m going to make it so you can’t breathe without thinking about me.”

As for the romance, I did not feel their connection that much. One of the faults of having established feelings before the book begins, means that sometimes you don’t get to see how they fell in love. This was one of those cases. I did not feel any chemistry between the two. Fortunately, they did have some nice quotes about each other and some sweet scenes. I just personally was not rooting for them. They didn’t connect with me.

“I’m the kind of man who has loved his best friend for a lifetime and hopes he gets to love him for a million more.”

In all, I thought this was an okay book. I got through it, enjoyed some parts. Sadly, it wasn’t for me. I just was missing the high angst and all-consuming intensity that I love in my friends to lovers’ romances.

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

[2.4] Ah yes, the age-old story of "gay guy pines for his 'straight' childhood best friend," but this time said best friend is engaged and set to get married in a few months. Watching the object of your affection find happiness elsewhere....oof, talk about daggers through the heart 😔

I must say Marley Valentine's writing style is magnetic and flows so smoothly that I can plow through a book of hers in one sitting with little concern for sleep. And of course, lots of quotable worshipping that makes my heart skip a beat, particularly on Jordan's part. Didn't expect to see Julian and Deacon from Without You either, thriving with literal hearts in their eyes 😍😍

And yet, I must say hello to another "it's me, not the book" situation because this was a good story; it just managed to hit the handful of tropes and execution approaches that don't happen to click with me. Things are going to get a little spoilery so ⚠️BEWARE OF SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT⚠️
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1) Now I thought they spent years pining for each other because they were both just your average clueless chumps, but no, they shared a drunken kiss as young adults and had a chance to pursue something more, but Jordan talking Gael out of it, convincing him that he was misconstruing their friendship for something more, and Gael—who has Julian repeating time and time again into his ear "I think Jordan's in love with you" but instantly puts that possibility out like a candle—claiming to be so sure he isn't confused about his feelings for Julian while never acting on them made the tension felt contrived. I get the reasoning, the fear, but the opportunity presented itself and instead they swept it under the rug to rot .

It made it hard to empathize when Jordan chose to push his friend away and tell him how he should interpret any feelings of attraction, and Gael remained passive for ten something years in wait for Jordan to make a move. If they only had an honest conversation, Jordan could've been the one ready to stand at the altar minus all the angst and drama.



Even Elena (the fiancée) knows this because Gael told her about his & Jordan's situation when they were still in friend territory. You can clearly tell she's trying to hold on to the flimsy strings of their dying relationship out of desperation, and yet is also partly resigned, waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. When she begs Gael to promise to come back to her before the guys depart for the bachelor's party....yikes 😬

2) Gael cheats on Elena in this book, plain and simple. It was an interesting twist jumping into her POV a handful of times, and if I were her, I'd probably be stabbing makeshift voodoo dolls or something (please don't arrest me, cheating is just the biggest no-no for me after murder lmao). But reading in such detail about another relationship involving one of the MCs falling apart like this canceled out a good portion of the good vibes for me personally. Wasn't a deal breaker because I knew what I was getting myself into, but it did put a hamper on my enjoyment.

3) My biggest gripe was the twist halfway through that uses an all-too-familiar dramatic plot device to spice things up (but had me putting my head in my hands). I absolutely despise it when retrograde amnesia gets thrown at us out of nowhere to create ~tension~. Feels like a cop out when I was waiting for Gael to have a civil conversation (well, as civil as it can be when admitting to cheating and then canceling a wedding 😅) with Elena and instead we got mood swings courtesy of the head injury to widen their emotional distance to a gaping chasm before any actual talk.

The only use of the amnesia trope I can heartily welcome is when it's introduced at the very beginning like Pieces of You (then again, the series revolves entirely around the recovery after a traumatic brain injury so I can appreciate the set-up more) because the feeling that everything I've read up until the accident being, for the most part, all for naught tends to disrupt the story for me. That's just me tho 🙈


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⚠️END OF SPOILERS⚠️

Despite my reservations, I still had a good time and don't necessarily regret picking it up. The book also reminded me that I need to bump up Marley Valentine's other works on my tbr (and maybe check out the original novella for this because I'm curious to know what was changed 👀).

[Miriam still reading! HIATUS from GR · Rating 2 out of 5]

5+++++ audio stars Teddy Hamilton
4 audio stars Gomez Pugh
3.5 audio stars Emma Wilder

2 very disappointing stars story.

[NicoleR.M.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year Marley Valentine wrote a short story called Regrets and Resolutions and this is the book that emerged from that. I haven't read R&R, so Jordan's and Gael's story was completely new to me. And I have to admit it made me fall in love with Marley Valentine's writing. It's not my first book by her, but it's the one that confirms she's fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

If you, like me, haven't read Regrets and Resolutions, it's the first time to meet Jordan and Gael in this story. They have been best friends since primary school, Jordan close to have been adopted by Gael's family after he was kicked out by his own parents for being gay.
They have always had something special going, a strong bond between the two of them. Almost able to read each other's minds and finish each other's sentences.
Jordan has known that what he feels for Gael has changed into much more than friendship long ago. But Gael is straight. He is even about to marry his girlfriend, Elena. Jordan knows he has to accept his kind of love will never be returned, and to find that final acceptance, he organizes a bachelor party for his best friend. With a couple of other's (be prepared for the cameo!) they head for Vegas, for a weekend with 'just the boys'.
Things happen in Vegas. Instead of closure, Jordan finds something else. But they are in Vegas. They are having fun with the boys. What will last of it once they return to reality?

The title of this book is well chosen. There is a lot of Ache. Not just for these two men, but also for you as a reader. Rooting for them comes naturally. They just belong together. That's palpable with each word, every gesture, every longing moment and each lingering look. If ever a couple was meant to be, it's Jordan and Gael. Sometimes, when you find love, you hurt people on your way to happiness. In this case it was Elena, the woman Gael was supposed to marry. I felt for her. She didn't deserve to be hurt, but their marriage would have been a lie. In the end, it would have caused a lot more pain. I hope she finds the man she deserves.

There were quite some secondary characters, like Gael's family and Jordan's fuckbuddy Frankie. In the end, they were all there for them, supporting them when they needed it both. Maybe Frankie will find his happy end too. Maybe we'll get to witness him on that journey? I hope so!

This book was a well written, heartbreaking romance. I'll advise you to keep your tissue box within reach! It's a romance, so the HEA is guaranteed, but the road is rough and paved with thorns and nasty bumps. It'll shatter your heart, but put it back together too. That's all I can tell without spoiling.

All that's left for me to say is that I highly recommend this book if you love the friends-to-lovers trope or if you just love a beautifully written mm romance. This book is certainly going to be on my best-reads-of-the-year-list.

I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest thoughts about it.