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If you've read Unrequited, and have been left longing for more of Andy and West's story - you are in luck.

Requited tells the story of roommates and best friends Andy Montgomery and West Baxter from West's perspective. It is a sweeping story of friendship that turns into longing that can't be ignored.

Be warned, this isn't a retelling of the same story, rather, it's an exploration of what would have been if West or Andy had had the courage to do one teeny, tiny thing differently.

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 18, 2022

44 people are currently reading
586 people want to read

About the author

Jesse H. Reign

19 books1,484 followers
I'm Jesse, and I write contemporary and paranormal MM romance.

Whether my characters are born magical, or whether magic is something they make between the sheets, I strive to take the reader into the mind of the narrator. My ultimate goal is to leave the reader feeling like they’ve made a new friend or have spent a few hours flirting with a brand-new book boyfriend.

I love coffee, chocolate and daydreaming, in no particular order. I love conflicted characters, lust at first sight and angst – no seriously, ALL the angst. Give it to me!

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
463 reviews92 followers
December 20, 2025
I am still a bit upset with Jesse for not letting these two love each other immediately but the story itself was great enough that I'd almost forgotten how mad I was by the end. Almost. 😅😂
I pull him close. “I’m going to get better, okay? I’ll get better.” I feel a little insecure when it comes to Andy. I do. I can’t help it. My God, the man knows what he’s doing. He can handle himself. He’s so much more experienced than me. I’m playing catch-up, big time. I want to be as good for him as he is for me.
“You can’t,” he says decisively.
“I will,” I say, feeling mildly panicked. “I won’t stop until I do.”
“You can’t get better, West. You can’t. I felt like my heart was going to explode. If you get any better, you’ll land me in the ER.” I start laughing and he pulls me close. “You can’t get better, okay? You can’t. That was the best fuck of my life. No one else has ever come close.”
Profile Image for Renae Reads.
766 reviews766 followers
March 11, 2022
Loved this retelling of West and Andy's slow burn roommates to lovers romance.
I preferred this version of their love story due to the epic pining of West and fantastic twist.
Profile Image for Megan [At The Cottage].
1,052 reviews416 followers
January 5, 2023
MM Romance
Friends To Lovers
Companion book to Unrequited-West’s POV
3.5 Stars ⭐️


This book should only be read if you’ve read Unrequited first. The first 40%? is the exact same story as Unrequited but in West’s POV instead of Andy’s and it filled in a lot of questions I had. However, there is a plot twist that occurs that takes this book into new territory and because of that small change this book is a lot less angsty. I liked being in West’s POV but I definitely enjoyed Unrequited more because of that damn pining. There was pining in this book too but it didn’t hit the same way. West was OTT obsessed and in love with Andy but his hurt was different and he had a choice to say something where Andy believed West to be straight because that’s what he was told and shown.

This is definitely the more intimate, sweeter version as well because instead of it taking 10 years, they get together much sooner. But because of this change, I found that this book kind of dragged in the middle. It was new material but everything was smooth sailing for them and I must be a masochist because I missed the angsty pain the first book delivered. Even though it was painful it made their relationship feel that much more special and meant to be like they both had to go through hell and grow as people to be together.

I loved all the extras this gave me after they got together though. Seeing Andy’s paintings through someone else made them take on a life of their own and I loved seeing Andy the same way. There were Easter eggs all over this book and I enjoyed discovering them. I just happened to enjoy book one more.
Profile Image for kaye taz.
505 reviews375 followers
February 15, 2025
6 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
Format: ebook

“I want them to know our story. I want them to know I’m in the painting with you. That I’m hidden behind you. I want them to know that we worked our shit out. But mostly, mostly, I want them to know that this thing between us was always requited.”

From the blurb, I kinda expected this to have less pining and angst than Unrequited, but I think it actually had way more. Andy’s POV was heartbreaking but West’s POV was absolutely gut-wrenching. A sad Andy hurt me but a sad West killed me.

I’m obsessed with the idea that whether West married Ash or not, he and Andy were always going to be endgame no matter what. But I do really enjoy in this book how they got together much sooner. I also love that their bedroom dynamic shifted a bit in this version…

I just love these boys so much. They really put me through it, but it’s a pain I’d endure again and again for a beautiful love story like theirs.

This duet is an absolute must-read. If you like a lot of pain with your pleasure, this is for you.
Profile Image for Mx. T *Chaotic Reader*.
622 reviews117 followers
February 22, 2024
I loved the first one as heartbreaking as Andy's only POV was. And I loved this one from West POV, especially with its little plot twist that made me think these two are made to be together no matter what.
*sighs dreamily*
Profile Image for Jamie.
1,171 reviews95 followers
February 25, 2023
I'm dead. Deceased. The way Jesse retold this story from West's POV and with an alternate ending had me questioning my sanity but only for a hot minute. I was like,
"What is she thinking?" But you know what..she did it - it totally worked AND it took nothing away from the first book.

In fact, I feel even deeper in love with Andy and West - and their love story. These boys were destined to be together no matter what was going on around them or their own internal struggles.

The moment they met completely turned their worlds upside down and yet they needed it to happen so they could find their always together. But that pining and yearning made my heart hurt so bad in this one too. Worth every moment tho!!
Profile Image for Tare.
370 reviews31 followers
April 7, 2023
Rating - 4.5

This is essentially Unrequited as told from West’s POV with one minor change that alters the course of their relationship.

This was still painful for the first half of the book. My god, the pining!!! But these boys figure themselves out a lot sooner. The level of angst was bearable but still agonizing.

While it’s nice to see Andy’s POV in Unrequited - I would almost choose to read this one as a standalone. The communication issues are resolved a lot quicker and their relationship development was slower paced and we got to see a lot more relationship development at a more natural pace.

The tone of the book felt less hopeless and a lot more sweet. Also the spice 🔥🔥 Jesse always knows how to deliver some great steam!

And the final chapters of them building their lives after college together 🥺 I adore West & Andy.
Profile Image for Mir.
1,127 reviews64 followers
June 6, 2023
I enjoyed the first book a bit more but this was still fantastic. I liked that we got two different versions of their story!
Profile Image for Elle Kay.
387 reviews
March 18, 2022
I was intrigued when I read that this book was a retelling of a story from a different character’s perspective, but with one twist. One single decision is made differently. And how amazing that twist turned out to be.

Although this book is spicier than the first book in the series (because the characters have more time to get up to shenanigans), that doesn’t take away from the character development. We get to learn more about West, as this is from his point of view; but we also learn more about Andy through West’s eyes.

I could wax philosophical about the roads not taken, but instead I will simply advise you to read this book! 4.5 stars.
Profile Image for Yeslia.
158 reviews
May 5, 2025
I think….I think i’ve just read a masterpiece

This is such a genius idea i don’t even have the words to explain how much of a smart one this was. First, i read unrequited and i cried and cried because i felt Andy’s pain with him. It’s so beautifully written, packed with so much pain, pining and yearning.

I even thought to myself at one point that “is this truly a HEA book?” cos it sure as hell didn’t feel like it at the time.

I read the blurb for requited and i squealed, i was excited, itching because yess 😭now let me tell you how much of a masterpiece this book turned out to be.

In requited we find out how fascinating West found Andy, even before he realized he had a crush on him. Shortly after, he realizes he actually had feelings for Andy, his yearning and pining starts too, he starts feeling a strong sense of jealousy whenever Andy hangs with other men. I’m actually really happy i read Unrequited first, because you know exactly how Andy also felt with him, they both were just too scared to do anything about it. And it hurt because they were both hurting and self loathing and i kept saying to myself “you have no idea” because they didn’t 😭

I love them both, truly I do, but i couldn’t help but be annoyed with them sometimes…okay not Andy cos he’s my favorite but here’s the thing with West. Just like Matt told him, there was no way Andy was ever gonna make a move or even think he had a chance because West was straight which is true. If there’s one thing about Andy, it’s that he never wants to make anyone feel even the least bit uncomfortable, so of course he wouldn’t make a move, gay men can’t afford to do that. It’s honestly really annoying that it took a stranger to get him to think in that direction, this same man who’s supposed to be so damn smart he doesn’t even need to study for exams because he never forgets anything he studies ugh 🙄

But i forgive him, the poor guy was in love, he feared rejection, and not even that per se, it’s the fact that it had the possibility to destroy their friendship and he’d rather have Andy as his best friend than not. So yes i understand his dilemma. And oh the part of this story i’d never forget is West seeing Andy come out of Alex’s room after they’d hooked up. West going into their bathroom to quietly cry until he couldn’t anymore, is seared into my brain 😭 it hurt so badly because i know Andy felt the same and he was just suffering because they couldn’t let their feelings be known. UGH!!

Requited hurt, but it doesn’t come close to how badly Unrequited broke me 😭 these boys went through so much.

Oh and when i tell you i want romance??? this is what i’m talking about!!! The love they had for each other stopppp 😭 i felt it, i felt it all i can’t even explain how but i did. It’s kind of rare today, to find stories like this with actual romance, where they truly fucking love each other. Now books are just lust lust lust lust they forget that a love story is what we are here for.

One last thing i wanna say is, i really wanted to see Andy’s paintings 😭 i wanted to see HEART and ALWAYS, picturing it isn’t enough.

I gotta say, unrequited love fucking sucks.
Profile Image for Jordan Fischer | julietfoxreads.
697 reviews189 followers
July 11, 2023
Just a quick review because this follow-up absolutely deserves one. If you thought Unrequited had some serious pining, OMG. Requited has, like, nuclear level pining. Poor sweet West hides the fact that he's in love with Andy SO WELL, and they cause each other SO much heartache. THEY ARE BOTH SUCH PRECIOUS IDIOTS. It's interesting to see Andy from West's POV after reading Unrequited; clearly both guys are terrible at reading each other. For a guy as open and loveable as West, it's crazy to me that he kept THIS ONE THING bottled up - I do feel like this entire awful situation is sort of on him. Despite that, I do love that they are such good friends that, even though they are head over heels in love with each other, they are willing to sacrifice that to continue spending time with each other.

This book has a bit of a twist from the plot of Unrequited that was just delightful and made me so freaking happy. The second half of this book is SO satisfying (and SO spicy), I loved every minute of it. READ THIS DUET!
Profile Image for Arta reads at night.
567 reviews21 followers
April 21, 2024
4⭐️
What a wonderful concept. The “what if”. What if one thing happened differently? What then?
This was nice. And I liked it.
Profile Image for Lily Loves &#x1f4da;.
782 reviews31 followers
Read
March 10, 2022
No rating

I was hoping I liked West’s side of events more than Andy’s but I had to skim most of this. I didn’t realize the story was the same except from a different POV. That’s on me. I did like Andy’s side better but West is a great, easy going character.

I did enjoy the writing and the flow of both stories. I will certainly be on the lookout for more from this author. I just struggled with the retelling overall.


Profile Image for book_reader_addict.
566 reviews34 followers
April 22, 2023
I love this book so much❤️❤️ I cried at the end, it was so romantic and HEA❤️❤️❤️ We get the story from West POV❤️ The best ever friends to lovers story!!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Naana .
122 reviews7 followers
February 20, 2024
This would have been a solid 5 star if not for the whole West- Ashleigh relationship. I know I am being petty and I understand the whole rebound thing, but I really really can't when the mc has/had a romantic relationship with a person who isn't the other mc .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Author 3 books39 followers
January 26, 2023
I did read Unrequited and reviewed it here and finally got over my anger at the wasted TEN YEARS in that book to read the alternate version.

I think I’m glad I read it, although I’m still not sure. Wes is pretty much obsessed with Andy but hides it because he doesn’t want to lose the friendship that they have. Some of his actions are extremely dubious whilst dealing with this obsession and it was fascinating seeing this different side to him – in Unrequited, he seemed more together, confident and sure of himself. In Requited, we see his thought processes and feelings and it quickly becomes obvious that he hasn’t dealt with being bisexual and his attraction to other men during different periods of his life.

I did enjoy the opportunity to see Andy through outside eyes – strangely enough, in Unrequited he was the one who seemed to be lacking in confidence and self-assurance, whereas through Wes’s eyes, Andy truly has got it all together.

Overall, this book had a lot of sex scenes in it, but it also had a lot of talking – the talking that should have taken place in Unrequited to be honest – and I enjoyed that aspect of it. I also enjoyed the two of them realising all of the ways in which they have revealed that they cared but were too blind to see.

The relationship with Ashleigh was also explored through new eyes, and it became obvious a lot sooner that she and Wes were not suited to each other. I think, generally speaking, I enjoyed this chance to see the other side of things and it was worth the money I paid for it.

There was a lot more sex in this section of the books, which isn’t always a bad thing. Overall, I enjoyed this alternative look at what could have been if Wes and Andy had shown some gumption and spoken up and it was different enough to make it worth reading.
Profile Image for Marie-Pierre.
218 reviews18 followers
January 3, 2024
Reread January 2, 2024: i love this duet 3000.

......

Requited is the second novella from the Unrequited/Requited duet by Jesse H Reign.

Jesse.... what are you doing to me? I can't breathe. I'm seriously dying here.

Requited is the retelling of Unrequited, but from West's POV (Andy's POV is in Unrequited). But there's a point in the story where one of the MMCs does something different, and it changes the end. I strongly recommend reading Unrequited first not only because it will help you understand what's happening, but because ANDY IS PERFECT.

Jesse does an AMAZING job at using the same scenes but setting them at a different time, in a different place. The words spoken are mostly the same, and it's the same feelings, but it's different, and I LOVED it. The parallels she created between West's inner thoughts and Andy's is pure talent. It was so much fun to finally get West's side of things. There were scenes in Unrequited that blew my mind and I couldn't wait to get all of West's emotions through those scenes. Mind utterly destroyed.

I'm going to say it again, Jessy's writing style is perfection. The way she writes makes me feel like I'm in the character's body and head. It feels like I'm the character. I can't wait to reread this whole duet, cause Illdo it regularly.

Once again, I'm pretty sure I could have highlighted this whole book.

This book was full of laughs and love and lust and heat. It was beautiful and I loved it. Please read it.

One last quote because it's everything this book is :

"There’s not a path in the world I could have taken that would ever have led me anywhere but here, to him, to this precise moment."
Profile Image for Chelsea Moore.
456 reviews11 followers
March 12, 2022
I was so very excited to read this retelling of West and Andy’s story from West’s point of view and whew!!! It was absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! I enjoyed this story a bit more I think because they got smart in this retelling and expressed their feelings so there was not as much pining. There was still pining but no as much. We get to experience more time of Andy an West being together. All in all this duality was so very enjoyable and I loved every second of it! It was a beautiful love story and I will for sure be on the lookout for more books by this incredible author!!!


I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

POV: 1st Person Single POV (West’s Perspective)

Standalone or series: Book 2 in the Unrequited/Requited Series

Would I recommend it: 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ highly recommend!! 🤩

Would I read it again: Most definitely!
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,097 reviews520 followers
March 21, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.

3 stars


Requited is a companion novel to Unrequited and tells West and Andy’s story from West’s POV. Although it starts out telling the same story, the path goes in a different direction at one point and they get an updated story. This is more of a what-if scenario — what-if Andy and West had explored their feelings earlier and saved themselves a decade’s worth of heartache. I found it helpful to read Unrequited first and suggest reading the books in immediate succession. Some of the scenes are revisited here, but not in full, and the narrative does rely on knowing and remembering events that were discussed in the first book. It did make for uneven reading at times and it also felt like I was coming into a story already in progress. This style, combined with the lack of character development and depth to some of the scenes, didn’t fully appeal to me.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.



Profile Image for Ida Umphers.
5,544 reviews48 followers
March 24, 2022
I loved Andy and West's story in Unrequited and this is a genius idea to have the second book now told from West's point of view with some differences from book one that change the way the relationship develops. Almost an author writing an alternate universe version of their own book. As in the first book, great characters and a deeper view of these two as a couple.
Profile Image for Bookbingewithsteph.
264 reviews28 followers
December 31, 2022
Damn, this book was SO good. Loved this retelling of Andy and West’s story. I could not put it down. One of my most highlighted books of the year.
Profile Image for Mac.
292 reviews29 followers
March 23, 2022

I don’t know which version of this story I’ve preferred. I honestly can’t tell and even weirder for me I don’t feel like I’ve just read almost the same half of a book.

Feeling what West felt this time, since it’s his POV changed the whole experience for me and I’ve loved West in both books but here ? Here ?!? He broke my heart do many times.
In this one I feel like you delve into his insecurities more.
In fact you delve into his hole character more.

You also see another side of Andy who this time seems more self assured into who he his as a person. In the previous one I always learned new things about Andy but through his feelings for West.
However since here you discover him through West’s eyes you discover the Andy that’s walks like rain and talk with a different tilt depending of his emotions and what he wants to convey.

Reading this duet was really and experience and I’ve loved every pages of it.
Profile Image for Myeshia Cole.
708 reviews1 follower
March 22, 2022
I loved this book. It was the same story as Unrequited. It's told from West's point of view and it has one twist that I didn't see coming. This was so different from Unrequited and yet so the same. While Unrequited spans 10 years with two people trying to find their way to each other, requited cuts the timeline to about three or fours years just because of one major thing that West's does differently. So many of the same things that happen in Unrequited happens here, but they happen sooner and slightly different than we see them from Andy's point of view. West really did have the more interesting point of view and although I was confused about the timeline for a bit, once I realized why it had changed, it all made sense. I definitely enjoyed this story better told from West's point of view. Well done
Profile Image for Gabriela.
1,207 reviews58 followers
August 9, 2023
”There’s not a path in the world I could have taken that would ever have led me anywhere but here, to him, to this precise moment.”


I can’t even start to describe how much I loved this book. I’m literally crying after that wonderful, beautiful epilogue.

That turn of events was EVERYTHING. This is the true love story. Andy and West deserved it 🫶🏽


”If I had to choose a single moment of my life that I’d like to freeze and relive forever, this would be it. Right now. This would be the moment.”


I love it.
Profile Image for Janet Hunt.
3,538 reviews46 followers
March 23, 2022
Fantastic conclusion to the duet! This is best read after Unrequited. In Requited we get to read what West is thinking, his POV. While there is still some pining, it’s not as much as Unrequited. I absolutely adored these guys, they were so complex! Overall, loved it!! It was really well written with great pacing. Highly recommend! I’m voluntarily leaving a review form an advanced copy that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
36 reviews
July 2, 2025
I think the time it took me to read this book in comparison to the first says a lot. Honestly finished it for the reading challenge over anything else.

I didn't realize this book was a different storyline from the first, so when it veered off it lost me. There was also too much sex and it wasn't even written well (see highlight).

Also just seemed like it wasn't edited, there were so many typos?
Profile Image for Kassandra  Knight.
1,528 reviews3 followers
March 23, 2022
An interesting take on “retelling” a book from the other MCs POV. I can see why we didn’t get both together.

Be ready for some feels. Or maybe it was just me being emotional… either way, I recommend if you like these tropes.

I received a free copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for M.
1,206 reviews174 followers
May 3, 2023
So this was an AU version of Unrequited, where these boys get it together way before they do in book 1. It's told from West's perspective, which is neat. He's an adorable character. But I enjoyed it slightly less than the previous book - it's steamy as hell, but also infinitely corny towards the end. Either way, glad these guys got their happy ending in whatever universe they're in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews

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