You & Me

by Tal Bauer

A single dads, friends-to-lovers, bi awakening MM Romance.

We're a puzzle made of two pieces.

Landon Larsen is the envy of all the dads in Last Waters, Texas. He's cool, confident, and put together. He and his son—the high school's all-star quarterback—have the perfect father-son relationship. He’s such a Super Dad, it's almost sickening.

I'm not cool, or confident, and my relationship with my son couldn't be worse. He's barely speaking to me, and a year after my wife died, we're both clinging to the wreckage of our family.

Landon's son and mine are best friends and—of course—Landon is the football Team Dad. And though I know nothing about football, Landon convinces me to volunteer to be closer to my son. Volunteering might give him and me a chance to rebuild what's broken between us. Now I'm spending all my free time with the team—and with Landon—and the more we're together, the deeper our friendship grows. My son is opening up, too, little by little. I think I’m getting him back.

There's just one giant problem.

I'm head over heels for Landon.

I've never been attracted to men in my life… until him. Landon draws me in without even trying, and the harder I fight this, the deeper I fall.

Crushing on my son's best friend's father must be my biggest parenting failure ever, but I can't get enough of Landon. Falling for him puts each fragile moment I've rebuilt with my son at risk. What would he think if he knew I craved his best friend's dad? I'm playing with fire, but I can't turn off these feelings Landon has unlocked inside of me.

Of course, a guy like Landon could never fall for someone like me. It's pointless to even imagine we could be something together.
So why did I just kiss him?

***

You & Me is a single dads, friends-to-lovers, bi awakening MM romance, full of dads and their exasperating teenage sons, high school sports shenanigans, and #FoundFamily. Come for the epic love, stay for the forever feels.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, LGBT, Sports, Queer

382 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2022

About the author

Tal Bauer writes breathtaking, heartfelt, and often action-packed gay romance novels. His characters are head over heels for each other and fight against all odds for their happy ending. Nothing stands in the way of love. Tal is best known for his romantic suspense novels, including the Executive Office series, The Murder Between Us, The Grave Between Us, The Night of, and his MM sports romance, The Jock.

Website - www.talbauerwrites.com
Amazon Author - http://amazon.com/author/talbauer
Instagram - @TalBauerWrites
Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/f1fd8baec198/talba...

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading a LOT of books by Tal Bauer recently, and You & Me has to be one of my favorites. We get a slow burn, incredibly sweet, uber-romantic sexuality discovery story with older MCs. I mean, talk about a dream story, am I right?

Okay, I'm going to preface this review by saying that this book feels similar in a lot of ways to The Jock and The Quarterback, both of which I really loved. However, the similar themes of out of the picture moms and Texas football might seem too familiar for fans of those stories. Also, this book is romantic declaration-central, so if you don't like mushy-gushy MCs, this story might not be for you.

Now, everyone (and I mean everyone) knows that I love a sexuality discovery story, and that the way to my heart is with a slow burn, so I was pre-disposed to love this. I thought the relationship development was BEAUTIFUL. I was so happy the entire time I read this one. Though the book is serious in tone and deals with intense issues, the story is surprisingly drama-free. Things kind of... just work out nicely, and the story feels hopeful and sweet and sexy instead of the angst-fest I was expecting. But that was a great thing for me and my mood.

I was swept away in the romance of this story. Just LOVE, love, love for days. These two men are so lovely together, and the way they bonded over their love of their children and grew to get to know one another slowly felt magical. I would say the heat is moderate, though the build-up makes it that much sweeter. I stayed up until 4:30 am (SO BAD) to read this one, which says a lot. I have to stop starting great books at bedtime...

If you like sappy Tal Bauer and older MCs, get ready for a romance that you can clutch your Kindle over and cry happy tears.

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

"You're classically handsome. You have the face that all men want," I said, grinning at him. "But there's so much more to you. Your looks would be empty on anyone else. It's who you are that fills everything in."
I was rambling now. Full speed on a wild tear. "I can see your dedication in the lines of your face. Your work ethic in the cut of your jaw. I know you love life when I see you smile, and even when you're not smiling, the laugh lines show you'd rather be. I know you're a father when I look into your eyes, and I know you're a good one when I see those eyes are kind. When you're you, you light up, and all these different parts of you combine, and everything that you are bursts free. You're like color exploding in a black-and-white world."
~ luke describing how he would draw landon 🥺

this book was such a lovely surprise to me! i had a feeling i would adore it based on the blurb (single dads, friends to lovers and bi-awakening? sign me up), but i honestly didn't expect to love it so much. i've only read up to the prologue of The Jock before getting distracted by another book months ago so this is technically the first Tal Bauer book i completed and i'm definitely planning to check out his backlist in the future. 😌

what i loved:
✧ natural connection between the mcs. if you know me, yk romance is one of the most important factors, if not THE most important factor, for me when i pick up any book. for the romance to work well, i have to love the dynamic between the mcs and how they interact or be with one another and i just loved every single moment between them in this. from the pacing of how they went from friends to lovers to luke's realization that he may feel things for landon and how there was no unnecessary drama involved during his realization to when they finally got together and it was so natural? every direction this story went, was a direction i was so glad it took.
✧ luke/emmet!! one of my fav tropes is when one or both mcs have kids and seeing them play a huge role in the story bc i love any kind of familial bond and the development between luke and emmet with how, at the start of the story, they barely interacted and had a rough, awkward relationship but, after luke joined the boosters and emmet was seeing his effort in tryna make their relationship work again, it was beautiful. 🥺 this aspect of the story was probably what had me crying the most in this book bc seeing that close father-son bond they had when emmet was a child brought to life again just felt satisfying.
✧ beautiful writing. idk if it's just me, but i found myself tearing up in a lot of the scenes in this book bc the writing and how everything was described (whether it was scenes between the mcs or luke/emmet or landon/bowen) just flowed so well and it was beautiful??
✧ landon's ex-wife wasn't written as a villain. often times, in stories where an ex lover is involved or appears in the story, they are made out to be a villain so i appreciated the fact that bethany wasn't like that and how, in the end, all she wanted was for landon to find his true happiness.
✧ the way luke and landon were clingy with one another after they got together. 😩 i'm W E A K for intimate moments between the mcs and i personally prefer the little touches, cuddling, kisses on the face or body parts, etc over just sex 24/7 so i loved how touchy they were with one another and it was so good bc i felt the tension in the first half and, as much as i loved the slow burn, the second half didn't disappoint. 😌

overall, this book was just... comfy to me? idk how to explain it exactly, but it somehow felt like a home as i was reading it bc the tone of the story felt comforting in a way and i'm so glad i ended up reading this. <3

[len ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I want to wake up beside you and prove to you that I’m still falling for you. When you wake up, I want the first thing you see to be me, telling you I still want you and me. Us.”

I believe a huge reason I really enjoyed this is because of the emotions it provoked in me. It made me reflect and strongly think about my parents, especially my dad.

But obviously, that wasn’t the only reason.

I tend to be quite personal and open on this website sometimes. I’ve felt comfortable sharing things since I joined in 2016 and have never really held back from sharing experiences or opinions. I’ve talked about my relationship with my dad before here and how he was my first love. I know that can sound strange to some, but my dad is my best friend. I feel comfortable talking about anything with him, from religion and politics to mental health and sexualities. Foods. Literature. Languages and cultures. Media. History. He’s my role model, the only man I trust to keep a secret, and my inspiration. He is a self-made businessman who became a refugee after leaving his country. An introvert like me who doesn’t talk much, tends to be serious, and would rather watch tv at home alone than go out. Along with my mom, he’s my biggest supporter, hoping for the best for me and constantly reminding me he wants me to do what I want and not what others want. We share the same blood (no, but really, he donated to me when I was born). He taught me how to ride a bicycle, was the first to push me and then see me on my own, and then was the first to teach me how to drive. He's always five steps ahead of me because I am where I am now. Always encouraging me to get back up every time I fall, whether mentally or physically, I couldn’t ask for a better and more influential man in my life. With every transition in my life, he’s by my side.

I have a stronger connection with my dad compared to my mom, while my brother has it with my mom compared to my dad.

This is why the relationship between Luke and Emmett was one of the most emotional relationships I’ve read about. It was 5% in, and I was already bawling my eyes out. Seeing glimpses in between the pages of the life Luke had when Emmett was young had me gasping for air as I struggled to see correctly because my entire vision was blurry with tears continually forming and flowing on their own accord. At that point, I was gone for this father-son duo, and I devoured and loved every part of it.

Both of their arms wrapped around us. Landon and me, arm in arm, our sons holding on to us both. We pushed our faces together, the four of us beaming and sharing our tears, sharing our joy, sharing our love. Our arms linked together around each other, until we all were one big chain, one big ring.

Tal’s writing is one of my favorites. It's extremely provoking, beautiful but not too lyrical or whimsical, and highly descriptive; it’s easy to get lost in his words and the fictional world. It flows naturally and smoothly, and every transition feels necessary for the current component described. This was how it happened with everything in You & Me—the father/son relationship between Luke and Emmett and romantic relationship between Luke and Landon. By being very oriented, the author doesn’t miss a beat in delivering the pace of the writing. While the book is almost 400 pages, clocking at 382 pages, in my opinion, every detail and moment was necessary. I didn’t feel like there was too much information on anything, from in-person actions to inner monologue.

Many have stated how the book started strong and became a little OTT or sweet for their liking as it progressed. Reasonings for it can vary, but the progression of nearing end didn’t bother me. Maybe because, again, it was relatable in some ways. The reactions and shame Luke threw at himself for not noticing what his son was going through felt real. I also appreciate the football talk because I’m the type of reader that reads sports romance expecting the sport to be part of the book. It is not the entire plot or main focus, but it is still a big part of it all. Since I loved the flow of the story, its sweetness didn’t bother me. It had more fluff and sweet moments than angst, but since this is still Tal Bauer, those heart-wrenching moments were still there. And to me, they were all felt, from how Luke described his relationship with Emmett when he was a child to seeing him grow and slowly distancing himself because he didn’t know what he was doing wrong. I loved how the author portrayed this relationship because, although not complex or dysfunctional, the bond between the dad and his son still felt authentic.

Realistically portrayed, Luke’s constant thoughts on how he thought he was doing something wrong, or wondering what exactly he did to distance his son away, reminded me so much of my parents. It made me think of constant moments when I was in similar situations like Emmett. Still, one memory that hit me was for a presentation I did for an award I was getting as I was getting recognized for my position and contribution to my high school. I wanted my parents there, but they weren’t, and when I saw another student with her family, I cried. I told my parents this and remembered seeing some of the regrets, and all I felt was a deep ache and hole in my chest because it was an awarding and important moment for me. I have a healthy relationship with my parents, and I’m always thankful for it. I couldn’t have asked for better and more supportive parents, especially as a first-gen student with immigrant parents. They never forced me to do anything and still don’t, and they continue supporting every step I take in my life towards the brighter future I hope to have. But I would remind them how time is ticking, and my time with them is becoming more limited due to “adulting.” It’s been a challenging journey for me and my mom, more than my dad, but we’ve managed to make it through.

However, like Emmett, I would also assume things and never have the entire story completely grasped. I’d make assumptions and unnecessary judgments when I felt out of place. Like Luke, my parents were there, but they weren’t in my peripheral vision.

“Being a parent is like driving a car without brakes. You grip the wheel and hold on tight, pray you don’t crash too hard.”

While I’ve already had mixed feelings about Tal’s books (absolutely loved The Jock, didn’t like The Quarterback, and enjoyed parts of Never Stay Gone), I can count on him for emotional writing with cute and heartbreaking moments in between. While I haven’t read his backlist (which I’ve heard his books are angsty), I don’t doubt I’ll enjoy more books from him. As far as I’ve seen, all his books are descriptive in the sense of both showing and telling the reader, ranging from factors related to imagining the world to the character’s emotions being visible or in the process of developing. Because of this, it was easy to believe in the feelings both MCs felt for each other. While I’m upset we didn’t get Landon’s point of view, his actions, the way he felt, and how he was presented were still described by Luke’s insights. Still, the friendship between Luke and Landon was sweet and beautiful, a newly found one of two men who were dealing with their troubles but found each other during some of their difficult moments. Luke’s awakening also felt distinctive, and while his sexual desire peaked rapidly, I appreciated how his thoughts did not form sexually first. Instead, we see him slowly but quietly freak out a little, wondering where these new feelings came from and how they came precisely. He and Landon develop a beautiful friendship to the point where Luke’s thoughts unconsciously become about Landon. Adding on to that, we finally have two 40-year-old single dads who know how to communicate. Shocking, I know! Color me surprised when I read that Landon tried pushing Luke away, but Luke wasn’t having it because he knew what he wanted and who he was. However, I will say that even Landon’s feelings were acceptable because of his previous experience and being with someone who only recently discovered something new about himself. It was beautiful and ultimately heartwarming seeing how Luke chased Landon back and made sure to have him believe he was in it for the long run.

Then, as their relationship develops, it does get sweet, but I loved it. Their relationship isn’t strictly forbidden, but there is that small aspect, as they are both still hiding it. Landon is out, but Luke isn’t, and it isn’t something easy for him to just talk about or even process. Still, Landon was patient and kind and reminded him it all had to be taken at his own pace. As their relationship grows, the two have tense moments that only add to their relationship, as some moments that I noticed other readers found too cute. I get how and why, but I found their relationship adorable. I found both of them tender and didn’t even mind how much sexual attraction and desire two started having as their relationship started. It felt like they were teenagers exploring and hiding, and I loved it. There were hidden smiles and messages behind them, small glimpses of each other, glances at each other that had to be quick, and small touches they would savor the whole day. They would count and think how long it was till they saw each other again, and the small hour and day separations felt like an eternity for them. It was all so wholesome, and I loved every moment of them. Outside their bedroom, though, there were their domestic moments, split between being secret lovers and fathers and figuring out how they would come out to their sons and other people around them. They are both two clingy and needy older MCs who declared the sweetest love to each other.

I also need to mention how refreshing it was that Landon and Luke didn’t sugarcoat their fatherhood. Despite their differences in both their individualities and as fathers, it showed the pros and cons. With the usual angst of a Bauer book, the psychological impact of a relationship between a parent and their child is shown with Luke and Emmett. The distance they created caused them to shift emotions and had them feel like strangers instead of best friends. Because the relationship between Luke and his son wasn’t the best from the start, the conflict towards the end didn’t bother me. Personally, I thought it made the bond stronger because it showed how deep misunderstandings created a real-life conflict.

“What if you don’t like what you find?”
“Impossible. I already know I’m going to find you. You’re a part of me somehow. I can feel it.” We were moving closer, closer. My forehead dug into his. We were sharing breaths, sharing words. “You are the gradations of undiscovered colors in my soul. You are the inhale before my blank canvas, the moment before my pencil touches the page. You are the manifestation of my dreams. You are my intensity.”

Other things I loved about this were the side characters, like Bethany and Annie. Bethany is Landon’s ex-wife, so it might be because I’m used to the ex-wife being portrayed as a villain that I was expecting the worst. But luckily, she was an incredible addition to the story and didn’t create any unnecessary drama. Annie, as well, was supportive and a great friend to Landon and then Luke. The support of the other moms and the people around the two was heartwarming. There’s nothing better than seeing people around you support you for who you are.

But, as previously mentioned, one thing I didn’t like was the exclusion of Landon’s point of view. It didn’t make the story bad; I just love dual pov with sexual discovery stories because it shows two different impressions.

Other than that, though, this story was almost perfect for me. Indeed a new favorite and one that I won’t forget easily or quickly. Emotional and damaging but in the best way possible, You & Me was a beautiful portrayal of friends who realize they want to start spending their older years together. The fact that I was in a reading slump and hadn't read in like, a week, yet this story grabbed my attention at 2 AM and kept it until my eyes closed on their own, only for me to start it immediately after I had time, should say enough.

“Luke.” He whispered my name and kissed my palm. He hesitated before he spoke again, as if he was pulling a secret out of himself, putting words together he’d never spoken aloud. “I think,” he began, “you’re the man I was dreaming about.” Another kiss, folded into my hand. “You’re the man I dreamed about all those years ago when I was struggling to find myself. You’re him. You’re the man I’ve been searching for my whole life.”

[aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

december 2023

I wish I could highlight the entire book. I wish I could read this book every day because I love it so much. I wish I could rate it a million, or trillion stars because this story and characters deserve that. I wish I could own every possible copy of this book because one is not enough.


july 2022

My all time favorite Tal Bauer book. I adore everything about this story. I sense a few re-reads in the future.

"You are the gradations of undiscovered colors in my soul. You are the inhale before my blank canvas, the moment before my pencil touches the page. You are the manifestation of my dreams. You are my intensity."

"Being around him was easy. Effortless. As natural as breathing"

Luke and Landon, I will always love you.

[Renae Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

You & Me is a beautiful slow burn love story that was magically told. And yes there were tears, this story gave me all the feels. Luke and Landon are soul mates who have a wonderful friendship that grows from their genuine connection to one of the sweetest and wholesome romances I have ever read.
You & Me took me on a journey of excitement and wonder, while Luke was realizing his true feelings for Landon and seeing this exploration was expertly written. Tal Bauer artfully depicts a man who is trying to put the pieces of his life back together and unbeknownst to him falls for the one person who he feels he can be himself with, without any effort at all.
This is a brilliantly told friends to lovers romance that tackled so many topics, left me emotionally exposed, but also in awe of the direction and depth of this story.
The HEA is well earned and so perfectly captured!!!

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

On one end of the spectrum: This book made my heart hurt. It made me cry. It made me tear up it made me sad.

On the other end of the spectrum, it made me smile so much as well. It made me giddy, happy and hopeful.

Spectrum 1: Luke and his son Emmet. There was so much pain in this relationship. They were the best of friends until they weren't. They became estranged...practically strangers living in the same house, succumbing to grief and anger, disdain and resentement. Emmet was an angry grief stricken teenager who had lost his mom and taken it out on his dad.
Luke was a hopeless widower who had lived a half-life with a woman he didn't love and currently living with a son he adores and misses, but who hates him back. To say that the portrayal of this relationship was personal and intense and just plain heartbreaking would be putting it mildly.
My heart broke for Luke, who only missed his son and wanted to love and care for him. For living years with a woman who resented him, and then died and broke him even further. Tal Bauer excelled with his portrayal of this relationship. The way Luke and Emmet found their way back to each other was nothing short of phenomenally emotional. It was as beautiful as it was melancholic.

Spectrum 2: Luke and Landon, the MCs.
This is what a friends to lovers book should look like. These two men meet and click. Landon, Bowen's father who is Emmet's best friend, is determined to pull Luke into the football parents fold and through it all they develop an amazingly sweet friendship. Landon is superdad, lovedls life and his son.
Their friendship was based on their sons' friendship but it grew to become so much more. Landon is an out ex-Mormon. Luke is straight. And they come together like a moth to flame. Landon was the sun and Luke was Icarus who was unable to step away. They shared sweet moments, they laughed, they bonded and through it all, while Landon was harboring an impossible secret crush, Luke was falling hard and fast.
They ignited and it was beautiful.

Even though the book was low-medium steam, it was still very hot. The chemistry before and after they succumbed, was sizzling. I appreciated the fact that the steam was low in this book, because it made the emotions all the more heightened.

The angst? Need you ask? It's a TB book. I cried. The end.

The HEA:
Was the cherry on top of a beautiful romance. A found family that fits and filled with so much love.

Honorable Mentions: Bowen and Emmet's friendship ♥

[Warda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I wanted certainty and forever and gentle love.”

Of course, I’m in love with Tal Bauer now because, this book? What the fuck.

I boo-hoo, ugly cried. With both happiness and sadness. 😭

Even though there were a few things that I would probably change, they’re minor in comparison to the contentment this book gave me. I don’t want to give this book anything but 5 ⭐️’s! Landon & Luke deserve it and I’m in love and a mess. 😪

“A connection like electricity. Someone who fits so well with me it feels like they’ve always been there.”

Entirely told through Luke’s perspective, it’s a slow-burn romance as well as a quiet story.
We follow Landon and Luke as they establish a friendship that turns into more. Both are incredible single dads.
This is also a story about Luke and his son, Emmett, rebuilding what was lost between them for years, but especially after the passing of Emmett’s mother. He joins a volunteer group as he’s grasping at last straws to connect with his son again.

I love that the father and son storyline was as pivotal as our heroes finding love again. Seeing them witness what it was like to truly fall in love was an experience.

The chemistry that these two possessed had me close to flatlining. It was so good, so beautiful, so intimate. I couldn’t physically handle the scenes between them sometimes. 🥹
Probably because I feared that they’d get caught and things would implode, but also because the passion and connection that existed between them was so fuckin’ dreamy and genuine. They built that over time. I was craving for more scenes between them at every page, because of how well their conversations, their presence, sat with me. I just wanted more Landon and Luke always.

“When I’m with you, all of that fades away. I can breathe when we’re together. I feel normal again, and I want to hold on to that.”

A random tidbit that I feel like you don’t always find in romance books now: I adored how they chose to be intentional about their first time together. It had me melting in every way. Sex was more than just the act for the both of them. It had to mean something.

You know when you’re truly happy for fictional characters? That was them. After the types of relationships they both experienced, it had left them somewhat jaded. They sort of gave up on the whole idea of it.
They deserved each other and every bit of happiness that came their way.

“Where did you come from?” His words were whisper soft. “How did you find me?”

It was incredible to see them become a family. After the somewhat heavy and gloomy start this book had, I was a sap by the end of it and so were they.

Tal Bauer, sir, I’m coming for the rest of your backlist.

*Trigger warnings for drug addiction/usage, loss of a parent.*

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holy cheeeeeeese, this felt longer than Michael Ende's The NeverEnding Story...

To be fair, I really enjoyed the first half, it felt kinda real and natural and almost read like some sort of bio (?) Some things I've learned about the author over time would fit right into it.

The second half, tho... That's when the sobfest started once again, the cheese began to drip, the sugar tried to dig cavities into my teeth like it meant business and of course my dentist is on vacation this week. Figures. It also got too wordy and repetitive with waaaaaayyyyyyyy too much inner monologue and I wanted to yell at Luke "Don't tell me, tell him!!!"

Soooo, roughly 4 stars for the first half and 2 for the second from me. 🤷‍♀️

[Mila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second reread: August 2023

***5.0 rating***

The first time I read this, this was a 4.0 star read. The second time around it's a 5.0-star read. I adore this book and Tal's writing. I love everything about this book. Landon and Luke, Emmet and Bowen. Everything. Tal is such a romantic that he has the power to make you believe in true love with his beautiful writing.

If you haven't read this already, I urge you to do so. It's a beautiful book.


________________________________
***4.0 rating***

"And there was Landon. How could someone make such a big impact on my life in so short a time? We hadn’t known each other existed a week ago, and yet, it felt like I’d known him for years, not days. Being around him was easy. Effortless. As natural as breathing." 🦋🦋🦋




Two men. Two single dads. Two friends. Two Lovers.

Awe this was such a lovely read. I absolutely loved Landon. He was such a sweetheart of a man, dad, friend and lover. He was so accepting, empathetic, kind and just overall a character you cannot help but fall in love with.

I loved how he was there for Luke through it all. Their friendship was so genuine and pure. Two men who had so much in common and just fit together in every sense. Its funny how that happens sometimes. You can know someone for such a short time but you can connect with them in such a way that is not only intense but also like you have known them for years. That is how I would describe the friendship between Landon and Luke. I fell in love with them becoming friends. Them hanging out, their little texts at night, their knees brushing, hands accidentally touching, them grabbing ice creams with their boys after the game, going to wine bars when it was actually a date lol...I could go on. They had so many precious moments together as friends and I just adored how it turned into attraction for Luke. He was a simp for Landon before he even knew it.



“You’re classically handsome. You have the face that all men want,” I said, grinning at him. “But there’s so much more to you. Your looks would be empty on anyone else. It’s who you are that fills everything in....I can see your dedication in the lines of your face. Your work ethic in the cut of your jaw. I know you love life when I see you smile, and even when you’re not smiling, the laugh lines show you’d rather be. I know you’re a father when I look into your eyes, and I know you’re a good one when I see those eyes are kind. When you’re you, you light up, and all these different parts of you combine, and everything that you are bursts free. You’re like color exploding in a black-and-white world"



Yep he was gone.

I mean how could he not? Landon is perfection. He just happens to be a man. A gender who Luke had never been involved with romantically. But no that didn't stop Luke from exploring this new found feeling of joy, love and happiness. Landon was his friend, lover, he just happened to be a man, and Luke was okay with that. Their friendship made that possible, no weird angst or "freak out". Nope not for Luke. He loved Landon and it felt right. Was it a bit fast paced? not really. They were mature men who were secure with their feelings for one another and Tal Bauer captured those emotions of longing and love just right. Had these been teenagers or men in their 20s I would have said it was too insta love for me but no not with these two. It felt right. They felt right together.

"We were a puzzle made of two pieces, and when we fit together, all the sharp edges of life seemed squared off, blunted.Landon wasn’t just a breath of fresh air. He’d blown into my life like a tornado. Being near each other was like being trapped in a magnetic field, pulling me to him, him to me."

Was it a bit cheesy at times? sure but this was just such a romantic book, gah I adored it. It felt like I was hovering on a cloud daydreaming lol.

Now look at me being dramatic and extra af in my reviews.

Do I care? Nah this girl here loved these two men together and how they were both great dads that gave it their all to their boys and together became a family in the end.

I loved how hard Luke tried to get to know his son Emmet again, it was hard to read about because estranged relationships are always difficult to fix but I saw how hard Luke tried to win over his son, Emmet. From ignoring each other to Luke going to his games, getting to know his son all over again, just precious. I loved how they bonded again. It was sad at times to read about because you as the reader can see how both father and son struggled separately. They were both so lonely. It can even a make strong person shed a few tears. I hated how Riley (the dead mom) was with Luke and tried to cut him out of his son's life. She was a miserable woman and was the cause of some of their problems. Good riddance lady. Yes I know I am being harsh but trust me she was very unlikeable, even after death. I know she had her issues but still how cold and calculated she was with everything made it hard to like her.

I felt bad for Emmett. He was so alone through it all. His parents mess affected him so deeply. He felt so alone that he had to resort to some awful things/bad habits, but I am glad he had Bowen (Landon's son) as a friend/support. Their friendship was so brotherly and wholesome.

I am just glad that the father and son duo found their way back to one another. It was making me an emotional mess lol. Yes I am being extra again so don't mind me haha.

The only thing other than Riley that I did not like about this book was all that football talk. When it comes to sports unless its hockey or soccer, I do not care sorry. So I just skimmed the football parts, it felt a bit dragged. Like sometimes I was like please no more football haha. But its okay Landon and Luke made up for it.

I do wish we had more romantic scenes with them, of course we had many but I felt like I needed more of them and the ending well it felt a bit predictable I wish it was longer. Hey don't mind me, I am just girl who is a hopeless romantic alright? 😭😭

All in all, I witnessed the hype people, so thank you for spamming my feed with it!

I appreciate it😉

I also can't believe this was my first Tal Bauer book. It was a good one. I have heard mixed stuff about this author but I am glad my first book of his was a win. I will read more of his work for sure.

Until next time!

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most moving and beautiful romance journeys I've ever read 💗

The slow burn and Luke’s dawning awareness of his feelings was a masterstroke. Such a heartfelt and honest narrative.

And the friendship between the boys was another added depth which just brought more richness and emotional reward.

Exactly the right kind of angsting for me with no unnecessary dramas just for the sake of it. From the first opening sentence this book grabbed me by the heart and didn't let go until the wonderful Epilogue.

Tal's known for his utterly brilliant romantic suspense and political thrillers where two men fall in love within a world of treachery and danger. But with You & Me, he took things to a different level again.

Everything about it felt so personal, although I'm not a widower bringing up a surly teenager and having a bisexual awakening, it didn't matter. The emotional highs and lows, the unconditional way a parent loves (or bloody well should do!) their child no matter how much that child rejects them, they all resonated with me.

The Friday Night Lights feel of being a footballing family, with sons who could take the team to championship level - again something I have no familiarity with - was brought to life so vividly I could hear the noise of the stadium, the expectation of the crowd.

This might be a relatively low angst book for Tal in terms of the setting and subject, but have no doubt, it's still an emotional rollercoaster of a ride which goes through some real lows at times which were heart-breaking to read.

But the two men at the centre of this book, Luke and Landon, are so beautifully expressed that you are willing them on through every step of the journey from friendship and into something that looks a lot like love.

The setting, the other characters, they're all icing on the cake to what is essentially one man's journey back to not only connecting with his son, but to finding his own way back into life, having been mired in sadness and lost opportunities.

Bravo Tal, it's a joyous read.

#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

“You are the gradations of undiscovered colors in my soul. You are the inhale before my blank canvas, the moment before my pencil touches the page. You are the manifestation of my dreams. You are my intensity.”

“We could be amazing—” I felt his swallow, his body shudder in my arms. “Or we could break each other’s hearts.” I kissed his cheek. My lips were wet and tasted of salt. “I don’t want to break your heart. I want to fall in love with you.”

The more I like a book, the less coherent my thoughts usually are. To say my brain is empty after reading You & Me is a massive understatement. There’s only good vibes and ‘aaaaaaaaaaaah’ thoughts. There’s something truly magical about this book. The author did a top notch job of ‘show, don’t tell’ with this one, and experiencing, learning, and realizing alongside Luke (the POV character) is an amazing experience. Being able to see and feel a character falling in love instead of just being told about it is so rare for me.

There were far, far too many things to say about Landon. I could string a mile of adjectives together to describe him and never make a dent in who he really was.

Another thing I adore about this book is that the ‘you & me’ pertains to both Luke and Landon, as well as Luke and his son, Emmet. The rebuild of that relationship is incredibly heartbreaking and beautiful, and would’ve been more than worth reading about on it’s own. Landon’s son, Bowen, is also an amazing side character.

At least he didn’t have a six-pack. He had a nice, normal stomach, flat but soft. It just wouldn’t be fair if he had abs along with everything else.

Also, the spice in this is immaculate. There’s not tons of it, but there’s really no need for it. The sexual tension and chemistry between the characters could set fire to any set of sheets. If you read smutty romance, you’re probably familiar with the *tingles* or if the book is really good, the butterflies that makes you want to giggle and kick your feet. This book doesn’t even need tons of smut to achieve that. A makeout session or a massage on the couch is where it’s at.

This is the second time I read this book, and I think I appreciated how fucking good it is even more this time around. I probably won’t ever recommend anything more.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Friends to lovers
Slow burn
Single dads
Widower
Family problems
Divorced MC
Former Mormon MC
Hurt/comfort

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Death of a spouse (past)
Drug overdose (side character, past)
Mentions of drug use (past, side character)
Family problems
Internalized homophobia (mostly past)
Brief Mentions of suicidal thoughts (past)
Brief mentions of homophobia
Alcohol consumption

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, single POV
Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
MC age: 40 and 40
Kid age: 17 and 18
Pages: 384

What did that say about someone, that their life might be better if they’d never been a part of it at all?

I usually looked like I’d crawled out of my own grave. Dejection had a way of sitting heavy on the skin.

To try and bridge the gulf between us, and maybe, maybe, be his father again? Someone Emmet trusted, even loved, and not merely a man he slung bitterness and disdain at.

Landon dropped casual touches easily, and I hadn’t been touched, other than a handshake, for three years. Landon’s shoulder squeezes and knee brushes burned me like a brand. They were moments where, for a single second, I wasn’t alone in the world. I existed. I was a person, and another person’s warmth reached me.

The pants fit close to my body. I’d never had something show off my butt like that, and I stared at myself in the mirror. Did I look like a frog that had stood up and forgotten his ass somewhere?

Hey, Google, I thought. How do you break your own heart first so someone else can’t?

Can you tell I struggled with picking a quote?

[Papie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cheesy and cringey and sexy and romantic. I had fun reading this. I really liked Luke and Landon and Emmett and Bowen. No it’s not MMMM, it’s two fathers falling in love, and their sons are best friends.

What didn’t work for me?
I had a hard time connecting with Luke. I wanted to scream at him. He is just so sad that Emmett grew and won’t colour and watch cartoons with him anymore. But he avoids him and doesn’t try to connect and be a dad. Teenagers are hard. They will push you away. You’re supposed to stay there and yell I LOVE YOU through the door they just slammed in your face.

The football. I skimmed through so many football scenes. I was so bored.

The tears. Omg the tears.

Tears cascaded down his cheeks as he reached for me, pulled me to my feet, and dragged me into his arms. “Yes,” he sobbed, clinging to me, his hands buried in my suit, his lips pressed against my cheek. “Luke, yes, yes, yes.”

The writing was sometimes too much. Too romantic, too lyrical, too unrealistic. Again, I skimmed.

Everything was too easy. Everybody accepted them. Everybody loves them. There was a teeny tiny dramatic moment but everything resolved so quickly. And the moody teenager is now telling his dad he loves him all the time, every day.

[♡ cal ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was kinda boring for me. everyone is too nice and too perfect blah blah. i don't wanna go be kourtney-you're-the-least-exciting-to-look-at over this book but my mood was almost there. bookwise, i don't think good men do it for me. definitely my last bauer book.

[drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

~minor, vague spoilers ahead~

i was bracing myself for a story full of drama and angst but instead found a really sweet, beautifully-written love story. that's not to say there weren't heavier moments in the book - oh, trust, there are! - but the relationship between Luke and Landon was so joyful and lovely with very little drama. the way their dynamic slowly changed even before Luke realized that he was maybe not-so-straight after all? delicious!!! i just love the way both Luke and Landon were written separately and, especially, together. they were so sweet and loving and kind to each other (and their sons and, well, everyone, really). they were both flawed but ultimately good men, and i just loved getting to know them both.

all of the different relationships here were written so well and were so wonderfully developed over the course of the story. i'd go as far as saying that Luke's relationship with his son, Emmet, was just as integral to the plot as Luke and Landon's, and was also equally enthralling. Landon's son, Bowen, was also an important part of the dynamic of the story and he was incredibly sweet and kind, just like his father. the way all four of them came together as a family unit was so satisfying for me to read. the other minor characters like Landon's ex-wife, Luke's boss, and the other parent volunteers were also really sweet and supportive of Luke and Landon, which was kind of a surprise? i was really expecting some kind of villain here, but there really isn't one at all? i guess the closest we got to a villain was Luke's ex-wife, Riley, who dies before the story begins, but even she wasn't a one-note villain in typical romance novel fashion, and i ended the book feeling quite sad for her.

overall, this was such a joy to read for me. it contained several of my favorite romance tropes (single father, friends-to-lovers, found family), and was simply a beautiful, sweet love story. 5 stars!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me, obsessed with you? Yes. Yes, I am.
Why am I obsessed?
Let me count the ways…
One read will not be enough. You’ll highlight, revisit or collect two hundred after “the end” and return to the first page as I did.
Two hearts and souls are linked together in the most exquisite stumble and fall you’ll witness this year.
Three guesses will take you no closer to the big secret and you will feel its reveal cut deeply.
Four sides complete this found family. Or is it a cube?
Okay, okay, you get my point.
I could ramble and babble for hours about this book…and it still wouldn’t be enough.
I loved it. I love them.

♡ I loved their tentative shoots of friendship that grew unshakable roots, like a Cedar tree growing above impenetrable ground and over obstacles.
♡ I loved their quiet whispers that thundered into roars off a mountaintop. If I close my eyes, I can hear their echo.
♡ I loved their tender-spark touches that soon scorched forest forests in their paths. Somebody call Smokey, quick!
I wished, I cheered and I swooned. So. Hard. I also white-knuckled my kindle and kept the tissues within reach.
It’s quite the journey.

We are thrown over the cliff when they realize they are in LOVE (gasp) and accept it (can’t be!). They make out, kiss till their lips are raw, and count the minutes apart. They are lovesick, sitting in a tree K.I.S.S.ING. And I ate it up with a spoon and said, ‘Please, sir. May I have some more?’
It is sooo romantic and passionate, I can’t believe the pages aren’t charred. It’s also slowwww burn baby. My skin was vibrating by the end, like a thousand butterfly kisses, swooping me up and fluttering away. But love story aside, it’s magnificent. All of it.

The impressive backstory brings us to ‘today’. Single fathers are desperate to be part of their teenagers' lives. The self-discovery and sexual awakening. The self-hatred healing and paths to acceptance. The blended families and faiths. I was captivated the entire way through. And I can’t forget about football. Ha! I was a cheerleader in high school and yet I learned more about the game from Tal!

My reviews never seem to be standard with Bauer’s books…because they do things to me.

Let me just say, I loved it and you will too❣
The end.

This book is for: You and you and YOU! Yes, this book is for anyone and everyone looking for a gigantic book hug. You’ll feel it for days, I promise.

Book UNfunk

[Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m on BookTube now! =)

”Was there any world that existed where he and I were more than strangers? Or had I lost my son forever?
What was left between us? Did he even remember Saturday morning pancakes and cartoons? Or did he only remember the distance?”

This book started out so grim and my brain still isn’t able to compute how we got from the quote above to that bittersweet, wholesome and well-deserved ending! I swear “You & Me” was such a ride! This was my first Tal Bauer ever but it definitely won’t be my last! I heard people rave about the author for quite some time but I never managed to pick up one of his stories, well, at least not until now. I suppose it’s safe to say I’m hooked and will take my sweet time to read Tal’s entire backlist. If all of his books are as amazing as this one, I’m convinced I’ll be a happy camper for a very long time. ;-) So what made this book THAT special? I guess, we’ll have to start at the beginning and take it from there.

”It wasn’t the words, and it wasn’t the ruined dinner or the missing milk, but for some reason, tonight was the night I was fracturing. The tears I had never cried, not for one year and three weeks, prickled against my closed eyelids. I grasped the steering wheel and curled over the gallon of milk, gritting my teeth as I screamed.”

The entire book is told from Luke’s perspective and let me tell you, this man didn’t have it easy! He’s forty and lost his wife about a year ago. Ever since the invisible chasm between him and his son only got even worse and Luke has no idea how to find his way back into Emmet’s life. No matter what he does, every action seems to push his son even farther away from him and at the beginning of the story, Luke is desperate and at his wits’ end. A letter he finds in the dustbin, which is addressed to his dead wife, is the final straw that sends him to the football field in order to inform the volunteer group of football parents that his wife is no longer “available”. What he finds instead is Landon Larsen, a man he can’t help but like and who seems to have a great relationship with his son Bowen. Landon persuades Luke to sign up for volunteer work and because Bowen is Emmets best friend they end up spending more and more time together. With time Luke is growing closer to Emmet but also to Landon and his son Bowen and before they even know it, they start to form some sort of patchwork family and get closer than they ever thought possible.

”Landon dropped casual touches easily, and I hadn’t been touched, other than a handshake, for three years. Landon’s shoulder squeezes and knee brushes burned me like a brand. They were moments where, for a single second, I wasn’t alone in the world. I existed. I was a person, and another person’s warmth reached me.”

The way this was written!!! Damn, I never knew I’d be such a sucker for two single dads falling in love while supporting their teenage sons, but it happened and I loved every second of it! Maybe it’s because I can appreciate MCs like Landon and Luke more now that I’m a parent myself. I felt their struggles and their fears, I could relate to them worrying about their kids, trying to help them on their way into adulthood while still working on finding a balance to give them room to grow but also showing them that they’d always be there if they truly needed them. I adored how Landon described being a parent because it’s true and helped Luke so much. Sometimes you just need to hear that seemingly perfect parents are only human and make mistakes too. XD

"Being a parent is like driving a car without brakes. You grip the wheel and hold on tight, pray you don't crash too hard."

Landon and Bowen literally came into Luke’s and Emmet’s lives and turned on the light switch. Before they entered their orbit, they didn’t know how to find their way back to each other, but the more time they all spent together, the better their relationships got and I have no words to explain how satisfying it was to see this unfold on page. Not only the way Emmet and Luke got closer again, but also how Luke and Landon fell for each other and reached a point where they couldn’t deny their growing feelings anymore. Their phone conversations were hilarious and I adored how Luke had no clue he was falling head over heels for Landon until it was too late already.

"How do you like red wine and not coffee?
Shrug emoji. I'm only allowed three sins, and I've hit my limit: Diet Dr Pepper, red wine, and men.
I laughed out loud, curling forward like I was doing a crunch in bed. My lips clamped shut. Shit, Emmet had probably heard that.

I liked that, as a reader, you find out Landon is gay early on in the book, because he got divorced once he realized he wanted to be with a man. Of course, that led to a difficult relationship with his ex-wife and as perfect and put together as Landon seems to be at first glance, there were many troubles beneath the surface as well. Bowen however never wavered in his love for his dad and they had such a lovely father/son bond! It broke my heart that Bowen was confronted with homophobia so early in his life, but the way he protected his dad and didn’t allow anyone to get between them was testimonial to Landon’s amazing parenting style. Speaking of which: Luke was an awesome father as well! The things he did for Emmet and how he kept quiet about everything for such a long time because he wanted to protect his son… it broke my freaking heart! T_T

”He sank his face into my chest again. I wanted to tear myself to shreds, split myself down to elements and atoms so I could prove to Emmet, that he was a part of me, that he always would be, that I loved him from the moment I heard his heartbeat. That I fell in love with him when I saw the shape of his nose on the sonogram, and again the first time I felt him kick through Riley’s belly.”

Well, to be honest, the relationships in general broke my heart! They were just so well written and I couldn’t help but adore Luke, Landon and their sons. Also I really loved how Luke finally realized that he was falling for Landon. Yes, there was a lot of confusion that he figured out his sexuality so late in his life and fear that his feelings wouldn’t be reciprocated but once he realized that he loved Landon he was down for the long ride. And quite honestly, the way he thought about Landon and how he put his feelings into words: That man never stood a chance! How are you supposed to keep away from an artist like Luke when he thinks and says things like this:

"He turned as he heard my boots crunching across the lot. He smiled, and everything came together. A sketch wouldn't be able to hold this man, I thought. He'd burst right out of the page if I tried."

"You are the gradations of undiscovered colors in my soul. You are the inhale before my blank canvas, the moment before my pencil touches the page. You are the manifestation of my dreams. You are my intensity."

Excuse me; I need a moment to catch my breath. T_T No, seriously, that quote above. If you’re an artist this is the highest form of love language you can achieve. Damn, I just love this so much for Luke and Landon! They both made bad experiences in their past but they worked together so perfectly and were a match made in heaven. It felt like they’ve waited all their lives to enter each other’s orbit and the moment they actually did everything fell into place. They gave each other exactly what they needed and their tender moments as well as their intimate ones were so beautiful and gentle.

"He was the easiest person to be around that I'd ever met. He'd burrowed into my life and set himself up like he had always been a part of my world. We were a puzzle made of two pieces, and when we fit together, all the sharp edges of life seemed squared off, blunted."

And last but not least I’ve to talk about the ending because there are a lot of family problems and dynamics that are revealed but Tal Bauer didn’t feel the need to go for a third act breakup and damn, do I respect him for it! He shows that it’s not a necessary story tool and that a great romance can be told without adding unnecessary drama! From the bottom of my heart: Thank you, Tal!! Because I don’t want to spoil anything for everyone who wants to read the book, I’ll talk about the ending in an extra spoiler section, though!

Luke’s, Riley’s and Emmet’s relationship:
”I don’t think she wanted to die. I think, maybe, she’d finally started to want to live. She had those divorce papers. She had been thinking about her future.
I wished to God she got to live it.”

Oh man!!! When I finally found out the entire truth about Riley and her death it felt like I was hit with a brick! How was Luke able to go on? How did he even function?! He tried to do better, he wanted to work on their relationship but Riley was already gone and there was legit nothing he could have done for her. She must have been really good at hiding her drug addiction for him not to notice but then again (and I find that very realistic) you can’t help other people when you’re drowning yourself. Luke wasn’t in a good headspace himself. They both got married way too young and I’m sure Riley felt stuck in their marriage. She got pregnant and they did what was expected of them, they got married and buried their dreams. The fact that Luke held no grudge against her even though she purposefully kept Emmet away from him and sort of sabotaged their relationship shows how much he loved her. Not in the way she wanted and craved to be loved but in his own way and as best as he could. To me Riley is such a tragic character because she obviously wanted to break out of her cage. Unfortunately, her addiction took her life before she even got a chance to get divorced. Well, and she spent Emmet’s college fund to pay for the drugs which was not okay and horrible, but as an addict you don’t think about the future. You just think about the next shot. As I already said: A tragic character through and through. It’s so sad that she left Luke and Emmet before she could make amends and they’ll always wonder “what if”.

"Dad … You kept all of this shit a secret? For over a year? Have you told anyone else?"
"No."
My son enveloped me in a massive, almost brutal hug. When he spoke, his voice was muffled. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry about."

Luke… damn, my heart broke so much for him. To carry that burden for over a year, because he wanted to protect Emmet and restore his college fund. Luke is really such a precious human being and despite everything, he thinks about himself, he’s actually a really good father! He found himself in exceptional circumstances, but still tried to do what was best for his son. He took care of him in his own way and with little gestures. And when everything is out in the open and Emmet and Luke have that huge moment I was really trying hard not to cry! GAH, they made me so emotional! But damn, was it satisfying to read those words from Emmet! T_T

”Dad?”
“Mmhmm?”
“Thank you. For everything. For tonight. For believing in me. For putting up with me. For buying milk and peanut butter and protein powder. For taking care of me, even when I didn’t know what you were doing. I’m –“ His voice hitched. He took a breath. “I’m really glad you’re my dad.”
I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t say a single thing back to him.

And last but not least, I’ve to speak about the great parent representation. When you read romance books, the romance between the MCS is usually in the foreground and the plot plays around them. But not with “You & Me”! Yes, we got Luke’s and Landon’s growing relationship, but we also got so much more than that! We got the father/son dynamic between Bowen and Landon, we got Landon’s and his ex-wives struggle to find a middle ground for their son, we had the religious background Landon grew up in and all the troubles that came along with his coming out. And we got a good glimpse of parenthood and how hard it is to work on a good relationship with your kid. Luke’s efforts to get closer to his son again and to bridge the chasm that grew between them after his wife died eventually paid off and for me this was even more fulfilling than Luke’s and Landon’s romance. XD #sorrynotsorry The quote down below… so true. T_T

”A parent can never stop loving their child. You cannot unlove this being you raised, that you sheltered and nurtured and cared for and shielded. Their joys become your joys, their heartaches, yours. Emmet tried me, often, but he never came close to making me yank back my love.
A child isn’t the same, though. A child can unlove you. A child can look at you and find you wanting, realize you’re not great, not wonderful. Parents don’t get a free pass on a lifetime of love. Blood loyalty doesn’t run upstream. If you’re a terrible parent, there’s no obligation for your child to love you after the nightmares you’ve put them through. A child’s love is hard-fought, hard-won. You have to earn it.
‘Love you, Dad.’

Conclusion:

“You & Me” was legit one of the best books I read this year and this story will stay with me for a long time. Maybe I’ve finally entered my adult romance era because it feels so good to read about characters around my age who face the same troubles and challenges. The knowledge both, Luke as well as Landon, are parents who work on their relationships with their sons was very comforting and their HEA was hard won! Moreover it wasn’t just Luke’s and Landon’s HEA, because their happy ever after included their sons as well and this was so realistic. Once you’re a parent your child is an integral part of your life and you need their happiness as much as you need your own. 5 stars and even more, because this book delivered on all fronts and I loved it to bits and pieces!!! <333 Tal Bauer: I’m coming for your backlist now!

_________________________________

This was my first “Tal Bauer” and I absolutely loved it! <333
The way Luke and Landon fit together so perfectly! I adored them and their love for their sons!
This was so damn wholesome and exactly what I needed!
I can’t wait to read more of Tal’s books! I’m hooked now!

Full RTC soon! This was amazing! <3
_________________________________

I meant to add “You & Me” to my “currently reading” for a while now, but didn’t really get to it until now. Well, it’s finally happening because I want to rave about the pages I read so far.

I’m actually enjoying this m/m football romance about two single dads who fall head over heels for each other. XD It’s really nice and reads so easily, I find myself wanting to read more.

So yeah, this is finally going on my “currently reading” so I can write reading updates about my first Tal Bauer book. ;-)

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[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

You & Me is by Tal Bauer. This is a MM, sports, bi-awakening, friends to lovers romance. I’ve read several of Tal’s books now and you’d think I would be prepared for the beauty of his words by now. But with every book I read, I’m newly shocked with how his books effect me. Once again, he has created characters who will love on forever in my heart.



Let’s start with Luke Hale, forty years old and single father to his seventeen year old son, Emmet. One year prior, Luke’s wife died. In the year since, they had to move to a new house and try to re-adjust to a new life. But Luke didn’t only lose his wife, he lost his son too. They barely co-exist in their home. Emmet plays varsity football for his team at Last Waters High School. But Luke knows nothing about football. His life couldn’t get any more depressing. Until the day he walked on to Emmet’s practice field and one of the other dads reached out to him, inviting him to be a football booster for the team. A way for him to spend more time with his son. This was a lifeline, and he wasn’t going to turn it down.



Landon Larsen is somewhere around the same age, maybe a little older. He is divorced and is single dad to his eighteen year old son, Bowen. Landon is gay. He still has a pretty good relationship with Bowen’s mom and he and Bowen have a wonderful relationship. They are close, affectionate, and a joy to watch when they are together. Everything Luke has ever dreamed of having with his own son.

As the football season progresses, Luke and Landon work together as team dads but also start spending time together outside of football. They become close. Luke has never, ever been attracted to a man before but there is something about Landon. And the more time they spend together, the stronger those feelings become.

“Being near each other was like being trapped in a magnetic field, pulling me to him, him to me.”

Luke and Emmet’s relationship was so broken. But both their relationships with Landon and Bowen, and with Luke spending time around Emmet in his world, those walls started to come down and slowly, Luke started feeling like things might be okay between them. But at the same time, he can’t get Landon off his mind. He’s on his mind all day every day. Until he finally figures it out, he has feelings other than the best friend type of feelings, for his son’s best friend’s dad. For Landon.



This is the story of found family, of getting a second chance to find happiness in life. Of falling in love. A story of heart break and of joy. A story of accepting yourself as you are, of forgiveness. If I had one little complaint, it’s that the entire book is told from Luke’s point of view. Oh how I wanted to get into Landon’s head as well! This is a slow burn but it works perfectly here. So get your comfy pillow and blanket ready and settle in. Get ready to meet four men, two dads and two sons, who were all lost in their own ways. But together, they found that connection they were missing. They found family. They found love. And through this it gave them the strength to move on in the ways that made them complete. Thank you Tal Bauer for another wonderful book that I will not soon forget.

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[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about two 40-year-old men finding their second chance at love.

Landon, a former Mormon, is a football dad through and through. He and his son, Bowen, are incredibly close.

Luke, the narrator, is going through the motions. His marriage was in tatters before his wife's passing a year prior. His son, Emmet, barely speaks to him, and he's long stopped drawing or pursuing any artistic passions.

Then Luke meets Landon, and everything changes.

The way the relationship develops on page is nuanced and beautiful. Moments of joy, shyness, lust, grief, embarrassment ... the men's interactions are so damn real.

This is a quiet story with family at its core. No relationship drama - just an abiding sense of rightness as Landon and Luke come together.

There's some angst in the form of Luke and Emmet's broken father/son relationship and secrets both Luke and Emmet have been keeping. The connection between Luke and Emmet is as important as the one between Luke and Landon. You & Me could be titled You & Me & Our Sons. Fatherhood is central to the story.

Luke's sexual discovery (I read Luke as demi/bi) was well handled. Ultimately, Luke didn't care that he had fallen for a man. He just wanted Landon.

I didn't even mind the endless descriptions of high school football. It's clear Bauer loves the game, and that love translates to excitement and a sense of anticipation on page. I was cheering on Bowen and Emmet along with their dads.

I will say that I missed Landon's voice. I was hoping for at least a couple chapters written from Landon's perspective so I could see Luke through his eyes, but, nope, it was all Luke. Imo, the singular POV doesn't work very well in romantic fiction.

I also wasn't a fan of Landon's ex-wife's involvement in his relationship with Luke. The way Landon catered to her pissed me off, and her "thoughts & prayers" felt fake af. As a Mormon, his ex would never encourage a gay relationship or say that Luke was Landon's forever.

The Mormon Church is rabidly anti-LGBQT and has been relentless in its fight against marriage equality and trans acceptance. Members who come out are ostracized by the church and community. "Hate the sin; love the sinner" is their mantra, but they don't love the "sinner" much either.

I could go on, but suffice it to say that Landon reconciling with his family at the end was kind of tone-deaf. His siblings shunned him for being gay and divorcing his wife to live as his true self, yet he was responsible for "repairing" those relationships some decade later and, woo-hoo, we're one happy clan now? Nah, fuck that.

Perhaps Bauer didn't want to bog down the story with religious angst or maybe he doesn't understand Mormon culture, but I wasn't buying it.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me sickeningly happy. I just finished my re-read and it’s even more beautiful than I remember. One of my favourite romances of all time.

THE PREMISE: Luke is lonely, depressed and desperate to reconnect with his son, so when Landon (loveliest man alive) recommends he sign up as a volunteer for his school football team, he says yes, and life starts to get its colour back.

TROPES & VIBES:
- Friends to lovers
- Slowburn
- MM romance (bi-awakening)
- Sports romance - the two mmcs volunteer for their sons’ varsity football team
- Big father / son reconciliation storyline
- *buying an entire new outfit to go to dinner with your bestie, where you snuggle into him and stare at his forearms* [straight behaviour]
- ‘I haven’t drawn in 11 years … until I wanted to draw you’
- Insanely sweet and wholesome

♾️⭐️ 2🌶️ (check TWs)

[Mariam, · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Reread: Dec 5-6, 2022.

I had to stop reading, multiple times, because I got whole body chills reading this book, feeling the emotions poured and swelled in this book. This book is hands down, Tal's best work.
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“All I wanted was a happy life with my family.”

This book was like a breathe of fresh air in 2022. This book spoke hope, everlasting love, absolute loyalty, the feeling of being found after being lost for so long, the devastation we find ourselves in, the failure we find in the fragments of our daily lives and god THIS BOOK. I have no words other than THIS BOOK and how it completely captivated me from the first paragraph.

Failure lived inside me like an organ. I could feel it pumping alongside my heart. Keeping me alive, even when I didn’t want it to.

It's been a while since I've a good sob session with a book and THIS BOOK had my heart in pieces and out together in the small joyous moments and then broke it all over again before rebuilding it stronger than fucking steel.

This book is probably more of a 4.5 objectively, but fuck, I don't give two shits, I want to shut my brain and this give this book the 5 stars it whole-fully and rightfully deserves.

Landon’s shoulder squeezes and knee brushes burned me like a brand. They were moments where, for a single second, I wasn’t alone in the world. I existed. I was a person, and another person’s warmth reached me.




All I could see was Emmet and those two 9s in the center of his chest. What’s nine times nine, Dad?
Infinity, buddy. How far I’ll love you.




“There’s something about being lost and found that appeals to me. It might be part of the reason I like it so much. Probably silly.”

This book was wonder. Sincere. Enchanting. And soft. So damn soft my heart melted at the finest, most simple words Luke and Landon spoke to each other and more than that? The feelings they absorbed and cherished throughout the book unravled me.

Here he was, alone, but the absolute presence of him was enough to stop me in my tracks. Strands of his hair fell across his forehead and brushed the tips of his eyebrows. Was there a color that existed that matched the way the sunlight hit his eyes?



I came at the world differently, obtuse angles where people wanted square. How was Landon going to take being told he made an artist’s withered creativity want to live again?



I cherished him as a friend. I adored him as a person.




Here I was, exactly as I existed, and there he was, smiling at me like he wanted all that in his life.

It was Luke inhaling and soaking up Em's little smiles, it was him feeling settled and at peace in Landon's presence. It was then, Luke and Landon, as father's and sons, as lovers and partners that just spoke a whole new love language for this book.

Nothing. Nothing at all like this firestorm burning through me. Nothing like the way my whole world had rearranged itself around Landon.

Not to be too personal or anything, but I really spoke for the first chapter. It felt like Luke was wearing my own skin and putting words to the secrets I couldn't bring up to myself. The failure he felt with himself, he sadness, the longing for touch and affection and care, the starvation for it, the bone deep sadness for nothing but yourself. The words he spoke felt to close to my own reality and reading the first chapter, I sobbed and sobbed some more because Christ, wow. THIS BOOK.

We were in a color-saturated world, string lights and red brick and hay scattered on pavement. Still, Landon captured my gaze and all my attention. Everything I felt, everything I saw, wound into and around him.




I wanted my life to stay twined with Landon’s. My life was whole again because of him. What did I do with my puzzle piece if I didn’t have him to match with?



His gentle hold on my face turned possessive, almost feral, as he cradled my skull and hauled me out of the barstool and against his body. “The things you say… What does the world look like through your eyes?”
“It looks like you painted it with all of your joy.”

Reading what Landon and Luke created, shared, developed, explored... Nothing short of true, absolute, infinity love. Everlasting love. It was heartbreaking in a way because I mainly read romance every single day, but the LOVE Luke and Landon shared, seemed too fitting for a fairytale. The peace and settling nature they found together, the comfort and absolute trust? It felt too good to be true. Growing up has a way of putting this into perspective for me LMAO and growing older has a way to making me cynical as fuck, so just for a moment, while reading this book that I never wanted to end, it felt like the first breathe of fresh air of this year, but for a moment in reading this book, I felt this true love to be devastingly real.

We kissed like our souls were burning.

I'm so glad Tal didn't put too many plot twists in the story, no third act conflict, not damn misunderstanding or any of the above that had me anxious AF reading this. I only read one book of Tal's and that was the Quarterback. One thing shared? Phenomenal writing. What a true writer of this generation. I can't wait to see where his next works continues because damn Tal, you threw the rag under me. I was hesitant on starting this book for the same exact reason I had anxious thoughts of third act breakups and the amount of conflict this book would have after seeing the page count (ALSO, I JUST DON'T LIKE KIDS IN GENERAL SO 😶), but fuck, can this book never end? Could a lifetime of the joy Landon and Luke share ever be enough?

Twenty-three years later, I’d finally figured out the truth. Joy was a gift bestowed by another. Two lives coming together and combining. Happiness couldn’t be chased or captured or caught. It grew in the together places.

Absolutely speechless and I have little to no words left in me. Just a thank you to my Goodreads friends who loved this book so much, I couldn't help but adding it to my tbr and I had finally caved yesterday (because yes, I actually slept while reading a book because I didn't want it to end) and devoured this book to pieces.

Y'all were right. This book was art in it's most fragile, beautiful and devasting form.

“Can I see?” Landon shifted against me. His breath caught. “Luke—”
I wasn’t sure if I’d poured my feelings into drawing Landon, or if I’d teased out buried, hidden emotions from within him. Was it the subject or artist who had fallen so deeply in love? Looking at what I’d drawn, I couldn’t tell.

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Me adding more to this review now that reality has finally sunken in:

Interesting enough, is it just me but the way Tal describes certain scenes, light and mountains, places and figures of art and shadow, the way he just describes visuals just screams Stephen King to me??? Like HELLO RANDOM THOUGHT but I couldn't help but feel that way lol. 😆 I might pop back up later to add more thoughts because my bestie knows my tendencies to get MILDLY obsessed with things.

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initial reactions: This book was nothing short of perfect, and one the of best books I've read this entire year.

[ariana esnifa libros · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

por si tienes daddy issues aquí no hay solo un papá responsable sino DOS y encima se enamoran???? CIERREN AO3!!

es un friends to lovers entre padres y siempre voy a sostener q este trope es el mejor!! como gira en torno a no darte cuenta q te gusta tu amigo y anhelar TANTO. todo lo q chillé pq el prota no se daba cuenta q le gustaba el otro padre de familia y era gay ajsjqkfj I USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THIS.

encima con todo el tema q no se lleva bien con su hijo y el prota se siente tan solo 😭, ayuda a que conozcamos al prota. se centra mucho en torno a la relación padre e hijo de los dos y como fortalece su relación, los recuerdos, la nostalgia… ojalá la paternidad fuera real.

la resolución si bien me pareció muy disney o como los hijos entendían perfectamente q van a ser hermanastros pq SUS PAPÁS SE GUSTANQBJSJS re normal todo, al menos me salvó de drama innecesario. igual cuando el hijo le dice a su papá q sabe q se come al papá de su mejor amigo me dio risa JWSJSJ aparecía con un dibujo bl.

en torno a trama, creo q pudo manejar mejor el autor el romance con el argumento pq siento q fueron páginas muy seguidas (aunque disfrutables) de los protas chapando y luego ya para el final dijo verdad q había historia qjaj.

en fin, una curita al corazón.

[oshiiy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️ Look at this cover! It is so simple yet so beautiful, and the story is too.
“You & Me” was so engaging. I read it in just one sitting. I should say, there were a lot of heartwarming quotes that happened between our MCs, and I couldn't pick just one. They were all amazing.

Landon and Luke were head over heels in love with each other, and they were the ones you called "made for each other." They were always kissing and touching, and it never got boring for me to read just one more chapter of them being so in love.

Of course, I loved how less angsty this book was. I couldn't bear any more angst than what Landon and Luke had gone through in their lives before they found each other.

I liked how the story ended, and it was just perfect.

Recommended!

[Jewel · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw in some reviews that this was a slow burn, I was skeptical, but it actually is a bit of a slow burn. Color me impressed. Still alllllllll the cheese you'd expect from this author, though. So much cheese.

I do have pretty much the same niggles with this novel that I have with other novels by this author:
~~Way too much cheese - I knew going in it was going to be there, but I can still wish for less.

~~Any conflict encountered is resolved way too easily/quickly. In the case of this story, the inevitable conflict between Luke and Emmet was pretty much resolved with a single conversation. I really wish they had discussed and decided to go to therapy because one conversation is not enough to heal years of hurt. This part of the story had a definite After School Special kind of feeling to it.

~~No real conflict between the MCs. Now they're both older and have a better grasp of what they want out of life, so I definitely am not looking for manufactured melodrama (like I ever am, tbh). I do think there was good opportunity for some relationship angst and character development that was just passed over, though. I mean, Luke is having feelings for a man for the first time he can recall! But he takes the erm...bull...by the horns and goes with it with nary a blink. And while there was a conversation with his boss where he doesn't correct certain assumptions at first, the follow up, again, felt way too After School Special. I'm not saying that I think his boss should have reacted negatively, at all. I'm glad he didn't. But he laid the approval on so thick it felt creepy.

Overall, I liked this one, though I did not love it nearly as much as many of my friends. It was a touch morose in the beginning, but it didn't feel angsty at all, really (maybe I'm just jaded). Everything went (way too) smoothly. Also, I wish the real world was as accepting as absolutely everyone in this story was. I really really do.

[TrippyBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was lovely. I don’t know how else to describe it.

It is a love story told from a widowed single Father as he falls in love with a man who teaches him not only how to get involved with his sons life again but how to appreciate life. It’s refreshing to see adults that know how to communicate!

Obviously the romance is swoonworthy but Luke’s relationship with his son made me incredibly emotional.

So . Many. Feels. Definitely pick it up.

[Sana⁷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is my family. I found it, all on my own. It's little, and broken, but still good. Yeah. Still good." [Stitch, "Lilo & Stitch" movie]

This quote came to me while reading You & Me by Tal Bauer, and couldn't leave my head until the very end of the story. The book isn't about aliens and orphan children, like the "Lilo & Stitch" movie, but it is about family. A small and a little bit broken family, who found each other in the the time of the greatest need.

Failure lived inside me like an organ. I could feel it pumping alongside my heart. Keeping me alive, even when I didn't want it to. [Luke]

You & Me is a story of Luke Hale, a middle age man working as a health insurance broker, who, after the death of his wife, desperately tries to repair his lost connection with his teenage son, Emmet. After showing up in one of Emmet's football matches he meets Landon Larsen, a father of Emmet's best friend, Bowen. Their meeting gives Luke a chance he always needed, but never allowed himself to have - it not only opens the door for him to reconnect with his son and find the love of his life, but it's also a liberating experience, an opportunity to find himself and find happiness he always craved for, but denied it, feeling like he didn't deserve it.

To be honest, I did not expect for this story to be so emotional. I expected another gay romance story, just more mature than the ones I usually read (because of the main characters being middle aged men instead being teenagers), with the MC's fight to reconnect with his son being thrown in the middle of it. My relation with this book went up from the very first page, then it went down after the Luke's romantic feelings realization, through the whole romance part overshadowing Luke's and Emmet's relationship, and then went up again when we came back to Emmet. I was angry because I was really into the story and then everything went down for me, because of the lack of the balance between the romance part and the parent/child relationship. I was sure that I will end up giving this book three stars and leave at it.

But as I said, then we came back to Emmet, the drama started and the family feelings came back, and even if I tried to resist, I wouldn't succeed. I was mercilessly sucked back into the story and drowned in the sea of love.

After I finished reading the book and I read all of my notes to be well prepared to write a review, I realized that I reacted way too harshly when it comes to the whole romance thing. Yes, Luke and Landon were completely immersed in each other, leaving everything outside, and yes, their romance started in a really fast and a really intense way, but it makes sense for it to be like this.

Any other person: "I like you."
Luke Hale to Landon Larsen: "When you're you, you light up, and all these different parts of you combine, and everything that you are bursts free. You're like a color exploding in a black-and-white world."

Both Luke and Landon have a harsh past. Both went through difficult times, thought they were in love and finally found happiness they dreamed about, but got heavily burned instead. Years passed before they found each other. They both were touch-starved, every day fighting to stay alive, desperately craving for love, for the one person that will stay by their side through good and bad times. So when they found each other, the emotional connection between them was immediately formed, friendship bloomed, soon for it to be changed into something deeper. Feelings exploded, and it seemed like the world has stopped moving. It was just Luke and Landon, Landon and Luke, and no one else, and, honestly, I cannot blame them for feeling this way. They were always fathers first, men second, but when they found each other, things changed. They not only found love in each other, they found family and home, they also found themselves again, found joy again and found a reason to live for, not just for their children, but for each other as well. And I think that's beautiful.

"What does the world look like through your eyes?"
"It looks like you painted it all with your joy."

You might find flaws in the story. You might think that Luke, a supposedly straight man, had fallen into a relationship with another man too fast and too easily, and that the men that Tal Bauer created were too emotional to be real. It was an issue for me, true. I mean, it was an issue that there was no time for an identity crisis for Luke, and it looks unnatural, yes. But hey, who said that everything need to be complicated? Who said that we can't have anything easy and simple? It's love. No one knows how it works, guys. Let's cherish it when it happens, instead of questioning it in every possible second ☺️

I never knew how to talk to Emmet, what to say or how to even say the few words I did manage. I wanted to barge into his room and declare my eternal love for him, tell him I'd die for him in a heartbeat, that I would do anything for him, that he was the best thing that ever happened to me.
But I was too petrified of his silence. Of an unblinking stare coming back to me. Emmet never, not once, saying I love you, too, Dad again.

Guys, the family feelings. THE FAMILY FEELINGS, GUYS! I loved it so much!! I loved the eternal love and devotion both Luke and Landon had for their sons. Something like this is so rare to see, both in the books and in the real life. I loved every second of it. Their focus on the boys was so incredibly admirable. Emmet and Bowen were their guiding lights, the reasons for their existence, their everything. The lengths both fathers were willing to go for them, o my gosh. Their devotion to their sons wasn't just a reason for them to get together, no, it was explored through the whole book. These boys brought their fathers back from the cliff, from their darkest days, and they don't even know that!!

"Dad!" Emmet found me hauling water jugs while the team headed into the tunnel. "Dad, did you see?" (yes, I cried. I cried a lot in this scene. It was so small, but so significant, the first moment Emmet opened up to his father, so how could I not cry? 🤧)

I cheered so hard for Luke to reconcile with Emmet. I wanted them to become a proper family so bad, especially because of how beautiful their relationship was described when Emmet was little. They had a deep bond that was broken, because of the awful circumstances and, well, a misunderstanding.

"You didn't want me! You never have!" [Emmet]

I squealed with joy wherever Emmet opened himself up to his father. Did their relationship repair too fast? A little bit, yes. But it does make sense, considering how badly both Luke and Emmet wanted to have a proper father-son relation again. I didn't mind it at all, especially not after Emmet's long awaited breakdown. Everything was masterfully done. Beautiful and emotional, exactly how it should be. I wish they had more scenes with each other, though, and I wish for more interactions between Luke and Bowen, and Landon and Emmet, but I took what I could get.

I love the family they had build. I love Luke and Landon's romantic relationship and I love Emmet and Bowen's brotherly bond. Emmet and Bowen were brothers before they officially became brothers, though. There was so much understanding, not only in their words and actions, but even in their eyes. Everything was so gentle, and kind, and loving, it makes me want to tear up again, wherever I think about it (the whole book isn't as gentle, though, be warned about the sex scenes, because oh boy, things certainly happen there).

Can we also talk about Bethany and Riley here for a second? How different these women were from each other? That's actually incredible. I thought that Bethany will be the "side-lined" woman who's going to fight tooth and nails for the man she loved despite knowing that he will never come back to her, but it wasn't what had happened. She loved Landon, yes, but it wasn't a dark, obsessive love, but a pure love where she truly cared for Landon and wanted him to be happy, even if it meant that she lost him for good. But Riley? If she wasn't already dead, I would burned her alive. I understand that she was an addict and addicts do not act rationally, but her actions towards Luke and Emmet made me burn with rage. She was awful as a wife, as a woman and as a human being.

P.S. I'm so glad that, despite all the dark things that happened to Luke and Landon, both of them had people in their lives that they could find comfort in. That's such a relief.

Anyways, I'm happy that I ended up my journey with You & Me with a positive note and positive memories. It was nothing like the previous book that I've read by Tal Bauer (Enemies of the State). I disliked that one heavily, and I worried that I will feel the same about this book. I'm glad (and relieved) that it didn't happen ☺️

[D.L. Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t tell you which love story I adored more. But why do I have to choose? Not when Tal gave me everything!

From page one my heart broke for Luke. For all he loved and lost, for all his missteps and the conviction that he could never get it back.

The story of Luke and his son Emmet was a treacherous road to traverse. So many misunderstandings, a lack of communication and falling apart until there was surely nothing left.

Experiencing the fight that Luke never gave up. The way their relationship grew from downright loathing if not hate and the struggle to not only find acceptance but an abiding love was the magic that dreams are made of.

While that was hard the story of Luke and Landon was easy. A fast friendship that grew from a man being nice and wanting to help until they became inseparable.

The moment when Luke realized that he’d fallen in love with Landon was perfection. I couldn’t get enough of these men together.

Homecoming was magical for them. That love scene was far and away the most beautiful, breathtaking one I had ever read. They didn’t only make love, they become one. Goddam, it was amazing!

I loved every single thing about this book, including the detailed moments of football. The love of the game was another love story in and of itself.

Most of all this was a story of family and those four men created the loveliest family we should all aspire to replicate.

[Ben Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might just be my new favourite contemporary romance of all time.

I just can't stop thinking about this book. I'm not ready to be done with these characters, I just want to reread it already.

The way Tal Bauer describes and conveys the love between all these characters truly blows me away. It's just beautiful.

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars

There were three very good reasons why I didn’t plan to read this book:

a. While I loved the Executive Office series, I have not been so keen on most of the books by this author that followed. For me, Tal tends to be a bit heavy-handed on the sugar front.

b. Clearly kids play a big role here. And that’s just not my jam.

c. Football, and its intricacies, are quite prominent. (I have not the scoobiest doo about it 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Well, I (obviously) did go there and read it. 😁 Mainly because of the draw to read about more mature characters, and the promise of a very interesting romance with some gay awakening.

So, what’s the final verdict?

I liked both men, Luke, in particular. I could associate with his insecurities, and his frustration and hurt over his son’s behaviour, and I really enjoyed how the romance between Landon and Luke blossoms gradually and organically.
Luke’s obliviousness of his feelings is really well written, and although we get his POV only, we get a clear impression of Landon’s emotions and what other people are thinking, too.

Although Luke’s problems with his son are very much on the forefront of the plot, I actually liked it here. And I appreciated how it was dealt with. Again, their relationship changes very slowly, with baby steps all the way, well, until the last third at least.

However, for me, the whole football talk and volunteer work was a little bit on the boring side – that’s simply not my scene. I’m sure sports fans and parents who have done work like that would have much more understanding and enthusiasm for it.

But, all in all, I enjoyed this quite a bit until about 60/65%.
That’s when everything went a little bit OTT on the emotion side. Where every feeling, every thought felt exaggerated, and too much. And when the word ‘perfect’ fell again and again … nope, not for me. And the super sweet epilogue where everyone is super wonderful and super happy …🙄

As for Landon and Luke's sexual relationship – while I loved the urgency, the want and desire, I didn't quite get Landon’s reasoning for wanting to ‘wait’.
And the ’big reveal’ about what happened to Riley, Luke’s wife, was a tad on the heavy side. It wasn’t necessary, imo. The woman had clearly done wrong (as had Luke) and for me - she didn’t need to get any more ‘vilified’.

All in all, a good read, but the last third was quite a bit too sappy for my liking.

[Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story. Maybe it was a perfect storm for me, but this one just hit right. Two single dads, two teenage boys, one struggling and the other a star quarterback. Bauer absolutely captured what parenting a teen feels like.

"Being a parent is like driving a car without brakes. You grip the wheel and hold on tight, pray you don’t crash too hard.”

✔️Texas high school football
✔️Single dads in their 40s
✔️True friends to lovers trope
✔️Bi-awakening
✔️Vulnerable, sensitive, emotional, heartfelt and real

Bauer's writing can be a bit mushy at times, and this one certainly had it's moments, but I still loved every page.

[mica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuando digo que prefiero morirme antes que leer un libro escrito por un hombre sepan que no estoy hablando de Tal Bauer.

Este es mi segundo libro del autor y no les puedo explicar lo mucho que lo ame, ya desde el primer capitulo me hizo llorar. Yo siempre digo que una historia puede tener una trama de mierda pero si tiene buenos personajes a mi me va a gustar y si de algo sabe Tal Bauer es de escribir personajes. Este libro no tiene mucha "trama" por así decirlo, es el día a día de la vida de un padre queriendo arreglar la relación que tiene con su hijo, mientras que al mismo tiempo comienza a entablar una amistad con el padre del mejor amigo de su hijo y empieza a ver la vida de una manera diferente (me encanta porque es básicamente el enamorándose de su mejor amigo PERO NO SE DA CUENTA!!! van a citas, cocinan juntos, salen a pasear, ayudan a sus hijos en los entrenamientos, se mandan mensajes todos los días... son re lindos voy a llorar)

La historia es super cute, llena de momentos hermosos y también momentos muy tistes (la forma de escribir de esta chabon me encanta) lo único que si me voy a quejar es que había muchas descripciones y muchos párrafos en si dedicados a hablar de futbol americano... ahí me perdiste hermano, yo estaba salteando todas esas partes, good for you but i dont care.

La cantidad de veces que me largue a llorar con este libro es increíble (si tengo daddy issues, next question), la forma que TODAS las relaciones evolucionaron me pareció increíble Y NI HABLAR DE LA EVOLUCION DEL PROTAGONISTA PRINCIPAL!!! AHHH SOY LAGRIMAS LO ADORO ES MI PROTEGIDO (el chabon tiene 40 años)

Por favor lean este libro, es un viaje de ida.