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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I enjoyed the story, best friends since childhood with each keeping a secret from the other. For being 20ish, the author keeps them mature enough that they don't fall into the cliche of not talking about their issues, which I appreciate. Not saying they instant talk, they have reactions like walking away at critical times, but they don't leave it at that. They reconnect and talk.
4.5 stars
This book. Oh, this book. It manages to be a fluffy, warm, cuddly romance that doesn’t shy away from the “harder stuff” (delayed grief, chronic illness, covert homophobia), but doesn’t get overpowered by it either.
Ethan and Casey are adorable and flawed, but their strengths balance each other out. Friends-to-lovers and fake-boyfriend tropes meet and evolve into something more - a story about two people who truly complement each other. As they work their way through emotional baggage and to each other, the underlying foundation of deep caring never goes missing. Yes, they are both worried about their friendship being ruined if things go south, and yes, I was too, because it is that beautiful of a friendship. What few minor quibbles I had while reading were overwhelmed by the sweet fun of watching these two guys figure it out. Bonus - their two best friends who are just exactly what we all could have used as best friends in college.
This is a book to read during a dark, cold day, because it will make your heart smile with warm comfy feelings.
I was given a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
This book. Oh, this book. It manages to be a fluffy, warm, cuddly romance that doesn’t shy away from the “harder stuff” (delayed grief, chronic illness, covert homophobia), but doesn’t get overpowered by it either.
Ethan and Casey are adorable and flawed, but their strengths balance each other out. Friends-to-lovers and fake-boyfriend tropes meet and evolve into something more - a story about two people who truly complement each other. As they work their way through emotional baggage and to each other, the underlying foundation of deep caring never goes missing. Yes, they are both worried about their friendship being ruined if things go south, and yes, I was too, because it is that beautiful of a friendship. What few minor quibbles I had while reading were overwhelmed by the sweet fun of watching these two guys figure it out. Bonus - their two best friends who are just exactly what we all could have used as best friends in college.
This is a book to read during a dark, cold day, because it will make your heart smile with warm comfy feelings.
I was given a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
I thought this was a cute read with great characters and a lovable fave trope of mine with fake boyfriends and college romance.
Casey and Ethan, bffs to boyfriends and I enjoyed this read.
Casey and Ethan, bffs to boyfriends and I enjoyed this read.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ethan was a total sweetie. Casey I wanted to smack sometimes. Read on kindle
Signs
First, I loved the puny chuckles. Second, I want Ethan to make me a Hootie or octopus. Third, he and Casey have amazing friends. Fourth, these two are true soulmates. “You’re all I see…” Full of feels, realizations and growth, Casey and Ethan’s awakening from friends to soulmates was hopeful and heartwarming. I’m really looking forward to Brant’s book as I like his style.
First, I loved the puny chuckles. Second, I want Ethan to make me a Hootie or octopus. Third, he and Casey have amazing friends. Fourth, these two are true soulmates. “You’re all I see…” Full of feels, realizations and growth, Casey and Ethan’s awakening from friends to soulmates was hopeful and heartwarming. I’m really looking forward to Brant’s book as I like his style.
My Recommendation: It's a decent read. I hope it's going to go through another round of proof reading and maybe a few additional scenes before final publication, but it's not too bad as is. It's a pretty low angst novel and there weren't any characters I really hated aside from the one you're supposed to. Definitely going to check out other books in this hockey universe she's created.
My Response: I said yes to this one when Gay Romance Reviews offered it because I love a MM Sports Romance and hockey in particular thanks to Ngozi Ukazu.* And it didn't hurt that the last book I read by Aislin was a hockey romance and it was a decent read.
Keeping Casey introduces us to Ethan, a demisexual gay man who has a medical condition that will one day prematurely end his hockey career who is in love with his best friend, Casey, an archaeology nerd who has been avoiding the grief of his father's death for years and happens to also be in love with Ethan. They just don't talk about it until after Casey volunteers as Ethan's fake boyfriend because of a homophobic teammate. Love a fake boyfriend story!
Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.
*I received a copy of Keeping Casey via Gay Romance Reviews in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.
My Response: I said yes to this one when Gay Romance Reviews offered it because I love a MM Sports Romance and hockey in particular thanks to Ngozi Ukazu.* And it didn't hurt that the last book I read by Aislin was a hockey romance and it was a decent read.
Keeping Casey introduces us to Ethan, a demisexual gay man who has a medical condition that will one day prematurely end his hockey career who is in love with his best friend, Casey, an archaeology nerd who has been avoiding the grief of his father's death for years and happens to also be in love with Ethan. They just don't talk about it until after Casey volunteers as Ethan's fake boyfriend because of a homophobic teammate. Love a fake boyfriend story!
Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.
*I received a copy of Keeping Casey via Gay Romance Reviews in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.
Keeping Casey is apologetically filled wit the fake relationship trope and I love that. Add in the best friends to lovers trope that is required when you have a demisexual character and it's really a lovely story. Casey and Ethan have been best friends since childhood and both of them lost a parent in an accident so they bonded even more but they both developed different coping mechanisms that are at odds. Seeing how they over come that to become more with the help of some meddling friends and some former Glen Hill hockey players is a lot of fun.
I really enjoyed this book! It's the first in a new series, although some familiar faces do show up. I love when a series can intwine with another series and bigger world.
I do wish that these guys would have just talked earlier haha, like just speak up! but I know we gotta get some conflict somehow!
Fans of hockey romance, fake boyfriends, friends to lovers, and with some great demi and RA rep, will enjoy this story!
I do wish that these guys would have just talked earlier haha, like just speak up! but I know we gotta get some conflict somehow!
Fans of hockey romance, fake boyfriends, friends to lovers, and with some great demi and RA rep, will enjoy this story!