A cute friends-to-lovers short story. It's a really quick read, with interesting characters (both our guys are into voice acting), with a hero approaching middle age and chubby. I definitely liked seeing a not-body-perfect hero. Chris is bi and has just been dumped by his long-term girlfriend, quickly depending on his best friend Thomas to pull him out of the depression hole.

I wanted to like this story a lot more than I did. Despite it being a novella, I had a hard time pushing through it. Anytime I have to force myself to read a book it’s not a good thing.

The writing is technically solid and Blocke is a talented writer. I’ll read other stuff by her, for sure. The plot is strong too and friends-to-lovers is a favorite trope of mine.

For me the biggest issue were the main characters, especially Chris. I just never connected with the guy even though I felt for him when he had his heart broken early on. I liked Thomas a little more, but I never really felt the connection between the two guys. I never found myself rooting for them, so a good part of the book just didn’t do anything for me.

I’m not saying read this book, but I’m not saying don’t read it either. I am sure there are readers who will love it. Sadly, I wasn’t one of them.

This was a very short story, I would have preferred it to be longer.
Chris was dumped by his girlfriend, they were together for 6 years, I wasn't much of a fan of hers, the next thing we know she engaged to whom ever she was cheating with.

Chris is bi, and totally oblivious to that his BF is totally in love with him... so with saying that we all know where the story is going to take us.

this end with a very strong HFN.

First off, this isn't a gay for you novel, so you're worried about that, don't be. Chris is actually bisexual and he's hooked up with his best friend Thomas years before when they first met. However, when he's dumped by his longtime girlfriend, feelings start to come up between the two again. I didn't hate this one but it definitely wasn't my favorite book. I could say things moved quick, but with their history, it wasn't too bad. I suppose the book is more of a novella than a full-length novel too, so that aspect didn't really help things feel realistic either. I did find Thomas' main job interesting - he does voice over, so that includes anime and audio books and reading a bit about that was cool. I'm not really sure what I'd rate this one, if I was going to rate it, but let's just say it was more of a miss than a hit for me.

It was a rare instance when the MC was so bleak that everyone else stood out. I liked the best friend - he was believable, interesting and funny. Unfortunately the MC wasn't.
Plot was straightforward and I didn't expect otherwise. It could've been written better.
Overall - if you need something with happy ending and not really complex plot and characters, you'll probably enjoy it. But if you seek something more... Pick something else.

A short story based on the premise that love can be big and sudden or may grow slower and feel comfortable. "Love doesn't have to be just cynical witticisms and sex.". One of my favorite things about this story is that the characters are described as 'every man'. Chris with longish brown hair and Tommy described as 'chubby' with thin blond hair. Tommy says of himself that "pretty sure that I fail the 'no fats, no femmes, under thirty-five' test of the average Grindr user". They are long time friends, very best friends who are not described by their abs and obliques but more by their experiences. Emotions are entirely understated.
Chris is bisexual and has been in a relationship with Vanessa for five years when she suddenly breaks up with him during a visit to the zoo. Her stated reason is that he "is scared of taking risks" and that if he "just once took a chance…he might…actually be happy." The reality, which he finds out later is that she has been having an affair for more than a year.
Although Vanessa said that Chris was not in love with her but simply the idea of her, he was devastated when she left. He got drunk, stopped eating and didn't go to work. His best friend, one-time friend with benefit, Tommy, pulled him out of the apartment and started taking care of him. He fed Chris, put him to work recording erotic audiobooks with him and showed him how it feels to be cared for. Tommy is clear about his feelings but when is it not too soon? My sincere appreciation to Less Than Three Press and Netgalley for the recommendation.