Neither Jack nor Simon are in a good place when they first meet. They don’t even meet on a dating site; they meet on a site that matches pet owners with caregivers, and it’s not even love at first sight, although there is definitely mutual curiosity.

What I especially enjoyed about the development of Jack and Simon’s relationship was how patient Jack was with Simon without ever venturing into the realm of condescension. Sometimes it’s difficult for Simon to talk because of his anxiety, but Jack never rushed Simon or tried to talk for him and they communicated so well together.

And the chemistry—good grief! The chemistry was off the charts! Jack was much more experienced than Simon, but he made a concerted effort to take things at Simon’s pace.

And okay, I suppose I should mention the pets. There were a lot of them, so looking back, I can’t really think of any standouts, with the exception of Pirate the cat who liked going on walks with the dog pack. When there’s only one or two pets in a book, it’s easy for the animals to steal the show. That’s definitely the case here, but moreso because Jack livs with a veritable menagerie.

I would absolutely recommend Better Than People. We’re living in some pretty tense times, and this book proved to be the perfect antidote for a bit of escapism. Jack and Simon were just perfect for each other, and I know that I’ll be going back to this book when I need a bit of a pick-me-up. I’ve read a couple of Parrish’s other books, and I’m looking forward to reading more of the back catalog in the future.

I received a copy of this book from Carina Press/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A delightful and highly enjoyable story, engrossing and entertaining.
I liked the well thought cast of characters, both human and pets, the sweet romance and the plot that flows.
The MCs are original and you cannot help rooting for them.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Better Than People was a sweet, quiet romance that was even better than I’d expected. Everything about this book was deceptively simple- a quick connection igniting between men that only grows as they get to know one another.

Although Better Than People was not overly complex, it wasn’t boring either. The angst and conflict felt grounded in realistic struggles. I loved that the characters were unique rather than those perfect caricatures of men dominating contemporary romance. The slower pace worked perfectly, giving the reader time to get to know the characters and the characters enough room to develop over the course of the story. I loved seeing the playful side of Simon as he became more comfortable and liked how he helped Jack heal and I liked how steady and patient Jack was with Simon straight away. And then there are the dogs and cats. Though Better Than People does revolve a bit around Jack’s pack of rescues, it was worked into the storyline and character development well.

For a storyline that felt very straight forward from the start, I was pleased at just how much emotion and romance was packed into Better Than People. If you are looking for a quiet, touching love story, this is definitely worth the read.

BETTER THAN PEOPLE is a beautiful book that delivers all the cozy, soft romance one could wish for but doesn't skimp on steam 🔥.⁠ It was exactly the comfort read I needed.⁠
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What really stood out for me was its compassionate world view. I find romance is at its best when it takes an expansive view of happily ever after, and this book does exactly that. It acknowledges that hard things happen all the time--family loss, professional setback, injury, mental health challenges--but affirms the happily ever afters in the even if.⁠
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Neither Jack nor Simon fit societal notions of the "perfect" partner. They're each off-putting in their way and both have reasons to isolate themselves. Jack is nursing wounds emotional and physical, having first been betrayed by his longtime creative partner and then breaking his leg trying to rescue his skittish dog. Simon suffers from anxiety so intense he's often unable to speak, leaving others to assume he's willfully ⁠ignoring them. ⁠Aside from his grandmother, who's wonderfully loving and delightfully irreverent, he's never found people who accept him as he is.⁠
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For both, it's with animals that they're most comfortably themselves, and it's the shared love for Jack's pack of adorable and quirky critters (each an irrististible character in their own right)⁠ that brings Jack and Simon together. In seeing the caring and acceptance each brings to the animals, Jack and Simon begin to trust they'll do the same with each other. The result is a relationship built on emotionally genuine moments that prioritize honesty and connection over idealized imaginings of what should be.⁠
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⁠At a time when more of us than ever are struggling with anxiety, isolation and loss, it's a warm hug of a book that points to the deeply resonant truth that there's love and joy to be found even if life's challenges aren't magically waved away.⁠
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Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫⁠

I ended up being disappointed in this book, though objectively I would say I'm not the right reader for it. I'm typically a high-angst reader (the more my heart hurts, the better) and Better Than People is a soft, sweet romance. I know a lot of readers who absolutely love that kind of story, but unfortunately I was expecting the emotional sucker punch I've experienced from Parrish's other books. There isn't much plot, and without a heavy emotional angle I struggled to remain engaged with the story.

I did love the depiction of severe social anxiety. I think Parrish's mental health representation is some of the best out there. Simon's descriptions of what it's like to experience that level of anxiety are vivid, impactful, and realistic.

Ultimately, there wasn't anything wrong or bad here. I just ended up feeling bored because the low-angst, low-stakes stories are not my cup of tea these days.

I am such a sucker for kind of soft, slightly fey characters Roan Parrish is great at. I was absolutely smitten from Simon's very first introduction and the story only got better from there. Jack's gruffness is the perfect foil, but it's hiding such a tender heart that you can't help but root for them right off the bat. Even better, at no time is Simon infantilized by his issues, but they also aren't magically solved by Simon falling in love. Jack treats him like a capable person but sometimes pushes too hard in a realistic way. The cast of side characters, from Jack's brother to Simon's grandmother, is great too. A sort-of cameo by my absolute favorite Roan Parrish character was just a bonus!

Roan Parrish is so, so good at showing how much WORK relationships can be. Simon lives with intense anxiety. Jack’s reeling from a betrayal. If they want to be together, they need to find ways to accommodate each others’ emotional truths. It ain’t always easy, and sometimes it’s beyond stressful for reader and characters alike, but it’s very well done. I loved it awfully much.

Plus, there’re tons of well-cared-for animals in the mix. Squee!

Roan Parrish is such a comfort read and this book was no different. It was fluffy comfort in a sweet package and I loved pretty much every minute of it.

Jack is an illustrator who was betrayed by his friend and business partner 8 months ago. He's been in a funk since and barely living his life except for caring for his pack of animals. He has 3 dogs and 3 cats (if I counted right) and walks the dogs and one cat twice a day. On one of the walks, he falls down a ditch and breaks his leg.

Simon has extreme social anxiety and recently moved in with his grandma after his grandpa passed away. He loves animals and finds they ease his anxiety. His grandma can't have pets so he signs up for an app to help care for other people's pets and meets Jack.

They start a tenuous friendship which turns into more. Jack likes Simon exactly for who he is, anxiety and fear, and all. Simon needs a lot of reassurance that he isn't messing up and that he has value. The scene with him having dinner with Jack and his brother broke my heart.

They slowly fall into love and it's beautiful to watch. The pets added a lot of fun to the book, especially the names that Jack chose to give them (a cat named Mayonnaise). There were a few very steamy scenes that surprised me since the rest of the book is pretty innocent.

I really did enjoy this book and read it in one day. I can't wait until the next book in the series and I hope to learn more about Charlie. He seemed like such a sweetheart compared to Jack's grumpiness.

I didn’t enjoyed this one as much as Parrish’s previous books. It was very well written, specially regarding Simon’s issues. The love story was good, engaging, hot.

My main issue was the pace. Jack and Simon get together early on and the rest of the book drags. I also felt that Jack’s backstory was underdeveloped.

On the plus side, the pack was adorable and so was Charlie.

This was a sweet and less angst then I expected given the topics and the characters background but I enjoyed it a lot. Jack breaks his leg and can't walk his dogs so he joins a app that matches you with someone who will help with your pets. He is matched with Simon who suffers from extreme anxiety - so much so sometimes he can't even speak to people. He's much better with animals and looks forwarding to spending time with Jack's animals.

There was also a plot point of Jack not being able to draw since he was betrayed by a good friend and business partner. I wish that part of the book was fleshed out more. I was also really intrigued with Jack and his brother Charlie's relationship and I really wanted more depth with that story - so I'm hoping for a Charlie book eventually.

The romance was sweet and I loved everything about the friends to lovers relationship between Jack and Simon. I loved the way Jack supported Simon for who he was and the way they texted when Simon was struggling.

All in all a very satisfying romance.

A copy of this book was provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion

A beautiful story. I wasn't expecting to get so emotional while reading this one. But the story pulls at your heartstrings and there were a few scenes that had me blinking back tears.

There are lovely relationships in this book. Brothers, orphaned too young. Grandparents who are too often a lifeline for children. Longtime friends who forgive and support and never give up.

Simon suffers from extreme anxiety. He can't interact well with people. However, he adores animals. This is great for Jack who has an entire pack he can't take for walks anymore since he injured himself on his last outing.

Simon is able to come to the rescue. Both for walking the dogs and in a totally unexpected way, helping Jack overcome an emotional hurt that has basically put his life on hold for months.

Jack sees right away that Simon is special and works to spend time together. A really beautiful friendship and relationship develops. One that's good for both men.

I loved the story. There is no major angst. No annoying long separation. Only love growing between two men who need each other.

As an animal lover, the menagerie of pets were a real treat for me. I also enjoyed the sweet surprise of hearing about Corbin Wale.

All in all, a lovely, tender M/M Romance.

Jack needed Simon, but whether he knew it or not, Simon needed Jack just as much – if not more. These men were both terribly broken and not just in the physical sense like Jack was in the beginning. They were both keeping themselves hidden, for totally different reasons. Although it was apparent that they found each other at just the right time.

I loved both of these characters and I think I even related to both of them at different points in Better than People. As for Simon, there was a point in the book where he tried to explain to a client that it would be better if they conducted business through email. I’ve been there, although for totally different reasons. Some people just don’t get it and can be totally rude without trying to understand. I think we’ve all been there in some way, but for Simon, the results were crippling. And Jack, he understood or was trying to. He didn’t totally understand, but he wanted to. Simon didn’t understand that he would do anything to keep Simon in his life – if he could just convince Simon that he didn’t want to change him or push him – he loved him just the way he was.

The supporting characters in Better than People were great as well. There’s nothing better than a loving, supportive family – even if they annoy the crap out of you. Sometimes those are the best kind.

I’ve only read one other book by Roan Parrish and The Remaking of Corbin Wale was just as sweet as Better than People. Which means that I’m definitely going to be on the look out for more from this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It has been published in August 2020.

"Better Than People" by Roan Parrish is a sweet gay romance novel that will be the perfect read for animal lovers.
I liked the characters (Simon more than Jack) and I liked that the every single animal in the "pack" had its own personality and quirks.
Simon's difficulties were honestly depicted and Jack's process of understanding and gradual acceptation of Simon was heart-warming.
The steamy scenes were really hot, although they felt a bit out of character at times.
Overall, an entertaining story, low on the angst and with a hearty dose of feel-good vibes.
Extra points for the dog and cat cuteness scenes interspersed throughout the novel.

This is a charming story of two men who find each other and bond over the love of animals, plus there's plenty of well-detailed steamy sex.

Jack Matheson, who creates whimiscal illustrations for children's books, is burrowing in after a problematic parting of the ways with his co-author. He's hurt and gathers comfort from his tribe of cats and dogs named Pickle, Mayonaise, Bernard (yes, he's a St. Bernard), etc. When he breaks his leg, he advertisers for a pet walker and Simon answers the ad. Simon is shy ..

:It was a word people had used to describe Simon Burke since he was a child. A tiny, retiring word that was itself little more than a whisper. But what Simon felt was not a whisper. It was a freight train bearing down on him [...] it was a swimming head and a pounding heart. A furious heat and a numbness in his fingers. [...] Shy was a word for a child's fear, shed like a light spring jacket when summer came. What Simon had was knitted to his very bones, spliced in his blood, so cleverely prehensile that it clung to every beat of his physical being."

Jack's little menagerie is lovingly created and personalized and Roan Parrish does a wondrous job of developing and deepening Simon's character. I love how Simon and Jack navigate their way into a relationship that is equal parts heat and heart.

However, I would have loved to have had deeper development of Jack's character; while Simon's shyness is well documented and explained, Jack remains somewhat of a mystery. His insecurities about his talent as well as his unwillingness to move past his betrayal by his literary partner seem unfounded given that we don't have as strong an understanding of his personality. While this doesn't derail the story, it just didn't work for me.

But the ending, which realistically creates a HEA for Jack and Simon without ignoring his continuing issues, is well done and I'm giving "Better Than People" 4 stars.

This was so good! I loved the sweet romance of Jack and Simon. I loved them finding themselves with each other and overcoming their own self doubts and issues together. Such a great read.

Every Roan Parrish novel I've read, I've enjoyed and Better Than People continues that trend.

This is the story of Simon and Jack. Simon is probably the shyest character I've ever come across and Jack, a cantankerous one--at least on the surface. Putting them together might seem insane but the way that Roan Parrish writes them, they truly work. As we get to know them, we learn that Jack is really intuitive and kind and battling some hurts and Simon is witty and gentle and ....also battling some hurts.Watching them in my mind's eye as they get to know each other and fall in love was heartwarming and I was so glad that the conflict was relatively gentle--I seriously could not have handled Roan Parrish doing anything too torturous to these two.

The thing I most appreciated about this novel was Parrish's treatment of Simon's shyness and anxiety. She never had Jack try to "fix" Simon and she gave me some really great insight into what some of my more anxious students might be feeling. It was instructive and helpful and a really good reminder about how it costs absolutely nothing to extend kindness and grace to anyone who needs it.

As the title of the series indicates, I believe we're going to see more of the secondary characters and I look forward to seeing that, as well as how Simon and Jack are perceived from an outside perspective, should we be so lucky to see them again.

My only complaint is that Jack was completely fascinated with a house miles away and that fascination just kind of disappeared. I'm hoping it's because it's going to tie into another book in the series...as Corbin Wale was tied into this one.

A very solid, heartwarming read that has me excited for chilly, sweater weather.

This was such a sweet, inspirational romance. You have Jack. He worked on a project with his college friend who ended up betraying him. Jack was having a really hard time forgiving him. He was already not the most trusting of people, and this sent him in a tailspin. Thankfully, he had his pack of dogs and cats who kept him company. Then he broke his leg. And now he couldn’t take care of his animals properly. So he reached out to a company and hired someone to help walk his dogs. Enter Simon. Simon always wanted a dog of his own, but it was not possible at this time. So he signed up with a company that helps people with their animals. This lead him to Jack. Simon has his own problems. He has crushing anxiety so bad he can’t talk and he gets physically ill. But helping Jack and his pack is just what he needed. Slowly, a sweet budding romance happened between Jack and Simon. They both understood and helped each other deal with their issues. It was a great romance. Another inspiring story by this talented author.

The description of Simon’s anxiety and how it compares to being shy hit me in the fucking heart and soul

Better Than People offers way more than mental health rep though. Lovely pets! The gang was always so fun to read about and every one of them had their own little quirks. And of course I enjoyed our at times very grumpy other main character as well.

Simon and Jack have to carefully navigate their own needs and wishes with each others and it’s no perfect falling in love relationship without any problems at all. They clash. They hurt each other and have to find a way for them both to be happy. I just love how authentic their feelings and worries are and how I was pulled along for the ride.


A grumpy character who lost his trust in humanity and relationships thanks to a former friend. Not an exlover. I can’t even begin to explain how refreshing it was to have that happen. Not because cheating and/or abusing ex lovers aren’t a thing that happens in reality as well but because Jack’s reaction to what has happened reminds us how important friendships are. There is too much focus on romantic relationships in society it feels like while friendships are a stand in for when you don’t have a lover.

Jack Matheson is an introverted illustrator of children’s books. He lives alone with his pack of rescued animals–dogs and cats alike, near his older brother Charlie in rural Wyoming. Jack met a man in college, a Davis, who became a friend. Knowing Jack was a good artist, Davis asked him to illustrate a school project, then a story to celebrate his sister’s baby. And, that developed into a partnership after college. Unfortunately, Davis took Jack’s idea for a story and shopped it as his own, and Jack’s been in a depression- and rage-fueled block that has robbed him of his lifelong passion of art for almost the past year.

One night Jack’s out walking his dog pack when skittish shenanigans leave Jack in the bottom of a ditch with a badly broken leg. He can’t manage his animals’ care while in a cast on crutches, so Jack seeks help via an app called PetShare, and that’s when Jack’s life starts to turn around.

Simon Burke is beautiful. Like an angel almost in Jack’s opinion. But Simon has troubles with his intense shyness. A single man, he lives as a companion to his recently widowed grandma, and owns his own graphic design business. When he agrees to assist Jack in the care of his cats and dogs, Simon is almost unable to even knock at Jack’s door he’s so scared. But the animals love Simon. And Simon finds that he is able to talk to them as surrogates for people. Simon finds Jack to be utterly sexy, not that he’s able to say so. Yet, the needs of the animals put Jack and Simon into close proximity twice daily, and with exposure comes bravery, on Simon’s part—and Jack seems to find him a muse worth sketching. Their conversation is a battle, almost, to see if they can find common ground enough to confess their attraction, and Jack makes a key choice to have Simon text him when he’s too overwhelmed to speak, even if they are sitting side by side on Jack’s couch.

The close they become, the more intense Simon’s shyness—because Jack’s healing and he soon won’t need Simon around. And why would such a sexy man want a shy, recluse of a partner anyway?

This really is a special story with two men who’ve been emotionally wounded by some of the people who should have most cared for them. Jack’s relationship with Charlie is so key, He really loves his elder brother who became his guardian when their parents died. And as close as they are, it takes this big setback for Jack to challenge himself to get to know Charlie, who has become a rather solitary man. Was that because of his duties to his brother? And how can Jack show Simon how much he loves him, if Simon wants to shut him out to protect his fragile heart.

They are some very yummy sexy times, as Jack teaches Simon all he can about pleasing a partner. I really loved both Jack and Simon, and all their crazy fur-babies. They had such cute personalities, especially Pirate the cat who thinks she’s the leader of the dogs. I think she may have inspired sweet Simon to stretch himself into social situations he was barely able to manage. I loved how both Simon and Jack grew in this story. Jack learned to trust both himself and others again, and he also stretched himself both personally and professionally in very new ways. And, Simon gets way more than his first kiss from Jack, who truly loves him properly. It’s delightful and endearing. Highly recommend!

When animal loving Jack breaks his leg and can no longer take his pets for the exercise they need, Simon, a man who craves four legged companionship, comes to the rescue. Soon they discover they have more in common than their love of pets. Simon and Jack are just the sweetest, softest and most heart warming pair you could spend an evening with, but both have real issues to work out. Simon has debilitating social anxiety, and Jack is an artist who no longer creates art and is having trouble sleeping in the wake of a work partner’s betrayal. But these two get along like a house on fire almost from the start. Together they work through some of their heaviest baggage, though the narrative makes clear that it's not a matter of trying to "fix" anyone. They love each other completely not in spite of any perceived faults, and they mourn each others' pain without trying to change who they are. There’s angst in the story, but overall there was fairly little stress for me in reading it, because these people are very good to each other, and they have loved ones who are good to them as well. The writing is emotional and evocative and beautifully done. This was exactly the steamy and emotional comfort read I craved.

One of my favorite scenes comes near the end. IT'S A SPOILER:
“Are you crying?” Simon said, instantly attentive. “What’s wrong?”
Jack shook his head.
“I’m so fucking in love with you.” He wiped his cheeks. “So when do you think you might wanna—”
“Now. I live here now.” He turned around the room, addressing the animals. “Pack! I live here now!”