[Thanks Netgalley for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]
What a sweet and lovely story! Roan Parrish writes so well...
I've fallen in love with Simon and Jack, two lovely characters that fall in love despite their distrust toward people. They both prefer animal compannion, so when Jack breaks his leg he needs someone for walking his dogs and that person is Simon. Simon is the best character of this book, sweet, charming, shy and lovely! He melted my heart every single time. He has an anxiety problem that prevents him from doing what most people call "normal life" but he becomes truly himself when he's with animals, so walking Jack's dogs is perfect for him. Gradually Jack and Simon start to trust one on another and to feel a great attraction and... Well, you'll have to read it to know what happens next!
I think this book is one of my most comfy readings of the year, very well written, sweet and with zero misunderstandings. Simon has a complicated life and Jack is the healer of his soul, so although there are parts when we have to deal with Simon's anxiety, that health problem doesn't stole the book and make the story a dark one. They fall in love and have hot and sweet moments, and you spend the whole reading with a smile on your face. It's a light and optimistic reading with a little bit of comedy and a lot of heart.
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//SPANISH REVIEW//
Qué historia más dulce y bonita! No me voy a extender mucho porque me gustaría hacerle una reseña en el blog, pero es un libro de esos de coger y olvidarte del exterior, de disfrutar con lo dulces y estupendos que son los protagonistas. Si quieres una historia de amor que te haga sonreír de la primera a la última página aderezada con secuencias 🔥 y que solo pretenda hacerte pasar un buen rato, este es tu libro. Qué gustazo leer a Roan Parrish ❤.]

AH the love story with pets! Simon has a problem speaking out due to his shyness except when animals are concerned. Jack has broken his leg and needs someone to walk his dogs, What a set up! What's nice though is that Parrish has written two nice, relatable characters who meet by chance- not looking for love- and find a future together. This does have some steam but it's also got a big heart. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

What a terrific hurt/comfort romance.

Both Jack and Simon are dealing with issues that leave them preferring animals to people. Jack has never been much of a people person, but a betrayal by his friend and collaborator (Jack illustrates children’s books) leaves him in a complete funk, feeling like he can’t trust anyone. Simon doesn’t trust anyone because people have shown him over and over again that they can’t deal with his severe social anxiety disorder. When a broken leg leaves Jack needing a dog walker, Simon answers his ad, so it’s their shared love of animals that first brings them together. (Something this animal lover can appreciate. 😊)

The author does an excellent job portraying just how crippling Simon’s anxiety is. This isn’t just shyness or even the low-level social anxiousness many of us experience at times. Simon is almost unable to communicate with others because the need to speak triggers him. Just imagine what it would be like for every social interaction to be a minefield, down to even simple tasks like ordering food in a restaurant. Most people are of course going to react with impatience at best and outright hostility at worst. It’s no wonder Simon likes animals better than people.

Jack and Simon make a perfect match, though. Jack is very quickly smitten with Simon and works hard to make him comfortable. Even though he doesn’t always get it right, Jack makes Simon feel seen and appreciated for who he is, something he’s rarely had in his life. Simon may have difficulty communicating, but once he makes a connection with Jack, he’s intensely loyal and supportive, which is exactly what Jack needs. The care they show for each other is to me the epitome what a relationship should be, and I loved their love story.

Readers who like angsty hurt/comfort stories should enjoy this one. I hope Jack’s brother Charlie is getting his own book, because he seemed so lonely it made me sad for him. I need another happy ending!

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

I seem to be reading several books lately that have similar tropes: Age difference, one inexperienced happy to 'instructed' by other, and pets!

All good things, I reckon.

Simon's social anxiety, however, making him mostly non-verbal, is unusual but well handled. We live it with him, and also see it through Jack's eyes. I am glad to say that Simon is 'cured' overnight, nor by Jack's 'magic penis'. But he does eventually settle into being comfortable and a little more relaxed.

Grumpy Jack isn't a party animal either. His backstory offers betrayal and anger, and having to be a burden to his brother and to Simon is obviously hard for him. The big misunderstanding is silly, but not completely unexpected. Jack is not the most compassionate person, and it takes some time for him to step into Jack's shoes and see things from his point of view.

I loved the inclusion of Simon's grandma and Jack's brother (Is there a story with him?), and the resolution is lovely.

I have failed to talk at length about the animals. There are many of them, and all adorable. I have a rescue pet myself, but I am not sure I could live with this many! Good luck to them for being so dedicated.

Thanks to Carina Press and Netgalley for this latest Roan Parrish book. I have been a fan of her since her first book. Great characters, great romance (virgin!) and great writing.

Better than People is out on August 25.

Well, it looks like I have a new favorite romance author!

This book was pretty much perfect - two characters that I absolutely loved, a pack of animals (including a cat that was named Pirate!), beautiful scenes of nature, low angst, really accurate and respectful depictions of mental illness, baking, Christmas celebrations, the sweetest falling-in-love story. The spicy scenes (of which there were many, but it didn’t feel excessive!) were delightful, and perfectly written (goodness gracious, who knew that rimming could be written so well?!). I loved as the two men learned each other’s love languages, and overcame their anxieties and struggles, and .... ahhhh, it was just so cute! Can’t wait to read more by this author; I want all the sweet m/m romance she has written!

I received an advanced copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (and now I’m going to buy my own copy)!

This story is perfect for animal lovers. It was such a sweet M/M romance. I loved how Jake and Simon was so good with each other. Jake was such a swoon worthy boyfriend with how gentle he was with Simon.

I have really liked most of Roan's stories thus I requested the ARC.

Roan has a very lyrical type of writing and although it is beautiful, sometimes it adds a heaviness of feeling in the story that, like in this instance, it doesn't need. Jack and Simon's story starts under a heavy cloak of melancholy, sadness, betrayal (in Jack's case) and feelings of inadequacy (in Simon's case), so the extra weight of the language dragged the story a bit.

Anyways I loved Simon and it really got to me and help me understand a bit how people with severe social anxiety must feel. Grandma Jean was the best and I'll always remember and laugh the bit about the dick pic and the bad angle. Their relationship was really precious and a joy to read.

Jack frustrated me to no end especially how he whined about his leg, how he felt his wings were clipped because of it and how stupid he was about "feeling helpless". What got me furious though was how he treated his brother because of it, although I doubt that before the accident he treated him better.

But alas Jack was so good for Simon and their relationship and it's development was lovely.

I wished we had gotten an epilogue a few years down the road to solidify their HEA because the ending felt more like HFN.

** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **

P.S. I hope Charlie gets a book and a HEA with someone that is there for him and loves him.

I can't help but admire authors that take unique and sometimes delicate subjects, and lovingly bring them to life in great detail. Roan Parrish does this with great empathy in Better Than People. Already a fan of the author, I was thrilled to take this emotional journey with Jack and Simon.

We are all fragile creatures. Whether our challenges in life- physical or emotional, are obvious or remain unseen to others- our animals accept us completely, just as we are. Their love is unconditional. If you've never experienced a deep bond with a furry friend, you're missing out on one of the great gifts life has to offer.

Better Than People explores how Jack and Simon are able to connect and learn to communicate and overcome their personal struggles, through their mutual love of animals. It's a beautiful M/M Romance that goes beyond the same old tired storylines that are told again and again. Parrish manages to bring together literary romance with something that is much more real.

I loved the interactions with family and friends, but the real gem here was Jack's gentle and passionate approach to Simon's struggles. These two need each other more than they are able to realize. Luckily, they have a pack to show them the way.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

in better than people two men who have, for the most part, given up on people, are astonished to find themselves drawn to one another and tumbling head over heels in love.
jack who has retreated from the world after heartbreak, is fiercely independent. he relies on no one, except his pack of pets who give him an outlet for all the nurturing and care he has to give the world. when he meets simon he realizes that the only way to approach this painfully shy yet utterly gorgeous man is by applying the same patience, care and understanding he does to his rescues.

simon is overwhelmed all the time. his social anxiety and selective mutism are crippling. but it's never going to go away. finding someone who allows him the time to get comfortable, someone who doesn't judge him, someone who desires him in spite of all the baggage—it's a rare gift.

this love story is sweet (though plenty sexy) and has surprising amounts of emotional depth. even in the shorter category format, you'll feel thoroughly satisfied with how this one turns out.

**better than people will publish on august 25, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press (adores) in exchange for my honest review.

Aww, Simon and Jack are adorable and sweet. And awkward. Simon has social anxiety to a high degree, but he loves animals. Jack is mostly a loner himself besides all his pets, and he's kind of pulled away from his friends and gives his brother attitude. From the moment they met, though, Jack just wanted to get to know Simon, and was kind of fumbly about it himself.

I like how they slowly grow their relationship, and Simon slowly gets more comfortable, but it doesn't change him. I feel like Jack showed a lot of personal growth in the book. I love all the pets and how they have different personalities. And I loved the guys relationships with their families- Simon's grandma and Jack's brother (who I am now worried about and want a story for).

Near the end it got pretty emotional for me. I really enjoyed their story.

How have I not read anything by this author before? As soon as I finished this story, which I devoured, I checked out her Goodreads page and saw she has plenty for me to read in her library. I love when a new-to-me author just blows me away.

There is no denying the chemistry between Simon and Jack from the moment they meet. Holy cow, these men are meant to be. While I felt their connection right away, it was about the 25% mark where I got intense butterflies that pretty much stayed with me throughout the rest of the book. Every time they’d die down, one of the guys would say or do something so amazing that those butterflies would be in a flurry all over again. I loved it!

As much as I loved the relationship Jack and Simon were building on their chemistry, the bond they were forming over every day matters and just sharing their thoughts with each other had me swooning. They both have so many insecurities for such different reasons. Their inner workings broke my heart over and over again. It was a given to me that Simon would be a soft touch. He may not be great with people, but he’s a caring and loving person. I was not expecting the level of empathy and patience Jack showed to Simon, though. It was a beautiful thing to read, these two slowly opening up and sharing their vulnerabilities.

I honestly thought I’d have a hard time keeping Jack’s pets straight…there are so many! But the author gave them just as much personality as the humans without bogging the story down. Quite a feat. Very quickly, the animals nestled into my heart just as much as Jack and Simon.

On top of all that, Simon’s grandma and Jack’s brother were the perfect sounding board for this couple. Seriously, just when I thought my heart was Jack’s his brother goes and sweeps me off my feet. Charlie is just as kind and gentle as Jack, if not more so. I’d love to see him find love and happiness. And Grandma Jean is just so supportive and non-judgmental. I swear, I loved every single character in this story. Human and pet, young and old.

I cannot wait to dig up some of this author’s other books to read. Especially once I saw the blurb for The Remaking of Corbin Wale, the subject of who has a sort of cameo in this story. I’m so thankful I was invited to participate in this blog tour or this author may have continued to fly under my radar.

Alluring, passionate, and adorably sweet!

Better Than People is a sensitive, touching tale about the kind, aggrieved, talented Jack who is not only struggling psychologically to come to terms with his long-time friend/business partner’s betrayal but also the frustration of being housebound due to a broken leg, as well as the shy, extremely anxious, graphic designer Simon who longs for companionship from someone other than his grandmother and a bunch of four-legged creatures with fur.

The prose is intimate and smooth. The characters are vulnerable, sincere, and endearing. And the plot is a heartfelt tale filled with life, love, family, intimacy, chemistry, heat, desire, romance, light drama, furry friends with lots of personalities, and the struggles of coping with extreme anxiety.

Overall, Better Than People is a heartwarming, emotive, deliciously steamy novel by Parrish about two unique, compassionate men who find the sensitivity, tenderness, solace, and intimacy they need and deserve in each other.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book. I am providing a voluntary review. All thoughts and views are my own.

This is the first book I’ve had the pleasure of reading by Roan Parrish, although I’ve definitely heard her name floating around the queer reading community, so I was stoked to get a chance to read Better Than People. Especially when I read the blurb. What more could an animal lover who lives for LGBTQ+ romance want from a love story? A lovable pack of dogs and cats who play a major role in the plot—and get some adorable on page time too!—and two unique and sweet cinnamon role heroes to pine after? Yes, please!

I loved Simon and Jack so, so much. As someone who suffers from anxiety—with some seriously heightened social anxiety aspects—I could feel for Simon like there was no tomorrow. He spoke to me on a bone-deep level that made my soul sing. It was like being seen in a way I’m not used to being seen, especially when viewed through the lens of a fictional character. Most especially a romance lead. Far too often characters in romance are given “safe” flaws. Ones that readers can easily forgive. Ones that don’t always resonate with those of us who are a bit harder to “handle.” But Parrish’s portrayal of Simon and his crippling social anxiety was genuine and real to a degree I wasn’t expecting. And absolutely adored. More than once, I mentally screamed Hallelujah because—yes!—I’ve been there. Or I’ve wished someone would’ve reacted to me that way when I went through something similar.

Then there was Jack. I’ll admit, he was a tad more difficult for me to fall for. I struggled a bit to understand his motivations, and the way he treated his brother Charlie raised my hackles all the way up until the end. (I hope Charlie gets his own book, because he’s a sweet and broken man who deserves to find love. And I, as a reader, need to see him get his HEA!) However, it was pretty easy to overlook my reservations, especially when Jack was with his pack—Simon included.

Overall, this was a sweet, mostly angst-free read. I appreciated the way Parrish handled Simon’s mental health, and I really appreciated the way Jack eventually came to the conclusion that he couldn’t help—i.e. change—Simon. He simply accepted him for who he was—flaws and all. Again, as someone who suffers from pretty extreme anxiety, I know how much of a struggle it can be to find people who understand me. They either want to find a way to fix me—something I wish was possible, but simply isn’t—or they get scared off by the amount of work that goes into a relationship with someone living with anxiety. This story was so raw, true, and real in the way it portrayed both Simon’s experiences and Jack’s evolution from that place of wanting to “fix” Simon to eventually realizing he loved him because of his flaws, not despite them. Just beautiful.

A review will be poste on my instagram acoount, @soooomanybooks 22/08/2020

I recieved this book in exchange of a honest review. Thank you NetGalle, Carina Press and Roan Parrish.

Oh my gooood!
Sweetness overload!
I loooveee stories with cute dog characters but this... this is the best I've read!

Take a miserable, sulking man with four dogs and four cats. Add a sudden accident that leaves him with a broken leg and a desperate need for a dogwalker. Mix in an extremely shy graphic designer who would die to have pets. And now you have the sweetest love story.
Jack finds Simon on PetShare a forum where pet owners can match with pet lovers who can't have their own babies.
Despite Simon's inability to speak most of the time due to his nerves Jack finds him fascinating and kind and funny. And of course, his animals love the man.
They try to overcome Jack's inability to trust and Simon's anxiety to become friends and lovers.

The Cover:
Sweet doggo! The cover perfectly sums up the book and fits nicely to the atmosphere.

The Story:
It was heartbreaking to see Simon struggle with himself because of his shyness, how he teared himeself up because of his anxiety. But also it was magical to see him bloom with the animals, espacially with Puddles, the neurotic golden retriever. His side shows a strong man behind the quiet somwhat awkward young man.
Jack's story shows a different kind of strength and that is letting go of the past. He was hurt and he fears letting people close. But Simon with his adorable silence and responsiveness and the beautiful personality that shines through when he's himself holds the power to break down Jack's walls.
At the end, I thought the story was a bit unfinished. I would've loved to see more. And a little window to the future, an epiloge would've put the cherry on top.

The Characters:
Because the story is strongly character based and the focus is on their relationship I can't really say a lot new.
Simon it tough and no one sees it exept from his grandma and now Jack. When he comes alive with Jack it's kind of chatarthic.
Jack goes a long way and his relationship with his brother adds a deeper, sadder angle that I would've loved to see more of. I really hope we get a story for Charlie because that sweetheart deserves it.
Grandma Jean, Simon's best friend and a constant ball of surprise is a nice addition.
And the animals are just great. Each has its own personality and their names are hialrious. Bernard the St Bernard? Puddles who fears puddles? Perfect!

The Writing:
I found a few typing mistakes but that's nothing. In this book the conversations, inner monologues and descriptive parts prvided a full experience of love and joy.

All in all, I found this book weirdly satisfying and cute and adorable! And yeah, I thought a lot about anxiety too. Read it!
Perfectly adorable, sweet romance with animals with weird names, men with each their own struggles, extremely hot scenes and tons of dirty talk and sweet moments with animals❤

Jack has suffered an accident while walking his dogs (and one of the cats), and now he can't take them out anymore. Thanks to an app, he finds Simon, just the person who's crazy enough to take care of his dear pack. But Simon is so shy, he can hardly talk to Jack, even though their attraction only grows stronger.

This was a cute couple. And Simon's shyness was very well shown from the first scene he appears, too. Definitely, not the "tells but never shows" case. The pets are also super cute. I was a little scared at how many Jack could have and it can be a lot of names in the beginning but they're easy to follow (thanks to Jack's lack of creativity). Not that the cats or the dogs really matter when the couple is so nice, but it was a great plus for an animal lover like myself.

The thing is that they get together too soon. If you like stories about couples overcoming their differences together, this is just the thing for you—and there are a lot of hot scenes, as well. But it's not much my thing and more than half of the book focused on it. I wish I could have seen more of them falling for one another before they dated.

Jack, owner of quite the crew of furry friends, has stumbled into a problem. After breaking his leg in an accident, he has no one to walk his dogs (and cat). Enter: Simon. Simon, an animal lover who doesn’t currently have any pets, uses the PetShare app to get his fill of animal love. The two end up falling for each other, but will their very different personalities make it after Jack’s cast comes off and he can return to life as usual?

This was a sweet novel. I greatly enjoyed the fact that Simon’s anxiety was not cured by entering into a relationship, and that it was something that required communication and compromise. I also liked the fact that it was very obvious that they both had growth throughout the novel, it wasn’t a one-sided character development. The scenes with the pets and watching Great British Bake Off were so soft and adorable.
This was a very character-driven story. I found that the lack of a distinct plot was a bit of a downside for me.
I was also extremely curious about the side characters: Simon’s parents and siblings, Charlie, and Jack’s friends. I wish we could have seen more with them.

*Advanced copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Did you ever just want a super feel good story? Well this one was it, it was full of corky animals, a super duper meet cute, with all kinds of romance in it. I enjoyed both main characters immensely.

Jack was so understanding and sweet, and of course he would have to be to have all of these animals. He also doesn’t like to be helpless, which of course in the beginning of the book he’s pretty helpless. However this helplessness he begins to change as a character. Especially after meeting Simon and seeing how his small problem is nothing compared to Simon’s.

Simon is an amazing character so much stronger than he even thinks.This author does such an amazing job of conveying how bad anxiety disorders are. Simon has such a hard time conveying any sort of conversation or emotion except when it comes to animals. I loved his love of animals it was so wholesome and pure, and his love for his grandma. His trusting for Jack was super sweet and slow.

Both of these characters coming together was the perfect combination. I loved how they lifted each other up. Jack defended Simon and helped him get through some rough things but overall just understood his weaknesses and didn’t hate him for it. Simon pushed Jack out of his comfort zone if you can believe it.

This book was really great I wouldn’t mind reading more from this author, thank you to Carina Press and Roan Parrish for my copy in lieu of my honest review.

New to me author Roan Parrish wows me with Better than People. This is one of the few review books I have picked up where I actually read the blurb. I tend to like to go into books cold and be surprised. With a title like this, I had to read a bit more to see what this was about. Finding out that the main characters like animals more than humans definitely cinched the deal for me. I feel the same, many days.

I adore this story because of its sweetness and bringing to light the differences in people. Simon is painfully shy. This is not just a figurative description, it is literal for him. Simon will actually feel physical manifestations and sometimes throw up. Reading about Simon's point of view breaks my heart. The way his mind things and analyzes his actions are brutal and cruel. I find him to be his own worst enemy. I am not sure if I have ever met a person like this in real life. And now that I'm aware of this type of person, I want to be more empathetic and gentle.

Jack and his menagerie of animals is the perfect balance for Simon. Watching them grow together in a relationship is beautiful to watch. Author Parrish creates a realistic relationship with its ups and downs. I enjoyed how it wasn't a perfect relationship nor was it a contrived miscommunication for a plot device. Instead, the natural progression between two people is shown in a loving way.

What I also enjoyed about this story is how both characters have been wronged in life. Some of it is over years; others are a more recent cruel betrayal … yet this book is not about getting vengeance. Nor is there an obsession of getting even which is the more common plot. Instead, both Simon and Jake move on to live a better life. They focus on what they have together and what they will build together in the future. Author Parrish writes it in such a great way that I would want to use it as a model of how to live better by succeeding rather than getting revenge. It is rare to find an author who can write it in a manner that is easy to understand and yet not be condescending. Love it!

Now have I have read this first book from Roan Parrish, I am off to find more books. I highly recommend this m/m romance to readers who are looking for a positive vibe and down to earth sweetness.

Although the plot is fairly simplistic here, I enjoyed it. The writing style is sweet, and I like both characters.

What I enjoyed:
~ the dual POV -- I appreciated getting into Simon's head the most, probably because he was the quieter character and needed more insight.
~ the romance -- it was fast, but for me, the circumstances and their characters offered very plausible reasons why it might move that quickly; plus, their on-page chemistry was good.
~ the sincerity -- everyone was thoughtful and caring in this book (of the main characters), and it was nice to spend time with all of them.

What wasn't quite as strong:
~ Charlie -- I liked Charlie a lot, and perhaps because of that, I wanted to see more time with him and even to see him find a life of his own.
~ the lack of plot -- there really isn't much of a plot here; it's more of a picture into their lives as they fall in love.

All in all, this is a sweet (though not innocent, LOL -- there's a fair amount of graphic sex), emotion-laden book (though I wouldn't really call it angsty -- it has moments where it aims for that, possibly, but they're pretty brief).

As usual, Roan drops her characters in a situation where they think they're isolated, but really have people worried all over the place. The characters are darling, the pets are precious, and the families and friends are sweet (I particularly love Joan, Simon's grandmother). I look forward to seeing who will be the center of the next book. Fingers crossed for our giant woodworker Charlie.