I adored this book. The characters were so rich and had much depth. Simon's difficulties with communication and his anxieties were handled with sensitivity and empathy. Jack grows much a a person and deals with his own personal demons. The connection and integration of Jack's animals added empathy and a usual layer of communication for Simon. The pacing of the book and the relationship was perfect. Also I enjoyed the portrayal of Jacks illustrator job. Lots of feels and emotions, Simon breaks your heart. Highly recommend!!!

Better Than People is the charming, cozy, low-angst comfort read I didn't know I needed. The anxiety rep is startlingly accurate, and Jack's once-scorned-now-grumpy mood is relatable as heck. It's kind of a hurt-comfort bring-the-life-back-into-me book for both characters. Simon discovers that, despite what he's felt, been told, and experienced in his life thus far, he can be loved and fall in love and enjoy a wonderful relationship that becomes his life alongside the anxiety.

Jack is an absolute dream of a man for those of us who have dealt with stifling, terrifying anxiety. The first time they try to talk and Simon can't make words, Jack immediately hands Simon his phone and suggests typing it out, even though he's standing right there in front of him. They build a snarky, champagne-bubbly 'This is fun, I didn't know I could still have this, can I have more?' exchanges and become fast friends.

Simon's grandmother plays a wonderful role in encouraging and supporting Simon through everything he does, including the matchmaking relationship-coaching (with bonus cookie-baking lessons) she offers to both men. Everyone who encounters Simon during their time together is reallly welcoming and understanding and super nice about his shyness. Jack's brother, Charlie, has my whole heart; I just wanna hug him. He's going through a lot, and he gives Jack a lot of love. I'm guessing (hoping) the next book in this series is about him.

There are nature walks, fireplace vibes, a whole parade of animals (including a cat who joins the dogs for walks, and a surprise puppy!). There's a lowkey but magical Christmas Day, complete with a tree shopping experience and the outdoor blowjob that follows.

There is also a side of Simon-is-a-virgin, which adds some electricity. I felt weird about some of Jack's handling of it... It may be my ingrained 'This is how it should be in a Romance novel', but I wanted Jack to be more Simon-focused, making sure he feels special and prioritizing his enjoyment. I just felt that if the story's gonna play into this trope, Jack should be as dope at this as he is with Simon's anxiety. But all signs point to Simon having a excellent time, so I guess that's all there is to it!

Better Than People is the kind of book you'll want to hold close and read much like the life that Simon and Jack share in the story: while curled up on the couch with the fire flickering and your dogs close by. And if you've read The Remaking of Corbin Wale (I have not. I neeeed to!) I'm sure you'll be delighted to see that there’s a very special heartfelt Corbin Wale cameo.

Content warnings: Grief (Jack's parents died suddenly when he was a kid. Simon's grandfather died six months ago, and he lives with his grandmother who is grieving the loss of her husband.), deceased parents, estranged parents, Simon mentions / flashbacks to incidents when he was treated unfairly/cruelly/discriminated against because of his anxiety.

Simon is a character that produces a lot of tenderness, his problem of extreme shyness and anxiety, has caused him many problems throughout his life, he cannot even count on the support of his parents.
Jack is adorable, his way of treating Simon from the start is wonderful.
They are two very tender and sweet characters, they complement each other great.
The relationship between them is calm and goes little by little. It is a story without great dramas or incredible twists, through the pages of this book we find the life of two people and their relationship with their loves ones. It's a calm story that completely enveloped me

A reading delight, a romantic fairy tale, with two adorable princes, adapted to real life.

Better than People by Roan Parrish is a wonderful MM romance. Jack is an animal lover with four dogs and three cats. When a tumble leaves him on crutches he needs to find an animal lover willing to walk them twice a day. Simon would the job. His extreme social is soothed by animals who seem to be the only ones who understand him. That is until he meets Jack and gets to know the patient, slightly grumpy artist who finds ways to communicate with him without words. Their relationship grows as they live in their own little bubble but when Jack no longer needs the crutches and can go back to his normal schedule will there still be room in it for Simon.

I really enjoyed the characters of this story. Simon struggles with extreme anxiety he's only really comfortable around his grandmother and then Jack. Animals calm him when his anxiety becomes too much. Jack is so patient and understanding but still has realistic faults and has to fight the need to fix things for Simon that just can't be fixed. When Simon has trouble communicating verbally with Jack he uses touch to express himself . While this is sweet and most definitely a strong expression/ love language it leads to there being a whole lot of sex scenes in the book. I'm not complaining because it worked for these characters. For them actions spoke louder than words but there were way more physical scenes than I was expecting. Jack makes Simon, who is paralyzed by words, feel heard and seen and loved.

The supporting characters were also great. Simon's grandma was wonderful, the grandmother we all wish we had in our lives to support us and love us unconditionally.
And oh my gosh , Jack's brother Charlie! {my heart} he is just trying is hardest to be a parent and brother to Jack and you can tell he's drowning and that allows him to relate to Simon in his own way.::Sigh:: please tell me he gets his own book because I need him to find someone to take care of him for a change and give him all the love.

Better Than People by Roan Parish is an emotional MM romance that will leave you with a smile and the urge to cuddle our fur babies.

This sexy contemporary romance features two heroes with challenges to overcome and tons of awesome animals. I enjoyed it.

While suffering from a major creative block, Jack breaks his leg and has to grapple with needing help from other people. He is a snarky guy with a ton of dogs and cats, and this means he needs someone to walk them while he cannot.

Then we meet Simon, who I found really compelling. Simon suffers from debilitating social anxiety and cannot really talk to strangers or people in public. I thought the author did a great job exploring Simon’s perspective and did not magically cure him. Both men grown in interesting ways, making for an interesting romance.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review.

My thoughts
Rating: 4
Would I recommend it? Yes but only to people who lived read gay romance or to ones that don't mind reading .
Would I read more by this author? Yes
First off I want to thank HARLEQUIN - Carina Press as well as NetGalley for letting me read an review it . Because this is my fist time I reading anything by this author and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it , love it or hate but I actually liked it so much more then I thought I would that I read it in a day. One of the things I liked was how well the author wrote Simon’s character because just like him I to have anxiety and in many ways I can understand what its like for him each and everyday ,as for Jack's character I did like him from the start as well and I started to like him even more when he begin to realize that he was trying to change Simon and that he loved him for who he was and didn't want to turn him into someone that he wasn't. I also loved how much Jack and Simon loved the pack as they was called and there was times that I was smiling because of the chaos they caused. As for the story itself it was well developed and the romance is slow going which made the story that much more enjoyable to read

3.5 stars

Roan Parrish is one of popular MM authors, I know. But I found that her writing sex scenes in particular didn't match up with my taste; in fact, I found hers to be cheesy (I borrowed her first book and I gave it up with all the terms of endearments). That's why this is only the second book of hers I finished -- after Natural Enemies.

I admit the whole four dogs, three cats, and counting from the blurb was the one drawing me into asking for advance copy. Suckers for that. But, it did start adorably!! Jack is a grumpy illustrator who has lost his muse for months. When he gets into accident and cannot walk his dogs, he tries to find one through an app. Simon is a shy graphic designer who has trouble talking to people, and walking dogs is his way to, well, go out and be brave.

The set up was cute -- and I admired Simon who wanted to try his best. I'm not sure whether he is really chronically shy, or there's something other than shyness, because it's never really been diagnosed (and Simon has meet therapists!) but it must be difficult for him in the world where people appreciate sounds/noise, and the loudest the better. I liked that in the beginning Jack didn't try to push Simon... and even came up with an alternative for them to communicate.

I loved how Simon pushed through his fears. He was excellent. Jack might needed a little help here and there, but he did try his best to make sure he did right with Simon.

Having said so, similar to my experience with Natural Enemies, when Parrish started to write down the romance/sexual scenes, it was NOT to my liking. Again, I found it cheesy, with all the darlings and the baby's, which I thought was not the way I pictured JACK would say, being grumpy to faults in the beginning. It was distracting me from fully enjoying the story. I couldn't help it, I skimmed the whole thing, and wanted Jack to just shut up.

Anyway, it wasn't bad... and I'm sure than Parrish's fans would love this. Plus the animals were so very present. And I needed to give STARS to two secondary characters, who might as well be the MVPs here, Jack's older brother Charlie (I hope he gets his own romance story), and Simon's grandmother, Jean.

Reading Parrish's books is like an iced cold glass of water on a scorching hot day. Always refreshing, delicious, wonderfully thirst quenching, and so very welcome. Better Than People was not any different than reading any of her other books. Of course, different people, situations, and circumstances, but something wonderful just like I've come to expect from her work.

I loved this story so much. I needed sweet and kind, and this is exactly that. It's incredibly romantic and heartwarming to read and I could not put it down. I'm sitting here thinking about it and it makes me want to read it again just to have that feeling back. This book made me so happy, and I really needed that.

Recommended, obviously.

This is a charming love story. It is also full of adorable pets (bernard is my fav).
This is not what I expected, but MCs are absolutely likable, especially Simon with his social anxiety. They both have trouble with their everyday life - Simon, due to his problems, is mostly strangled in home with his grandma, and Jack is stuck in home due to his broken leg. They are completely different but Jack's dogs and cats bring them together.

This is a well-written story full of angst, some drama and lots of sexual tension and sex.
Simon and Jack are really hot together but unfortunately i didn't feel connected with them :(
This book is very enjoyable, but I had some difficulties to get into the story, understand MCs actions and their feelings.

I loved how Jack called Simon "darling" , it was absolutely SWEET. On the other hand all the "I love yous" got a little bot boring after the first few times, but it can be just me.

It might not be my favorite book by Roan Parrish, but I'd love to read Charlie's story and see his HEA :)

Simon is a man with crippling anxiety, which was depicted very well. He struggles with everyday things some days, without warning or cause. Things that an average person takes for granted, like simply being able to talk to a stranger. There is a lot of angst in the story when we’re in his head sometimes because he is frustrated with himself and his daily battle with anxiety. Jack is a man who ended up with a broken leg and a zoo of animals to take care of when he meets Simon. Simon responds to an add that Jack placed on a petcare app for help in walking his animals.

This is the perfect story for those who not only love animals, but also hurt/comfort themes. Both Jack and Simon help either other over their respective hurdles each day, making them stronger for it. It’s a feel-good romance that will make you smile.

I almost DNFed somewhere in the first 50 pages to be honest, but I'm really happy that I stuck with it because I damn near choked up a few times. The anxiety was real and the sex was fire. Jack did seem a bit wooden and two-dimensional for my taste, but Simon's real world challenges and the sweetest supporting characters, people and paws, gave Parrish's latest work the bolster it needed to satisfy with feel-good-fuzzies, and maybe inspire a visit to the local animal shelter.

Carina Press is seriously killing it with these last few releases.

Pleased as puppies and, or, satisfied as snickerdoodles.

Thank you to Carina Press and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a cute book.

Better than people tells the story of Simon and Jack. Simon has crippling social anxiety that makes it impossible for him to interact like the rest of people and this, isolates him from everyone but his family (his grandma really).

The other MC is Jack, a guy who has been cheated by his best friend and who, in result, willingly isolates himself from his friends and brother.

The story is about these two people coming together and surpassing their own obstacles, be those mental or self-imposed.

This is the second book by Parrish that I read and I really like that the author includes all types of characters. Simon’s crippling anxiety made me cry at times and I just wanted to give him a big hug.

I will not lie though, there’s something I found lacking in this story as I was never really invested in the relationship and I was more concerned about the side characters than I was about the problems the main couple was facing (I would love to read a book about Charlie).

The ending felt a little bit rushed and I was very confused when I turned the page and I found the Acknowledges page.

Overall, I’d say the book is a fluffy and cute read, but left me feeling not very happy, as I was waiting for more pages and a more solid ending.

3.25 ⭐

Hmmm bon, je suis un peu embêtée car sur le papier, ce livre avait tout pour me plaire, d'autant plus qu'il est lié (de manière plutôt indirecte) à "The Remaking of Corbin Wale", que j'avais adoré, et là, ma foi ... je suis ressortie de cette lecture plutôt mitigée ... avec une pointe d'ennui et d'envie d'en terminer rapidement avec ce livre.

Objectivement, je peux dire que c'est une romance douce, avec deux personnages solitaires, et où les animaux occupent une place très importante. Les fans de chats et de chiens se régaleront sans aucun doute de tous ces petits détails, de tous ces moments de complicité entre humains et animaux.

En démarrant ce livre, je ne pensais vraiment pas que l'anxiété de Simon occuperait une part aussi prépondérante du récit, et bizarrement, pour moi qui d'habitude adore ce genre de personnage cabossé par la vie, eh bien là, je ne sais pas trop pourquoi, mais ça n'a pas vraiment fonctionné. J'ai trouvé que le traitement de la pathologie de Simon (au demeurant très bien traitée !) prenait trop le pas sur le reste. Et c'est bizarre parce qu'habituellement je suis plutôt du genre à râler quand les auteurs n'exploitent pas assez les failles de leurs personnages ...

Enfin bon, ça reste une lecture charmante et douce, c'est juste que je n'ai pas été particulièrement touchée par les personnages, il m'a vraiment manqué un truc. Et j'aurais aimé que le personnage de Charlie soit davantage exploité, car pour moi, il y avait matière à cela, même s'il n'est qu'un personnage secondaire ...

Après s'être cassé la jambe, Jack est dans la mouise avec ses animaux dont il ne peut s'occuper. Il va devoir se résoudre à embaucher quelqu'un pour les promener et c'est alors qu'il fait la connaissance de Simon.

Autant le dire d'emblée, j'ai complètement craquer pour Simon. C'est quelqu'un de si touchant, si gentil. Il souffre d'anxiété assez sévère mais pourtant, Jack va être dérouté. C'était touchant de les voir faire connaissance, se rapprocher petit à petit.

C'est une histoire toute douce que nous offre Roan Parrish, une histoire dans la même lignée que The remaking of Corbin Wale. C'est doux, c'est lent. On prend plaisir à avancer avec les personnages, apprendre à mieux les connaître. La romance est aussi très douce, j'ai aimé tous leurs petits moments à eux deux, leurs interactions. Les moments plus intimes sont très sexy, j'ai aimé la délicatesse dont fait preuve Jack envers Simon.

Les animaux ajoutent une touche d'humour et de mignonitude au roman. Leurs noms sont assez drôles d'ailleurs ^^ Les personnages secondaires sont sympathiques aussi, que ce soit le frère de Jack ou la grand-mère de Simon !

Pas forcément mon roman préféré de l'auteur, mais j'ai apprécié découvrir Simon et Jack, deux personnages qui se sont bien trouvés. Leur histoire m'a vraiment donné le sourire. J'aurais aimé en avoir un peu plus ceci dit, le roman reste assez court finalement...
(3,5/5)

•ENGLISH/ESPAÑOL•

~ENGLISH~

They were sensitive. They cared. They wanted to be loved and they gave love back. Animals never betrayed you the way people did. They were loyal."

The ARC for this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!

I swear to you that as I write this review, I feel great emotional peace and an enormous desire to hug both the author and the characters. You have no idea how wonderful this book is! It's extremely tender and sweet, with each page I read I felt my heart fill more and more with love for the characters and anger for everyone who could harm them. If you want to read something that fills your heart and mind with happiness and tenderness, where there is a beautiful pack of dogs and cats and two hurt boys ready to give the world for each other, this is your book.

The story centers on Jack Mathenson, an illustrator of children's books who has recently been estranged from his passion for drawing. Jack has been deeply hurt, but although he has had difficulty drawing as he did before, he has his pack to keep him company. Between his four dogs and his three cats, there is nothing he wants more than to be available to walk them and fill them with love. But all his plans are ruined when he suffers a terrible accident and ends up with his broken right leg. A long recovery awaits him, and despite being an independent person, he is now in need of seeking help, not only from his brother, but from someone who may be available to take his pack for walks.
That's when he meets Simon Burke, an extremely shy boy who loves animals but doesn't have a chance to raise any.

For Simon, life has been especially difficult. He is a graphic designer who suffers from anxiety and who finds it difficult to be with new people. All he wants is to be able to live with animals, but he cannot afford to have a cat or dog in his home. His only way out is to be a dog walker and hope that someone in the PetShare app needs his services. This is how he discovers Jack's huge pack and decides to help him, the plan is just to spend time with his pets, but when he shows up at his house he has no idea how much his life is going to change.

This is an extremely sweet romance that tells us about the power of acceptance and respect, where topics such as betrayal, anxiety, low self-esteem and the limits that a person can have are mentioned. It is difficult to live in a world where many expect you to be outgoing and sociable and through the voices of Jack and Simon we learn how love can help us manage many aspects of our lives, and how accepting ourselves and our partner is essential.

The truth is I loved every moment of the book. It's not the kind of story where there is a lot of drama about the appearance of past characters that have hurt the protagonists, it's not a quick romance nor an impulsive one. It's a very tender story based on respect and devotion and, truthfully, I have loved every part of it.

I mean, Simon is one of the most lovable characters in the book and one of the most suffering. As I mentioned before, it is difficult to try to be a person that you are not. It is painful, exhausting, it is extremely difficult and horrible to have to force yourself to meet the expectations of others and see that everything you do is not enough. Simon has felt that many times in his life and has suffered too much for it. Still, he is a fun, lovable, loyal, and extremely happy character. I swear that every time he appeared, I felt an enormous need to hug him and tell him that everything will be fine and fill him with all the love that the world had not given him. For me, Simon is amazing and I love him with all my heart.

And Jack! God, Jack is one of the kindest and most lovable characters in the world. He is different from Simon, he is tall and strong, outgoing and very confident, but still, he doesn't think Simon is weir and he doesn't humillite him, he only want to become his friend, to help him and be there for him. I found him one of the most charming characters in the book, Jack seriously steals your heart with his way of being. He has a heart of gold, I tell you, you are going to love him too much, him and his incredible and adorable pack because, seriously, you are not going to be able to detach yourself from the book because of how beautiful Jack's family is.
In some ways, Jack's love and devotion for his dogs and cats, for Simon, reminded me of the bond of the Bennett pack of the Green Creek saga. The bond that the two protagonists have with the small pack is so incredible and adorable that on more than one occasion I was delighted with the signs of love and affection that were described throughout the book.

And Simon and Jack's relationship... God, it's a gem.
It is not like any relationship you have read, they have a special bond that will keep you on the lookout for their adventures.
The way they seek each other, the way they come to communicate and support each other is so sweet that it will fill you with pure satisfaction and happiness when you have the opportunity to see them together. It is not just that they love each other or are attracted to each other, it is the respect and devotion they feel for each other that makes them so special. It is the fact that, with just a glance, a movement, a caress, the other can notice if something is right or wrong, and they want to do everything possible to make themselves happy, to stay safe from a world that has already hurt them. It is wonderful. With each page I felt my heart break for both and then I felt it heal with the love that the two feel for each other, it is extremely special.

The truth, I adored the book too much and I already want to have it physically and I want (I need) more people to read this story because, I already tell you, there are not many books that show such a beautiful and, at the same time, healthy and pure relationship like Simon and Jack's. We all need this kind of amazing book, I swear.

~ESPAÑOL~

"They were sensitive. They cared. They wanted to be loved and they gave love back. Animals never betrayed you the way people did. They were loyal."

El ARC de esta novela fue proporcionado por la editorial a través de NetGalley a cambio de una reseña honesta. ¡Muchas gracias!

Les juro que, mientras escribo esta reseña, siento una gran paz emocional y unas ganas enormes de abrazar tanto a la autora como a los personajes. ¡No tienen idea de lo maravilloso que es este libro! Es sumamente tierno y dulce, con cada página que leía sentía que mi corazón se llenaba más y más de amor por los personajes y de enojo por todo aquel que pudo hacerles daño. Si desean leer algo que les llene el corazón y la mente de felicidad y ternura, donde haya una manada preciosa de perros y gatos y dos chicos lastimados dispuestos a dar el mundo por el otro, este es tu libro.

La historia se centra en Jack Mathenson, un ilustrador de libros para niños que recientemente se ha visto alejado de su gran pasión que es dibujar. Jack ha sido lastimado profundamente, pero aunque ha tenido dificultades para volver a dibujar como lo hacía antes, tiene a su manada para que le haga compañía. Entre sus cuatro perros y sus tres gatos, no hay nada que desee más que estar disponible para pasearlos y llenarlos de amor. Pero todos sus planes se arruinan cuando sufre un terrible accidente y termina con su pierna derecha rota. Le espera una larga recuperación y, pese a ser una persona independiente, ahora se ve en la necesidad de buscar ayuda, no sólo de su hermano, sino de alguien que pueda estar disponible para llevar a pasear a sus perros.
Es ahí cuando conoce a Simon Burke, un chico sumamente tímido con un problema de ansiedad que adora a los animales pero no tiene la oportunidad de criar alguno.

Para Simon, la vida ha sido especialmente difícil. Es un diseñador gráfico que sufre de ansiedad y al que se le dificulta estar con las personas, lo único que desea es poder convivir con animales pero no puede darse el lujo de tener un gato o un perro en su casa. Su única salida es ser un cuidador de perros y esperar que alguien en la app PetShare necesite de sus servicios. Es así como descubre la enorme manada de Jack y decide ayudarlo, el plan sólo es pasar tiempo con sus mascotas, y cuando se presenta en su casa no tiene idea de lo mucho que va a cambiar su vida.

Este es un romance sumamente dulce que nos habla del poder de la aceptación y el respeto, en donde se mencionan temas como la traición, la ansiedad, baja autoestima y los límites que una persona puede tener. Es difícil vivir en un mundo donde muchos esperan de ti que seas extrovertido y sociable y mediante las voces de Jack y Simon aprendemos cómo el amor puede ayudarnos a manejar muchos aspectos de nuestra vida, y cómo aceptarnos a nosotros mismos y a nuestra pareja es algo indispensable.

La verdad, adoré cada momento del libro. No es la clase de historia donde hay muchísimo drama por la aparición de personajes pasados que han lastimado a los protagonistas, no es un romance rápido ni tampoco uno impulsivo. Es una historia sumamente tierna basada en el respeto y la devoción y, la verdad, me ha encantado cada parte de ella.

Quiero decir, Simon es uno de los personajes más adorables del libro y uno de los que más sufre. Como mencioné antes, es difícil intentar ser una persona que no eres. Es doloroso, agotador, es sumamente difícil y horrible tener que forzarte por cumplir las espectativas de los demás y ver que todo lo que haces no es suficiente. Simon ha sentido eso muchas veces en su vida y ha sufrido demasiado por ello. Aún así, es un personaje divertido, adorable, leal y sumamente alegre. Juro que cada que aparecía él, sentía una necesidad enorme de abrazarle y decirle que todo va a estar bien y llenarlo de todo el amor que el mundo no le había dado. Para mí, Simon es increíble y lo amo con todo mi corazón.

¡Y Jack! Dios, Jack es uno de los personajes más amables y adorables del mundo. Él es diferente a Simon, es alto y fuerte, extrovertido y muy confiado, pero cuando aún así, no usa esa confianza y poder para humillar a Simon, sino para hacerse su amigo, para ayudarlo y estar para él. Me pareció uno de los personajes más encantadores del libro, Jack en serio te roba el corazón con su forma de ser. Tiene un corazón de oro, se los digo, lo van a amar demasiado, a él y a su increíble y adorable manada porque, en serio, no van a poder despegarse del libro por lo hermosa que es la familia de Jack.
De alguna forma, el amor y devoción que Jack siente por sus perros y gatos, por Simon, me hizo recordar el vínculo de la manada Bennett de la saga Green Creek. El vínculo que los dos protagonistas tienen con la pequeña manada es tan increíble y adorable que en más de una ocasión quedé encantada con las muestras de amor y cariño que se describían a lo largo del libro.

Y la relación de Simon y Jack... Dios, es una joya.
No es como cualquier relación que haya leído, ellos tienen un vínculo especial que te mantendrá al pendiente de sus aventuras.
La forma en que se buscan el uno al otro, la forma en que llegan a comunicarse y apoyarse es tan dulce que te va a llenar de pura satisfacción y felicidad cuando tengan la oportunidad de verlos juntos. No es sólo que se amen o que se sientan atraídos hacia el otro, es el respeto y la devoción que sienten entre sí lo que los hace tan especiales. Es el hecho de que, sólo con una mirada, un movimiento, una caricia, el otro pueda notar si algo está bien o mal, y quieran hacer todo lo posible para hacerse felices, para mantenerse a salvo de un mundo que ya los ha lastimado demasiado. Es maravilloso. Con cada página sentí mi corazón romperse por ambos y luego lo sentí sanar con el amor que los dos sienten por el otro, es sumamente especial.

La verdad, adoré demasiado el libro y ya lo quiero tener en físico y quiero, necesito, que más personas lean esta historia porque, ya se los digo, no hay muchos libros que muestren una relación tan bonita y, a la vez, tan sana y pura como la de Simon y Jack. Todos necesitamos este tipo de libros increíbles, lo juro.

Even though I am not really a pet-person myself, I was super curious how the story of Simon and Jack will pen out, especially when Jack has a whole menagerie at home.
The two men meet under unusual circumstances, where Simon helps Jack with hin animals, especially walking the animals, after Jack gets insured with a broken leg. Under Jack gruff exterior, lies a broken and betrayed heart, who has been very disappointed by a close friend.
Simon first seemingly a super shy person, battles his own demons as he can't stand many social situations, before his anxiety gets the better off him.
Despite all odds the two men get closer. First only due to the meetings in order to walk the animals, but still they see behind each others facade to the person and like what they see.

What I liked in the story, was that the mental health (problem) was not romantasized or somehow Simon got magically cured, after he started a relation with Jack. Also their chemistry was slow burning, were quitly marinating passion and no instand burning. Which made the reading very enjoyable. Of course once the passion was ignited the sex between those two was pretty hot, but the path until this point was very tastefull.
Still after reading it, there are for me a few questions with some minor details for the story, as some parts were mentioned, but never really resolved (what is it with the smoke of the neighbors house, is there anything exciting happening/connected? how is Jack affording his lifestyle? Just based on the royalties of his previous book gigs? Is he still going to pursue a writing/illustrating career?)
Apart from this, it was a super cosy romance novel to read, very enjoyable. Perfect to snuggle under a blanket and just enjoying the colder season approaching.
During the reading time I always wanted to put my arms around Simon and give him a hug, because he really made the impression, that he needed one. But fortunately Jack or the pets were there to give it to him.


Thank you very much to Roan Parrish and Harlequin - Carina Press for providing an Advanced Reading Copy of the book.

After adding a handful of Parrish books to my Goodreads TBR "maybe" list over the last few years, the blurb for this story finally made me request the ARC to actually read.

I found both the writing and plot to be on-point, and I liked both Simon and Jack quite a bit, but it never quite turned into me becoming deeply-invested in their relationship. :- /

Never having read Parrish before, I'm not sure if humor and/or banter are something that the author normally includes or excels at, but at least for me, I think that more playful exchanges between the MC's might have helped coax me deeper into the "feels" territory for which I was hoping.

The author covered Simon's paralyzing social anxiety well, but I think that I may not have been overly-excited about reading yet another story centering on that particular disorder. Not after having read sooooo many others on that subject in the last few years.

I guess that when I read the blurb, I didn't quite understand the gravity of Simon's situation, and that the *overwhelming* majority of the angst in this story would be learning to cope with your new partner's severe anxiety.

I did enjoy the parts with Jack's brother, especially how he and Simon (eventually) interacted with one another. And Simon's grandmother was a nice addition to the book.

The pacing was fine and the steam was believable, without feeling gratuitous or porny, so I had no problem with either of those aspects of the story.

Overall, I'd say that the book was worth reading, but left me feeling not entirely engaged to the point that I was sad to have finished, so I'd rate it at around 3.25 stars.

This book made me want a dog. Or four dogs. And I would give then really cook original names, because what better name can there be for a St Bernard than, well, Bernard?

I loved Bernard. And Puddles, aptly named because he’s scared of Puddles. I’m also a big fan of cats, especially cats like Pirate who thinks she is part dog, part human. Louis is also magnificent, in the way he takes care of the very nervous Puddles.

But that’s enough about pets. The people in the book are superstars. The sign of a good human is one who cares for animals so much that they take in the waifs and the strays and love them unconditionally, flaws and all. Jack Matheson, is a beautiful, caring human being. He’s perfect for Simon Burke. Simon is another waif that needs to be nurtured with gentleness, patience and love.

Better Then People was a lovely hart warming story about two men, true love, lots of dogs and lots of cats.

I like dogs and cats, and I like shifter stories that center ‘pack’.  Unfortunately, despite these things - and my fondness for this author’s work - I didn’t really like Better Than People.  No, it isn’t a shifter story.  But animals and pack are at its heart, and if you aren’t a big time dog or cat lover, this book is a tough sell.  Jack, one-half of the principal couple, has A LOT of pets (four dogs; three cats) and refers to them as his pack.  I was so fixated (and distracted) by these furry friends - and all their pet hair and smelly fur - I couldn’t enjoy the romance.  It’s a shame; the opposites-attract love story is tender and lovely.

Jack Matheson is an acclaimed children’s book illustrator on hiatus since his best friend (and collaborator) stole a story from him and then sold it as his own.  Depressed, stung by the betrayal, and newly plagued with doubts about his talent, he hides away in his Wyoming cabin with only his pack of rescued dogs and cats for company.  Out for a walk late one evening, one of the dogs runs away.  After a frantic chase in the dark, Jack finds himself alone at the bottom of a ditch, concussed and with a broken leg.  Following a brief hospital stay, his older brother Charlie brings him home and gets him settled.  Jack hates asking for help and resents needing it, and finally convinces a worried and doubtful Charlie he’s fine on his own.  He quickly discovers that navigating crutches, exhaustion, and caring for a menagerie of animals is nearly impossible, and he turns to PetShare, an app that matches up pet owners with caregivers.  Much to his surprise, someone quickly responds to his ad for help, and when he opens the door the following day, he’s caught off guard by the beautiful man waiting on his doorstep.

Simon Burke loves animals and prefers them to people.  After struggling with debilitating shyness and anxiety since he was a young boy, he’s finally able to support himself working from home as a graphic designer.  He tries to limit his interaction with clients to email only, and spends most of his time alone or with his newly widowed grandmother (whom he now lives with).  Simon hoped to adopt a dog of his own, but his plans changed when his grandfather died.  Spotting Jack’s ad on the PetShare app, he quickly responds, although actually knocking on the door and introducing himself proves much more difficult.  When he finally forces himself to do it, he’s surprised by the handsome disheveled man who opens the door.  Barely able to look him in the eye, Simon can’t get any words out and begins to panic.  When he motions to the dogs, Jack follows his lead and quickly introduces them.   Before Jack can ask Simon any questions, Simon grabs the dogs and leashes and sets out.

After this inauspicious meet-cute, Jack and Simon barely interact beyond a waved hello and goodbye whenever Simon comes over to walk the dogs.  Jack, unhappy with his limited mobility and growing progressively grumpier with every day spent on the couch, can’t understand why Simon won’t speak to him and avoids eye contact whenever possible.  Simon knows that Jack is frustrated by their lack of communication, and wishes things could be different... but they aren’t.  He can’t get the words out to give voice to his struggles, and he doesn’t want Jack’s pity.  Fortunately (for this story), Jack persists and Simon starts to ‘talk’ to him by texting.

This helps Jack and Simon get to know one another, and eventually Simon finds the strength to actually speak to Jack, too.  Every conversation is a struggle... until it isn’t.  Jack somehow intuits when Simon isn’t able to communicate with words, and his empathy, combined with the pack's easy, eager acceptance of their new friend, gives Simon the confidence to share about his issues.  What starts as a careful friendship soon gives way to a flirtation and eventually an affair.  Despite the fact that most of Jack’s previous ‘relationships’ were little more than one-night stands, he knows he wants more from Simon, and Simon - who’s never had a romantic relationship before - is an eager and curious partner.  The relationship quickly turns serious, and alone in their bubble with each other and their pack, both men begin to heal from the hurts of the past.

I loved the interaction between Jack and Simon and their intense affection and loyalty to each other almost from the moment they first meet.  There’s a generosity and a kindness - an empathy for each other’s struggles - that unites them from that very first awkward porch meeting.   And when they eventually become lovers, it’s another happy and passionate journey of discovery.  Their shared happiness permeates the story, despite the daily struggle Simon faces every time he’s forced to face the world outside their bubble.  Parrish carefully, painfully exposes Simon’s debilitating shyness and anxiety, and like Jack, we bear witness to their corrosive effects on his life.  In Jack, he finds a champion in his darkest hour, and a protective confidant who doesn’t seek a quick and easy solution, but looks for ways to help his partner navigate and succeed even as he sometimes struggles.  Meanwhile, Simon helps Jack let go of the past and unwittingly becomes the muse that reawakens Jack’s creative spark.   The relationship is intense, tender and passionate.

So why didn’t I grade this lovely romance higher?  Because I was constantly distracted from it, and there isn’t nearly enough of it.  Instead, we spend lots of time with Jack and Simon’s furry found family.  I found it strange (and sometimes just weird) how much page time is dedicated to these animals. I could maybe have forgiven it if Parrish had ever addressed the elephant in the room (a little animal humor for you):  WHEN DOES JACK CLEAN UP ALL THAT PET HAIR?????!!!!  No one vacuums or cleans, and they sleep and have sex on the same bed that the dogs and cats use for naps.  Pet food is constantly getting spilled and dropped, and Jack uses his own towels to dry off the wet dogs... UGH!  Look, I’m not the neatest person on earth, but all of it - plus the frequent smell of wet dog - just grossed me out.  The pack is ever present in this story, and perhaps if I was a bigger animal lover it would have been silly and fun... but I’m just your basic animal lover and it was all too, too much.  I would much rather have spent more time with our couple or Jack’s brother Charlie (please tell me he’s getting his own story, sans the menagerie) or Simon’s grandmother.  Unfortunately, these charming secondary characters are mostly relegated to the sidelines, leaving readers wishing we could spend more time with them.

Better Than People feels tonally similar (and is loosely linked) to The Remaking of Corbin Wale, an earlier Parrish story featuring an artist with an affinity for animals.  Big surprise - I wasn’t a fan of that story either.   I can only recommend Better Than People to Parrish fans who passionately love animals; otherwise, it’s a rare misstep for this talented author.

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Roan Parrish is the author of one of my favorite series of books: Middle of Somewhere, so when I saw this opportunity, I signed up right away. “Better Than People” is a sweet summer read you may want to add to your list.

Jack is trying to figure out what to do with himself after a betrayal by a colleague that’s left him unable to create the children’s illustrations, he once made his living from. What makes him happy? Jack rescues pets. One of my favorite things about this book was the rag-tag band of housemates Jack has collected. They range from a cuddly Saint Bernard named… Bernard to a cat named Pirate who leads them on their walks. But it’s because of Puddles who gets an acorn on the jogging and races off… that Jack ends up with a nasty fall and a broken leg. So, who is going to take his dogs out for walks? His brother suggests a pet share app… so Jack puts up an ad.

Simon is the man who answers Jack’s add for pet care. He loves animals and has had to put off getting his own dog because he’s moved in with his grandmother. His grandfather recently passed away and he’s there to take care of her (although, I think it goes both ways in an adorable on-page relationship). But the man who struggles to appear at Jack’s door is severely incapacitated by shyness and anxiety. There are times when Simon struggles to speak when he gets so completely overwhelmed that he has to leave, and sadly – he suffered from severe panic attacks.

These two men are drawn to each other and boy do they both have challenges! Jack is bearing the weight of being betrayed by a long-term friend and business partner. Trust is a huge issue for him… trust and wondering if he’s been a burden to the older brother who raised him. Simon, on the other hand, doesn’t think that anyone would want a relationship with him. He’s lived his whole life struggling with anxiety and knows that he will never be “normal” and do the things that other people might consider to be day-to-day. Why would anyone want to be in a relationship with him?

The switching POV in this book gives the reader lovely insight into what both of these men are thinking as they begin to get to know one another. Simon’s struggle is real. Every day he fights to do the things that he wants to do. There’s a part of him that wants to be a different person for Jack…but there’s a bigger part of him that wants the world to acknowledge that he is who he is and there are some things that he won’t be able to change.

Ultimately, the book is about figuring out that “anxiety” isn’t your fault… that you are who you are. We can’t change the person that we are, sure, we can work on some things that will help us move through the world in a better way, but we can’t change some things. As someone who has lived with anxiety for my entire life, I really appreciated that Parrish didn’t make Simon’s anxiety something that could “be fixed”. I loved the fact that even though Jack struggles to understand, worries about the way Simon is feeling, the two men find a way to meet in the middle.

There are some dark times in this novel – obviously, the subject matter is a bit intense. It’s well worth a read!