This is the third of the new Carina Adores line that I've read and, I've gotta say, we are up at three for three so far.

A few years ago, I read a book called The Remaking of Corbin Wale by this author, and it stuck with me. There is a certain magic in those pages that is rarely found in contemporary romance.

Several pages in to this book, I felt as though this book reminded me of the same certain kind of magic. And there's a reason for that, I found out. Despite the very different style of cover art, this book is set in the universe. Corbin Wale's book Two Moons Over featured as inspiration for one of the characters here. Seriously, I wanted this book to exist in real life sooo much just based on the descriptions of it.

We first meet Jack Matheson just before he breaks his leg, requiring the services of the PetShare app afterwards because his large pack of animals doesn't stop needing their walks just because Jack isn't able to take them anymore.

Enter Simon Burke. He is much better with animals than he is with people. His struggles with much of human interaction take up a large portion of his side of the story.

That said, however, I felt as though this novel was a little light on for plot. All the elements were there--Simon's history of anxiety and Jack's difficulty with creating art after being betrayed by a long time collaborator--but although the former held its space in the novel, I felt as though I wanted a lot more of Jack's time with his art to be fleshed out. This is just personal preference for me as it's something that interests me, and may not be the case for other readers.

The romance between the two men was wholly satisfying, as well as romantic advice from Grandma Jean and Jack's brother Charlie being so good and wise.

I'm also hoping that we get a book from Charlie's point of view as part of this line eventually. Fingers crossed!

In a world that is an anxiety-provoking dumpster fire, I thank god for Roan Parrish. Better Than People is a lovely story of two hurt people coming together, made all the more enjoyable by its secondary characters, most of whom have four paws and a tail.

I have to admit I am a sucker for a shy, awkward MC, and Simon is all that and then some. He has crippling social anxiety and frequently cannot manage to speak when he's with other people. Despite that, he has developed a successful small business in graphic design, and he has no problem interacting with his recently widowed grandmother, with whom he lives. He's a little bit like the titular character from Parrish's The Remaking of Corbin Wale, but less of a social pariah.

The other MC, Jack, is grumpy because he is temporarily disabled by a badly broken leg and also because in his opinion most other people suck. At times his misanthropy gets old, but his behavior towards Simon is so utterly perfect that all else is forgiven. He figures out right away what Simon needs and never pushes him, slowly bringing out the sweet, funny, snarky man who is hiding behind the silence. I appreciated the way Parrish portrayed Jack as being professionally stuck because of a deeply hurtful betrayal - but not the kind I assumed at the beginning of the story.

I really liked the fact that the inevitable Big Separation/Reconciliation happened with plenty of pages left in the book. So many times after the kiss and make up scene, it's assumed that everything is perfect, but Parrish shows there is still room for the relationship to evolve. Speaking of kissing, there is a LOT of explicit sex in this book. Much of it demonstrates the feelings that Simon isn't able (and Jack isn't ready) to put into words, but I have to admit I skimmed the last few scenes.

Then there are the four dogs and three cats who make up Jack's pack. Although Jack apparently sucks at coming up with good names, he is devoted to his animals, and his love for them more than outweighs how little patience he has with people. Parrish is obviously an animal lover because she perfectly captures each pet's personality and the interactions between them are remarkably accurate.

Jack's older brother Charlie has an important role to play in the story, and there are hints that not all is well in his world. I'm not sure if Parrish is planning a story featuring Charlie, but I wouldn't mind if she did, even if it's just to catch a few glimpses of Jack and Simon, living happily ever after with what I presume would be an ever increasing number of canines and felines.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was very good. Poor Jack took a tumble & broke his leg and now he is unable to walk his menagerie of animals. I love that one of his cats leads the packs on the walks, that was so fun. He has a dog named Puddles who is afraid of puddles & that made me laugh. This was a relatively low angst, quick read. Poor Simon has such anxiety issues & doesn't people very well. He answers an ad for a dog walker & is overwhelmed by Jack. There are a lot of times that he is just unable to verbally answer/talk to someone. I loved that he was able to communicate via text & that Jack was totally cool with that. Jack slowly breaks through his defenses & they become friends and then lovers. Though Simon will never be "cured", he has found a life with Jack and all the animals in their lives.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Simon was a great character and very relatable. The relationship was a little fast, but not horribly so. I would have enjoyed a bit more conflict but that's probably just me being a bad person XD I generally enjoyed them figuring out how to be together.

I wish I had loved this one because pretty much everything about it should've worked. It's a sweet m/m contemporary, features a lot of pets, and is authored by Parrish. But right from the get-go this was giving me some vague THE REMAKING OF CORBIN VALE vibes (and, spoiler, it's set in the same 'world' I guess? as the self-titled character of said book is mentioned) and while I was utterly wowed by the writing in that book, it wasn't my favourite by this author, either. I think I just prefer this author's darker or angstier work? I don't know what that says about me.

Not much really happens in BETTER THAN PEOPLE. One of our MCs breaks his leg, necessitating the need for a dog walker for his many dogs (and cats), and in walks the love interest. Simon is more than just shy, he has crippling anxiety, and yet somehow, and actually miraculously, considering Jack's near constant grumpiness, they connect. I found the progression of that very sweet but it also transitions from tender and tentative to like.. (fire emoji fire emoji) very quick. Jack is seriously into Simon and he lets him know. Which, great! But, I don't know, it almost didn't fit the vibe?

Characterization-wise, I found Jack a little all over the place but he's dealing with some setbacks, has stuff to navigate, however the dynamic with his brother just kind of baffled me. I felt like we saw his true colours when dealing with Charlie and it would sort take the sweetness out of the moments with Simon. I don't know. In some ways this is very soft, with some real meat to some of the topics and issues needing to be navigated, but.. it wasn't a book I could really lose myself in and maybe that was because of the characters. I could feel for them both but didn't think they were a good fit, I guess? Mostly I was just wishing for better for Charlie. I hope he gets a book.

If you are a fan of THE REMAKING OF CORBIN WALE, I think you'll love this (in fact, I think I actually liked that one more? the rating is definitely higher..). I think a lot of readers will love this. But it's just not going to be a favourite.

2.5 stars

The legion of Roan Parrish fans might be a quiet and unassuming bunch. Yet whenever a new book of hers is about to be released, our collective excitement is downright palpable. Because no matter where her imagination might take us, we know that the sheer humanity of this author’s beautiful stories will grab us, wrap us in, and stay with us for a very long time. Known for giving us romances brimming with compassion, courage, and unwavering optimism, Parrish’s acute observation of human nature and the world around her keeps showing not only in the insightful language of every one of her beautiful tales, but also in the depth and distinctiveness of her characters. In her latest novel, she captures so clearly the deep, paralysing quicksand of shyness and social anxiety, and she does so with a touch that is both gentle and capable of hitting you right in the gut. I have never found a single false note in anything I have ever read by Roan Parrish, yet her latest offering still managed to leave me breathless with wonder.

Read rest of review » https://natashaisabookjunkie.com/2020/06/23/review-better-than-people-by-roan-parrish/

Enjoyable m/m romance. Had less about the pets than I thought (esp. given the title), and handles one of the main character's struggles around social anxiety in a sensitive and realistic way.

Loved. Loved loved loved.

You can feel how much Jack wants to help Simon with his anxiety but also how much he knows and accepts it’s a part of Simon. You can feel how this is a choice to be together even as they fall in love. You can feel how they work together to build a life that is theirs and is a seriously happy HEA.

Great anxiety rep. Great understanding of anxiety by a partner rather than a magic cure. Oh and lots and lots of pets to love.

Now...how about a love for Charlie?

4.5 Stars

‘Better Than People’ by Roan Parrish is another great addition to the Harlequin-Carina Adores monthly series. It’s a wonderful, warm, feel-good gay romance novel that shouldn’t be missed.

It’s unusual to describe a character in a gay m/m romance as ‘adorable’, but that’s exactly the word to describe Simon Burke, the shy graphic designer Parrish has created as one of the main characters in her delightful book.

Simon, who lives with his grandmother, the only person who ever really loved him, has always preferred animals to people.

The other main character, Jack Matheson, is an acclaimed children’s book illustrator currently in need of a dog walker for the pack of rescue animals he lives with. I loved the names Jack had chosen for his adopted pets - his four dogs, Bernard, Puddles, Rat, and Dandelion - and his four cats, Pirate, Pickles, Mayonnaise, and Louis.

Jack needed a pet walker because he recently broke a leg and sustained a concussion in a severe fall. So naturally he turned to an app, PetShare, for help.

Jack’s life view, also shared by Simon, is that pets are much better than people. Unlike people, they’re sensitive, they cared, they gave kindness and love and wanted to be loved. They never betrayed you. They were loyal.

Simon shows up at Jack’s door, answering Jack’s ad, and is suddenly speechless. Shy is an understatement for Simon’s condition. There are times Simon can’t speak a word, and times he becomes physically ill when confronted with the idea of a conversation. There are times throughout the story when Simon and Jack actually talk, and other times when Jack talks while Simon stands next to him texting his answers. These scenes are painfully charming.

Jack has his issues too. Even though he was a successful illustrator, he hadn’t drawn anything in 8 months since Davis Snyder, Jack’s college roommate and the author who wrote stories from Jack’s illustrations, had committed an unpardonable sin in the publishing world.

Set in Garnet Run, WY, there are two other wonderfully supportive characters in ‘Better Than People’ - Jack’s older brother, Charlie and Simon’s recently widowed grandmother. Charlie is currently a hardwire store operator, who from the age of 17, had raised Jack from the time Jack was 13 when their parents deaths had changed both their lives. Jack both appreciated and, as is often the case with people who have to depend on others, resented that fact.

The resolution of the multiplicity of issues facing Simon, Jack, and Charlie <spoiler> and the addition of one more adorable rescue puppy to the family mix </spoiler> is beautifully written.

‘Better Than People’ is the first book by Roan Parrish that I’ve read. It definitely won’t be the last.

I received an Advance Review Copy of ‘Better Than People’ from NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Carina Press in exchange for an honest review. #BetterThanPeople #NetGalley

3.5 stars

You are so fucking tough. You just did hard shit all day. You are so brave for ding that.

Simon has crippling social anxiety and is an absolute rockstar for still doing things that scare the shit out of him. Also, his grandma is pure gold.
I have mixed feelings about Jack. He's mostly a grumpy teddy bear but I honestly wanted to punch him for his behaviour towards Charlie who damn near raised him after his parents passed away when he was 13. I am anticipating gentle giant Charlie's book next please and thank you.
adored all the animals and that they were the basis for the developing relationship between Simon and Jack!

ARC provided by publishers in exchange for an honest review.

I thought if I wrote my review right away I'd be able to express how much I adore Better Than People. I was... perhaps a bit premature.

Fabulous story as always when it comes to a Roan Parrish book. I actually had no idea this was headed our way so I consider myself lucky to have snagged this.

Simon and Jack... Simon and Jack aren't complicated. Unless you're asking Simon. He'd tell you they'll never work because he's too complicated to want to be with. Jack, he's not complicated at all. Like, that man is simple to the bone. He wants it. He goes about getting it. Except for those few months he spent pouting in his cabin.

The thing that makes them so uncomplicated is that Jack realizes his mistakes and goes about correcting them. He supports Simon and encourages him. Jack is full of compromise for Simon. And Simon, well he's willing to compromise with Jack (and himself) too. He just has to realize that he wants those things.
They're actually some of the most easy to understand characters that Roan has written. My heart hurt for both men and their upbringing. I'm so glad that Jack had Charlie and Simon has Grandma Jean. She's a hoot and I hope Charlie gets a book.

I finished reading this NetGalley ARC last night in bed, while patting away tears with my sheet. Not only is it so very sweet, not only are the misunderstandings heartbreakingly organic, and not only are the pets adorable and funny and just as sweet as the people, but the anxiety rep is beyond amazing. The ways that Simon's adoring lover screws up are typical - and Jack is trying really hard not to screw up. But understanding what severe anxiety means is a steep learning curve.

I loved the tie-in connection.

I cannot wait for Charlie's story!!!

The book was very cute and I loved the personality of the characters!!! Simon and Jack are amazing. It's a very moving story and left me with a happy heart and a big smile.

Simon is shy, to the point where he has severe anxiety attacks and Jack -although he is not shy- he tend to have a more reserved personality. Both have their problems but together they find a common point and strength. A very nice story with a lot of cute dogs and cats!!!! Hello animal lovers! here you have two cute man in love and their pack.

Another wonderful romance novel from Roan Parrish. Not only does she deliver a story that I loved but her writing takes the whole thing to the next level. It reminded me of Corbin Wale (love the reference to this btw!) in that I fell in love with the story and the writing.

Jack and Simon are two misanthropic men for different reasons, I loved the way they came together, slowly getting to know each other and then developing their relationship beyond something sexual. I felt Simon’s frustration over his anxiety and Jack’s over his perceived helplessness. I appreciated that Jack finally came to terms with the fact that he wasn’t going to be able to “fix” Simon and just needed to support him however he could.

I too prefer animals to people and I loved the role that the pack played in their relationship. Jack’s terrible names were just perfect. I loved the role each of their family members played and how those relationships developed as well.

Overall this book was a delight and I’m already ready for a reread.

I received a copy from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for my copy. I liked the book’s premise of two lonely men who needed love. It was a sweet story of trust, friendship and love. Simon loved animals more than people. Jack loved and trusted his animals more than people. Jack broke his leg, and he needed help walking his dogs. After meeting through an petshare app, they soon leaned on each other. I loved how they were stronger together. I absolutely loved all the dogs and cats in the story and their quirky names. This was definitely an enjoyable read.

3.75* Very sweet, and if you're a pet lover, you'll adore this. Just a little too low angst for me.

This is a lovely, organic tale of a couple of guys who come into each other's life when one has an accident and can't cope with his brood of pets, and the other, a pet lover who's not in a position to have any, comes to his rescue via an app. It's perhaps the most unique way of meeting each other, and Brit-me loved the pets and both guys' interactions with them. Tbh, because of how central to the tale, and how numerous they were, the pets stole the tale for me, and that's no complaint, believe me.

Both guys have stuff in their past that makes them wary, but not damaged and I liked that they were able to quickly trust each other and open up to each other. Simon was the more unique character because of a certain condition (I hope I'm not making a faux pas in using 'condition') and how he dealt with things and the difficulties he experienced; I warmed to him more than to Jack, who kind of seemed to love his devoted brother, but also have some resentment of him due to their past, which to me made him come across as a bit ungrateful. This tale comes under the newish Carina Adores line and it's my bad for not realising it's a sweeter tale with very little angst.

The tale ends in a lovely place, and is vaguely connected to a previous book by this author, The Remaking of Corbin Wale, but it's not necessary to read that in order to enjoy this one. And, it's worth noting that it's a really short tale that ends at 86% of the download, with the rest being made up of a sample of another Carina Press tale.

ARC courtesy of Harlequin Carina Press and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

I was super excited to get an ARC of this, seeing as Roan Parrish is pretty much my favorite when it comes to romance. Sadly, though, I have to say this wasn't my favorite.

Pluses: once I got into the story it did flow well and I devoured it in about a day or so. It also has Parrish's usual flair for portraying neurodiverse characters with a ton of compassion; I always like how each character meets the other where they're at, doesn't push their boundaries or try to make them into something they're not. I also enjoyed the references back to her earlier books.

Minuses: I found the overall story to be so low angst as to verge on saccharine, and the set-up was strangely awkward and underdeveloped. Also, maybe I'm not enough of a dog lover to appreciate this? I had a really hard time keeping straight the personalities of so many cats and dogs. Overall sweet but not as much for me.

I liked how each man gradually built trust and understanding between themselves after their bad past experiences. I identified with both men and their story resonated with me, because I have preferred animals over people for many years because they offer trust, loyalty, and love without question and there's never an issue of betrayal. Plus they have never asked for favors or money. Lol!!! This book was everything, and I came to adore both main characters fot their unique selves and gradual acceptance of each other at face value! So many warm and fuzzies by the time the story can to it's conclusion. I look forward to more from this author I found on Netgalley two years ago. Thank you. This book was provided by Carina Press through Netgalley for free. I voluntarily read an advanced copy and am giving an honest review. I highly recommend it.

This book was exactly what I needed! I started reading Roan Parrish’s books last year after a friend recommended Riven and I’ve fallen so deep for her writing, characters, and stories, and Better Than People is a wonderful addition to her delightful body of work.

A quick summary: After experiencing betrayal from his closest friend, Jack has cut ties with most of the world, living in seclusion with his pack of dogs and cats in a cabin in Garnet Run, Wyoming. He’s done with trusting other people but when an accident leaves him with a broken leg and limited mobility, Jack reluctantly reaches out for help. An app that matches pet owners with pet lovers brings Simon into his life. Simon finds talking to most people nearly impossible and his anxiety makes it difficult for him to meet new people or form relationships. When he meets Jack, Simon worries that Jack will reject him the way most people have, but instead the opposite happens. As days go by, Jack reaches out, looking for ways to engage with Simon without making him uncomfortable. What starts out as a bond of necessity and a love of animals turns into something more as Simon and Jack begin to open up and share their struggles.

Better Than People is a tender love story about two men who, due to very different circumstances, do not trust or love easily. Their story is told with patience and compassion as they learn more about each other and themselves. If you’ve ever read a book and raged about the characters not speaking to each other, this book is the opposite of that! While Simon sometimes can’t speak, he and Jack find ways to communicate and work through the issues confronting them. I appreciated that Simon, though quiet, is not shy about calling out Jack about his ideas of strength and usefulness being rooted in physical ableness, and that Jack, in turn, encourages and supports Simon while not trying to change him.

The romance is sweet and steamy and had me blushing and happy sighing in equal measures! I loved the supportive family members and I’m hoping that we will see more of Jack’s older brother, Charlie, in the future. The pack of dogs and cats were all quirky and adorable. All in all, a highly enjoyable read full of feels! I’m already looking forward to returning to Garnet Run, Wyoming.

A somewhat sweeter and more slow-moving Roan Parrish romance, this nevertheless features two men with plenty of angst and anxiety and an appealing group of pets with their own distinctive personalities. It was a pleasure to read and to see how they all adapted and learned how to build a meaningful life together.