As someone who doesn't read very many titles within the LGBTQ+, I was intrigued and wanted to further explore. The overall plot has potential and as a reader not familiar with some genres, not knowing what makes it a good read. So, I cannot complain too much.

This was a well written book. The storyline was well developed, the story was told at a good pace. The characters were interesting.
And the cover is beautiful!

I liked it a lot and recommend it! Hoping to read more by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to he publisher for a copy of the book. I love a friends to lovers story but this one was a struggle for me. Lots of miscommunication and I don’t understand why Darryn never shared his feelings for Grant. I did enjoy Grant’s twin sister and friend and how they were so good friends to Grant. The friends to lovers part just dragged a bit for me.

This was an okay book. It felt like I was missing something from the beginning, it felt like it started in the second or third chapter, not the first, I enjoyed it and would try this author again if the book really appealed to me.


Sorry for the late review, I forgot to post it here.

It was a nice coming of age story. Two friends that come to mean kore to each other than was first intended. Throw in some drama, rescue, and patience and you have a love story.

This was overall an okay book for me. I thought the start was great, I was immediately pulled into the story but the pace quickly fizzled out. I felt like the whole middle part was a bit drawn out, especially because Grant and Darryn didn't really talk to each other. It just all felt a little overdramatic while being underwhelming at the same time and I was very frustrated at the lack of communication (and don't get me wrong, I enjoy a bit of miscommunication for there to be pining but somehow there wasn't really any?).

The story was engaging enough for me to read it - and read it happily - but it just wasn't for me. The storyline, the pacing and the characters just didn't really keep my attention.

I loved Grant's voice in this book. His character was a lot of fun to follow, particularly as he suffers so much angst over potentially missing a chance with his best friend.

There's a lot of interesting stuff about gymnastics, most of which went over my head but established the author's knowledge of the sport, which served as a solid background.

Personally, I thought the author came down a little heavy on the abuse issue, and that both boys' parents were too accepting of their sons, even today. But hey, it's a romance and it does serve to illuminate an important issue.

I was ready to absolutely love this story, but unfortunately I was left feeling disappointed. I was expecting a nice friends-to-lovers romance, which I got, but the way it was executed fell short of my expectations.

This story has a rough start, with love interest Darryn being upset with main character Grant because Grant never came out to him. Grant meanwhile is upset because he has just walked in on his best friend/roommate/the guy he has a big crush on/teammate in bed with another guy. And instead of talking, instead of acting like the (new) adults they are, the guys just fight and waste time being angry with one another. The levels of melodrama and immaturity were just too high for me to really enjoy, especially since a lot of the issues could've been solved by just communicating with each other.

We also never really see their eventual relationship develop and grow. We're just told that they have fallen for each other, then they get together, and then the story ends with them just together. I feel like I never got the chance to connect to either character or their relationship.

The only reasons this didn't get more stars from me is that I like my romance novels with a bit more sex & escapism - but I think for a newer romance fan, or someone who is really seeking gay romances specifically, or someone who is a little uncomfortable with sex scenes this could easily be a 4 or 5 star book.

Rough & Tumble is a young adult/new adult gay romance featuring two gymnasts that lines up characters for a more extensive "University of Atlanta" series. It's got only a few brief sex scenes so it should be appropriate for a slightly younger audience, although it also addresses real issues, so it's not totally fluffy and might need a trigger warning for some issues. It's got the first person point-of-view that's common in romance aimed at a slightly younger audience, something that's generally not my favorite style but done really really well here, so I can't imagine the book any other way. It's aimed at people a bit younger than me, but I enjoyed it. I'd recommend it for a young romance fan, or a young gay man. It's a coming out story, a romance, and shows the discovery of the rainbow world with a scene at Atlanta pride. I'd definitely give this a spot on my Pride shelf if I had a book store ;). Oh, and one of the protagonists is Japanese-American and his cultural traditions are mentioned, so additional diversity points beyond being a gay romance.

I'm not sure if I'll read more from the series, but I am interested in what happens with Annie, Mo, Pace, Kenny and the rest of the University of Atlanta crew, so I'll let the sample chapters of the next book decide.

Although categorized as a romance, thus felt more like a New Adult drama where the romance was secondary. Content warning: the book dealt with domestic violence extensively, and I wish that it had stopped trying to be a romance and focused on that.

Received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This friends-to lovers story grabbed me from the first sentence. There's so much raw emotion between these two college roommates as they navigate the often confusing world of adulthood, especially as young, gay men. They're not sure who's safe and who's not, and sometimes they make the wrong choices.

This book is structured a little differently than the typical romance, since it doesn't heat up until the end of the novel. But if you like gay romance with a hurt-comfort theme, you will likely enjoy this book. It's well-written and well-edited with a guaranteed happy ending.

3.5 Stars

Rough and Tumble is an emotional college romance by Shae Connor.

From the start, we learn that Grant has long been in love with his roommate and best friend, Darryn. Soon after, we learn that Darryn's boyfriend, Rich, is both controlling and toxic.

I immediately felt bad for Grant, as his pain of losing his chance with Darryn is front and center. After that, I just got mad. Omg, I wanted to punch Rich.

Throughout the progression of events, I just got so damn frustrated with Rich. I know people easily fall prey to controlling partners, but I was just so angry and annoyed by it. I wasn't easy to read. I definitely don't love every aspect of this story, but it isn't that I disagree with the author's choices, but rather it all just mad me so angry.

This is about much more than the romance. This is about saving one's friend from an abusive relationship, as well as the aftermath. I appreciate the way the author deals with the aftermath, being genuine with the mental healing. It would have been a disservice to not deal with it and fluff over this aspect.

Written all from Grant's pov, his inner monologue fully kept me intrigued. The title is perfect for this tale, as it certainly can be interpreted multiple ways.

Rough and Tumble is a riveting college romance. I love college athletes falling in love so I am happy to have found this Shae Connor story. There's never a question that the men love one another, but rather a doubt as to how they'll find their way to a happy ending.

Rough and Tumble... well, this book was rough all right.

I love a cute friends-to-lovers college romance, and I was excited to try a new-to-me author, but Rough and Tumble just didn't deliver.

I read a good deal of new adult, but I hate it when the characters act like immature brats (and not the good spank me, daddy kind!). The story was filled with a lot of miscommunications and a lot of melodrama, and it didn't leave a lot of wiggle room for the relationship to develop organically. I was confused as to the central conflict (seemed more complicated than necessary), and I had a hard time connecting to the characters.

I also struggled with the pacing. A lot of stuff happens in the beginning of the story, but then the action seems to peter out. I ended up feeling bored, and it was a real effort just to finish the story.

There are a lot of great new adult romances out there, but, unfortunately, Rough and Tumble isn't one of them.

Holy sugar Rough and Tumble is intense. Shae Connor takes us on two separate journeys. Two young men whose friendship path takes a hard left when Grant walks in on his friend and roommate Darryn being intimate with a guy. The shocks keep coming for Grant as Darryn shares more with him. This is where the hard left comes in.

Connor then takes us into possible trigger territory for some readers as they deal head on with abusive relationships. The choices people can make when they think their love is unrequited and how we all want love and what it is supposed to look like. The road can be dangerous instead of filled with rose petals.

Grant’s road is just as treacherous as he has to face his own truths about himself, his relationship with Darryn, and with being a homosexual. What is being a friend? How can you be a friend through the bad times and the good? When, when, when...all of those “whens” that have to be answered while still trying to figure out who you are.

Connor adds in competitive gymnastics and the pressure mounts.

The “warning” at the end of the synopsis makes it sound as if the book focuses on the aftermath of the toxicity and this is not true. Rough and Tumble is about all of Darryn’s relationships even though the voice is Grant’s. Connor makes this story more about friendship and family than about romance. There is romance and a happily-ever-after...don’t worry. I just want to emphasize that Connor focuses on the coming of age aspect versus the dating and romance part.

I hope Shae Connor sticks with the “University of Atlanta” awhile longer as I would love to read Annie and Pace’s story. Annie is similar to Grant yet so different and of course bisexual. Pace, on the other hand, is not like any of the other characters and I do not know what his orientation is, but...I got vibes that he might be part of the rainbow family.

Rough and Tumble’s characters draw you in and don’t let go. I want to see where they end up and you will too.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

I would like to say thank you so much Entangled for giving me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is by far one of my favorite reads of the year. It had me laughing, crying, fan girling. Just every emotion. I loved this book so much.

Darryn and Grant are seriously the cutest! I love their relationship so much. Everything they went through together for their relationship to work was so incredible. I was rooting for them from the beginning.

I am so happy to have read this. I would love to check out more from Shae Connor! This is a great short LGBTQ+ read that I'd recommend to everyone!

I’ve gotta admit, this one took me a while to get into, but eventually, both Grant and Darryn grew on me. Eventually…

I found myself sympathizing more with Grant than with Darryn, even though Darryn was the definite victim in this story. I think that’s mainly because the story was told strictly from Grant’s POV. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t get aggravated with Grant more than once. He made some mistakes and could have handled things better at times, but he owned up to it.

The supporting characters in Rough & Tumble were great. From friends to family, the support was evident. There was humor, danger, tough issues handled with care and a sweet romance to offset the not so sweet moments. I’ve also got to say that the parents were refreshingly adorably supportive.

This is my first read by Shae Connor and I’m pretty sure it won’t be my last. Even though it took me a while to get into, it was well worth the read.

Honestly, I was disappointed in this book. I thought it had really good potential, but it fell flat for me. I really wish it had been longer so we could have developed the characters and their back stories more. The book just jumps right into the action and I felt like I was missing something. Again, I wanted more story. I wanted more development from side characters and more interaction with them.

I do appreciate what the book did with presenting a toxic relationship, so I'll give it points for that.

I wanted to love this. I saw the cover, fell in love(I know, I know) and needed to read this.
Unfortunately, I had such a hard time connecting with the main characters that it made it almost impossible for me to love this the way I wanted to initially..
I’m all for a slow burn romance, but this felt like the confrontations and the bitterness dragged on for so long that it was definitely slow burning and made it a bit unrealistic for these characters to fall in love. I wanted more of their friendship, more something so that I could really experience the draw between them.
However. The plot line was very well developed and I did enjoy most other aspects.

This was a sweet, quick read, but a bit disappointing. When I saw the cover and read the blurb, I was definitely expecting a great friends to lovers story, and even though I enjoyed that aspect of the story I couldn't help but feel a bit of disappointment of its execution.

Right from where the story started, I felt my interest fading. Especially because of how both MCs handled that first scene. I knew coming in that both MCs were on the young side, but there's being young and then there's acting immaturely. I didn't care much about the melodrama between these two, especially since it was sunc an easy fix. I understood where they were coming from, but I think the author tried to hard to make it into something more.

I would have preferred it if she would have focused more on developing their connection further and in bringing more of their chemistry to the page. Ultimately, that was my whole problem with this story, every single element had the potential to be developed further, but ultimately, they lacked in their execution. There was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. For me that is a huge turn-off.

Thankfully, there were some great moments of camaraderie and humor and some pretty awesome moments that had me nearly convinced on this pairing, which explains my rating.

All in all, a sweet read.

Rough and Tumble by Shae Connor - 3.5

Romance, Contemporary, LGBT (M/M)
Audience: New Adult
Trigger warning: physical and mental abuse


This novel is about Grant who walks on his college roommate, best friend, and secret crush, with another man. Grant has always assumed that Darryn was straight, but the realization comes with a shock and a loss. I won’t go into too many details because I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone. I’ll say that this story follows the aftermath of this discovery and what love can do to make things right when they can be very wrong.

Grant, the main character, is like any athlete, focused, and he still pushes forward despite what goes havoc in his life. He tries to find himself and fights for the future he wants. Grant has a wonderful support system with his family. He also meets new great friends along the way. What I like about him is that he fights for what he believes in even if his temper gets the best of him at times or the situation is against him.

The romance is one hell of a ride. Between a toxic relationship and the path to healing, the two of them learn a lot about each other but also about themselves. This is more of a slow burn and a beautiful story.

Now, there are a few things that bugged me in this story. I didn’t quite understand the beginning of the story. Their reaction was very confusing because the action and words said weren’t in tune. It made little sense to me. Also, the main character tends to be on the whiny side, which doesn’t do well with me.

With that said, I thought that the toxic relationship was well done in a way that the author educates the reader on the topic. The characters discuss how to recognize early signs of mental (and physical) abuse. The discussion helps us understand the situation. A support system and love are two important factors in this situation and it’s shown perfectly. The author did a good job of showing how difficult the situation can difficult to navigate and how it can quickly escalate to dangerous. Also, the healing part and romance were beautiful and tender. Finally, the story follows two gymnasts and this was very new to me. I very much enjoy that part.

Overall, despite a few elements that didn’t bode well with me, this story is a beautiful story of love and acceptance, of friendship and hardship. This is a fast read that will break your heart and piece it back together.