Note: This is the second book in this series and as such, has spoilers for the first book. That being said, it can be read as a standalone. For maximum enjoyment, however, I highly recommend reading these books in order.

Rye Janssen is looking for a fresh start. Hi life in Seattle has been crumbling around him and with his final eviction, he learns that he’s inherited a house in Wyoming from a grandfather he’d never heard of or from. But he figures, this is his chance. What he doesn’t figure on is that the house is in such horrible condition, that it’s barely a step above sleeping outside – and in fact might be just as dangerous. But he is determined to make this work. Mostly because he doesn’t have any alternatives.

When Rye shows up at Mathison Hardware, Charlie takes note. First he’s new in town, and that’s unusual in itself. But also, it seems like the guy is buying random stuff and doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing – as determined by the fact that he’s looking at YouTube videos while he’s shopping. After he shows up to buy lumber and insists that he can make three trips in his beater of a car on it’s last leg, Charlie insists on taking the lumber out to the project site in his truck. It’s then that Charlie realizes that Rye has inherited a house that is closest to his brother Jack’s place and that it is a disaster. He hasn’t been inside, but he’s sure there is much more work to be done than Rye realizes.

After Ry discovers that the lumber he bought isn’t going to work and heads back to Mathison Hardware, Charlie decides that he is going to insist on helping with the work. He’s worried for Rye’s safety and he like to get things done. What he finds in Rye’s house is far worse than he expects. There are many more issue than even he anticipated. He proposes that he help Rye and get his friends to help as well. Rye cannot understand why Charlie wants to help him. In his experience, that is not what people do. That certainly wasn’t his experience in Seattle or even within his own very dysfunctional family. He’s been on his own since he was 16, so this is not normal within his frame of reference. But he’s quickly realizing that he will not be able to do this on his own.

After Charlie helps him identify the major problems. there are a few hiccups. The biggest one being money, time and a job. But once again, it’s Charlie to the rescue. He gives Rye a job at the hardware store, he get his friends to help and he has some ideas on the money side as well. Rye is still having trouble accepting this though. He’s also curious, because he’s attracted to Charlie and he feels like Charlie is interested in him, but he can’t get a read on him. And then he thinks he’s made a big mistake – maybe Charlie isn’t interested in him that way at all. But still waters run deep and there are a lot of hidden depths to Charlie. There are things that he hasn’t allowed himself to indulge in thinking about for many years. He’s got a lot of baggage around being thrust into the role of adult, guardian, home owner, and business owner during his senior year in high school. He figured out a way to be able to handle it, but it’s definitely left long last gaps in his transformation to functional adult. He’s not done much thinking about his own desires and happiness.

Rye makes it his mission to help Charlie move forward. Charlie shares things with him that he’s never shared with any other person and it’s transformational for him. Rye is the most honest person he’s ever met and while he’s astounded and a little irritated at first, he comes to appreciate and embrace that characteristic because it helps him to do the same. There are a number of unexpected discovering that provide some real aha moments when it comes to Charlie’s personality. Some of them are shocking and lead to new levels of understanding and changes to a number of relationships in this book. In the end, though, Rye and Charlie work hard to move forward in both of their lives. Together.

I absolutely loved this story. There are so many delightfully funny moments. I literally laughed out loud. Then there were absolute moments of grief and pathos around both Rye and Charlie’s pasts and what they’ve dealt with. Bottom line is that this is a fantastic romance between two men who really see each other. They appreciate each other’s qualities and are surprised to find out how compatible they are. It’s a joy to watch them figure out what their relationship can be. As much as Rye thinks Charlie is bossy and has a hero complex at the beginning, he really admires how Charlie took on the big responsibilities – when he was really a kid himself. But he also recognizes that Charlie has never deviated from this path, even when a lot of those things are no longer his responsibility. A lot of eyes are opened in this book – not just Charlie and Rye, but Jack and Simon, the protagonists from the first book in this series, and a lot of other folks in small town of Garnet Run. There are a number of surprises that are absolutely perfectly revealed during the course of this story. My heart was breaking multiple times for both Charlie and Rye. And also I was cheering them on the entire way. I just wanted them to find their soft place to land in each other. Really well done with such a lovely and heartwarming resolution. Brilliantly done. Highly recommended and I cannot wait to see if there will be more from Garnet Run.

I really enjoy this author and I'd been waiting for Charlie's book. The big, giant, teddy bear of a man who sacrificed so much for his younger brother finally gets his person and his HEA.

While it wasn't my favorite of the series, it was enjoyable and I liked how it ended up...for the most part. There were a few threads that were there, growth that could have happened, issues that needed addressing but so much was just kind of left dangling with a magical yet slightly off track resolution. Charlie remained my favorite all through the story and Rye really needed to grow on me. It took a while and though they did get there in the end, it was a bit more of a stretch for me to like them. Grumpy MC's are definitely my jam, but the prickles were so sharp that it felt unnecessary and unfounded and they hurt Charlie more than I was willing to accept.

Overall though this was a good continuation of the series and I did enjoy the read once I got to the end.

The first book in this series was a slow starter for me, but this one was about two standoffish cat people (!!!) getting together so of course I was immediately invested. Add a big helping of curtainfic (Rye has inherited a falling-down house, Charlie is the hardware shop owner with a heart of gold who’s going to help him make it a home!!!) and I was sold. There aren’t that *many* sex scenes but they are moderately kinky and highly descriptive. Really good and tender on-page negotiations of said sex scenes as well. Jack and Simon from Better Than People make prominent cameos; if you were annoyed by the way Jack treated Charlie in the previous book, you will probably find the scene where Rye yells at him for not appreciating his brother very satisfying. Overall a really sweet, fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for and advanced copy of Best Laid Plans.

I have. Yet to read a book by Roan Parrish I didn’t like. This book was no different. It’s a nice sweet quick read. I loved Marmot and Jane, they brought a little extra to the story. And I loved the decision for the house.

This is the second book in the series this time focusing on Jacks brother who we met previously in book one Charlie and Though connected it can definitely be read as a stand-alone no issue.
Essentially this is a sweet warm heartfelt M/M romance that relies on its pure sentiment and emotional connection to sell it and it definitely works.
It’s not a complicated or angsty story it’s the tale of two very opposite individuals connecting and building a bond that strengthens them both.

Charlie is just awakening to his own sexuality, having hit a roadblock when his parents died he put aside his own wants and desires and focused on other stuff he deemed more important than him like his brother jack and the store which he sees as his parents legacy.
He’s very much a practical no-nonsense sort he always seems to put others before himself he’s done this for so long it’s ingrained in his very character.

It was also apparent from the previous book and then this one that Charlie is lonely and aches to spend his life with that special someone but he’s spent so long putting himself last it doesn’t come easy for him.
Also behind his capable and efficient facade, he’s a contradiction of insecurity and fears and Ryes appearance in Garnet Run causes him to yearn for more but at the same time, he’s also fearful of making himself vulnerable to another person.

Rye is Charlie’s opposite he’s moving here because he has limited options, so after inheriting a house from his grandfather who he’s never met and along with his cat he leaves Seattle behind there’s nothing left there any way for him he’s been couch surfing since he was evicted and He sees Garnet Run as a new start but when he arrives his new home is a complete wreck.

Charlie seeing him out of his depth steps in bypassing all of Ryes prickly defensive barriers and before Rye knows it Charlie is a permanent fixture and Ryes feeling all mushy and sentimental towards him.

So I found it interesting that Rye is actually pansexual I also liked that this showed how you could build a life and be intimate and that intimacy can take whatever form you want it to not just the traditional route it was incredibly refreshing and it didn’t affect the chemistry and the hot factor one bit.

Charlie and Rye are so good together and the emotion and feelings between them projected off the page.
I especially liked that it wasn’t easy that they both had insecurity’s and at times felt awkward but together they communicated and overcomes these obstacles working together to forge the future they both desire.

There were subtle nuances that I picked up on here one being the teenager Rye helped, River is referred to here as they’re or they I’m assuming that river is actually gender-neutral it never actually said this but I’m reading between the lines and this is what I interpreted it as.

And the cats well they were bloody adorable, they were almost Charlie and Ryes surrogate children they were so bloody cute and they were as much a central piece of the story as other characters also Simon and Jack from the first book also make an appearance here and it was lovely to reconnect with them both.

This at heart was a thoughtful and sentimental read that makes you believe in the power of love and I really enjoyed it.
Don’t expect any shocks and angst here this story is all about people connecting and this one left me with a warm glow and feeling good about life.
This was well written dual POV and I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a feel good M/M romance that is all about the sentiment.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Best Laid Plans (Garnets Run #2).

Parrish's books always teach me so much about writing real people and also how to explore my feelings and trauma. I loved every bit of this book.

I have to admit that when I read Better Than People, the first book in Roan Parrish’s Garnet Run series, it didn’t even occur to me that Charlie would have a book. You know how sometimes, or often actually, you read a book, and you just know which side character is going to get a book next, or you find you desperately want someone’s story? That didn’t happen for me in Better Than People—but it turns out that Best Laid Plans was the book I didn’t even know I needed. I sooo loved getting Charlie’s story here. Looking back now, it’s so obvious that he needed and deserved a voice, and Parrish did a fabulous job giving it to him.

The book opens with introducing us to Rye, but I want to talk about Charlie first, because I absolutely adored him. Charlie Matheson is literal goodness. Just absolute, pure goodness. At barely eighteen, he gave up everything to take care of his brother and run the family store after his parents were killed in a car accident, and in twenty years, has pretty much never done anything just for himself. Sure, he’s happy enough. He enjoys running the store, loves Jack and is still a big part of his life, and he really does love Garnet Run. But at the same time, he has always yearned for more. He’s got a comfortable life, and a great house, but he wants a home. And a partner to share it with.

That longing for a home is the main thing Charlie and Rye have in common. Rye has moved around so much and has gotten so used to instability and chaos being the status quo in his life, that he thinks nothing of packing his duffel, grabbing his cat, and leaving Seattle for Garnet Run, Wyoming, at the drop of a hat. When he first finds out that his grandfather, whom he never met, left him a house, he sees it as a means to get away from couch-surfing and his perpetual fear of eviction. But it’s much more than that. It’s the possibility of a home of his own. Finally, a place to put down roots. When he gets to the house, however, he finds another problem rather than the solution he was hoping for. Lucky for him, though, a trip to the hardware store puts him on Charlie’s radar, and everything begins to change. For them both.

It took me a bit to warm up to Rye, but eventually I did, and I loved seeing him evolve from the wary, prickly guy that arrives in Garnet Run, to the absolute ball of mush he becomes as he falls for Charlie. Rye made Charlie feel truly seen for the first time in so, so long; something Charlie so much deserved and needed. Rye also helped Charlie acknowledge some big things about himself, and helped his relationship with Jack as well, which led to one of my favorite moments in the book. So, in the end, there was lots to love about Rye.

Best Laid Plans is worth picking up for many reasons. The beautiful writing. The well-crafted, dual POV narrative. The small-town vibe. A chance to see Jack and Simon again (though you do not have to have read the first book to enjoy this one). It’s thoughtful, low-angst, and with a bit of smolder as well. And, if you need a final motivation, a solid reason to dive in, look no further than the true stars of the story…the cats. Marmot and Jane, Rye’s and Charlie’s cats, respectively, are showstoppers, and should be reason enough.

Learning to love. Learning to feel. Learning to touch.

Things don't always go as planned. Sometimes life blocks you from knowing where to turn, which is the right road or how to even approach a destination. Charlie and Rye are two lost souls, deeply loving, wanting but not sure how to move ahead.

The second in the Garnet Run series, Best Laid Plans is a beautiful story of discovery. Roan Parrish creates solid characters and a great story to carry readers in to this journey. I think this is the fifth novel I've read by Parrish-- and they are always so rewarding. This book can be read as a standalone, but I did notice one place where reading the first book really helps explain the behavior of one of the reoccurring characters.

There are some really great moments that reaffirm acceptance (of self and others) that I really appreciated. A really good, solid, M/M Romance for fans of the genre. Can't wait to see where Parrish might take us in a third installment!

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

Author of some of the best hurt/comfort romances on the planet, Roan Parrish does it again with Best Laid Plans. Though this is the second book in the Garnet Run series, it works fine as a stanadalone, but I do recommend reading Better Than People as well.

Both of the main characters grow quite a bit throughout this story. Charlie, by finally opening himself up to physical love and intimacy, and Rye, by finally learning to trust. Perfectly crafted, Best Laid Plans flows beautifully from cover to cover, and just left me craving more of Roan Parrish's lovely words.

**4.5 Stars**

I read this book last week and it took me this long to put my feelings in order because, y’all, I am soft. Roan Parrish hit all my “awww” spots with her latest release, BEST LAID PLANS. This is the second book in the Garnet Run series but I read it as a standalone without issue. It’s a M/M romance featuring all my favorite tropes, sunshine/grump, home renovations, and forced proximity it basically hit all of my happy buttons.

Charlie is the older, sunshine-yet-sad hero with a savior complex, and Rye is a true-to-himself chaos creator hero who Charlie can’t resist. They end up (reluctantly on Rye’s part) working together to fix the falling-down house Rye inherited.

This book was relatively low on angst and high in emotion and quippy banter (another love point for me). The parts that stuck out to me, and that I appreciated the most, were the open and honest conversations about sex and intimacy between the two men. They had discussions about preferences, penetrative sex not being the ONLY kind of sex, and figuring each other’s turn-ons without shame or judgment. It was touching and sexy and these scenes might have made me cry once or twice give me that good communication and emotional intimacy all day!

I did have to take a half a star off because the adult in me was cringing when Charlie co-signed Rye’s loan. Such a terrible idea! It was not romantic and completely took me out of the book. Luckily, the world sucked me back in quickly. But dang. Do not co-sign a loan with a stranger!

Overall, I loved reading about two lovely and lonely humans find their person in each other. If you want to close a book with the warm fuzzies and a desperate desire to adopt 10 cats, read this book!

Rye and Charlie were wonderful characters and I enjoyed seeing Charlie in the forefront with his own story, after life threw a wrench into his plans and left him raising his brother he gets his own happy ending. Sweetly endearing, seeing these two come together made for an enjoyable read.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by NetGalley*

My love for Roan Parrish continues with Best Laid Plans.

I had no idea I wanted Charlie's book until I got Charlie's book. He was just the somewhat interesting big brother that took care of Jack. I think I brushed him off as that side character that was useful, sort of interesting, and just there. Oh Charlie, how I was wrong. Charlie has a depth to him that needed to open up, come out, and be set free. He's this amazing brother that gave up so much to be the best brother, and guardian, to Jack that he could be. On one hand I knew that he had to have given up a lot, but I really had no idea how much. I never even really gave it any thought.

Then there is Rye... This guy! Crap life, all of a sudden given a chance at something new and fresh. What Rye did not know was that chance that was presenting itself in the worst way possible, was going to turn out to be the best thing ever.

Best Laid Plans is a sweet story about two men who have multiple issues, difficulty talking about them, both with a love for cats (like me), and both ready to take on the project of not only a house but also themselves.

I enjoyed Best Laid Plans so much. The story is sweet and beautiful. To be with Charlie and Rye as they go on their journey to happiness was a gift.

Recommended

I wanted to love Best Laid Plans by Roan Parrish, but, in the end, I found it just ok.

I loved the characters.

Their history.

Setting.

Kitties.

It had all the ingredients for a great story, but it was so damn sloooow. I hate to say it, but it was boring.

2.75 stars rounded up to 3 Stars because I did love the characters- just not the execution. I think book one was better.

You guys--this series! It takes me apart in the absolute best ways!

Rye and Charlie are absolutely amazing together. I loved Charlie in his brother Jack's book ( Better Than People ) but being able to see inside his head here? Heartbreakingly beautiful. From the first scenes where he wonders about the newcomer who is making questionable purchases from his hardware store (do we ever find out why he bought two flashlights?) to the one where he admits to Rye that...well, I'm not going to tell you, but trust me, it'll get you right there his story absolutely delivered on all I'd hoped for for him and more.

And Rye? Ohmygoodness, he's so much more than what he seems at first glance, and I absolutely loved how he is always so fierce about making sure that Charlie gets taken care of too, instead of always being the one who is meeting the needs of everyone else.

And the cats...well. They're pure gold. It really shows that Ms Parrish wrote this one while in quarantine with her cat, because she has got the personalities of each feline down to a t. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if her character sheets for her animal characters were almost as long as the ones for her human ones.

Murder cat the second. Hee hee hee.

Best Laid Plans is the second in Roan Parrish's Garnet Run series, but it could be read as a standalone--though honestly, I can't imagine not wanting to binge them both. If you love *love* and enjoy reading about animals with questionable (but explained to the reader--I'm telling you, lengthy character sheets!) names, then this series is for you. I am not ready to leave Garnet Run behind anytime soon, so fingers crossed that Ms Parrish will be bringing us more books in this delightful series!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

4.5/5 Stars

You all know how much I love Roan Parrish's books and she's done it again! I finished this book several weeks ago and I've been trying to think of the right words to review it ever since. I'm having trouble conveying why I loved it so much.

I was intrigued by Jack's big brother from the first time he appeared on the page in Better Than People. I knew Charlie's story was going to be fascinating but I wasn't prepared for how heartbreaking it was going to be. I knew that he must have given a lot of stuff up in order to raise Jack but I didn't realize how much that would be. Maybe that's why I was so invested in the romance between him and Rye.

And Rye! He was a delightfully grumpy disaster pansexual and I fell in love with him and his weird cat almost immediately. His prickly outer layer hides a gooey, cinnamon roll center and I loved watching him open up to accept Charlie in his life.

I love Roan Parrish's books but this one was even better than normal. Her stories always run my emotions through the ringer but this one hit a bit closer to home for me. And it was so delightfully diverse in its queer and gender rep (there is a character I would place on the Ace spectrum)! Plus, we got to see Jack and Simon again. I didn't think I was going to love Charlie's story more than theirs but I did.

Why should you pick this up? This story was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once and has an amazing queer romance to root for. I am a sucker for a good grump and sunshine romance and this book delivered on that and so much more! I would also highly recommend this series if you are looking for adorable contemporary romances with non-typical leads.

I hope we get more books in this series. Maybe following the teens Rye befriends? Or Jack's best friend? I just want to see more of the people in this little Wyoming town!

I dearly love Roan Parrish's books, but I think this series is just slightly too twee for my tastes. Both books so far have felt slightly underdeveloped as well. That being said, I loved that the leads have a really good, unique connection, and overall there's still enough spark to keep me coming back!

A sweet lust at first sight novel. I really enjoyed this, I think one of the things I really appreciated was the book didn't just end when they got together, there wasn't a short epilogue to round off the future, but there was a complete story, their getting together and what they did after they were together, I wasn't left hanging winding what happened down the track, having to buy a book 2 to find out.

Rye was a complicated character who had been through a lot as a teenager and was completely down on his luck when he turned up in the small town of Garnet Run. I liked how despite the odds against him, he kept persevering and was eventually willing to accept help.

Charlie was used to putting others first, especially his brother, and meeting Rye has him needing to deal with issues of his own he had pushed aside. I really felt for Charlie and loved how Rye was there for him and vice versa.

The addition of cats was cute, even if I'm a dog person myself, I can completely understand how these animals make such a difference in a persons life and are very helpful for people with mental health issues giving them something to focus on and love and get affection from.

A really enjoyable read with plenty of emotions to deal with.

*3.5 stars*

I was prepared to have mixed emotions about Best Laid Plans because my friends have wildly varying ratings for it, but I ended up enjoyed it. I didn't like it quite as much as Better Than People, but it was still a quiet, sweet read.

I think the pacing and the constant self-reflection may have been a stumbling block for many readers, and it did keep me from reading this book all at one clip. It feels a little bit like a prolonged therapy session, in a way, and you have to sort of get through that to enjoy the story. However, I enjoyed how the relationship slowly developed between Rye and Charlie, and I liked the interplay between the two of them. This isn't a light or airy story, and you have to wade through a lot of heavy feelings to get through the romance. It also isn't super angsty, just... dense, I would say.

Charlie's sexuality was interesting to me. I couldn't quite decide, in my head, if he fell somewhere in the gray-asexuality range or if his trauma just kept him from facing his feelings about sex, but it was interesting to have a main character where sex isn't front and center or easy. I enjoyed the dynamic of Rye and Charlie figuring out Charlie's preferences together, and exploring what they meant for both of them. Plus, spanking and hair pulling are always wins, in my book.

Personally, I'm really enjoying the Garnet Run series (plus, pets!), and I'm excited to see what else Roan Parrish has in store for us.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

Charlie was introduced in the first Garnet Run book, Better than People. His inability to keep from helping and hovering over his brother after his accident gave readers a glimpse into his protective personality. Getting into his head in Best Laid Plans helped to understand where that protective instinct came from.

Then there was Rye… beautifully broken Rye… *sigh* I knew exactly how Charlie felt about wanting to help him, even though he put up a huge wall of independence and defiance. Charlie was a force to be reckoned with and before long, Rye didn’t want to resist.

Things weren’t perfect though and at times Charlie’s protective streak was a bit much. I loved where the story went though and how both Rye and Charlie brought out the best in each other and helped mend a lifetime of pain. Charlie wasn’t quite as “unbroken” as he pretended to be and those are my favorite kind of characters.

I think it's a sweet and entertaining story, it kept me hooked and I rooted for the characters.
I like the story and the characters.
Hope to read another book by this author soon, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine