The second installment to Albert’s “True Colors” series is a cute, sweet, and heartwarming second chance friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance. I wasn’t sure upon (reading) early chapters whether I would root for Jasper or Milo, but following the story through their alternate POVs gradually endeared both young men to me. In different way, they faced upheavals in life and coping well enough. And for all the mistakes they had done, they owned up to them and tried to make amends (instead of plotting revenge). Very mature of them indeed.

OUT OF CHARACTER is a journey of love, family, and friendships. I adore Jasper and Milo. I witnessed them thriving and becoming more mature; dealing with the ups and downs of life, learning about and accepting themselves. I have absolutely zilch grasp on gaming but was thoroughly entertained by the lively chronicles for the whole of the pages. The only drawback for me was for the lack of major ruin for a certain douche of character for being a total PITA.

Though (this book) could be read as a standalone, I recommend readers to read the previous entry (to the series) first to get the gist of Jasper’s circle of friends and what they were on about. Personally, I enjoyed this book way better than “Conventionally Yours” and I’m hopeful Albert had more up her sleeves for this series (the way the story hinted at Jasper’s friends). Here’s hoping they would arrive soon! 😉


Copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This has been a delight of friends to enemies to somewhat strangers to allies to friends and finally lovers.
And that description matches the atmosphere of this novel. While it is different from the usual pacing of books that I am used to. Albert takes this relationship slow and in an almost careful approach. This could mimic both MIlo's hesitation towards coming out and Jasper's reluctancy to open his heart to an old crush who once betrayed him. I love the last final bits of the novel where Albert discusses about relationships and even describe things that I couldn't put to words to my own partner. It has been a lovely insight to see both characters who once grew apart and are now growing together.

Annabeth Albert’s Conventionally Yours was a surprise favourite of mine in 2020; and the fact that this book is sorta sequel to it, had me squealing in joy, especially when my request was approved on Netgalley

Out of Character is a Best Friends - Enemies - to Friends - to Lovers romance that deals with the angst of second chances, a journey of understand oneself and finding a foundation to move forward.

Milo has made a whole lot of mistakes and taken impulsive decisions that have not exactly gone his way. And this latest blunder of his makes him go to the only person who could help him, his ex best friend, Jasper.

Now Jasper and Milo were bestest of friends until Milo started hanging out with boys who wouldn’t stop bullying Jasper, especially when they found out that he is gay. Milo makes a decision that makes sure that they turn enemies.

Now Milo needs Jasper’s help trying to undo another one his mistakes - though they are both grown ups now (relatively!). They band together to find what they need, and in that journey, maybe find each other.

I know it’s not fair to actually compare this book to Conventionally Yours, but I was; because I needed that level of angst and Out Of Character had the perfect opportunity to create that level of angst with the history between Milo and Jasper. Though it honestly missed the mark on this level.

I, however did enjoy this sequel, Out of Character - there is no doubt Annabeth Albert is a wonderful writer and I actually read this book in one single sitting; with dual POVs and whole lot of geekiness; it’s a book that will definitely keep you entertained on a lazy Sunday.

3.5⭐️
I haven’t read the first book in this series but I was provided with an arc of this book, so I just jumped into it. It can definitely be read as a standalone!

While it wasn’t one of my favourite reads, it was really fun and enjoyable. I didn’t love the whole gaming aspect of the book, it went straight over my head to be honest. But because it is a big part of the plot of the book, it can’t really be skimmed too much, which is why I had to bring the rating down. But if you’re a fan of gaming/cosplay you would definitely love and appreciate this book more than I did! Despite not loving that aspect, I did really enjoy the rest of the book and the relationship between Jasper and Milo.

I felt really proud of Milo throughout this book and I loved the growth he went through. Jasper really helped him get there!

I did feel like the story was dragged out a bit. It could have been shorter and the story would remain the same. But overall it was a really enjoyable read. If you love gaming and cosplay I think that you would really love this book!

4.5/5 Stars

I really enjoyed Conventionally Yours, so I was really excited when I heard about Out of Character and it really lived up to my expectations!

I like the plot. I found it really engaging. I liked the characters. I particularly enjoyed seeing the growth that both of them went through over the course of the book. The book was faced-paced. It was a great quick, fun read!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced listeners copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to the publishers for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for my honest review! As a lover of Albert's writing, I was so excited to get into this!

"It's not going to be easy."
"Nothing worth having ever is."

From the author of Conventionally Yours comes another brilliant nerdy novel that will make you smile, laugh and never want to put down.

Milo has made a lot of mistakes in life. Many of them that he regrets. But now, when he comes to face his ex-best friend Jasper, asking him for help with a problem he never saw coming, maybe there's a chance that the deal they make can help them both come to better terms.

This book is honestly so perfect for lovers of Red, White and Royal blue, card games and cosplay. Like the first book, Out of Character follows the characters and their involvement with the game Odyssey. Being the second in a series it was wonderful to be greeted by some familiar names while reading, but even if you haven't read the first book, this is an amazing story that I would recommend.

I cannot wait to see what comes next in the True Colours series!!

When it came to this book, I didn't read the back, i just picked it up

The beginning had me wondering if it was building up to a nerdy quest? Spoiler alert: it was. Milo and Jasper are hurt and flawed and their story of coming together through this mega nerdy side quest was simply delightful. This is a New Adult Book about two young men figuring out love and life and who they are. About relationships. And really about being a giant nerd who is also gay--both of which cause some minor identity crises and drama. This is friends to enemies to something to so much told in a way that I think most people can relate to.


To be honest, I didn't realize this was second in a series, but I was not confused at all. This book is truly delightful all on its own! (you can take my word for it, I was definitely giddy)

If you love enemies-to-lovers and friends-to-lovers stories, this book is what you’re looking for to read. Do not pick any other book; pick Out of Character. The story is geeky, charming, and holds some truth.

Milo Lionetti has been making the wrong choices throughout his teenage and young adult life; those mistakes have led him to where he is now: begging his ex-best friend, Jasper Quigley, for help. Milo lost his older brother’s rare Odyssey cards while drunk and playing against the biggest cheat in the game. He didn’t realize he was being played until after he started the game, but there was no going back. After a night of bad decisions, he’s sick to his stomach having done that to a brother that has given everything to him and Milo wants all the help he can get to find new cards.

There seemed to be two issues here for Milo:

First, the rare Odyssey cards cost a fortune. Not only was he screwed by not having the money, but he also wasn’t skilled enough to find them for himself.

Second, working with his ex-best friend Jasper Quigley, meant certain things. He couldn’t allow himself to screw up their newfound relationship, and he needed to keep changing his life around to deserve someone that suddenly meant the whole world to him.

Jasper Quigley is what you call a superhero character, but that wouldn’t accurately describe his characterization and charm. Jasper works at a game store, is in his last year of university, and he’s a spark ready to fly high in the sky. He loves Odyssey and has a goal of working around the gaming industry. That has been Jasper’s goal, and the return of Milo Lionetti in his life took a strange turn. Suddenly, helping Milo find these rare Odyssey cards becomes a quest for love and not pity.

That’s not all Jasper Quigley is, though; he is surrounded by loving friends who appreciate who he is. Jasper’s the kind of person who you can count on but will set you right if you’re acting up. He lives for others, and taking for himself is something he must learn to balance.

Jasper is the spark in this book. Milo would agree.

The story of the two characters’ points of view blended flawlessly, making poignant commentary and having fantastic diverse characters who have a sense of empathy, kindness, and love. Friendship is what trumps all in the story at the end; nothing could have united them more than friendship and their love for those around them. The secondary characters also steal the show, making us laugh and cry at the same time. Out of Character is a fantastic, diverse character book that follows two male protagonists.

The best part of Out of Character is that you don’t have to read the first book in the series to understand this story. Out of Character is an extension of the True Colors world and I couldn’t be happier about it. Make it your best book pick of July!

This is a friends to enemies to allies/friends? to lovers. Milo and Jasper were best friends growing up, until Milo started hanging out with the soccer team and Jasper came out. Now, at the end of college, Milo comes to Jasper, asking for help seeking out rare cards to a game called Odyssey. Jasper needs someone who looks like Milo for a cosplay thing, so an uneasy alliance is formed, and a quest undertaken.

I found this book to be so sweet. Jasper is deeply hurt by Milo's abandonment and failure to stop bullying in HS. Milo is deeply regretful of those days, and trying to figure out how to become the man he wants to be and not the screw-up he's been of late. By working together, they reconnect. Milo has known he's gay for a while, but hasn't come out, in part because his dad was deeply homophobic and he fears his mother and brother may be as well.

Milo is a character who has trouble articulating his feelings and will shut down rather than communicate. This resonated strongly with me. Jasper helps draw him out and say the important things.

And it's all against a background of cosplay nerdery which is really lovely.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Out of Character": 3⭐

(Unpaid Review: thank you to @netgalley, @annabethalbert and the publishers for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review)

This is the second book in the True Colours series. It is a male-male romance and perfect for #pridemonth reads! I loved Jasper and Milo even more so, because I couldn't stop thinking about Jesper and Milo from Six of Crows 🤪

Although I enjoyed this book (also, it can be read as a standalone), I didn't think it was the best contemporary I've read. I did enjoy the LGBTQ aspect of it, but at the same time, I felt like things were going way too quickly between them.

It's a good read regardless!

I liked this one, but didn't love it. In terms of the actual story itself, I thought it was pretty sweet and a decent low-conflict romance; I usually hate bully / enemies-to-lovers romances, but the author here gave Milo a good enough reason to have behaved badly in the past, and it was easy to empathise with him and not just immediately find him irredeemable. I also didn't find the whole gamer thing as distracting in this book as I did in the first one. It was much better integrated into the narrative.

That said, I really didn't like the writing style of this one. I absolutely didn't buy that this was the narrative voice of two men in their mid-twenties. It read exactly like the internal monologue of a 14 year old girl, and it just felt kind of weird trying to imagine that this was the thought process of two adult men. It also meant that the saucy scenes, which were quite a bit more explicit than those in the first book in the series, felt disjointed and out of character.

I dunno, I just feel like there's something that's not clicking with Albert's writing style in this one. I did enjoy it overall, but I hope the next few in the series feel less like YA novels.

This is the second book in the True Colors series. This is a fun MM book centered on a popular card game. This is such a great book; the characters are well developed, and the pace made it hard to put down. The plot is wonderful. I do feel this book can be read as a stand-alone book. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

This book was a sweet and a fun read for me, I enjoyed my time with this book, however there were quite a few things that did not resonate well with me. This book didn't not outperform it's previous book.
The things I like about this book were:
Ex-Best-Friends to Friends to Lovers
Gay representation
Nerd culture
Adorable side characters

Jasper. He is just the best. Milo. He really works hard to be the best he can be. Friends to enemies to friendly and then more. It’s a rollercoaster ride I didn’t want to get off of. Just simple spectacular!

Jasper and Milo shine in this book. A sweet story with lots of nerdiness. They capture both of these characters in a place where they find each other and forgive one another from their past experiences. So much fun, sweet and romance, a fun YA read,

Second book of the True Colors series, but I think it could be read as a standalone.

Unfortunately, I decided to read the first book (Conventionally Yours) before starting this one. I felt like this was a copy and paste of the first book. (even though I enjoyed both their stories!)

“You can copy my homework, but just change some stuff, okay?” - that’s basically how I felt. They were both similar on a lot of levels, but the characters were more unique. Also, I had to put a lot of effort in to remember that the two main characters are in their 20s because they were just so… childish sometimes.

I didn’t really see where this book was going, and I didn’t really care. The story or the characters didn’t hook me, but it was easy and nice to read.

I don’t have anything against it, but I’m also not a big fan.

Overall, it was an enjoyable and quick read, but it was also kinda disappointing.

In all honesty, I liked the first book more. The plot and the characters were just so much more interesting (I’ll post a review about that book soon!).

A second chance enemies to lovers story!

This is the follow up to Conventionally Yours, but could absolutely be read by itself!

The story follows Jasper and Milo, who used to be best friends. Milo needs Jasper’s assistance with finding rare Odyssey cards. Jasper complies, and over time the two push past their prior history and baggage and start to have feelings for each other.

This was a cute story. Definitely some trigger warnings (homophobia), but those were important topics to tackle. I liked the character development, especially from Milo. I love that they cosplay at a hospital for children. The friend group was super solid-we love that.

Overall it was a quick, cute read.

Milo Lionetti feels like he has made a mess of his life and he is determined to do better. That means fixing his past mistakes, including moving on from his toxic friends and figuring out a new direction for his life. But right now, Milo needs to find four rare Odyssey game collector cards, after losing his brother’s set in an ill-advised (and drunken) bet. Milo knows he is out of his depth, and the only person he can think to call on is Jasper Quigley. Jasper, his former best friend, who now hates him after Milo’s friends bullied Jasper in high school and Milo just stood by silently.

Jasper wants absolutely nothing to do with Milo. Jasper was hurt when Milo dumped him for his seemingly cooler friends, even more so when Milo never intervened when those friends bullied Jasper. When Milo shows up at the shop where Jasper works looking for help, Jasper’s first instinct is to send him away. But Jasper also needs some help and Milo may be just the right guy for the job. Jasper and his friends do Odyssey cosplay at the local hospital and they just lost their Prince. Jasper agrees to help Milo if he will fill in with the group at the hospital.

Milo is definitely anxious about the whole thing, embarrassed about the costume, awkward about fitting in, and nervous knowing how tense things are with Jasper. Milo feels deep remorse for the way he treated Jasper back in high school and he is sincere in his apology. Jasper isn’t ready to let the past go after so much pain, but he is willing to give Milo a chance to prove he has changed. The two start spending time together, both doing cosplay at the hospital, as well as searching for the rare cards Milo needs to find. The guys get to know each other once again, this time as adults. It is clear to Jasper that Milo has sincere remorse for his past. He is also clearly struggling with his own life, not only in coming out, but also in moving forward away from the mistakes of his past.

Soon Milo and Jasper are falling hard for one another and there seems to be a chance for something real to develop between them. But Milo also needs to get his life together, and that includes facing up to his mistakes with losing the cards, coming out to his family, and finding a way to be a better man than he has been in the past. However, with Jasper’s support, Milo is well on his way to sorting out his life, as well as having the man he loves by his side.

Out of Character is the second book in Annabeth Albert’s True Colors series. I really loved the first book, Conventionally Yours, so I was eagerly anticipated this second installment. While Jasper does appear in the first book, and some of the side characters cross over books, this story stands alone quite well and you could easily jump in here. The real connecting plot thread is the Odyssey game the characters play, but this story has a lot less focus on the gaming itself than the first book. We see a few matches, but mostly it is about the cosplay, as well as the search for the rare cards that Milo lost.

I find that stories of reformed bullies (or bullying bystanders in this case) can sometimes be dicey, as it can be hard to find respect or appreciation for a character who has behaved so poorly in the past. But I think Albert does a nice job here, not only showing us where Milo is coming from in terms of his past, but also showing his genuine remorse and attempts to be a better person. His journey spans the book and deals with many issues, including owning up to his mistakes with both Jasper and his family, dumping his awful friends, and finding a new path forward in his life. I could understand why Jasper is able to forgive him and so I was as well. That said, I know this can be a difficult theme for many readers, so be aware that this is a key part of the story.

I found I really liked Milo and Jasper together and enjoyed watching them find that friendship again that they had lost years before. Jasper is a caretaker and he can’t help but want to be there for Milo, to introduce him to his friends and to help him find the cards. At the same time, Milo is determined to finally get his act together, to move forward and take accountability for things. So there is some tension there as Jasper wants to step in and save the day, while Milo needs to take his own action. I was quite pleased with how things play out, as I expected the conflict would go one specific direction, so I enjoyed seeing it come together in a way I didn’t anticipate. I found there was good balance to their relationship between Milo moving forward and really evaluating himself and his life, but with Jasper there to really help him through things and to be a soft place to land as Milo works through everything.

As with the first book, I enjoyed the gaming aspect of the storyline and continue to be amazed at this rich card game Albert has created. I would swear it was real with all the detail and depth that she has brought to it and the Odyssey elements really round out the story nicely, as well as help develop a great group of side characters who play together. So I found this one really entertaining and a lot of fun. This series is definitely one to check out.

Content warning: This novel will contain elements of homophobia (outward and internalized), as well as sexual content broaching on new adult scenes.

Out of Character is an expansion of Annabeth Albert’s True Colors universe, but while it serves as a sequel to the first novel in the series, Conventionally Yours, it is a standalone story that new readers of Albert can enjoy without having read the first book. In this angsty and romantic rendition of ex-friends to lovers, Out of Character is an emotional fixation of remorse, forgiveness, love, and an adoration ‘geeky’ pop culture.

When Jasper Quigley is approached for help at work, the last person he expected to see was Milo Lionetti. His former best friend turned King of Jocks, Milo allowed Jasper to be harassed and bullied by his soccer teammates all throughout high school. Milo is desperate, however, having lost his brother’s extremely rare collection of Odyssey cards in a drunken bet. Unfortunately, Jasper is the best person he could think of to help.

Jasper is hesitant to reopen old wounds (and revisit old and possibly still-there feelings toward his former friend). Still, he agrees to help Milo under one condition: he must cosplay with Jasper’s group for when they visit the local children’s hospital as Odyssey characters. As both Jasper and Milo look for rare cards to replace the ones Milo lost, they are also confronted by past hurt and current struggles. The hunt for Odyssey cards shifts into a search for the friendship they lost and a possibility for something more.

Out of Character is a very cute story of two men who eventually find their way back to one another. This is not really a ‘coming out’ story. Instead, it is a story of how Milo comes to terms with his feelings toward Jasper and allows himself the liberty to finally act on them without fear. Both Jasper and Milo each have their own faults, but it was Milo who turned his back on Jasper after he had been recruited onto their high school soccer team. Terrified of how he would be treated if he was outed, and terrified by his own feelings for Jasper, Milo does nothing to stop the onslaught of bullying aimed towards Jasper throughout high school.

While there is no excuse for treating or allowing others to be treated so cruelly, Milo spends the entirety of the novel making amends to Jasper, fighting against his internalized impulses to run away or hide who he is. The moments where Milo stands up for himself and Jasper are admirable to witness. We get to see, from both his and Jasper’s perspectives, that Milo is still scared but unwilling to hide his true self any longer. This is not just limited to him being gay. It’s also to his love for creating art, a part of himself that he was not comfortable exploring publicly because of ridicule from his teammates and father.

Out of Character is a wholesome story of two former friends rediscovering love with each other. The inclusion of conventions, card games, and art are welcome additions to make this an all-around entertaining tale! For people that have read Conventionally Yours, there are also fun cameos made by the main characters within Out of Character. If you are a fan of the ‘enemies-to-lovers’ trope and adore books like Red, White & Royal Blue, Annabeth Albert’s Out of Character is a great read to add to your TBR list.

~Thanks to Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Out of Character in exchange for an honest review. ~

This was one of my anticipated releases for July! While I'll admit, this didn't live up to my love for Conventionally Yours, I still had a good time overall.

This certainly falls into the New Adult category, with the writing reading a bit more on the immature side at times while handling some big life topics, which I think encapsulates that transition period out of college into adulthood well. I did enjoy Milo and Jasper but didn't quite fall in love with them as much as Alden (but I loved getting to see him and Conrad as side characters!). For the most part, their perspectives were pretty distinct, but toward the end, their voices did start to flow together slightly. A big reason for this, I believe, is that we see some of Jasper rubbing off on Milo. Milo had a wonderful character arc throughout the story and I'd really recommend this book for that aspect.

Jasper is a nerd and proud of it, while Milo is an ex-jock who feels out of place in the world after some screwups. They have a history, both good and bad, which added some underlying tension to their early interactions. As much as I liked them as a couple, for how long this story was, I think the transition from enemies to friends to lovers should have dragged out a bit more. This book also had a few smut scenes more than the first (not terribly explicit), but I think it would have been better to spend more time focusing on rebuilding their friendship and then eventual relationship.

Speaking of dragging though, this plot was pretty dang slow. Once the initial setup had taken place, I thought there'd be more action happening as they try to find the cards. However, the pacing was very jumpy in that regard.

Albert does a great job of sliding in representation with her characters. This story had a bit of an everybody's gay trope, Milo had a limp, and April (Jasper's little sister) has a chronic illness. All great to see on-page. I also absolutely adore all of the nerd culture in this series. From the creation of the Odyssey game to the cosplaying, I had a great time watching these characters enjoy their passions.

A bit of a drop from the first, but still a good installment. I'm intrigued to see if Albert will be writing a third book about another set of characters in this universe.