CW for novella: homophobia

Quick review for a quick read. 2, maybe 2.5 star read overall, I don't think I could give it higher than that since I had qualms with it. I'm working through a backlog of reviews on books that I received as galleys from NetGalley over the course of quite a number of years, and this is one that I knew I still had by Roni Loren, among a few books I've picked up from the author. Novella, short read, can be read as a standalone. When I originally requested this, I didn't realize it was part of a series. That might affect how I view this one taking it on without the context of the rest of the series, but for a standalone, it was easy to get into without having read the other stories. Also the cover is quite eye-catching in its own right. I kind of wish for as eye catching as the cover was that the story could have been better for what it offered.

On the story, this is the tale of a pair of former college roommates that had a falling out many years ago due to taking their relationship "too far". Hunter is in the flux of preparing for his wedding with his current fiancé and hasn't selected a best man for the wedding. Hunter's bride to be takes it upon herself to pull strings for connections and encourages Hunter to reconnect with Devon, Hunter's former roommate in college. Neither Hunter nor Devon had forgotten that night, nor have they really had any connection since their falling out. One night at a bar, they reconnect. Hunter is drunk and Devon realizes that the feelings he had for Hunter never actually went away - and the story rolls its way on from that point.

Fitting title for a story of reconnection. Hunter and Devon are opposites years later, but they were that way even as college roomies. The novella does a good job of contrasting the past and present, going in flashbacks to showcase the way their relationship was then and now, and what led to them falling out. I put the content warning on homophobia mentioned at the beginning of this review because there are definitely scenes in here where it's showcased early on, and is a key aspect of the conflict between them with Hunter's father as well as the tension between them, with Hunter identifying as straight and Devon being gay and fighting his seemingly unrequited affections for Hunter early on. There's definitely sexual tension between them that they play off as jokes. I don't know if I was really drawn into the story for events as much as I wanted to be. The intimate scenes between them were hot and I liked the fact that it showed them experimenting to see what worked for them.

But there were still scenes in this that didn't really feel like the threads were tied well for the conflict or overarching story. Felt like there could have been more, though it definitely gave a definitive answer to how both Hunter and Devon reconnected and got together, with a (very quick) HEA/HFN in tow. I also felt like I knew more about Hunter's background than I did about Devon's and I really wanted to know a little more about him too.

In the end, it was okay for a stand-alone story, and self contained novella. But it definitely felt like it could have been more.

Overall score: 2/5 stars.

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley from the publisher.

Hunter longs to be the opposite of his controlling, political father. Going to college in California put some distance between them, but his father still has tight control over Hunter.

When Devon wants to join the same fraternity as Hunter, the rest of the guys aren’t too cool with having a gay fraternity brother, but Hunter stands up for Devon and the two become the best of friends. Devon has always been attracted to Hunter, but he knows Hunter is straight and he would never do anything to put their close friendship in jeopardy. Then one night goes too far, turning into another night that goes even further, and then an accident that tears their friendship apart.

Four years later, Hunter is a professional baseball player and is planning his wedding to a former beauty queen. One night Hunter unexpectedly shows up at the restaurant Devon is managing and years of memories and longing come flooding back. Devon can’t help but be drawn back to Hunter and maybe spending some time with him will help ease old wounds, or maybe one night will once again change their lives.

This book sort of came out of nowhere for me. I was not familiar with the author, had no expectations, and was presented with a well written friends-to-lovers and second chance story. Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. The other books in the series are m/f and there are no visible crossover characters.

The book is told primarily as a flashback. We start with Hunter planning his wedding and feeling his entire life closing in on him. He had always wanted to be free from his father’s control and, while he is comfortable financially, his life is still not his own. He then goes to see Devon after not having any contact with him for four years.

We then are taken back to see how their relationship developed. The guys were the very best of friends and that was a great aspect to see how they just enjoyed hanging out together. Their relationship was the highlight of the book and Loren did a great job of showing how their friendship evolved and the scenes where the guys were exploring their attraction to each other were particularly well done.

There were a few areas that I would have liked more of as I really enjoyed reading about these guys and this is not a full length novel. We get much more of Hunter’s point of view and we don’t learn much about Devon. His parents disowned him when they learned he was gay, but that’s all we know. The time after the accident also has large gaps that aren’t filled in for both men. And, the ending was too abrupt for me. There was just so much more I wanted to see with these guys and there was potentially so much more story that could have been told.

Even with the few issues I had I would recommend this well written book for a strong friends-to-lovers theme and finding the one person that makes life complete.

Yours All Along is the story of two guys that meet and become best friends in college, but through circumstances lose sight of each other. As the novella unfolds, we get more and more insights into what exactly happened to them. There weren't any mind-blowing surprises, but I found the college part of this novella very well done. The slow build-up was fantastic, and I found their actions believable. Yours All Along is rather explicit on the sex scenes, but I thought they fit well with the emotional development the main characters go through.