Oof, this is a bit difficult to rate.
The story is about a Kyle who just lost his left leg in an accident and is still trying to learn to cope with it. He slips on ice and falls in front of Mark, his two years long 'rival', who insist on helping him get home and then proceeds to take care of him...
What I liked:
-The caretaking, especially at the beginning. It was really sweet and I enjoyed it a ton.
-The way Kyle's shyness was portrayed. I'll admit that I was frustrated with him at times, but people snapping at others and being antagonistic to hide their embarrassment is a thing and I rarely see it in books, so this was refreshing.
-The way Mark was so big on consent. I liked that he could be both bossy and possessive, but still respect Kyle's boundaries.
-Kyle's brother Chris and how he took care of Kyle.
Some other stuff:
-I enjoy possessive love interests, so Mark's behavior didn't bother me, but it also didn't particularly work for me either. I think it felt a little forced at times and a few times he come across as really childish and petty, which was contradictory to his calm & composed demeanour from the beginning of the book.
-The smut was well-written, but I couldn't quite get into it. Their feelings for each other run from long before the book starts (they've known each other for two years at that point), so the intensity makes sense, but as we don't see any of it (we're just told about it later in the book), it felt a little forced and sudden to me.
-I actually don't mind OTT stuff, but that drama at the end was sudden and somehow things happened too conveniently. Not a big deal for me, but I did have a "WTF" moment there.
What really didn't work for me:
-I didn't buy into their past rivalry, and this is mostly because we're only told about it, not shown (not even in flashbacks). Which is a pity, because I really wanted to see it. I think I'd loved it if this book started when they first met and we get to see that rivalry (one mention that particularly stuck with me: Kyle tipping over Mark's boat, then Mark dragging him down too - I so wanted to see that), then somewhere at 40-50% mark Kyle has accident, loses his leg and the rest is them clearing up misunderstandings and building a closer relationship. This is the thing I'm most disappointed about, honestly.
-The way Tommy went from completely ignoring Kyle to getting all in his business. How he kept shifting from encouraging Kyle to be with Mark to getting in their way... And that rivalry between Tommy and Mark, getting into fights etc.
-The way author delayed revealing certain information until later in the book. For some things it was okay, but most was frustrating once it was revealed. I think it would've worked better if we knew about Leonard and Ronan earlier. Also, why would you reveal that the story is set in Ireland or Kyle's eye color in the last 20% of the book, and not earlier? Or not at all. The place really isn't important, but when you spend almost the whole book with one picture you built with what you were given, only to get this info when the book is almost over... Again, what's the point?
-Louis felt like a plot point that was put on a bus. I'm actually glad that he seemed to be Kyle's genuine friend and that he didn't get in the way of his relationship with Mark, but the "hopeful glances" he gave Mark at the beginning now feel misleading and unnecessary.
I know I complained a lot here, but I wouldn't say this book was bad. Just some things didn't work for me and some left me disappointed.
°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*
General Notes
-Anxious MC, shy MC x Possessive & Protective LI
-sort of rivals (past) to lovers
-caretaking
-disability (prosthetic leg), trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, abusive family, on page physical violence (not between MCs)...
Intimacy Notes
-Top/bottom/verse: strict on page, never really discussed; Kyle bottoms and Mark tops.
-Kinks/sex notes:dry humping; neck grabbing (possessively, not choking); frotting, mild spanking, rimming, penetration, use of condoms...
-Other:
・Consent
・Possessivenes & Protectiveness
・Mark is boss and low-key daddy
・some handtimacy and necktimacy
Oof, this is a bit difficult to rate.
The story is about a Kyle who just lost his left leg in an accident and is still trying to learn to cope with it. He slips on ice and falls in front of Mark, his two years long 'rival', who insist on helping him get home and then proceeds to take care of him...
What I liked:
-The caretaking, especially at the beginning. It was really sweet and I enjoyed it a ton.
-The way Kyle's shyness was portrayed. I'll admit that I was frustrated with him at times, but people snapping at others and being antagonistic to hide their embarrassment is a thing and I rarely see it in books, so this was refreshing.
-The way Mark was so big on consent. I liked that he could be both bossy and possessive, but still respect Kyle's boundaries.
-Kyle's brother Chris and how he took care of Kyle.
Some other stuff:
-I enjoy possessive love interests, so Mark's behavior didn't bother me, but it also didn't particularly work for me either. I think it felt a little forced at times and a few times he come across as really childish and petty, which was contradictory to his calm & composed demeanour from the beginning of the book.
-The smut was well-written, but I couldn't quite get into it. Their feelings for each other run from long before the book starts (they've known each other for two years at that point), so the intensity makes sense, but as we don't see any of it (we're just told about it later in the book), it felt a little forced and sudden to me.
-I actually don't mind OTT stuff, but that drama at the end was sudden and somehow things happened too conveniently. Not a big deal for me, but I did have a "WTF" moment there.
What really didn't work for me:
-I didn't buy into their past rivalry, and this is mostly because we're only told about it, not shown (not even in flashbacks). Which is a pity, because I really wanted to see it. I think I'd loved it if this book started when they first met and we get to see that rivalry (one mention that particularly stuck with me: Kyle tipping over Mark's boat, then Mark dragging him down too - I so wanted to see that), then somewhere at 40-50% mark Kyle has accident, loses his leg and the rest is them clearing up misunderstandings and building a closer relationship. This is the thing I'm most disappointed about, honestly.
-The way Tommy went from completely ignoring Kyle to getting all in his business. How he kept shifting from encouraging Kyle to be with Mark to getting in their way... And that rivalry between Tommy and Mark, getting into fights etc.
-The way author delayed revealing certain information until later in the book. For some things it was okay, but most was frustrating once it was revealed. I think it would've worked better if we knew about Leonard and Ronan earlier. Also, why would you reveal that the story is set in Ireland or Kyle's eye color in the last 20% of the book, and not earlier? Or not at all. The place really isn't important, but when you spend almost the whole book with one picture you built with what you were given, only to get this info when the book is almost over... Again, what's the point?
-Louis felt like a plot point that was put on a bus. I'm actually glad that he seemed to be Kyle's genuine friend and that he didn't get in the way of his relationship with Mark, but the "hopeful glances" he gave Mark at the beginning now feel misleading and unnecessary.
I know I complained a lot here, but I wouldn't say this book was bad. Just some things didn't work for me and some left me disappointed.
°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*⁀°•*
General Notes
-Anxious MC, shy MC x Possessive & Protective LI
-sort of rivals (past) to lovers
-caretaking
-disability (prosthetic leg), trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, abusive family, on page physical violence (not between MCs)...
Intimacy Notes
-Top/bottom/verse: strict on page, never really discussed; Kyle bottoms and Mark tops.
-Kinks/sex notes:dry humping; neck grabbing (possessively, not choking); frotting, mild spanking, rimming, penetration, use of condoms...
-Other:
・Consent
・Possessivenes & Protectiveness
・Mark is boss and low-key daddy
・some handtimacy and necktimacy
