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Better With You #1
The Happy List
Gray
There are some things I excel at: - Exercising rigid control over every aspect of my life - Making sensible decisions at every turn - Being organized, predictable and responsible to an abnormal degree In short, I’m boring as hell and in desperate need of a change. Luckily I have my best friend by my side and a newly written to-do list to guide my way through the murky waters of finding happiness. It’s all very promising at first, but as weeks pass, I start to realize that the best part of my day has always been.
Kai
And when I see him out on a date with some guy? Let’s just say I’m definitely not happy about it. Kai I’m back in Boston after ten years of traveling, and I’ve fulfilled all my goals: - See the world - Figure out what to do with my life - Get over my impossible crush on Gray Check, check and check. Life’s good until I accidentally find Gray’s happy list, which contains some very interesting things that friends never ever do with each other. And as weeks pass, it becomes clear those not-so-innocent parts are the ones Gray is determined to explore with me. In short, I’m screwed because no matter how hard I try, I can’t resist him, and pretty soon I'm forced to admit that I’m not as done with my crush as I thought I was...
There are some things I excel at: - Exercising rigid control over every aspect of my life - Making sensible decisions at every turn - Being organized, predictable and responsible to an abnormal degree In short, I’m boring as hell and in desperate need of a change. Luckily I have my best friend by my side and a newly written to-do list to guide my way through the murky waters of finding happiness. It’s all very promising at first, but as weeks pass, I start to realize that the best part of my day has always been.
Kai
And when I see him out on a date with some guy? Let’s just say I’m definitely not happy about it. Kai I’m back in Boston after ten years of traveling, and I’ve fulfilled all my goals: - See the world - Figure out what to do with my life - Get over my impossible crush on Gray Check, check and check. Life’s good until I accidentally find Gray’s happy list, which contains some very interesting things that friends never ever do with each other. And as weeks pass, it becomes clear those not-so-innocent parts are the ones Gray is determined to explore with me. In short, I’m screwed because no matter how hard I try, I can’t resist him, and pretty soon I'm forced to admit that I’m not as done with my crush as I thought I was...
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2020
About the author
Briar Prescott
13 books1,045 followersBriar Prescott is a work in progress. She swears too much, doesn’t eat enough leafy greens and binge watches too much television. It’s okay, though. One of these days she'll get a hang of that adulting thing.
Probably.
Maybe.
She hopes.
Want to check in occasionally to hear what's up? You can stalk her here:
Newsletter: https://www.briarprescott.com/contact
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/briar...
Email: [email protected].
Webpage: www.briarprescott.com.
Probably.
Maybe.
She hopes.
Want to check in occasionally to hear what's up? You can stalk her here:
Newsletter: https://www.briarprescott.com/contact
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/briar...
Email: [email protected].
Webpage: www.briarprescott.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 541 reviews
December 3, 2020
*4.5 stars*
A sexuality discovery story with best friends-to-lovers and a slow, slow burn... yes, please.
Whew, my first read from Briar Prescott and I fell in love! This was the low-angst romance I needed in my life right now. A sweet, sweet infinitely slow burn, pining for daaaaaaaays, and a demisexual MC. I seriously was in heaven.
Just a warning: The Happy List are not for those who are easily frustrated. It takes a VERY long time for the relationship parts of the story to get going. Sure, I sometimes hate it when we get two MCs who just won't SHARE their feelings, and it gets even worse when one is entirely clueless, but it honestly worked for me here. There was a lot of very sweet chemistry-building and a TON of sexual tension build-up, and I ate that up. I also think that moving from friendship to attraction was just such a paradigm-shift for Gray that he just didn't see it at first. Kai was infinitely patient or just too roped in to stop, but he had to suffer a lot before he saw his attraction being returned. Stick with the story and your patience will be rewarded, I promise.
Anyone who knows my reading tastes knows I love a story when a character is exploring their sexuality for the first time, and man, I was satisfied here. I love it when a character realizes their attractions and goes all in. Gray was confused at first, but once he figured himself out, he was raring to so (same, buddy, same). The book had the perfect amount of steam, and the sex scenes worked. I always like a book more when it doesn't lead with sex, and so it worked out for me here.
Add to the story a very sweet romance-y ended, and you got me hooked. My 2020 happy list has this book on it, that's for sure.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
A sexuality discovery story with best friends-to-lovers and a slow, slow burn... yes, please.
Whew, my first read from Briar Prescott and I fell in love! This was the low-angst romance I needed in my life right now. A sweet, sweet infinitely slow burn, pining for daaaaaaaays, and a demisexual MC. I seriously was in heaven.
Just a warning: The Happy List are not for those who are easily frustrated. It takes a VERY long time for the relationship parts of the story to get going. Sure, I sometimes hate it when we get two MCs who just won't SHARE their feelings, and it gets even worse when one is entirely clueless, but it honestly worked for me here. There was a lot of very sweet chemistry-building and a TON of sexual tension build-up, and I ate that up. I also think that moving from friendship to attraction was just such a paradigm-shift for Gray that he just didn't see it at first. Kai was infinitely patient or just too roped in to stop, but he had to suffer a lot before he saw his attraction being returned. Stick with the story and your patience will be rewarded, I promise.
Anyone who knows my reading tastes knows I love a story when a character is exploring their sexuality for the first time, and man, I was satisfied here. I love it when a character realizes their attractions and goes all in. Gray was confused at first, but once he figured himself out, he was raring to so (same, buddy, same). The book had the perfect amount of steam, and the sex scenes worked. I always like a book more when it doesn't lead with sex, and so it worked out for me here.
Add to the story a very sweet romance-y ended, and you got me hooked. My 2020 happy list has this book on it, that's for sure.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
December 6, 2020
This book started out really strong for me, then just sort of... waned. :- /
I rarely say this, but I think my interest would've been held much more strongly if a little more *external* (not internal) angst had been included.
But as written, I don't know, I just kept thinking that almost *nothing* was actually happening in the story that I couldn't have predicted before reading even the first word of the book.
Don't get me wrong, both of the MC's were extremely likeable, the limited amount of banter was entertaining, and the humor was on point, but with all of Kai's overthinking the "just having sexy fun" parts, I was low-key bored.
The story did finish strong, once Kai's sister finally let the proverbial cat out of the bag and Gray decided to write a second updated and revelatory "Happy List", but for chapter after chapter after chapter before that, I found myself becoming less and less engaged.
Overall, I'd rate it at around 3.5 *good-but-less-than-spectacular* stars.
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October 31, 2020
I really enjoyed the first part of the story, it was cute and funny. I liked Kai and Gray as main characters and there were some pretty great side characters, too. I liked the dynamics between Kai and Gray, but it kind of got lost when they started being more than just best friends.
I think I'm very picky when it comes to best friends-to-lovers trope, and the way their relationship developed didn't work for me. When two best friends start a relationship saying it's just for fun, it never works for me. They never talk openly about what this thing between them means. They just go for it, even though they both think the other one would have enough eventually. I find that hard to believe. Obviously, this is a romance and we know they'll end up together, but that's not the point.
Also, what's the deal with Gray's and Kai's parents? The way it was mentioned in the middle of all the fluff and never explained felt weird to me.
So basically, I found the rest of the story underwhelming. The epilogue included. I don't care about epilogues that take place years in the future. There were a couple of cute moments, I loved the second list, but it wasn't enough to make me come back to the initial feelings I had for this story.
I think I'm very picky when it comes to best friends-to-lovers trope, and the way their relationship developed didn't work for me. When two best friends start a relationship saying it's just for fun, it never works for me. They never talk openly about what this thing between them means. They just go for it, even though they both think the other one would have enough eventually. I find that hard to believe. Obviously, this is a romance and we know they'll end up together, but that's not the point.
Also, what's the deal with Gray's and Kai's parents? The way it was mentioned in the middle of all the fluff and never explained felt weird to me.
So basically, I found the rest of the story underwhelming. The epilogue included. I don't care about epilogues that take place years in the future. There were a couple of cute moments, I loved the second list, but it wasn't enough to make me come back to the initial feelings I had for this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2021
Initially, I thought this was going to be a 4 star read. I was really enjoying the friendship between Gray and Kai and loving how much Kai was trying to suppress his feelings for Gray. I found their banter to be nothing but entertaining, with a mix of humorous and gentleness. Their friendship years are obvious and seeing how they’ve managed to come back together as roommates was one of my favorite parts of the story. From their trust with each other, to the moments they shared crossing off Gray’s list, to their belief in each other. I loved seeing how Kai made Gray realize he’s truly wasting his precious years by doing nothing but working and letting go of his chances. With his job as a corporate lawyer under his brother, Grayson has had no time to spend time for himself and enjoy life. Kai sees this as a problem and manages to help him live a little. This made the romantic feelings Kai had for Gray much more believable because we see how Kai sees him.
However, considering it’s childhood best friends to lovers, I was expecting there to be more emotional connection within the relationship, but it felt primarily sexual when Gray started questioning his sexuality and feelings for Kai. While we know Kai has had a crush on Gray for a long time now, I had trouble placing when Gray started falling for Kai. Not only that, but Gray’s jealousy with Max was a little annoying. I was aware of the small miscommunication there was, so I didn’t let it bother me. It also felt like it was somewhat part of the story in general, so it wasn’t a big quibble that made the reading experience less enjoyable.
I guess I was just expecting more connection between the two. While I appreciated how Gray started realizing his sexual desire for Kai, I wish we saw more of his romantic feelings towards him. I felt bad for Kai and how he was (somewhat) being led on. Gray kept reminding him it was “just sex” and “it’s fun.” These stories don’t really work for me unless there is development done in between to give me more glimpses of their relationship.
Nonetheless, this was still a cute and quick read. Prescott has a way of writing humor and give her characters true personalities, which I appreciated. They felt real, and sometimes it was easy to imagine them in real life as they were visualized in my head. Not only that, but the conversations also felt very realistic. While the writing is easy to follow through, the conversations in between the funny banter is valuable, showing the reader the importance of living life for yourself.
Don’t be like Grayson and spend your entire life working. Try and live a little.
However, considering it’s childhood best friends to lovers, I was expecting there to be more emotional connection within the relationship, but it felt primarily sexual when Gray started questioning his sexuality and feelings for Kai. While we know Kai has had a crush on Gray for a long time now, I had trouble placing when Gray started falling for Kai. Not only that, but Gray’s jealousy with Max was a little annoying. I was aware of the small miscommunication there was, so I didn’t let it bother me. It also felt like it was somewhat part of the story in general, so it wasn’t a big quibble that made the reading experience less enjoyable.
I guess I was just expecting more connection between the two. While I appreciated how Gray started realizing his sexual desire for Kai, I wish we saw more of his romantic feelings towards him. I felt bad for Kai and how he was (somewhat) being led on. Gray kept reminding him it was “just sex” and “it’s fun.” These stories don’t really work for me unless there is development done in between to give me more glimpses of their relationship.
Nonetheless, this was still a cute and quick read. Prescott has a way of writing humor and give her characters true personalities, which I appreciated. They felt real, and sometimes it was easy to imagine them in real life as they were visualized in my head. Not only that, but the conversations also felt very realistic. While the writing is easy to follow through, the conversations in between the funny banter is valuable, showing the reader the importance of living life for yourself.
Don’t be like Grayson and spend your entire life working. Try and live a little.
November 2, 2020
4.25 Stars!
I'm really digging this author! All three books have been hits for me. This one grabbed me from the get-go. Yeah, it was a bit of a slow build to Gray and Kai becoming more than friends but honestly it didn't bother me.
I really liked their dynamic together - even as friends. There was some chemistry along the way. Lots of laugh out loud moments. Some kisses.
Maybe the ratio of build-up to couple could have been a bit more balanced. It's only towards the end that they are 100% on the same page. And maybe the last 1/3 that they are more than friends.
I appreciated the fact that there was no manufactured drama, and wasn't bothered by the lack of angst (though some might be).
Overall, this was just a really well written, fun, entertaining read.
I'm really digging this author! All three books have been hits for me. This one grabbed me from the get-go. Yeah, it was a bit of a slow build to Gray and Kai becoming more than friends but honestly it didn't bother me.
I really liked their dynamic together - even as friends. There was some chemistry along the way. Lots of laugh out loud moments. Some kisses.
Maybe the ratio of build-up to couple could have been a bit more balanced. It's only towards the end that they are 100% on the same page. And maybe the last 1/3 that they are more than friends.
I appreciated the fact that there was no manufactured drama, and wasn't bothered by the lack of angst (though some might be).
Overall, this was just a really well written, fun, entertaining read.
March 15, 2022
changing my rating to 2 stars, sorry..😶
original review:
that was super cute, but there’s a limit to how much fluffiness and sweetness my dark brain can handle. this ~almost~ crossed that line, but i still liked the book overall 🥰
original review:
that was super cute, but there’s a limit to how much fluffiness and sweetness my dark brain can handle. this ~almost~ crossed that line, but i still liked the book overall 🥰
November 23, 2020
4.5 stars! I loved this, and so far Briar Prescott can do no wrong with me. ❤️
Great banter, a wonderful friendship that turns into more, the slow burn to get there, sweetness and hot, steamy sex made this as close to perfect as I could want.
I loved it! Thanks once more to BookshELF Vixen for starting my holiday reading off with an absolute winner. 🥰
***
I can't imagine a better gift than something that will make me happy. Thank you SO much BookshELF Vixen, I can't wait to read it! ❤️
Great banter, a wonderful friendship that turns into more, the slow burn to get there, sweetness and hot, steamy sex made this as close to perfect as I could want.
I loved it! Thanks once more to BookshELF Vixen for starting my holiday reading off with an absolute winner. 🥰
***
I can't imagine a better gift than something that will make me happy. Thank you SO much BookshELF Vixen, I can't wait to read it! ❤️
June 20, 2021
Reread June 2021: I loved this book even more the second time around. Gray and Kai are just perfect together.
I've been patiently waiting for this book since the first time I heard about it being written in the authors facebook group. Ok, not so patiently. I have been dying to read it. And it didn't disappoint. Not at all. After I read Briar's debut novel Project Hero earlier this year I knew that I had stumbled upon something special.It was like it was written for me. Then I read her second book Rare, it was very different from Project Hero but I still loved it almost as much. With this book it's settled. Briar Prescott is one of my favorite authors.
The Happy List was exactly what I needed right now. A happy book about truly nice people getting the Happy Ever After they deserved. But Gray and Kai are genuinely good people. Gray is settled. Doing things more out of obligation than wanting to actually do them. Missing out on the things that makes your life a life. He's carefully planning every step of the way. Kai on the other hand is more of a free spirit. Having spent the last couple of years traveling and getting to see the world. And maybe running a little from the crush on his best friend. His best friend who's Gray. His straight, best friend Gray. Here's usually where I would be running away screaming. I usually can't deal with "straight" guys. Or all the drama they usually put up with when they are realizing that they ain't so straight after all. However, I trusted Briar to not give us that, and of course she didn't. Instead, what you are getting is a lovely, best friends to lovers story with about zero relationship angst. She let Gray and Kai take the time they needed to realize that they are it for each other and the journey getting there was utterly hilarious in the best kind of way possible. I laughed until I cried at times. And highlighted. Gosh I highlighted so much.
This book left me so very happy. I want to reread it right away.
I've been patiently waiting for this book since the first time I heard about it being written in the authors facebook group. Ok, not so patiently. I have been dying to read it. And it didn't disappoint. Not at all. After I read Briar's debut novel Project Hero earlier this year I knew that I had stumbled upon something special.It was like it was written for me. Then I read her second book Rare, it was very different from Project Hero but I still loved it almost as much. With this book it's settled. Briar Prescott is one of my favorite authors.
The Happy List was exactly what I needed right now. A happy book about truly nice people getting the Happy Ever After they deserved. But Gray and Kai are genuinely good people. Gray is settled. Doing things more out of obligation than wanting to actually do them. Missing out on the things that makes your life a life. He's carefully planning every step of the way. Kai on the other hand is more of a free spirit. Having spent the last couple of years traveling and getting to see the world. And maybe running a little from the crush on his best friend. His best friend who's Gray. His straight, best friend Gray. Here's usually where I would be running away screaming. I usually can't deal with "straight" guys. Or all the drama they usually put up with when they are realizing that they ain't so straight after all. However, I trusted Briar to not give us that, and of course she didn't. Instead, what you are getting is a lovely, best friends to lovers story with about zero relationship angst. She let Gray and Kai take the time they needed to realize that they are it for each other and the journey getting there was utterly hilarious in the best kind of way possible. I laughed until I cried at times. And highlighted. Gosh I highlighted so much.
This book left me so very happy. I want to reread it right away.
October 30, 2020
4,5 stars
If you’re looking for a light romance with a generous dollop of humour and heaps of feelings:
That’s how it is done. ‘The Happy List’ ticks all of these boxes and more!
Yes, you may have come across similar themes before (a list, best friends-to-lovers, etc) but this new to me author has taken them and created something truly heart-warming, funny and cute.
What I loved:
.) Gray’s journey from repressed and stuck in a job he doesn't really like to open and willing to take risks, and most of all, have fun!
.) His oblivion when it comes to his feelings for Kai, and how he gradually discovers what they really are. Very funny and very well done!
.) Once Gray figures out what all those confusing emotions that keep popping up mean, he isn’t shy acting on it and sticking with them. There’s no panicking about the ‘gay thing’ for him. At all. His dives into everything with delight and enthusiasm, and it’s simply a joy to watch.
.) Kai’s good mood and humour made me chuckle all along. I had a smile on my face virtually non-stop through this book.
.) I really rooted for these guys, and I ached for Kai who simply can’t believe Gray’s feelings are real.
.) There are some truly ‘romantic moments here that made me ohhhh and ahhhhh.
.) No silly miscommunications or misunderstandings. ‘Just’ two guys finding each other.
This is a total winner in the fluffy and feel-good category!
I am looking forward to book 2. (and I’d love to know who it’s going to be about)
If you’re looking for a light romance with a generous dollop of humour and heaps of feelings:
That’s how it is done. ‘The Happy List’ ticks all of these boxes and more!
Yes, you may have come across similar themes before (a list, best friends-to-lovers, etc) but this new to me author has taken them and created something truly heart-warming, funny and cute.
What I loved:
.) Gray’s journey from repressed and stuck in a job he doesn't really like to open and willing to take risks, and most of all, have fun!
.) His oblivion when it comes to his feelings for Kai, and how he gradually discovers what they really are. Very funny and very well done!
.) Once Gray figures out what all those confusing emotions that keep popping up mean, he isn’t shy acting on it and sticking with them. There’s no panicking about the ‘gay thing’ for him. At all. His dives into everything with delight and enthusiasm, and it’s simply a joy to watch.
.) Kai’s good mood and humour made me chuckle all along. I had a smile on my face virtually non-stop through this book.
.) I really rooted for these guys, and I ached for Kai who simply can’t believe Gray’s feelings are real.
.) There are some truly ‘romantic moments here that made me ohhhh and ahhhhh.
.) No silly miscommunications or misunderstandings. ‘Just’ two guys finding each other.
This is a total winner in the fluffy and feel-good category!
I am looking forward to book 2. (and I’d love to know who it’s going to be about)
August 1, 2021
This is absolutely beautiful. It was just what I needed, and I have to admit, from the glimpses I saw of Grayson and Kai in book #2 (yes, I was reading out of order again), I didn't expect to find them this fascinating. But they were. It was a perfect friends to lovers story. The build up was amazing, if a little frustrating because it was obvious these two were perfect for each other. It was fun seeing Gray completely in denial and then slowly accepting it and pursuing Kai. And also how Kai was so damn frustrated and trying to keep his unfortunate crush under control but he couldn't help it. They had so much chemistry and great relationship development. The pacing was excellent, and I was glued to this book. It's kind of a slow burn, or at least it felt excruciatingly slow, but once they get there it's unbelievably hot. I also loved the banter, the possessiveness, and the affection between them. This book just really worked as a whole.
Another thing - this book and the sequel, are one of the few books I've read lately that I truly consider romcoms. There's a lot of romance and steam, it's light, emotional, and it's genuinely amusing and entertaining, without cringey antics posing as comedy.
My one niggle with this book is the same one I had with book #2 - it felt like most of the character development happened to Grayson (and Connor in book #2). It was like they had to go on this completely transformative journey, while the other person doesn't change that much. I just thought the changes were a little too drastic. I liked that Grayson started thinking outside of the box, and he wasn't trying to live up to other people's expectations, but I don't think he necessarily had to turn his whole life upside down. Still, that's a very minor thing, probably personal preference, and it didn't take away from my enjoyment one bit, it's just something I noticed.
Now go read this, it will make you happy 😊
Another thing - this book and the sequel, are one of the few books I've read lately that I truly consider romcoms. There's a lot of romance and steam, it's light, emotional, and it's genuinely amusing and entertaining, without cringey antics posing as comedy.
My one niggle with this book is the same one I had with book #2 - it felt like most of the character development happened to Grayson (and Connor in book #2). It was like they had to go on this completely transformative journey, while the other person doesn't change that much. I just thought the changes were a little too drastic. I liked that Grayson started thinking outside of the box, and he wasn't trying to live up to other people's expectations, but I don't think he necessarily had to turn his whole life upside down. Still, that's a very minor thing, probably personal preference, and it didn't take away from my enjoyment one bit, it's just something I noticed.
Now go read this, it will make you happy 😊
October 23, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars
I had the biggest smile on my face as I read this. It was sweet, light, fun and sexy. And, I ate it up!!
Now I enjoyed both of Briar Prescott's previous novels, Project Hero and Rare but they were quite different in tone. I did like, "Project Hero," more but, "Rare," was still a great read. Because of the difference in tone, I wasn't sure what to expect from this new one. Although, the blurb and title made me think it would be more on the lighter side like, "Project Hero." And it was.
Gray and Kai are immediately loveable. On one side you have workaholic Gray, twisted up tight as a pretzel. On the other side you have easy breezy Kai who has been carrying a torch for his oblivious friend for years. I wouldn't say this is a bisexual awakening. It's more a demisexual awakening, on Gray's end.
It's a slow burn and you know I so love those. There's pining on Kai's end and jealousy on Gray's as he slowly starts to realize he has feelings for Kai. It's sweet but not sugary sweet. Medium steam level. I liked that there wasn't manufactured drama just to stir things up. Everything developed very organically. At it's core, it's a simple and pure love story and it left me...happy. (Couldn't resist!) 🥰
**I won this ARC in a giveaway on the author's Facebook page. This did not influence my review.**
I had the biggest smile on my face as I read this. It was sweet, light, fun and sexy. And, I ate it up!!
Now I enjoyed both of Briar Prescott's previous novels, Project Hero and Rare but they were quite different in tone. I did like, "Project Hero," more but, "Rare," was still a great read. Because of the difference in tone, I wasn't sure what to expect from this new one. Although, the blurb and title made me think it would be more on the lighter side like, "Project Hero." And it was.
Gray and Kai are immediately loveable. On one side you have workaholic Gray, twisted up tight as a pretzel. On the other side you have easy breezy Kai who has been carrying a torch for his oblivious friend for years. I wouldn't say this is a bisexual awakening. It's more a demisexual awakening, on Gray's end.
It's a slow burn and you know I so love those. There's pining on Kai's end and jealousy on Gray's as he slowly starts to realize he has feelings for Kai. It's sweet but not sugary sweet. Medium steam level. I liked that there wasn't manufactured drama just to stir things up. Everything developed very organically. At it's core, it's a simple and pure love story and it left me...happy. (Couldn't resist!) 🥰
**I won this ARC in a giveaway on the author's Facebook page. This did not influence my review.**
October 27, 2020
This was sweet, sexy, adorable!
Best friends to lovers.
Gray: Straight best friend is actually demi and not straight at all. And he always feels so warm and fuzzy with his best friend.
Kai: Adorable gay best friend finally got over his decades long crush on his best friend. Or did he?
After a night out partying and realizing everything he is missing, Gray makes a list of things to do to be happier. But that’s not really what the story is about, as much as just a way to highlight Gray’s boring life.
But that soon starts to change, and it’s a really fun read!
Best friends to lovers.
Gray: Straight best friend is actually demi and not straight at all. And he always feels so warm and fuzzy with his best friend.
Kai: Adorable gay best friend finally got over his decades long crush on his best friend. Or did he?
After a night out partying and realizing everything he is missing, Gray makes a list of things to do to be happier. But that’s not really what the story is about, as much as just a way to highlight Gray’s boring life.
But that soon starts to change, and it’s a really fun read!
March 28, 2024
✰ 2.5 stars ✰
“I’ve been searching for something all these years, and it turns out the home I was looking for is right here.”
Best friends to lovers is a trope that has my whole heart, but The Happy List sadly was a bit too generic and flat in execution to really stir my heartstrings. 😞 And it pains me because I really wanted a happy read, I mean, with a title like that, you would think it would be about the things that make you happy, right? Instead I got treated to a rather predictable plot with a lackluster best friend dynamic that failed to evoke any heart-warming feelings in me, in which I felt none of the pangs for Kai's unrequited affection for his straight best friend Gray, or the fervent passion in Gray's sudden jealousy over seeing Kai in the arms of another man. 😔
'A stickler for rules', Gray reminded me a lot of myself; how I don't really feel happy with my job, but I'm happy doing it. How he seems like he's lived a very boring life, but that doesn't mean he doesn't yearn for a more exciting one - one in which he can be happy to be brave enough to be adventurous and daring and try new things. 'Has life ever been fun?' And what better way to act upon those desires, but to draw up a list where 'the purpose here is to be happy, not to prepare for the end. So… I guess a happy list it is.' And who better to help him with completing said list - the one person who isn't afraid to be bold and fearless and plunge headfirst into things without a preamble - his best friend, Kai.
Kai was a really sweet guy, who also surprisingly reminded me of myself. How you harbor feelings for someone, but be too afraid to voice them, and be content just to have them close by. Still, something is better than nothing, right? Gray has always stood by him through the rough patches in his life - 'a steady presence and a port in the storm and a fucking cheerleader, urging me on when I was doubting myself.' He doesn't hesitate to take charge of fulfilling all of Gray's inhibitions and desires, even at the risk of his own heart not being able to withstand seeing a future where Gray could get some of his more intimate desires fulfilled.
“As long as I understand that nothing between us is permanent, it’s going to be fine.
As long as I can keep fooling myself that I’m not in love, I will not end up with my heart in million tiny pieces.”
I liked that by opening up to each other, there was individual personal growth on both ends; how by being together, they were able to change a part of their business lives that had been a burden to them and find a progressive way forward for both of them. 🥺 It was sweet how they helped each other out and I liked seeing Gray become more sure of himself - confident in what are the things that matter to him and what it is that he wants to do to make himself happy. I do wish, though, that it hadn't been just about sex for the two of them to get closer, because Kai's thoughts on their setup really hurt to read, of how much of his own respective feelings he has to crush - sorry, couldn't resist! 😅 - in order to keep Gray with him.
So, I guess it really comes down to how I felt while reading. Despite the story's good intentions and wholesome vibes and how relatable both characters were to me, for the life of me, I couldn't bring myself to care about the story, itself, for how very basic and quite unoriginal it turned out to be. 'It’s never a good idea to fall for your best friend, but for your straight best friend? That’s epic levels of no.' There was nothing defining about it that would set it apart from the typical best friends to lovers scenarios, save for the supposed bucket list that served as the catalyst to their development; and yet it didn't quite amount to much in the end. 😮💨
Besides, it's not that I always want angst in my reads for me to enjoy a book; I can read fluffy lighthearted reads, because I want to gush and go aww over a couple getting their happily ever after. But, I need to have the writing convince me that this is worth that happy ending. And here, I failed to see it. 😔 As much as I appreciated both of their dawning realization that this is not just a friends with benefits setup, rather one where I want to spend the rest of my life with, I just couldn't. And I think mainly it's because the approach in how it was eventually addressed is what left a bitter aftertaste with me. 💔💔
“Because falling in love with your best friend is scary sometimes, because the potential to lose everything is much greater.”
I really felt for Kai for how he didn't quite know how to process Gray's sudden shift in personality; something that I thought happened a lot swifter than what felt believable to me. It was, perhaps, first disconcerting part of their change in dynamic that seemed off to me; I mean, once he is suddenly fixated about being with Kai, he is so assured not only about himself, but his own sexual prowess of being with another man, when, in fact, one of the points on his list was having a more lucrative sexual liaison. I didn't mind that he gained confidence in his work ethics, or that he hasn't really changed - he's 'just not blind to the obvious anymore' - but I would have liked it to have been a more gradual leap, instead. 😕
Another issue that, perhaps, is the defining reason for my own dissatisfied thoughts was that we never get to see Kai tell Gray about how far back he's carried a torch in his heart for him. I kept waiting for that conversation to happen, which I really thought was necessary to show the extent of how much Kai has always cared for Gray and he's been keeping it in the shadows for so long. 🙎🏻♀️ I didn't need someone else to voice out how fearful Kai has been of changing their status - I wanted Kai to have that moment to express himself. 'But Kai doesn’t want that. Or does he? I haven’t asked him.' I liked that Gray thought he should ask that of Kai, but we never get to see it happen. 😣 I know it shouldn't matter in the long run, but that validity of his feelings shouldn't have been so casually dismissed; it was a critical part of making their relationship that much more meaningful, which I think, if it had been addressed - my overall experience might have been a much more appreciative one. 😢
The writing was alright enough - the spice was *gulp* quite bland, actually. 😣 I so wish it hadn't been, because I was banking on the two of them really living up to those desires he wished to fulfill, but it was so dull. 🥲 The respective supporting cast was also pleasant enough; I feel that Daniel and Matt may have stories of their own, which I'm curious to see if I'm right about it. So, even with these slight annoyances that perhaps won't bother others, but unfortunately prevented it from being a more favorable start to the series for me, I am still cautiously optimistic that the other stories won't let me down. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
“I’ve been searching for something all these years, and it turns out the home I was looking for is right here.”
Best friends to lovers is a trope that has my whole heart, but The Happy List sadly was a bit too generic and flat in execution to really stir my heartstrings. 😞 And it pains me because I really wanted a happy read, I mean, with a title like that, you would think it would be about the things that make you happy, right? Instead I got treated to a rather predictable plot with a lackluster best friend dynamic that failed to evoke any heart-warming feelings in me, in which I felt none of the pangs for Kai's unrequited affection for his straight best friend Gray, or the fervent passion in Gray's sudden jealousy over seeing Kai in the arms of another man. 😔
'A stickler for rules', Gray reminded me a lot of myself; how I don't really feel happy with my job, but I'm happy doing it. How he seems like he's lived a very boring life, but that doesn't mean he doesn't yearn for a more exciting one - one in which he can be happy to be brave enough to be adventurous and daring and try new things. 'Has life ever been fun?' And what better way to act upon those desires, but to draw up a list where 'the purpose here is to be happy, not to prepare for the end. So… I guess a happy list it is.' And who better to help him with completing said list - the one person who isn't afraid to be bold and fearless and plunge headfirst into things without a preamble - his best friend, Kai.
Kai was a really sweet guy, who also surprisingly reminded me of myself. How you harbor feelings for someone, but be too afraid to voice them, and be content just to have them close by. Still, something is better than nothing, right? Gray has always stood by him through the rough patches in his life - 'a steady presence and a port in the storm and a fucking cheerleader, urging me on when I was doubting myself.' He doesn't hesitate to take charge of fulfilling all of Gray's inhibitions and desires, even at the risk of his own heart not being able to withstand seeing a future where Gray could get some of his more intimate desires fulfilled.
“As long as I understand that nothing between us is permanent, it’s going to be fine.
As long as I can keep fooling myself that I’m not in love, I will not end up with my heart in million tiny pieces.”
I liked that by opening up to each other, there was individual personal growth on both ends; how by being together, they were able to change a part of their business lives that had been a burden to them and find a progressive way forward for both of them. 🥺 It was sweet how they helped each other out and I liked seeing Gray become more sure of himself - confident in what are the things that matter to him and what it is that he wants to do to make himself happy. I do wish, though, that it hadn't been just about sex for the two of them to get closer, because Kai's thoughts on their setup really hurt to read, of how much of his own respective feelings he has to crush - sorry, couldn't resist! 😅 - in order to keep Gray with him.
So, I guess it really comes down to how I felt while reading. Despite the story's good intentions and wholesome vibes and how relatable both characters were to me, for the life of me, I couldn't bring myself to care about the story, itself, for how very basic and quite unoriginal it turned out to be. 'It’s never a good idea to fall for your best friend, but for your straight best friend? That’s epic levels of no.' There was nothing defining about it that would set it apart from the typical best friends to lovers scenarios, save for the supposed bucket list that served as the catalyst to their development; and yet it didn't quite amount to much in the end. 😮💨
Besides, it's not that I always want angst in my reads for me to enjoy a book; I can read fluffy lighthearted reads, because I want to gush and go aww over a couple getting their happily ever after. But, I need to have the writing convince me that this is worth that happy ending. And here, I failed to see it. 😔 As much as I appreciated both of their dawning realization that this is not just a friends with benefits setup, rather one where I want to spend the rest of my life with, I just couldn't. And I think mainly it's because the approach in how it was eventually addressed is what left a bitter aftertaste with me. 💔💔
“Because falling in love with your best friend is scary sometimes, because the potential to lose everything is much greater.”
I really felt for Kai for how he didn't quite know how to process Gray's sudden shift in personality; something that I thought happened a lot swifter than what felt believable to me. It was, perhaps, first disconcerting part of their change in dynamic that seemed off to me; I mean, once he is suddenly fixated about being with Kai, he is so assured not only about himself, but his own sexual prowess of being with another man, when, in fact, one of the points on his list was having a more lucrative sexual liaison. I didn't mind that he gained confidence in his work ethics, or that he hasn't really changed - he's 'just not blind to the obvious anymore' - but I would have liked it to have been a more gradual leap, instead. 😕
Another issue that, perhaps, is the defining reason for my own dissatisfied thoughts was that we never get to see Kai tell Gray about how far back he's carried a torch in his heart for him. I kept waiting for that conversation to happen, which I really thought was necessary to show the extent of how much Kai has always cared for Gray and he's been keeping it in the shadows for so long. 🙎🏻♀️ I didn't need someone else to voice out how fearful Kai has been of changing their status - I wanted Kai to have that moment to express himself. 'But Kai doesn’t want that. Or does he? I haven’t asked him.' I liked that Gray thought he should ask that of Kai, but we never get to see it happen. 😣 I know it shouldn't matter in the long run, but that validity of his feelings shouldn't have been so casually dismissed; it was a critical part of making their relationship that much more meaningful, which I think, if it had been addressed - my overall experience might have been a much more appreciative one. 😢
The writing was alright enough - the spice was *gulp* quite bland, actually. 😣 I so wish it hadn't been, because I was banking on the two of them really living up to those desires he wished to fulfill, but it was so dull. 🥲 The respective supporting cast was also pleasant enough; I feel that Daniel and Matt may have stories of their own, which I'm curious to see if I'm right about it. So, even with these slight annoyances that perhaps won't bother others, but unfortunately prevented it from being a more favorable start to the series for me, I am still cautiously optimistic that the other stories won't let me down. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
December 27, 2020
Disclaimer... I was an alphareader for this book....
This book.... sigh
Happy sigh
This book was like a big warm cozy hug.
For fans of #BestFriendsToLovers #LowAngst #UnrequitedLove #Demisexuals
*Takes A Deep Breath*
OhmygodthisisoneofthesweetestfunniestbooksIhavereadandIwantmoreKaiandGrayprettypleasewithsprinklesontop!!!
*Exhales Loudly*
Let me rephrase...
Why you should read this book....
1. The Characters
First we have Gray. Gray is a lawyer in desperate need of FUN. He is neither happy with his career nor his relationship with his girlfriend. The only one who makes him happy is his best friend Kai, who comes back to the city at the most appropriate moment to save Gray. #YouBringOutTheBestInMe
Then we have Kai. Kai is a woodworker... #PunTotallyIntended.. desperately in love with Gray and has been traveling all.over the world to hone his woodwotking skills, and take a break from his unrequited love. #OutOfSightOutOfMind....#NotReally
The Plot...
When Kai comes barging into Gray's life again, a shroud is lifted from his eyes,and Gray is determined to be HAPPY. And so, "The Happy List" is born.
Through that list, Gray and Kai pave their way towards each other. They have been best friends for years, but there was always the possibilty of more, however deep it was. Slowly, the possibility becomes a reality. #ItWasAlwaysYou
The Relationship...
The best friend trope is always tricky. Readers will always think... why now? How has he not realized before? Where was the love hidden?
That being said, the book toggles this trope beautifully. Kai has had these feelings for years, unrequited sure, but they were there. And him traveling alot was his way of maintaining distance and the friendship he didn't want to lose. #TheHeartWantsWhatItWants
With Gray, it was different. Everyone else could see that Kai was special to him. Gray was a different man with Kai, whi smiled and snarked and laughed and just WAS. That list, and its aftermath, helps Gray see Kai in a new light. Step by step, Gray realizes what Kai can be, who he actually is, if he only took one more step. #CloseProximity
The Heat...
So, even though Gray is a gay virgin, he turns out to be one hell of a stud. Have in mind, that these guys take some time to get "Physical" but, once they do.... Phew, Gray is hot to read about. The way he stalks Kai like prey, determined to get what he wants, and the way Kai just yields for him..... #Perfection
The Low Angst...
Minimal quarrels, no unnecessary breakup and makeup routine... just two men navigatimg their way through a new relationship. #FeelGoodBook
The HEA...
Perfect perfect ending to a sweet AF book. #AllTheFeels
This book.... sigh
Happy sigh
This book was like a big warm cozy hug.
For fans of #BestFriendsToLovers #LowAngst #UnrequitedLove #Demisexuals
*Takes A Deep Breath*
OhmygodthisisoneofthesweetestfunniestbooksIhavereadandIwantmoreKaiandGrayprettypleasewithsprinklesontop!!!
*Exhales Loudly*
Let me rephrase...
Why you should read this book....
1. The Characters
First we have Gray. Gray is a lawyer in desperate need of FUN. He is neither happy with his career nor his relationship with his girlfriend. The only one who makes him happy is his best friend Kai, who comes back to the city at the most appropriate moment to save Gray. #YouBringOutTheBestInMe
Then we have Kai. Kai is a woodworker... #PunTotallyIntended.. desperately in love with Gray and has been traveling all.over the world to hone his woodwotking skills, and take a break from his unrequited love. #OutOfSightOutOfMind....#NotReally
The Plot...
When Kai comes barging into Gray's life again, a shroud is lifted from his eyes,and Gray is determined to be HAPPY. And so, "The Happy List" is born.
Through that list, Gray and Kai pave their way towards each other. They have been best friends for years, but there was always the possibilty of more, however deep it was. Slowly, the possibility becomes a reality. #ItWasAlwaysYou
The Relationship...
The best friend trope is always tricky. Readers will always think... why now? How has he not realized before? Where was the love hidden?
That being said, the book toggles this trope beautifully. Kai has had these feelings for years, unrequited sure, but they were there. And him traveling alot was his way of maintaining distance and the friendship he didn't want to lose. #TheHeartWantsWhatItWants
With Gray, it was different. Everyone else could see that Kai was special to him. Gray was a different man with Kai, whi smiled and snarked and laughed and just WAS. That list, and its aftermath, helps Gray see Kai in a new light. Step by step, Gray realizes what Kai can be, who he actually is, if he only took one more step. #CloseProximity
The Heat...
So, even though Gray is a gay virgin, he turns out to be one hell of a stud. Have in mind, that these guys take some time to get "Physical" but, once they do.... Phew, Gray is hot to read about. The way he stalks Kai like prey, determined to get what he wants, and the way Kai just yields for him..... #Perfection
The Low Angst...
Minimal quarrels, no unnecessary breakup and makeup routine... just two men navigatimg their way through a new relationship. #FeelGoodBook
The HEA...
Perfect perfect ending to a sweet AF book. #AllTheFeels
November 5, 2020
*4.5 stars*
I click with this author so much! Loved this one.
I click with this author so much! Loved this one.
October 26, 2020
Blooming brilliant, full review tomorrow when I'm at the laptop.
***
I just love the way Briar Prescott writes. Her narratives always speak to me and I fall madly in love with the characters she creates and the worlds her men inhabit.
This one hits one of my favourite tropes, realising you're in love with your best friend. It also has sexual awakening, demisexual rep and an opposites attract plotline which sings as it marries up a repressed lawyer with a free-spirited furniture maker.
I loved both Gray and Kai. Each of their personalities sparked and when they were together, the sense of that bone deep lifelong friendship, where you know all the secrets was clear to see.
Except for the one secret that Kai never told Gray - that he'd had a crush on him when they were teenagers that he'd basically run away to deal with 10 years earlier. When he lands back in Boston, he thinks he's over it but Gray's got a few surprises of his own to reveal.
What I appreciated a lot about this romance is that it really does flow organically from the moment Gray realises his life is missing something, to his dawning awareness of not only how much he loves Kai as a friend, but how he's actually attracted to him.
The fact he's demisexual isn't obviously declared, but Gray's aware he doesn't like the idea of one night stands, he's never felt great passion outside of his friendship with Kai, and the woman he was with two years never made him feel the jealously he gets when he sees Kai out on a date.
I also really appreciated that Gray went all out! There's no casual I might be experimenting here, it's a full on I'm attracted to you and you make me horny when he finally twigs about his feelings.
They're incredibly hot together, but it has a weight of feelings too, because of their shared history, Kai's crush, his fears of having his heart broken, and Gray's inability to work out Kai's thoughts for the first time in their long friendship.
This is much lighter in tone that Briar's previous book Rare, and obviously more grown up than Project Hero, and I think it worked even better for me because of that.
It's just a really happy read. It's sweet and has a great sense of its setting, Kai's family is fab, Gray's grandmother is a riot, even his stuffy brother Con is coming from a place of love.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
***
I just love the way Briar Prescott writes. Her narratives always speak to me and I fall madly in love with the characters she creates and the worlds her men inhabit.
This one hits one of my favourite tropes, realising you're in love with your best friend. It also has sexual awakening, demisexual rep and an opposites attract plotline which sings as it marries up a repressed lawyer with a free-spirited furniture maker.
I loved both Gray and Kai. Each of their personalities sparked and when they were together, the sense of that bone deep lifelong friendship, where you know all the secrets was clear to see.
Except for the one secret that Kai never told Gray - that he'd had a crush on him when they were teenagers that he'd basically run away to deal with 10 years earlier. When he lands back in Boston, he thinks he's over it but Gray's got a few surprises of his own to reveal.
What I appreciated a lot about this romance is that it really does flow organically from the moment Gray realises his life is missing something, to his dawning awareness of not only how much he loves Kai as a friend, but how he's actually attracted to him.
The fact he's demisexual isn't obviously declared, but Gray's aware he doesn't like the idea of one night stands, he's never felt great passion outside of his friendship with Kai, and the woman he was with two years never made him feel the jealously he gets when he sees Kai out on a date.
I also really appreciated that Gray went all out! There's no casual I might be experimenting here, it's a full on I'm attracted to you and you make me horny when he finally twigs about his feelings.
They're incredibly hot together, but it has a weight of feelings too, because of their shared history, Kai's crush, his fears of having his heart broken, and Gray's inability to work out Kai's thoughts for the first time in their long friendship.
This is much lighter in tone that Briar's previous book Rare, and obviously more grown up than Project Hero, and I think it worked even better for me because of that.
It's just a really happy read. It's sweet and has a great sense of its setting, Kai's family is fab, Gray's grandmother is a riot, even his stuffy brother Con is coming from a place of love.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
June 17, 2024
I loved The Happy List. Gray and Kai's romance was great, their chemistry and banter - off the charts. This was friends-to-lovers perfection!
And to top it all off, this was narrated by Kirt Graves and Joel Leslie. Two of my favourite narrators and they did an amazing job.
And to top it all off, this was narrated by Kirt Graves and Joel Leslie. Two of my favourite narrators and they did an amazing job.
Shelved as 'dnf'
November 8, 2020DNF @ 52%
I can't anymore. It's not really a bad read, it's just not capturing any feels. There's next to no chemistry, though the characters are nice and interesting. I like that the ex-girlfriend isn't an evil witch (and I suspect she and Con will end up together). And for a GFY it wasn't too obnoxious about the clichés of that trope. There was just nothing unexpected here. It's all been done before.
And please, for the love of your readers, hire an editor who understands how grammar works. There are way too many misused words. And look up your pop culture references. Al Pacino is not Dustin Hoffman.
I can't anymore. It's not really a bad read, it's just not capturing any feels. There's next to no chemistry, though the characters are nice and interesting. I like that the ex-girlfriend isn't an evil witch (and I suspect she and Con will end up together). And for a GFY it wasn't too obnoxious about the clichés of that trope. There was just nothing unexpected here. It's all been done before.
And please, for the love of your readers, hire an editor who understands how grammar works. There are way too many misused words. And look up your pop culture references. Al Pacino is not Dustin Hoffman.
March 30, 2021
ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. Gray & Kai's chemistry???? Off the charts. The storyline, the message / themes and the conclusion?? The laugh out loud humor?? The antics?? The jokes!! I couldn't be more satisfied. Safe to say this book is on my happy list hehe. It's also lovely when you're reading alternate first person pov's and you feel equally excited to read both characters pov's :) A fantastic friends to lovers / sexuality discovery / why-am-i-jealous-of-my-bffs-date-huh-that-is-soooo-weird / Ya know what? I deserve a joyful and fulfilling life .. story. <3
October 23, 2020
4.5 stars! Definitely my favorite Prescott book so far (it’s absolutely bananas they just started writing this year), and the main reason: the banter. The rapport between these two was just so absolutely amazing, I was giggling from like page three and the smile definitely never left my face. An absolutely fantastic friends to lovers tale (and I think some will call it a bisexual awakening, but it read more as a demisexual awakening to me). Super low on the angst, but high on the happiness, I definitely recommend this one.
July 27, 2021
I loved this! I have never read Briar Prescott before and now I am wanting to check out everything she’s ever written!
My favorite books are usually enemies to lovers but friends to lovers are close behind and this was, in my opinion, a perfect friends to lovers story. I loved both Grey and Kai and how they went from best friends to just having sex. Feelings were obviously involved already but Grey takes awhile to get there.
This was sweet with little to no angst and I am so happy there was no big breakup or misunderstanding. I needed this lovely book because I’ve been on a reading lull lately. Big props too to the author because the female characters, especially Grey’s ex, were not written as caricatures. That was a refreshing change.
My favorite books are usually enemies to lovers but friends to lovers are close behind and this was, in my opinion, a perfect friends to lovers story. I loved both Grey and Kai and how they went from best friends to just having sex. Feelings were obviously involved already but Grey takes awhile to get there.
This was sweet with little to no angst and I am so happy there was no big breakup or misunderstanding. I needed this lovely book because I’ve been on a reading lull lately. Big props too to the author because the female characters, especially Grey’s ex, were not written as caricatures. That was a refreshing change.
May 13, 2024
DNF ... after 4 chapters. 😖
Whichever of the narrators, Joel Leslie or Kirt Graves, that is narrating "Kai" in this audiobook is using the most gawdawful, grating voice I've ever had the excruciating displeasure of hearing 🤮. Yet another book freakin' ruined by a narrator! 🤬 I've loved everything I've read by Briar Prescott in the past so this is extremely disappointing! 😔
Whichever of the narrators, Joel Leslie or Kirt Graves, that is narrating "Kai" in this audiobook is using the most gawdawful, grating voice I've ever had the excruciating displeasure of hearing 🤮. Yet another book freakin' ruined by a narrator! 🤬 I've loved everything I've read by Briar Prescott in the past so this is extremely disappointing! 😔
June 26, 2021
Suuuuper strong start - the banter was amazing!
I would've liked a bit more angst or tension with the resolution. It came together too "nicely" for me.
Definitely loving this author. Her writing style is so good. Another solid book from her. Haven't been disappointed yet.
I would've liked a bit more angst or tension with the resolution. It came together too "nicely" for me.
Definitely loving this author. Her writing style is so good. Another solid book from her. Haven't been disappointed yet.
September 26, 2024
I shouldnt be surprised that this is a 5 star read for me, well 4.5 rounded up. The other two books Ive read by this author were 5 stars as well. Gray and Kai are in my favorite romance trop when it comes to MM books; Friends to Lovers. Friends to Lovers always just hits different because there is so much backstory we either get or dont get, so the characters have so much chemistry already it just feels so fucking right when they end up together. Friends to Lovers also always makes me emotional because it typically has one character already in love with the other and is suppressing their feelings for them, in this instant Kai. But with Kai I wasnt feeling the sadness we sometimes get when our already in love character sees the other character with other romantic interests, instead we get that from Gray our poor blind boy, who is most likely demisexual, seeing Kai out on dates and it always makes me sad. I get it, seeing people you have feelings with someone else, is always heartbreaking. Anyways, the story is typical bucket list romance, where one character helps the other fulfil their romance, along side its just sex between friends. Nothing new, but nothing is broke so I eat it up every time. I really enjoy Kai and Gray together, and watching them slowly come together was so much fun, especially since their is some really good humor in this. Kai and Gray both have my type of humor and I loved that. I dont know, its a fast paced a little angsty friends to lovers book where you root for the two of them to get their heads out of their asses asap. Would recommend.
March 4, 2023
|| 3.5 stars ||
This book really thrives on its cuteness and light-hearted vibe. It has some humour sprinkled in there as well, which is always something I appreciate.
However, there is also a more serious tone with one of the main characters going through a mid-life crisis at 28. This was handled fairly well and actually served as a great secondary plot to the romance.
Both Kai and Gray are likeable characters, and their initial friendship already seemed incredibly strong. They were truly there for each other, especially Gray for Kai.
Their transition into being more than friends was incredibly slow-burn, which I loved. Subsequently, it was a bit disappointing that once they got together, it felt like it all went quite fast with many skips in time and without much detail. The story basically went from very in-depth to slightly superficial. This could have definitely been done better and thus, I liked the beginning and middle of the novel a lot more than the end.
I'm a bit unsure of my exact stance on this novel as it was entirely enjoyable, but I'm not sure if the emotional side of it was intense and developed enough for my liking.
The overall storyline was exactly my cup of tea and there's not much I can pin-point I didn't like about it, yet something about the execution made me not be as in love with this novel as I could have been.
So yea, this is definitely a read I would recommend because of its high entertainment factor, but not something that'll go down as one of my favourites or anything. It was good, not amazing.
This book really thrives on its cuteness and light-hearted vibe. It has some humour sprinkled in there as well, which is always something I appreciate.
However, there is also a more serious tone with one of the main characters going through a mid-life crisis at 28. This was handled fairly well and actually served as a great secondary plot to the romance.
Both Kai and Gray are likeable characters, and their initial friendship already seemed incredibly strong. They were truly there for each other, especially Gray for Kai.
Their transition into being more than friends was incredibly slow-burn, which I loved. Subsequently, it was a bit disappointing that once they got together, it felt like it all went quite fast with many skips in time and without much detail. The story basically went from very in-depth to slightly superficial. This could have definitely been done better and thus, I liked the beginning and middle of the novel a lot more than the end.
I'm a bit unsure of my exact stance on this novel as it was entirely enjoyable, but I'm not sure if the emotional side of it was intense and developed enough for my liking.
The overall storyline was exactly my cup of tea and there's not much I can pin-point I didn't like about it, yet something about the execution made me not be as in love with this novel as I could have been.
So yea, this is definitely a read I would recommend because of its high entertainment factor, but not something that'll go down as one of my favourites or anything. It was good, not amazing.
May 21, 2021
You know what? I really enjoyed this one.
Both Gray and Kai were great. Together they were pretty fantastic. 🥰 Loved their banter. Also loved when Gray finally had his ah ha moment.
Definitely a slow burn, sweet and sexy MM romance! 💙💙
I was happy to get an epilogue. Kai’s surprise for Gray put a smile on my face. ⭐️
First time reading this author and I’m looking forward to reading more! 🤓
July 18, 2021
Wow, I really loved this book. This is my second book by Briar Prescott and I couldn’t put it down. I love slow burn and this one was perfect for me.
October 26, 2020
4.5 stars rounded down
Overall, I adored this one. The perfect kind of friends-to-lovers romance.
Gray has just turned 28, and his girlfriend proposed to him on his birthday in front of both their family and Gray says no.
To say things don't start out great for Gray is very true. But when he escapes the restaurant it happens in, who should show up but his best friend, Kai - who was invited to the event.
Kai ends up letting Gray know he's planning to stay in Boston for good - if it all works out, at lest - as he's been basically, for the last ten years, been traveling across the globe and the US, but now he's ready to settle.
Gray invites him to live with him while Kai gets his own business set up, and Kai agrees. They are the best of friends, and have been best friends for almost 20 years or so. Kai is gay, and Gray thinks he's straight - although he's never felt much with the women he's been with - and of course 10 years ago Kai had a huge crush on his best friend and Gray was oblivious.
Kai has convinced himself that he got over Gray, but living with him, being around him every day, is different than just texting all the time and maybe FaceTiming sometimes. Any hold Kai had on his locked up feelings doesn't last long, and Gray starts to see Kai in a new light too.
Especially when Kai goes out on a date - obviously to try to get over Gray - and this the very first time Gray is seeing Kai with any date or hook up, ever. And he's already kind of felt some things for Kai, but this pushes Gray over the edge into having to confront those feelings, because to say he is jealous is...an understatement. The green-eyed monster is present and accounted for during the whole encounter.
Kai, meanwhile, is trying to convince himself that he can get over Gray and any feelings he has are the love he once felt and he can get rid of them and well, he's very much in denial.
And when Gray, who feels his life is boring and monotonous and he needs a change, makes a Happy List that Kai accidentally comes across, Kai tries to fulfill some of the things Gray has on that list.
Although it is Gray who actually takes the step for them to go further than just friends. Gray may have been oblivious for so long, but once he realizes he feels something more for Kai, he doesn't hesitate for too long, although Kai is too scared - understandably - to think it's real on Gray's part and tries to avoid at first and then be extremely cautious when he can't anymore.
These two were great together. I loved them after their first interaction. That instant spark was there, and I could definitely feel that these two had been best friends for so long.
I rounded down on this only because despite my love for these two, they didn't sizzle, they didn't wow me like a crazy amount. I just wanted a little more chemistry and passion and all that. It was there, but just not enough for me to round up with this instead of down.
These two were still incredibly sweet and wonderful together and overall I did adore them together, I just didn't click perfectly with them. There was just a little something missing, I guess, for me to love them fully and round up with this. Maybe it was the sex, that while good overall, had a little something lacking at times. Maybe for me it wasn't detailed enough, not passionate enough, for two friends so in love with each other.
But they were still a wonderful couple over all, and this book was hilarious too. Some parts I couldn't stop laughing when I read them. I did love these two a lot, they were both such wonderful, great characters. The humor with them was top notch too.
So overall, a wonderful second outing for me with this author. Just not as amazing as I feel it could have been.
Still two MASSIVE thumbs up from me, though! 💕
Overall, I adored this one. The perfect kind of friends-to-lovers romance.
Gray has just turned 28, and his girlfriend proposed to him on his birthday in front of both their family and Gray says no.
To say things don't start out great for Gray is very true. But when he escapes the restaurant it happens in, who should show up but his best friend, Kai - who was invited to the event.
Kai ends up letting Gray know he's planning to stay in Boston for good - if it all works out, at lest - as he's been basically, for the last ten years, been traveling across the globe and the US, but now he's ready to settle.
Gray invites him to live with him while Kai gets his own business set up, and Kai agrees. They are the best of friends, and have been best friends for almost 20 years or so. Kai is gay, and Gray thinks he's straight - although he's never felt much with the women he's been with - and of course 10 years ago Kai had a huge crush on his best friend and Gray was oblivious.
Kai has convinced himself that he got over Gray, but living with him, being around him every day, is different than just texting all the time and maybe FaceTiming sometimes. Any hold Kai had on his locked up feelings doesn't last long, and Gray starts to see Kai in a new light too.
Especially when Kai goes out on a date - obviously to try to get over Gray - and this the very first time Gray is seeing Kai with any date or hook up, ever. And he's already kind of felt some things for Kai, but this pushes Gray over the edge into having to confront those feelings, because to say he is jealous is...an understatement. The green-eyed monster is present and accounted for during the whole encounter.
Kai, meanwhile, is trying to convince himself that he can get over Gray and any feelings he has are the love he once felt and he can get rid of them and well, he's very much in denial.
And when Gray, who feels his life is boring and monotonous and he needs a change, makes a Happy List that Kai accidentally comes across, Kai tries to fulfill some of the things Gray has on that list.
Although it is Gray who actually takes the step for them to go further than just friends. Gray may have been oblivious for so long, but once he realizes he feels something more for Kai, he doesn't hesitate for too long, although Kai is too scared - understandably - to think it's real on Gray's part and tries to avoid at first and then be extremely cautious when he can't anymore.
These two were great together. I loved them after their first interaction. That instant spark was there, and I could definitely feel that these two had been best friends for so long.
I rounded down on this only because despite my love for these two, they didn't sizzle, they didn't wow me like a crazy amount. I just wanted a little more chemistry and passion and all that. It was there, but just not enough for me to round up with this instead of down.
These two were still incredibly sweet and wonderful together and overall I did adore them together, I just didn't click perfectly with them. There was just a little something missing, I guess, for me to love them fully and round up with this. Maybe it was the sex, that while good overall, had a little something lacking at times. Maybe for me it wasn't detailed enough, not passionate enough, for two friends so in love with each other.
But they were still a wonderful couple over all, and this book was hilarious too. Some parts I couldn't stop laughing when I read them. I did love these two a lot, they were both such wonderful, great characters. The humor with them was top notch too.
So overall, a wonderful second outing for me with this author. Just not as amazing as I feel it could have been.
Still two MASSIVE thumbs up from me, though! 💕
April 8, 2022
This, my fellow bookworms, is a childhood-friends-to-lovers romance well done.
Gray and Kai are best friends. So ofc it's Kai who saves Gray when he tries to escape after rejecting his girlfriend's marriage proposal.
Gray's life is all work and no fun. He's a corporate lawyer, and his circumstances couldn't be more different from Kai's if he tried. Kai, who's a free spirit, and an artist when it comes to working with wood (no pun intended). The same Kai who's been in love with his best friend since he's been a teen.
Yes, the trope isn't exactly new. But it's very well done, you can feel the familiarity and deep friendship between them from the start. There's a lot of banter, and a lot of understanding how the other thinks and feels. So it could have been boring, but the easy flow of the story was full of easy banter and made me smile almost all the time. I loved how Kai tried to "save" their friendship by keeping an arm's length between himself and Gray, and I loved even more how Gray slowly, but irrevocably realises that he's falling in love with his best friend, and how determinedly he pursues his goal of convincing Kai that what he feels is more than bi-curiosity.
Is it a 5 star read? Not quite. But it made me smile, and it got me invested - not only in the main characters, but the side characters, too (can't wait to read about stick-up-his-ass-Con and his PA Jaime).
And the ending. I dare you not to have moist eyes when the "grand gesture" happens ❤
Given the fact that I struggled to put the book down last night despite having to get up early, I'll round my rating up to 5 stars and dive right into the next book 🥰
Gray and Kai are best friends. So ofc it's Kai who saves Gray when he tries to escape after rejecting his girlfriend's marriage proposal.
Gray's life is all work and no fun. He's a corporate lawyer, and his circumstances couldn't be more different from Kai's if he tried. Kai, who's a free spirit, and an artist when it comes to working with wood (no pun intended). The same Kai who's been in love with his best friend since he's been a teen.
Yes, the trope isn't exactly new. But it's very well done, you can feel the familiarity and deep friendship between them from the start. There's a lot of banter, and a lot of understanding how the other thinks and feels. So it could have been boring, but the easy flow of the story was full of easy banter and made me smile almost all the time. I loved how Kai tried to "save" their friendship by keeping an arm's length between himself and Gray, and I loved even more how Gray slowly, but irrevocably realises that he's falling in love with his best friend, and how determinedly he pursues his goal of convincing Kai that what he feels is more than bi-curiosity.
Is it a 5 star read? Not quite. But it made me smile, and it got me invested - not only in the main characters, but the side characters, too (can't wait to read about stick-up-his-ass-Con and his PA Jaime).
And the ending. I dare you not to have moist eyes when the "grand gesture" happens ❤
Given the fact that I struggled to put the book down last night despite having to get up early, I'll round my rating up to 5 stars and dive right into the next book 🥰
December 15, 2020
this started out pretty cute, but the "banter" just about did my head in. i really wanted to like this more than i did, but unfortunately never really found my groove with the writing.
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