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Book Title: The #lovehim Series Box Set
Author: S. M. James
Publisher: May Books
Cover Artist: Story Styling Cover Designs
Release Date: May 4, 2019
Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance
Trope/s: Friends to lovers, mild hurt/comfort
Themes: Coming out, friendship, family, chronic illness, internalised homophobia
Heat Rating: 1-2 flames
Length: 290 000 words/ 1,000 pages
Box Set of three books and three short stories
Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited
Six stories. Three couples. One perfect kind of love.
Blurb
Read the first three books in the #lovehim series and their short stories.
That Feeling When
A summer camp romance where a bi actor and a closeted ballet dancer are blackmailed into keeping their relationship a secret.
My Review
That Feeling When is a good young adult story.
Forced to attend a summer camp, Archie is resentful until he stumbles upon teen heartthrob Landon, who is on location filming a movie. They become friends, and the chemistry is strong between them.
When Archie discovers that Landon is actually bisexual, he is even more confused since he, himself is straight. But those sparks. That chemistry. What does it all mean?
Both young men are dealing with some personal issues, which they hopefully can help each other with. Meanwhile, they have to deal with some blackmail, some family issues, fighting their sexual urges, and figuring out what their dreams actually are.
This story has some fantastic lines -
"You can follow your thinks or you can follow your feels. Only one of them will make you happy."
"No one is one thing and not another."
"Change is good. Everything changes, and every change gets us where we're meant to be."
Each of these lines are perfect in the story, but are things we all need to remember.
Overall, That Feeling When is a great little young adult story. SM James manages to combine some great issues in this coming of age story.
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No Big Deal
In the meet cute to To Be Honest, Angus finally gets a roommate ... and a big, fat crush.
My Review
No Big Deal is a great introduction to Angus and Tyler, leading into their romance in To Be Honest.
Told in Angus' pov, we get to know where he's coming from mentally. It's a sweet story of Tyler helping Angus to come into his own and standing up for himself.
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To Be Honest
Angus and his adorkable roommate Tyler, embark on a cross country road trip to confront Angus's catfisher.
My Review
To Be Honest is Tyler and Angus's sweet friends to lovers story. It's also a roommates romance along with having a road trip and an online relationship.
Tyler and Angus are so cute together, with a great friendship as their basis. I love their word of the day, as it's just cute and sweet.
Their tale is one of admiting their feelings for each other. It contains secrets, surprise, fear, and risks. Overall, To Be Honest is a great story of falling for one's best friend.
My Review
To Be Honest is Tyler and Angus's sweet friends to lovers story. It's also a roommates romance along with having a road trip and an online relationship.
Tyler and Angus are so cute together, with a great friendship as their basis. I love their word of the day, as it's just cute and sweet.
Their tale is one of admiting their feelings for each other. It contains secrets, surprise, fear, and risks. Overall, To Be Honest is a great story of falling for one's best friend.
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For The Win
My Review
For the Win's an adorable look into how Brooks and Darien met. It involves some fun moments, and a new friendship moment for Brooks.
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In Case You Missed It
Love is supposed to be simple, but Brook's secret will put their relationship to the test. My review
In Case You Missed is an accomplished romance by SM James. My attention was grabbed immediately, and I stayed up reading late into the night. It is as riveting and emotional as I've ever read.
When the pansexual Darien falls for Brooks, Brooks say no, as he doesn't want to date anyone. He has one huge secret that looms over his head and he's terrified to tell Darien.
Both men are in situations that are tragic. Eventually, they start inspiring one another, opening up all the possibilities to them. They start really living. But, it takes them a long time to get to that point.
I absolutely love and adore both Brooks and Darien. They are remarkable in their bravery and strength. They are absolutely amazing men, despite some doubts and vulnerabilities.
Their story is one of fear, need, and want. It's a tale of secrets, and living in the present, refusing to waste any time. It's raw, real, and completely heart wrenching, while also being beautiful, sweet and tender.
I will warn you now though, make sure you have tissues handy. But don't worry, you'll also find yourself laughing and swooning.
In Case You Missed It is an exceptional tale. I can't recommend this SM James story enough. It definitely is one I wish I could give more than 5 stars.
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PLUS A BONUS NOVELLA NOT YET RELEASED
The sequel to That Feeling When, where Archie and Landon visit Australia and try to make their relationship work amidst judgmental family and pushy exes.
My review
In Real Life follows Landon and Archie to Australia where they visit Landon's family. The distance dilemma is perfectly done, as it's both realistic and emotional. I love the focus on family, and the light angst.
Review
My Rating - 5 Stars!
I absolutely love this compilation of SM James' books. As I enjoy each individual story, reading them all together is a treat!
SM James' writing style is wonderful, with a great pace, charming characters, and great storylines. If you haven't checked out her works yet, start now.
SM James' writing style is wonderful, with a great pace, charming characters, and great storylines. If you haven't checked out her works yet, start now.
Excerpt (From No Big Deal)
I groan and give him a playful shove, not able to resist touching him, but it just makes the urge to do it again worse. “I think I’ll manage.”
I’ll manage because I don’t even watch the end. I watch Tyler from the corner of my eye. The way his chest expands with each breath, the way he scratches his nose, or rubs his arm. I catch everything.
I really need to get out of here, to put some distance between us, but I can’t. I don’t want to, which is the really messed up part.
The movie ends with that same song that’s played through the whole thing and instead of choosing another, or returning to his own side of the room, Tyler rolls onto his side, legs hanging off the bed, and tucks a pillow up under his arm.
“Okay, if you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?”
I shift around so I’m facing him and try to be subtle about putting distance between us again. I lean back on my hands, my knees filling the void between us. “Tokyo.”
“Huh. I didn’t picture you for a big city guy.”
I shrug and nod at him. “Same question.”
“The Central Library in Vancouver. Reason one.” He holds up his thumb. “I get to visit another country without having to fly, reason two.” He holds up his forefinger. “I could spend my life there and never read all the books they have. Plus it looks like the Colosseum. Which I’ll never see. Because I hate planes.”
“You’re afraid of flying?” It’s my turn to try and hold back a laugh.
“I happen to have a healthy appreciation for how much it would hurt to plummet to my death.”
“Okay so what do you like?”
He considers the question for a moment. “Quesadillas, marine life, old school computer games … and you.” He shrugs like what he said was no big deal. Just a random list.
I try not to hide how awkwardly I swallow. “I guess you’re pretty cool too.”
He lets my lame reciprocation go. “So football ... do you actually love it? Or is it one of those things where you tried it, you were good, and Mom and Dad were so proud you couldn’t give it up for fear of disappointing them?”
“Wow. That was oddly specific. Umm ... no. It’s one of the ‘I’m an only child and my mom’s dead so Dad is proud of anything I do’ things.”
“Oh.” Tyler’s eyebrows jump up and it’s weird to see him caught by surprise. “I shouldn’t have pried.”
“Don’t worry about it. I was young, I barely remember her.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. Trust me, if I do, I won’t be much fun for the rest of the day. I mean … it’s hard to miss something you never had. And, well, it makes me feel a bit guilty.”
Tyler’s looking at me with so much sympathy it’s kind of hard to look away from. He reaches out and gives the spot just above my knee a squeeze. I feel it all the way up my leg.
“Okay, how many guys have you hooked up with?” He’s trying to take my mind off it and I’m so grateful.
“Umm … two. The first was the summer before I came out. It was kind of a confirmation, I guess. Sloppy and rushed. The second ...” I rub at my mouth to try and hide the smile. “The second was last Christmas break. Dad and I went to a Christmas party with some of his work friends. I didn’t know the guy, and I know I’ll never see him again, and I think that’s what made it so hot.” I nod at him again. “Same question.”
“How many guys have I hooked up with? I can honestly say zero.” He catches my eye with a grin. “Sorry, Angus.”
He gets a laugh from me. “If you ever want to try it, you know where to find me.” I don’t know what makes me say the words but I immediately regret it. Maybe repressing my sexuality for so long isn’t the best idea.
“Noted.”
“Obviously I meant girls, you idiot.”
“In that case.” He frowns as he thinks. “Also zero.”
“No way.”
“I know. I struggle to believe it myself.”
“Do you ever get lonely?” I’m not sure where the question comes from.
Tyler’s serious when he answers. “Only all of the time. Mom and Dad are super busy, and I don’t really have any friends.”
“Except me.”
He lets loose his smile, all teeth and squinty eyes. “Except you.”
“It’s very possible you’re my only actual guy friend too. At least, the only one who doesn’t see me as the gay kid.”
“What do you mean?”
“I just have so be so careful around people. Honestly, it gets pretty exhausting, but it’s safer. Like, I can’t joke around with my teammates in case they think I’m coming on to them or something. I mean, I’m not an idiot, I wouldn’t set myself up to fail by falling for a straight guy.”
“Yet you just offered to hook up with me.”
My stomach clenches and he starts to laugh but I’m kind of uneasy about it. I’d meant it as a joke—obviously—but to him … it had been too easy to say.
About the Author
S. M. James writes books for teens about squishy sweet characters.
While not writing, SM is a readaholic and Netflix addict who regularly lives on a sustainable diet of chocolate and coffee.
Unapologetically dishing out HEAs for LGBTQ characters.
Author Links
Giveaway
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