Fake Friends

Never Just Friends, Book 2

De: Saxon James

Narrado por: Alexander Cendese, Kirt Graves

Rowan

Five years ago, I ruined the best thing I had in my life and ran. Now, I'm finally back to make things right. I need Circus's forgiveness, and then I can finally move on. I'll leave Sunbury for good this time and never look back. Maybe then I can finally live life as an out gay man - without my family ever finding out. But earning his forgiveness isn't as simple as I hoped it would be. He's going to make me fight for it. And I don't blame him at all.

Circus

I never wanted or expected to see Rowan Harvey again. When he shows up in Sunbury, begging for forgiveness, I'm tempted to give it to him just so he'll disappear. Instead, we make a deal. I need an extra model for a swimwear shoot, and none of my friends are available or fit the brief. I'll forgive him, if he helps me. Then he has to leave. For good. Because his request for anonymity during the shoot proves he's still living in his dark closet. I'm not going to make the same mistakes I did when I was a teenager. I won't let myself fall for him again. Because after how things ended between us, he doesn't deserve a second chance.

Contains mature themes.

©2020 Saxon James (P)2021 Tantor

So glad I picked this book up

To be honest the first book in the series was a let down for me so I was hesitant to grab this one but turned out to be very happy I did. circus caught my attention in the first story so I just had to know his story. I found myself laughing a bunch through this book and liked the sweet and sexy times too. The narration was ok too nothing to get too hyped about but a great overall listen.

Circus and Rowan

This is the second book in the friends series and it has more angst than the first. It always hurts my heart to hear or read about people who have to hide who they love because of family or religion. There are some heavy topics that are addressed in this book, but it’s handled with grace and care. I will never understand parents/families who purposely hurt their children and then claim they’re doing it because they love them. That is the complete opposite of love. Rowan’s parents claim that they love him but completely miss that he’s been hurting basically his entire lives and it’s because of them, the grandparents and the church they choose to attend.

The unrequited love and the shared pain

Not a single thing it felt so real. I sobbed I smiled I cheered I jeered

Hard earned HEA

A heartfelt look into the deep way religious trauma can dig in so deeply that it seems hopeless to overcome. But with the truth, love, and support, it's not impossible to be yourself and find happiness.

Narrators did a great job!

Fantastic!

Absolutely loved this story. It isn’t very often you get a story with the difficult “coming out” aspect that Rowan had. I feel like his story isn’t represented enough in today’s M/M romances. Literally the only “complaint” I could possibly give is the difference in the audio quality between the two separate narrators. But 100% recommend this entire series.

Continuation of Sunberry drama

I like the involvement of characters from the other book by the author. This story is similar to Royce and Tanner in that it was a high school flame continued through adulthood.

So understand Rowen - love him and Circus!

Tough stuff here that Rowen had to work through to finally find his HEA with Circus - his love for his family who were ingrained in the incorrect application of religious guilt to the point of suggesting conversion therapy, which is NEVER the answer, and is the MOST unloving thing a parent can suggest, short of disowning their child for being who they are - both of which are still far to common outcomes. So many things to say on that, but felt Saxon James did a good job of finding that balance to this difficult topic that is all too real for so many gay people - which we should have outgrown as a society decades ago. As always, Alexander Cendese and Kirt Graves were wonderful narrators, bringing this story to life. So glad Leon’s story is next!

Loved this

I've been waiting for this for months and it didn't disappoint. Second chances is my favorite trope as is friends to lovers. Perfect listen.

Awesome Series!

Really enjoyed this book! Had me wishing for more and more content as well as I wanted the story to continue at the end.

Second chance redemption.

4.5*
I may have just loved Rowan and Circus's story just a little more than Tanner and Roo's, which I can't believe.
This is more of a frenemies to lovers story than friends to lovers, since Rowan screwed things up between them when they were younger. He needed to redeem himself to Circus, and he did a wonderful job of it.
This was a little heavier of a book than Just friends, with everything Circus lost in his young life, and the struggles Rowan is going through with his identity. I loved their journey.