And For Us: An Opposites Attract, MM, Small Town Romance (Ripple Effect Book 3)

I had been waiting for this one since reading book 1 and it did not disappoint! I was so excited to get Ripley’s story 🥹 In book 1 we are introduced to Seth and I honestly was not his biggest fan. But boy oh boy did he redeem himself!! Him and Ripley are the cutest when they finally get out of their own way and just admit (mostly Seth) that they want to be together and make it work. After seeing what he has been going through, I quickly grew to love Seth and just wanted to see him happy and feeling free. And Ripley definitely does that for him. Ripley is the best and I will always adore him. Is he a little petty when it comes to Seth? Yes, but it’s what makes him, him! And I think I would be the same way if I was in their situation 😅 However, he is always a great friend to everyone and was so deserving of his HEA! Everyone in these stories will forever be in my heart and I am so excited to return soon!

**I received an Advance Reader's Copy; all opinions expressed are my own!** I’ve been so eager for Ripley’s story, especially after seeing glimpses of his past in books 1 and 2, and it definitely lived up to the hype! The little twist about who his mystery man, West, ended up to be was so fun (but, I also had a feeling that it might be Seth). I enjoyed seeing the small glimpses of their past history throughout the story because it gave us a deeper view of everything that they’d gone through to get to where they were in this book. Ripley was the chaos demon of my dreams; I loved that he lived for drama, but not in a way that would hurt the people he cared about. It was great to see him be serious when he needed to be, but that didn’t stop him from being absolute chaos most of the time. Despite Seth being the complete opposite, and being constantly annoyed by Ripley’s chaos, it ended up being so good for him because it helped him loosen up a bit and embrace his life a bit more. It was great seeing Seth come to Indigo Hill and fall in love with the slower pace of small town life. It was also amazing to see Seth learn more about himself on the trip and mend his relationship with Thea. It took them some time, but eventually they made up and bonded on a new level over one of the main things they had in common: Ripley! Seth was more serious throughout the book, and some might even say uptight, but once we saw everything that happened in his personal life with his father, it all…

⭐4.5/5 Two men, two hidden identities, a four-year situationship, and one wedding that brings them back into each other’s lives. Ripley and Seth’s story is layered, emotional, and full of ups and downs before they finally reach their well-earned HEA. Ripley is pure chaos in the best way. He is spontaneous, bright, and a total ray of sunshine. Despite being deeply hurt by his family’s rejection after coming out, he refuses to let that define him. His resilience and kind heart made him impossible not to love. Seth, on the other hand, is much more complex. He clings to control, and whenever that slips, his vulnerability starts to show, even if he tries to suppress it. His upbringing left deep scars, especially with a father whose abusive and harmful views shaped Seth’s fear of fully accepting himself and the life he truly wants. Both of them are “hiding” in their own ways. Ripley has an incredible, supportive group of friends who love him unconditionally, yet he still fears the judgment of his small town. Seth has his good friend Iris by his side, but he struggles with feeling unworthy of love. They are complete opposites, but they balance each other perfectly. They bring out the best in one another, and their connection feels real and deeply rooted. Even after Seth breaks Ripley’s heart, you can see it comes from his own fears and insecurities, which makes their journey toward choosing each other even more meaningful. And yes, the chemistry is there. The steamy scenes…

You really should read books 1 and 2 of the series first (When I Come Back and Fighting For You), but this one just easily became my favorite of the series. I've been excited for Ripley's story ever since the author promised me he'd eventually get an HEA, but what a ride it was to get there. This story is a rollercoaster of emotions, full of found family, the best banter, but most of all, it's a story about finding your true self and learning to show the world who you really are.

Alise Monroe as a duo? Yeah… they really know how to do angst—and do it well. This story felt raw, messy, and very real, but still gave that payoff where the characters eventually get it together in the way you’re just waiting for. Ripley and Seth’s dynamic had me hooked from the start. Years of yearly hookups, feelings buried under the surface, and then suddenly being thrown together again as best man and man of honor? The tension was already there, and this just pushed everything to the surface. You could feel how much history sat between them. I loved the contrast between them—Ripley being more chaotic and free after working through his past, and Seth being so controlled, so stuck, and still dealing with family pressure that keeps him from fully being himself. They’re both “hiding” in their own ways, which makes the emotional push-and-pull hit even harder. Ripley wants more but protects himself, while Seth clearly wants everything and just… doesn’t know how to say it. The flashbacks, especially the texts over the years, were such a nice touch. It made their connection feel deeper and showed how much they’ve always meant to each other, even when they were apart. That said, Seth will test your patience a bit. His emotional avoidance can be frustrating, and there are moments where the angst lingers a little longer than it needs to. But honestly, it fits who he is—it just depends on your tolerance for that kind of slow emotional unraveling. There’s also some really…