It's Only Love: A Small Town MM Best Friend's Brother Romance

I am a huge fan of both authors—each so talented, and with different “voices” to their stories, so I was hopeful this collaboration would mesh into a lovely duet. My hopes are exceeded in this book! Wow! The characters-all including Willow, even, are so relatable and genuine and come to life in their humor and care and love they share. Somehow this “slow burn” flowed so carefully and all without undue angst. Dennis’ calm and sensitive way with Mike is a model for sure—inspirational even! So, I would have to say that my “favorite” list of MM novels already included work(s) by A.E. And Courtney, but now that list is topped by this amazing collaboration. I hope there will be more! And I hope you enjoy this beautiful story even half as much as I did and with that you will be moved and inspired!

Mike's Dad dies when he's a teen and as his mom sinks into depression, he spends all his time at his BF Aaron's house. A few years later, Aaron's little brother Dennis discovers he likes boys and eventually develops a lifelong crush on Mike who gently turns him down. I loved that even though it was not a romantic relationship at first they could remain friends until it finally became more. This book has an air of an innocent first love the whole story. The two were always gentle, respectful and not jaded in their feelings. They had to overcome trauma but with supportive families found their way .

Did I fished this book in one sitting? Yes! Yes, you bet your ass I did. I could not stop. I COULDN’T. This book just got all of the feel so right. It had me laughing, giggling, and kicking my feet. Being an Anja and Courtney book, though, but of course, you also have all those deep, releteble feelings that make you cry, or more like sobbing in my case. These two boys got that protective side out of me. I just wanted to give them one big hug and hide them away from the big mean world. Protect my boys at all costs. This is what you get when two amazing hurt/comfort authors get together and decide to write a book. You get a beautiful story that stays with you, that sneaks its way into your heart and does not let you go.

So this is going to be one of those really hard ones to review, because parts of it I really adored, and parts of it made me almost want to give up on it. I did end up finishing it, though, but I'm not sure if I would recommend it to anyone, but I also wouldn't tell someone who wants to read it not to, because it wasn't bad, just... not really my thing, I guess? Let's start with the characters. They were... childish, in a way. But also absolutely adorable. For quite a few chapters, even after their ages had been stated, I felt like Dennis talked like an 8 year old, but then he grew up, and while he still felt a lot younger than he should have, I cared about him a lot and my heart broke for him so many times through the book. He was so sweet and so madly in love and ugh, he deserves the absolute best. Mike I didn't care much for, actually. His story should have been much sadder, but I didn't feel like we got to actually know him and his pain enough to really feel it. I liked him because Dennis liked him, but overall he didn't have a lot of personality. The story itself? Cute. Sweet in that long time crush kind of way. Some parts were a bit dragged out, and I have to say I got a bit annoyed with how after the guys had finally admitted they liked each other literally all they could think about was each others dicks. Like. Constantly. There is spice and then there is... this. Some scenes were good, some were not, but the not being able to think about anything else got tiring…

Dennis and Mike are the sweetest couple. Dennis has always loved Mike and Mike has always loved Dennis...but not in that way. When Dennis confesses to Mike his true feelings, Mike tells him that he doesn't have those same kinds of feelings. Somehow despite all of that, they manage to stay friends and find there way to true love. The story is sweet and the spicy scenes are sooooo good. Definitely recommend!