Title: Not Just Friends
Author: Jay Northcote
Genre: Contemporary New Adult Romance
Length: Novel (200 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (February 24th 2014)
Heat Level: Mild to Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4.5Hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: Leaving home to go to university is an exciting phase in anyone’s life. One that’s full of new places, new friends, and new experiences. But Lewis is not prepared for the sudden and intense crush he develops on his out-and-proud flatmate, Max—given that Lewis had always assumed he was straight. Max starts dating another guy, and Lewis’s jealousy at seeing them together forces him to confront his growing attraction.
When Max’s relationship goes awry, Lewis is the one to comfort him and one thing leads to another. But after a night together, Lewis is devastated that Max wants to go back to being just friends. Lewis tries his best to move on and their friendship survives, but the feelings he has for Max don’t go away. He faces other challenges as he deals with coming out to his parents, and needs Max’s support more than ever. But Lewis isn’t the only one who’s conflicted. When Max finally admits he cares for Lewis too, Lewis must decide whether he dares risk his heart again on being more than just friends.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4732
Review: Lewis is in his first year at university, moving away from home and into a flat at school with five other guys. The new group of friends are a wide variety of personalities, but Lewis is unnervingly drawn to the out and proud Max. Lewis struggles with this attraction as he’s always thought he was straight. He hides his growing feelings well, until Max brings home his current boyfriend, and then Lewis has a hard time hiding the jealousy.
Max either doesn’t notice Lewis’s growing awkwardness around him or is really good at pretending. The two become fast friends, inseparable for the most part, and as Lewis’s feelings for his new best friend become stronger, so does his confusion. A game night morphs into some very heavy petting and Lewis’s feelings are revealed. Lewis is high on emotion and happy, until Max gives him the old ‘let’s just be friends’ speech.
Lewis is hurt, but as much as he wants to be more than friends, he doesn’t want to lose Max as a friend entirely. Lewis continues to explore his newly discovered sexuality at the encouragement of a fellow classmate, and he and Max continue to be friends. When another guy shows a romantic interest in Lewis, Max realizes just how much he wants Lewis all to himself.
Northcote has become one of my favourite authors. She has a smooth, flowing style of writing that captures and conveys emotions that is always fun and fresh. The angst though, I am not a big fan of angst. It’s to be expected given the age of the characters, but it still makes me bang my head against hard surfaces when it presents itself and hinders communication.
That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this fast, fun, coming of age story about two young men who became friends before they became lovers. And Northcote provides strong secondary characters in the form of friends and family that add a little something more to this story. Dean was my personal favourite offering to buy the insatiable new lovers some glucose tablets and energy drinks while he was at the store!
If you like adorably sweet loves stories with just that right blend of dirty sexiness, then this is the book for you.
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **
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