And Then You

Until #2

by Briar Prescott

Here’s the thing: I am not—I repeat not—boyfriend material. I’m a good time for one night, and that’s it.
Figures I manage to get myself into a situation where I have to pretend to be in a relationship.
Ah, well. Not much else to do now than suck it up and get it over with.
I’m in. I’m out. I’m done.
But then...
Quinn says he’s curious.
He says I’m a liar.
He says he wants to see the real me.
Honestly, I can’t run away fast enough after that.
Because he doesn’t know.
Doesn’t know that I’m a landmine.
That he’s trudging so close.
That he’s about to step on me.
And then?
I’ll ruin him.

Genres: M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Contemporary, Fake Dating, LGBT, Mental Health

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 2023

About the author

Briar Prescott is a work in progress. She swears too much, doesn’t eat enough leafy greens and binge watches too much television. It’s okay, though. One of these days she'll get a hang of that adulting thing.
Probably.
Maybe.
She hopes.

Want to check in occasionally to hear what's up? You can stalk her here:
Newsletter: https://www.briarprescott.com/contact
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/briar...
Email: prescottbriar@gmail.com.
Webpage: www.briarprescott.com.

Reviews

[lila ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You absolutely are. Unreasonable.” He turns himself toward me and slides his arms around my waist. “Unreadable.” He lowers his lips toward mine. “Unexpected,” he murmurs just before he kisses me.

steph is hands down one of my favorite characters ever!!! 🥹 i love him so fucking much sigh. his insecurities and vulnerabilities just made me wanna hug him. i have such a weakness for characters who hide their soft side by using snark and wit and humor to mask it, and steph perfectly fit that archetype. he was just perfect in my opinion, and i will hear no words against him. i hated how he felt like he didn’t deserve love or affection because of what happened to him, but what i loved was seeing quinn slowly seeing him for who he truly was behind the charming veneer he was wearing and unmask him and love him for him. quinn was the quintessential grumpy boy, but the way he got intrigued by steph and needed to know more about what made him him? love him for that. the “please be patient with me” moment made my heart sing. “tell me something real” still gets me teary-eyed, and i love how these two went from disliking each other (note: difference between dislike and straight-up *hate*) to enjoying each other’s company to adoring each other.

the banter has my entire heart as always—briar knows just how to do that right. as for the side characters? truly unmatched, because i adore jude, blake, blair, nora and hazel so fucking much. even quinn’s family and friends were so entertaining with some of their comments. and steph?? god, the mouth on that man. he has a comeback for literally everything and i laughed so hard every time he came up with the randomest story. see why i love him so much !! as for quinn, i did want more from him because even though we got his points of view, they weren’t enough to get a full outlook on who he was as a person. i feel like his arc was overshadowed by steph’s, but i ain’t complaining as long as we get more steph. 🤪

as for the romance—i loved how everything bloomed at just the right pace. i always appreciate the trope where the mcs think of each other a certain way and have misconceptions but that gets cleared as they grow closer, and this happens wonderfully here. i also adored seeing quinn fighting for steph throughout the second half of this book, because that’s what steph deserved!! steph truly let down his guard with quinn and let him see the “real” him in all its glory and messiness and god, it was lovely. the angry confession near the end got me all in my feels and i absolutely loved how that was delivered.

overall, i just had so much fun reading this and i had butterflies in my stomach throughout, because i was giggling at every lil moment and almost shedding tears at certain poignant occasions.

[Snjez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think I could love this as much as book 1, but I did. The story and its characters grabbed me from the very first page and never let go. To be honest, Steph was not my favourite in the previous book, but I loved him so much in this one. I understood him a lot better and I actually found him very relatable.

I loved the dynamics between Steph and Quinn – the animosity, the banter and everything that comes as the story progresses. I'm not even a fan of the fake dating trope, but I liked how it was done here. The relationship development and the slow burn were perfect. They fit so well together.

As with book 1, I absolutely loved the writing. There's so much depth to it. Some parts of the story are very emotional, but it's also fun at times, and I can honestly say that I felt every emotion the characters were feeling. I wish every book I read would give me that.

[len ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I want you to fucking fight for me,” he says. “I want you to fight for us. I want you to tell me you love me and that you want me and have me and keep me and be with me. Forever. But most of all, I want you to be happy. I want you to stop all the lying and hiding and just be fucking happy. With or without me.”

Another anticipated release that didn’t live up to my expectations.

After really enjoying Until You so much that it was almost a five-star read when I read it, I was expecting this to be even better or moderately close to the feelings Until You gave me. However, despite the enjoyable time I spent reading this, I can’t help but feel like my criticisms for this continue affecting my thought processes until I let my thoughts down.

There are quite enough things that are highly enjoyable.

Some of you know this, but I criticize the enemies-to-lovers trope and its marketing strategy. Too often, authors market their books as enemies to lovers, yet we hardly see this animosity shine through. In romance, especially, characters will claim to hate each other (whether one-sided or mutual). Still, this so-called hate will be overpowered, either by their physical attractiveness, built size, luscious lips, bright color of their eyes, soft hair, or the clothes they’re wearing and how they make their bodies stand out. Most of the so-called hate is brushed off due to character A finding character B extremely attractive, and their hatred only grows through that.

Of course, there are other reasons, but it’s 1 AM, and I have no motivation to get into a bigger list of why the enemies-to-lovers trope is used for marketing purposes only to dig readers unashamedly. Fortunately, Briar Prescott took a different route and distinguished between hate and dislike, which I believe, like Steph, is very different. I think hate is a powerful word, such as love. It’s easier for me to see when a character loves the other character because we see them spending their time building that emotional connection used for relationship development. Hate, on the other hand, is hardly an element fairly seen in these stories. Like Steph, I think hate is much stronger than people think. I loved and appreciated how the author distinguished between hate and dislike. As Steph made it clear: To hate somebody means to have them occupy a large portion of your thoughts and poison your mind with their presence. I have more enjoyable things to do with my brain. Generally, I try not to think about him at all. Not so generally, while I don’t hate Quinn, I also don’t like him. He’s an annoyance. A splinter underneath my nail that refuses to come out. A papercut that doesn’t heal. A pebble in my shoe.

The thing about characters claiming they hate each other is how untrue it always is. 99.99% of the time, it’s all talk, no show. We aren’t witnesses to the characters hating each other for valid reasons that don’t feel anything but juvenile, petty, and immature; it’s usually because character A has better golden hair or character B took his spot in football, or character A was forced to hide his sexuality while character B could shine. It has all been overused, up to the top, as if no creativity and uniqueness is available.

I said I wouldn’t make the list bigger, so let me stop here before I go off-topic again.

I love it when authors are actual with what they promote. Briar announced this as dislike to lovers, not enemies to lovers. When I first heard about this from her Instagram, I was excited and delighted, but I was also ready to have less expectations for the ‘dislike.’ Personally, the way authors and reviewers market books is what I will be expecting. I could go into this with a different mindset of the hate-to-love trope.

Fortunately, the dislike worked great in my favor. There is actual dislike, and not for petty, juvenile reasons. Steph looked up to Quinn when he was young since they were both swimmers, but the day Steph approached Quinn (I’m keeping this vague), Quinn, unaware of who Steph was, snapped at him and told him to fuck off. With how Steph felt that day, it’s no wonder he lost hope again and couldn’t stand being close to Quinn. There’s a misunderstanding caused by this, though, with Quinn thinking Steph hates him because he avoided him before. Again, considering it’s more dislike than anything else, I thought the author portrayed this well. And while this misunderstanding wasn’t necessarily the newest in any way, I appreciated the dynamics between these two caused by this dislike for each other. With an unfortunate encounter forcing them into a fake dating relationship, the awkwardness is apparent, showing a realistic sense of what they don’t mean to each other.

“You drive me fucking insane,” he says in a low, fierce voice. “You’re annoying and aggravating and impossible, and it’s like you’ve made it your mission in life to get under my skin.”
My breath gets stuck in my lungs, and for the first time in my life, it happens in a good way.
I force myself to swallow through the thickness in my throat. “That’s a lot of words to say I get your dick hard.”
The laugh that spills from his lips is decidedly unhappy. “I wish it was just my dick. You make everything hard.”

The author managed to capture their awkwardness incredibly well. With the fake dating trope taking a spotlight to form their relationship, I loved initially seeing the relationship feeling miserable. It added to their characters, with awkwardness and tension being a significant focus at first due to the strange nature of this new world. It showed that, even if, realistically, they found each other appealing enough, they weren’t about to jump each other for the sake of “proving” something to each other. This allowed the relationship to form more naturally, changing tones from dislike to potential friendship to growing fondness. Quinn was usually more stiff and tense in the relationship, and poor Steph had to improvise enough information to make the relationship relivable. We also see enough reactions from both sides that allow readers to interpret their feelings—scowling, tensing up, anger, awkwardness, and even mild disgust.

As for one of my favorite parts of this, the banter between the two was one of my favorites. With Steph’s unresolved trauma being hidden by an unhealthy amount of pretending and humor, paired with Quinn’s broody, grumpy, anti-socialization exterior, we’re treated to witty banter, sarcastic tones, and hilarious banter. It flows well, with neither character ever losing their spark. I love it when the traits of the characters don’t change in the worst ways, so I was glad these two kept up their natural characteristics until the end. Even with some of the present development, it’s not like they lose the spark and interior that makes up their characters. They felt unique, refreshingly new, and never bordered on ridiculous, over-the-top, or annoying. I found myself loving Steph more and more with each recent comeback he had for Quinn, and I loved Quinn’s protective exterior showing up. Their dialogue was quickly my favorite.

Furthermore, I’m a fan of angry love confessions, and this had that. For some reason, they feel more emotional because of their brutal feelings. I was a fan of how the author used this as a way for the characters to come clean about each other but not resolve their issues without talking. I think it showed how no matter how much you might figure your feelings off, you can’t change your emotions in one go. Plus, since the start of their relationship, they’ve had a discussion-based banter (although Quinn argues they’re fighting), so it’s lovely to see the change from genuine fighting and discussion to playful banter.

Both characters are layered, but Steph is much more multilayered. Quinn’s ability to slowly peel off one layer after another, with a respectable sense of privacy, is proficient. He shows his skills in every other new spot with Steph, showing his growing interest. Steph is much more reserved, coping with humor to hide his reality; Quinn is more stoic but less mysterious, with fewer secrets to hide, but his past still affects him.

“I feel guilty,” he admits softly.
“For?”
He looks at me then. “When I’m with you, I feel good. You make me feel alive.”

There’s chemistry between the two, growing at a moderately slow pace, developed naturally and entirely unexpectedly. I would call this a slow burn because nothing happens until the second half, but it isn’t my type of slow burn because it involved one sex scene after another after their first encounter at the 56% mark. Still, we see Quinn chase Steph, which is not what I expected, but I am also not complaining about it. It’s enjoyable seeing Steph’s push-and-pull and Quinn not give up. Small tidbits of jealousy make their way, too, and we see the two silently engaging mentally and emotionally. They have silent and unconscious “This is their thing” moments, like the running they started doing, talking in the oak tree, and Steph telling Quinn movie summaries when Quinn tells him, “Tell me something real.”. It was, in other words, adorable. They couldn’t hide their growing fondness for what they used to not like, which I think is a necessity in books with these tropes. They also notice things about each other but don’t use them to assume things. Instead, it shows how different their perceptions change and how their previous judgments were wrong. I loved their silent communication and the moments where they got to know each other much more.

Steph was easily my favorite. I have a lot of kryptonite, and one of them is the characters who hide their trauma underneath humor and fake smiles to cope. I loved seeing Steph let go little by little, with a few nudges from Quinn. Sometimes, we experience his emotions and feelings like living in his head. The author’s skillful descriptive writing shows enough detail about how the two men feel. Steph’s insecurities slowly unwound, and were witnesses to his layers unfolding. We experience him being able to experience and feel new emotions, especially those he didn’t think he could experience again. I loved the distinction between happiness and content, as well. For example, Steph would acknowledge he was content in the moment and wouldn’t change a thing about the current day, but he couldn’t admit he was fully happy because he couldn’t feel it. However, this is all part of his development, and we see how he slowly begins to unwind and let go. His emotions are at first hidden, and little by little, he allows himself to feel more. There’s nothing about Steph I didn’t like. I loved his charismatic, sarcastic self, hilarious attitude, bright personality, and acknowledgments for his wrongdoings.

There is no highway to Stephen’s mind. Only an endless maze of narrow roads where every once in a while you’ll arrive at a cliff’s edge.

However, some things did impact my enjoyment enough to rate this lower. The good thing is that these are more personal preferences than anything else, so I’d say take my review with a grain of salt.

First, there is the reason behind fake dating in the first place. I haven’t read that many books with the fake dating trope, but I am a fan. There is something about seeing the two be confused on when pretend turned into real, lying about their real feelings, wondering how they can make it permanent, pretending they aren’t jealous, the pushing and pulling. However, the reasoning behind it can become repetitive and difficult to make unique. It’s easier for me to turn a blind eye to it since I don’t read it much, but it doesn’t help me become a bigger fan of the trope, that’s for sure. Similar to enemies to lovers, the reasons here behind fake dating being proposed and agreed to in the first place are unrealistic and pathetic, in my opinion. I do not like the whole “I need to pretend to have a boyfriend to go to my ex-boyfriend’s wedding because if I don’t, I will be judged.” Luckily, that’s not the case here, but the approach was nothing new. Family is still involved, so in this case, Quinn pretends he and Steph are dating with no good enough excuse besides his family. I found him a little pathetic with this because I’m not a fan of characters who can’t stand up for themselves and make their families back off when they’ve had enough. Quinn’s family is a little meddling in his love life and will not stop trying to set him up with people, always asking him about a potential partner, all these usual things. It’s annoying now since I’m tired of the same excuses. Quinn needs to show them he is dating someone (Steph) for them to back off, and then they can go back to normal. This is all fine, but I guess it was nothing new. I can’t take the “I didn’t have a choice” seriously. Again, see why this is a personal preference.

Second, I did think there was a little bit of a lack of sexual tension. Maybe it’s just me, but while I did find the two to have chemistry, I did think sexual tension was missing. I was expecting this to ooze with more sexual tension, more build-up, and depth that would lead to their first sexual interaction. Instead, they have a sort of “no strings attached” relationship where they have to remind themselves “it’s just sex.” I saw it as a plot device used for the sake of using it to get them to be together physically, which I find lazy and boring. I was enjoying the gradual development these two were having, from assuming to actually learning about each other, from animosity to growing fondness, from anger to understanding. It felt to me like the author kind of took away that picture and replaced it with sex, which is unfortunate. The first half was then much better for me, and the second half presented more issues related to the relationship.

“What if we would be good?” he says in a low voice.
“What if we would be horrible?”

Third, Quinn was lacking some character. I feel like we don’t learn much about Quinn. The author did a fantastic job establishing his character, but I don’t think it was explored enough. We never really learn why he is how he is besides his past relationship. My problem with this is that characters sometimes use their past as an excuse to be shitty. While Quinn wasn’t that, I think it was unconsciously made that way. We learn that he snapped at Steph the first time they were going to meet because Quinn was dealing with the OM drama. Rest assured that there is no OM drama in this one. Still, Quinn never really acknowledges who he is as a person. It’s like we’re just supposed to accept he’s this grumpy person with no fair explanation of why and who he is. We find new things about himself to appreciate, but we never really get to know Quinn. Throughout the novel, he remains somewhat the same, even if he softens up a little for Steph.

Finally, I did not like how there wasn’t a balance between the POV changes. I’m a fan of dual POV, but I’m also not going to complain just because we don’t have it. However, if you add two different perspectives for both characters’ voices, it’s fair to say I would expect a balance between them. I didn’t like how this mainly was Steph’s POV with sprinkles of Quinn’s POV here and there. It defeated the purpose of dual POV, and it deflated my enjoyment a little bit. We would go from five paragraphs of Steph, one of Quinn, and back to five of Steph. I found it a little frustrating, honestly.

That said, while I did enjoy this, I did enjoy the first book much more. However, Steph is my new favorite character out of the bunch. He has too many qualities about him that I deeply love and sometimes resonate with. There is something about the sunshine characters hiding their darkness inside with humor and other strategies, and the big, grumpy teddy bear ends up peeling their layers off.

This duology is still worth reading and giving a chance to. My experience with this author hasn’t been the most memorable, with Until You being my first and only four-star read. I can’t wait to see what she’ll bring next year!

“You absolutely are. Unreasonable.” He turns himself toward me and slides his arms around my waist. “Unreadable.” He lowers his lips toward mine. “Unexpected,” he murmurs just before he kisses me.

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should absolutely add to the already somewhat unstable impression Quinn probably has about me and throw in another panic attack because I've never held a guy's hand before, and somehow that simple gesture feels big and important and meaningful.
I'm almost prepared to pull my hand away when Quinn curls his fingers and traps my hand in place.
My heartbeat is still too loud and wild and uncontrolled, but with each passing second it starts to settle.
~ it's the lil moments for me!! 😭

I HONESTLY JUST WANNA HUG STEPH AND BE HIS BEST FRIEND. 😭😭 you can never have a dull moment with that man, but he also deserves the world. i loved how complex and layered he felt. he was someone who laughs to hide his pain and, on the surface, he comes across as self-abosrbed and cocky but, in reality, he was so much more than that. i loved how Quinn was his exact opposite and while Quinn was reserved, closed off and scowly, the fact that he chased Steph and never gave up when he realized there's more to Steph than he thought, it made my heart so full bc he was who Steph needed, but it's always satisfying when the only one who can make the grumpy character smile or laugh (aside from his family) is the other mc. 🥹

similar to the first book, the witty banters, dialogue (Steph had the funniest comebacks, i swear 😭) and chemistry between the mcs felt so natural that i found myself enjoying their interactions SO much. there were a few things i wish would have been done differently, sure, but nothing major to where it ruined the romance or book for me and i just adored the lil moments between Steph and Quinn. while some scenes made me cry and broke my heart, it had a good balance of angst and light-hearted, imo. i also loved the side characters - mainly Quinn's family, the friend group and although she only had a lil appearance, also Steph's grandma. <3

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

What is it about stories featuring brothers, family or found, that really gets me in my feelings? Ngl I’ve two younger and I’ve not yet read any books that adequately captures my feelings for them…other than fratricide…kidding…or am I?

Point is, I’m locked in if it’s a thing. And in this book, it is very much a thing. That opening chapter gutted me right off the bat and my love for this story just kept growing from there. Steph and Quinn started off a bit like McQuiston’s Henry & Alex. In fact, I probably enjoyed this even more because saltiness due to failed hero worship/bi-gay awakening catalysts are my jam too lol.

Well, all the things I absolutely love about a romance ie clever and funny banter, fully realized characterization, benevolent side characters/found family, a man who would go the distance etc etc this book delivered in spades.

Even the last bit of this book was completely understandable and was the epitome of a reasonable third act wrap, instead of the ott dramatic garbage that tends to make me see red. This book is a rare gem in the sea of contemporary m/m, at least for me, one that did all the right things so well I was able to turn my brain off while I was in it, experiencing each momentous step alongside Quinn and Steph, as their love story unfolded.

Full stars for simply being an uncomplicated victory. This love story is not only full of heart, but also full of life that has to get on with the business of living. This was utter perfection from beginning to end, and I am looking forward to everything else Briar Prescott releases in the future! This author is such a unique and clever talent who just keeps getting better and better, and I am likewise better off for having discovered her work, which steadfastly delivers on the level of exceptional m/m romance!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5 stars ⭐️

«Ocean under and universe above us.»

Amazing.
Humorous, emotional, heartfelt — I enjoyed every second of this.
Fantastic characters, and living inside Steph’s head was so chaotic, I loved it.
They had great banter and the dialogues were fun, but also full of feels.
I definitely teared up a time or two.

Not much to say, still processing how much I loved this story, brb.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

Tropes and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Fake dating
- Dislike to love
- Vers MCs

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~4.5~

Briar Prescott's books always sneak up on me.

Like here, at first it's all banter and animosity. Steph is exhausting with his constant quips and deflections, and Quinn isn't much better, what with that ginormous stick up his ass.

For the first half or so, I liked this story fine, but it wasn't a standout, then something happened - not suddenly but imperceptibly.

Maybe it was when Quinn didn't let Steph hide when they returned from Quinn's family's summer camp. Maybe it was when Steph couldn't stay away from Quinn, even though he promised Blair (who honestly needed to mind her own damn business).

Maybe it was when Quinn wouldn't let Steph escape to North fucking Carolina.

I can't pinpoint the moment when this story went from just okay to amazing, but it did. The ending has so many feels.

I hated the way Steph's parents treated him as a spare, a shadow left behind, hated the pressure they put on him to save someone who was never coming back.

Quinn was the only one who saw the complete (at times infuriating) puzzle that was Steph, and, in return, Steph brought joy and laughter to Quinn's ordered, measured life.

I read the epilogue three times, then I hugged my Kindle.

[Papie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn’t feel easy. Nothing with Steph ever does. But it does feel light. And warm. Like sunrise inside my chest. “We’ll figure the rest out,” I say.

I’m so sad the book is over. I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time.

❤️❤️❤️

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steph stole my heart. I absolutely loved him and Quinn together, their relationship was just the best.

This book will make you laugh but also cry your eyes out at points - unless you're a robot I guess?

Briar Prescott is one of my favourite authors and every single book is an immediate buy.

[alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tell me something real."

[4.4~4.5] approaching follow-ups in any book universe is invariably laced with some hesitancy, but particularly after what i’d consider one of my favorite reads from this year, Until You, well, i was hesitant in more ways than one to say the very least.

the relief when i realized that fear was wholly unwarranted.

dislike to love (appreciate the distinction!) + fake dating (those who are not a fan of the trope can rest assured; it’s more of an impetus for that initial shift in their relationship rather than their dynamic throughout the entire story) + a frivolous jokester hiding his well of trauma + a deceptively stony-faced, inquisitive enigma = me as a happy camper 😌

there are a few comparisons i could make that could be interpreted as niggles, but i’d rather let my bodily reactions talk: the butterflies in my stomach, the goosebumps pebbling my skin, the aww’s and hand to my chest from the tender quality of their gentle touches and shows of vulnerability (the handholding… oh my gosh 😳) - it’s been a while since i felt this schoolgirl bashful from words on a page.

Quinn starts off difficult to gauge as an individual (and we only really got one solid look at him in the first book), but as he matches Steph’s extravagant detours with smug boredom and deadpan sarcasm, counteracts his dodges with ravenous curiosity, it made for some top-notch banter that i could simply read forever.

can’t wait to return to them again once the audiobook is out, because i will absolutely be picking it up.

Thank you to GRR and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of the book. This is my honest review :)

[Drache.... (Angelika) · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread 06/2024
Still stunning, still 5 stars.
Everything I said in my review last years is still true.
This is such a beautiful book (and mini-series).
---------
read 11/2023
5 stars.
I loved, loved, loved Stephen and Quinn so much, it's kinda ridiculous.
My expectations were high because I had loved Jude and Blake in Until You, and I'm so happy the author wrote a different book with different characters and a different storyline and I loved it equally.

I had loved that we got just Jude's pov in the first book, but the dual pov didn't diminish my enjoying this book, at all. Most chapters are written from Stephen's pov and a few in between from Quinn's pov. This writing style worked really well for me. Since Stephen was hiding himself so much, it was good to get most chapters from his perspective, and the few chapters from Quinn's perspective cemented my love for Quinn equally.
Both MCs were shown in an awesome way. The oh so slowly builduing attraction and growing feelings were beautiful to read, as were their conversations (espescially when Quinn seemed to run against a wall but never got angry or gave up) and their sizzling chemistry.

I loved that the author let Steph gradually (in the smallest steps imaginable, it felt) acknowlegde his own feelings. I loved that he felt safe for the first time in so long. The author wrote those passages when Steph started to accept that he felt home and safe with Quinn in a very beautiful way. Again and again. It felt like the feeling needed to settle, step by step.

As for the side characters, I liked Nora more than Blaire, just like in the first book.
And Jude and Blake's appearances were nice but I was so focused on Steph and Quinn, they didn't even register that much.

The fact that the plot reveal didn't feel like a real punch in the gut was another fantastic storywriting-detail in my opinion. I appreciated it very much. It felt realistic how everybody involved acted, and for me it felt much more natural than a big hurtful reveal.

Tl, dr: loved it!

[Miki_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He's not supposed to know me. But he does. I'm not supposed to like it. But I do."

Yes, i did just realise i forgot to post this review, but this book is god tier and my only 5 star read of the year so far. I'm so obsessed with it that I've already read it twice

There are no words for how much I love Steph. He's one of those characters that is just super relateable and special to me, and I would legit die for him 😭. AND THE WAY QUINN LOVES HIM AND IS JUST AN UNMOVEABLE STEADY PRESENCE??!?!?!? ABSOLUTELY GIVE ME MORE. ANGRY I LOVE YOU CONFESSION? SAY LESS.
Steph and Quinn, are everything I wanted. Steph is complete chaos in the best way, and Quinn is a bit of a control freak who loves hard 🥹 they were a little damaged, a little messy, and sweet af. The banter in this is top tier and it also included one of my fav microtropes ever, that being : "I hate you so much but I can't help but notice every little thing about you, like how much you hate Bell peppers because you pick them off you pizza."

ANYWAY, I AM A COMPLETE SIMP FOR THEM. There's a scene at the end of this book that never ceases to break me even though it is relatively light-hearted overall. They've taken a piece of my heart with them fr. They have that soul mate kinda love, and I'll think about them forever 😭


Ratings
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way my friends have been shouting at me that I’ll love this for most of this year. You were right, ok, I fucking loved it. Bunch of geniuses, the lot of you.

THE PREMISE: two guys who hate each other end up pretending to be boyfriends at a family holiday. Also: tragic back story.

TROPES & VIBES:
- Enemies to lovers
- Gold standard banter
- The Bolter coded
- Fake dating
- Books that made me cry
- Steph is for sure adhd
- *I used to be secretly obsessed with you*

4.5⭐️ 2.5-3🌶️

[Cat the bookworm (semi hiatus ish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author certainly knows how to take her readers on an emotional rollercoaster.

The book starts with a bang (and I don’t really consider it a spoiler because it happens in the first chapter): when Steph 15, there’s an accident on a boat, and his twin dies.

This trauma is still a huge part of him, one that he covered with a carefully crafted mask of un-seriousness, always a joke on his lips, and never letting anyone get close enough to get to know the real him.

There’s one person he dislikes with a passion: Quinn, a former swim champion who Steph used to have a crush upon. All would be well if -due to a misunderstanding - they wouldn’t have ended up having to play the part of boyfriends in front of Quinn’s family for a week. And Quinn being fascinated by Steph, and bent upon stripping away his flashy layers and get to know the real person behind all the bedazzlement.

Mostly, I loved the book. I loved Steph, and I loved their banter. It would have been an easy 5 star rating if we’d have gotten to know more about Quinn. There’s a dual pov of sorts, but it’s not balanced- it’s 80% Steph and 20% Quinn. And I REALLY would have liked to get to know him better, the potential was there.

As it is, I’ll rate it with 4 stars- still a highly enjoyable book that I’ll revisit when the audio version is released.

[yaishin · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read

if my relationship isn't like this I don't want it. I'm in love with the idea of Quinn and Steph together.

Second read

enemies to lovers done right but it was better when I wasn't expecting the plot twists.

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this.

I couldn't put it down, and it totally sucked me in from the beginning.

Steph lost his twin brother Sky when they were 15. He hasn't been the same since. He's known as a screw up ever since then. Steph still hasn't healed enough to move on from the grief, and he lies about almost everything to keep up a front, to hide behind any persona that suits him in the moment. The real him is seemingly locked away tightly.

Quinn is Nora's best friend, who is Blair's wife and Blair is one of Steph's best friends. He also happens to be a former Olympic swimmer, the son of a well known actress and former vice president, and the somewhat-celebrity crush of Steph when he was 14, before they ever met.

But years later, Steph saw Quinn in New York sitting on a park bench and went to talk to him, but Quinn was going through is own shit, and told him to fuck off.

When they later met through Blair and Nora, Steph was none too happy with Quinn, and that sparked their dynamic still going 5 years later, which has only grown in back and forth insults. They weren't truly "enemies" or anything, but they did have a good dislike going for each other and it took a good portion of this for the dislike to start going away, so I still tagged this enemies-to-lovers.

And when, after a wedding they are both attending, Steph ends up at Quinn's place after having got himself blackout drunk and Quinn took him home to keep him safe, Quinn parents and sister happen to be there the next morning.

And they assume Steph is the boyfriend Quinn has been lying to his family about for the past year or so, to get them off his back about dating again after a shitty experience with an ex year prior.

So somehow it ends with Steph agreeing to go to Quinn's family's cabin, as his pretend boyfriend, for a week. Then Quinn will say they broke up after it's over.

Of course, like all good pretend relationship trope books, that doesn't happen 😏

Over the course of the week, the two start out disliking each other and ends with something being different between them.

Quinn sees beyond Steph's practiced personas. He doesn't quite know what's buried underneath there, but he knows what he's seeing isn't the real Steph. And as he and Steph get to know each other more, he wants to figure out who the real Steph is.

Steph, of course, doesn't want any of that. He doesn't want anyone to truly know him. But he can't help but he drawn to Quinn right back. Because Quinn is, of course, more than the stuck up, straight laced guy he seems to be.

The way these two start out and where they end up was beautiful. Seeing them to get to a point where they're both laughing so much and so long in each other's presence, just having so much fun together, was beautiful.

Seeing Steph let down his guard around Quinn. Quinn his around Steph. Seeing Quinn smile so much when he barely did at all in the beginning. Seeing Steph smile a real smile instead of a fake one.

And boy oh boy was the chemistry on point! Once they gave in it was SO good and so steamy and so passionate. They couldn't keep their hands off each other and it was so fucking hot. And when they definitely made love, I felt that too.

These two were just so good together.

And I love love loved how the end didn't go the way I feared it would. You think Steph is pulling a Steph, but he isn't. But Quinn thinks he is and he goes to fight for him instead of wallowing in misery and letting it happen. I loved that.

It was dramatic without being melodramatic. It was the right amount of drama without being convoluted. It all made sense.

Sky's presence is felt throughout this. We only get to meet him for a few pages at the beginning of this, but we get some thoughts in Steph's head as if they were Sky talking to him. And who would know Sky better than his twin? So it felt like we had Sky with us at times.

It's tragic what happened, but Steph learns that he can live without Sky. That it's okay for him to be happy even though Sky isn't alive to have the same possibility. That Sky wouldn't want him being miserable in life as a sort of punishment for living when Sky didn't.

Quinn makes Steph so incredibly happy, but it takes Steph some time to get there to accepting in. And after Quinn's own heartbreak, it was surprising that it didn't take him that long to get past any hang ups he might have and dive right into it with Steph. Once they really get into their relationship, he's in it, forever and it's wonderful.

I just absolutely adored this. Possibly more than the first? I think so, as much as I loved the first. This one got it beat, I have to admit.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend this. You could read it as a standalone, but the first one is definitely worth a read, so I'd start there (and there is some backstory and establishment of relationships that we get in the first one, so there's that.)

This series has been so so good. The author has truly improved the more and more she writes. I wonder if we'll get another in this series? Maybe it'll be about Sutton, Quinn's friend? Hmm, possibly. I'd be interested in his story.

Until the next one! 😘

My Ratings for the Until Series:

☀️ Until You: 5 stars (my review)
☀️ And Then You: 5 stars

[kaye taz | &#x1f4da; · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook

“Jude. Blair. Nora. Hazel.
Quinn.
What if they disappeared out of your life for good? But you get Sky back. Would you make the trade?
For the first time, the answer changes.
No.”

What if I just flung myself off a cliff?

Briar. Prescott. Never. Fucking. Misses. I could honestly slap myself right now for not reading this sooner because I could’ve not cared less about Steph in the first book and when I saw that this book was about him, I moved onto other things. This is what I deserve for doubting you, queen. Never again.

I loved Until You, I still do, and Jude and Blake are everything to me. But this book is just… It just made me feel the same strong feelings as book one but in a different way.

There’s no crazy plot twist and angsty breakup like the first book, but pretty much every moment of reading this had my heart leaking from my chest. The fact that Steph was so confident about how he hides his real self from the world, and then as soon as you get Quinn’s POV you see that he’s the first person to notice that Steph is lying to everyone. He just… saw Steph when no one else did.
↳“It’s the flippant attitude, I think. Or maybe the carefree approach to absolutely everything. Or the exceedingly happy-go-lucky nature. Or the fact that nothing about him seems sincere.”

From faking the relationship at the cabin with the early morning runs and little truths at the top of the oak tree, to the way Quinn wouldn’t let Steph run from him - whether in New York or “North fucking Carolina”, to the way Quinn just became Steph’s first safe space in ten years.
↳“When did North Carolina stop being home? I can’t pinpoint the exact moment. I just know that when I think of home, the only thing that comes to mind is Quinn.”

There were just so many little moments sprinkled throughout this book that I wound up highlighting way too much but everything was just beautiful. I want to tattoo their love onto my skin and wear it for the world to see. Just watching Steph slowly learn how to forgive himself for Sky and let himself be happy.
↳“‘When I’m with you, I feel good. You make me feel alive.’
‘It’s okay to feel that way. It’s okay to be alive.’”

The friendship between Steph, Jude and Blair is so beautiful, and I loved seeing Blake and Quinn situate themselves into the fold. Jude and Steph need all the support and love in the world, and their little found family makes me emotional. I hope we get more of them all in the next book. It’ll feel like visiting friends. I will never forget any of these characters, they honestly mean so much to me.

Speaking of the next book, I am so ready for it. We didn’t get a ton of Sutton here but I was obsessed with the small amount we did. It was his number on Steph’s skin that made Quinn finally jump him, so I thank him for his service and anticipate his happily ever after.

Just jumping back in to say that this book is still my absolute favorite book of all time to this day. If it’s ever topped, I’ll honestly be shocked.

[Lau ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

He leans his forehead against mine and looks me so deep in the eye I think he might see my soul.
Every dark corner.
Every ragged edge.
“What if we would be good?” he says in a low voice.
“What if we would be horrible?”

Briar Prescott has shown us that Until You wasn’t a one-time hit. And Then You manages to shine on its own while maintaining the style of the first book: angsty and real, but also fun at times. A book for those who are tired of recycled stories and want to read a new voice.


And Then You tells the story of two guys who can’t stay in the same room without verbally sparring but keep crashing into each other due to common friendships. Until Quinn’s lies, Steph’s jokes and a couple two many shots brought them to the misunderstanding of the century: Quinn’s family think Steph is the guy Quinn’s been seeing for months. The guy Quinn came up with to stop his family from throwing potential candidates his way. Since Steph is aware it is mainly on him, he promises Quinn to help him faking the relationship during a week-long family holiday, only to ‘break up’ after it.

But the more Quinn gets to know Steph, the more he wants to reveal his secrets. Everything about Steph is a big bright lie. Normally, people lie to show they are better than they are. Steph seems to want the opposite. What happened that put that big, fake smile always there? Quinn knows what it's like to fall for a liar, yet he can’t seem to stop…

And he doesn’t know.
He doesn’t know that I’m a landmine.
That he’s trudging so close.
That he’s about to step on me.

While the fake dating excuse was a bit of a stretch-really, they couldn’t break up before the holidays started?-, I liked how their relationship was executed. I’m tired of ‘enemies to lovers’ romances where the main characters hate each other for no reason and keep behaving like little kids around each other. Quinn and Steph don’t like each other, but they stand each other for the sake of mutual friends. If you want long and irrational monologues about why the other person is the devil himself, don’t bother picking this up. Their dislike is realistic because it’s based on the fact that they behave very differently and that, when Steph used to have a crush on Quinn-back when he was a famous Olympic swimmer-, Quinn answered him badly. That made Steph dislike him, and treat him not as kindly as he would normally do when they were introduced by their mutual friends, which made Quinn dislike him in exchange.

“You drive me fucking insane,” Quinn says in a low, fierce voice. “You’re annoying and aggravating and impossible, and it’s like you’ve made it your mission in life to get under my skin.”

The reason why both books in the series are so dear to me is because they manage to give us suspense and angst without forgetting about the funny banter. I fell in love with my first book by the author, Project Hero, because I had the time of my life reading it. I was so happy I remember laughing out loud while I was walking home, phone in hand like the responsible pedestrian I am. Although Project Hero is one of my most reread books, it doesn’t have the depth Briar Prescott was able to capture in this series. I recommended Until You (#1) to a friend, and she told me ‘i can only read one book like this one every ten books. Nine fillers and then one book to shatter my world, to make me think about the characters for weeks’. That’s how I feel about both books in this series: they are so good the impact is not one you can afford in your everyday life.

The only thing I would change would be the resolution of ‘the problem’ at the end, I thought it was way too fast and way too easy after all the drama they created around it. I wasn’t really angry about it because I adored reading this book and I wasn’t looking forward to that scene, but it was a bit anticlimactic.

Overall, I loved reading this book. I loved how many emotions it brought to my heart. And I love that Briar Prescott is writing the romances I love to read. She has become again an auto-buy author for me and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.


↬ Until by Briar Prescott
1. Until You : 4.25 stars
2. And Then You: 4.5 stars
3. Maybe You: 4.25 stars

[Vanna (on-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Loved it Stars!! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ When I started reading this, I honestly couldn't recall Steph much from the previous book.. he had made a very shallow impression on me and Quinn had seemed rather opaque. But this book OMG.. 😍 it just grabbed me this weekend and wouldn't let go. I couldn't get enough of Steph and Quinn and their epic story of hate to love💞
It all starts with a tragedy that happened 10 years ago in Steph's life that upended his entire trajectory and personality; his casual relationships, transitory lifestyle and overall superficial persona starts to make sense. Except his 2 best friends he doesn't care about anything or anyone else, even himself; it's like he's living a half-life 😢. In comes Quinn; who is everything that Steph is not and soon their mutual indifference turns into strong dislike in the couple of years that they have been thrown together due to common friends. Quinn doesn't understand Steph's laid-back demeanor and ephemeral lifestyle; but when a harmless white lie sets them up into a pretend relationship they are forced into spending some time together. Steph unable to keep his mask on 24/7 starts showing cracks and Quinn starts to break down his own barriers. The facade of whats real and whats not starts to unravel as they discover more about each other.
The love was a slow-burn one❤️ but the chemistry was sizzling 🔥 I loved how Quinn went after Steph once he made up his mind. But of course, with all the secrets that Steph has, the biggest is the one he hasn't shared with anyone... not even Quinn.

"Quinn’s first concert was Metallica. The best place he’s ever visited is Melbourne. He doesn’t like watermelon. His biggest pet peeve is people who chew with their mouths open. His eyes crinkle in the corners when he laughs. The tips of his ears turn pink in the light of the setting sun. The hairs on his thigh are soft to the touch. There’s a birthmark underneath his left earlobe. His kisses taste like chocolate. And I’m in so much trouble."

I loved both Steph and Quinn.. 😍 My heart broke for Steph 💔and I cried buckets 😭 for what he went through; but Quinn.. OMG I LOVED him!! 😍 He refused to quit.. and fought tooth and nail for Steph and with Steph.

“I want you to fucking fight for me,” he says. “I want you to fight for us. I want you to tell me you love me and that you want me and have me and keep me and be with me. Forever. But most of all, I want you to be happy. I want you to stop all the lying and hiding and just be fucking happy. With or without me.”

I loved the book.. I can honestly say that I loved it more than the previous one.. so yes, Highly Recommended!! 👍👍

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4**** stars

Wanting him makes so very little sense. And still, I do.

I'm not convinced this author is for me but I enjoyed the top tier banter. And I honestly laughed my ass off at all the stories Steph made up to explain his scar, stealing plots from movies and TV shows. *lol

“Where’d you get that?”
“Excellent question. And an excellent story. I was on a bus on my way to work when suddenly a cop jumped on board and said there was a bomb. And we had to keep the bus going over fifty miles per hour or the bomb would explode. Anyway, like with the plane earlier, I took over. I’m an awesome person like that. Really dependable in a time of crisis—”

**************
Until Series

Book 1 - Until You - 4.0 stars
Book 1.5 - Until Jude
Book 2 - And Then You - 4.0 stars
Book 3 - Maybe You

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.5 stars ✰

“It only takes one moment for a life to change.

One moment for a we to become an I.”

In the previous book, there was this one brief conversation between Jude and Stephen that hinted that there's more than meets the eye to Stephen's behavior and it made me curious for what And Then You would reveal it to be. And while it didn't quite land the emotional punch as I was preparing myself for, there was still the delivery of a well-developed romance and visceral hit of feelings that made this second book in Briar Prescott's series a worthwhile continuation. 👌🏻🧡👌🏻

“Tell me something real,” he says.”

Stephen always carried this air about him that he never had a care in the world - breezing through life, living life in the moment - we don't get to know till now that it was just a veneer to keep people at bay, to not let anyone get too close to him - to know the real him. And how ironic is it that the one person who wants to know what is true about him, would be the one who gets close to him through a false start? There is a history to their relationship that has led to the way they behave around each other - 'just pure mutual dislike' but it's enough to serve as a catalyst for why they are drawn to each other.

And Quinn is exactly that - intrigued by the conundrum that is Stephen - 'unreasonable, unreadable, unexpected' he learns that the only way to break through that wall around his heart is through patience and kindness and giving them a chance. It's like an earnest deer getting close to a prickly hedgehog - unruffled by his spikes or his general disregard for everything, softly embracing him and making him feel safe, despite how hard he's warding him off. It also pained my heart to see the yearning in Stephen's eyes when he interacted with Quinn's family; it's such a tender ache and I really thought it was beautifully expressed. ❤️‍🩹 ❤️‍🩹

“Why aren’t we nice to each other?”

I open and close my mouth for a few seconds because the words don’t seem to want to come out.
“Because we don’t like each other,” I finally say.

Quinn tilts his head to the side, the picture of polite curiosity, and hums thoughtfully. “We could try.”

The thing about fake relationships is how you build a relationship backwards - whether you're friends before or in Stephen and Quinn's case - acquaintances who generally tolerate each other - it's how you begrudgingly get to know the person through a front, only to realize how very real it all starts to feel. For someone like Stephen who keeps everyone at an arm's length, it takes every fiber of his being to resist Quinn's attempts; but, that's the thing - the harder you try to push something away, the closer it gets. 'His words slowly scrape the smile off my face. Not because I’m offended. Because he’s stripping me naked, but not in an enjoyable way.' 🥺 🥺

I liked how effortlessly Quinn just slotted himself close to Stephen - undeterred by his attitude, unmoved by his frequent lies, polite but stoic and still not backing away, clinging to the brief bouts of when Stephen revealed the inner honest parts about himself. I enjoyed their back and forth banter - their running sessions, the soft way in which he started to appreciate Quinn's presence, and that for each constant ripple of irritation that Stephen displayed, it was the simple and unaffected way in which Quinn avoided it that showed just how much he cared. I love that lingering feeling of knowing that someone wants to uncover the hidden parts of you - that Quinn knows that there is more to him. 🥹🥹 For even though 'being fascinated by him is dangerous', it's the temptation not of lust, but curiosity that pulls him closer towards him.

“You drive me fucking insane,” he says in a low, fierce voice. “You’re annoying and aggravating and impossible, and it’s like you’ve made it your mission in life to get under my skin.”

My breath gets stuck in my lungs, and for the first time in my life, it happens in a good way.”

The opening act was beautifully written - the tug at the heart and the chill - I felt it. There's something about Briar Prescott's writing that just seems to get under your skin - not in a bad way, but the way she writes intimacy - I don't know - like a wave washes over me - so palpable are the emotions that they feel so intense and real. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 It's almost as if I'm experiencing those heightened emotions at that time. It's something not many writers can wring out, and I admire her for that. Their heated kisses where 'he kisses me like he was made to do it', their hypnotic first time, the fierce arguments that get sealed away with a passionate kiss. 🫠❤️‍🔥🫠 It's how nothing in my life made sense, and then you came into my world and for the first time where everything feels real. It's supple but subtle and I always love that heady rush that overwhelms me with her way with words.

I love how water plays such a key role in the story; it's a latent presence, but it's something that brings them actually closer together - that scene at the lake - one of my absolute favorites. I wish, though, that there had been slightly lesser usage of sentence fragments this time around. When I was re-reading the previous book to familiarize myself with Stephen and Quinn, I noticed it, but brushed it off, but this time, it did get to be a little more than necessary. 🙍🏻‍♀️ I understand it's to show how disoriented Stephen is feeling himself about these new feelings that he's having to face, but I wish it could have been dialed down just a little bit. A few other things that did bother me slightly were that the personal issue Quinn faced was a bit formulaic - almost to the point of being generic, that hey, it is necessary for both characters to have a painful past. I didn't think it was necessary for Quinn to have it, and it didn't play much into his feelings for Stephen, either, tbh. 😞

Also, based on the blurb, I was kind of expecting that the plot reveal would be tied to Quinn - I was waiting for that ball to drop, but it wasn't at all like that. In fact, I was pretty numb to the entire twist, itself - it didn't quite land as heavy a hit as the weight of it - nor did I actually feel how badly Quinn was hurt by it. 😔 The hurt didn't land of either losing out on something or even understanding how monumental the burden Stephen was carrying with himself for so long; it felt a bit underdeveloped and I wasn't feeling the loss - because it was twofold and it didn't get fleshed out and ended a bit abruptly for me to let it sink in.

“What if we would be good?” he says in a low voice.

“What if we would be horrible?” I counter, searching his eyes. For what? I don’t know.

I find only certainty.”

Despite my slightly petty annoyances - yes, they do feel slightly petty, but they still merit a mention - there were still a handful of moments that made me appreciate reading it. It could be that fake dating is a trope that doesn't quite work well with me, at how a couple's relationship actually moves in a cycle that doesn't leave an impression on me. I was happy that Stephen got the happiness that he had been missing out for so long, and for someone like Quinn to give it to him, makes it even more precious to hold on to. 🤍🤍 It was always a pleasure seeing familiar faces again and getting acquainted with new ones. And oh lest I forget - even though it was a brief appearance, I am intrigued by Sutton. Briar P. did mention on her Instagram that he'll be getting a book soon, so I am curious to see what story awaits him. ☺️

[martina (chaos version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this might be a shock to most people, but i can actually read words that aren’t “cock”, “cum” and “dick”. wild, i know.
not that there aren’t sex scenes in this, there is a quite decent number of them, but it’s definitely a more emotional book.

i liked this one a lot. i appreciated how it was so different from the previous one, however it’s clear as day that they’re part of a series.

this talks a lot about the loss of a sibling, and deals with the aftermath. and i feel like it was done incredibly well. it had just the right amount of “heaviness”.

i really loved quinn and steph’s relationship. every single moment of it. from how they met to their fights and their love. and how steph, in all his mess, isn’t hard to love at all.

briar really has a way with words and i can’t wait to read more.

i read an arc and this is my honest review

[Em’sBookNook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read September 2024. Was so excited for this audiobook and it didn’t disappoint. Narrator was fab and Steph and Quinn are still my number 1’s. This is definitely going to be a regular re-listen 🧡

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved until you so much and I just wasn’t convinced this book could live up to my own hype but I think I actually loved it even more 😭😭😭😭😭

Steph is such a lovely hot mess and so funny I laughed out loud throughout even though this book has some super heart wrenching moments.

Quinn had so much potential to be a boring character but I loved him so much! He was the perfect combo of sturdy and reliable without being a pushover and totally able to hold his own in a sparring match with Steph. He was chef’s kiss and I am obsessed.

The chemistry between them was amazing and read the whole book in one evening. Im genuinely a bit bereft that it’s over. So so good!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the beginning of this book! (Maybe first 40%) It started with enemies to lovers who find themselves forced to fake date. They went to Quinn's family cabin and the entire part of the book was so good! I was laughing and loving every second of it.

After they left the cabin and the enemies who have to fake date part ends, it went downhill a bit. Steph was the most frustrating character. He never answered any questions and wouldn't stop deflecting. Got really old. I would have loved to see some character growth from him where he opens up and stops deflecting.

The second half of the book just wasn't as good and at times a bit annoying. But honestly, the first half was so good so I would still say I overall enjoyed the book! And I definitely liked it more than book 1!!

[rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck me! This was absolutely perfect.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was indeed as good as the first book!! I really enjoyed reading this and hope the author continues this series.💕

[aileen | ✾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

❝𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥.❞

I don’t think I have the right words to describe the feelings this book made me feel.

[patrícia · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT! Briar is such a pleasant surprise 🙏🥹🫶

The way she lairs the characters and their trouble past, but also so funny, sweet, and damn hot.

Steph was a crazy presence in book 1, and seeing all that trauma he carries... God... one more to wrap around a warm blanket named Quinn.

Even with all the trauma and mild angst, this was fresh, funny, sweet, and yes, SO SO HOT! And Jesus... Steph´s parents... wow... (wow not in a good way)

It won't remove stars from my review, but I felt like Steph accepted being a fake boyfriend too easily

I absolutely adore meeting again. Jude and Blake***

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are incredibly bingeable and such an entertaining time. I really can’t give any notes. This story had humor and heart while also having this quiet grief to it.

I really loved the story of Steph and Quinn, which I am almost surprised by, as I didn’t really love Steph as a character in Jude’s book. But having more context to Steph’s backstory and his trauma, as well as some of the most top tier flirty banter I have ever encountered had me drawn in hook, line and sinker.

[Evelyn220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ I love how Briar Prescott seamlessly weaves humor and deep, emotional devastation. No one else does that like she does. Writing was so poignant. This book was so freaking funny. The banter was top-notch. It was also so sad that I cried multiple times. Quite different from book one but I loved it all the same.