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Divorced Men's Club #5
System Overload
Keller
Banging my son’s bestie was a total accident that will never, ever happen again. I’m sure of it.
While he might be gorgeous and caught me in a weak moment, when it comes right down to it, my son has been my entire life for the last twenty-six years. I don’t know how to be anything other than his dad.
But with Molly heading off to Seattle, he leaves me with a parting gift: Will.
His best friend.
And my new roommate.
Still, I’m determined to focus on my plan of finding someone to settle down with and to start living for me.
Then Molly hits me with another gift: he’s asked Will to help find me the perfect partner.
Will
Molly running away across the country and leaving me made one thing very obvious. I crave stability. I crave a life where I get to control what happens to me, without the constant threat of having to move home to my homophobic family.
All I need to focus on is work and making enough money for the downpayment on my own place.
Except now I’m living in the spare bedroom of the man I’ve been in love with for years.
The same bedroom where we had one very messy, very quick accidental frot sesh.
Now I’m cooking for him every night, and we’re working out together every morning. It’s all feeling very domestic and my heart can’t separate reality from the fantasies in my head.
I know I’m going to get hurt.
It’s only a matter of time.
But when it comes to Keller, it’s impossible for me to walk away.
Banging my son’s bestie was a total accident that will never, ever happen again. I’m sure of it.
While he might be gorgeous and caught me in a weak moment, when it comes right down to it, my son has been my entire life for the last twenty-six years. I don’t know how to be anything other than his dad.
But with Molly heading off to Seattle, he leaves me with a parting gift: Will.
His best friend.
And my new roommate.
Still, I’m determined to focus on my plan of finding someone to settle down with and to start living for me.
Then Molly hits me with another gift: he’s asked Will to help find me the perfect partner.
Will
Molly running away across the country and leaving me made one thing very obvious. I crave stability. I crave a life where I get to control what happens to me, without the constant threat of having to move home to my homophobic family.
All I need to focus on is work and making enough money for the downpayment on my own place.
Except now I’m living in the spare bedroom of the man I’ve been in love with for years.
The same bedroom where we had one very messy, very quick accidental frot sesh.
Now I’m cooking for him every night, and we’re working out together every morning. It’s all feeling very domestic and my heart can’t separate reality from the fantasies in my head.
I know I’m going to get hurt.
It’s only a matter of time.
But when it comes to Keller, it’s impossible for me to walk away.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2023
542 people are currently reading
2055 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 598 reviews
November 16, 2023
there should be a case study about this.
how can someone make a forbidden relationship so utterly boring is beyond me
how can someone make a forbidden relationship so utterly boring is beyond me
November 17, 2023
I'm probably in the minority here, but this book was utterly confusing to me.
Best friend's dad is usually a good trope, a sexy trope, but not in this case. The dynamic between the MMCs wasn't good at all, it wasn't anything - it wasn't happening.
🔵 Best friend's dad
🟢 Age gap of 15 years
🟡 Slow burn, too slow
🌶️ Not enough smut; both vers, but off-page mostly
🔴 MOLLY
Yeah. Molly was the focal point of this story and his name is mentioned 267 times in the book!
Everything was about this desperate kid and what I found especially crazy was finding out Molly is actually ALMOST 30 YEARS OLD and Keller, his dad, is still acting like Molly's a 10 year old kid who's going to maybe have a problem with his step-parent.
Keller's holding back sexually with Will, Molly's friend who comes to live with him and he's hiding that entanglement from Molly. Keller has this whole weird moral dilemma going on, when he's actually a 42-year old single man, a father of an adult, who's trying to hook up with his son's best friend, who's also 27 - an adult. His son moved away, the best friend lives with him, the son has his own life, a boyfriend, so... How can this be such a big dilemma? And why the hell would Keller lose his son over it??
It seems like both Keller and Will were just catering to Molly's unstable emotions, which is bad by itself, but not only that, they were literally ridiculous with the way they tried to fight off being attracted to each other while living in the same house.
"It happened, it's done, we can jerk off - separately - over it later."
"Fine..."
"If Molly gave us his blessing, I wouldn't let you out of bed for a week."
Yeah, if an almost 30-year old Molly would just tell us we can fuck already - we'd do it, no doubt. But in the meantime let's jerk off - SEPARATELY. Who the fuck says that???
"Sorry I'm not here, but my pillow will keep you safe until I'm home."
That was Keller when he went out on a double date - with someone else, completely negating anything that was going on between him and Will, anything intimate or emotional happening between them lost its weight, so how is this special? It isn't.
"Well, the other night, we didn't touch. That's the key, right? No touching. And the way I see it, we have plenty more toys that we can not touch with."
Yeah, you read it right. They were alone in the house and were hooking up - but not touching, because that would be a step too far, what would Molly say?? Imagine two grown men in the same house naked in a bed together just playing with a dildo, not touching each other. It's a nice fairytale, it is. It would be hot if this was just a foreplay, a kink or something they'd be into in general, but they weren't touching because again - what would Molly say??
This was so damn ridiculous. Stupid, it's what it was. I expected a hot viking burly dad to tear this all-american guy down, I expected fireworks and some nasty forbidden shit going on, but this was just ridiculous, I'm just confused, very confused.
Another thing I really disliked was Will not getting his proper role in this story. He's a young attractive guy, he's blonde, ripped, a southern boy who's a catch, he can get ANYone, so why wasn't he hot meat in this book? He was in the house all the damn time! Never went anywhere, noone wanted him, he waited for Keller to come home - now we all know that that's BS, no way in hell would Will be in this position in real life, come on. I really wanted him to go out, to date, to mingle, I didn't want him to sit around and mope and wait for a guy who clearly doesn't know what he wants.
Because Keller definitely didn't know what he wanted. Keller figuring out his feelings for Will was lukewarm, there was no passion anywhere, no big desire, no fire, Will was just a hot guy who was present in his house and had a good body. There seemed to be nothing more than that attracting Keller.
Will's big year-long crush was somehow forgotten and is mentioned again by the end of the book. I thought that was a pretty big deal and could've been talked about sooner. It could've been this big forbidden sexy secret that gets revealed early on and then the whole volcano of passion erupts between them, but no, there was none of that. A missed opportunity.
Nope, didn't like it.
December 30, 2023
This story made no sense. Keller was 42, and Will was 27. They lived in the same house, were attracted to each, wanted each other, but refused to do anything about it because Keller's 26 year old son, Molly, who lived on the other side of the country and was doing his own thing, might have a problem with it.
Sure, there was pining on Will's end, but his daily interactions with Keller were boring, and the way they went about trying to relieve their sexual tension, weak as it was, was beyond ridiculous. Two grown men, sitting in the same room, trying to get off while not touching each other so as to not upset someone who doesn't even know what's happening is too much. 🤣. How was I supposed to take this seriously? Come on. 1.5 stars
Sure, there was pining on Will's end, but his daily interactions with Keller were boring, and the way they went about trying to relieve their sexual tension, weak as it was, was beyond ridiculous. Two grown men, sitting in the same room, trying to get off while not touching each other so as to not upset someone who doesn't even know what's happening is too much. 🤣. How was I supposed to take this seriously? Come on. 1.5 stars
August 30, 2024
3 Stars
I’d worked this fifth sequel up in my head and thought it would be the best of the series. I spent the previous instalments building excitement for Keller and Will to finally get their focus story, with the promises of their juicy age-gap and “forbidden” best-friend’s-father dynamic that I was certain would blow my pervy little socks off.
But, people, I speak to you today with a heavy heart, because I was left fairly disappointed, and dare I say, bored by the whole thing.
It started off with a bang, but then mellowed out very quickly. Honestly, not much of anything happened for the first 50% and as such, it took me about 2 weeks of slow, intermittent reading to even get that far.
Mostly, this story involved too much denying and refraining (boooooo!!!) and stressing over Molly’s possible future reaction (Will’s bestie and Keller’s very much ADULT son). And no offense to Molly and his feelings… but royally f*ck Molly and his feelings!!!! (Honestly, if I wasn’t meant to feel this way, he probably shouldn’t have been written as a childish, self-interested prat for the entirety of the series leading up to his escape to Seattle. Just sayin'.).
Yes, yes, I’m sounding quite salty. I’m also clearly not a parent, so I can’t begin to imagine what being in this emotional scenario would do to the dynamics between a parent and child, but also… I don’t care??! Because this was meant to be all hot and sexy like the other books, and I wanted so badly for established sweetheart Will to get his grisly older man and I wanted daddy Keller to finally have his time to live for himself and not for others (I’m eyeing you again, Mols), but all of that didn’t matter because I felt so swamped by the looming fear of what Molly would think/say/do when he found out.
And worst of all?!? All the inner turmoiling that the characters felt—that I felt—throughout the whole story??... Totally pointless.
Thankfully, Art and Joey and Orson and a bunch of other previous characters of the Divorced Men’s Club make cheeky, amusing, and funny appearances throughout, as they worked behind Will's and Keller’s backs to get those two crazy kids together. All of the cameos were good fun and pretty much the highlight scenes of the whole book for me.
To be clear, I still really loved Will as a character and Keller was decent enough (maybe not as sexy and compelling as my pervy self initially hoped for), and I’m very glad they got their HEA, because they both deserve all the best things in life, but… but, I guess I was just unmoved by how it played out, finding it hard to put aside their mutual Molly-angsting to enjoy any of the sweeter or sexier moments the way I probably should have.
Unlike with each of the previous instalments, too, I didn’t find the set-up of the next (final?) couple to be very interesting either, so I can’t say whether I’ll return or not to officially finish this series. If that’s the case, I’m kind of sad that I didn’t end this series on a higher note, because there really were some great moments throughout this series worth savouring and remembering fondly, but, unfortunately, this sequel just wasn’t it for me.
I’d worked this fifth sequel up in my head and thought it would be the best of the series. I spent the previous instalments building excitement for Keller and Will to finally get their focus story, with the promises of their juicy age-gap and “forbidden” best-friend’s-father dynamic that I was certain would blow my pervy little socks off.
But, people, I speak to you today with a heavy heart, because I was left fairly disappointed, and dare I say, bored by the whole thing.
It started off with a bang, but then mellowed out very quickly. Honestly, not much of anything happened for the first 50% and as such, it took me about 2 weeks of slow, intermittent reading to even get that far.
Mostly, this story involved too much denying and refraining (boooooo!!!) and stressing over Molly’s possible future reaction (Will’s bestie and Keller’s very much ADULT son). And no offense to Molly and his feelings… but royally f*ck Molly and his feelings!!!! (Honestly, if I wasn’t meant to feel this way, he probably shouldn’t have been written as a childish, self-interested prat for the entirety of the series leading up to his escape to Seattle. Just sayin'.).
Yes, yes, I’m sounding quite salty. I’m also clearly not a parent, so I can’t begin to imagine what being in this emotional scenario would do to the dynamics between a parent and child, but also… I don’t care??! Because this was meant to be all hot and sexy like the other books, and I wanted so badly for established sweetheart Will to get his grisly older man and I wanted daddy Keller to finally have his time to live for himself and not for others (I’m eyeing you again, Mols), but all of that didn’t matter because I felt so swamped by the looming fear of what Molly would think/say/do when he found out.
And worst of all?!? All the inner turmoiling that the characters felt—that I felt—throughout the whole story??... Totally pointless.
Thankfully, Art and Joey and Orson and a bunch of other previous characters of the Divorced Men’s Club make cheeky, amusing, and funny appearances throughout, as they worked behind Will's and Keller’s backs to get those two crazy kids together. All of the cameos were good fun and pretty much the highlight scenes of the whole book for me.
To be clear, I still really loved Will as a character and Keller was decent enough (maybe not as sexy and compelling as my pervy self initially hoped for), and I’m very glad they got their HEA, because they both deserve all the best things in life, but… but, I guess I was just unmoved by how it played out, finding it hard to put aside their mutual Molly-angsting to enjoy any of the sweeter or sexier moments the way I probably should have.
Unlike with each of the previous instalments, too, I didn’t find the set-up of the next (final?) couple to be very interesting either, so I can’t say whether I’ll return or not to officially finish this series. If that’s the case, I’m kind of sad that I didn’t end this series on a higher note, because there really were some great moments throughout this series worth savouring and remembering fondly, but, unfortunately, this sequel just wasn’t it for me.
November 15, 2023
Saxon delivers yet again with this best friend's dad romance
Good lawd this book is smoking hot.
It’s far more than just that though. It’s about friendship, the type between people who met at college and just clicked, but also that between lovers.
People who shouldn’t work, on the face of it, because of all the difference between them. Their ages, the circumstances, the potential for crippling fall-out if their relationship isn’t accepted.
But, for Will, Keller’s the only one he’s ever wanted to make his own, even though he’s his best friend’s dad and he’s frightened that telling Molly the truth will lose them both.
Keller was a dad at 16, he’s fought his whole life to bring up his son and Molly’s been his priority for the last 20 odd years. So when Molly announces he’s moving to Seattle to try and give himself a new start, Keller’s left floundering, wondering who he is if he’s not a dad first.
Of course, these two oblivious idiots are perfect for each other and utterly blind to the attraction the other has, until the Divorced Men’s Club members, and one boyfriend, start to meddle.
I absolutely howled with laughter at Joey’s wild scheme to make Keller notice Will as an attractive man in his own right, not just as his son’s best friend.
And then I got hot under the collar when it worked and they got all down and dirty before deciding they shouldn’t do it again!
But what I loved the absolute most about this book is how each of them is there for the other in all the ways they needed but didn’t realise. The little things that show it’s more than just a chemical attraction all added up to tip them into love and it was gorgeous to read.
There’s very little angst in this one, although the fear of Molly finding out and hating their relationship does loom in the background the more serious things get.
If you’ve read Molly’s book – Not Dating Material – then you already have a little bit of insight into how things go. I very much appreciated seeing it from the other side too.
All in all, Saxon’s delivered yet another wonderful romance with a couple of very compelling characters who suit each other beautifully.
Good lawd this book is smoking hot.
It’s far more than just that though. It’s about friendship, the type between people who met at college and just clicked, but also that between lovers.
People who shouldn’t work, on the face of it, because of all the difference between them. Their ages, the circumstances, the potential for crippling fall-out if their relationship isn’t accepted.
But, for Will, Keller’s the only one he’s ever wanted to make his own, even though he’s his best friend’s dad and he’s frightened that telling Molly the truth will lose them both.
Keller was a dad at 16, he’s fought his whole life to bring up his son and Molly’s been his priority for the last 20 odd years. So when Molly announces he’s moving to Seattle to try and give himself a new start, Keller’s left floundering, wondering who he is if he’s not a dad first.
Of course, these two oblivious idiots are perfect for each other and utterly blind to the attraction the other has, until the Divorced Men’s Club members, and one boyfriend, start to meddle.
I absolutely howled with laughter at Joey’s wild scheme to make Keller notice Will as an attractive man in his own right, not just as his son’s best friend.
And then I got hot under the collar when it worked and they got all down and dirty before deciding they shouldn’t do it again!
But what I loved the absolute most about this book is how each of them is there for the other in all the ways they needed but didn’t realise. The little things that show it’s more than just a chemical attraction all added up to tip them into love and it was gorgeous to read.
There’s very little angst in this one, although the fear of Molly finding out and hating their relationship does loom in the background the more serious things get.
If you’ve read Molly’s book – Not Dating Material – then you already have a little bit of insight into how things go. I very much appreciated seeing it from the other side too.
All in all, Saxon’s delivered yet another wonderful romance with a couple of very compelling characters who suit each other beautifully.
November 15, 2023
Holy fucking cow, Keller and Will!! 🔥🔥🔥
By far my favourite couple in the DMC series. I absolutely loved their relationship and I also loved both characters individually too.
We finally find out why Molly has his name!! It's always confused me, especially because it's my mum's name 😂 but it all makes sense now and I completely get it.
I honestly could keep reading about these two - that epilogue....I wanna see the outcome!!
As ever, any book in the Sadenverse just gives me all the warm and happy feels and I really can't wait for the next installment.
By far my favourite couple in the DMC series. I absolutely loved their relationship and I also loved both characters individually too.
We finally find out why Molly has his name!! It's always confused me, especially because it's my mum's name 😂 but it all makes sense now and I completely get it.
I honestly could keep reading about these two - that epilogue....I wanna see the outcome!!
As ever, any book in the Sadenverse just gives me all the warm and happy feels and I really can't wait for the next installment.
January 20, 2025
2.8 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤/5
This felt like really, really drawn out edging that led to a disappointing semi-climax.
Nothing happened for so long. I had the audio playing at 3-3.5x speed because I was just waiting for SOMETHING to happen.
When they finally got together, the spice was admittedly very hot. But the relationship aspects between them were awkward. I have no idea why they liked each other outside of sex.
Also, maybe this is a me problem for reading this after Not Dating Material, but I feel like the timeline of Molly’s book and this book didn’t align at all? Like Molly was giving Will updates about Seven that I don’t remember happening that way in his book?
Anyways, this was a no. This entire series has been a no. I think I still have two books left to read in DMC and I kinda wanna cry about that.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤/5
This felt like really, really drawn out edging that led to a disappointing semi-climax.
Nothing happened for so long. I had the audio playing at 3-3.5x speed because I was just waiting for SOMETHING to happen.
When they finally got together, the spice was admittedly very hot. But the relationship aspects between them were awkward. I have no idea why they liked each other outside of sex.
Also, maybe this is a me problem for reading this after Not Dating Material, but I feel like the timeline of Molly’s book and this book didn’t align at all? Like Molly was giving Will updates about Seven that I don’t remember happening that way in his book?
Anyways, this was a no. This entire series has been a no. I think I still have two books left to read in DMC and I kinda wanna cry about that.
November 24, 2023
Saxon James can always be relied on for writing books that give you a bit of a laugh, and have great, memorable characters. This is no different.
Swoon /5 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Angst /5 🥺🥺🥺🥺
Steam /5 ♨️♨️ ♨️♨️♨️
Plot /5 🧐🧐🧐🧐
LOLs /5 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭
I’ve been looking forward to Will & Keller’s story in the Divorced Men’s Club series, and it was everything I was hoping for. Will has loved Keller from afar for years, never thinking he had a chance with his friend Molly’s dad. His pining is hard to watch, and surprisingly angsty, so when he’s forced to move in with Keller, it’s even tougher for him. Keller is secretly attracted to Will too, but thinks their significant age gap is too much to traverse, plus his son is Will’s best friend. But when their friends decide to meddle & intervene, as well as their needing to share a bed & the forced proximity of living together, there’s an explosive connection that is SUPER FREAKIN HOT. The Daddy vibes, the flirting, the experimentation…. YUUUUMMM. These two BURN. Add in a bit of praise kink, and I loved every minute of this. Thanks again Saxon for another read that just lets me escape & enjoy
Check out my reviews and MM content on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, StoryGraph & Bookbub, all under the same name.
Swoon /5 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Angst /5 🥺🥺🥺🥺
Steam /5 ♨️♨️ ♨️♨️♨️
Plot /5 🧐🧐🧐🧐
LOLs /5 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭
I’ve been looking forward to Will & Keller’s story in the Divorced Men’s Club series, and it was everything I was hoping for. Will has loved Keller from afar for years, never thinking he had a chance with his friend Molly’s dad. His pining is hard to watch, and surprisingly angsty, so when he’s forced to move in with Keller, it’s even tougher for him. Keller is secretly attracted to Will too, but thinks their significant age gap is too much to traverse, plus his son is Will’s best friend. But when their friends decide to meddle & intervene, as well as their needing to share a bed & the forced proximity of living together, there’s an explosive connection that is SUPER FREAKIN HOT. The Daddy vibes, the flirting, the experimentation…. YUUUUMMM. These two BURN. Add in a bit of praise kink, and I loved every minute of this. Thanks again Saxon for another read that just lets me escape & enjoy
Check out my reviews and MM content on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, StoryGraph & Bookbub, all under the same name.
July 19, 2025
- age gap
- best friend’s dad
- roomies
- mutual pining
Zero complaints, I loved this so much
- best friend’s dad
- roomies
- mutual pining
Zero complaints, I loved this so much
December 28, 2023
overall an okay read. frustrating at most times but alas i managed to push through. 2 stars mainly because of two things: the sex-but-not-sex is probably the worst thing i've ever read this year and the characters' held up because of molly was lacklustre. everything was resolved in 1 fucking page. like whats the point of the build up and the on and off between mcs? nothing apparently.
November 15, 2023
Best friend’s dad? Age gap? Roommates? Pining? Hell YEA. I’ve been waiting for this one because it had a bunch of my fav tropes in it. And it was fabulous. Nothing can beat my Ford and Orsen honestly, but this was still so so so so fun.
So basically, Will has been in love with his best friend Molly’s Dad Keller for like 8 (?) years. Ever since he met him. It’s been hard hiding his feelings, but he’s done it because he doesn’t want to hurt Molly. Well Molly is moving and Will isn’t sure what to do. He doesn’t want to go back home to his homophobic family, but he can’t afford to live on his own. But Keller graciously offers him the spare bedroom in his house. Such a nice offer, but it’s torture for Will. Being all alone in the house with his wet dream. But of course he’s going to do it. Things get worse for Will because they’re being all domestic like watching movies together, cooking dinner, etc. So hard. And it stinks that Keller will never return his feelings. Or does he? Will is a hot freaking tamale, and Keller is only human. Once they both realize their feelings, it gets fun. Super fun.
The sex in this was interesting. There wasn’t much honestly. A lot of this book was pining, but what was there was fun. We got some sex toy use that’s always a good time. And this wasn’t an ordinary sex toy. I’m not going to spoil it because it was so funny, but it did lead me down a google rabbit hole of this particular sex toy.
I really liked the ending of this book. I always love the bestie/child’s reaction to finding out your best friend and dad are banging. I’m always trying to predict how they’ll take it. I liked how it went down. Wasn’t what I figured would happen, but I liked this way better. So good.
If best friend’s dad is your kryptonite, go for it!!
So basically, Will has been in love with his best friend Molly’s Dad Keller for like 8 (?) years. Ever since he met him. It’s been hard hiding his feelings, but he’s done it because he doesn’t want to hurt Molly. Well Molly is moving and Will isn’t sure what to do. He doesn’t want to go back home to his homophobic family, but he can’t afford to live on his own. But Keller graciously offers him the spare bedroom in his house. Such a nice offer, but it’s torture for Will. Being all alone in the house with his wet dream. But of course he’s going to do it. Things get worse for Will because they’re being all domestic like watching movies together, cooking dinner, etc. So hard. And it stinks that Keller will never return his feelings. Or does he? Will is a hot freaking tamale, and Keller is only human. Once they both realize their feelings, it gets fun. Super fun.
The sex in this was interesting. There wasn’t much honestly. A lot of this book was pining, but what was there was fun. We got some sex toy use that’s always a good time. And this wasn’t an ordinary sex toy. I’m not going to spoil it because it was so funny, but it did lead me down a google rabbit hole of this particular sex toy.
I really liked the ending of this book. I always love the bestie/child’s reaction to finding out your best friend and dad are banging. I’m always trying to predict how they’ll take it. I liked how it went down. Wasn’t what I figured would happen, but I liked this way better. So good.
If best friend’s dad is your kryptonite, go for it!!
November 17, 2023
Could have done without Molly this, Molly that all the time. But I managed to finish it and it was ok.
August 18, 2024
A million times yes!!!! This book gave me blue balls but in the best way Jesus Christ Keller & Will were so sweet and tender but also HOT AS FUCK. I think this is the spiciest book in the whole series and it was so fitting for them. I loved how much they took care of each other.
Watching their bond and friendship made me squeal, once his son left son I did not give one ounce of a fuck, sorry to that man lmao
Tropes: Forbidden + age gap + bestfriends dad + roommates
Watching their bond and friendship made me squeal, once his son left son I did not give one ounce of a fuck, sorry to that man lmao
Tropes: Forbidden + age gap + bestfriends dad + roommates
April 30, 2024
3.5⭐
This series is just addiction, I wasn't excited to Keller and Will story, but somehow I really enjoyed it like the rest of the series and couldn't put it down.
I love Keller and Will together, They were so cute and lovely.. I was intending to give the book higher rate but the emotional part sucks at some point in the story, and the smut was mehh. I really hate it and skipped most of it. Also the confessing scene, it didn't show Will feelings as strong as it was in his own mind, and I was waiting for this scene for so long to just see how Keller will react, but it turns out like it's not a new information, and the guy having a crush on him for years is a normal affair. So it disappointed me so much.
The many times that Molly was mentioned at didn't bother me as I was expected, He had a role in their relationship without being their because they both care too much about him. So even if I hate Molly in the others book I think I will start to changing my mind, especially after readingThe husband hoax and falling for Seven, I bet they will be a hilarious couple.
“He’s the most sexy man I’ve ever met, but when Keller looks at me, with complete, one hundred percent attention, it’s not even about appearance.
It’s just him.
And the way he doesn’t even realize he’s my whole world.”
This series is just addiction, I wasn't excited to Keller and Will story, but somehow I really enjoyed it like the rest of the series and couldn't put it down.
I love Keller and Will together, They were so cute and lovely.. I was intending to give the book higher rate but the emotional part sucks at some point in the story, and the smut was mehh. I really hate it and skipped most of it. Also the confessing scene, it didn't show Will feelings as strong as it was in his own mind, and I was waiting for this scene for so long to just see how Keller will react, but it turns out like it's not a new information, and the guy having a crush on him for years is a normal affair. So it disappointed me so much.
The many times that Molly was mentioned at didn't bother me as I was expected, He had a role in their relationship without being their because they both care too much about him. So even if I hate Molly in the others book I think I will start to changing my mind, especially after readingThe husband hoax and falling for Seven, I bet they will be a hilarious couple.
“He’s the most sexy man I’ve ever met, but when Keller looks at me, with complete, one hundred percent attention, it’s not even about appearance.
It’s just him.
And the way he doesn’t even realize he’s my whole world.”
November 14, 2023
Keller really went from Dad to Daddy in this book. These two were so HOT once they got going.
I've been heavily anticipating Keller and Will since the 3rd DMC book, and I'm happy to report this didn't disappoint. Bestfriends dad is something new for Saxon, and I was super interested to see how she'd handle this dynamic, especially with how dedicated of a dad Keller is to Molly, but I loveddddd them. They were sweet and fun, and 100% lived up to the hype I had in my head. Will is such a sweet golden retriever, I just frigging love him.
Also, tell me how Mols had me crying in a book he was barely in? My obsession with him is bordering on unhealthy at this point.
If you like forced proximity with a side of praise kink, then this is the one 🫠
Ratings
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
*I received an arc in exchange for honest review*
I've been heavily anticipating Keller and Will since the 3rd DMC book, and I'm happy to report this didn't disappoint. Bestfriends dad is something new for Saxon, and I was super interested to see how she'd handle this dynamic, especially with how dedicated of a dad Keller is to Molly, but I loveddddd them. They were sweet and fun, and 100% lived up to the hype I had in my head. Will is such a sweet golden retriever, I just frigging love him.
Also, tell me how Mols had me crying in a book he was barely in? My obsession with him is bordering on unhealthy at this point.
If you like forced proximity with a side of praise kink, then this is the one 🫠
Ratings
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
*I received an arc in exchange for honest review*
August 16, 2024
"I'll take 'Things that should be hot and kinky but aren't' for 400, Alex"
What an utter disappointment.
I'm pretty sure you have to try to write this badly. Everything about this should be smoking hot but falls depressingly boringly short. A forbidden best friends dad romance? Forced proximity? Age gap? How did this not get kinky. Like, the sex toys were there but it's so poorly written that not even interesting sex toys and premise could make this a lively book.
Maybe it's the audiobook version? Maybe it's just Saxon James. I have no idea how she took such sexy tropes and made them so boringly vanilla. And yet...and yet we start with a bang but then it drags until the very end. The idiots to lovers trope was absolutely bonkers and annoying. No one can be that stupid. Unless it's the author.
With these two it felt like watching paint dry on the mm romance wall. I declare this the most boring vanilla romance book ever- only because it had the potential to be amazing. I swear she's having to try to write this boringly. I'm not sure Saxon is capable of writing spice that ignites even when you hand her all the ingredients of what should have been a spice tingly read.
What an utter disappointment.
I'm pretty sure you have to try to write this badly. Everything about this should be smoking hot but falls depressingly boringly short. A forbidden best friends dad romance? Forced proximity? Age gap? How did this not get kinky. Like, the sex toys were there but it's so poorly written that not even interesting sex toys and premise could make this a lively book.
Maybe it's the audiobook version? Maybe it's just Saxon James. I have no idea how she took such sexy tropes and made them so boringly vanilla. And yet...and yet we start with a bang but then it drags until the very end. The idiots to lovers trope was absolutely bonkers and annoying. No one can be that stupid. Unless it's the author.
With these two it felt like watching paint dry on the mm romance wall. I declare this the most boring vanilla romance book ever- only because it had the potential to be amazing. I swear she's having to try to write this boringly. I'm not sure Saxon is capable of writing spice that ignites even when you hand her all the ingredients of what should have been a spice tingly read.
November 16, 2023
shockingly disappointing
June 30, 2024
Saxon James is forever saving my ass. She’s my go-to whenever I’m in a book slump or accidentally-on-purpose read something traumatising and require joy in paperback form.
THE PREMISE: Will needs somewhere to live, and his best friend’s dad has offered a room. Too bad Will’s been in love with him for years.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Best friends’ dad / age gap
- Roommates
- Small town slowburn
- Microtrope: hair washing
- *praise*
4.25⭐️ 2.5🌶️
THE PREMISE: Will needs somewhere to live, and his best friend’s dad has offered a room. Too bad Will’s been in love with him for years.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Best friends’ dad / age gap
- Roommates
- Small town slowburn
- Microtrope: hair washing
- *praise*
4.25⭐️ 2.5🌶️
November 29, 2023
✰3.5 stars✰ rounded up
Huh. I'm a little stumped on where to rate this. I'm usually all for the forbidden aspect of a romance, and while I did like that here... it didn't completely work because they weren't actually doing anything most of the time.
Keller and Will hook up almost immediately in the book but then say it will never happen again. They essentially circle each other for the majority of story, each one of them thinking the other can't possibly be interested like they are and also worrying about what Molly(Keller's son) would think.
This is where forbidden romance usually works for me (i.e. the sneaking around and doing something they should be), however, they actually weren't doing anything because they were too worried about Molly... so the forbidden trope was kid of falling flat-ish for me.
I won't spoil anything, but they do start to get intimate without having sex (a loophole) and yes it is spicy but they don't call it sex (it's definitely a type of sex and they do acknowledge that).
Even still, I'm giving this one a semi-higher rating because the story did make me feel something and feel the hurt over the pining that was going on.
Huh. I'm a little stumped on where to rate this. I'm usually all for the forbidden aspect of a romance, and while I did like that here... it didn't completely work because they weren't actually doing anything most of the time.
Keller and Will hook up almost immediately in the book but then say it will never happen again. They essentially circle each other for the majority of story, each one of them thinking the other can't possibly be interested like they are and also worrying about what Molly(Keller's son) would think.
This is where forbidden romance usually works for me (i.e. the sneaking around and doing something they should be), however, they actually weren't doing anything because they were too worried about Molly... so the forbidden trope was kid of falling flat-ish for me.
I won't spoil anything, but they do start to get intimate without having sex (a loophole) and yes it is spicy but they don't call it sex (it's definitely a type of sex and they do acknowledge that).
Even still, I'm giving this one a semi-higher rating because the story did make me feel something and feel the hurt over the pining that was going on.
November 17, 2023
My favorite contemporary series for a reason!! I was so excited for Will and Keller’s story but it was worth the wait. They are so hot together and I’m so happy with how it all worked out with Molly ❤️ There were a few missed opportunities and I felt like the book was a bit slow in the middle, but overall I really enjoyed it.
November 19, 2023
Keller and Will's love story is here!
Will, being Molly's best friend (and Molly being Keller's son), puts these two in a bit of a pickle.
But first, Will thinks he's pining forever in an unrequited love sort of way. When really Keller has mainly just not let himself go there beyond feelings of attraction. Because of the 15 year age difference and of course, Will being Molly's best friend.
But since Will has to move in with Keller or else risk having to move back with his homophobic family, and Molly moves all the way across the country to Seattle, they start spending time together in a way they've never really been able to before.
And of course, that makes it all the easier to for them to fall in love with each other.
Buttttt.....
They took FOREVER to actually go there! It drove me insane! They kept holding off and holding off! I was expecting juicy! That didn't happen until the last 4th of this book! And even then, it wasn't much! We didn't get to see much of their kinky sexcapades. Beyond their first time together and the times where they *don't touch at all* because then they're not "crossing a line", we didn't actually get much smut.
Yes, they have a hot scene where they don't touch each other but get off next to each other and it's almost like they're having sex anyway. It was hot, for sure, but after that when they did the no touching thing again I wanted to tear my hair out. At this point, just give in! I kept expecting them to explode in passion and have amazingly hot, passionate sex together.
Instead everything was "logical" and "reasonable" and "thought out" which good for being all healty, I guess 😩 Which, as good as this would all be in real life, we can afford a little less healthy sometimes in our fiction. Make them go at it over and over again, keeping it a secret forever, then Molly finds out and it's ~drama central!
Instead, they hold off for SO long because of Molly - understandably, to a point, I admit - and give a potential relationship such time and considerations and they want it to be more than just sex before they potentially ruin their relationship with Molly, blah blah, I get it! But they hold off, they *eventually* give in, and then they tell Molly and it doesn't even matter! Molly's cool with it when they tell him! So in the end it was all for naught! We were denied over and over and over again just for that to not even be worth it.
It makes it so frustrating. Especially because I was really enjoying these two. I DID really enjoy these two. I'm not giving this story 4 stars for nothing. And the chemistry was really good - although the beginning was a little bit of a slow start for me, so that factors into my 1 star off this as well - and I really enjoyed their dynamic.
But there was no reason to hold off for so damn long. And maybe Molly didn't have to blow a gasket, but did it have to be so damn easy when he found out? It was just like...oh okay so then what was all that drama and nerves and anxiety for then?! The holding off on sex?! What was the reason!?
Ugh. I wish this had spent a little more time of them having sex/in a relationship and less time tip-toe-ing around a potential relationship and handwringing about it.
The wait just became too long for no real reason. It was becoming ridiculous, honestly.
So, yeah. Without that long wait - and a fairly slow beginning - I would have given this 5 stars. The rest was really good and enjoyable and I really really liked these two together.
It just tried to hard to go the "right" and "responsible" way and so this became one of the least drama filled "best friends dad" stories I've ever read. And the least juicy. The least scandalous. Where's the fun in that?
Still, a good story overall so as not to affect my overall rating too much. But a solid star off, nonetheless.
Can't wait for Mack to get back his ex-husband, Davey, once and for all in their story!
My Ratings for the Divorced Men's Club Series:
🔆 Making Him Mine: 3 stars (my review)
🔆 Roommate Arrangement: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 Platonic Rulebook: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 Budding Attraction: 4.25 stars (my review)
🔆 Employing Patience: 4.25 stars (my review)
🔆 System Overload: 4 stars
Will, being Molly's best friend (and Molly being Keller's son), puts these two in a bit of a pickle.
But first, Will thinks he's pining forever in an unrequited love sort of way. When really Keller has mainly just not let himself go there beyond feelings of attraction. Because of the 15 year age difference and of course, Will being Molly's best friend.
But since Will has to move in with Keller or else risk having to move back with his homophobic family, and Molly moves all the way across the country to Seattle, they start spending time together in a way they've never really been able to before.
And of course, that makes it all the easier to for them to fall in love with each other.
Buttttt.....
They took FOREVER to actually go there! It drove me insane! They kept holding off and holding off! I was expecting juicy! That didn't happen until the last 4th of this book! And even then, it wasn't much! We didn't get to see much of their kinky sexcapades. Beyond their first time together and the times where they *don't touch at all* because then they're not "crossing a line", we didn't actually get much smut.
Yes, they have a hot scene where they don't touch each other but get off next to each other and it's almost like they're having sex anyway. It was hot, for sure, but after that when they did the no touching thing again I wanted to tear my hair out. At this point, just give in! I kept expecting them to explode in passion and have amazingly hot, passionate sex together.
Instead everything was "logical" and "reasonable" and "thought out" which good for being all healty, I guess 😩 Which, as good as this would all be in real life, we can afford a little less healthy sometimes in our fiction. Make them go at it over and over again, keeping it a secret forever, then Molly finds out and it's ~drama central!
Instead, they hold off for SO long because of Molly - understandably, to a point, I admit - and give a potential relationship such time and considerations and they want it to be more than just sex before they potentially ruin their relationship with Molly, blah blah, I get it! But they hold off, they *eventually* give in, and then they tell Molly and it doesn't even matter! Molly's cool with it when they tell him! So in the end it was all for naught! We were denied over and over and over again just for that to not even be worth it.
It makes it so frustrating. Especially because I was really enjoying these two. I DID really enjoy these two. I'm not giving this story 4 stars for nothing. And the chemistry was really good - although the beginning was a little bit of a slow start for me, so that factors into my 1 star off this as well - and I really enjoyed their dynamic.
But there was no reason to hold off for so damn long. And maybe Molly didn't have to blow a gasket, but did it have to be so damn easy when he found out? It was just like...oh okay so then what was all that drama and nerves and anxiety for then?! The holding off on sex?! What was the reason!?
Ugh. I wish this had spent a little more time of them having sex/in a relationship and less time tip-toe-ing around a potential relationship and handwringing about it.
The wait just became too long for no real reason. It was becoming ridiculous, honestly.
So, yeah. Without that long wait - and a fairly slow beginning - I would have given this 5 stars. The rest was really good and enjoyable and I really really liked these two together.
It just tried to hard to go the "right" and "responsible" way and so this became one of the least drama filled "best friends dad" stories I've ever read. And the least juicy. The least scandalous. Where's the fun in that?
Still, a good story overall so as not to affect my overall rating too much. But a solid star off, nonetheless.
Can't wait for Mack to get back his ex-husband, Davey, once and for all in their story!
My Ratings for the Divorced Men's Club Series:
🔆 Making Him Mine: 3 stars (my review)
🔆 Roommate Arrangement: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 Platonic Rulebook: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 Budding Attraction: 4.25 stars (my review)
🔆 Employing Patience: 4.25 stars (my review)
🔆 System Overload: 4 stars
December 1, 2023
Ugh, these two were everything together! RTC.
December 5, 2023
Now, I have to think of me, and me doesn't know what the fuck is going on. I'm a real adult.
Not me writing my reviews weeks later 😅 System Overload was a good best friend's dad story and a fun read. I really enjoyed Will and Keller's relationship, their chemistry and their easy going nature. My only complaint is that I expected Keller to be more mature, to feel more grown up. If you take out the parts mentioning his age or the fact that he's Molly's dad, his inner monologue sounded just like Will's.
He thunders down the stairs, and when he comes into view, he's in loose gym shorts, trainers, his backward cap - and nothing else.
Roommate. He's just my roommate. My sexy, sexy roommate.
Not me writing my reviews weeks later 😅 System Overload was a good best friend's dad story and a fun read. I really enjoyed Will and Keller's relationship, their chemistry and their easy going nature. My only complaint is that I expected Keller to be more mature, to feel more grown up. If you take out the parts mentioning his age or the fact that he's Molly's dad, his inner monologue sounded just like Will's.
He thunders down the stairs, and when he comes into view, he's in loose gym shorts, trainers, his backward cap - and nothing else.
Roommate. He's just my roommate. My sexy, sexy roommate.
October 31, 2023
4 stars
Great addiction to the DMC series.
Keller is smoking hot: his commanding demeanour, his gestures, his dirty talk, everything about him screams hotness.
He's also a very good guy, he dedicated his life to his son and he welcomed Will with open arms and he built with him a personal friendship, separate from his relationship with Molly.
Will is amazing: he built a life for himself all alone, after his parents distanced themselves from their own son because of his sexuality. He feels lost after Molly's moving, but he tries to make new friends and I'm glad he found Joey. Will has been in love with Keller from years and living together only add fuel to his attraction for the man.
The story evolves without angst and I liked how the author made them getting closer day by day
What prevented me from giving 5 stars:
Molly has a huge influence on both Keller and Will's lives, he's always with them (Keller mentions him once during sex and honestly, I didn't like that very much).
Keller literaly devoted his life to raise his son, Will always supported him during the worst times of his life (when he was cheated on at college and when he had a big crush on Ford).
But Molly, despite being grateful for their support, still resented them for being close and when he felt the need to get better, he left both behind and moved across the country.
It was absolutely the right move for him and his own wellbeing, but Keller and Will still have their lives evolving too much around Molly's feelings.
One of the most amazing parts of this series is the banter between the members of the DMC, I definitely wish their group chats were longer.
I'm not going to comment the sex scenes because I would combust right this instant (I think that they are the sexiest scenes written by Saxon James so far). I'm just going to say that sex toys are involved.
Now I'm waiting for Mack's book, I have the feeling it will be more angsty (I hope he will get back with Davey).
Recommended
I received an Arc of this book from ForewordPR and this is my honest review
Great addiction to the DMC series.
Keller is smoking hot: his commanding demeanour, his gestures, his dirty talk, everything about him screams hotness.
He's also a very good guy, he dedicated his life to his son and he welcomed Will with open arms and he built with him a personal friendship, separate from his relationship with Molly.
Will is amazing: he built a life for himself all alone, after his parents distanced themselves from their own son because of his sexuality. He feels lost after Molly's moving, but he tries to make new friends and I'm glad he found Joey. Will has been in love with Keller from years and living together only add fuel to his attraction for the man.
The story evolves without angst and I liked how the author made them getting closer day by day
What prevented me from giving 5 stars:
Molly has a huge influence on both Keller and Will's lives, he's always with them (Keller mentions him once during sex and honestly, I didn't like that very much).
Keller literaly devoted his life to raise his son, Will always supported him during the worst times of his life (when he was cheated on at college and when he had a big crush on Ford).
But Molly, despite being grateful for their support, still resented them for being close and when he felt the need to get better, he left both behind and moved across the country.
It was absolutely the right move for him and his own wellbeing, but Keller and Will still have their lives evolving too much around Molly's feelings.
One of the most amazing parts of this series is the banter between the members of the DMC, I definitely wish their group chats were longer.
I'm not going to comment the sex scenes because I would combust right this instant (I think that they are the sexiest scenes written by Saxon James so far). I'm just going to say that sex toys are involved.
Now I'm waiting for Mack's book, I have the feeling it will be more angsty (I hope he will get back with Davey).
Recommended
I received an Arc of this book from ForewordPR and this is my honest review
November 16, 2023
This is closer to 3.5 but it gets rounded up for getting me out of a slump. SJ’s writing feels the same with every book lately and usually I find that a negative, but it means I always know what I’m going to get so it can be perfect when I know I need something simple and fluffy.
February 14, 2024
Funny and fast read
Loved seeing my favorite character again 7️⃣
Honestly the whole series is amazing I wish there was more!
Loved seeing my favorite character again 7️⃣
Honestly the whole series is amazing I wish there was more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2023
System Overload is the newest addition to Saxon James’s Divorced Men’s Club series. This is honestly one of my favorite series of hers, and each time a new book is releasing, I can’t even contain my excitement until I have the book. In particular, I’ve been waiting for System Overload since the moment I finished the last book. The pining from Will was killing me, and I couldn’t wait to read Keller’s side of things. And while the book was of course different from what I was expecting, I wasn’t at all disappointed. This is a strong sequel for the Divorced Men’s Club series, and it might even my second favorite.
First off, I absolutely loved the chemistry between Will and Keller. While they definitely had a lot of sexual chemistry (like, a lot), I especially loved the domestic moments between the two that showcased their bond growing deeper. I mean, I’m just a sucker for couples cooking dinner together and working out. Sex? Who needs that. Give me more domesticity, haha. While Will had been in love with Keller for years now, Keller’s feelings were more new, or at least, unexplored, so it was great getting to see him coming to terms with those feelings–especially considering Will is his best friend’s son. I don’t know what it is about that trope, but I really like it, and it was done excellently here. The two kept Molly’s feelings in mind the whole time, but Molly wasn’t the driving force behind their relationship, which is when it can get a bit awkward.
I just can’t get over how much I loved Will and Keller’s dynamic. They both complimented each other so well. If there was something Keller was missing, Will was there to find it for him and vice versa. They filled the voids in each other’s lives, like they were made for each other.
Just like the rest of the books in this series, I absolutely adored the found family aspect we get with the Divorced Men’s Club and their partners. The banter is always top-notch and I can always count on Art to make me laugh. This group, even though they give each other grief and like to make jokes, would do anything for each other, and just want to see their friends happy. It warms my heart!
If you’ve liked the other books in this series, you’ll love System Overload, especially if you enjoy forced proximity and best friend’s parent (which I do!!!). I’m so happy I was able to read this one so soon, but I’m also sad because I already can’t wait for the next one!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
First off, I absolutely loved the chemistry between Will and Keller. While they definitely had a lot of sexual chemistry (like, a lot), I especially loved the domestic moments between the two that showcased their bond growing deeper. I mean, I’m just a sucker for couples cooking dinner together and working out. Sex? Who needs that. Give me more domesticity, haha. While Will had been in love with Keller for years now, Keller’s feelings were more new, or at least, unexplored, so it was great getting to see him coming to terms with those feelings–especially considering Will is his best friend’s son. I don’t know what it is about that trope, but I really like it, and it was done excellently here. The two kept Molly’s feelings in mind the whole time, but Molly wasn’t the driving force behind their relationship, which is when it can get a bit awkward.
I just can’t get over how much I loved Will and Keller’s dynamic. They both complimented each other so well. If there was something Keller was missing, Will was there to find it for him and vice versa. They filled the voids in each other’s lives, like they were made for each other.
Just like the rest of the books in this series, I absolutely adored the found family aspect we get with the Divorced Men’s Club and their partners. The banter is always top-notch and I can always count on Art to make me laugh. This group, even though they give each other grief and like to make jokes, would do anything for each other, and just want to see their friends happy. It warms my heart!
If you’ve liked the other books in this series, you’ll love System Overload, especially if you enjoy forced proximity and best friend’s parent (which I do!!!). I’m so happy I was able to read this one so soon, but I’m also sad because I already can’t wait for the next one!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
November 20, 2023
This story is the kind of slow-burn I enjoy; the kind that is fueled by anticipation and trepidation all mixed together. It makes the love/romance that much more hopeful and endearing to me and it invests me very easily in the story.
I’ve loved this series from the beginning and nothing has changed yet! LOL These “divorced men” are an absolute hoot to read about and their meddling and shenanigans always enhance the story for me!
I expected the story to be a bit more “edgy” than it turned out to be because of the age-gap and “circumstance” of best friend’s father/son mixture. The story leaned more towards delightfully joyous than anything else and I can honestly say that that is both a good thing and not so good thing. On the one hand, it made for a heartwarming/low angst story but on the other, that cover sure doesn’t scream sweet to me! *wink* LOL I dunno, I think I would have preferred more “tension” in the story than there was but that’s not really telling of anything other than a “me” preference so … *shrug*
*sigh* I’m middle of the road with this story but not so much that I’d rate it a 3-star and since half stars are not a thing, 4-stars it is!
I’ve loved this series from the beginning and nothing has changed yet! LOL These “divorced men” are an absolute hoot to read about and their meddling and shenanigans always enhance the story for me!
I expected the story to be a bit more “edgy” than it turned out to be because of the age-gap and “circumstance” of best friend’s father/son mixture. The story leaned more towards delightfully joyous than anything else and I can honestly say that that is both a good thing and not so good thing. On the one hand, it made for a heartwarming/low angst story but on the other, that cover sure doesn’t scream sweet to me! *wink* LOL I dunno, I think I would have preferred more “tension” in the story than there was but that’s not really telling of anything other than a “me” preference so … *shrug*
*sigh* I’m middle of the road with this story but not so much that I’d rate it a 3-star and since half stars are not a thing, 4-stars it is!
August 11, 2024
2.5/5 (rounded down)
Meeting these characters in the previous books, I was so hyped to read this. These character types are my favorites to read about, and this type of pairing is what I personally find the sexiest. For once I was actually looking forward to the smut, though the levels of spice throughout the Sadenverse varies a lot. It’s just my luck that the one time I really wanted it, we got the lowest 🌶️ level out of all the 5 main books in the series… 😂 And even worse, when we do get to the spicy scenes, WE FINALLY HAVE A PAIRING WILLING TO BE SLIGHTLY MORE ADVENTUROUS AND KINK FRIENDLY…and we only get minimal details about it afterward most of the time, ugh! The status quo for Sandenverse books is pretty vanilla. It annoys me that they sometimes mention various kinks and fetishes only to shoot them down immediately with a bit of mockery…so the one time we have characters (in the sexiest paring out of them all IMO😂) willing to deviate a little bit from that, we instead get to spend our time stuck in this endless cycle of pining and infuriating obliviousness.
Okay, for what this story was, it was meh. I didn’t hate it, and the last scene we got with Molly genuinely touched me…but the story could’ve been so much more! I’m not just talking about the smut. The situations our two MC’s were in could’ve taken so many avenues to set it apart from their other books. For example, we have endless pining from Will, which clearly makes him very miserable, and does he do anything to change it?…no! He’s unwilling to move past it. Even so, it’s like he’s dragged kicking and screaming to make something happen with Keller and put the pining to good use, at the very least.
Really, this story was so similar to a lot of the other stuff in the Sadenverse that I was begging for something, ANYTHING, to throw a wrench in their usual formula. Even something as corny as Will confessing his undying love to Keller during one of his intense dreams. Shoot down Keller’s insane obliviousness earlier on because I swear to god, Will’s infatuation was so damn obvious, 2+2 probably equals 🐠 in Keller’s world.
Even after the cats finally out of the bag for their mutual feelings, the story doesn’t feel any less stagnant because now we’re using Molly as an excuse to not make anything else happen. If they’re so unwilling to potentially hurt their relationship with Molly, why not do SOMETHING with that? They dangle the idea of Will moving in with his friend Joey, why not follow through and have the resulting angst add a little more flavor to the plot?
This is probably one of the few stories where my major issues weren’t with the characters, most of the hiccups I had with this one were about the plot. Just because a book is chock full of the usual tropes and plot devices, doesn’t mean the story is automatically rendered uninteresting. But for some reason, it’s like the author refuses to configure them in a way that gives the story a distinguishable identity from all the other ones that use the same tropes and such.
Meeting these characters in the previous books, I was so hyped to read this. These character types are my favorites to read about, and this type of pairing is what I personally find the sexiest. For once I was actually looking forward to the smut, though the levels of spice throughout the Sadenverse varies a lot. It’s just my luck that the one time I really wanted it, we got the lowest 🌶️ level out of all the 5 main books in the series… 😂 And even worse, when we do get to the spicy scenes, WE FINALLY HAVE A PAIRING WILLING TO BE SLIGHTLY MORE ADVENTUROUS AND KINK FRIENDLY…and we only get minimal details about it afterward most of the time, ugh! The status quo for Sandenverse books is pretty vanilla. It annoys me that they sometimes mention various kinks and fetishes only to shoot them down immediately with a bit of mockery…so the one time we have characters (in the sexiest paring out of them all IMO😂) willing to deviate a little bit from that, we instead get to spend our time stuck in this endless cycle of pining and infuriating obliviousness.
Okay, for what this story was, it was meh. I didn’t hate it, and the last scene we got with Molly genuinely touched me…but the story could’ve been so much more! I’m not just talking about the smut. The situations our two MC’s were in could’ve taken so many avenues to set it apart from their other books. For example, we have endless pining from Will, which clearly makes him very miserable, and does he do anything to change it?…no! He’s unwilling to move past it. Even so, it’s like he’s dragged kicking and screaming to make something happen with Keller and put the pining to good use, at the very least.
Really, this story was so similar to a lot of the other stuff in the Sadenverse that I was begging for something, ANYTHING, to throw a wrench in their usual formula. Even something as corny as Will confessing his undying love to Keller during one of his intense dreams. Shoot down Keller’s insane obliviousness earlier on because I swear to god, Will’s infatuation was so damn obvious, 2+2 probably equals 🐠 in Keller’s world.
Even after the cats finally out of the bag for their mutual feelings, the story doesn’t feel any less stagnant because now we’re using Molly as an excuse to not make anything else happen. If they’re so unwilling to potentially hurt their relationship with Molly, why not do SOMETHING with that? They dangle the idea of Will moving in with his friend Joey, why not follow through and have the resulting angst add a little more flavor to the plot?
This is probably one of the few stories where my major issues weren’t with the characters, most of the hiccups I had with this one were about the plot. Just because a book is chock full of the usual tropes and plot devices, doesn’t mean the story is automatically rendered uninteresting. But for some reason, it’s like the author refuses to configure them in a way that gives the story a distinguishable identity from all the other ones that use the same tropes and such.
November 18, 2023
1 star.
This was just….awful. I was expecting all the super hot and dirty best friend’s dad vibes, but no. We got sad pining and wierd lets bang but not, because we’re not gonna touch (cause that’s a loophole exacly noone with a brain will believe) till like the 80% mark. What the fuck was that? Also, most of the sex was only briefly metnioned and happened off page. Again, what the hell?
Poor Will, so hot with so much potential but he only gets to pine. And Keller, I mean I get being concerned about your kid, but the kid is 26 or 27, ie fully an adult, so he can get the hell over it if he does have an issue. Not behaviour I expect from a 42 year old.
I was going to give this zero stars but I gave some points back because the scene with the tentacle toy was super hot.
Still, this was such a bummer. And now I’m kind of mad, as evidenced by the profanity in this review.
This was just….awful. I was expecting all the super hot and dirty best friend’s dad vibes, but no. We got sad pining and wierd lets bang but not, because we’re not gonna touch (cause that’s a loophole exacly noone with a brain will believe) till like the 80% mark. What the fuck was that? Also, most of the sex was only briefly metnioned and happened off page. Again, what the hell?
Poor Will, so hot with so much potential but he only gets to pine. And Keller, I mean I get being concerned about your kid, but the kid is 26 or 27, ie fully an adult, so he can get the hell over it if he does have an issue. Not behaviour I expect from a 42 year old.
I was going to give this zero stars but I gave some points back because the scene with the tentacle toy was super hot.
Still, this was such a bummer. And now I’m kind of mad, as evidenced by the profanity in this review.
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