e-Audio, 09:56:14
Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin
Release Date: August 15, 2023
Published by: Dreamscape Media
Read from: August 22-23, 2023
Boy Meets Boy, #3
Source: Netgalley (I received an early e-Audio copy of this book from the publisher. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: cursing, alcohol, marijuana, injury, urgent care, mental health, sex, Alzheimer’s, parental abandonment,
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Adult, Magical Realism, Time Travel, LGBTQ, Neurodiverse RepNolan Baker longs to be “thirty, flirty and thriving” in this charmingly quirky LGBTQIA+ romance that’s one part 13 Going on 30 and one part One Last Stop.
WHY CAN’T WE SKIP TO THE GOOD PART?
Twenty-three-year-old Nolan Baker wants it all by the time he’s thirty. Too bad he’s single, barely able to cover his own expenses, and still paying his dues at a prominent NYC comedy club. When faced with his perfect sister’s wedding, Nolan takes it as a wakeup call. It’s time to quit comedy and make good on his practical dreams—most importantly, asking Drew Techler, his best friend, to be his date.
But right as Nolan is about to give it all up, he’s asked to fill a last-minute spot for a famous comedian. Score! He crushes his set, but stands Drew up, misses his sister’s big day, and disappoints his entire family. After major blowouts with everyone he loves, Nolan desperately wishes on a set of gift “magical healing crystals” to skip to the good part of life. When he wakes the next morning, it’s seven years later, he’s a successful comedian, and he has everything he always thought he wanted. Everything, that is, except his friends and family, none of whom are taking his future self’s calls.
With nowhere else to turn, Nolan sets out to find the only person he trusts to help. Except Drew is all grown up now, too. He’s hot, successful…and hates Nolan’s guts. As Nolan works to get back to his younger self—and the life he so carelessly threw away—he’ll have to prove he’s not the man everyone thinks they know in order to regain Drew’s trust, friendship, and maybe, ultimately, his heart.
While part of a series, this book stands alone.
*MY THOUGHTS*
There will be no surprise that I was hella into this. I have liked all of the books by him so I knew it was going to be an easy read to me. I still loved Matthew Prince the best, but I think this was my second favorite. It was much heavier than I was expecting it to be.
Normally his books are hilarious. But this time it was more heavy than I thought. It showed Nolan and how selfish he was. He just wanted all the fame, but he didn’t account to the fact that he would do anything and run over everyone to get it. And I think that’s the lesson in this. What would you do to get what you think you deserve? Would you run over (or not even think about in this case) the people who love you? In this case he didn’t think he had anyone, but honestly, I don’t even think I could have done that. The way he left his sister’s wedding like that was some bull shit lol She hadn’t even said anything bad to him at the time.
The coolest thing about this was gems tho. I do wish the magic was explained a little more than just in the ending scene, but I do understand that he didn’t really understand what was happening his self. But I do wish they had told what the crystals were or something. But I also listened to the e-ARC, so maybe they did that in the final copy. They told the names of them, but I had to go look up what they were on my own. I think it would have given the story a little more depth if they had just put it in the story.
The romance in this was ADORABLE. To be honest I think I liked Drew better than the main character. He was the sweetest thing and I really thought he was realistic and a great love interest. Exactly what Nolan needed to bring him back to himself. He definitely needed someone to tell him the truth and I applauded Drew for doing that.
This book was the cutest. I wonder if Janovsky had trouble writing this. Like I said it was the heaviest I remember from him. I would call it growth, but he’s written heavy things before. I just thought this one was crafted really well. I love this series, I hope there’s more.
Overall, I give this
