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bitchie's review
3.0
This was really good, but man, was Matt exhausting! I couldn't figure out what was so wrong with his life. So he didn't have the things his rich friends had growing up? So his room was small and cramped? Cry me a fucking river. He had two parents who loved him, treated him well, worked hard to give him what they could, and hey, at least he had a room of his own. He didn't have to share with two or even three people. He also seemed to have given up on his dreams a little too easily. A few years are nothing, especially in any kind of artsy field. We got no details whatsoever about what he tried, just that it didn't happen instantly, so he stopped. Hell, I'm not even sure what he was trying to do. Music? So, song writing, joining a band, becoming a star, rock,classical, jazz, country? Music, piano, composition, that's all the details we got. Then in the end he freaking fell into modeling, even though he hated it.
Ok,I'm getting ranty and I guess I should stop there.
What saved this for me was Ollie, and the close friendship all the guys here had. Hell, Matt was pretty sweet too, self esteem issues aside. They shared some really sweet moments, and I did like seeing them rebuild their friendship.
Ok,I'm getting ranty and I guess I should stop there.
What saved this for me was Ollie, and the close friendship all the guys here had. Hell, Matt was pretty sweet too, self esteem issues aside. They shared some really sweet moments, and I did like seeing them rebuild their friendship.
alicia1566's review
3.0
The smut in this book was very sexy, but the plot was a tad weak. I found the author repetitive with the angsty 'I will never have him, we will always just be friends' stuff. It was okay, but I wouldn't read it again, I won't continue this series and I wouldn't recommend it as a great MM to a friend.
lolly460's review
4.0
I loved Oliver but I wasn't crazy about Matt. I think Oliver deserved better than Matt. He was so sweet to everyone
bookish_notes's review
3.0
I usually love a good friends-to-loves trope, but somehow, Gone for Me was just an okay read for me.
Oliver and Matt have been friends for years. Oliver is the rich kid who always had everything he's every wanted, and Matt is the kid of a mother who cleans houses for people like Oliver's family. Or in this case, she really does work for Oliver's family. Oliver has his two best friends he's known every since they were kids, Chance and Miles. When Matt gets invited into their group, it's always been the four of them, regardless of their social standing. But, Chance and Miles don't want their group to fall apart when they notice how much Oliver seems to be head-over-heels infatuated with Matt. They tell Oliver that they don't like it, but what can they do? When the four of them graduate high school, they had plans. Oliver and Matt would be rooming together in their college years, but unexpectedly, Matt chooses to move away by himself to NYC.
Ten years have passed, the distance between them awkward now after so many years, but the love Oliver has always had for Matt has never changed. So, when Matt flies back to LA to get a break from his modeling career, he instantly rooms with Oliver again.
I enjoyed reading the characters and the secondary characters, and all their struggles. Matt is plagued with self-doubt and constantly overthinks his social standing even though with his modeling career, he has more than enough money to rival his friends. I think I connected more with Matt's relationship with his parents than even that of his and Oliver's. There's an emotional impact when I read about Matt's relationship with his parents and one scene in particular that left me a bit teary eyed.
Oliver works as a writer, and Matt undecided at this point in his life. Even though Matt would love nothing more than be able to write music all day instead of facing the cameras, he hasn't decided what he wants for himself. As much as I love characters who have some sort of musical talent that graces the story, I just had a difficult time with the connection between Oliver and Matt. I think the story is a good read, but nothing explosive or significant happens and the story feels repetitive.
I'll be sure to check out the prequel, about the two guys who own the bar Oliver and his friends hang out at, and the sequel with Miles as one of the love interests. But for this story, I think it's a good introduction to other characters in the rest of the series.
He had no doubt Matt did love him. Matt had always loved him, only not in the same way Oliver felt for him.
He closed his eyes, wishing like hell Matty didn't own such a big piece of landscape in his heart.
Oliver and Matt have been friends for years. Oliver is the rich kid who always had everything he's every wanted, and Matt is the kid of a mother who cleans houses for people like Oliver's family. Or in this case, she really does work for Oliver's family. Oliver has his two best friends he's known every since they were kids, Chance and Miles. When Matt gets invited into their group, it's always been the four of them, regardless of their social standing. But, Chance and Miles don't want their group to fall apart when they notice how much Oliver seems to be head-over-heels infatuated with Matt. They tell Oliver that they don't like it, but what can they do? When the four of them graduate high school, they had plans. Oliver and Matt would be rooming together in their college years, but unexpectedly, Matt chooses to move away by himself to NYC.
Ten years have passed, the distance between them awkward now after so many years, but the love Oliver has always had for Matt has never changed. So, when Matt flies back to LA to get a break from his modeling career, he instantly rooms with Oliver again.
I enjoyed reading the characters and the secondary characters, and all their struggles. Matt is plagued with self-doubt and constantly overthinks his social standing even though with his modeling career, he has more than enough money to rival his friends. I think I connected more with Matt's relationship with his parents than even that of his and Oliver's. There's an emotional impact when I read about Matt's relationship with his parents and one scene in particular that left me a bit teary eyed.
Pretty wasn't pretty forever. Shine faded, and beneath was a dullness that Matt didn't know how to see past. He didn't know what he had to offer someone like Oliver.
Oliver works as a writer, and Matt undecided at this point in his life. Even though Matt would love nothing more than be able to write music all day instead of facing the cameras, he hasn't decided what he wants for himself. As much as I love characters who have some sort of musical talent that graces the story, I just had a difficult time with the connection between Oliver and Matt. I think the story is a good read, but nothing explosive or significant happens and the story feels repetitive.
I'll be sure to check out the prequel, about the two guys who own the bar Oliver and his friends hang out at, and the sequel with Miles as one of the love interests. But for this story, I think it's a good introduction to other characters in the rest of the series.
loishojmark's review
4.0
I think this was the best Riley Hart book I've read. I'm not exactly a fan of her books, but I'm a sucker for angst. So I keep giving her books a chance. This time it was worth it. I just miss that last, unknown part that make me really feel the story.
haletostilinski1's review
4.0
This was a solid read, I enjoyed it! I'm giving it 4 stars because there was nothing particularly outstanding that made me really love it, but it was good!
I was so frustrated with Matt, but I couldn't help feeling for him at the same time. And I feel like this book was definitely focused more on the romance (which I love!) more than the sex, because the sex scenes only had about a moderate amount of steam, I felt. Still hot, but not blow-my-mind hot. They were pretty standard sex scenes, if that makes sense? Except maybe the last one, which was hotter than all the rest, for sure.
But despite this, it was a quick, enjoyable read, I loved how quickly I burned through it, because it kept me in the story from page to page, and I was never really taken out of the story. So it was good, and I liked it a lot, and definitely recommend it :)
I was so frustrated with Matt, but I couldn't help feeling for him at the same time. And I feel like this book was definitely focused more on the romance (which I love!) more than the sex, because the sex scenes only had about a moderate amount of steam, I felt. Still hot, but not blow-my-mind hot. They were pretty standard sex scenes, if that makes sense? Except maybe the last one, which was hotter than all the rest, for sure.
But despite this, it was a quick, enjoyable read, I loved how quickly I burned through it, because it kept me in the story from page to page, and I was never really taken out of the story. So it was good, and I liked it a lot, and definitely recommend it :)
papercranestitches's review
4.0
*** 4.25 Stars ***
This was definitely a case of reading the right book at the right time; I connected with the story and the characters on a gut level that I really can't explain (but it probably had as much to do with what is going on in my personal and professional life as much as the actual words that were on the page). I might not have always understood where the characters were coming from (is anyone really as selfless as Ollie?!) or why the heck they didn't just get out of their own way and be happy (I'm looking at you, Matt), but Hart managed to create characters that seemed to leap off the page fully formed. But it was really that raw edge to their shared history - that unrequited love Oliver felt for his best friend that I wasn't sure Matt could ever return equally - that sunk its teeth into me and demanded that I become emotionally invested. And I was.
In the end, we get our HEA, and Oliver and Matt ride off into the sunset (or at least the dim lights of the Wild Side bar in WeHo), but the relationship still feels a little unbalanced. I'll always believe that Oliver loves Matt more, and that Matt has more to gain from their relationship, but somehow, in this context, I'm okay with that. It feels realistic.
This was definitely a case of reading the right book at the right time; I connected with the story and the characters on a gut level that I really can't explain (but it probably had as much to do with what is going on in my personal and professional life as much as the actual words that were on the page). I might not have always understood where the characters were coming from (is anyone really as selfless as Ollie?!) or why the heck they didn't just get out of their own way and be happy (I'm looking at you, Matt), but Hart managed to create characters that seemed to leap off the page fully formed. But it was really that raw edge to their shared history - that unrequited love Oliver felt for his best friend that I wasn't sure Matt could ever return equally - that sunk its teeth into me and demanded that I become emotionally invested. And I was.
In the end, we get our HEA, and Oliver and Matt ride off into the sunset (or at least the dim lights of the Wild Side bar in WeHo), but the relationship still feels a little unbalanced. I'll always believe that Oliver loves Matt more, and that Matt has more to gain from their relationship, but somehow, in this context, I'm okay with that. It feels realistic.
bfdbookblog's review
4.0
4.5 stars
Riley Hart is hands down one of my favorite friends-to-lovers authors. She just nails it…the fluttery feeling you get in your stomach when they are about to kiss for the first time and change everything; or the empathy you feel when one of the two is jealous that the other is going out with someone else.
These guys are complete opposites. Dare is the life of the party, thrill seeking, don’t get attached to anyone at all costs kind of guy. We find out it’s a defense mechanism and a way to deal with his really crappy upbringing. Austin is a steady, stable, wants to settle down and be loved kind of guy. They are perfect for each other and don’t see it until a drunken kiss. I absolutely love them together.
“What are you doing?” Austin asked before Dare pulled one of his shoes off, then his sock. He went to the other next.
“I don’t know,” Dare answered honestly. He planned to fuck Austin, that was for sure, but this was different than his regular lays. “I just want to savor you,” he added, his voice hoarse.
“Jesus Christ, Dare, do you know what you’re doing to me? You’re turning my brain into mush. I’m all fucking heart when it comes to you; do you hear what I’m saying?”
Dare couldn’t answer, but he did hear him. The same feelings were searing through his own insides. He looked up at Austin and nodded before pulling his other shoe and sock off. Right now all he wanted to do was cherish Austin…
This appears to be the start of a series and while we could end with this novella and be perfectly happy, I really hope we see them again. And Alexander needs a book in a couple of years
Riley Hart is hands down one of my favorite friends-to-lovers authors. She just nails it…the fluttery feeling you get in your stomach when they are about to kiss for the first time and change everything; or the empathy you feel when one of the two is jealous that the other is going out with someone else.
These guys are complete opposites. Dare is the life of the party, thrill seeking, don’t get attached to anyone at all costs kind of guy. We find out it’s a defense mechanism and a way to deal with his really crappy upbringing. Austin is a steady, stable, wants to settle down and be loved kind of guy. They are perfect for each other and don’t see it until a drunken kiss. I absolutely love them together.
“What are you doing?” Austin asked before Dare pulled one of his shoes off, then his sock. He went to the other next.
“I don’t know,” Dare answered honestly. He planned to fuck Austin, that was for sure, but this was different than his regular lays. “I just want to savor you,” he added, his voice hoarse.
“Jesus Christ, Dare, do you know what you’re doing to me? You’re turning my brain into mush. I’m all fucking heart when it comes to you; do you hear what I’m saying?”
Dare couldn’t answer, but he did hear him. The same feelings were searing through his own insides. He looked up at Austin and nodded before pulling his other shoe and sock off. Right now all he wanted to do was cherish Austin…
This appears to be the start of a series and while we could end with this novella and be perfectly happy, I really hope we see them again. And Alexander needs a book in a couple of years
mags_louise's review
4.0
This was a great start to a new series, it was an enjoyable to read and kept me engaged throughout. The two main characters were both likable, although Matt did frustrate me at times, but I did think they made a good couple and they certainly shared some hot moments. Especially the one on the piano!
As for the story itself it had little in the way of angst, was emotional at times but overall a good story. That I would certainly recommend to others.
As for the story itself it had little in the way of angst, was emotional at times but overall a good story. That I would certainly recommend to others.