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kaydanielsromance's review against another edition
5.0
I was so torn up over this book. The hopeless romantic vs. the practical person kept having a battle in my head and overall I was fighting for the love between these two men.
Cooper is twenty-eight and has only dated women his entire life, but with each failed relationship he knows something is missing he just doesn't know what. He was a hopeless romantic, but mostly he just felt hopeless as he continued to fail at love. Then one drunken night when he kisses Ricky (his sister's best friend), he could chalk that moment up as a drunken mistake, but when weeks pass and he can't stop thinking about it he knows he can't pass it off as a drunken mistake.
The decision to pursue a relationship with Ricky didn't come easy, especially when he didn't like labels associated with the changes and emotions he was going through and the box society wanted to put him in, especially after twenty-eight years of being attracted to women Cooper knew his attraction to Ricky wasn't going away. It was powerful and something he'd never experienced before. He knew he wanted to pursue that connection more to see where it would go. That hopeful romantic knew what he wanted and he wanted Ricky.
Ricky was practical and had a tendency to self-sabotage his relationships. Years ago his first ever chance at love was with a man who wasn't out of the closet and Ricky still bore the scars of it, so he wasn't looking for a repeat in Cooper who was just beginning his journey out of the closet only to decide to duck back inside again. However, Cooper was tenacious and with each encounter was working his way under Ricky's skin.
The practical side of my brain was totally on Ricky's side. I understood why he didn't want to invest in Cooper if Cooper wasn't going to stick around for the long haul, however, when Cooper was being upfront and laying himself bare, the romantic in me had a hard time staying in the Ricky camp because....hello....it's love.
I continually waffled back and forth between my two sides, which made for a wonderfully told story. Top that off with some steamy scenes and Upside Down was a great book.
Cooper is twenty-eight and has only dated women his entire life, but with each failed relationship he knows something is missing he just doesn't know what. He was a hopeless romantic, but mostly he just felt hopeless as he continued to fail at love. Then one drunken night when he kisses Ricky (his sister's best friend), he could chalk that moment up as a drunken mistake, but when weeks pass and he can't stop thinking about it he knows he can't pass it off as a drunken mistake.
The decision to pursue a relationship with Ricky didn't come easy, especially when he didn't like labels associated with the changes and emotions he was going through and the box society wanted to put him in, especially after twenty-eight years of being attracted to women Cooper knew his attraction to Ricky wasn't going away. It was powerful and something he'd never experienced before. He knew he wanted to pursue that connection more to see where it would go. That hopeful romantic knew what he wanted and he wanted Ricky.
Ricky was practical and had a tendency to self-sabotage his relationships. Years ago his first ever chance at love was with a man who wasn't out of the closet and Ricky still bore the scars of it, so he wasn't looking for a repeat in Cooper who was just beginning his journey out of the closet only to decide to duck back inside again. However, Cooper was tenacious and with each encounter was working his way under Ricky's skin.
The practical side of my brain was totally on Ricky's side. I understood why he didn't want to invest in Cooper if Cooper wasn't going to stick around for the long haul, however, when Cooper was being upfront and laying himself bare, the romantic in me had a hard time staying in the Ricky camp because....hello....it's love.
I continually waffled back and forth between my two sides, which made for a wonderfully told story. Top that off with some steamy scenes and Upside Down was a great book.
trudyd's review against another edition
4.0
Confession time, I had a difficult time getting into this book. I thought I knew where it was going, but I was wrong. Then, BAM it happened. The story grabbed me. The emotions oozed from the pages. It became one of the most emotional reads of this year for me. I refused to put the book down until I was done. Now I want to go back and binge read the series so my heart will be full.
Ricky works with Marco and Rebecca running a yacht rental business in Florida, He has had his eyes on Rebecca's brother, Cooper for a long time. He sees something that no one else seems to realize. Even Cooper is in denial.
Cooper's brother's wedding on the yacht puts things in motion. Copper doesn't understand why he feels what he feels for Ricky. He can't understand why all of his relationships have failed. So many questions. So few answers. Ricky knows.
Upside Down is Cooper's journey of acceptance of himself. Upside Down is Cooper's journey to love. His world is turned upside down with just a kiss, but what a kiss. There are so many emotions in this story.
Ricky works with Marco and Rebecca running a yacht rental business in Florida, He has had his eyes on Rebecca's brother, Cooper for a long time. He sees something that no one else seems to realize. Even Cooper is in denial.
Cooper's brother's wedding on the yacht puts things in motion. Copper doesn't understand why he feels what he feels for Ricky. He can't understand why all of his relationships have failed. So many questions. So few answers. Ricky knows.
Upside Down is Cooper's journey of acceptance of himself. Upside Down is Cooper's journey to love. His world is turned upside down with just a kiss, but what a kiss. There are so many emotions in this story.
robazizo's review against another edition
2.0
2.75 stars. What could have been a lovely story, was sadly overruled by too much hemming and hawing, overanalyzing and people getting into each others business. The emotional back and forth and the lack of space for the actual romance to bloom made me lose interest. Even in the end essential things were glossed over, instead of worked out.
mmromancereviewed's review against another edition
4.0
Well written and fun read. I typically read MM exclusively but this book makes me want to read the rest of the series to keep reading about the great characters I met.
samantherjayne123's review against another edition
5.0
So this is my first read from this author so wasn’t sure what I would think. I am a BIG m/m romance fan and a supporter of LGBTQ community and this story is beautifully done. Showing the torment that many feel when coming to terms with their sexuality. I love the relationship between Coop and Ricky it draws you in from the first page the interference from the best friend/sister and the support from friends and family is amazing. I could not put this book down. These characters are relatable and real and that’s what makes this book a great read
phrynne's review against another edition
I read 157 pages and the writing just keeps getting worse and worse.
leleluv23's review
5.0
WOW!! M/M books aren't usually my good-to, but I love reading anything A.M. Madden writes. She definitely didn't disappoint! This book was amazing, it had all the feels. Such an emotional journey for two incredible people and being able to find your "true self". Cooper & Ricky found this in each other. I loved it. HIGHLY recommend.
christyheartsbooks's review
4.0
Cooper is the middle child of five siblings and he definitely gives off the middle child syndrome of not feeling like he fits in but always putting his best foot forward to help and please everyone. Except his girlfriends - he just can't seem to find the one that sets him on fire. And right before he is set to leave on a cruise for his brother's wedding his most current girlfriend breaks up with him. So he is not looking forward to having to explain another failed relationship to his family. What he really wasn't prepared for was Ricky to turn his world upside down by saying that maybe the reason he wasn't clicking with anyone was because he wasn't being honest with himself - that maybe he actually preferred men.
Once again I found myself reading a book that was part of a series that I wasn't aware of. Didn't matter. I didn't feel lost or confused or that I was missing a big chunk of the story. This a complete standalone. I really enjoyed this story - the pacing was perfect, the writing was great, I loved all the characters, truly a great story. I loved how each of the mains had their struggles that they had to overcome or come to terms with - that it wasn't just Cooper that had issues to deal with. I really respected that aspect of their story. And Cooper and Ricky had it all - they were funny and steamy and fun and steamy and challenging and steamy and cute . . . did I say steamy? My only issue is that we didn't get to see either one of their epiphanies and that felt like a bit of let down to me. BUT, I still really enjoyed the heck out of this book and would highly recommend it to all my m/m loving peeps.
Now I need Riana's story.
Once again I found myself reading a book that was part of a series that I wasn't aware of. Didn't matter. I didn't feel lost or confused or that I was missing a big chunk of the story. This a complete standalone. I really enjoyed this story - the pacing was perfect, the writing was great, I loved all the characters, truly a great story. I loved how each of the mains had their struggles that they had to overcome or come to terms with - that it wasn't just Cooper that had issues to deal with. I really respected that aspect of their story. And Cooper and Ricky had it all - they were funny and steamy and fun and steamy and challenging and steamy and cute . . . did I say steamy? My only issue is that we didn't get to see either one of their epiphanies and that felt like a bit of let down to me. BUT, I still really enjoyed the heck out of this book and would highly recommend it to all my m/m loving peeps.
Now I need Riana's story.
alwaysbereadin's review
4.0
3.5 Stars
My first read from this author and it was a heartbreaker. It was the story of Cooper, who is by anyone's standard, unlucky in love. And Ricky, Cooper's sisters business partner and best friend. It's a realisation novel, but it was more than that. It was about someone finding their person and doing whatever it takes, even hurting them or themselves, no matter how temporary, to be happy. I really enjoyed the writing and how this flowed. I look forward to reading more from this author. I volunteered to read and review an early copy of this. All opinions are my own.
My first read from this author and it was a heartbreaker. It was the story of Cooper, who is by anyone's standard, unlucky in love. And Ricky, Cooper's sisters business partner and best friend. It's a realisation novel, but it was more than that. It was about someone finding their person and doing whatever it takes, even hurting them or themselves, no matter how temporary, to be happy. I really enjoyed the writing and how this flowed. I look forward to reading more from this author. I volunteered to read and review an early copy of this. All opinions are my own.
samantherjayne123's review
5.0
So this is my first read from this author so wasn’t sure what I would think. I am a BIG m/m romance fan and a supporter of LGBTQ community and this story is beautifully done. Showing the torment that many feel when coming to terms with their sexuality. I love the relationship between Coop and Ricky it draws you in from the first page the interference from the best friend/sister and the support from friends and family is amazing. I could not put this book down. These characters are relatable and real and that’s what makes this book a great read