I received a free copy from the author through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I have to admit I wasn't sure at first that I wanted to read this one, but when I was reading Taboo for You I got curious about Jack's story and then decided to give it a try. And I am so glad I did as I really enjoyed this sweet MM romance book. I enjoyed it even more than Taboo For You. It's a slow burn romance and I loved seeing the characters grow closer together as the story progressed and it's just full of these sweet and touching moments. And it was a joy to read about these characters.

Made For You is told from dual point of views of both Jack and Ben. Jack is a woodworker teacher and he meets Ben one day when Ben shows up for teacher parent evening at the school where his younger brother goes to school After that chance encounter things are set in motion. Ben's house needs renovations and he hasn't had the heart to go back there after his parents died and Jack is a house flipper and he ends up renovating Ben's house. Due to this situation they start spending more time together and growing closer. Then there is Milo, Ben's younger brother who is a big part of the story too. And who doesn't want Ben to sell their house, he wants to stay there.

So what made me hesitant about this book at first was the whole age gap thing, I wasn't sure if I would like that. In the end I can say it didn't bother me at all in this book. It is brought up a few times, but I never felt like Jack was way more mature or didn't fit with Ben. Ben had to grow up fast when his parents died and he had to take care of his younger brother and Jack can be very carefree at times too. To be honest most of the time I didn't think of their age and it wasn't brought up that much in either text or behavior that I was conscious of it. Also they just fit so well together that the age gap just wasn't an issue at all. These two just belonged together.

I really liked the romance in this book. The way Ben and Jack meet and they way they interact, their banter and the way they are there for one another. They are so perfect together and I liked how this book was low on the physical intimacy and focused much more on the build-up and slow burn of their romance. It's full of sweet scenes and I enjoyed seeing these two grow closer and closer. It's about getting to know each other and being there for the other. There is an instant attraction, but they don't act on it at first with the whole Jack being Milo's teacher thing. So instead they have this whole growing closer, but not that close thing. Till quite late at the book when it progresses to more and there is a little bit of heat at the end.

Jack and Ben were both great characters to read about. I liked how Ben was trying so hard to be a good parental figure for Milo, but he also is his brother and that really shows too. They are so similar at times and interact in a different way that shows their brotherly bond. It felt realistic how Ben was struggling with the burden, but he always kept trying and he felt like he was failing and when Jack tells him that he is doing great and he finally gets those words of encouragement, that moment was awesome. He also slowly starts making time for himself and what he wants. I also liked how he could be shy and overwhelmed at times and it felt very realistically done. I also really liked seeing him interact with Milo and it's obvious how much he cares about his younger brother and how much he would do for him. Their brotherly bond really was well done.

Then there is Jack who has a career he liked and he's getting closer to getting his dream house, but he's a bit lonely. He wants a family and he has so much love and care to give. I liked seeing how he slowly became part of Milo and en's family and how the three interacted together. Jack was great with Milo too, but mostly I liked how he supported Ben and how that helped them both being better parental figures for Milo.

Made For You is the sequel to Taboo For You, but can easily be read as standalone as this book follows a different couple. There are only a few scenes with the previous couple in it.

I also wanted to mention the setting. Just like Taboo for You this book is set in new Zealand and I liked how I got a bit of a feel for the country in this book. There still isn't a lot about it, but the setting came more alive here than in the first book. Mostly due to all the mentions of birds that I never heard about. The bird watching was a fun addition too.

To summarize: I really enjoyed this book. It's such a sweet slow burn MM romance book with a bit of heat at the end. I really liked the two main characters and they were so good together. I liked seeing their relationship progress throughout the book as they grew closer and closer. It was great to see much much they came to care about the other and how they were there for one another. I liked Ben's younger brother Milo, who plays a big role in the story as well. I was afraid the age gap romance wouldn't work for me, but once I started reading it turned into a non issue, their ages just seemed irrelevant as they were so good together. While it's a second book in this series, it can easily work as standalone as it follows a different couple with only a few scenes involving the previous couple. I also liked how we got to see a bit of new Zealand and learn about the native birds there. All in all I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you enjoy slow burn MM romances.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆
This was a sweet love story. I haven't read the first book, but I think I might just to see everything that Jack went through. I don't think it took anything away from the story having not read the first book. Jack and Ben were so good together and I loved Milo. I loved how Milo was in the entire story and not just an afterthought. These three scream what family really means.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a slow, sweet read that had me alternating between tears and laughter. It’s the story of Ben, a twenty-four-year-old whose life changes dramatically after the death of his parents. It is also the story of Jack, a teacher and contractor who befriends Ben when he most needs the support.

Ben’s initial parenting attempts had me laughing out loud. He’s completely out of his depth, resorting to bribery to manage Milo’s behaviour and subjecting them both to a diet of convenience store junk food. Ben’s twelve-year-old brother is fabulous – but he’d probably be a challenge for experienced parents. The brothers are brilliant together and I love that Jack sees the warmth between them and supports them without trying to change them.

The romance in this book moves very slowly. There’s a 15 year age gap between Ben and Jack and Jack is very aware of his professional boundaries as Milo’s teacher. At the start of the book, Ben seems very young. His crush on Jack is comical but he has to do some growing up before these two can work as a couple. This isn’t a sexy read – with Milo at the centre of Jack and Ben’s relationship from the start this is almost more of a family read than a romance. The focus is on Ben and Milo working through their grief and Ben growing into a life he never expected. There is romance in the small moments and a few grand gestures. The connection between Ben and Jack is sweet and I actually like that this book doesn’t quite conform to typical romance genre norms.

While I really loved this story, I do have a few reservations. The three main characters are beautifully developed but beyond Jack, Ben, and Milo, the other characters are disappointingly one dimensional. The mean older teacher lacks subtlety, as does the head teacher and her curmudgeonly uncle. Jack’s ex-boyfriend and Ben’s BFF are slightly more believable but neither really feels real. Without spoilers, some of the central conflict feels manufactured and exaggerated. But I finished this story smiling and I really loved Ben, Jack and Milo.


Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4 Slow-burn at its finest Stars

Made for You is the ultimate slow-burn romance, combined with May-December, with a slight forbidden vibe, making it an addictive page-turner.

Ben and Milo have been grieving the loss of their parents a year ago. In his early twenties, Ben is trying his hardest to raise his little brother, but the boy takes after him by being a little bit wild. Living in the small guesthouse on the back of the property, Ben hasn't dealt with his grief well enough to step foot back into the main house he shared with his parents. Floundering, barely keeping his head above water, Ben's confidence has taken a hit, unsure if he's raising his brother well enough, especially when Milo's teacher (who also had Ben in class) goes out of her way to hammer home how Ben is incapable of rearing Milo.

Sick of sharing a wall with his ex and the love of his life, Jack is looking for a new project – he lives in homes, renovates them, then sells. Jack is the woodwork teacher, finding precocious Milo to be entertaining, barely keeping a straight face when forcing the kids to behave during class. Until a chance meeting with Ben shows him how much the big and little brothers are alike.

The perfect solution, Jack moves into Ben and Milo's parents' house to renovate it for sale, which is a point of contention between the brothers, because Milo doesn't want to leave the memory of his parents behind...

What happens on the pages is a slow-burn crawl through a relationship they didn't realize they had, as Jack tries to keep Ben at arm's length. A fellow colleague warned Jack how falling under Ben's spell is the equivalent of preying on a young man when he is at his most vulnerable.

While hilarious, and a little bit sexy, the innocence of Ben, and the need of hope by Milo, drew me in as much as it did for Jack. Heartwarming interactions and dry wit are a delicious combo as the cast of characters banter with one another, added with the romantic tension of slow burn. The reader earns the happily ever after right along with the characters.

Thrilling, slow burn M/M Romance? Check. Absolutely endearing characters? Check. Double check. Anyta Sunday is one of my favorite authors in this genre. The stories are always so well-developed and told with incredible passion and detail. Here we have (at least) three of the most lovable characters in print- Ben, Jack and Milo. I loved the whole premise and execution of the story line. It had everything I wanted... no, it was so much more than I expected from this genre. A beautiful, touching story and sizzling romance. This is what family is about.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hopes anchors the soul - hebrews 6:19.

Made For You is an eloquent and touching slow burn , may-december , friends to lovers , hurt/comfort romance story.

It is written with great compassion , humor , witty and geeky banter and lots of love . I think the strength of this book, lies in the Anya Sunday portrayal of the meaning and what is a family ,their sacrifices and hopes.

I won't summarized the plot as others more articulate than me have done it beautifully .

It is a charming tale that will make your soul feel good. Just going to add , that I enjoyed reading Made For You .

I received a copy of Made For You, at my request , from the publisher via NetGalley and am leaving my voluntarily and unbiased review.

Ben McCormick is only 24 and finds himself the sole caregiver to his 11 year old brother Milo after the sudden death of his beloved parents. He is struggling to keep his younger sibling on track with school.
During a very frustrating parent teacher conference after he is chastised by one of Milo's arrogant teachers he meets Jack. Jack is Milo's shop teacher abd Ben desperately needs to hear the praise Jack has for Milo. Ben feels a strong attraction to this kind and handsome shop instructor. Jack also feels the same but he knows there is an age difference and the school is not enthusiastic about teachers dating the care givers of their pupils. Which seems really silly to me.
Ben can't stand the thought of being in their family house surrounded by memories of his parents and wants to do some renovations so he can place their homes on the market. They have been living on a small cottage on the property since the tragedy and Milo desperately wants to move back and becomes upset when he learns of Ben's desire to sell.
Jack needs to find a new place to live while he waits for his dream home to come onto the market. Ben offers Jack a room at their main home in return for doing some of the remodeling. Ben and Milo move back to their parents house at the same time because Ben can sense Milo needs this. Jack likes this agreement and slowly the three become a close family unit. Ben and Jack are hesitant to share there growing feelings over fear for Jack's job.
I strongly recommended this sweet novel with judt the right amount if angst. It is a truly touching love story that makes you smile and I was sorry to see it end.

Another fabulous book from Anyta Sunday. Can't recommend these books enough, Anyta has a gift and I devour her books as they come out. Marvellous!

WANTED:

A slow burn contemporary romance with a guaranteed HEA that doesn't overburden the reader with romantic tropes such as the inevitable break up, misunderstandings, overbearing in-laws, conniving exes or whatever other cliche romance writers get so wound up in.

Must have MCs worth rooting for, great chemistry, even greater banter and great sex- when it eventually happens.

The novel must be feel-good, well written such that it warms the cockles of your heart, has something to care about with regards to conflicts characters face and doesn't underestimate the intelligence of the reader with unnecessary exposition.

ANSWER TO AD:

This book.

Odd mix of rushed and just right. It's confusing how the best friend is abroad one moment and back in town the next, but then isn't heard from again. Personally, I'm not sure what her character adds to the story. In more than a couple spots the plot jumps from one thing to another so fast that it's hard to understand what the connection between the scenes is. My overall impression is a of a generally sweet romance with weak spots in the plot. These are of course just my opinions. Thanks for the free copy.

There were times where I wasn't sure I liked the book or not, but when it comes down to it, I would say yes I did enjoy it mostly lol. Cute storyline, but Ben really got on my nerves for most of the book.

I absolutely adore Ben and Milo! Everything you expect from siblings and more with how Ben is now Milo's primary care giver. There may be a slight excess of bad language and I definitely don't recommend money as bribery but it works perfectly for these two. Add Jack into the mix, a strong,, reliable man who fits perfectly with them and things get a whole lot complicated what with Jack being one of Milo's teachers.
Interactions between them all flow seamlessly and you can sense the attraction that both men feel. I love how Anyta has allowed Ben to show his vulnerability in certain scenes that allow his true self to be shown when most needed. It endears you to the young man and your heart goes out to the family overall. Jack brings some much needed stability allowing Ben to lean on someone for the first time since his parent's deaths and Milo a firmer hand in his life that alsoo provides calming presence.
I love how the story progressed and how i felt present in all parts of the story. There is a lot of emotion packed in and your heart is fully along for the ride.
A definite recommendation and this can be read as a standalone.
I received and ARC via NetGalley and am happily giving a review.

4 stars
M/M story that was really touching and moving. I really enjoyed this book.
There was so much love and emotion. This was an unexpected hit for me!

Anyta Sunday knows how to write a good story and she didn't disappoint with Made for You. The slow-burn romance between Ben and Jack was realistic, authentic, and well developed. A delightful read!

I really enjoyed this. It had so many aspects that appealed to me -- the dual POV, Milo (what a great and realistic kid portrayal), both Ben's and Jack's concerns and struggles, the Jack's role as a teacher, Ben's and Milo's love of birding -- all of those (and probably more than I can't think of off the top of my head) combined to make a very thoughtful and lovely story. It just worked for me, and even though I'm not familiar with the setting (New Zealand), I felt like Sunday made it generic enough (yet specific enough) that I could picture it easily.

My only (very minor) complaint was the amount of time it took for Jack to make the leap -- as the older (and wiser, one would hope) person, I felt like he held back longer than he needed to...but I also know that age doesn't always reduce our fears. Oh, and another minor issue: because so much is made of Ben's red hair, it would be nice if the cover picture reflected that. *rolls eyes*

All in all, it was an enjoyable and touching read, and I will definitely keep my eyes open for further books from Sunday!

<b>4.5 stars</b>

Anyta Sunday books are always just so fun and sweet and this one was no different. I adored Ben and Milo and their antics. Ben was such a great older brother in that he tried so hard, and didn't stop. As an older sibling, I related so much to his worries and his fears, and they made him such a genuine character. I also loved that Milo wasn't the perfect, adorable kid. He is an 11 year old boy, and by definition (in my experience), 11 y.o. boys get into trouble and generally misbehave. This didn't preclude Milo from being a lovable, amazing character who was even more amazing because he came across as real. It was heartbreaking and beautiful that even though Milo kept sneaking into the old house since he did not want to leave the memory of his parents, but he was still willing to move to Jack's dream house to make Ben and Jack happy. Milo and Ben have such a strong bond, that it was beautiful to read.

I would have read the book just for Milo and Ben, but Jack was an equally amazing character. He was so kind and supportive, and really helped Ben regain confidence in himself as a brother, a caretaker, and as a functioning adult. The chemistry between Ben and Jack was great, and I truly bought the romance. <spoiler>I especially loved the dinner at Luke and Sam's house. The whole scene was absolutely hilarious, and may have made me enjoy philosophy for a hot second :)
I did struggle a little towards the end with the idea that Jack wanted a house so badly that he was willing to hide his relationship with Ben, which was the reason I only gave 4.5 stars. I have never really felt that sort of desire for a thing, so I just could not relate.

Overall, a great read that is generally light and fun, but still has depth and emotion to it. I highly recommend it!

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

After reading book one in this series and not completely liking it, I went into this one with a bit more hesitancy. I will say just a few pages into this one I was practically in love.

The couple is adorable and the obstacle between them isn't themselves or internal, but external-- which is an element that always works better for me. Jack is Ben's brother's teacher, which puts them in a weird spot. Things already seem a little suspect to the school administration because Jack is remodeling Ben's house and living there. Oh yeah, it is one of those stories-- living together, always pushed together, slowly pushed into learning more and more about each other.

The romance here is definitely a slow burn. There is instant attraction and Ben is a fabulous flirt, with Jack being the one to maintain space between them. Honestly, Ben is such a funny character. I loved his humor and the way his interactions with his kid brother. Ben tries so hard and his child-raising methods are indeed unique which adds more humor.

This story is adorable and loving, gripping my emotions without me even realizing it. I 100% recommend this one if you are looking for something sweet and funny that still has potential to make you emotional.

This had all the funny and romantic elements that I love so much of this author. There was an age gap but I didn't really see a problem with it. The characters were adults and everything was consensual. I love how there was this nice family dynamics and I appreciated the brothers' relationship.

This book started out so good, I quickly adored Ben, Milo and Jack. Their situation often made me tear up. I just found that as the story went on I became less interested and it took me awhile to finish it.

I can’t pinpoint why this didn’t end up being a great read for me, sometimes books just don’t work out. I can say that I didn’t like how judgmental the school was about Ben and Jack possibly having a relationship and the teacher giving her opinions to both men and making Ben feel like a failure really pissed me off. That didn’t make me like the story any less but it did irk me.

I don’t know how many times Fanta was mentioned but that was so repetitive. Milo was probably my favorite character. He was such a great kid and for all he was supposed to be a troublemaker he quickly turned it around. He lost his parents so of course he was acting out. That seemed to be a fact the school forgot.

Underneath it all this is truly a nice story and I would suggest giving it a try. Anyta Sunday writes beautifully and I think many will enjoy this.

Anyta Sunday's Made For you, the second book in the Love and Family series is an amazing forbidden romance story.

It's no surprise to me that I love this book. The tropes involved are fantastic; forbidden romance, May to September romance, teacher/parent relationship, raising a sibling story, and slow burn romance. All are entwined to make a wonderful story.

Ben's raising his brother Milo, who just so happens to be the best kid ever! I love every single scene of his. He's an absolute delight and will have you smiling throughout with his humor and spunkiness.

As for Jack, he just happens to be Milo's teacher. The relationship Jack has with Milo is terrific and meeting his brother Ben changes Jack's world completely. The two get to know each other as Jack's hired to renovate Ben's home in his spare time. In other words, let the slow burn fun begin as the tension is high.

There are lots of bird watching scenes and talk about birds, which is quite interesting. Knowing nothing on this subject, I learned a lot while also being entertained, as the brothers bond over this.

Anyta Sunday's Made For You is a marvelous, complicated romance. It wonderfully tells of overcoming obstacles and choosing to have love. It's beautiful and tender and the ending is perfect! I highly recommend this one.

I read almost everything by this author because she writes a lot of different types of books, and some of them are just what I like--family, slow build and set in the southern Hemisphere (not quite Aust, but close enough).

Ben and Jack circle each other very slowly for a number of sensible reasons. I love how careful Jack wants to be with his own heart. Ben is more eager, but is he also younger and in need of intimacy and 'grown up' time. Milo is a crucial character, and he comes across as authentic and real.


The slow long road to love is organic and well worth observing. Great to see Sam and Luke appear, and I couldn't have asked for a better epilogue. #solovely.

Thanks to Netgalley and author for advanced copy. I did read it ages ago, but just have been too busy to post. Made for You came out last week, and it's a ripper. Everyone who loves this author will love this one.

A wonderful slow burn romance, beautifully down. I am in love with these characters so much. Emotional at times and I love the fact there was no angst due to a misunderstanding in their relationship (it was other details but I won’t plot spoil). The characters were adults who communicate which is so rare in books. Heartwarming and adorable, a wonderful read


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion