It happened to me that before reading it I did not know if I was in the mood to read contemporary, but as soon as I started this book I could not leave it. Anyta writes beautiful, and is super addictive.
I loved the characters in this book, they became very real to me, each with their problems and stories that together made a good dynamic between them, yes yes, this has a lot of sexual tension, but also has this love and family feeling that was visible in each of theirs interactions that filled my heart.
Adore the slow burn, and the friends to lovers. It was necessary in this book, and it was not given because the characters did not understand each other or they did not speak about this, it was for other reasons super valid and that gave it a slightly different touch.
I super recommend it, as always recommend the books of this author.

Made for You is a really sweet age-gap romance. Ben is 24 and raising his 11-year old brother after their parents pass away in a car crash. Jack is 39 and Milo’s wood shop teacher at school. Jack and Ben meet at school and the two form a friendship. Ben finds it difficult to be in the main house after his parents’ death, so him and Milo are living in the guest house. He lets Jack move into the main house because he renovates houses and Ben has plans to sell the house after it’s finished. Living in close quarters brings Ben and Jack closer, especially since Jack is so helpful with Milo. They’ve essentially formed a little family.

I really liked Made for You, and I thought the age-gap romance worked because Ben did have to grow up a lot after his parents passed away. Jack was a really great guy and always willing to help. While they do eventually start dating, it’s definitely a slow-burn romance. Jack doesn’t want to take advantage and he also has to worry how people would react to him being with a student’s caregiver. I’ve read other books by Sunday, so they are definitely an author I will continue to read!

It was an okay read for me. I miss the author earlier writing style. At least to me. Had a hard time related to the characters. One of the Mc was just to annoying. Found it hard to finish. Kept putting it down.

Made For You is the second book in the Love & Family by Anyta Sunday. Each of the books in all of Sunday's series can stand well on its own, but fans and returning readers will be glad to see old friends make themselves know in each new book.

Twenty-four-year-old Ben McCormick is the primary caregiver for his brother Milo after their parents’ death. A year into the job, he’s totally got the hang of it. Mostly. Sort of. Not at all? Defeated and thoroughly chastised for his lack in parenting skills at teacher-parent night, Ben slumps away with the resolve to finally get his life sorted: be a better role model, and sell their parents’ house for a fresh start. But first, he needs to spruce up his house to hit the market. He’s no DIY king, but Milo’s hot-as-hell woodwork teacher is. Thirty-nine-year-old Jack Pecker is waiting for the home of his dreams to come on the market in the summer. What better way to wait the interim months than working on a small renovation gig? Only trouble is, the gig is for the McCormick brothers. And working in close quarters to red-haired Ben McCormick won’t be easy. Not with the attraction that simmers between them. Attraction Ben makes no effort to hide. But Jack’s professional. Dating a parent is highly discouraged at Kresley Intermediate, and he’d never cross the lines.

Made For You is an emotional story about people finding themselves, family, and home. Ben is doing everything he can to raise his younger brother, but he is struggling and has some growing up of his own to do. Jack has a dream, remodeling a specific home for himself and building his own family. Sometimes what you really need is right under your nose, and terribly inconvenient or ill timed. Watching Ben and Jack build a friendship and everyone trying so hard to do what is right for Milo and each other, while ignoring their own needs, was amazing. Sometimes I wanted to jump into the book and give them all hugs, because they were all trying so hard and struggling. Other times I needed to take a break and cover my face in sympathetic embarrassment for mistakes, assumptions, and floundering explanations. There is just so much honest sweetness and growth in this book that I really still wish i could meet the characters befriend them. Of course, that holds true for all of Sunday's characters so I am not surprised.

Made For You is yet another lovely story by Sunday with a great deal of heart and character growth. I love that their stories are as much about the characters coming into their own as it is about them coming together.

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.

This story was just the sweetest love story I've read in quite a while.
My heart just about broke when Milo asks Ben " he doesn't love us"? And I just love how Milo tells Jack that he is wrong to ask Ben to hide his happiness.

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!

This was a wonderful story. I love the dynamics between the characters and the familial and romantic relationships in the book. Ben was an incredibly realistic character that brought a lot of life to this story. I enjoyed seeing Ben try to be a good brother and a good role model for his younger brother Milo. The teacher-guardian trope was a little cheesy and the fact that Jack also happened to be involved in housing was a little too convenient but I still think it was both funny and full of heart.

There's a lot to unpack. Both adults wanted something different out of their future. Jack wanted a villa he's been dreaming of having for eight years and Ben wants to move on and give a better life for his brother and himself after the loss of their parents, and Milo just wanted his home back.

I loved that they were written as two independent souls trying to find their way through their struggles but together were a uniting force. Ben was loud, a bit childish but honest and he cared a lot about his family and friends. He was having a hard time coping over his parents' death but he tried hard for his family to keep it all together. Also, he and his brother love birds !

Jack was a strong lead for a secondary character, a school teacher who couldn't help but adore the kids he looked after, and someone who has a hard-on for building stuff. He loves houses, and designs and he's always thinking about what he wants his home to look like, and get out of his ex's house!

Due to pressure from the school and peers and society in general, they couldn't meet their attraction full force. Of course, this is a romance book. So yes, they really couldn't wait THAT long.

Ahem. Anyway. This was incredibly funny, and cute and I related to Ben's grief well. I felt like the dialogue could be fantastical at times, and real the others, and it was a good mix.

To wrap it all up, I thought this book was a sweet read. It didn't get too heavy or too cheesy and I think that it's definitely something to pick up. I recommend this book for everyone!

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!

I received an ARC from Netgalley. Anyta Sunday never fails to leave me with so much feels after reading one of her books. There's age gap and so much yearning one can't help but root for sassy Ben and responsible Jack to get together. Throw in the love both of them have for Ben's younger brother Milo whom Jack teaches... You've got yourself a fun romp through adulting, parenting, and risking it all for love.