This was a really good second chance romance, it had a lot of angst, something I'm not a big fan of, but it worked OK between Billy and Gus.

I really loved these two guys, both had issues, Billy more so than Gus, but they both had to work through them to get to their second chance.

Billy has really struggled, first as a teenager and then after leaving town. He trusts no one and thinks no one trusts him or truly wants him around. The chemistry and relationship between Billy and Gus were great when they weren't having misunderstandings.

I loved Gus's sister, Mia, she was a strong character and not afraid to say what she thought. Billy's brother Luke, had plenty of issues of his own to work through when it came to his relationship with his brother, learning to communicate with each other was a big hurdle to overcome, but necessary if Billy is going to hang around for good and not run away again.

I didn't read the first book, Forgiven, in this series, but after enjoying Unforgotten I would like to go back and see how Luke and Mia get together.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin - Carina Press for a digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Unforgotten is the second in this series from Garrett Leigh but this can be read as a stand alone. I didn't feel lost though there was already the established couple of Luke and Mia and the history that you slowly catch up on as we follow Gus (Mia'a brother) and Billy (Luke's brother).
Billy has been out of town for several years and is definitely down on his luck. When it's needed, Gus offers him a room at his house and it forces the two men to spend time together after sharing a kiss a few years ago. There's definitely attraction between them but both fight it for their own reasons however this is a good hurt/comfort story and Gus especially wants to help Billy, not necessarily feel better but at least get through daily life and maybe reconnect with his brother. However, Billy reminds of a stray cat, one that that is all attitude and will only come close when he wants food before running off again. You can feel the hurt that comes from both men, sharing similar histories, though they've definitely dealt with things differently as they've grown. I like the way that things played out for them and Garrett Leigh is a very good writer when it comes to the angst level of a story.
Along with Gus and Billy, we have Luke and Mia who are interesting in there own ways but also people I would definitely need to shout out. Gus does very well in dealing with them whilst Billy tends to go in the complete opposite direction.
Overall, a recommended read with interesting characters that draw you into their story from the start.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and am happily giving a review.

Garrett Leigh is quite possibly the reigning queen of hurt/comfort romance in the LGBTQ space. There are a lot of authors who write this trope well, but I don’t know that there is anyone who does it better or more genuinely. Her new novel, Unforgotten, is replete with Leigh’s signature moves: well-developed characters, lushly detailed descriptions of everything from the landscape to the food, and original plotlines that make you care about all the players and what’s going on in their lives. I was drawn in from the initial intro to Billy—who, in the opening, seems almost as feral as his cat, Grey—and every single scene with Gus, to the wonderfully satisfying ending.

Billy Daley has come to the end of the line in his current situation. An altercation with his boss—after an altercation with a dickhead customer—leaves him with no job, no place to live, and no choice but to head back home to Rushmere to face both his brother and the intense crush he ran away from five years ago. Billy has some unresolved resentment toward his brother, Luke, who left to join the Navy after their dad died, a reputation from his past as a troublemaking kid, and an almost terminally grumpy attitude, but none of those issues come close to how unprepared he is to be face to face with Gus Amour again.

I love Gus so much, you guys. He has some baggage of his own, of course—mainly abandonment issues and a restlessness that have resulted in a Grindr predilection, and a fear of getting close to anyone—but, he is an amazing friend to Luke, and so, so good for Billy. In fact, one of the most endearing things about him is how much he cares about Billy and Luke repairing their relationship. Which, at times feels hopeless, given the fact that Billy and Luke can’t be in the same place together for five minutes without fighting or one of them storming off, and Billy seems ready to leave town again the moment he can. But eventually Gus finds himself unable to resist his draw to Billy, and he has to figure out how to reconcile his feelings with his need to help everyone keep the peace.

The development of Gus and Billy’s relationship was fantastic; both the feelings and the sexual tension between them are unmistakable. I loved how tentative they were at times, even though their desire was so obvious, and I loved the care Gus took with Billy when he found out how inexperienced and nervous he was about starting anything. And I loved how honest and vulnerable Billy was with his feelings when he opened up, and how in awe of Gus he was. This bit was so good:

"I kind of wanted to know every single thing about him. I wanted to fill my mind with as much of him as possible, cos despite the fact his physical presence was giving me a heart attack, everything about him soothed my soul."

Bottom line? I had so much fun getting to know these characters, and I’m sure fans of Leigh’s Forgiven will be thrilled to see Luke and Mia again. But, Billy and Gus will steal your heart. If you’re already a fan of Leigh’s style, you know she’s a master at bringing broken guys together and making them whole. And, if you’re a new reader, then you’re in for a treat…You get to watch the Queen of Hurt/Comfort at work.

4.5 ⭐

Ce nouveau roman de Garrett Leigh est une petite merveille !
Autant certains éléments du premier tome ne m'avaient pas vraiment ravie, autant là, j'ai adoré ma lecture du début à la fin !

Garrett Leigh a vraiment un talent fou pour nous dépeindre des personnages cabossés par la vie, des personnages qui incarnent très bien le concept de résilience. Ce sont des personnages imparfaits, normaux, qui vivent une vie relativement banale, dans un environnement tout sauf glamour. Garrett Leigh nous donne à voir des personnages souvent invisibles, des personnages parfois marginalisés, elle nous montre une réalité débarrassée de tout vernis rose paillettes. L'autre jour en voiture, je repensais à ce roman, et je suis fait la réflexion que Garrett Leigh était en quelque sorte à la littérature M/M ce que Ken Loach (un de mes réalisateurs préférés !) est au cinéma : les deux nous montrent la classe sociale ouvrière (ou approchante), nous montrent un quotidien dépourvu d'angélisme, des personnages à qui la vie ne fait pas de cadeau.

Billy et Gus ont morflé, chacun de leur côté. Au début du livre, on se miserait pas un kopek sur Billy, et pourtant ... Billy, en fait, il est comme Grey, son chat, comme un porc épic. Il grogne, crache et griffe, mais derrière toute cette façade bravache, c'est un jeune homme bon et gentil, cramé par la vie, qui ne sait plus comment faire pour avoir des relations normales.
Gus lui ... Ouhlala qu'est-ce que je l'ai aimé aussi, celui-ci ! Et qu'est-ce que j'ai aimé sa "rébellion" finale !
Leur histoire est très belle et émouvante, ils m'ont vraiment touchée tous les deux.

Ouais, j'ai vraiment été conquise par ce roman, j'ai adoré ces tranches de vie très britanniques, ces expressions typiquement british, cette plongée dans un monde rugueux, ce parfait équilibre de angst que j'aime trouver dans mes lectures (sans une souffritude et un spleen portés à l'extrême) et ça m'a donné furieusement envie de lire (ou relire) les tomes écrits par Garrett Leigh dans la série "Porthkennhak". ❤

I love the small-town feel of this book. Well, this series would be more accurate, and the characters are interesting and likable. In the case of Billy and Gus, they're a bit broken, which just endears them to me all the more. This couple's love story is angsty and emotional, and everything I expect from Garrett Leigh. We also get to revisit Luke and Mia from the first book. And here's where I'll say that you don't technically have to read Luke and Mia's story, but you'll want to once you've met them. They have an interesting relationship with each other as well as with their siblings, and it all comes together for exactly what I look for in a Garrett Leigh romance. Gus and Billy are sweet, sexy, and they definitely tug at the heartstrings. I don't know how many books are planned for this series, but I do know I'd like to see more of this town and its characters.

Garrett Leigh rocks the pages of “Unforgotten!” with two guys too lost in their heads to see the happy opportunities before them. Honestly, Billy and Gus are such gits I wanted to reach into my e-Reader and knock their heads together, ala The Three Stooges. But we’ve all known men like these!

Gus and Billy are in-laws. Luke (Billy’s brother) married Mia (Gus’ sister.) They all grew up together, with Luke and Gus as best friends. Each set of sibs lost a parent, absolutely gutting them. To avoid the emotions, Billy, Luke and Mia left town. In book 1 of the Forgiven series, “Forgiven,” Luke and Mia cemented their love. (No worries, I hadn’t read “Forgiven” and “Unforgotten” reads fine as a standalone.)

Gus works for Luke’s roofing company, keeping a fake smile on his easy-go-lucky face with non-stop hookups. When Billy, who was once the town misfit, is forced to return, Gus offers shelter. Scared their magnetic pull could interfere with all their developing individual relationships and work, they each decide they can/must avoid the pull of their single teenaged kiss, a memory which still captures both. Good luck with that.

Nobody does dialect better than Ms. Leigh. She reveals these guys in their word choices. In the following exchange I felt Gus’ methodical caution and Billy’s brash truthfulness.
Gus: “‘I need to tell you something. If you haven’t already worked it out, that is.’”
Billy: “‘If I was any good at working shit out I wouldn’t be cadging your spare room.’”

I squirmed as they avoid their attraction, only to build irresistible heat. And when they do face the inevitable… *sigh*.
“Billy snorted. ‘Just do it.’”
“‘Do what?’”
“‘Whatever it is that’s making me die of anticipation.’”
“‘What makes you think I’m not dying, too.’”
“‘Nothing makes me think anything. My brain’s mush when it comes to you.’”

Billy, Gus and their siblings are four people with warped senses of self, whose pain is carried with equal dignity as their confusion. Luckily, Ms. Leigh helps them find a way, through unselfish love, to give themselves and each other exactly what is needed. A romance, a family reckoning… “Unforgotten” has it all, presenting each and every movement with elegant authenticity.

Billy Daley left his hometown five years ago, never looking back. Even though he’s only got a job where he just barely scrapes by, he loves his independence from older brother, Luke who still sees him as the screwup kid he was and always sits in judgment. However, when he loses that dead end job and finds himself homeless with his stray cat Grey, Billy reluctantly returns to Rushmere only to be facing an even bigger challenge. Gus Amour, the brother of Luke’s live in girlfriend Mia, has agreed to let him stay at his house. Five years ago, he shared a passionate kiss with the man and both just walked away from the encounter. The thing is, neither realizes that they both have the same feelings about each other, thinking each has forgotten that moment.

While Billy was introduced in the first book, his presence was limited. I really enjoyed getting his point of view here in comparison to those impressions created by his brother, Mia and Gus. I loved Gus from Forgiven and just came to adore him even more. Where Billy is all sharp edges and honesty, Gus is that guy who just knows the right things to say and do to diffuse tense situations and bring people together in an authentic way. He is genuinely caring and thoughtful, which brought out the best in Billy. There were a lot of relationships needing repair, especially that between Billy and Luke and it was wonderful being a part of their journey to find that space. But even better was the deepening relationship between Billy and Gus, which was hampered by their reluctance to be vulnerable with each other for fear of driving the other away. There’s a very good reason for that but it’s best to discover that from the story.

I really liked the first book in this series but loved Gus & Billy’s story. The narrator seemed to get the bones of both characters, bringing them to life so vividly. They are both so genuine and the story stayed true to their natures from start to finish, even when things got difficult. I’m glad I chose the audio version because it gave me the best reading experience. There are also many steamy moments so be prepared. It’s a great story about two people I really cared about.

This is book 2, but can easily be a stand alone. I didn't read book 1 as it is a traditional MF romance and that isn't my jam any longer. It was pretty easy to extrapolate the background story that was explicitly told.

So there's Billy. Left home when he was old enough and lived a bit like a nomad. Six months here, six months there, before moving on. Working odd jobs, sleeping where he can and dealing with the residual pain after and accident and shoulder surgery. His time at his current location is cut short when he gets fired for punching someone who hurt his cat. The cat is ok, don't worry. I'd punch someone for hurting my cat too! With pretty much no options, he figures he would head back home where his brother lives. But they have a strained relationship at best AND his brother's girlfriend lives with him. But Gus, Billy's brother's best friend. And the brother of Billy's girlfriend, said he could stay with him.

And so begins forced proximity, grouchy Billy, far to sunshiney Gus and a fabulous cat named Grey.

Billy and Gus had kissed once about five years ago. And they both continue to think about it. But as men are wont to do, no one brings it up. They brood and daydream and fantasize about each other. While working AND living together.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Gus and Billy. They learned to live and work together before they learned how to be together. But of course there were still issues with that- mostly from things unsaid which lead to misunderstandings.

There were a couple of things that I would have wanted- Billy discovering that he was demisexual for one. It was never said, but it was fairly obvious to me. Gus had a breakthrough with Billy about his past, but never with Luke (Billy's brother) or Mia (Gus's sister). So I feel like a lot was left unsaid.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book. The time spent building the relationship between Billy and Gus made for a deeper story.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and I would definitely recommend that you read them in order, as the story is ongoing and the family dynamics are key to understanding just how things stand.

Gus was left at home holding the fort, and now as his sister, Mia, and best friend, Luke Daley, have returned to town, he is having to adjust to a new normal. Then to add to his disquiet, Billy Daley is not only back in town, but Gus has agreed that he can come and stay with him.

Billy hadn't spoken to Luke in years, having left town under a cloud. Just before he left, he kissed Gus, so coming back to town is not just about making amends to his brother, but dealing with some feelings for Gus which never left. We get some really gritty details of how his life has been and, as always, Garrett Leigh does not sugarcoat how life really. I really appreciate the little elements which so quickly give us a clear idea of how these people live, think, and work. Life is not always kind, people do not always have much money, no pain, or easy feelings – and they do not always react as we might expect. It makes the story so much richer in my opinion.

As we get to see, the four of them learn how to spend time together again, to stabilise the rules of engagement, and to find common ground. It is not an easy transition, and poor Gus continues to be the one who gives up his wishes to keep peace and harmony. Billy for once, because he cares about Gus, takes some responsibility for a change and finds that he needs to stay, he needs to have this life, and actually Gus is why.

For a gritty, but ultimately really rewarding and unconventionally romantic read, this is an excellent addition to the series.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
I have not read the first book in this series but I honestly wasn't lost. The author gave enough back story that I was good. This book took a while for me to get into, but it was worth it. This book was rough, real, and raw. I loved Billy and Gus, they both couldn't forget that one kiss. I can relate to that, I have that one thing I can't forget. These two are perfectly imperfect for each other and I enjoyed their journey. Highly recommend.

The first book in Garrett Leigh’s Forgiven duology tells the story of Luke Daley and Mia Amour, teenaged sweethearts whose youthful romance hit the skids after Luke took off without a word and joined the Navy in order to provide for his family following the death of his father. Luke left behind a younger brother, Billy, who has never really forgiven him for leaving as he did, and although Mia and Luke get their HEA in Forgiven, and she continues to enjoy a good relationship with her brother Gus (who is also Luke’s best friend and co-worker) Luke and his brother don’t enjoy anything like the same closeness. In fact, Billy hasn’t been back home for years, and that’s the way he intends to keep it.

Unforgotten is a direct sequel to Forgiven, and while Luke and Mia do have large parts to play in the story, the focus switches to Billy and Gus, and there’s enough detail given as to the history these four characters share to enable you to jump in here (as I did) without having read the previous book.

Billy was always a bit of a tearaway, running with a bad crowd, constantly in trouble with the police and regularly sporting the evidence of fights on his knuckles. He’s moved around a lot since he left town, never staying anywhere more than a few months and not interested in putting down roots anywhere, let alone back in Rushmere. But when he pisses off his boss at the breaker’s yard (where he also lives in a caravan on site) once too often, Billy finds himself – and the stray cat he’s adopted (or who adopted him) – both jobless and homeless, and with no other option, he gets in touch with Luke to ask for help.

Just as the Daley brothers were hit hard by their father’s death, so Mia and Gus were devastated by the death of their mother. But while Luke, Billy and Mia all ran from their grief, Gus stayed behind – and was still there when they gradually drifted back home. With no one close to him to lean on, Gus locked away his feelings and decided emotional commitment wasn’t worth the potential for hurt. So now, he buries his residual resentment beneath the calm, easy-going face he presents to the world and contents himself with a regular diet of Grindr hook-ups and no strings sex.

When Gus hears that Billy has actually reached out to Luke, he’s surprised but pleased, and offers to have Billy stay with him. It feels a bit weird though; a few years earlier, he and Billy had shared a deeply passionate kiss Gus has never been able to forget – and when Billy shows up, just as gorgeous and scowl-y and prickly as ever, Gus knows he’s in trouble.

That kiss was every bit as memorable for Billy as for Gus, but when Gus ended it and pushed him away, Billy, embarrassed, pretended to be tipsy, not realising that Gus hadn’t wanted to take advantage of him – or that Gus was scared of the intense feelings it had aroused in him. Billy is still carrying a torch for Gus, but the fact that Gus seems to be out shagging a different bloke every night is intimidating, to say the least, given Billy’s relative lack of sexual experience.

The pair settles into a routine, however, and Billy goes to work with Gus at Daley’s Roofing while Luke takes a bit of a break. They work well together and are spending more and more time together outside work, but Billy’s relationship with Luke seems to be going from bad to worse. They can never find anything to talk about, and on the rare occasions they exchange more than a few grunts, they rub each other up the wrong way.

One of the things I really liked about the book is the relationship between Billy and Luke. It’s tough going for both of them; Billy is still holding onto a shedload of resentment over what he sees as Luke’s abandonment, and Luke just doesn’t know how to handle it or the spiky, hot-tempered brother who knows just how to push his buttons. They have a lot of work to do if they’re going to be a family again – something they both need so desperately – and I loved seeing them at last start to let go of their anger and preconceptions and take baby steps towards compromise. They’re frustrating characters though; Luke clams up at the first sign of confrontation, Billy is deliberately gobby and aims to wound. I understood why Billy acts as he does – he’s got a self-destructive streak a mile wide – but he’s a difficult character to like a lot of the time.

I can’t say I liked Mia all that much (so perhaps it’s just as well I didn’t read the previous book!), but Gus is a total sweetheart and the peacemaker among the group. He’s usually got a smile and a joke for everyone and appears to have everything sorted, but in reality, he’s as much of a mess as Billy is, hiding the pain inside whereas Billy wears it on his face and in his manner.

But even though I liked Gus and Billy, I couldn’t quite get behind them as a romantic couple. I liked the relationship they built together and the way they were able to help each other to start to heal – not by trying to fix each other, but just by being there and ready to listen. But the romance feels rather under-developed; Billy and Gus think about their feelings for each other quite a lot, but then never actually say anything to one another about them. They have good chemistry and the sex scenes are nicely steamy but I couldn’t quite work out what they saw in each other.

As a fellow Brit, I always love it when I get to read familiar speech rhythms and idioms and settings, and the village/small-town vibe here is spot on. Most of all, whenever I read a Garrett Leigh book, I find myself impressed all over again with her skill at capturing the messiness of relationships – familial and romantic – and showing how badly we can mess them up sometimes without really knowing why or how we’re doing it… and then steering things back on track in a way that feels realistic and completely true to the characters.

Unforgotten is intensely readable and well-written, the characters are vibrant and three-dimensional, and their struggles and reactions are very real. I enjoyed it enough to give it a recommendation despite its flaws.

3.5 Stars!

I liked this book much better than book 1 where I didn't really care for any of the two characters(Mia). With this, I was very invested in the happiness of my MCs so much so that I wanted to shake Billy many many times while reading.

Why? Because Billy was a self proclaimed d*ck. In the first part of the book while he was still acting out, he was unnecessarily prickly and ridiculously unreasonable. Initially, he annoyed me to no end due to this but then I gradually realised that his attitude was to protect against the soft centre that he was hiding/protecting.

Gus, on the other hand was a sweetheart and a chill person. Unfortunately, he was using unsustainable measures to manage his loneliness and his laid back personality to cover any of the real emotions he felt due to past experiences.

This story was essentially about these two men finding their place in life by helping the other along right up to their HEA.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book through its highs and lows ,even when I wanted to thump Billy for his immaturity. Lol

This is the second book in the Forgiven series. I really enjoyed this book; the characters are really quite interesting and the story was unpredictable. The story flowed wonderfully and was hard to put down. Though this is the second book, I feel it can be read as a stand-alone book.

Don’t touch his cat or Billy will teach you a lesson. Yep, he’s a firecracker and also homeless.
He and his cat can stay with Gus, it’s been five years since the last time, it was awkward at that time, wasted and kissing. Still, it was ages ago, long forgotten right?
Billy is a bit of a thug with a bad mouth and Gus is the soft soul, the sensitive one.

Billy has a complicated life and an even more complicated relationship with his brother.
Gus doesn’t do relationships, he picks up guys on Grindr and leaves them behind.
There is a strong attraction between Gus and Billy and it’s complicated. There is so much hurt and grief it looks like an impossible task to get closer. It felt all raw and gritty.

Even though I understand it’s a stand-alone I had moments I wished I knew more about their history. I really missed something to fully get involved in in the beginning.

I understand Luke and Mia got their own story in #1. I had trouble liking Luke and Mia.
My heart was with Billy and Gus.

Absolutely an intriguing story. I would have loved some more explanation about their past.
The writing was good and solid.

Unforgotten is the second book in the Forgiven series. Billy is having a hard time. He's broke, homeless, drinks haven't been home in a while and his only friend is his cat, Grey. Gus is single, lonely, and works with his sister's boyfriend, Luke. Luke is Billy's brother and they have a difficult relationship. Gus offers to let Billy lives with him until he gets back on his feet. There's chemistry between these two and they shared a kiss between them and never act on it or talked about it. The book is romantic, with some angst, misunderstanding, slow burn, romance and they get their happily ever after.

When I read and reviewed the first book in this series, Forgiven, I noted that I felt something was missing from the story. Garrett Leigh was a new-to-me author at that point and what I read didn’t match up to what I had heard of her stories. I’m pleased to say that I felt this story was much more of what I had expected from her reputation. Because I had heard of her as an author who writes LGBTQ stories and that was not what the first book was, I thought perhaps that was the issue. And maybe it was, since I felt this story was much more fleshed out and I felt a much deeper connection to the characters in this story than in the last.

Both Gus and Billy are in the previous story, but as supporting characters. There are plenty of hints in that story as to the potential connection between these two. I must say, the author did a beautiful job writing their connection. The push/pull they felt was palpable. I just wanted them both to talk to each other and clear the air.

Gus has a special place in my heart. From the first time he was introduced I felt myself taking his side. Over his sister Mia, his best friend Luke, and now over Billy. Gus stayed. Gus didn’t run away like everyone else in his life has done. Sure, he doesn’t go about facing his issues in a great way. He often uses meaningless sex to keep himself from thinking too deeply about how everyone leaves. Gus does not like being alone. So, while he is a very reliable and respected figure in the community, he hasn’t learned to deal with real emotions.

While Gus always stays, Billy always runs. That man has a chip on his shoulder bigger than the Taj Mahal. Some of it is with good reason. But, just like everyone else in his life, he’s not good with dealing with emotions. Billy seems to understand Gus on a level nobody else does, but he’s so insecure about his own worth in anyone’s life that he holds back when Gus really needs him to step forward.

I have to note that although I really love this story, I still am not a fan of Gus’ sister. Sometimes I felt Luke wasn’t being the best friend, and Billy often held himself back when he shouldn’t have, Mia is still oblivious to how her words and actions hurt her brother. Gus started to develop more of a backbone with those around him as this story progressed, but I still feel he needs to have a real knock down drag out fight with Mia so she’ll maybe stop thinking only of herself.

The main takeaway I have on this story is that I am now interested in reading more by this author. I believe, from what I’ve read so far, that the author’s writing takes on a different tone when delving into the lives of LGBTQ characters and I’m interested to explore if that holds true in other stories she’s written.

Billy Daley is a prickly sort. He especially can't seem to get along with his brother Luke and he's stayed away from his hometown to avoid more animosity. But when he gets himself in trouble again, he has to appeal to his brother for a place to stay. Since Mia has moved in with Luke, Mia's brother Gus has a spare room and offers it to Billy.

Gus has been living on work and Grindr for his after hours. He's buried his emotions deep, but when Billy shows he threatens to blow it all up. Memories of a kiss shared between Gus and Billy long ago won't go away, but both know that moving forward with their feelings for each other could incinerate them all.

Garrett Leigh does an amazing job of building the tension between Billy and Gus,especially their smoldering attraction for each other. Yowza. I adored Gus. He's such a great guy. He's always thinking of others -- Luke, Mia, Billy -- and silently carries a lot of his own baggage around. My heart went squishy for him when he talks about hiding his feelings because he thinks no one would care. The relationship between Billy and Gus really opens up both of their eyes into their own hangups as they are forced to choose whether they can make it work.

I really loved everything about this M/M romance from the realistic language to the emotions running throughout the story to the dramatic and potentially devastating ending. Garrett Leigh always does an amazing job with broken men, and Unforgotten is no exception.

A complementary copy was provided by the publisher. This is my honest review.

If you are looking for a contemporary, character-driven book, Unforgotten is the one you want as Garrett Leigh stays on brand with her hard working, hard loving men. This book follows Forgiven, where Gus and Billy were introduced and which featured Gus’ sister, Mia, and Billy’s brother, Luke. Gus and Billy are present enough in that story that reading that Forgiven first would offer a richer experience here.

Billy and Gus had a moment years ago and, while they have gone their separate ways, it was the kiss that defined all kisses for both of them. Billy is a bit of a mess. He was always in trouble in his hometown and now he’s returned with no job and a chronic shoulder injury and a world of emotional pain he’s carried around for years. One of the only good things Billy holds onto is the memory of that kiss with Gus. Gus is a bit more settled and works with Luke and everyone likes Gus. But Gus has no idea how to date and no idea how to want someone as much as he wants Billy.

The chemistry between the men is dreamy. Billy comes off as distant and prickly at first glance, but he carries a lot of pain with him and really only wants someone to look at him the way Gus does. Although this book is lower on the angst comparatively, it’s not easy for these guys. They are in their own heads a lot and when they figure out what they do want, they have no idea how to ask for it.

I would have liked a little more with Billy and Luke managing the vast space of hurt between them. While they do make progress on their relationship, they never cut through to the heart of their issues to really heal their past.

This is a great Garrett Leigh book for an in depth look at two men who simply belong next to each other.

Unforgotten by Garrett Leigh


When Billy gets fired from his job for hitting a man who kicked a stray cat, he is left with no choice but to return home. He doesn’t get along with much of anyone, but his brother Luke is willing to give him a place to stay and a job. So he packs up his meager possessions and the cat and heads back to the place he grew up

A few years back, Guy and Billy shared a kiss in an alley. Now, not only are his sister and Luke in a relationship, but Billy has just moved in with him. Oh, and they’re working together.

This book is just brimming with angst. Billy clearly likes Guy, but sees him as unattainable because Guy is more experienced and uses Grindr to find companionship. Billy wants more than that, but he doesn’t think he measures up, nor does he even know how to express his feelings. Meanwhile, Guy tries to support Billy, but Billy is more aloof than Grey, the stray cat.

I would recommend Unforgotten. It’s the second in a series, and I did feel as though I was missing some backstory by not reading the first book. But Unforgotten is full of heart and feelings and I couldn’t help rooting for Billy, even when he was being a bit of an ass (which was a lot). This is a story of redemption and acceptance and finding happiness after so many years of discontentment.

I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press/NetGalley

Well written, but Billy really needed to grow up, sadly. The tale got eclipsed by his immaturity.


I expect angst from this author, and she normally does it really well, but here, it all stemmed from Billy, who I wanted to tell to grow up and sort himself out. The tale seemed to be more about an immature mid-20s character who really should have gotten his act together by now, dumped the weed, sorted his life out, found himself a job and basically, grown up, than a romance. Who goes around punching customers - though yes, I didn't like the 'punchee' - risking a sacking and/or an assault charge or stretch inside? Who would let an employer be sued because you couldn't control your temper? Grow up, guy!

I really couldn't see that Billy was romance-lead material, and even Gus who'd been a decent brother in the first book, didn't stand out, either. There was too much of Luke and Mia in this tale to make it Billy and Gus's, and tbh, it droned on without much happening, other than the drama of the end. And like in book 1, the (low key, comparatively) baddie got an off-the-cuff mention in passing and then about half a page of page-time and then disappeared again.

Like the connection that I didn't feel between Luke and Mia Amour, i.e. the grand amour that didn't feel like a grand amour, no pun intended, this felt like a repeat of the same, but rather than the sex that the other leads couldn't forget, the two guys supposedly both never forgot a kiss in their teens. Really?

The 'white on rice' expression used in this British tale set in Britain, is one that I've never heard used in the UK or seen used in a British-set book, like TED-talk used in book1 - Americanisms creeping in? Why? Not needed, not authentically British, and actually, not really PC.

The saving graces for me? Billy was sweet to a stray moggie, Grey, who went on to have a better life. Billy saved a dog and Gus gave her a better life. Billy and Gus's garden seemed to be cat heaven and Grey was about to get a companion.

ARC courtesy of Carina Press and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

I really enjoyed this angsty, emotion filled romance between Gus and Billy, introduced first as secondary characters in Forgiven (in which Gus's sister Mia and Billy's brother Luke reunited in a second chance romance).

Billy has nowhere to go but back to his hometown where his brother lives, and Gus is happy to let Billy live in his house while he gets back on his feet. A kiss they shared several years ago still resonates in their memories, but Billy is wary of getting involved with his now roommate, and his co-worker (as he's taken a job with the family roofing business again, where Gus works with Luke).

Billy is still suffering a lot of pain from a shoulder injury and that makes him grouchy, angry and generally miserable, but when Gus comes to realize where Billy's attitude is coming from he helps Billy to see a doctor, to get some pain medication, and to realize that trusting someone isn't the end of the world. They gradually becomes friends, and the attraction between them leads to a romantic and sexual relationship. This story has plenty of drama, family issues, and a near disaster that puts things into perspective for them both as they make their way to an eventual happy ending. The well developed setting of small town England is believable and combined with true to life characters makes for a thoroughly entertaining read.

This review will be posted at sale sites during release week.