I know everyone has been railing about this lately, but I really need people to STOP labeling books as comedy when they are not. Just because there is a joke or two and the main character has a wry sense of humor does not make the story a comedy. Another thing I’ve run across way too much in the last year or so are books labeled as capital R “Romance” when they are actually contemporary fiction with a romantic element. Yes, there is a HEA in this story, still doesn’t make it a Romance.

That first paragraph makes it seem as though I didn’t like this book at all or that it has no redeeming qualities. That is not the case. I just wish I had gone in with different expectations. This story is told fully from the POV of Max, the main character. For a bit, I wasn’t even sure if I should like his love interest, Chasten. He seemed like he would be a good guy, but he did a few things that seemed cruel and unnecessary the first few times Max and Chasten are together. I was extremely relieved to find that Chasten is a wonderful man and anyone would be lucky to have such a person in their life.

The whole premise of this book is Max stepping up to the plate when the woman he’s been best friends with his whole life gets engaged and asks him to be her man of honor. For best friends who literally live down the street from each other, Max and Paige have woefully little interaction. Even after the wedding planning begins. For almost this whole story, Paige is a terrible friend. For that matter, so is Max in a lot of ways. At least from his end, I knew the stressful things that were going on in his life other than the wedding. But at one point I was truly trying to figure out who was the bigger AH. Even though it’s her wedding and obviously she wants things done in a certain way, I ended up deciding Paige is the winner of that title. She has known Max practically his whole life and she should know he would need guidance instead of thinking he’d suddenly be a totally different person when she announced she was getting married. Max didn’t seem to have anyone in his corner for most of this book and it was sad.

One of the good things about how this story unfolds is Max finally confronting Paige about her expectations of him. Not just for the wedding but throughout their lives. It needed to be done and some things needed to be said. This story is really the story of Max figuring out who he is instead of floating through life with no direction. Another wonderful aspect of the story is the chemistry Max has with Chasten. They don’t get much one on one time together until late in this book, but the times they do are fantastic.

I love reading Romance but I don’t think I was the target audience for this book since that is not the central theme to this story. I’m going to rate it as a contemporary fiction story and not a contemporary romance book so to be fair. The parts that were Romance as well as seeing Max find something he loves to do were the great parts of this story. The timeline from engagement to the wedding was quick and disjointed, making things seem as though they weren’t fleshed out fully. And although eventually I found some personality in Max and Chasten, it took far too long for me to really get to know them.

When the first paragraph of a book references “This Charming Man” by The Smiths, there’s a really good chance I like it. However, I didn’t expect to become completely, utterly obsessed with Max Moody and his romantic life. Max and Paige have been best friends since they were five and Paige is getting married. Max is her best man (obvs.) but he didn’t expect her fiancé’s gay brother to be his best man, and start competing with Max for gay bestie. All of this is on top of Max dealing with a joyless job firing people and still not over his booty call ex-bf.

I don’t remember the last time I’ve loved a book so much. This gives me the same feeling as Red, White & Royal Blue, and Heartstopper, and The Charm Offensive. If this book would have some out in my young, single, emo days I would have fallen completely and utterly for Max. As it is, this book gives me everything I’ve been missing in my life. It’s full of pop culture references to 80s New Wave, classic RomComs, obscure musical theater, and so much more.

Max made me feel seen in ways I didn’t expect. Sometimes it’s hard to be a gay, who doesn’t fit the mold. I don’t want RuPaul, or Housewives. I’m not a Swiftie (or Swifty?). I’m not a charming, chiseled gym bunny flitting between open relationships. So this pure, wonderful gay romcom about a guy who is not always likeable (but has great taste in music) and doesn’t meet every gay stereotype is refreshing. I just love this book so much from beginning to end, from the cover, to the plot, to the hilarious writing, to the complex characters.

I need this novel to become a movie, then a musical, then a movie-musical so badly I could cry. Until that happens the book is available today (5/2/23) from Berkeley Publishing and I recommend you pick it up immediately.▪️

Max Moody was a guy who thought he had everything figured out. He's moved up to an HR position in his office, has his own [small] apartment in New York City, and sees his best friend, Paige, for brunch, sorry splunch, every Friday. She and Max grew up next door to each other in the suburbs of Chicago, they finish each other's sentences, and Paige is one of the first people Max came out to as gay in high school. But his world is turned on its side when Paige suddenly announces an engagement to her boyfriend of a few years, Austin, and she wants Max to be her best man. While Max has always been the romantic one, and thought he'd be walking down the aisle before Paige, he doesn't know the first thing about best man wedding duties. And then there's Chasten, Austin's best man and gay younger brother who, as a social butterfly East Coaster, clashes often with Max's introverted Midwesterner personality. The two must put their differences aside and work together to put the focus back on Paige for her wedding festivities. And as time goes on, and Max and Chasten learn more about each other, they realize a small spark has the possibility to burn brightly.

I will start out by saying I don't think this romance in particular was for me, but while I am going to point out some issues I had I'm also going to note things I think might work for other readers. The book is written in first person point of view, following Max as the main character, so you're in his head the entire time - single perspective can be tricky if you don't connect with the character, and it can feel one sided since you don't get the perspective of others, especially the love interest. Max is hard on himself, and a lot of his inner monologue can feel like he's unhappy with where his life is at this point or angry / upset with other people (like Austin, Paige, and Chasten) who seem to have their lives together. I did like the established friendship between Max and Paige - they've known each other since childhood, and have tons of inside jokes and memories that they love to share, especially when intoxicated. At times it definitely felt like Max's jealousy of Chasten was a bit unwarranted, as he was trying to understand what Paige would like for her bachelorette party and share ideas but all Max could see was Paige agreeing with ideas other than his. I can appreciate the growth Max does undergo throughout the course of the novel - besides learning to appreciate Chasten for who he is, Max develops a love for planting and gardening after planning for his office's Difference Day, he realizes that it may have been unhealthy to continue a sexual relationship with his ex after they broke up, and, most importantly, he learns how to be more than just a "gay best friend." I found the writing style to be very conversational, as if Max was telling his story directly to the audience and needed to include context and backstory whenever it was needed - this style personally didn't work for me, but after I finished I researched the author, Sidney Karger, who is primarily a screenwriter for television and film, which does explain a lot about his story and dialogue structure, which may work perfectly for other readers. There were some plot issues I found throughout the story - I didn't fully understand why it was so important for Max and Chasten to keep their first meeting a secret, I wasn't fully convinced of their relationship progression from dislike to like to love, and there were moments that I wanted Paige and Max to have more in depth personal conversations and really listen to each other, instead of barely apologizing and moving on because they "knew each other better than anyone." I also felt like Max's coworkers were underdeveloped, but that might be commentary on how sometimes people working in an office setting don't associate with their colleagues and so they're only known by their name or position - although I did feel a certain scene later on in the novel with Max's former co-worker was unnecessary.

In conclusion, books, can be incredibly subjective, and Best Men wasn't personally for me but I can definitely see the appeal for other readers who jive with the writing style, are able to connect to Max on a personal level, and fall in love with these characters and the romance. I can't wait for the target audience to find this book and rave about it. *Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Berkley, for the early copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I really wished that I had enjoyed this more than I did. Best Men is a cute rom com that I just wished had more build up for the couple. There was very little time spent with Max and Chasten that it was hard for me to connect with their relationship. I really didn't see why they liked each other as most of the book was taken up by the wedding planning and Max struggling with his job. I think it would have been beneficial to have Chasten's pov as well.

Paige also really annoyed me with the way she treated Max. I didn't love the way they interacted and there was no real arc for her I felt.

Overall, this was a cute and quick time. Excited to see where this author goes in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

My sense of humor is quite limited (repressed?) so discovering a wonderful book that makes me laugh out loud on nearly every page, weep internally when the characters suffer, beam and swoon when their lives go right: it's rare. I hardly ever read comic novels, and Romantic Comedy? But in a month I've read two I adored.

Sidney Karger is a magnificently adorable author [can't wait for his next novel!] who made my heart beat in tune with his characters, especially Feckless Hero Max Moody, a Gay mid-thirties man whose heart is in the right place; his life just doesn't reflect it. I laughed, cried, yearned, hurt, raged, apologized, in tune with Max, who really is a special and adorable character. In fact, amazingly, only one or two Characters here are jerks; that's a really pleasant change up!

I adored BEST MEN--such a special, heartfelt, novel! I hope its audience is widespread and all its readers enjoy it as much as I did.

“Best Men” was an enjoyable read, but the tone wasn’t my favourite. Max had a fairly negative attitude/outlook and I found myself getting annoyed with him at times instead of sympathizing with his situation. He reminded me a bit of Luc from “Boyfriend Material”, who I somewhat disliked for similar reasons.

I liked Chasten and the slow burn rivals-to-friends-to-lovers was a fun arc, but there wasn’t as much of a romance plot as I expected. There was a lot more focus on just Max’s personal and professional life, especially his friendship with Paige. Considering this, I was a little disappointed that by the end of the book there wasn’t a little bit more development for Max. A door was left open, but I would’ve liked to see him walk through it.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Max Moody is missing a gay gene or two. He’s not interested in fashion; he doesn’t know where the nearest “drag karaoke bingo barbecue” is being held in NYC; and he is hopeless at wedding planning. But his best friend, Paige, has asked him to be her Best Man, and Chasten, her future brother-in-law and the other Best Man is helping plan the wedding. Only guess what? They’ve met before – and had the most embarrassing and underwhelming hook-up I’ve ever read. I love it when romance novels keep things real. Chasten has perfect hair, perfect clothes, and a very successful new chocolaterie. He has a rapport with Paige that rivals Max’s own. Oh, and by the way – he can plan weddings, bridal showers, you name it.

Part of Best Men is about his friendship with Paige and his fear of losing that, but also some of his resentment at being the “gay best friend”. Part of it is about his former boyfriend and their cringey ex-with benefits arrangement that he is having trouble letting go of. He’s also got an awful job, boss, and the path to a promotion that he doesn’t want. The professional success that both Paige and Chasteen are experiencing just reminds him that he is being ground down by his dehumanizing HR work.

I liked Max. He isn’t all sunshine and roses. He makes bad decisions. He gets all sulky. But he dusts himself off and tries again. Ultimately this book seemed as much about his personal transformation as it is about the heartwarming connection that he and Chasten develop in spite their inherent competitiveness. Despite the hook-up that started it all, their romance is not insta-love or animal heat, but a different kind of intimacy that comes from talking and sharing.

Thank you, Sidney Karger, for skipping the ever-disappointing epilogue! Thank you for not fast-forwarding to the Best Men’s marriage, Max’s phenomenal professional success, their 2 children, and a vacation share on Fire Island.

There is one criticism I have of this book. Max’s passion is plants, and he knows that plants need pruning. And so did this book. Karger has great descriptions, fully drawn-out settings, good dialogue. Anecdote after anecdote after story after flashback. Never mind the multi-modal interstitial matter between chapters that every romance novel seems to have now. There is just too much! When the whole book is in the same detail-laden register, it’s hard to know what to latch on too. It’s like canoeing through lily-pads.

Grade: B+

An intriguing first novel by Sidney Karger, "Best Men" takes on the romantic comedy, with a fair amount of success.

I felt the story was a little slow getting started, with the character of Max Moody being a little bit, well "moody". He's not happy with his job and how his life's going, particularly his "relationship" with Greg, his ex and now friend with benefits. His best friend, Paige, announces that she's getting married, and wants Max to be her man of honor, an event that serves to start the story rolling in earnest as Max examines his life - particularly after he meets Chasten, the brother of the man that Paige is marrying, and starts a friendship with him that leads to some potential, perhaps?

I felt that once Max and Chasten moved past their differences the story took off fairly well. Their dance around what could become a relationship felt real and well thought out. The characters learning to lean on one another and feel vulnerable was charming and moving, even if at points I was frustrated by Max's tendency to compartmentalize aspects of his life, particularly his work life versus his personal one.

The humor of the story worked pretty well, overall, with some incisive and gentle ribbing of gay culture, such as the fact that Max isn't a "typical" gay man compared to Chasten. And the peeks at gay culture vacation spots were entertaining, also, particularly the comparison between Fire Island and Provincetown. Think of a kinder, gentler version of "Sex and the City" and you get the idea.

Overall, I'd probably rate the book as a 3.5, rounded up to a 4. While the book was a bit of a slow go in the beginning, the humor of the book and a fun ending helped me enjoy the novel more. I'll be interested in seeing where this author goes next.

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Best Men by Sidney Karger is a new stand alone romantic comedy. Max Moody’s life in NYC isn’t exactly what he expected it to be. He’s in a friend with benefits relationship with his ex, his job is firing people and his best friend just got engaged. Paige wants him to be her best man and that entails all the chaos that is wedding planning. He wants to be excited about all the events and wedding magic but instead he is distracted by Chasten, Paige’s fiance’s brother and a disastrous hook-up from the past. Max will need to decide how to turn his life around and if maybe Paige’s wedding can be the catalyst.

I was excited to read this story and found myself struggling to engage with Max from the get-go. He was in his head so much contemplating and imagining things that weren’t happening that the story just didn’t flow for me. As a reader I tend to struggle with single POV and not connecting with Max made him as the narrator difficult. I like Chasten more but because I didn’t get his perspective I still feel like I didn’t fully know him. Paige was frustrating and although she was supposed to be that way, I found myself annoyed with her more often than not.

2.5 stars

This was quirky, fun, and honestly just such an amazing debut. I loved every second of it and 5 stars for a Rascal Flatts reference in the first 10 pages. It was wholesome and the MC was so relatable. I loved his character development and his dedication to his friends. Such a good one!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Berkley for the gifted e-book ❤️

Read if you like: LGBTQ romance, opposites attract, NYC setting, slow burn, competition

I liked some parts. The writing is funny. I cracked up laughing so many times. The humor is the best part. The characters are well developed and realistic, for the most part. They just weren't dynamic enough. I really struggled with Max's complete obsession with his best friend. It was too much. He was way too competitive about her attention. He was very negative. This read like a constant stream of Max's thoughts. The romance took a back seat to Max's friendship. I prefer the romance to be earlier in the book and more forward. I'm not a slow burn lover. The romance was just not believable. This just wasn't it for me, but it may be for you.

I DNF’d this book. I wasn’t enjoying myself and just wanted it to be over. It wasn’t funny. The romance was boring. There are dated comments and references. There’s a ton of unnecessary stuff in the book, this could have been a 100 page novella easy.

Marking 3 stars but truly no rating because I didn’t finish the book!

Max Moody's best friend Paige is getting married. They've been best friends since they were five: moving from Chicago to New York City together and obviously Paige's gay best friend is going to be her man of honor. Max is a bit peeved as he is the romantic one and always assumed he would be settling down first. But now his years-long relationship with Greg is winding down: a year ago they broke up when Greg wanted to experience more of what being gay has to offer (aka having copious amounts of random sex) and they pair just meet up for casual sex from time-to-time. Max is stuck and keeps hoping that Greg will pull it together and be the man he wishes he could be.

When Mx meets Paige's fiancé Austin's younger brother Chasten, who is Austin's best man, Max realizes he's going to have to figure out how to coexist as a second gay in Paige's life. Chasten is charming and outgoing and handsome and social. Max is a bit of a sarcastic grump who likes The Smiths and not talking to people. As the two get to know each other while helping to plan Paige's milestone events leading up to her wedding, they keep finding themselves drawn closer and closer. They learn they have a lot more in common than they originally thought. Can the pair figure their stuff out and maybe have a happily ever after too?

Honestly I wasn't super sure about this when I started. It felt very unfiltered and a bit clunky. Sometimes there was way too much unnecessary information. Did I need to know four facts about every person that Max had to fire at his job in HR that day? No, I did not. But as I made my way through the book that stopped bothering me. Max is a character I very much identified with. From his sarcastic remarks to his disinterest in the stereotypically "gay" things (RuPaul's Drag Race, pop music, etc.) and his hopeless, yet jaded, romanticism, I really rooted for him to grow and figure it out. As a single aging millennial myself, its also awesome to see someone who isn't like twenty-two find his happily ever after. Romance books often make it seem like you're doomed after thirty so its refreshing to have a cast of characters in their thirties still figuring it all out. Chasten's name is the stupidest name I've seen in a really long time (sorry, literally not sorry) but he's is a charming character and was a really good counterpoint to Max. I really enjoyed Paige's chaos energy; she's absolutely someone I would want to be best friends with.

All-in-all, while I was super iffy the first maybe 10% of the book, I quickly got sucked in and really enjoyed the rest. The wall-of-text style paragraphs that seem dauntingly filled with completely unnecessary information just feel truly like Max's inner monologue and are easy to get used to if you try. It really makes Max's world feel lived in and real for the character and helps you really nail down who Max is. I really had a good time with this one and definitely recommend it for fans of adorable gay rom-coms.

Best Men is a charming, witty, fast-paced romance that’s funny and warm, but has some grating flaws that keep it from scoring a higher grade. Otherwise, it’s a perfect spring romance with a lot of rollicking ease to it.

Max Moody and Chasten Benchley are coming at an important wedding from two different sides of the aisle. Max’s best friend, Paige, has been a close bud of his ever since they were next door neighbors as kids; no way was he not going to show up to be the best man at her ceremony. Max is trying to get over a hookup situation with his ex going sour because said ex now has the hots for someone else.Chasten is the brother of Paige’s intended, Austin, and the second Max hears his name his snark meter goes up. “Chasten Benchley,” he says, “Sounds like a Dean at Harvard.” Max soon figures out that Chasen is the guy with whom he had a disastrous one-night stand.

Unfortunately, Max and Chasten do not get along, which means their non-stop competition to give Paige and Austin the best wedding possible quickly turns into a mess. But hate soon turns to love, and they’re left to wonder if true love can rise from messy beginnings.

Well, of course it can, even if the characters at the center of the comedy feel a little shrill. Best Men is funny, but man, sometimes the whine will get to you.

Max is the whiniest of the bunch, forever searching for and lusting after a happy ending he feels is out of his grip, but he’s witty and that evens out his soggier side. Chasten is sunnier and happier. Paige has her cringy moments (please, stop calling him your “gay bestie” - we left that shit in the ‘00s with Will and Grace) but is a goodhearted person. The comedy is light, and the romance sweet. It’s relatable, funny, and easy to dig into.

The narrative voice is terrifically modern, punchy and enjoyable. It’s very chatty, like spending a little slice of time with your own best friend. Best Men isn’t perfect, but it’s a great way to spend a summer afternoon.

Best Men by Sidney Karger is currently scheduled for release on May 2 2023. Max Moody thought he had everything figured out. He’s trying to live his best life in New York City and has the best friend a gay guy could ask for: Paige. She and Max grew up next door to each other in the suburbs of Chicago. She can light up any party. She finishes his sentences. She’s always a reliable splunch (they don’t like to use the word brunch) partner. But then Max’s whole world is turned upside down when Paige suddenly announces some huge news: she’s engaged and wants Max to be her man of honor. Max was always the romantic one who imagined he would get married before the unpredictable Paige and is shocked to hear she’s ready to settle down. But it turns out there’s not just one new man in Paige’s life—there are two. There's the groom, Austin, who’s a perfectly nice guy. Then there's his charming, fun and ridiculously handsome gay younger brother, Chasten, who is Austin's best man. As Paige’s wedding draws closer, Max, the introverted Midwesterner, and Chasten, the social butterfly East Coaster, realize they’re like oil and water. Yet they still have to figure out how to coexist in Paige’s life while not making her wedding festivities all about them. But can the tiny romantic spark between these two very different guys transform their best man supporting roles into the leading best men in each other’s lives?

Best Men was a surprisingly emotional read for me, mostly because of how I connected with Max. I have often felt like he seemed too- like an outsider or someone that do not matter as much to those around them as they matter to him. His feelings about being left out, replaced, He was going through a lot- and since there was so much happening all at once there was really no one for him to talk to to about it- and I feel like so many of us have had that moment where it feels like the world is collapsing around us and no one notices. Or is that just me? On a lighter note, I thought the characters and relationships were generally well developed and I really enjoyed some of the exchanges Max has with Paige, coworkers, and Chasten. I will say that I felt like a couple things that I wanted closure on and did not get. I want more on how some of Max's coworkers fare, and something big for Max at work as well. There are hints and bits, but I really felt like there could have been one or two more moments on the subject to better resolve a couple things for me. I also would have loved to have had any of this book from Chasten or Paige's point of view. I think it would have just rounded the anxiety and heaviness that I got from Max through so much of this book.

Best Men was a well written and engaging read.

Funny, entertaining, poignantly accurate best friend story you can’t stop reading.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I actually had a lot of feelings about this book. It’s written in a humorous manner but in actuality, the author hits so many feelings inside of me.

He’s talking a lot about that deep best-friend connection that you get when you’ve known someone your whole life.

The story is written in the first person which I really enjoy. We get up close and personal with Max and his best friend, Paige. We feel all of the emotions he’s feeling as other people start coming into the scene, especially the other best man.

The author develops Max with a very dry wit and the sarcasm is spot on. This is a funny and realistic story of the tough triangle friendship experience.

In many ways, this book could have another layer of spark. Our main character is very underwhelmed by his job. He is shocked and very sad to think about losing his best friend. He is definitely very jealous of the new connection between his BFF and the other best man, Chasten.

But then the guys slowly start to get to know each other, and the story takes a new turn. I felt there would be a wonderful opportunity to expand the story by adding a second point of view with the other best man.

We don’t get to hear his side of the story ever. We’re not sure if he really likes him or has feelings for him. If that has been added, this book would have definitely leveled up from a four to a five star for me.

I love the fact this is written by a man so that we can get different interests and outcomes. This is a clean romance in that it is a closed-door book, although there are some heated and steamy scenes that you can use your imagination with and several memorable and hilarious scenes

Overall Best Men is a fabulous experience with some heavy feelings. A funny, entertaining, poignantly accurate best friend story you can’t stop reading. Love the Sarcasm and humor!

I freaking loved this one SO much, it had me charmed right from the start and my giddy excitement never stopped. The thing that made it such a standout for me was the incredible wit and humor, I just really enjoyed the authors style and I seriously laughed so much. The romance was sort of a side plot here but it doesn’t matter because where this one shines is through Max and his personal journey with his career, friendships and yes his love life but it’s not entirely the focus. It’s also a super slow burn but it was truly worth the wait for me because Max and Chasten were so cute and I just loved them together. It’s mostly set in NYC and the author also really brought things to life for me, there is a small section set in Fire Island and again, he definitely did a great job with that setting too. This was a total delight and impressed me as a debut, I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.

Best Men by Sidney Karger is a sweet, gay romance with a snarky and funny protagonist. We meet Max Moody, best friend and best man to his friend of a lifetime, Paige. They grew up together and will always be there for each other even though Max expected to be the one to get married first. As the wedding planning begins we meet Chasten, brother of the groom, also a gay man. I'm sure you are starting to put it together! We get to follow along on the wedding planning journey and all of the events that happen in the lead up to the big day.

What stands out about this rom-com is the exploration of relationships outside of the romance alongside the romance. I loved the unique and realistic tone of the book - it felt like talking to my friends. I wish Paige was a more well rounded character, I had trouble rooting for her and found the scenes about her to be a bit of a drag. But overall, I love a gay rom-com and this one is special! I will definitely seek out future books from Karger.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for the ARC - Best Men is out on 5/2/23!

Aw, this was super cute! It's a sort of enemies-to-lovers turned sideways queer romance, where two best men who have a disastrous hookup in their past unite to help facilitate a wedding. I wished there had been deeper character development, but this was truly a laugh out loud romcom at many points. The romance was lovely, and the banter was great, which are my two most important criteria for an enjoyable romantic comedy.

This new debut novel by SNL screenwriters Sidney Karger is an enjoyable rom-com about the bride’s Gay Best Friend, Max, and the groom’s brother, Chasten. These two gay opposites, get roped into helping with wedding planning and perhaps they have more in common than it initially seems.
𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙈𝙚𝙣 by Sidney Karger (2023) ★★★★ OUT MAY 2ND

Max is 34, working an uninspiring job in HR firing people, and stuck in a NSA situation with his ex. So everything’s just going great… add on top, his best friend Paige is getting married before him and just asked him to be her Man-of-Honor (with all the responsibilities that go with that). Problem, he’s not your average gay - doesn’t like fashion, parties, or well - anything about wedding planning.

Enter Chasten, 31, the grooms younger brothers who’s charming, funny and handsome (A-List Gay).
Is Max being replaced by this new gay in Paige’s life?

“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘺𝘮 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮.”

Verdict? I really liked it! Funny, witty, easy to read… I actually read it in one sitting! I enjoyed the character development. You form an initial impression of Max or Chasten - but find they are deeper as the story progressed. Although I didn’t like Paige, personally.

Solid 4 star for me. In addition to the Rom-com, this is also about Max figuring out his life, following your passion. Props for addressing the cringe “Gay Best Friend” title - seriously straight women - stop calling us GBFs!

@sidkny did a great job showing us around New York City and Fire Island - the different boroughs, locations, and pro-cons of both.

Thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for a chance to early review this story in exchange for an honest review.