xanthe87's review against another edition
4.0
A heartwarming but occasionally heartbreaking story that brings two lonely men together who live life very differently. Simon's struggles with anxiety and being able to talk to people is written very well, showing how it affects all parts of his life as well as him physically and mentally. Jack had his trust broken by his best friend and business partner and so now is jaded against relationships as well as losing his passion for his art.
Together, they lift and cajole each other into a better place, helping to put one foot in front of the other and filling a role for each other that they weren't expecting. The friendship moves to more when both become strong enough within themselves, but especially Simon as everything they share is a first for him which makes it more magical.
The pack, Jack's furry family, are fabulous often acting human and showing themselves as individual with their own personalities. They give affection, protection and worry for each other and the humans in their lives. Jack's brother and Simon's grandmother are wonderful people. You can tell how much they care for their important family members though it is shown in different ways what with their different histories.
This was a wonderful relationship to read and I'm happy with how everything played out. There was a lot of learning and developing that both men had to do to get their HEA but it is definitely worth it.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and am happily giving a review.
Together, they lift and cajole each other into a better place, helping to put one foot in front of the other and filling a role for each other that they weren't expecting. The friendship moves to more when both become strong enough within themselves, but especially Simon as everything they share is a first for him which makes it more magical.
The pack, Jack's furry family, are fabulous often acting human and showing themselves as individual with their own personalities. They give affection, protection and worry for each other and the humans in their lives. Jack's brother and Simon's grandmother are wonderful people. You can tell how much they care for their important family members though it is shown in different ways what with their different histories.
This was a wonderful relationship to read and I'm happy with how everything played out. There was a lot of learning and developing that both men had to do to get their HEA but it is definitely worth it.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and am happily giving a review.
nomomstayandread's review against another edition
4.0
I’m always so pleasantly surprised when main characters have serious mental health issues that are not miraculously healed by the power of the other love interest, if that makes sense.
Simon has debilitating anxiety and cannot people. After a few false starts, he’s able to build a friendship and more with Jack who is laid up with a broken leg and like 15 animals he needs help caring for.
I was really happy that Simon was still the same person at the beginning and end but just settled with his people he loves and his menagerie of pets.
BUT. Why did Jack treat Charlie like that through the whole book? Charlie is a cinnamon roll of the first order.
Simon has debilitating anxiety and cannot people. After a few false starts, he’s able to build a friendship and more with Jack who is laid up with a broken leg and like 15 animals he needs help caring for.
I was really happy that Simon was still the same person at the beginning and end but just settled with his people he loves and his menagerie of pets.
BUT. Why did Jack treat Charlie like that through the whole book? Charlie is a cinnamon roll of the first order.
gwensreading's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC from Netgalley and I am happy to give my honest review.
Roan Parrish is such a comfort read and this book was no different. It was fluffy comfort in a sweet package and I loved pretty much every minute of it.
Jack is an illustrator who was betrayed by his friend and business partner 8 months ago. He's been in a funk since and barely living his life except for caring for his pack of animals. He has 3 dogs and 3 cats (if I counted right) and walks the dogs and one cat twice a day. On one of the walks, he falls down a ditch and breaks his leg.
Simon has extreme social anxiety and recently moved in with his grandma after his grandpa passed away. He loves animals and finds they ease his anxiety. His grandma can't have pets so he signs up for an app to help care for other people's pets and meets Jack.
They start a tenuous friendship which turns into more. Jack likes Simon exactly for who he is, anxiety and fear, and all. Simon needs a lot of reassurance that he isn't messing up and that he has value. The scene with him having dinner with Jack and his brother broke my heart.
They slowly fall into love and it's beautiful to watch. The pets added a lot of fun to the book, especially the names that Jack chose to give them (a cat named Mayonnaise). There were a few very steamy scenes that surprised me since the rest of the book is pretty innocent.
I really did enjoy this book and read it in one day. I can't wait until the next book in the series and I hope to learn more about Charlie. He seemed like such a sweetheart compared to Jack's grumpiness.
Roan Parrish is such a comfort read and this book was no different. It was fluffy comfort in a sweet package and I loved pretty much every minute of it.
Jack is an illustrator who was betrayed by his friend and business partner 8 months ago. He's been in a funk since and barely living his life except for caring for his pack of animals. He has 3 dogs and 3 cats (if I counted right) and walks the dogs and one cat twice a day. On one of the walks, he falls down a ditch and breaks his leg.
Simon has extreme social anxiety and recently moved in with his grandma after his grandpa passed away. He loves animals and finds they ease his anxiety. His grandma can't have pets so he signs up for an app to help care for other people's pets and meets Jack.
They start a tenuous friendship which turns into more. Jack likes Simon exactly for who he is, anxiety and fear, and all. Simon needs a lot of reassurance that he isn't messing up and that he has value. The scene with him having dinner with Jack and his brother broke my heart.
They slowly fall into love and it's beautiful to watch. The pets added a lot of fun to the book, especially the names that Jack chose to give them (a cat named Mayonnaise). There were a few very steamy scenes that surprised me since the rest of the book is pretty innocent.
I really did enjoy this book and read it in one day. I can't wait until the next book in the series and I hope to learn more about Charlie. He seemed like such a sweetheart compared to Jack's grumpiness.
jennp28's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The title is right - dogs *are* better than people. This is a sweet, very steamy romance that also portrays crippling anxiety.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
emilyrpf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kiki124's review against another edition
4.0
If I rounded up, this would be a 5-star read. Jack and Simon are both struggling--Jack because he broke his leg and Simon because he suffers from major anxiety. Of course, Jack's problems can be easily solved, and he wants to fix Simon. And though their love, super hot sex, and Jack's "pack" of 4 dogs and 3 cats go a long way to helping Simon feel more comfortable in the world, both have to compromise with what they expect from a relationship. Both men are terrified that the other will leave them, and their mutual vulnerability is a real pleasure, as is their obvious affection for each other, their family (I loved Grandma Jean and hope that Charlie gets a spin-off), and their commitment to their careers.
cadiva's review against another edition
5.0
That was soooooo good! I'm not sure I can quite articulate why I loved this book so much but I did.
Maybe it's because I love seeing happy endings for characters that don't fit into the 'square jawed alpha' stereotype.
Maybe it's because it's a book chock full of different types of love, love that persists against the odds and love that provides a bedrock of support for the people it encompasses.
Roan has such a talent at writing outside the norm.
Her characters have an otherworldly way to them at times, here it's not as obvious but both Jack and Simon follow non-traditional character tropes even while they skirt the edges of convention.
Jack is an artist, but he's not a tortured one, he's struggling with the very real anger that comes with a betrayal of trust.
Simon's anxieties aren't irrational or treated as a joke, he's managed to make a path through life for himself to the best of his ability and with the help of his awesome grandma Jean.
I also loved Jack's brother Charlie, I felt so much love for how much he'd sacrificed. I'd love to read his story and have him find a happy ending too please Roan!
That the majority of the narrative concerns just a cast of two, and a multitude of wonderful animals, but never feels claustrophobic, is testament to the author.
I also very much appreciated, in a book where one of the character's anxieties paralyse him on occasion, that miscommunication was not a major plot point.
I also appreciated the cameo appearance in reference only of Corbin Wale
Maybe it's because I love seeing happy endings for characters that don't fit into the 'square jawed alpha' stereotype.
Maybe it's because it's a book chock full of different types of love, love that persists against the odds and love that provides a bedrock of support for the people it encompasses.
Roan has such a talent at writing outside the norm.
Her characters have an otherworldly way to them at times, here it's not as obvious but both Jack and Simon follow non-traditional character tropes even while they skirt the edges of convention.
Jack is an artist, but he's not a tortured one, he's struggling with the very real anger that comes with a betrayal of trust.
Simon's anxieties aren't irrational or treated as a joke, he's managed to make a path through life for himself to the best of his ability and with the help of his awesome grandma Jean.
I also loved Jack's brother Charlie, I felt so much love for how much he'd sacrificed. I'd love to read his story and have him find a happy ending too please Roan!
That the majority of the narrative concerns just a cast of two, and a multitude of wonderful animals, but never feels claustrophobic, is testament to the author.
I also very much appreciated, in a book where one of the character's anxieties paralyse him on occasion, that miscommunication was not a major plot point.
I also appreciated the cameo appearance in reference only of Corbin Wale