Reviews

In Front of God and Everyone by Sarina Bowen, Nealy Wagner

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amberreadsromance28's review against another edition

5.0

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶🌶🌶.5

This was such a sweet and low angst MM romance and I really loved it.

Josh and Caleb have grown up in a cult where they have to work hard labor and live a restricted life. Josh has been in love with his best friend Caleb for years, but he has to hide his feeling due to the cult's views and he doesn't think Caleb would feel the same way. Josh gets exiled from the cult and Caleb escapes to go with him. They go on a journey to live with a woman who escaped the cult and is now pregnant and married.

Much to Josh's surprise, Caleb has also been pining for him. They are finally able to be together, but they need to keep it secret since they are living with their friend and Josh has some guilt about his feelings for Caleb.

This was such a beautiful friends to lovers romance. It was such a sweet, feel-good book.

_amy_leigh_'s review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

4.75

Oooof Caleb and Josh! Leaving the paradise cult together and starting a new life together. All the feels.

kaity_b's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5-4 stars

this was cute and just what i was looking for. I do wish that Teddy Hamilton narrated the whole thing but beggars can't be choosers.

i wished that it was more dark in a way, that could just me and my dark soul who wants characters to go through shit and come out on top. I mean don't get me wrong these two boys really grew up in the worst way possible, but after that everything kinda went right for them. I was hoping for some more drama at the beginning or end.. but overall that didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book.

I would recommend this, it is also on Audible Plus until December of this year so listen to the audiobook for free if you have an Audible account.

yellowswagger's review against another edition

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3.0

I have so many mixed feelings about this book. It’s not one that I would recommend, but if you’re looking for something steamy, this book has that. Those steamy moments are enjoyable at the beginning, but after awhile, they certainly fall flat. I feel like the story had such a strong premise and so much potential, but after the story moves to Fishkill, NY, I feel like the stakes are never as high. The story hits a point where it feels like it stops moving.

kelly_dmh's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sarahs_spoilers's review against another edition

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4.5

🚨 This is not a review. It’s a list of plot events to help me remember the story. Spoilers abound! 🚨

🌶️🌶️ 🌶️🌶️

Tropes:

MM
Friends to Lovers

Caleb: Protector of Josh; "Manly" in the eyes of the cult; Has license and some knowledge of the outside world; mechanic; in love with Josh and excellent at hiding it (Josh has no idea)
Josh: Gentle and brainy; on the bottom of the "manly" totem pole; called a "fag;" in love with Caleb and terrible at hiding it (Caleb knows)

Josh and Caleb have been friends since childhood when their parents joined a polygamous cult
Josh was on the verge of getting kicked out for stealing a gun (which, it turns out, Caleb took) so Caleb makes a plan to escape and meet up outside the compound
They want to leave Wyoming and go to western Massachusetts, where a former friend who has also escaped (Miriam's sister, Maggie) lives; they manage to hitchhike with a truck driver named Washington and meet up with Maggie
A pregnant Maggie and her husband, Dan, take care of. Caleb and Josh, moving them into the house, giving them clothing, etc. > they eventually turn into a sweet family unit
Caleb gets a job as a mechanic and Josh becomes Chloe's nanny so Maggie can go back to work
They are hiding their love this entire time not realizing that Dan already knows about them (Sees Caleb's search history about anal sex!)