bee_thebibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
Making Waves is the 7th book in the Franklin University series and is full of tropes I love - brother’s best friend, sports, secret relationship, opposites attract - but I was missing a connection with Remy and Alex.
Alex Larsen is a college freshman at FU who is working hard to balance the demands of being on the swim team with his classwork and social life. Now that he’s away at school and away from his family, he feels like he finally has the chance to figure out who he is when he’s not trying to be the perfect son. His best friend Bailey is his roommate and on the swim team with him but the two are finding that they have some differing opinions now that they’re together so often, mostly about Bailey’s brother Remy. Alex is still young and figuring himself out but feels a pull toward Remy even though it could ruin his relationship with Bailey.
Remy Duval is an artist at heart and spends a lot of his time in the FU art studio working on his pieces for the school exhibition. Outside of school he works at a local tattoo shop and has a lot of ink of his own. His family fell apart because of his revelations before he left for college and ruined his relationship with his younger brother Bailey and his dad but made his connection to his mom even stronger. Now that Bailey and his friend Alex are on campus with him, he’s trying to figure out his new normal since his brother doesn’t want to talk to him and he can’t keep his eyes off of Alex.
Remy and Alex had one encounter before Remy left for FU a few years ago and that flame didn’t go anywhere in the years they lived apart. They pick up where they left off but also get to know each other for who they are now, not the young boys they were growing up. Because of Bailey, they kept things quiet until everything hit the fan and forced some awkward conversations and revelations from everyone. I think these two were good together but I just didn’t feel a connection to them and their relationship didn’t pull me in. Things worked out well for them but it felt a little too predictable to me.
I can’t believe the FU series is almost over! Just one more story left until we have to say goodbye to this funny and sweet cast of characters.
Making Waves is the 7th book in the Franklin University series and is full of tropes I love - brother’s best friend, sports, secret relationship, opposites attract - but I was missing a connection with Remy and Alex.
Alex Larsen is a college freshman at FU who is working hard to balance the demands of being on the swim team with his classwork and social life. Now that he’s away at school and away from his family, he feels like he finally has the chance to figure out who he is when he’s not trying to be the perfect son. His best friend Bailey is his roommate and on the swim team with him but the two are finding that they have some differing opinions now that they’re together so often, mostly about Bailey’s brother Remy. Alex is still young and figuring himself out but feels a pull toward Remy even though it could ruin his relationship with Bailey.
Remy Duval is an artist at heart and spends a lot of his time in the FU art studio working on his pieces for the school exhibition. Outside of school he works at a local tattoo shop and has a lot of ink of his own. His family fell apart because of his revelations before he left for college and ruined his relationship with his younger brother Bailey and his dad but made his connection to his mom even stronger. Now that Bailey and his friend Alex are on campus with him, he’s trying to figure out his new normal since his brother doesn’t want to talk to him and he can’t keep his eyes off of Alex.
Remy and Alex had one encounter before Remy left for FU a few years ago and that flame didn’t go anywhere in the years they lived apart. They pick up where they left off but also get to know each other for who they are now, not the young boys they were growing up. Because of Bailey, they kept things quiet until everything hit the fan and forced some awkward conversations and revelations from everyone. I think these two were good together but I just didn’t feel a connection to them and their relationship didn’t pull me in. Things worked out well for them but it felt a little too predictable to me.
I can’t believe the FU series is almost over! Just one more story left until we have to say goodbye to this funny and sweet cast of characters.
janetted's review against another edition
4.0
A sweet, swoony brother’s best friend trope featuring one broody artist and one loyal, devoted swimmer. Loved watching these guys lean on each other as they worked through their personal struggles to eventually find their HEA.
aokayinspace's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nephilimitless's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75
The second book in this series that had a great storyline and the potential for some wonderful characters/character development, but lackluster (rushed?) writing. I like the brother’s best friend/best friend’s brother trope a LOT, but some of the family dynamics were unrealistic and fell flat. Dialogue had a few stellar moments but for the most part there was a lot of awkward wording and phraseology in the chapters (a 19-year-old referring to younger teenagers as “teens”, “it felt like old times, yet not”).
netslummer's review against another edition
3.0
Alex Larsen has always had a big crush on his best friend Bailey's older brother. Remy is a broody artist who realizes he's bi and kinda has a crush on Alex too. The morning before Remy destroys his family, in Bailey's eyes, he and Alex share a rushed hook up together.
Two years later Alex is at Franklin U as a freshman with Bailey on the swim team and Remy is a junior and working at Indelible Ink, a tattoo parlor near by.
Y'all. This book. Bailey fucking sucks. Lets get this clear. He blames Remy for destroying their family by letting their mother know that their dad is cheating on her. Bailey can't get his head out of his ass and treats Remy like garbage for 90% of the book and treats Alex like crap when he finds out that they're low key hooking up.
I can forgive the fact that Bailey is a spoiled little brat but can't get past how obviously the author has done very little research about working at a tattoo parlor. The way Remy just flippantly works there? Like its not a career? From what is written he just applied for a job and got it? Didn't have to do an apprenticeship? Just started straight up on people's skin. Bonkers.
I didn't like this book a lot. Bailey ruined it for me. Remy and Alex aren't really swoony but they're cute.
Two years later Alex is at Franklin U as a freshman with Bailey on the swim team and Remy is a junior and working at Indelible Ink, a tattoo parlor near by.
Y'all. This book. Bailey fucking sucks. Lets get this clear. He blames Remy for destroying their family by letting their mother know that their dad is cheating on her. Bailey can't get his head out of his ass and treats Remy like garbage for 90% of the book and treats Alex like crap when he finds out that they're low key hooking up.
I can forgive the fact that Bailey is a spoiled little brat but can't get past how obviously the author has done very little research about working at a tattoo parlor. The way Remy just flippantly works there? Like its not a career? From what is written he just applied for a job and got it? Didn't have to do an apprenticeship? Just started straight up on people's skin. Bonkers.
I didn't like this book a lot. Bailey ruined it for me. Remy and Alex aren't really swoony but they're cute.
tatynaf's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
lindsay12's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jasminenoack's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
zbcook's review against another edition
5.0
Great book!
I love a best friends brother romance novel and when I saw that there was one in the FU series I was so excited and counted down the days to it. It was absolutely worth the wait. It exceeded my expectations and was wonderfully written.
I love a best friends brother romance novel and when I saw that there was one in the FU series I was so excited and counted down the days to it. It was absolutely worth the wait. It exceeded my expectations and was wonderfully written.