Reviews with content warning for Religious bigotry - On Guard

I have been asking for a Pretty Woman type MM book and found it!! Although a little bit different, this satisfied my need for the story.

Isaac is gay. Struggling to find himself after his abhorrent parents disown him, he goes to college and attempts to adjust with a negative balance in his bank account and nothing more than a scholarship for fencing. He doesn't fit in with the "elite," but he's lucky his roommate is the outgoing and outspoken Colin. Colin takes Isaac under his wing and a beautiful friendship develops between them.

Enter Oliver and Owen, twins and disgustingly rich. Oliver meets Isaac in a coffee shop and is immediately enamored with him. He makes an offer to Isaac to give him 24 hours to do whatever he wants to and with Isaac, and he'll pay $3000. Isaac is inexperienced and desperate for the money. He takes the offer and the boys fall hard for one another.

Oliver is quite dominant in the relationship and although Isaac is more needy and insecure, he and Oliver figure out a dynamic that works way too well for them.

They quickly become obsessed with one another but Isaac cannot shake that he doesn't really belong. Oliver is told he's promised to a marriage in another family and decides that's just not going to work.

The book is a HEA but they work at it. The side characters (friends and siblings) are a really fun addition.

Story: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 4.5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Characters: 5/5 🫂🫂 🫂🫂🫂
Tropes: 5/5 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

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graceheartsbooks's review

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4.5

I came for the fencing romance and stayed for the discussions on religious tramua (that’s a compliment by the way😅).

No joke though, Issac was very relatable to me as an asexual ex-Catholic. It’s so hard to figure out what you believed versus what you’ve been taught—especially not knowing whether or not you want to even be practicing or believe in any possible higher power.

Mostly I was shocked by how I got lost in this world (ironic for a book set in modern day but you get what I was mean). I meant to read the first chapter quickly before bed and then wound up finishing six chapters. Also Colin and Owen were fun side characters—neither of them were tolerating Oliver’s bs (and frankly neither was I lol)

(Although, I will say, once Oliver settled into a relationship w/ Issac he became very sweet and I appreciated that. Not that he necessarily changed as a person but that he allowed himself to vulnerable around somebody. And he’s clearly a good brother to his siblings🥰)

Oh, and there was some fencing involved. I didn’t even know fencing romances were a thing but I’m glad I found them (no offense to hockey romances but it’s not a sport I’m that familiar with and they seem to be everywhere lol). Now all I need is to find a volleyball romance and my life will be complete.

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geooo's review

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

Oliver is the biggest bitch to ever exist. All he does is take advantage of Isaac by offering him three thousand dollars in exchange for his virginity knowing that he doesn't have any orher options and that if he doesn't get money fast he wouldn't have anything to eat. After this he treats him like trash, tells him that he means nothing and that they should pretend like they don't know each other. After he says all that he gets jealous of Isaac and forbids anyone to talk to him. And what does Isaac do? Accepts it. He pretends to be a little upset, but after a few words gets on his knees. There is no love between the characters, only lust. No chemistry. The plot is idiotic. The characters were just plain ridiculous and the character development laughable. This could have been a good story about religious trauma, sexuality, freedom and about accepting who you are, but no. The author romanticizes this relationship in which Isaac gets taken advantage of and is emotionally abused and presents it like it's love. Disgusting.

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thelibraryofjordan's review

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emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

5.0

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fiamac's review

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funny 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 flow of storytelling isn’t always smooth, and there are some gaps in the character development and world building. But the dynamic between brothers Oliver and Owen is pure gold. These two characters are a delight.

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crystalmackey's review

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emotional 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

5.0

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emilia777's review

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dnf for now, i just didn’t like or connect with any of the characters. i’ve been in a reading slump for a while and this just couldn’t pull me out of it

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wildatheart1339's review

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3.5

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