kfriend's review against another edition
5.0
Yet again Sam Mariano blows me away with another addictive, psychologically intriguing, and unexpected genre twister. She takes the MFM romance genre and brings fresh and new eyes to it.
I LOVED this story- and I was really worried I wouldn’t despite being a hardcore Sam fan. I’m all about all sort of romantic arrangements, but the aspect about this that made me nervous was that we had an already long established couple deciding to enter into a relationship with their best friend. WOW- that dynamic is interesting, but so hard to nail- both because there are so many emotions and complications with that in general but also it is hard, then, for everyone to feel on equal footing in the relationship- would one always feel like the “side piece” or the “extra” - how do you transition a pair to a triple.
Well, Sam explores that- and the answer is that you both have to honor and build on and maintain the person-to-person relationships that exist while also completely redefining the “couple”- building a relationship from scratch when there is no “blank slate.”
And, per usual, Sam explores unique and interesting inner workings of her characters. Sebastian is the more traditional Sam lead- cunning, alpha, controlling, the mastermind. He loves few, and those that he does he will move around on his chess board because he DOES love them, and that means getting them what they need. Griff is different- the more “traditional” hero to Seb’s antihero. He’s respectful, kind, generous, patient, even though he’s trapped in a life he hates and has been lusting after his best friend’s wife. Moira almost is somehow less memorable because these men are so dynamic and delicious- but like all Sam heroines, she’s gentle, softer, more submissive, and co-dependent- her own dysfunction needs Sebastian’s, and we come to see there are aspects of her that need Griff, too. Seb needs his bestie Griff and wants to protect his relationship with Moira, Griff needs Moira’s love, and Moira needs to make Sebastian happy.
I love how openly they talk about and try to figure this out- and how it’s not clean and easy- in fact, even at the end, I wouldn’t say anyone is on “equal” footing- and that makes sense because a) Sebastian is in charge here, clearly and b) this is a new and changing dynamic. And, like all Sam books, it is HOT AF and has surprising twists and shocks. But, at the core, we have the complex emotional and psychological character development that just makes me ravenous for Sam Mariano books- I wish we had a whole other book!
Merged review:
Yet again Sam Mariano blows me away with another addictive, psychologically intriguing, and unexpected genre twister. She takes the MFM romance genre and brings fresh and new eyes to it.
I LOVED this story- and I was really worried I wouldn’t despite being a hardcore same fan. I’m all about all sort of romantic arrangements, but the aspects about this that made me nervous was that we had an already long established couple deciding to enter into a relationship with their best friend. WOW- that dynamic is interesting, but so hard to nail- both because there are so many emotions and complications with that in general but also it is hard, then, for everyone to feel on equal footing in the relationship- would one always feel like the “side piece” or the “extra” - how do you transition a pair to a triple.
Well, Sam explores that- and the answer is that you both have to honor and build on and maintain the person-to-person relationships while also completely redefining the “couple”- building a relationship from scratch when there is no “blank slate.”
And, per usual, Sam explores unique and interesting inner workings of her characters. Sebastian is the more traditional Sam lead- cunning, alpha, controlling, the mastermind. He loves few, and those that he does he will move around on his chest board because he DOES love them, and that means getting them what they need. Griff is different- the more “traditional” hero to Seb’s antihero. He’s respectful, kind, generous, patient, even though he’s trapped in a life he hates and has been lusting after his best friend’s wife. Moira almost is somehow less memorable because these men are so dynamic and delicious- but like all Sam heroines, she’s gentled, softer, more submissive, and co-dependent- her own dysfunction needs Sebastian’s, and we come to see there are aspects of her that need Griff, oo. Seb needs his bestie Griff and wants to protect his relationship with Moira, Griff needs Moira’s love, and Moira needs to make Sebastian happy.
I love how openly they talk about and try to figure this out- and how it’s not clean and easy- in fact, even at the end, I wouldn’t say anyone is on “equal” footing- and that makes sense because a) Sebastian is in charge here, clearly and b) this is a new and changing dynamic. And, like all Sam books, it is HOT AF and has surprising twists and shocks. But, at the core, we have the complex emotional and psychological character development that just makes me ravenous for Sam Mariono books- I wish we had a whole other book!
I LOVED this story- and I was really worried I wouldn’t despite being a hardcore Sam fan. I’m all about all sort of romantic arrangements, but the aspect about this that made me nervous was that we had an already long established couple deciding to enter into a relationship with their best friend. WOW- that dynamic is interesting, but so hard to nail- both because there are so many emotions and complications with that in general but also it is hard, then, for everyone to feel on equal footing in the relationship- would one always feel like the “side piece” or the “extra” - how do you transition a pair to a triple.
Well, Sam explores that- and the answer is that you both have to honor and build on and maintain the person-to-person relationships that exist while also completely redefining the “couple”- building a relationship from scratch when there is no “blank slate.”
And, per usual, Sam explores unique and interesting inner workings of her characters. Sebastian is the more traditional Sam lead- cunning, alpha, controlling, the mastermind. He loves few, and those that he does he will move around on his chess board because he DOES love them, and that means getting them what they need. Griff is different- the more “traditional” hero to Seb’s antihero. He’s respectful, kind, generous, patient, even though he’s trapped in a life he hates and has been lusting after his best friend’s wife. Moira almost is somehow less memorable because these men are so dynamic and delicious- but like all Sam heroines, she’s gentle, softer, more submissive, and co-dependent- her own dysfunction needs Sebastian’s, and we come to see there are aspects of her that need Griff, too. Seb needs his bestie Griff and wants to protect his relationship with Moira, Griff needs Moira’s love, and Moira needs to make Sebastian happy.
I love how openly they talk about and try to figure this out- and how it’s not clean and easy- in fact, even at the end, I wouldn’t say anyone is on “equal” footing- and that makes sense because a) Sebastian is in charge here, clearly and b) this is a new and changing dynamic. And, like all Sam books, it is HOT AF and has surprising twists and shocks. But, at the core, we have the complex emotional and psychological character development that just makes me ravenous for Sam Mariano books- I wish we had a whole other book!
Merged review:
Yet again Sam Mariano blows me away with another addictive, psychologically intriguing, and unexpected genre twister. She takes the MFM romance genre and brings fresh and new eyes to it.
I LOVED this story- and I was really worried I wouldn’t despite being a hardcore same fan. I’m all about all sort of romantic arrangements, but the aspects about this that made me nervous was that we had an already long established couple deciding to enter into a relationship with their best friend. WOW- that dynamic is interesting, but so hard to nail- both because there are so many emotions and complications with that in general but also it is hard, then, for everyone to feel on equal footing in the relationship- would one always feel like the “side piece” or the “extra” - how do you transition a pair to a triple.
Well, Sam explores that- and the answer is that you both have to honor and build on and maintain the person-to-person relationships while also completely redefining the “couple”- building a relationship from scratch when there is no “blank slate.”
And, per usual, Sam explores unique and interesting inner workings of her characters. Sebastian is the more traditional Sam lead- cunning, alpha, controlling, the mastermind. He loves few, and those that he does he will move around on his chest board because he DOES love them, and that means getting them what they need. Griff is different- the more “traditional” hero to Seb’s antihero. He’s respectful, kind, generous, patient, even though he’s trapped in a life he hates and has been lusting after his best friend’s wife. Moira almost is somehow less memorable because these men are so dynamic and delicious- but like all Sam heroines, she’s gentled, softer, more submissive, and co-dependent- her own dysfunction needs Sebastian’s, and we come to see there are aspects of her that need Griff, oo. Seb needs his bestie Griff and wants to protect his relationship with Moira, Griff needs Moira’s love, and Moira needs to make Sebastian happy.
I love how openly they talk about and try to figure this out- and how it’s not clean and easy- in fact, even at the end, I wouldn’t say anyone is on “equal” footing- and that makes sense because a) Sebastian is in charge here, clearly and b) this is a new and changing dynamic. And, like all Sam books, it is HOT AF and has surprising twists and shocks. But, at the core, we have the complex emotional and psychological character development that just makes me ravenous for Sam Mariono books- I wish we had a whole other book!
jacqsimonrossini's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
hannas_heas47's review
5.0
loved it
I love ménage romance and this one was super great. Sebastian takes care of everything and I floved it. Wish this was a viable option for reality! Five huge stars!
I love ménage romance and this one was super great. Sebastian takes care of everything and I floved it. Wish this was a viable option for reality! Five huge stars!
nicmo's review against another edition
This is the worst MFM I’ve ever read. With slightly homophobic undertones, the characters are flat, the story line is boring and the smut is repetitive. What annoys me most is the dialogue or lack thereof. There is 0 communication which just doesn’t work for a thrupple. The way its set up with the husband making his wife sleep with his best friend just doesn’t sit right either.
bookfreak08's review against another edition
5.0
Stitches is the best MFM menage romance I have ever read bar none. Of course, the fact that it’s been written by none other than Sam Mariano should not surprise me. In my eyes, she can do no wrong. Untouchable has been my favorite book ever since I’ve stumbled on it. Stitches is built around two best friends, Sebastian and Griff, who’ve grown up like brothers in the foster care and happen to fall in love with the same woman, Moira but only one of them got to marry her and the other had to bury his feelings deep down and get on with his life until… Well, read it and find out but a friendly warning; read it in a secluded place and have a fan blowing you cool air at certain intervals
lj754's review against another edition
5.0
Ménage isn’t my favorite trope, but I loved this book. I love the idea of adding another to a marriage. Sebastian was my favorite man, because I love a man that would do anything for his woman.
othersian's review
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
ela_35's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I liked this book, but it could have been better.
Griff was fine, but I found him boring and annoying a lot of the time. Moira was fine, and her reaction at the end was surprising, but I definitely liked it. Sebastian felt more like a background character as the book was mostly about Griff being secure in their relationship, and Moira getting to terms with the fact that it’s not cheating on Sebastian.
There weren’t many side characters and I wanted to see more scenes where the main characters do things.
Sebastian does something which means that he owes a favour to someone, but it’s not shown. What will he have to do?
This book was fine, but there were some things that I found annoying.