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West, Haven
Dear Author,
We have been best friends forever. During college we grew apart; he dated women, I dated men. Now, we have both moved back to our hometown and decided to share an apartment together until our careers take off. Can he ever feel about me the way I feel about him?
Photo Description: Two dark-haired young men in jeans and t-shirts lie on a couch. One is reading while the other kisses his neck.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
Read the story here or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 10.
We have been best friends forever. During college we grew apart; he dated women, I dated men. Now, we have both moved back to our hometown and decided to share an apartment together until our careers take off. Can he ever feel about me the way I feel about him?
Photo Description: Two dark-haired young men in jeans and t-shirts lie on a couch. One is reading while the other kisses his neck.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
Read the story here or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 10.
42 pages, ebook
First published May 25, 2012
About the author
Jenna Jones
7 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
This is Jenna^^Jones, where ^=space.
Also writes as: Jenna Lynn Brown
This is Jenna^^Jones, where ^=space.
Also writes as: Jenna Lynn Brown
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 4, 2018
I love friends-to-lovers stories, but this one was a huge disappointment: confused narration, undeveloped romance, irritating characters with incoherent behavior, annoying situations, disconnected motifs, and many things unexplained.
Only one quote:
Giggling?? Do you feel the contradiction here?
Only one quote:
It was one hell of a kiss.
They were both giggling when they parted.
Giggling?? Do you feel the contradiction here?
May 27, 2012
This started out as a five star read.
Then it lost a star for the poor flash backs. I dislike flash backs in general but this one had a lot of them, especially for a short story. And they weren't well marked and sometimes it was hard to tell when it was a flashback and when it wasn't
Then it moved down to just a three star story for me after they move in and it's one sexual conquest after another and I didn't like it at all. It's a short story I don't need to know about one guy giving his number or bending over for any guy he sees or the other guy bringing women home all hours of the night.
I kind of wanted to read about them you know building a relationship and romance together.
From there it's just all down hill. Gets two stars for being free.
WTF when Riley first kisses him he runs out of the apartment into the storm, the same way and then when Riley finds him asks can I kiss you and he's just like yes, yes! ... Well what the fuck changed? One minute he's running away and the next he's just begging for it?
West made it sound like they drifted apart but then Riley says he stopped answering his phone and wouldn't respond to emails. West doesn't say or think anything to this? He is such a douchy whore pretty much hate west by this point. That's not drifting apart that's you ignoring and hurting a person you supposedly "love"
Riley deserves so so so much better. I never felt this connection between them. Friends as kids sure but don't see why he'd like him as an adult. Especially after he cut all ties with him in college with no explanation or anything.
Then of course Riley's always been lying to West and was just as slutty even if he isn't a cheater slut whore like West. So maybe they do deserve each other.
Least it's free.
Then it lost a star for the poor flash backs. I dislike flash backs in general but this one had a lot of them, especially for a short story. And they weren't well marked and sometimes it was hard to tell when it was a flashback and when it wasn't
Then it moved down to just a three star story for me after they move in and it's one sexual conquest after another and I didn't like it at all. It's a short story I don't need to know about one guy giving his number or bending over for any guy he sees or the other guy bringing women home all hours of the night.
I kind of wanted to read about them you know building a relationship and romance together.
From there it's just all down hill. Gets two stars for being free.
WTF when Riley first kisses him he runs out of the apartment into the storm, the same way and then when Riley finds him asks can I kiss you and he's just like yes, yes! ... Well what the fuck changed? One minute he's running away and the next he's just begging for it?
West made it sound like they drifted apart but then Riley says he stopped answering his phone and wouldn't respond to emails. West doesn't say or think anything to this? He is such a douchy whore pretty much hate west by this point. That's not drifting apart that's you ignoring and hurting a person you supposedly "love"
Riley deserves so so so much better. I never felt this connection between them. Friends as kids sure but don't see why he'd like him as an adult. Especially after he cut all ties with him in college with no explanation or anything.
Then of course Riley's always been lying to West and was just as slutty even if he isn't a cheater slut whore like West. So maybe they do deserve each other.
Least it's free.
May 25, 2012
3.5 Stars
This started out great and ended great but the middle scared me for a bit. Really well written and loved the couch scene and when West said I was like WOW...that will get your attention
This started out great and ended great but the middle scared me for a bit. Really well written and loved the couch scene and when West said I was like WOW...that will get your attention
September 21, 2015
Cute. Friends to lovers, I love them. But as much as I liked Riley as a person I couldn't see the love he had for West. The attraction between them felt quite passive. Maybe the weather is too gloom around here. Yeah, let's blame it on that.
May 26, 2012
Best friends to lovers story!
Not really anything new, but a sweet and sentimental version of the theme.
Not really anything new, but a sweet and sentimental version of the theme.
February 11, 2021
3.25 stars
June 8, 2012
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group, Love Is Always Write: Volume Ten.
2.5 stars This was a sweet little short, but unfortunately I just wasn't feeling as much of a connection between Riley and West as I wanted to. Initially the flashbacks were a little hard to keep track of, and could have been worked a little more smoothly into the story. Once the two guys moved in together I was liking it, but then it progressed very suddenly.
Maybe because of the length also, I felt like there needed to be a little more talking and not just jumping right into bed. It was a little too easy and casual for two guys who have supposedly loved each other for however long.
And how did the way Riley's mom died not come up in their oh-so-close fourteen year friendship? Him revealing that all of a sudden seemed kind of random and unnecessary to the story, it didn't really bring more closeness because they were already supposedly close. And then West runs out
The whole thing just came together a little too easy and casually considering the high emotions that should have been going on and length of time things had been building.
May 31, 2012
Childhood-friends-turned-lovers story. Arts. Drawings. Music. Violin. Shall I continue?
West was a sketch artist, and Riley was a musician. They were best friends since they were kids. Riley defended West from bullies, West provided safe haven for Riley whose father thought he was a punching bag. West was gay and dating many boys, Riley was straight and dating many girls. West had harbored a feeling for Riley ever since he remembered. Riley, well, he didn't seem to have a clue about his best friend's feeling. A kiss in their college sophomore year led them to fewer contacts. Until a teenage who just got his driving licence hit West's car.
Since West needed a roommate, Riley agreed to move in. Then the torture for West began. Riley kept dating women, but now and then he dropped hints that he wanted to be more than friends. West kept coming to Riley's concert (he played second violin in the orchestra) and they got closer. And closer.
This is such a sweet and romantic story. At one point, it reminded me of one of my all time favorite m/m books: Sean Michael's The Broken Road. They share similar premise, although the stories are different. Still, many feel similar. The friendships. The dating-other-people before they get together. Even the names of the MC: West.
I really liked this part:
West snagged his backpack from the floor and took out his sketchbook and a pencil, and drew Riley in a quick rough sketch as he stood at the oven. He'd never drawn Riley much, not even when they were young -- he was too afraid of people seeing it, of them knowing that he wanted Riley...
Not all are rosy in this book. Although, yeah, it has roses.
West was a sketch artist, and Riley was a musician. They were best friends since they were kids. Riley defended West from bullies, West provided safe haven for Riley whose father thought he was a punching bag. West was gay and dating many boys, Riley was straight and dating many girls. West had harbored a feeling for Riley ever since he remembered. Riley, well, he didn't seem to have a clue about his best friend's feeling. A kiss in their college sophomore year led them to fewer contacts. Until a teenage who just got his driving licence hit West's car.
Since West needed a roommate, Riley agreed to move in. Then the torture for West began. Riley kept dating women, but now and then he dropped hints that he wanted to be more than friends. West kept coming to Riley's concert (he played second violin in the orchestra) and they got closer. And closer.
This is such a sweet and romantic story. At one point, it reminded me of one of my all time favorite m/m books: Sean Michael's The Broken Road. They share similar premise, although the stories are different. Still, many feel similar. The friendships. The dating-other-people before they get together. Even the names of the MC: West.
I really liked this part:
West snagged his backpack from the floor and took out his sketchbook and a pencil, and drew Riley in a quick rough sketch as he stood at the oven. He'd never drawn Riley much, not even when they were young -- he was too afraid of people seeing it, of them knowing that he wanted Riley...
Not all are rosy in this book. Although, yeah, it has roses.
April 18, 2015
I really enjoyed this story. Loved West and Riley :) Thank you Jenna Jones, for donating your time and talent.
Read
December 30, 2022This is one of those times that I know within the first page that a book will not work for me, and maybe not for others. The three cars collide, a small fender bender, and all drivers get out. In this scene it is West’s POV. He hears both drivers speaking, glances at the one who didn’t cause the accident and then goes back to talking to accident causing teenager. And does not realize the other driver is his life long best friend through college, nor does other driver recognize him. In their childhood hometown. Then they’re like, “Oh, my gosh, it’s you!” How corny. How unreal. How quickly can I close this story?
April 26, 2018
What a sweet friends to lovers. Loved it
April 2, 2019
I liked the Story, but the writing style was just plain.
May 10, 2020
3.5
Sweet friends to lovers story. Slightly predictable, but I enjoyed it.
Sweet friends to lovers story. Slightly predictable, but I enjoyed it.
May 25, 2012
3.5 stars
West and Riley were best friends all through school. West liked men and Riley liked women. They did have one short kiss in college instigated by West, but Riley pushed him (physically) softly after that kiss, and then they kind of drifted apart. Now, they meet again after several years, and West (looking for a roommate) impulsively offers Riley to share his apartment, since they used to be best friends anyway ...
...
It's the best-friend-to-lovers theme that is definitely one of the most common tropes in all romance genres. I find it sweet and I do like Jenna Jones's writing (her first Apples & Gin story is still my favorite of hers). She captures the friendship of West and Riley nicely. If you see the photo that prompted this story in the original link, the way she describes it is perfect.
However, at the same time,the story doesn't really offer something new or unique. And I am not in the mood for past and present storytelling at the moment; I find it distracting.
West and Riley were best friends all through school. West liked men and Riley liked women. They did have one short kiss in college instigated by West, but Riley pushed him (physically) softly after that kiss, and then they kind of drifted apart. Now, they meet again after several years, and West (looking for a roommate) impulsively offers Riley to share his apartment, since they used to be best friends anyway ...
...
It's the best-friend-to-lovers theme that is definitely one of the most common tropes in all romance genres. I find it sweet and I do like Jenna Jones's writing (her first Apples & Gin story is still my favorite of hers). She captures the friendship of West and Riley nicely. If you see the photo that prompted this story in the original link, the way she describes it is perfect.
However, at the same time,the story doesn't really offer something new or unique. And I am not in the mood for past and present storytelling at the moment; I find it distracting.
September 30, 2014
A beautifully written story about a childhood friendship that eventually blossoms into more. But getting there isn't easy.
The writing, for me, was almost lyrical...soulful. Lovely!
My favourite passage is this- West, describing a safe place from the bullies chasing him:
"His favorite place wasn't far out of his way. It was a little red brick church, St. Francis of something. West liked it because the statue in front was of a man with a fawn in his arms, a wolf at his feet and a gentle look on his face. The statue was in a garden with a lot of trees, especially a big oak that had low, thick branches that were perfect for climbing if you were light and spry. He experimented with climbing up it, and figured a guy who was friendly with deer and wolves would understand the need for one boy to hide nearby sometimes."
It made me catch my breath while reading it!
The writing, for me, was almost lyrical...soulful. Lovely!
My favourite passage is this- West, describing a safe place from the bullies chasing him:
"His favorite place wasn't far out of his way. It was a little red brick church, St. Francis of something. West liked it because the statue in front was of a man with a fawn in his arms, a wolf at his feet and a gentle look on his face. The statue was in a garden with a lot of trees, especially a big oak that had low, thick branches that were perfect for climbing if you were light and spry. He experimented with climbing up it, and figured a guy who was friendly with deer and wolves would understand the need for one boy to hide nearby sometimes."
It made me catch my breath while reading it!
November 15, 2012
The story is very sweet. I liked the names West and Riley; and both their names ended in C so it was like they were already a couple! (West Cunningham, Riley Cooper) I was not sure how I liked Riley in the beginning of the book. After all, while he remarked on West's drawing, that seemed to be the end of everything, and poor West was still getting beat down everyday. Once we were able to see Riley and West with Father Jackson, I was able to understand why Riley was not really socializing with West in school. But, he also made up for it, like the next day. That made me feel better about them being best friends and evolving into something more. A short read but nice and sweet.
June 2, 2012
Awww, *sigh*, this was a wonderful story about friends reunited who become lovers! There was a bit of an edge to this story because it dealt with bullying and abuse, but I loved the notion that each guy was a bit of a sanctuary for the other during those tough times. Incredibly romantic and sweet – loved it!!!
May 25, 2012
This was an extremely heartwarming and romantic story about two best friends who lost touch and eventually reconnect only to discover their immense love and adoration for one another.
A very enjoyable read.
A very enjoyable read.
July 12, 2012
The changing timelines really jolted me from the story. I couldnt help coming up with so many different stories that could have fitted the photo. I guess I didnt really feel connected to the relationship that formed at the end.
May 29, 2012
I loved the characters, but would have loved them even more if they'd perhaps talked to each other a little bit more at a couple of critical junctures. Then again, they were young men, so I suppose it's also fairly realistic.
September 5, 2012
Wonderful the way Riley turned out after enduring an abusive childhood and the way West became his haven. Sweet the way the both of them finally 'found' each other. This could turned into a full length novel that can and will be sweet and touching.
July 23, 2012
This is an amazing friends to lovers story. Two best friends (one gay, one straight) who reconnect after a few years without contact. The story flowed well and the characters were perfect. I will definitely be looking for more by this author.
November 23, 2014
2.5 stars rounded up because I have a thing for musicians. A friends to lovers story with a lot of flashbacks. sadly I couldn't really connect with Riley and this made it difficult to believe he really loved West.
May 25, 2012
A really sweet and romantic story.
May 25, 2012
Sweet, very sweet.
May 27, 2012
This was a really cute story. It matched the picture and the prompt perfectly. Great work, Jenna!
May 28, 2012
...Whatever. =__=
Bubbles has said exactly what I think of this free short story.
Bubbles has said exactly what I think of this free short story.
June 23, 2013
sweet and charming story.
July 3, 2012
Loved the characters. Loved the roses!!
September 29, 2012
Very sweet short story. I always enjoy the childhood friends-to-lovers theme and this was nicely done. Very little angst.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews