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Straight Guys #11
Just a Bit Wrecked
A plane crash. A homophobe and a gay man stranded together on a desert island. A love born out of hatred, need, and mutual desperation.
Andrew Reyes is handsome, rich, and very straight—he’s married to a gorgeous woman. Outspoken about his distaste for gay people, he isn’t shy about his opinion as he watches the gay couple he and his wife share a flight with.
Logan McCall is handsome, rich, and openly gay. He isn’t impressed with the bigoted jerk across the aisle, no matter how easy on the eyes he is.
To their shock and horror, they’re the only survivors when the plane crashes—stranded on a desert island with no hope of rescue, and no one but each other to depend on for survival.
As the days turn into months, can disdain, antipathy, and a craving they don’t understand and can’t resist turn into a connection? Or something more?
Andrew Reyes is handsome, rich, and very straight—he’s married to a gorgeous woman. Outspoken about his distaste for gay people, he isn’t shy about his opinion as he watches the gay couple he and his wife share a flight with.
Logan McCall is handsome, rich, and openly gay. He isn’t impressed with the bigoted jerk across the aisle, no matter how easy on the eyes he is.
To their shock and horror, they’re the only survivors when the plane crashes—stranded on a desert island with no hope of rescue, and no one but each other to depend on for survival.
As the days turn into months, can disdain, antipathy, and a craving they don’t understand and can’t resist turn into a connection? Or something more?
207 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,163 reviews
July 14, 2021
Second re-read: 14.07.2021
I know, I know. There is something wrong with me. I just can't seem to stay away from AH. I fucking can't wait for Just a Bit Bossy.
Re-read: 23.03.2021
I'm sorry, I just had to. Once I started re-reading some of Alessandra Hazard 's books, I just couldn't stop with one or two. And it felt right to re-read this one now. I still liked it. Andrew is a bit annoying but overall, it's still an enjoyable read. Many people are probably wondering why I rate these books by this author so low when I continue to re-read them, continue to be obsessed by them, and one of the reasons for that is simply that I want more out of each book. I need to see how they are as a couple out and about among others and so forth. That said, I'm still obsessed.
**Might contain spoilers** The eleventh book in this series centers around Logan McCall (33, turns 34), a hotel chain owner and Andrew Reyes (32), the CEO of Rutledge Enterprises (still answers to Derek Rutledge, Vivian (Andrew's wife)'s brother). We've met Andrew before, when he was a big bigot and annoying, but this really made me change my mind, and I hadn't thought that possible. I actually want more of these two. I seriously wouldn't had minded reading at least twenty chapters more. I only had one thing that I didn't like and that was Andrew's relationship with Derek. I fell in love with this series through Derek, and I'm very protective of him so people thinking/talking bad stuff about him doesn't sit well with me. I had hoped to see Derek and Andrew connect, but other than that, I adored this book, and I'm really glad we got POVs from both Derek and Shawn. I've missed them so much. More please? Also I liked the book the most when they were on the beach... I liked that this book had a more... animalistic feel to it and I certainly wouldn't have minded a hell a lot more of that! That said, I'm looking forward to the next book. Please come quickly!
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series, Book Eleven.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Logan McCall.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes.
Will I read this again in the future? - Probably.
Rating - 3.5 stars.
Review before reading:
As much as Andrew's story doesn't excited me, I do want more of Derek, Shawn, Miles and Ian. I certainly hope Derek and Ian would become friends....
I know, I know. There is something wrong with me. I just can't seem to stay away from AH. I fucking can't wait for Just a Bit Bossy.
Re-read: 23.03.2021
I'm sorry, I just had to. Once I started re-reading some of Alessandra Hazard 's books, I just couldn't stop with one or two. And it felt right to re-read this one now. I still liked it. Andrew is a bit annoying but overall, it's still an enjoyable read. Many people are probably wondering why I rate these books by this author so low when I continue to re-read them, continue to be obsessed by them, and one of the reasons for that is simply that I want more out of each book. I need to see how they are as a couple out and about among others and so forth. That said, I'm still obsessed.
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Pleasantly Surprised*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
**Might contain spoilers** The eleventh book in this series centers around Logan McCall (33, turns 34), a hotel chain owner and Andrew Reyes (32), the CEO of Rutledge Enterprises (still answers to Derek Rutledge, Vivian (Andrew's wife)'s brother). We've met Andrew before, when he was a big bigot and annoying, but this really made me change my mind, and I hadn't thought that possible. I actually want more of these two. I seriously wouldn't had minded reading at least twenty chapters more. I only had one thing that I didn't like and that was Andrew's relationship with Derek. I fell in love with this series through Derek, and I'm very protective of him so people thinking/talking bad stuff about him doesn't sit well with me. I had hoped to see Derek and Andrew connect, but other than that, I adored this book, and I'm really glad we got POVs from both Derek and Shawn. I've missed them so much. More please? Also I liked the book the most when they were on the beach... I liked that this book had a more... animalistic feel to it and I certainly wouldn't have minded a hell a lot more of that! That said, I'm looking forward to the next book. Please come quickly!
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series, Book Eleven.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Logan McCall.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes.
Will I read this again in the future? - Probably.
Rating - 3.5 stars.
Review before reading:
As much as Andrew's story doesn't excited me, I do want more of Derek, Shawn, Miles and Ian. I certainly hope Derek and Ian would become friends....
August 25, 2021
(3.75)
soo, it all started here (pay attention 2 Andrew's pov)
then :
then
i dont even mind that one ✋🤣
tbh it was kinda hot lmao
what is this exactly? daddy-little-boy? protector-protected? damsel & knight? it was fucking weird & animalistic i looved it. also, i tbh sometimes felt sorry for Logan coz Andrew kept giving him all these mixed signals it must've been exhausting. but i actually liked their dynamic more than shawn & rutledge's?? idunno maybe?? some scenes after they got back from the island kinda dragged (skimmed), but i still liked the couple ofc
Andrew (32) was real childish sometimes he felt similar to gabriel (who i hated) but idunno, Lo-Drew’s dynamic (thank g there were no daddy kink when they have sex coz JK ruined that shit for me) was really enjoyable i dont even mind Andrew’s hissy fits & tantrums
when they were on the island : 3.75 -4 (hawt af)
later on / part 2 : 3 stars (but i rlly loved this couple)
****************************************
these 2 gave me the tingles 🥰
i was planning to just skip everything and read the good ones (according to people) but fuck it im going back now and finishing the whole series
“If I’m sick, so are you. It turns you on, you hypocrite.” Logan bit his earlobe, making Andrew cry out. “You want me to force you. If I force you, it’s not your fault, right? Is that how you think?"
soo, it all started here (pay attention 2 Andrew's pov)
What if… What if Logan was finally going to molest him? Would he do it while Andrew slept?
Andrew swallowed as he imagined Logan pressing his body against his and groping his body in his sleep. Molesting him. Groping Andrew’s cock. Stroking his nipples. Groping his ass. Pushing his hard cock against Andrew’s ass while Andrew was none the wiser. The perv would probably pull Andrew’s shorts down and rub his stiff cock between his cheeks, grunting like an animal and taking his pleasure while Andrew slept peacefully, unaware that he was being violated.
Would he wake up? Or would he keep sleeping? Maybe if Logan was really careful, Andrew wouldn’t even find out about it until the morning when he’d find dried come on his ass. Or maybe he would wake up, but Logan wouldn’t stop, forcing him to be still as he thrust his cock between Andrew’s thighs. Logan was bigger and stronger than he was. Andrew wouldn’t be able to stop him. Logan could do whatever he wanted to him, and Andrew wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. Logan might force him to suck his cock, which would be disgusting, but Andrew would have to do it; he’d have no choice.
A small sound snapped him out of his thoughts.
It took Andrew a moment to realize that he was the one who’d made the sound.
“If you’re going to jerk off, go do it outside,” Logan said.
Andrew flushed. What—
Wait, his hand was palming his cock through his shorts.
Andrew frowned, unsure when it had even happened. He was hard, for no reason.
then :
“Get on your knees.”
Andrew’s knees suddenly felt weak.
He dropped to one knee, then the other, until he was settled between Logan’s thighs.
Logan’s hand buried in Andrew’s overgrown hair and pulled him down. “Suck me off,” he said, his voice low and hoarse.
Andrew closed his eyes and shook his head. “I’m not sucking your dick. I’m not gay.”
Logan made a frustrated sound. “Then what the hell are you—”
“I’m not sucking your cock. Force me.”
then
‘At some point he just realized that it’d been ages since Andrew had slept on his own bedding. The guy dozed with his head on Logan’s stomach most of the time—when he didn’t fall asleep with Logan’s cock in his mouth.
The realization didn’t freak Logan out as much as it probably should have.
He just shrugged mentally and figured it was only practical. Convenient. If Andrew slept with his head burrowed against Logan’s stomach or thigh, it would be easier to slip his cock back into Andrew’s mouth in the morning.
Sometimes Andrew sucked Logan’s cock while Logan slept. Just on the tip of it, as if it were a giant pacifier. He really seemed more content with Logan’s cock in his mouth, as if sucking Logan’s cock comforted him.’
i dont even mind that one ✋🤣
tbh it was kinda hot lmao
‘He pushed his thumb into his mouth and made a contented noise as he sucked on it’
what is this exactly? daddy-little-boy? protector-protected? damsel & knight? it was fucking weird & animalistic i looved it. also, i tbh sometimes felt sorry for Logan coz Andrew kept giving him all these mixed signals it must've been exhausting. but i actually liked their dynamic more than shawn & rutledge's?? idunno maybe?? some scenes after they got back from the island kinda dragged (skimmed), but i still liked the couple ofc
‘Andrew had to grip the bedspread in his fists to stop himself from doing something stupid. Something stupid like launching himself at Logan and clinging to him like a monkey.’
Andrew (32) was real childish sometimes he felt similar to gabriel (who i hated) but idunno, Lo-Drew’s dynamic (thank g there were no daddy kink when they have sex coz JK ruined that shit for me) was really enjoyable i dont even mind Andrew’s hissy fits & tantrums
Andrew snorted. “I used you like my comfort blanket.”
Smiling wryly, Logan said, “More of a teddy bear or a pacifier.”
“I hate this,” Andrew said, his voice wavering.
“I know,” Logan said. “Me, too.”
He meant it. He hated how right this felt—holding this mess of a human being, this guy who was a total wreck, who was bigoted and beyond repressed but at the same time vulnerable, lonely, and hungry for affection and approval.
“It’s like a fucking disease,” Andrew said into his chest, barely audibly. “Something empty and wrong inside me. I feel like—like a river without water. The world feels so off without you, and you’re the only thing that makes me feel whole.”
when they were on the island : 3.75 -4 (hawt af)
later on / part 2 : 3 stars (but i rlly loved this couple)
****************************************
these 2 gave me the tingles 🥰
i was planning to just skip everything and read the good ones (according to people) but fuck it im going back now and finishing the whole series
August 8, 2023
Andrew hugged him. “Love you,” he whispered, his lips brushing Logan’s neck. “I’ll always need you. Always.”
absolutely nobody is more surprised than me to see that i enjoyed this.
my first 4-star read from this author.
this was a fucking delight!!
despite the fact that i know AH’s books shouldn’t be taken seriously, and even though i don’t, most of the books i’ve read from her simply haven’t done it for me. absolutely no chemistry, zero tension, exclusively porn, and of course, boring.
i started this last night at around 11 pm during a random time of brushing my teeth. i got hooked in right from the beginning that i was brushing my teeth unconsciously and focusing on the book instead. before i knew it i was reading it in one sitting without stopping. this had everything her previous books didn’t. even though these two are stranded on an island and use sex as a way to cope and destress or whatever, i felt like the rest of AH’s usual trademark made it work for me: the growing neediness, the codependency, the unwanted and unconscious physical touching, the reassurance, the clinginess. AH’s storylines aren’t for everyone. some of my friends have told me she isn’t for me, but i know myself better.
if there’s one thing i absolutely hate from this author and deters me from enjoying the story, it’s how she adds povs from previous characters into her books. it’s incredibly annoying, bizarre, stupid, and adds nothing to the story. there was no reason for shawn and derek to get their pov in this story, especially at the end. literally what the fuck was that epilogue, and why did half of it need to go to shawn and derek? while i like them, i’m reading andrew and logan’s story, and it would be nice for their epilogue to be, well, theirs, considering it’s their story, yknow? not to mention that andrew’s aunt also got her pov here, and for what? it could’ve easily been about andrew and his longing and miserable inner monologue about missing logan instead of having to see him be miserable from her point of view. 🙄 i wish it didn’t bother me as much but it’s something i find so stupid and unnecessary. they don’t add anything to the story and instead take away opportunity from the main characters. considering it’s their story, you would think the focus would be on them, but this author has a weird obsession or something with changing povs to side characters and/or characters from the previous books.
but ignoring that, i am a SUCKER for neediness in a codependent level. something about two characters mentally and physically needing each other just makes me so…GIGGLY. it didn’t matter that the relationship between these two is mostly sexual. my heart was bursting every time andrew wasn’t able to resist logan and showed clear signs of need and want. and logan became a little possessive as the story progressed, liking the fact that he was needed. if there’s one thing i wish this had, it’s praise, because andrew clearly had a praise kink. he needed that reassurance. his codependency on logan comes out of nowhere, first catching logan by surprise and then becoming a sort of routine for the two. i loved seeing andrews longing and yearning for logan despite wishing he wasn’t feeling that way. his hesitancy, contradiction, and internal struggle with who he was was nothing but entertaining, and i loved seeing logan give in all while wishing he could be doing better. his protective instincts of logan were so cute, how he became aware of his needs, reactions, and how vulnerable he got. 🥹 these two were damn cute and sweet. these two are words probably terribly to use in this context but damn, they got me giggling and laughing.
“Hold me,” he whispered.
Logan opened his eyes and stared at the dark ceiling. And then he lifted his arms and wrapped them around Andrew.
A small sound left Andrew’s mouth. A whimper. “Tighter.”
the relationship is primarily sexual and really, remains that way. yet there was still this tension that has lacked in my previous reads of this author. there was still this spark that added to the relationship. the emotional connection is driven by lust—want and need are physical reactions from the two and unfortunately not that easy to tell apart from love. yet it didn’t matter, AH’s writing here sucked me in and took me on a damn enjoyable ride. that’s all that matters.
Their bodies were so attuned to one another at this point that words didn’t seem necessary. Why use words when Logan could just lay his hand on Andrew’s shoulder and turn him toward where he wanted him to look? Why use words when Andrew could just look at him in that particular way before dropping to his knees and swallowing down his cock? Words seemed redundant. There was nothing worth discussing going on in their life. Just them. And since they’d stopped arguing all the time and they both avoided talking about the thing between them, they didn’t really have anything to talk about. Even Andrew’s talking-at-night phase had ended a while ago. Now he seemed to prefer dozing quietly with his head on Logan’s stomach while Logan’s fingers played with his hair.
absolutely nobody is more surprised than me to see that i enjoyed this.
my first 4-star read from this author.
this was a fucking delight!!
despite the fact that i know AH’s books shouldn’t be taken seriously, and even though i don’t, most of the books i’ve read from her simply haven’t done it for me. absolutely no chemistry, zero tension, exclusively porn, and of course, boring.
i started this last night at around 11 pm during a random time of brushing my teeth. i got hooked in right from the beginning that i was brushing my teeth unconsciously and focusing on the book instead. before i knew it i was reading it in one sitting without stopping. this had everything her previous books didn’t. even though these two are stranded on an island and use sex as a way to cope and destress or whatever, i felt like the rest of AH’s usual trademark made it work for me: the growing neediness, the codependency, the unwanted and unconscious physical touching, the reassurance, the clinginess. AH’s storylines aren’t for everyone. some of my friends have told me she isn’t for me, but i know myself better.
if there’s one thing i absolutely hate from this author and deters me from enjoying the story, it’s how she adds povs from previous characters into her books. it’s incredibly annoying, bizarre, stupid, and adds nothing to the story. there was no reason for shawn and derek to get their pov in this story, especially at the end. literally what the fuck was that epilogue, and why did half of it need to go to shawn and derek? while i like them, i’m reading andrew and logan’s story, and it would be nice for their epilogue to be, well, theirs, considering it’s their story, yknow? not to mention that andrew’s aunt also got her pov here, and for what? it could’ve easily been about andrew and his longing and miserable inner monologue about missing logan instead of having to see him be miserable from her point of view. 🙄 i wish it didn’t bother me as much but it’s something i find so stupid and unnecessary. they don’t add anything to the story and instead take away opportunity from the main characters. considering it’s their story, you would think the focus would be on them, but this author has a weird obsession or something with changing povs to side characters and/or characters from the previous books.
but ignoring that, i am a SUCKER for neediness in a codependent level. something about two characters mentally and physically needing each other just makes me so…GIGGLY. it didn’t matter that the relationship between these two is mostly sexual. my heart was bursting every time andrew wasn’t able to resist logan and showed clear signs of need and want. and logan became a little possessive as the story progressed, liking the fact that he was needed. if there’s one thing i wish this had, it’s praise, because andrew clearly had a praise kink. he needed that reassurance. his codependency on logan comes out of nowhere, first catching logan by surprise and then becoming a sort of routine for the two. i loved seeing andrews longing and yearning for logan despite wishing he wasn’t feeling that way. his hesitancy, contradiction, and internal struggle with who he was was nothing but entertaining, and i loved seeing logan give in all while wishing he could be doing better. his protective instincts of logan were so cute, how he became aware of his needs, reactions, and how vulnerable he got. 🥹 these two were damn cute and sweet. these two are words probably terribly to use in this context but damn, they got me giggling and laughing.
“Hold me,” he whispered.
Logan opened his eyes and stared at the dark ceiling. And then he lifted his arms and wrapped them around Andrew.
A small sound left Andrew’s mouth. A whimper. “Tighter.”
the relationship is primarily sexual and really, remains that way. yet there was still this tension that has lacked in my previous reads of this author. there was still this spark that added to the relationship. the emotional connection is driven by lust—want and need are physical reactions from the two and unfortunately not that easy to tell apart from love. yet it didn’t matter, AH’s writing here sucked me in and took me on a damn enjoyable ride. that’s all that matters.
Their bodies were so attuned to one another at this point that words didn’t seem necessary. Why use words when Logan could just lay his hand on Andrew’s shoulder and turn him toward where he wanted him to look? Why use words when Andrew could just look at him in that particular way before dropping to his knees and swallowing down his cock? Words seemed redundant. There was nothing worth discussing going on in their life. Just them. And since they’d stopped arguing all the time and they both avoided talking about the thing between them, they didn’t really have anything to talk about. Even Andrew’s talking-at-night phase had ended a while ago. Now he seemed to prefer dozing quietly with his head on Logan’s stomach while Logan’s fingers played with his hair.
June 4, 2023
— 4 stars ☆
“you and me, you and me, you and me.”
there’s a reason i eat up AH’s books so fast. she absolutely knows how to do clingy needy toxic characters & relationships to the t. and this one had all that in spades. the codependency. the almost unhealthy need they both had for each other. 😭 irl it might not have made sense, they might not have made sense, but idc I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. 🥺 Andrew and Logan were angsty and ott and clingy and messy in the best and worst ways. and Andrew finally accepting himself in the end? i loved that so much.
“I hope I’ll die first,” Andrew murmured that night, pressing his face into Logan’s armpit.
Logan tightened his arms around him. “Shut up,” he said hoarsely.
Truth be told, he selfishly hoped for the opposite.
the tropes for this?? i ate it all up so fast. a homophobe and a gay man stuck in a deserted island with no one to rescue them? sign me up. and not only just that, i adored their dynamics the most. bc the way Andrew melted for Logan every time despite being homophobic, the way he lost his mind when Logan was even close by, and the way he always wanted Logan to keep his hands, his body, any part of him on Andrew? and Logan always caving for him, they're so everything. 👉🥺👈
He wasn’t needed. He wasn’t needed even here. No one needed him. No one wanted him around.
not Andrew crushing me with everything he felt and me loving it, I LOVE HIM SO MUCH despite everything. 😭
Andrew darted forward and buried his face against the hollow of Logan’s throat. “I’m sorry for being such a mess,” he whispered, inhaling his scent greedily. He despised himself for acting like a junkie with a bad case of addiction whose drug was about to be taken away. But God, Logan smelled so good. Andrew wasn’t even sure what he smelled like, but he smelled perfect. “I’m sorry,” he repeated, gripping Logan’s biceps. “I’m sorry I’m making your life harder and being—”
“Shut up,” Logan said roughly, squeezing him with his arms. “We’ll figure it out.” He dropped a kiss on top of Andrew’s head and took an audible breath.
probably the only pet peeve i had with this one is that I WANTED BOTH OF THEM TO FACE THEIR NIGHTMARES TOGETHER. always. 😭 the fact that Logan had pushed Andrew away when both of them were suffering the most? it broke my heart fr. 💔 i did prefer part 1 to part 2 but then again, the entire book was filled with that neediness which just hit me with the feels so hard. and being in Andrew's head almost caused me a panic attack bc of how much he was feeling after everything happened. i just love andrewlogan so much. 😭😭
“I thought you hated PDA? People are staring. I don’t want you to be embarrassed tomorrow when you sober up.”
“Don’t care,” Andrew mumbled, nuzzling into Logan’s neck. “Love you.”
Logan’s steps faltered. They’d… They’d never really talked about feelings. Andrew was his boyfriend, they lived together, and they were happier than Logan had thought was possible. Their relationship was going great, so he had decided not to rock the boat by confessing that he loved Andrew—Andrew’s reactions could be so unpredictable sometimes. Logan hadn’t expected to hear a confession from Andrew first.
“You’re drunk,” he said, clearing his throat.
“But I love you,” Andrew murmured, sucking a hickey on Logan’s neck. “So much. I feel like I’m choking on it sometimes. Got drunk to tell you. Am not brave enough sober.”
Feeling a rush of overwhelming affection, Logan tipped Andrew’s face up with his fingers. “You don’t need to get drunk for that, sweetheart,” he said hoarsely, looking into Andrew’s glassy eyes. “I love you, too.”
Andrew’s eyes widened, a flush appearing on his cheeks.
“Tell me that again in the morning?” he asked, in a small voice. “In case I forget.”
Logan smiled at him gently. “I will,” he said. “I will tell you that every day if you want.”
Andrew beamed at him, his eyes glistening. “You promise?”
God, he was beyond endearing.
“I promise,” Logan said, kissing him on the forehead.
Andrew hugged him. “Love you,” he whispered, his lips brushing Logan’s neck. “I’ll always need you. Always.”
“I know.” Logan kissed the top of his head and smiled. “Me, too, love.”
“I still hope I’ll die before you,” Andrew mumbled, and Logan suddenly remembered the conversation they’d had all those months ago, after Andrew’s illness.
His throat uncomfortably thick, he buried his face in Andrew’s hair. He breathed in. “Nope,” he said hoarsely, his arms tightening. “You aren’t allowed to die before me.”
Andrew giggled. “I guess we’ll have to die at the same time, then,” he said, lifting his head and smiling at him.
Smiling back, Logan leaned their foreheads together. “I guess we’ll have to.”
side note: this series is so illicit affairs coded it’s crazy
“you and me, you and me, you and me.”
there’s a reason i eat up AH’s books so fast. she absolutely knows how to do clingy needy toxic characters & relationships to the t. and this one had all that in spades. the codependency. the almost unhealthy need they both had for each other. 😭 irl it might not have made sense, they might not have made sense, but idc I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. 🥺 Andrew and Logan were angsty and ott and clingy and messy in the best and worst ways. and Andrew finally accepting himself in the end? i loved that so much.
“I hope I’ll die first,” Andrew murmured that night, pressing his face into Logan’s armpit.
Logan tightened his arms around him. “Shut up,” he said hoarsely.
Truth be told, he selfishly hoped for the opposite.
the tropes for this?? i ate it all up so fast. a homophobe and a gay man stuck in a deserted island with no one to rescue them? sign me up. and not only just that, i adored their dynamics the most. bc the way Andrew melted for Logan every time despite being homophobic, the way he lost his mind when Logan was even close by, and the way he always wanted Logan to keep his hands, his body, any part of him on Andrew? and Logan always caving for him, they're so everything. 👉🥺👈
He wasn’t needed. He wasn’t needed even here. No one needed him. No one wanted him around.
not Andrew crushing me with everything he felt and me loving it, I LOVE HIM SO MUCH despite everything. 😭
Andrew darted forward and buried his face against the hollow of Logan’s throat. “I’m sorry for being such a mess,” he whispered, inhaling his scent greedily. He despised himself for acting like a junkie with a bad case of addiction whose drug was about to be taken away. But God, Logan smelled so good. Andrew wasn’t even sure what he smelled like, but he smelled perfect. “I’m sorry,” he repeated, gripping Logan’s biceps. “I’m sorry I’m making your life harder and being—”
“Shut up,” Logan said roughly, squeezing him with his arms. “We’ll figure it out.” He dropped a kiss on top of Andrew’s head and took an audible breath.
probably the only pet peeve i had with this one is that I WANTED BOTH OF THEM TO FACE THEIR NIGHTMARES TOGETHER. always. 😭 the fact that Logan had pushed Andrew away when both of them were suffering the most? it broke my heart fr. 💔 i did prefer part 1 to part 2 but then again, the entire book was filled with that neediness which just hit me with the feels so hard. and being in Andrew's head almost caused me a panic attack bc of how much he was feeling after everything happened. i just love andrewlogan so much. 😭😭
“I thought you hated PDA? People are staring. I don’t want you to be embarrassed tomorrow when you sober up.”
“Don’t care,” Andrew mumbled, nuzzling into Logan’s neck. “Love you.”
Logan’s steps faltered. They’d… They’d never really talked about feelings. Andrew was his boyfriend, they lived together, and they were happier than Logan had thought was possible. Their relationship was going great, so he had decided not to rock the boat by confessing that he loved Andrew—Andrew’s reactions could be so unpredictable sometimes. Logan hadn’t expected to hear a confession from Andrew first.
“You’re drunk,” he said, clearing his throat.
“But I love you,” Andrew murmured, sucking a hickey on Logan’s neck. “So much. I feel like I’m choking on it sometimes. Got drunk to tell you. Am not brave enough sober.”
Feeling a rush of overwhelming affection, Logan tipped Andrew’s face up with his fingers. “You don’t need to get drunk for that, sweetheart,” he said hoarsely, looking into Andrew’s glassy eyes. “I love you, too.”
Andrew’s eyes widened, a flush appearing on his cheeks.
“Tell me that again in the morning?” he asked, in a small voice. “In case I forget.”
Logan smiled at him gently. “I will,” he said. “I will tell you that every day if you want.”
Andrew beamed at him, his eyes glistening. “You promise?”
God, he was beyond endearing.
“I promise,” Logan said, kissing him on the forehead.
Andrew hugged him. “Love you,” he whispered, his lips brushing Logan’s neck. “I’ll always need you. Always.”
“I know.” Logan kissed the top of his head and smiled. “Me, too, love.”
“I still hope I’ll die before you,” Andrew mumbled, and Logan suddenly remembered the conversation they’d had all those months ago, after Andrew’s illness.
His throat uncomfortably thick, he buried his face in Andrew’s hair. He breathed in. “Nope,” he said hoarsely, his arms tightening. “You aren’t allowed to die before me.”
Andrew giggled. “I guess we’ll have to die at the same time, then,” he said, lifting his head and smiling at him.
Smiling back, Logan leaned their foreheads together. “I guess we’ll have to.”
side note: this series is so illicit affairs coded it’s crazy
February 10, 2022
OMG!!! I loved this addition to this series. It is definitely in my top five within this series. The hate to love romance on top of a shipwrecked trope was great to read the gradual progression of the feelings between the two main characters.
I also loved seeing the physical need displayed between the two main characters. The wanting and needing were both authentically shown in a realistic manner that made their relationship a joy to read.
Overall this was an amazing read that I loved from start to finish.
I also loved seeing the physical need displayed between the two main characters. The wanting and needing were both authentically shown in a realistic manner that made their relationship a joy to read.
Overall this was an amazing read that I loved from start to finish.
January 1, 2021
Rating
5 ‘I need you to breath’ ✨
Song Recommendation
Tum Hi Ho – Arijit Singh (with English translation)
Tera mera rishta hai kaisa, ek pal door gawara nahi
What kind of relationship do we have, not for a moment can I stay away
Tere liye har roz hai jeete, tujhko diya mera waqt sabhi
I live everyday for you, I dedicate all of my time to you
Koi lamha mera na ho tere bina, har saans pe naam tera
I don’t want a moment without you, on every breath is your name
Review
A opinionated, homophobic man and an arrogant, openly gay man get stranded on an island…
Seems like a start of a crude joke, but it became a reality for Andrew and Logan after their plane crashes and they are the sole survivors on a remote island. With no way to call for help, each of them is stuck with the person whose sight they couldn’t stand while they were in the airborne plane. Soon, they have to shed their reservations and embrace new qualities about their sexuality as they grow to depend on each other – emotionally, physically, and socially – to survive.
It is much harder for Andrew to return to his previous life after being rescued than it was for Logan. After being openly hostile to Logan during the flight and depending on him on the island after the crash, Andrew struggles with needing Logan to survive and live his life once he returns to his previous life. He needs and yearns for Logan after being accustomed to his presence on the island. Logan is no different and can’t seem stay away after growing used to Andrew’s silent need for him.
Their mutual inherent need for the other to even function when they return to their previous lives leads to a visceral and an intrinsic cycle of codependency that, as a reader, I didn’t want them to overcome.
I am usually excited for this trope where two different people get stuck together and grow to need each other, but I wasn’t sure how I would feel about codependency on this level as I don’t recall reading about it to this extent. Alessandra Hazard laid all my doubts to rest and then some! This story – their love story – is messy, uninhibited, and impetuously theirs.
The way that Andrew struggled with coming to terms with his bisexuality, the way he struggles with inherently needing Logan to anchor him after returning to the busy world from the island, and the way Logan learns that he likes to be needed and likes to provide the emotional, mental, and physical anchor that Andrew needs to live was utterly heartbreaking and heartwarming simultaneously. There is just something so riveting about two people – who don’t like each other – slowly coming to terms with the other’s presence and struggling between the denial of wanting them and with needing the other person to feel content and whole.
This book had exactly that and I love the exhilarating ride that it took me on. It left me with my heart pounding and wanting more of this absolutely obsessive, all-consuming, and addictive love that flourishes between Andrew and Logan. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a quick, hot, and all-consuming M/M romance with slight dub-con and codependency.
5 ‘I need you to breath’ ✨
Song Recommendation
Tum Hi Ho – Arijit Singh (with English translation)
Tera mera rishta hai kaisa, ek pal door gawara nahi
What kind of relationship do we have, not for a moment can I stay away
Tere liye har roz hai jeete, tujhko diya mera waqt sabhi
I live everyday for you, I dedicate all of my time to you
Koi lamha mera na ho tere bina, har saans pe naam tera
I don’t want a moment without you, on every breath is your name
Review
A opinionated, homophobic man and an arrogant, openly gay man get stranded on an island…
Seems like a start of a crude joke, but it became a reality for Andrew and Logan after their plane crashes and they are the sole survivors on a remote island. With no way to call for help, each of them is stuck with the person whose sight they couldn’t stand while they were in the airborne plane. Soon, they have to shed their reservations and embrace new qualities about their sexuality as they grow to depend on each other – emotionally, physically, and socially – to survive.
“You’re doing something. I know how you sound when you—” Logan cut himself off, muttering something frustrated under his breath. “Tell me.”
…
“This is all your fault,” Andrew complained. “You got me used to— things, and now I feel all messed up and on edge without…” Without your cock in my mouth. Without your smell all over me. Without your arms around me. Without your heartbeat against my ear.
It is much harder for Andrew to return to his previous life after being rescued than it was for Logan. After being openly hostile to Logan during the flight and depending on him on the island after the crash, Andrew struggles with needing Logan to survive and live his life once he returns to his previous life. He needs and yearns for Logan after being accustomed to his presence on the island. Logan is no different and can’t seem stay away after growing used to Andrew’s silent need for him.
It was bliss. It was torture. It was everything he had missed and wanted these past weeks. More than the sex—the closeness. The rightness. The exquisite intimacy of holding this person in his arms and feeling at peace with himself and the world. Like two pieces of a puzzle. Two pieces of a puzzle that should have never fit together and yet they had somehow learned to—and now couldn’t unlearn it.
Their mutual inherent need for the other to even function when they return to their previous lives leads to a visceral and an intrinsic cycle of codependency that, as a reader, I didn’t want them to overcome.
Logan had never considered himself a possessive man. He’d always thought possessiveness didn’t belong in the modern world. But this submissiveness, the way Andrew allowed Logan to touch him anywhere he wanted, brought out primitive instincts that were more appropriate for a caveman. Mine, they whispered, like poison in his mind. Mine mine mine.
I am usually excited for this trope where two different people get stuck together and grow to need each other, but I wasn’t sure how I would feel about codependency on this level as I don’t recall reading about it to this extent. Alessandra Hazard laid all my doubts to rest and then some! This story – their love story – is messy, uninhibited, and impetuously theirs.
Andrew felt blood rush to his face. “I thought you were in New York.”
Some emotion flashed across Logan’s face and then it was gone, too quickly for Andrew to recognize it.
“I was,” he said curtly.
Andrew moistened his lips with his tongue, unsure.
Silence fell between them, charged with something terribly familiar. It felt awful but also incredibly comforting. Easy.
To his utter disgust, Andrew felt more like himself than he had in weeks. The restless, maddening anxiety under his skin—the sense of wrongness—was almost entirely gone. He just looked at Logan, and everything felt right with the world.
The way that Andrew struggled with coming to terms with his bisexuality, the way he struggles with inherently needing Logan to anchor him after returning to the busy world from the island, and the way Logan learns that he likes to be needed and likes to provide the emotional, mental, and physical anchor that Andrew needs to live was utterly heartbreaking and heartwarming simultaneously. There is just something so riveting about two people – who don’t like each other – slowly coming to terms with the other’s presence and struggling between the denial of wanting them and with needing the other person to feel content and whole.
This book had exactly that and I love the exhilarating ride that it took me on. It left me with my heart pounding and wanting more of this absolutely obsessive, all-consuming, and addictive love that flourishes between Andrew and Logan. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a quick, hot, and all-consuming M/M romance with slight dub-con and codependency.
The way he looked—his stubbled face, his dark eyes, the sardonic curl of his firm mouth—it was… Logan looked like home. He looked like his, Andrew’s.
June 20, 2024
reread 2024. this type of unhealthy obsessive codependency gets me every time. if you can get over the typical unreal AH scenario and just focus on the couple, this book is just yummy.
_____________
original review:
that was so good!! i loved these two together.🥺
neediness, clinginess, codependency, whatever you wanna call it, just makes my heart feel all fluttery and warm. sure, it’s unhealthy as hell, but unhealthy relationships in books are my kryptonite. 🥰
by the end of the book they definitely had a semblance of a healthier relationship though and they both seemed way better mentally, which was also very nice to see after seeing them struggle so much. it was also lovely seeing andrew coming out (pun intended) of his repressed self and accepting himself.
highly recommend this book!
_____________
original review:
that was so good!! i loved these two together.🥺
neediness, clinginess, codependency, whatever you wanna call it, just makes my heart feel all fluttery and warm. sure, it’s unhealthy as hell, but unhealthy relationships in books are my kryptonite. 🥰
by the end of the book they definitely had a semblance of a healthier relationship though and they both seemed way better mentally, which was also very nice to see after seeing them struggle so much. it was also lovely seeing andrew coming out (pun intended) of his repressed self and accepting himself.
highly recommend this book!
August 18, 2023
*4.5*
Logan could no longer deny that he loved being needed by Andrew. He liked being relied on. He liked it a little too much to be healthy.
I am almost ashamed to admit how much I enjoyed this codependency romance. I gave up on this series early on, but when I saw the premise for this “left on an island” story I had to read it.
What I liked:
Plane crash
Gay man
Homophobic man (but is he really?)
Survival
We only built one shelter trope
The snark
Enemies to sex partners
The NEEDINESS was off the charts
The cuddles
He fell on top of Andrew, burying his face in his damp nape. He breathed deeply. Mine. It was bliss. He’d never felt better in his life. He drifted off, still buried inside him.
What I disliked:
Why do we need to know about all these previous characters?
Needed more of them together as a couple
More details on how they actually survived
I am almost ashamed to admit how much I enjoyed this codependency romance. I gave up on this series early on, but when I saw the premise for this “left on an island” story I had to read it.
What I liked:
Plane crash
Gay man
Homophobic man (but is he really?)
Survival
We only built one shelter trope
The snark
Enemies to sex partners
The NEEDINESS was off the charts
The cuddles
He fell on top of Andrew, burying his face in his damp nape. He breathed deeply. Mine. It was bliss. He’d never felt better in his life. He drifted off, still buried inside him.
What I disliked:
Why do we need to know about all these previous characters?
Needed more of them together as a couple
More details on how they actually survived
November 7, 2021
*4.5 stars*
Reading a story about a plane crash on a plane flight wasn't my brightest idea, but do you know what? I don't even care! This book was INSANELY hot and, well, insanely insane, but I couldn't get enough of it!
I go back and forth with this series, and the way these stories just plain make no sense (doesn't help that I absolutely don't read them in order and I go 6 months or more between stories), but they keep drawing me in, like a fish on a hook. I just can't quit them. They are so, so, so hot, like so hot that I was reading this book with my hands cupped around the pages so my airplane seatmates couldn't see what I was reading. THAT HOT.
I would have sworn up and down that I was done with the asshole, homophobic jerk redemption stories, but then Alessandra Hazard breaks down all of my resolve... these books are CRACK.
I got a little fuzzy with the plot towards the end (once again, I read out of order and I had no idea who all of these side characters were), but the parts with the naked guys on the island for months... could have read that ALL DAY LONG.
Yup, I can feel it. An Alessandra Hazard-Official Reading Streak is upon me. Don't mind me, I'm going to be gone in a hole filthy-wonderfully explicit books for a few days now. My husband better hold onto his hat.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok
Reading a story about a plane crash on a plane flight wasn't my brightest idea, but do you know what? I don't even care! This book was INSANELY hot and, well, insanely insane, but I couldn't get enough of it!
I go back and forth with this series, and the way these stories just plain make no sense (doesn't help that I absolutely don't read them in order and I go 6 months or more between stories), but they keep drawing me in, like a fish on a hook. I just can't quit them. They are so, so, so hot, like so hot that I was reading this book with my hands cupped around the pages so my airplane seatmates couldn't see what I was reading. THAT HOT.
I would have sworn up and down that I was done with the asshole, homophobic jerk redemption stories, but then Alessandra Hazard breaks down all of my resolve... these books are CRACK.
I got a little fuzzy with the plot towards the end (once again, I read out of order and I had no idea who all of these side characters were), but the parts with the naked guys on the island for months... could have read that ALL DAY LONG.
Yup, I can feel it. An Alessandra Hazard-Official Reading Streak is upon me. Don't mind me, I'm going to be gone in a hole filthy-wonderfully explicit books for a few days now. My husband better hold onto his hat.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok
September 1, 2023
4.25 “You and Me,” ⭐ stars.
Me before this book:
*Reads homophobic asshole in the blurb*
Me: AGH FUCK. Alessandra is back at it again with her colorful mouthed heroes.
Me finishing this book: I'll be damned.
I had little to no knowledge, barely any expectations under than to receive candies of Ian and Miles, and probably hate one of the hero from the start of this book.
✔️ Loved both of our Heroes
❌ One tinyyyyy crumb of a scene featuring my two loves from book 10
This book was gut wrenching. I cried at the start of this book (probably because I had just woken up) and felt so bad for Andrew and just... his devastation was so palpable and heart breaking. I love it when books have these characters where even if there's a part of them that's ugly and hideous and condescending and mean, there's also another that's gentle and vulnerable, sweet and so fucking genuine. Loved the way Alessandra portrayed Andrew. It was a craft that she truly excels in and I love her for it.
Logan “I want you to force me.” McCall. Ugk, loved his bossiness so much, how caring he was, tender and so fucking sweet sometimes, how he would hold Andrew, soothe him and kept the monsters lurking around Andrew's head, quiet.
It truly felt like they were each other's world, through the thick of it, through every lost hope, throughout each other's least proud moments, every break down. They were there for each other and I fucking loved it.
✨ the codependency vibes were IMMACULATE ✨
💨 I think the only thing that's hindering me from giving this a full five star, and believe me, I really want to but dumb ass is just so picky, is because I wish the ending was written more smoothly and less abrupt that the tone changes drastically in like the last 2-3 chapters. Like nahhhh, I have a higher tolerance of AH's writing now but there was something just didn't quite feel right or complete.
/ not sure if I'm excited for book 12 omg 😳 what a plot twist cus that's 21' SG /
Reread #2 May 22-24, 2023
→ this is even more good the 2nd time around 💘💘💕
Reread # 3 August 31, 2023
→ needed a comfort book 🧏 and just a bit captivating (Aiden's book) is finally getting published (in November 😭🤧🤧) so I can't wait !!!
Initial Reactions:
Damn, This was sad AF
Me before this book:
*Reads homophobic asshole in the blurb*
Me: AGH FUCK. Alessandra is back at it again with her colorful mouthed heroes.
Me finishing this book: I'll be damned.
I had little to no knowledge, barely any expectations under than to receive candies of Ian and Miles, and probably hate one of the hero from the start of this book.
✔️ Loved both of our Heroes
❌ One tinyyyyy crumb of a scene featuring my two loves from book 10
This book was gut wrenching. I cried at the start of this book (probably because I had just woken up) and felt so bad for Andrew and just... his devastation was so palpable and heart breaking. I love it when books have these characters where even if there's a part of them that's ugly and hideous and condescending and mean, there's also another that's gentle and vulnerable, sweet and so fucking genuine. Loved the way Alessandra portrayed Andrew. It was a craft that she truly excels in and I love her for it.
“...I feel like—like a river without water. The world feels so off without you, and you’re the only thing that makes me feel whole.”
Logan “I want you to force me.” McCall. Ugk, loved his bossiness so much, how caring he was, tender and so fucking sweet sometimes, how he would hold Andrew, soothe him and kept the monsters lurking around Andrew's head, quiet.
It was bliss. It was torture. It was everything he had missed and wanted these past weeks. More than the sex—the closeness. The rightness. The exquisite intimacy of holding this person in his arms and feeling at peace with himself and the world. Like two pieces of a puzzle. Two pieces of a puzzle that should have never fit together and yet they had somehow learned to—and now couldn’t unlearn it.
It truly felt like they were each other's world, through the thick of it, through every lost hope, throughout each other's least proud moments, every break down. They were there for each other and I fucking loved it.
✨ the codependency vibes were IMMACULATE ✨
“Fine,” he grumbled, resuming stroking. “But don’t get any funny ideas. If you even think about sticking your cock in my ass—”
“Not planning to,” Logan said. “I have standards.”
“I hate you,” Andrew said with feeling, fisting his cock faster. “God, I can’t stand you.”
Logan snorted. “The feeling is mutual, you bigoted little tease,” he said, his cock pressing harder and harder between Andrew’s cheeks.
💨 I think the only thing that's hindering me from giving this a full five star, and believe me, I really want to but dumb ass is just so picky, is because I wish the ending was written more smoothly and less abrupt that the tone changes drastically in like the last 2-3 chapters. Like nahhhh, I have a higher tolerance of AH's writing now but there was something just didn't quite feel right or complete.
It felt like a dream. It felt like a descent into madness. Like falling into an ocean and voluntarily drowning.
/ not sure if I'm excited for book 12 omg 😳 what a plot twist cus that's 21' SG /
Reread #2 May 22-24, 2023
→ this is even more good the 2nd time around 💘💘💕
Reread # 3 August 31, 2023
→ needed a comfort book 🧏 and just a bit captivating (Aiden's book) is finally getting published (in November 😭🤧🤧) so I can't wait !!!
Initial Reactions:
Damn, This was sad AF
June 30, 2022
Second reread- June 2022
***5.0 rating***
Forever love this duo😍. Andrew and Logan make me smile each time I read about them. The neediness and codependency 😩😩 I love it all. Probably one of my favorites and one of the best couples from this series😌. I said what I said💁🏼♀️.
_______________________________
***4.5 rating***
"The world feels so off without you, and you’re the only thing that makes me feel whole.”
I am happy to say that my reading slump seems to be slowly fading away. Not sure how long it will last but I am happy that my past two readings have not been a 3 star rating or less. I am actually enjoying my reads instead of wishing for them to be over.
Hallelujah.
Book 11. What can I say about this book or series that has not been already said. I can see why so many love this one. I am there with you peeps. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Book 11 is right up there with Book 7. I see a theme here lol.
So why was this a win?
Codependency. Unhealthy attachment. Unrealistic scenarios. Neediness. Mutual desire. Denial. I can go on lol.
I have fully embraced the toxicity and suspending all disbelief. If you want to read a masterpiece and feel the need to trash AH you can kindly go read other books that offer that but this series is for pure entertainment and escapism only. I devoured this book and honestly this entire series. Loved it. I was gonna give it a 4.0 rating but what the hell I am gonna make it a 4.5 rating because I really did love it, even if the scenario/plot that brought Logan and Andrew together was predictable.
A homophobe and a proud gay man being stuck together on a desert island as a result of a plane crash...I didn't know what to expect haha. I mean what could possibly go wrong? Two attractive men in their prime, stranded with no one in sight. Hmm. The attraction was bound to happen. Weird circumstance/tragedy brought these two unlikely people together, making them depend on one another for survival and sanity. Attachment and codependency was inevitable, but so was denial apparently. Neither Logan or Andrew wanted to admit that this was more than codependency or survival. Unhealthy? Toxic? You name it but these two needed one another. Sexual chemistry was there, everything was there. Even Mother Nature was rooting for these two with the endless raining on the island. Lmao.
I really felt for Andrew and his loss. Vivian seemed like a nice, kind lady. Andrew's coping mechanism with everything seemed to be through his codependency and attachment to Logan. He had done it with Vivian too but his attraction and need for Logan was something much more intense and desperate.
Seeing these two trying to be apart in Part 2, or trying to live "normal" was hilarious. Who were they kidding? Andrew was so needy for Logan and Logan loved being needed by Drew. They even went to a therapist together. But normal or not, life without the other seemed impossible. Unnatural even. I liked part 2 a lot. I wish it was longer. 206 pages is not enough. At all. sigh.
Andrew's character development was well done. He went from a grief stricken homophobic man who was in denial about his feelings regarding another man to a man who was doing slightly better, no longer a bigot, and no longer in denial about Logan. With Logan he was happy, needed, and he even showed displays of affection in public, something he didn't do with Vivian.
I wish we knew more about Logan, we know a lot about Drew because he is mentioned in other books but not much about Logan. I wanted more of this book. It was too short.😭 It felt like a novella.
Shawn, Derek, Miles and Ian grace us with a cameo in book 11, and we are introduced to the sexy bossy man that is Raffaele and his "straight" assistant, Nate. I already read book 12 before I began this series but I will obviously be rereading it again, because how could I not? I am sad that this series is over...for now at least.
When is book 13 coming out? I need more. I hope its longer than this book.
I am sad people. This book ended too fast. 😭
Book 11. Another win. Another favorite.
☺️
***5.0 rating***
Forever love this duo😍. Andrew and Logan make me smile each time I read about them. The neediness and codependency 😩😩 I love it all. Probably one of my favorites and one of the best couples from this series😌. I said what I said💁🏼♀️.
_______________________________
***4.5 rating***
"The world feels so off without you, and you’re the only thing that makes me feel whole.”
I am happy to say that my reading slump seems to be slowly fading away. Not sure how long it will last but I am happy that my past two readings have not been a 3 star rating or less. I am actually enjoying my reads instead of wishing for them to be over.
Hallelujah.
Book 11. What can I say about this book or series that has not been already said. I can see why so many love this one. I am there with you peeps. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Book 11 is right up there with Book 7. I see a theme here lol.
So why was this a win?
Codependency. Unhealthy attachment. Unrealistic scenarios. Neediness. Mutual desire. Denial. I can go on lol.
I have fully embraced the toxicity and suspending all disbelief. If you want to read a masterpiece and feel the need to trash AH you can kindly go read other books that offer that but this series is for pure entertainment and escapism only. I devoured this book and honestly this entire series. Loved it. I was gonna give it a 4.0 rating but what the hell I am gonna make it a 4.5 rating because I really did love it, even if the scenario/plot that brought Logan and Andrew together was predictable.
A homophobe and a proud gay man being stuck together on a desert island as a result of a plane crash...I didn't know what to expect haha. I mean what could possibly go wrong? Two attractive men in their prime, stranded with no one in sight. Hmm. The attraction was bound to happen. Weird circumstance/tragedy brought these two unlikely people together, making them depend on one another for survival and sanity. Attachment and codependency was inevitable, but so was denial apparently. Neither Logan or Andrew wanted to admit that this was more than codependency or survival. Unhealthy? Toxic? You name it but these two needed one another. Sexual chemistry was there, everything was there. Even Mother Nature was rooting for these two with the endless raining on the island. Lmao.
I really felt for Andrew and his loss. Vivian seemed like a nice, kind lady. Andrew's coping mechanism with everything seemed to be through his codependency and attachment to Logan. He had done it with Vivian too but his attraction and need for Logan was something much more intense and desperate.
Seeing these two trying to be apart in Part 2, or trying to live "normal" was hilarious. Who were they kidding? Andrew was so needy for Logan and Logan loved being needed by Drew. They even went to a therapist together. But normal or not, life without the other seemed impossible. Unnatural even. I liked part 2 a lot. I wish it was longer. 206 pages is not enough. At all. sigh.
Andrew's character development was well done. He went from a grief stricken homophobic man who was in denial about his feelings regarding another man to a man who was doing slightly better, no longer a bigot, and no longer in denial about Logan. With Logan he was happy, needed, and he even showed displays of affection in public, something he didn't do with Vivian.
I wish we knew more about Logan, we know a lot about Drew because he is mentioned in other books but not much about Logan. I wanted more of this book. It was too short.😭 It felt like a novella.
Shawn, Derek, Miles and Ian grace us with a cameo in book 11, and we are introduced to the sexy bossy man that is Raffaele and his "straight" assistant, Nate. I already read book 12 before I began this series but I will obviously be rereading it again, because how could I not? I am sad that this series is over...for now at least.
When is book 13 coming out? I need more. I hope its longer than this book.
I am sad people. This book ended too fast. 😭
Book 11. Another win. Another favorite.
☺️
March 26, 2024
4.5
I LOVE IT A LOT I FEAR 💁🏽♀️
Edit: something I forgot to say about this. The year is 2021 and I feel that most of these authors are very talented and can express racism, homophobia, transphobia and other things without using slurs. I a Black woman can pick up on micro-aggressions and anti-blackness without someone calling me the n-word. I feel like excessive use of the word is just lazy writing and I can’t help but feel some use it to live a fantasy of being an asshole. Some words aren’t for you, even if you’re writing it.
I LOVE IT A LOT I FEAR 💁🏽♀️
Edit: something I forgot to say about this. The year is 2021 and I feel that most of these authors are very talented and can express racism, homophobia, transphobia and other things without using slurs. I a Black woman can pick up on micro-aggressions and anti-blackness without someone calling me the n-word. I feel like excessive use of the word is just lazy writing and I can’t help but feel some use it to live a fantasy of being an asshole. Some words aren’t for you, even if you’re writing it.
November 28, 2023
Just a Bit Wrecked is book eleven in the Straight Guys series by Alessandra Hazard. Oh my freaking gosh! This book!! It is one of, if not THE favorite of the series. I’ve been waiting to get to this one and it was so worth the wait!
Andrew Reyes is thirty two years old, straight, happily married, and quite verbal with his views against gay people. His wife is the sister of Derek Rutledge (from book one.)
Logan McCall is thirty three years old, is openly gay and is owner and CEO of a popular hotel chain.
Both Logan and Andrew are on their way home from a vacation, Andrew with his wife and Logan with a man he met at the resort. But something goes terribly wrong and their plane crashes. They find themselves on a very small, uninhabited island in the Pacific, the only two survivors.
Of course there is grief, especially for Andrew. He loved his wife dearly. At first, there is hope for a rescue. But days turn into weeks which turn into months and all hope is lost. The relationship between the two men is strained in the beginning. Logan knows exactly how Andrew feels about his sexuality. But as time goes on, they have to depend on one another to survive. And they only have each other for company. After months together, they are completely reliant on one another and are rarely more than a few inches apart. They barely need words to communicate they are so in tune with one another.
I adored this book. And I loved getting to see so many of the characters from the previous books as well. I think when I’m done with the series, it’s this book my mind will drift back to the most. For now, though, I’m off to book twelve, Just a Bit Bossy. It is Raffaele and Nate’s book, two characters we met in this book!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Andrew Reyes is thirty two years old, straight, happily married, and quite verbal with his views against gay people. His wife is the sister of Derek Rutledge (from book one.)
Logan McCall is thirty three years old, is openly gay and is owner and CEO of a popular hotel chain.
Both Logan and Andrew are on their way home from a vacation, Andrew with his wife and Logan with a man he met at the resort. But something goes terribly wrong and their plane crashes. They find themselves on a very small, uninhabited island in the Pacific, the only two survivors.
Of course there is grief, especially for Andrew. He loved his wife dearly. At first, there is hope for a rescue. But days turn into weeks which turn into months and all hope is lost. The relationship between the two men is strained in the beginning. Logan knows exactly how Andrew feels about his sexuality. But as time goes on, they have to depend on one another to survive. And they only have each other for company. After months together, they are completely reliant on one another and are rarely more than a few inches apart. They barely need words to communicate they are so in tune with one another.
I adored this book. And I loved getting to see so many of the characters from the previous books as well. I think when I’m done with the series, it’s this book my mind will drift back to the most. For now, though, I’m off to book twelve, Just a Bit Bossy. It is Raffaele and Nate’s book, two characters we met in this book!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
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June 25, 2024
|| 2.5 stars ||
This really wasn’t great.
I disliked both of the main characters, the romance was all sex and no love, the plot was silly and a bit ridiculous, the homophobia got on my nerves, the neediness and co-dependency was plain unhealthy rather than sweet or swoon-worthy, and the book was generally just repetitive, slightly boring and very annoying.
I do have to say that it got a little better near the end, and I definitely preferred ‘part 2’ over ‘part 1’, but none of it was something I truly enjoyed much.
I think I might have even been a little too generous with my rating.
'Straight Guys' series:
0. Straight Boy - 3.0 stars
1. Just a Bit Twisted - 3.5 stars
2. Just a Bit Obsessed - 3.0 stars
3. Just a Bit Unhealthy - 2.5 stars
4. Just a Bit Wrong - 3.5 stars
5. Just a Bit Confusing - 1.5 stars
6. Just a Bit Ruthless - 4.0 stars
7. Just a Bit Wicked - 3.5 stars
8. Just a Bit Shameless - 4.5 stars
9. Just a Bit Gay - 1.0 star
10. Just a Bit Dirty - 3.0 stars
11. Just a Bit Wrecked - 2.5 stars
12. Just a Bit Bossy - 3.0 stars
13. Just a Bit Heartless - 3.5 stars
14. Just a Bit Captivated - 3.0 stars
This really wasn’t great.
I disliked both of the main characters, the romance was all sex and no love, the plot was silly and a bit ridiculous, the homophobia got on my nerves, the neediness and co-dependency was plain unhealthy rather than sweet or swoon-worthy, and the book was generally just repetitive, slightly boring and very annoying.
I do have to say that it got a little better near the end, and I definitely preferred ‘part 2’ over ‘part 1’, but none of it was something I truly enjoyed much.
I think I might have even been a little too generous with my rating.
'Straight Guys' series:
0. Straight Boy - 3.0 stars
1. Just a Bit Twisted - 3.5 stars
2. Just a Bit Obsessed - 3.0 stars
3. Just a Bit Unhealthy - 2.5 stars
4. Just a Bit Wrong - 3.5 stars
5. Just a Bit Confusing - 1.5 stars
6. Just a Bit Ruthless - 4.0 stars
7. Just a Bit Wicked - 3.5 stars
8. Just a Bit Shameless - 4.5 stars
9. Just a Bit Gay - 1.0 star
10. Just a Bit Dirty - 3.0 stars
11. Just a Bit Wrecked - 2.5 stars
12. Just a Bit Bossy - 3.0 stars
13. Just a Bit Heartless - 3.5 stars
14. Just a Bit Captivated - 3.0 stars
September 22, 2022
3.75 Stars
Told in multiple POV, 3rd person, it’s the 11th installment in the "Straight Guys" series with characters’ crossover. It’s full angsty with enemies-to-lovers trop and a bit rushed. I wish I could see how Andrew fights with his insecurities. I wish I could have seen one or two of his therapy sessions. Andrew is repressed, vulnerable, lonely and hungry for affection and approval. And Logan is the only person who makes him feel whole. Andrew & Logan need each other, they are obsessed with each other. The title has been rightly given to this story because they both are really wrecked after what they lived (Andrew more than Logan). All in all, it was an enjoyable read and hope you like it as well!
Told in multiple POV, 3rd person, it’s the 11th installment in the "Straight Guys" series with characters’ crossover. It’s full angsty with enemies-to-lovers trop and a bit rushed. I wish I could see how Andrew fights with his insecurities. I wish I could have seen one or two of his therapy sessions. Andrew is repressed, vulnerable, lonely and hungry for affection and approval. And Logan is the only person who makes him feel whole. Andrew & Logan need each other, they are obsessed with each other. The title has been rightly given to this story because they both are really wrecked after what they lived (Andrew more than Logan). All in all, it was an enjoyable read and hope you like it as well!
December 18, 2020
Castaway with a side of soft kink!
It goes a little something like this:
Homophobe
+
Outandproud sexy man
Crash on an island
Time passes
Details are vague
They survive
They need each other
Do they hate each other?
Things happen in a shelter
Homophobe says he’s not gay
Outandproud sexy man snorts
Homophobe takes to suckling well
Very well
Kinky
Still not gay
Still not queer
*snorts* (that was the sexy man who now needs the suckling)
—this is where I wonder just how hairy, matted, and attractive these two are—
Months pass
Needy months
When homophobe NEEDS a cock in his mouth to sleep.
Needy months
When Outandproud sexy man NEEDS to use that mouth.
Needy kink
SPOILER!!!!
Rescue! (What, did you think they’d be stuck on an island forever?)
They go home
They separate
—oh no! What ever will happen to bring them together again!—
Homophobe isn’t so homophobic
Still has ISSUES
Still needs his mouth FULL o’ sexy COCK
Troubles adjusting
Blah blah
Things happen
Sex happens!!! Full on!! Woot!! 🍒💥
Conflicty stuff
Growth—personal, not physical 😉
Nothomophobeandmaybebisexual man
+
Outandproud sexy man
=
Love
4
Evah
It goes a little something like this:
Homophobe
+
Outandproud sexy man
Crash on an island
Time passes
Details are vague
They survive
They need each other
Do they hate each other?
Things happen in a shelter
Homophobe says he’s not gay
Outandproud sexy man snorts
Homophobe takes to suckling well
Very well
Kinky
Still not gay
Still not queer
*snorts* (that was the sexy man who now needs the suckling)
—this is where I wonder just how hairy, matted, and attractive these two are—
Months pass
Needy months
When homophobe NEEDS a cock in his mouth to sleep.
Needy months
When Outandproud sexy man NEEDS to use that mouth.
Needy kink
SPOILER!!!!
Rescue! (What, did you think they’d be stuck on an island forever?)
They go home
They separate
—oh no! What ever will happen to bring them together again!—
Homophobe isn’t so homophobic
Still has ISSUES
Still needs his mouth FULL o’ sexy COCK
Troubles adjusting
Blah blah
Things happen
Sex happens!!! Full on!! Woot!! 🍒💥
Conflicty stuff
Growth—personal, not physical 😉
Nothomophobeandmaybebisexual man
+
Outandproud sexy man
=
Love
4
Evah
July 20, 2021
The codependency and neediness of it all! Amazing. I wish this book was a
bit
longer. Maybe this is the Survivor super-fan in me but not hearing much about how they survived left me scratching my head a bit. How did they figure it all out? Basically all we heard was that the fish they caught was bland and the boredom was excruciating. Tell me about more of the struggles, I beg!!! It would have made me feel more connected to their journey. I also feel like it was a bit rushed overall. I still loved it though!
A.H. is a master at what she does and it's so easy to get sucked into her writing. I feel the same way even if I don't particularly like the book.
The sex scenes? Immaculate. Andrew needing to suck dick 24/7? Incredible. When Andrew would nuzzle as close as possible to Logan? The cuddling? Inject that into my veins. Them being sappy and in love? Thank you so much.
Maybe Logan knew Ozzy from Survivor and got tips from him and that's how they survived on the island. I'm going with that.
A.H. is a master at what she does and it's so easy to get sucked into her writing. I feel the same way even if I don't particularly like the book.
The sex scenes? Immaculate. Andrew needing to suck dick 24/7? Incredible. When Andrew would nuzzle as close as possible to Logan? The cuddling? Inject that into my veins. Them being sappy and in love? Thank you so much.
Maybe Logan knew Ozzy from Survivor and got tips from him and that's how they survived on the island. I'm going with that.
November 14, 2022
4.5 stars ☆
At last, Logan said, looking him in the eyes, “Even if he heard something, he wasn’t here. He didn’t see anything. It was just you and me.”
Andrew swallowed.
“You and me,” he repeated, and somehow, the words turned into something he hadn’t intended them to be, and the air between them grew thick and heavy. Andrew found himself blushing, for no damn reason.
is it bad how much i loved the neediness and clinginess in this? realistically, it would be unhealthy but idc bc i ate that shit up and i just loved Andrew and Logan together. 🥰😭
At last, Logan said, looking him in the eyes, “Even if he heard something, he wasn’t here. He didn’t see anything. It was just you and me.”
Andrew swallowed.
“You and me,” he repeated, and somehow, the words turned into something he hadn’t intended them to be, and the air between them grew thick and heavy. Andrew found himself blushing, for no damn reason.
is it bad how much i loved the neediness and clinginess in this? realistically, it would be unhealthy but idc bc i ate that shit up and i just loved Andrew and Logan together. 🥰😭
October 23, 2024
Reread 10/24
Reread 8/23
Loved it just as much as the first time, if not more so!!!
4.5 Stars
Desert island tropes are a weakness of mine and I couldn’t wait to read Logan’s/Andrew’s story, even though I didn’t think it would be possible to like homophobe Andrew, who appeared briefly in Just a Bit Twisted. However, as per usual, Alessandra worked her magic!
God, I love these two together - the way Andrew became excessively reliant and how Logan loved being needed. I will never be able to look at a pacifier in the same way again 😂 The co-dependency was chefs kiss and the best I’ve read to date!
Andrew’s emotional turmoil at the beginning really got to me. I was concerned that when the inevitable happened, it would be too soon, but actually it was timed perfectly.
If I had one tiny niggle, it would be about their time spent on the island. When it comes to desert island tropes, I love the struggle of surviving a harsh environment. In that respect, I found the world-building a tad lazy as it didn’t entirely satisfy my whim for the finer details. What did they build that shelter out of? Where did that tomato come from? 😂 Nevertheless, it didn’t affect my enjoyment and 10/10 for the sizzling shelter shenanigans 😍
On a side note: It was a bonus to see more of Shawn & Derek, although I did wonder where the twins were? And whilst this can be read as a stand-alone, I wish I’d read Just a Bit Dirty before-hand, as it would have given me a little more perspective in relation to some of the side characters.
If I’ve learned anything from this series, it’s not to take it too seriously. May be it was my mood or that I just happened to read this at the right time, but I loved it and no doubt will be one of my favourites once I’ve completed the series.
Reread 8/23
Loved it just as much as the first time, if not more so!!!
4.5 Stars
Desert island tropes are a weakness of mine and I couldn’t wait to read Logan’s/Andrew’s story, even though I didn’t think it would be possible to like homophobe Andrew, who appeared briefly in Just a Bit Twisted. However, as per usual, Alessandra worked her magic!
God, I love these two together - the way Andrew became excessively reliant and how Logan loved being needed. I will never be able to look at a pacifier in the same way again 😂 The co-dependency was chefs kiss and the best I’ve read to date!
He hated how right this felt—holding this mess of a human being, this guy who was a total wreck, who was bigoted and beyond repressed but at the same time vulnerable, lonely, and hungry for affection and approval. “It’s like a fucking disease,” Andrew said into his chest, barely audibly. “Something empty and wrong inside me. I feel like—like a river without water. The world feels so off without you, and you’re the only thing that makes me feel whole.”
Andrew’s emotional turmoil at the beginning really got to me. I was concerned that when the inevitable happened, it would be too soon, but actually it was timed perfectly.
If I had one tiny niggle, it would be about their time spent on the island. When it comes to desert island tropes, I love the struggle of surviving a harsh environment. In that respect, I found the world-building a tad lazy as it didn’t entirely satisfy my whim for the finer details. What did they build that shelter out of? Where did that tomato come from? 😂 Nevertheless, it didn’t affect my enjoyment and 10/10 for the sizzling shelter shenanigans 😍
On a side note: It was a bonus to see more of Shawn & Derek, although I did wonder where the twins were? And whilst this can be read as a stand-alone, I wish I’d read Just a Bit Dirty before-hand, as it would have given me a little more perspective in relation to some of the side characters.
If I’ve learned anything from this series, it’s not to take it too seriously. May be it was my mood or that I just happened to read this at the right time, but I loved it and no doubt will be one of my favourites once I’ve completed the series.
August 31, 2021
… and I hated every second.
Let me preface this by saying that I hate Alessandra Hazard‘s writing and I only read this because of the premise. Now that that’s out of the way:
Can we just talk about the premise of this? It’s too goddamn weird.
A plane crash. A homophobe and a gay man stranded together on a desert island. A love born out of hatred, need, and mutual desperation.
That’s just batshit crazy. Look me in the eyes and tell me it isn’t batshit crazy.
How does one even come up with something like that. What drugs does Alessandra Hazard take.
My first mistake was reading this after reading Just A Bit Twisted. Because I already knew Andrew and already established my hatred of him and worst of all, already imagined him looking like an ugly version of Shrek.
So let me just say, I was NOT FEELING IT when Logan started to be like "Hmm… Andrew is looking really hot right now." HE’S AN OGRE LOGAN.
So needless to say that my notes for the first like 70 pages are just a lot of sighing and eye-roll emojis. Also what’s with Hazard and her love of the word „normal“? If I hear another one of her characters say "I’m not gay. I’m normal." I will personally go wherever she lives and punch her. You could just stop after "I’m not gay."???? It’s not that hard???
But then Alessandra took this way too fast-paced and nonsensical storyline and introduced the only element guaranteed to make me weak: ANGST.
Why was there so much angst in this? It’s like those two are the only two survivors of a plane crash stranded on a desert island without any hope for help or something, smh.
Literally no need for this much angst.
I had like five anxiety attacks, how do I explain this to my therapist. Not that I have one. I should though. Someone pay for the therapy I obviously need, please.
"The one time Logan left their bedroll in the middle of the night to answer the call of nature, he had to run back when Andrew started calling out his name in a tight, panicked voice.
"Shh, I’m here," Logan said, wrapping his arms around Andrew’s shaking form. Andrew clung to him, breathing raggedly, his face buried in Logan’s neck. "Just a nightmare," he said at last, clearly trying to save face. They both knew it was a lie, but Logan didn’t call him on it. He understood. He understood all too well."
Fuck you, this book is a nightmare.
Also, what was up with Andrew? He was contantly like "No one needs me, No one wants me." Every time he said that my eyes somehow started to get wet? It’s not even allergy season?
"I really hate you," he whispered, his voice catching. "How are you so well adjusted already while I’m such a mess?"
There was no response for a while.
A breath, then another.
Logan said stiffly, "I wouldn’t be calling you in the middle of the night if I were well adjusted."
"I think that was an insult, but I’m too drunk to get offended."
Andrew wished it were true. He might be drunk, but Logan’s words stabbed something deep inside of him, stabbed and twisted. No one needed him. No one wanted hin. No one wanted to need him."
PAIN!!!!!!!
"All right, it’s none of my business. You’re none of my business." Maybe if he repeated it often enough, he might finally start acting like it. God, he couldn’t wait.
[…]
His every instinct screamed to get out of the car, grab Andrew, and tell him that of course he was Logan’s business. Just his."
We are all currently not breathing properly right? RIGHT?
"They were somehow too intimate and too apart at the same time. It was a paradox."
The paradox is how Alessandra Hazard managed to make me like Andrew. I DIDN’T WANT TO LIKE ANDREW, ALESSANDRA. I WANTED TO GIVE THIS TWO STARS AND MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE.
Instead I sat there hyperventilating all day because of scenes like this:
"Logan suddenly felt cold, and it had little to do with the chilly November weather.
"All right, I can’t do it," he said without looking at Andrew.
"Do what?"
Logan shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "Us."
"But…" Andrew whispered, his voice barely audible. "But I need you."
Logan’s chest hurt. "I need you, too," he admitted. "But needing isn’t enough. Need and want are different things, and you don’t want this." You don’t want me.
[…]
Turn back, a voice at the back of his mind said insistently. Grab him and shackle him to you if you need to. Brand your name on him. He’s yours. Yours yours yours."
I think my problem is that as a kid I used to write stories but because I was a very sad kid I would only write sad stories, like the hero betraying their partner to join the side of the villain, or person A telling person B that they loved them, only for person B to be like „We can’t do this“ and leaving person A forever.
I would just sit there writing this very angsty stuff, with tears streaming down my face because I wasn’t only a very depressed 8th grader, no I was also overly sensitive.
My point is, I don’t think that childhood experience had a good influence on me. Give me an angsty book now and I act like it’s the highest form of literature.
Bottom line: I hate Andrew and Logan. They suck. Also what was up with the dick-pacifier stuff.
4.5 stars.
Let me preface this by saying that I hate Alessandra Hazard‘s writing and I only read this because of the premise. Now that that’s out of the way:
Can we just talk about the premise of this? It’s too goddamn weird.
A plane crash. A homophobe and a gay man stranded together on a desert island. A love born out of hatred, need, and mutual desperation.
That’s just batshit crazy. Look me in the eyes and tell me it isn’t batshit crazy.
How does one even come up with something like that. What drugs does Alessandra Hazard take.
My first mistake was reading this after reading Just A Bit Twisted. Because I already knew Andrew and already established my hatred of him and worst of all, already imagined him looking like an ugly version of Shrek.
So let me just say, I was NOT FEELING IT when Logan started to be like "Hmm… Andrew is looking really hot right now." HE’S AN OGRE LOGAN.
So needless to say that my notes for the first like 70 pages are just a lot of sighing and eye-roll emojis. Also what’s with Hazard and her love of the word „normal“? If I hear another one of her characters say "I’m not gay. I’m normal." I will personally go wherever she lives and punch her. You could just stop after "I’m not gay."???? It’s not that hard???
But then Alessandra took this way too fast-paced and nonsensical storyline and introduced the only element guaranteed to make me weak: ANGST.
Why was there so much angst in this? It’s like those two are the only two survivors of a plane crash stranded on a desert island without any hope for help or something, smh.
Literally no need for this much angst.
I had like five anxiety attacks, how do I explain this to my therapist. Not that I have one. I should though. Someone pay for the therapy I obviously need, please.
"The one time Logan left their bedroll in the middle of the night to answer the call of nature, he had to run back when Andrew started calling out his name in a tight, panicked voice.
"Shh, I’m here," Logan said, wrapping his arms around Andrew’s shaking form. Andrew clung to him, breathing raggedly, his face buried in Logan’s neck. "Just a nightmare," he said at last, clearly trying to save face. They both knew it was a lie, but Logan didn’t call him on it. He understood. He understood all too well."
Fuck you, this book is a nightmare.
Also, what was up with Andrew? He was contantly like "No one needs me, No one wants me." Every time he said that my eyes somehow started to get wet? It’s not even allergy season?
"I really hate you," he whispered, his voice catching. "How are you so well adjusted already while I’m such a mess?"
There was no response for a while.
A breath, then another.
Logan said stiffly, "I wouldn’t be calling you in the middle of the night if I were well adjusted."
"I think that was an insult, but I’m too drunk to get offended."
Andrew wished it were true. He might be drunk, but Logan’s words stabbed something deep inside of him, stabbed and twisted. No one needed him. No one wanted hin. No one wanted to need him."
PAIN!!!!!!!
"All right, it’s none of my business. You’re none of my business." Maybe if he repeated it often enough, he might finally start acting like it. God, he couldn’t wait.
[…]
His every instinct screamed to get out of the car, grab Andrew, and tell him that of course he was Logan’s business. Just his."
We are all currently not breathing properly right? RIGHT?
"They were somehow too intimate and too apart at the same time. It was a paradox."
The paradox is how Alessandra Hazard managed to make me like Andrew. I DIDN’T WANT TO LIKE ANDREW, ALESSANDRA. I WANTED TO GIVE THIS TWO STARS AND MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE.
Instead I sat there hyperventilating all day because of scenes like this:
"Logan suddenly felt cold, and it had little to do with the chilly November weather.
"All right, I can’t do it," he said without looking at Andrew.
"Do what?"
Logan shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "Us."
"But…" Andrew whispered, his voice barely audible. "But I need you."
Logan’s chest hurt. "I need you, too," he admitted. "But needing isn’t enough. Need and want are different things, and you don’t want this." You don’t want me.
[…]
Turn back, a voice at the back of his mind said insistently. Grab him and shackle him to you if you need to. Brand your name on him. He’s yours. Yours yours yours."
I think my problem is that as a kid I used to write stories but because I was a very sad kid I would only write sad stories, like the hero betraying their partner to join the side of the villain, or person A telling person B that they loved them, only for person B to be like „We can’t do this“ and leaving person A forever.
I would just sit there writing this very angsty stuff, with tears streaming down my face because I wasn’t only a very depressed 8th grader, no I was also overly sensitive.
My point is, I don’t think that childhood experience had a good influence on me. Give me an angsty book now and I act like it’s the highest form of literature.
Bottom line: I hate Andrew and Logan. They suck. Also what was up with the dick-pacifier stuff.
4.5 stars.
December 12, 2020
I have such a love/hate relationship with this author's books. She does a lot of things that really work for me, and then she does a lot of things that just... don't, lol. This was no exception. I love a desert island trope, and I go into those stories with the understanding that there'll be a certain amount of suspension of disbelief required for practical matters. But I also really love a well-done survival story, so the suspension of disbelief happens on the understanding that the author will have made at least a token effort towards making things somewhat believable.
Hazard clearly did not give a single solitary fuck about the credibility of the survival aspect. That would have been fine if the relationship aspect had made up for it, but it didn't really, so I ended up distracted by the shaky setting a lot. (So the island is tiny and has no food growing on it so presumably no soil, so are they growing tomatoes in sand? That doesn't work. Oh but it must have soil because there is somehow enough firewood to last eight months. Wait, what? And how have they not over-fished the place after that long? And how are they catching those fish at all? Catching fish isn't easy. What is the shelter made of? Why aren't they using the partial plane fuselage for anything? Did they dig a latrine? Eight months is a lot of crap for a tiny island. What did they dig the graves with? Shouldn't they have full beards? How are they not starving? etc. etc.) These are things that are entirely in the author's power to make at least vaguely plausible, and it bugged me that she didn't bother.
The island part of Logan and Andrew's relationship had so much potential, but it felt kinda phoned in to me. Andrew's grief over his wife is glossed over, neither character seems to have a particular crisis about the prospect of no rescue (there's a line in there somewhere about how Logan finds it hard to accept that they'll spend the rest of their lives there, but then he does accept it. Just like that. Your entire life. nbd. Okay then). Pretty quickly, they move from enforced proximity to the kind of unhealthy codependency that Hazard seems to really enjoy writing about and that I just don't enjoy much. There doesn't even seem to be much of a genuine spark, although there's an initial hint at interesting dynamics, but then they just sort of go straight to this weirdly monotonous routine of comfort-banging. It's not about sex, it's not about a relationship, it's just... happening. They don't kiss, they don't talk about it, it doesn't evolve. It's just the same acts repeated over months. It felt oddly perfunctory to me and I found it hard to root for. (It takes a lot for me to not enjoy a blow-job, but turns out using a dick in your mouth as some kind of pacifier replacement so you can sleep will do it. Pass!)
The more interesting part of the story happens once Logan and Andrew get back to civilisation and have to deal with fitting back into an entirely different world. I found this part a lot more engaging and I appreciated that there was some attempt at acknowledging and dealing with the bizarreness of their codependency. There were some actual feesly moments in it. (Therapists get such a bad rap in this story though, omg.)
On the whole, this pairing just didn't really work for me. I thought going in that Andrew's previously established homophobia would be a big hurdle to overcome, but while it was not apparently quite what it had previously been set up as, I kind of felt like the whole character was a different person from the one originally introduced. He got a whole Tristan DuVal make-over with a sad story about a sad childhood, and he was acting a lot younger than he was meant to be, so I never really felt like he was his own character (didn't help that he apparently looks like Tristan too). Logan was perfectly fine but also felt a bit cobbled together from previous similar types. Neither of them felt particularly genuine or memorable, and their relationship spent so long in unhappy codependencelandia that when it took a corner into actual feelings, it was both too late in the story and also way too fast, so it just spun out into "wait, when did that happen?"
Also: no kissing until 70%. Small thing but I missed it. Kissing can make a big difference in how intimate a connection actually feels.
I appreciated that bisexuality was eventually acknowledged, and that the uncaring aunt wasn't as uncaring as she'd been made out to be, but all the clingy neediness and dubious approach to mental health made this a bit meh for me. Normally these books are at least hot if nothing else, but these two just left me kinda lukewarm. Bit of a waste of a perfectly fun trope!
Hazard clearly did not give a single solitary fuck about the credibility of the survival aspect. That would have been fine if the relationship aspect had made up for it, but it didn't really, so I ended up distracted by the shaky setting a lot. (So the island is tiny and has no food growing on it so presumably no soil, so are they growing tomatoes in sand? That doesn't work. Oh but it must have soil because there is somehow enough firewood to last eight months. Wait, what? And how have they not over-fished the place after that long? And how are they catching those fish at all? Catching fish isn't easy. What is the shelter made of? Why aren't they using the partial plane fuselage for anything? Did they dig a latrine? Eight months is a lot of crap for a tiny island. What did they dig the graves with? Shouldn't they have full beards? How are they not starving? etc. etc.) These are things that are entirely in the author's power to make at least vaguely plausible, and it bugged me that she didn't bother.
The island part of Logan and Andrew's relationship had so much potential, but it felt kinda phoned in to me. Andrew's grief over his wife is glossed over, neither character seems to have a particular crisis about the prospect of no rescue (there's a line in there somewhere about how Logan finds it hard to accept that they'll spend the rest of their lives there, but then he does accept it. Just like that. Your entire life. nbd. Okay then). Pretty quickly, they move from enforced proximity to the kind of unhealthy codependency that Hazard seems to really enjoy writing about and that I just don't enjoy much. There doesn't even seem to be much of a genuine spark, although there's an initial hint at interesting dynamics, but then they just sort of go straight to this weirdly monotonous routine of comfort-banging. It's not about sex, it's not about a relationship, it's just... happening. They don't kiss, they don't talk about it, it doesn't evolve. It's just the same acts repeated over months. It felt oddly perfunctory to me and I found it hard to root for. (It takes a lot for me to not enjoy a blow-job, but turns out using a dick in your mouth as some kind of pacifier replacement so you can sleep will do it. Pass!)
The more interesting part of the story happens once Logan and Andrew get back to civilisation and have to deal with fitting back into an entirely different world. I found this part a lot more engaging and I appreciated that there was some attempt at acknowledging and dealing with the bizarreness of their codependency. There were some actual feesly moments in it. (Therapists get such a bad rap in this story though, omg.)
On the whole, this pairing just didn't really work for me. I thought going in that Andrew's previously established homophobia would be a big hurdle to overcome, but while it was not apparently quite what it had previously been set up as, I kind of felt like the whole character was a different person from the one originally introduced. He got a whole Tristan DuVal make-over with a sad story about a sad childhood, and he was acting a lot younger than he was meant to be, so I never really felt like he was his own character (didn't help that he apparently looks like Tristan too). Logan was perfectly fine but also felt a bit cobbled together from previous similar types. Neither of them felt particularly genuine or memorable, and their relationship spent so long in unhappy codependencelandia that when it took a corner into actual feelings, it was both too late in the story and also way too fast, so it just spun out into "wait, when did that happen?"
Also: no kissing until 70%. Small thing but I missed it. Kissing can make a big difference in how intimate a connection actually feels.
I appreciated that bisexuality was eventually acknowledged, and that the uncaring aunt wasn't as uncaring as she'd been made out to be, but all the clingy neediness and dubious approach to mental health made this a bit meh for me. Normally these books are at least hot if nothing else, but these two just left me kinda lukewarm. Bit of a waste of a perfectly fun trope!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2022
Reposting this review that was removed by GR because someone was offended by one of my photos. Sadly, I can't see what I wrote under the spoiler tag and don't remember it anymore. 🤷♀️
**** 3.75 stars ****
Hands down the best one since book 7 IMO.
I think by now, there is not a single reader in the MM community unaware that the striking feature of this series is the OTT element. Therefore, the right mood counts.
Well, I didn't find this one OTT, but I have to say that the "spoiler" mechanism cope was super bizarre. *snort*
The nine months they have spent together on the island were a bit superficial.
After the rescue, they spent some time away from each other, both trying to get their shit together, and I understand that it was crucial to resolve the co-dependency issue. That said, from there on, the story felt rushed, and it didn't feel right to me. I didn't have time to feel and process Andrew's change. Besides, relationship-wise speaking, the conflict disappeared without much effort in the end. I needed to have more time with them.
I think this story could have been a massive hit for me if the author had expanded the story, giving them more on-page time together and taking things slower. It would have added more depth and credibility IMO.
I loved grumpy Logan, Andrew's vulnerability felt very real, and if you are wondering, YES! It was super hot!
**** 3.75 stars ****
Hands down the best one since book 7 IMO.
I think by now, there is not a single reader in the MM community unaware that the striking feature of this series is the OTT element. Therefore, the right mood counts.
Well, I didn't find this one OTT, but I have to say that the "spoiler" mechanism cope was super bizarre. *snort*
The nine months they have spent together on the island were a bit superficial.
After the rescue, they spent some time away from each other, both trying to get their shit together, and I understand that it was crucial to resolve the co-dependency issue. That said, from there on, the story felt rushed, and it didn't feel right to me. I didn't have time to feel and process Andrew's change. Besides, relationship-wise speaking, the conflict disappeared without much effort in the end. I needed to have more time with them.
I think this story could have been a massive hit for me if the author had expanded the story, giving them more on-page time together and taking things slower. It would have added more depth and credibility IMO.
I loved grumpy Logan, Andrew's vulnerability felt very real, and if you are wondering, YES! It was super hot!
December 9, 2020
This book was just...amazing! I thought I would still dislike Andrew from Just a Bit Twisted, but Alessandra made him likable by exploring his insecurities, fears, and yes his kinks. As usual with Alessandra's books, you could feel the obsessiveness and neediness between Andrew and Logan. She writes that aspect sooo well! Also, this book was more angsty compared to others in the series, since it mostly takes place after Andrew and Logan are rescued. I found that more enjoyable since it made their relationship more believable. It was also nice to see Shawn and Derek again; I can never get enough of Derek's perspective. Gahhhh I truly love this book, and I can't wait to read the next one in the series!
July 29, 2021
**Re-read 7/28/21. Still curious about that 🍅🤣
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 Stars
I sat here contemplating what to write about this one, after I finished it, and whether I should rate it. Previously, I hadn’t rated any of them. They were hard for me to rate and review. I absolutely have loved so many of them and have even reread some more than once. But I felt weird giving them stars when I could look at, say, other four stars I’ve given and they don’t seem to match. But with this one, I finally realized something. Put simply, I was overthinking. It doesn’t matter. I can rate however I want and use whatever criteria I want. With this series, that criteria is enjoyment.
And I enjoy the heck out of these books. They are fun and sexy. Yes they can be silly and OTT. But that’s why I seek them out. With those thoughts, my hang ups kind of just faded away. So I ended up going back and rating them all. Reviewing them all is another story. Because I’m lazy and it’s not going to happen. Maybe future me will feel the urge but present me is way too lame to do that.
If you are still reading this, thanks. 😂 So about this one...
We have homophobic Andrew from book one. Can’t say I’d thought much about him. But I liked his transformation. Logan was yummy. Trapped on an island together, it wasn’t long before the two got together in the usual Straight Guys mix of codependency and lust. Yes please! (But where did that tomato come from? 😉🍅 😂) Off the island, they struggled to find out if what they had was just a result of only having each other or if it was more than that.
The lack of details about their time on the island and how they survived didn’t bother me. I get bored with that kind of stuff. My only minor complaint is that I would have liked a longer time spent with them after they got their acts together. But that’s a complaint for the series as a whole really. She never spends much time on that. 🤷🏻♀️
Overall this was a good addition to the series. It’s not at the top of my list. But I’d put it in the middle and it’s still one that I will reread.
I gotta say, I feel like this was one big accidental buddy read with several friends who read it at the same time and I loved that!
I’ll be waiting in anticipation for the next book. Because those two have me excited! 😀
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 Stars
I sat here contemplating what to write about this one, after I finished it, and whether I should rate it. Previously, I hadn’t rated any of them. They were hard for me to rate and review. I absolutely have loved so many of them and have even reread some more than once. But I felt weird giving them stars when I could look at, say, other four stars I’ve given and they don’t seem to match. But with this one, I finally realized something. Put simply, I was overthinking. It doesn’t matter. I can rate however I want and use whatever criteria I want. With this series, that criteria is enjoyment.
And I enjoy the heck out of these books. They are fun and sexy. Yes they can be silly and OTT. But that’s why I seek them out. With those thoughts, my hang ups kind of just faded away. So I ended up going back and rating them all. Reviewing them all is another story. Because I’m lazy and it’s not going to happen. Maybe future me will feel the urge but present me is way too lame to do that.
If you are still reading this, thanks. 😂 So about this one...
We have homophobic Andrew from book one. Can’t say I’d thought much about him. But I liked his transformation. Logan was yummy. Trapped on an island together, it wasn’t long before the two got together in the usual Straight Guys mix of codependency and lust. Yes please! (But where did that tomato come from? 😉🍅 😂) Off the island, they struggled to find out if what they had was just a result of only having each other or if it was more than that.
The lack of details about their time on the island and how they survived didn’t bother me. I get bored with that kind of stuff. My only minor complaint is that I would have liked a longer time spent with them after they got their acts together. But that’s a complaint for the series as a whole really. She never spends much time on that. 🤷🏻♀️
Overall this was a good addition to the series. It’s not at the top of my list. But I’d put it in the middle and it’s still one that I will reread.
I gotta say, I feel like this was one big accidental buddy read with several friends who read it at the same time and I loved that!
I’ll be waiting in anticipation for the next book. Because those two have me excited! 😀
May 31, 2021
This book should've been titled as 'Just a Bit Needy'. The codependency between Andrew and Logan was something else. The only reason why I can't give this 5 stars is because I just wanted more of the Part 1 with Part 2, obviously, being somehow lesser.
Quick Ranking of the Straight Guys
1. Just a Bit Wrong: perfection from start to finish. Tristan is amazing not only as the main character but also as a supporting in the books after his.
2. Just a Bit Confusing: nothing beats the classic best friends to lovers storyline. I let out a dramatic sigh of relief in the end (part 1)
3. Just a Bit Wicked: hardest I dealt with because those homophobic remarks made me uncomfortable. Has the best ending + epilogue! I let out a dramatic sigh of relief in the end (part 2)
4. Just a Bit Ruthless: hottest one! Loved this because this is the only book, I think, where the mc didn't really give a shit about his sexuality.
5. Just a Bit Twisted: loved Shawn and Derek. Especially the moment when cold Derek started to warm up to Shawn
6. Just a Bit Wrecked
7. Just a Bit Obsessed: Mila may not there all the time but her presence dimmed a bit my enjoyment. Most abrupt ending!! How could you end a book with that? And no epilogue?
8. Straight Boy: too short! And I skimmed all the scenes involving the girlfriend.
9. Just a Bit Dirty: loved the brutal sex! story is a bit okay.
10. Just a Bit Gay: only thing I can remember here was the kink haha
Quick Ranking of the Straight Guys
1. Just a Bit Wrong: perfection from start to finish. Tristan is amazing not only as the main character but also as a supporting in the books after his.
2. Just a Bit Confusing: nothing beats the classic best friends to lovers storyline. I let out a dramatic sigh of relief in the end (part 1)
3. Just a Bit Wicked: hardest I dealt with because those homophobic remarks made me uncomfortable. Has the best ending + epilogue! I let out a dramatic sigh of relief in the end (part 2)
4. Just a Bit Ruthless: hottest one! Loved this because this is the only book, I think, where the mc didn't really give a shit about his sexuality.
5. Just a Bit Twisted: loved Shawn and Derek. Especially the moment when cold Derek started to warm up to Shawn
6. Just a Bit Wrecked
7. Just a Bit Obsessed: Mila may not there all the time but her presence dimmed a bit my enjoyment. Most abrupt ending!! How could you end a book with that? And no epilogue?
8. Straight Boy: too short! And I skimmed all the scenes involving the girlfriend.
9. Just a Bit Dirty: loved the brutal sex! story is a bit okay.
10. Just a Bit Gay: only thing I can remember here was the kink haha
Want to read
March 10, 2020I want the book about the soccer players too.. Plz
Read
July 31, 2022It’s out on Amazon!! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QDPPRVC
I truly truly adored this. And absolutely 100% believe it’s the best in the series.
I truly truly adored this. And absolutely 100% believe it’s the best in the series.
December 13, 2020
Review to come but... Great read. Can't wait for the next one.
November 14, 2021
reread-13/11/2021
Things I don't care about the book
1. Another plane crash??? This seems to be the only mode of killing people in this series.
2. The details of surviving on a remote island were vague. Not that I was expecting 'The Martian' kind of details, but you just can't survive on 'cum' for 8 months. 🤣🤣🤣
Things I liked-
1. The details regarding the co-dependency and panic attacks of Andrew.
2. Logan was dominant but tender and caring towards Andrew.
3. Judging by the previous book, I had expected Andrew to be more prejudiced but he surprised me a little only a little.🤣🤣🤣
4. The supposedly 'world's dumbest cat' named Hermione.
Things I don't care about the book
1. Another plane crash??? This seems to be the only mode of killing people in this series.
2. The details of surviving on a remote island were vague. Not that I was expecting 'The Martian' kind of details, but you just can't survive on 'cum' for 8 months. 🤣🤣🤣
Things I liked-
1. The details regarding the co-dependency and panic attacks of Andrew.
2. Logan was dominant but tender and caring towards Andrew.
3. Judging by the previous book, I had expected Andrew to be more prejudiced but he surprised me a little only a little.🤣🤣🤣
4. The supposedly 'world's dumbest cat' named Hermione.
January 14, 2021
1,5 stars
I hoped to find another book in this series I liked.
As you can detect from my rating, this didn’t work out.
Book 6 is the last one I really enjoyed, and then this series went downhill for me.
'Just a Bit Wrecked' sounded interesting though, and it started out really promising.
Unfortunately, things took a dive south pretty soon.
The plot is bland and totally superficial.
Reducing survival on the island to ‘they ate fish they caught and tomatoes they grew from seeds’ (WTH! they must be expert fishermen - and what did they fish with anyway? - and they must be horticulturally gifted!) is simply not enough. The rest is all about the sex between them.
Which is the next point of contention:
Despite Andrew’s homophobia, he falls into this D/s, daddy kinkish sexual ‘relationship’ with Logan from one second to the next, and no word is ever said about it. Although Logan mentions “We need to talk about this” after their first time together on the island, it never happens!
I found the whole thing odd, tbh.
I mean, Logan gives Andrew a ‘safeword’ , but he doesn’t use a condom the first time they go all the way???? And again, this is never discussed? Never consented by Andrew???
Then there are the two men themselves. I didn’t connect properly with either.
Andrew’s helplessness and inability to cope was understandable for some time, but it started to sound like whining eventually, and he simply irritated me.
Logan is kind of ok, I liked his quiet dominance, but apart from the sexual attraction and Andrew ‘needing him’, I really didn’t get what he sees in Andrew.
To top it all off, we get other people’s POVs towards the end. Most perplexing that one of Andrew’s auntie whose upbringing has supposedly caused a lot of Andrew’s issues and his homophobia. Her 180 degree turnabout is totally unbelievable.
For me too much didn’t add up here, and there were also too many other stories from previous books interfering with this one. Sorry, not for me!
I hoped to find another book in this series I liked.
As you can detect from my rating, this didn’t work out.
Book 6 is the last one I really enjoyed, and then this series went downhill for me.
'Just a Bit Wrecked' sounded interesting though, and it started out really promising.
Unfortunately, things took a dive south pretty soon.
The plot is bland and totally superficial.
Reducing survival on the island to ‘they ate fish they caught and tomatoes they grew from seeds’ (WTH! they must be expert fishermen - and what did they fish with anyway? - and they must be horticulturally gifted!) is simply not enough. The rest is all about the sex between them.
Which is the next point of contention:
Despite Andrew’s homophobia, he falls into this D/s, daddy kinkish sexual ‘relationship’ with Logan from one second to the next, and no word is ever said about it. Although Logan mentions “We need to talk about this” after their first time together on the island, it never happens!
I found the whole thing odd, tbh.
I mean, Logan gives Andrew a ‘safeword’ , but he doesn’t use a condom the first time they go all the way???? And again, this is never discussed? Never consented by Andrew???
Then there are the two men themselves. I didn’t connect properly with either.
Andrew’s helplessness and inability to cope was understandable for some time, but it started to sound like whining eventually, and he simply irritated me.
Logan is kind of ok, I liked his quiet dominance, but apart from the sexual attraction and Andrew ‘needing him’, I really didn’t get what he sees in Andrew.
To top it all off, we get other people’s POVs towards the end. Most perplexing that one of Andrew’s auntie whose upbringing has supposedly caused a lot of Andrew’s issues and his homophobia. Her 180 degree turnabout is totally unbelievable.
For me too much didn’t add up here, and there were also too many other stories from previous books interfering with this one. Sorry, not for me!
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