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Unexpected #3
Emery
I know this is wrong, but I can’t help myself when it comes to him.
My mom deserves to be happy after losing my dad to tragedy over a decade ago. But her blissful new relationship comes with a catch.
His name is Emery, my new stepbrother, and he’s the most infuriating, impulsive, chaotic, and strangely intriguing man I’ve ever met.
I’ve managed to avoid him for a year but then on our way to our parents’ cabin, we get lost alone in the snowy mountains of Utah.
That’s when pretenses and boundaries between us start to slip and fall away as we focus on survival. I begin to see the charming and sweet man he is. And maybe all the wild and ridiculous things about him that used to irritate me, are what make him truly perfect.
Emery is a sweet, emotional, and hilariously funny MM romance that features forbidden love, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, and a HEA. It is the third standalone in the Unexpected series.
My mom deserves to be happy after losing my dad to tragedy over a decade ago. But her blissful new relationship comes with a catch.
His name is Emery, my new stepbrother, and he’s the most infuriating, impulsive, chaotic, and strangely intriguing man I’ve ever met.
I’ve managed to avoid him for a year but then on our way to our parents’ cabin, we get lost alone in the snowy mountains of Utah.
That’s when pretenses and boundaries between us start to slip and fall away as we focus on survival. I begin to see the charming and sweet man he is. And maybe all the wild and ridiculous things about him that used to irritate me, are what make him truly perfect.
Emery is a sweet, emotional, and hilariously funny MM romance that features forbidden love, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, and a HEA. It is the third standalone in the Unexpected series.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2022
About the author
Cora Rose
29 books1,924 followersCora Rose loves any kind of romance and consumes way too many books each year. She currently lives in the U.S. and spends her days daydreaming about the characters inside her head.
You can email her at CoraRoseRomance@gmail.com or visit her website at www.coraroseromance.com
You can email her at CoraRoseRomance@gmail.com or visit her website at www.coraroseromance.com
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June 25, 2024
|| 4.5 stars ||
➛First read: July 2022 | ★5.0 stars
➛Second read: October 2022 | ★5.0 stars
➛Third read: September 2023 | ★4.5 stars
Holy hell. This was very close to absolute perfection.
I think I’m honestly a little in love with Emery. He is so endearing, funny, energetic, sweet and charming, and urgh, I love him so much! He might be one of my favourite characters of all time.
And August was such a lovable guy as well; I was incredibly happy that Emery found someone that was so good to him. I can’t imagine anyone who would be a better fit for each other than these two.
The way August took care of Emery made my heart feel so light, like it could literally just swell up and explode. And Emery just made August so damn happy every minute of every day, simply by being around him.
Their relationship was literal perfection. Their chemistry was off the charts and their love was so pure. They cared so much and they were so soft for each other. They were downright obsessed.
They surely also had their moments of angst and insecurities together, and their story was so entertaining, intriguing and beautiful. This book definitely had me invested throughout.
Emery honestly deserves everything in the whole damn world. My heart broke to know that such a precious human went through so much trauma, pain and tragedy, and I was so proud at what an extraordinarily stunning person he became despite it all.
This was such a romantic and heart-warming hurt/comfort story with a light-hearted and humorous air to it: I adored every single part of it.
If a book manages to make me swoon uncontrollably, laugh out loud multiple times, and crack my heart in two all at the same time, then it truly must be doing something really really right.
'Unexpected' series:
1. Whit - 3.0 stars
2. Sem - 3.5 stars
3. Emery - 4.5 stars
4. Luke - 1.5 stars
➛First read: July 2022 | ★5.0 stars
➛Second read: October 2022 | ★5.0 stars
➛Third read: September 2023 | ★4.5 stars
Holy hell. This was very close to absolute perfection.
I think I’m honestly a little in love with Emery. He is so endearing, funny, energetic, sweet and charming, and urgh, I love him so much! He might be one of my favourite characters of all time.
And August was such a lovable guy as well; I was incredibly happy that Emery found someone that was so good to him. I can’t imagine anyone who would be a better fit for each other than these two.
The way August took care of Emery made my heart feel so light, like it could literally just swell up and explode. And Emery just made August so damn happy every minute of every day, simply by being around him.
Their relationship was literal perfection. Their chemistry was off the charts and their love was so pure. They cared so much and they were so soft for each other. They were downright obsessed.
They surely also had their moments of angst and insecurities together, and their story was so entertaining, intriguing and beautiful. This book definitely had me invested throughout.
Emery honestly deserves everything in the whole damn world. My heart broke to know that such a precious human went through so much trauma, pain and tragedy, and I was so proud at what an extraordinarily stunning person he became despite it all.
This was such a romantic and heart-warming hurt/comfort story with a light-hearted and humorous air to it: I adored every single part of it.
If a book manages to make me swoon uncontrollably, laugh out loud multiple times, and crack my heart in two all at the same time, then it truly must be doing something really really right.
'Unexpected' series:
1. Whit - 3.0 stars
2. Sem - 3.5 stars
3. Emery - 4.5 stars
4. Luke - 1.5 stars
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 16, 2022i don’t even know if this can count as a dnf because i’m calling it quits at 4%, but i’m marking it as a dnf because i’m done. this is only the 5th book i’ve dnf’d of all 800+ books i’ve read, but i’m done with the author and the series. i was excited for this after everyone raved about it, but the fact that i’m only 4% in and annoyed says enough. these books are stupid, cliche, way too ott, and ridiculous but not in a good way. i’m probably supposed to feel bad for emery from the start but all i feel is annoyance. his character is annoying and being in his head for less than 10% is already too much. i understand he has adhd, but it feels like the author took the stereotypes of adhd and added them to emery. as a matter of fact, he reminds me of a coworker i have who uses “her adhd” as an excuse for everything, including getting away from doing her job.
i have seizures. loud noises and bright lights bother me so much that they can trigger a seizure. doesn’t mean i’m gonna tell everyone to shut the fuck up and dim the lights for me. i work at retail, that shit would never be possible. imagine me telling someone to fix the fire alarm when it goes off because it triggers me? it’s not like they intentionally set it off!
yes, adhd LIMITS your ability to do things. me having seizures limits places i go to (i can’t go to raves, rollercoasters are dangerous for me because of my head, loud noises set me off, blinking lights are difficult to avoid, etc). however, with what i’ve read so far, it feels like emery is what people think people with adhd are, yet there is not only one way to have adhd. i have friends who have adhd - one can read a book in one sitting, the other can’t; one can focus on cooking, the other gets distracted; one can focus on one thing specifically, the other can’t. but still, it feels like the stereotypes and assumptions were just taken from google and put on emery. perhaps i’m wrong and that’s not the case, but considering how suicide was romanticized in the first book, i don’t trust that much change was made here.
also, for a step brothers romance, i did not expect the sexual thoughts to be so quick. 4% in and we have this:
“That’s a shame,” I say and then pull up my shirt and tug my pants down a little. His eyes slide quickly over to my skin and widen, and I feel it, his gaze on me. It’s tangible. My dick twitches in my pants a little.
He ignores me, and I huff a small laugh. Because for real, if I ended up naked in front of him and those hands of his on my skin, I’d probably come in ten seconds flat. I wasn’t kidding about the length of the songs. I have like, minimal stamina. It’s practically nonexistent.
The moment I laid eyes on him last year, I went a little nuts. I couldn’t stop squirming for hours after that initial meet up. He just looks so damn nice and put together, that I have this obsessive desire to mess him up.
Get him dirty.
Rumple his hair a bit.
Spray my come across his face.
Smear it into his skin.
Whoops, too far.
I shift in my seat and look out the window as I try to reel my thoughts back in.
I eye those thick thighs of his and imagine him playing baseball. He sure fills out a pair of pants nicely. And with regards to his ass, well, he certainly has the ass for that sport––all round and hard.
I want to stick my dick inside of it. Watch it just disappear between his cheeks.
Oh fuck, I should have jacked off before I left the apartment.
can you feel the sexualization already?? 🥰🥰
it’s not even 10% in and there’s too many sexual thoughts in for a step brothers romance that i heard was angsty. they’ve apparently met the year before this book started, but obviously we don’t know what happened on that year (if it happens later in the book, i wouldn’t know), but because we don’t see it right now, i don’t think the insta-lust was a good strategy to get the relationship going. whether it becomes angsty later on, i don’t care anymore. i was curious about the fourth book that literally just came out, Luke, but now i’m not gonna read it, and it’s probably for the best. i had FOMO for this author and this book but i’ve realized and accepted she isn’t for me. despite Luke featuring a transgender character and having the grumpy x sunshine trope as well, i’ll be using my time to read other books i’m sure i’ll enjoy.
i read this: Shit, it’s been an hour since I last looked. Where did the time go?
Welcome to my life, people. A whole day could pass, and I wouldn’t even notice.
and that’s when i knew it was enough. this quote reminded me of people on tiktok who self diagnose themselves.
if you ask me about the previous books, they’re ridiculously ott. they say you should suspend your disbelief, but i couldn’t bring myself to. just because it’s fiction doesn’t mean i’m going to ignore the bad cliches and stereotypes, as well as the ignorance of mental health.
no thanks <3
good for you if you liked this. it will all come down to interpretation of the characters, romance, and even mental health. i only read 4%, so i’m only commenting on the 4% i read. whether there’s changes made to what annoyed me, i wouldn’t know and frankly don’t care anymore.
emery talked about how fucked up he was but i felt like my own mental health would fuck up even more if i continued to read. that’s how bad that 4% was.
i have seizures. loud noises and bright lights bother me so much that they can trigger a seizure. doesn’t mean i’m gonna tell everyone to shut the fuck up and dim the lights for me. i work at retail, that shit would never be possible. imagine me telling someone to fix the fire alarm when it goes off because it triggers me? it’s not like they intentionally set it off!
yes, adhd LIMITS your ability to do things. me having seizures limits places i go to (i can’t go to raves, rollercoasters are dangerous for me because of my head, loud noises set me off, blinking lights are difficult to avoid, etc). however, with what i’ve read so far, it feels like emery is what people think people with adhd are, yet there is not only one way to have adhd. i have friends who have adhd - one can read a book in one sitting, the other can’t; one can focus on cooking, the other gets distracted; one can focus on one thing specifically, the other can’t. but still, it feels like the stereotypes and assumptions were just taken from google and put on emery. perhaps i’m wrong and that’s not the case, but considering how suicide was romanticized in the first book, i don’t trust that much change was made here.
also, for a step brothers romance, i did not expect the sexual thoughts to be so quick. 4% in and we have this:
“That’s a shame,” I say and then pull up my shirt and tug my pants down a little. His eyes slide quickly over to my skin and widen, and I feel it, his gaze on me. It’s tangible. My dick twitches in my pants a little.
He ignores me, and I huff a small laugh. Because for real, if I ended up naked in front of him and those hands of his on my skin, I’d probably come in ten seconds flat. I wasn’t kidding about the length of the songs. I have like, minimal stamina. It’s practically nonexistent.
The moment I laid eyes on him last year, I went a little nuts. I couldn’t stop squirming for hours after that initial meet up. He just looks so damn nice and put together, that I have this obsessive desire to mess him up.
Get him dirty.
Rumple his hair a bit.
Spray my come across his face.
Smear it into his skin.
Whoops, too far.
I shift in my seat and look out the window as I try to reel my thoughts back in.
I eye those thick thighs of his and imagine him playing baseball. He sure fills out a pair of pants nicely. And with regards to his ass, well, he certainly has the ass for that sport––all round and hard.
I want to stick my dick inside of it. Watch it just disappear between his cheeks.
Oh fuck, I should have jacked off before I left the apartment.
can you feel the sexualization already?? 🥰🥰
it’s not even 10% in and there’s too many sexual thoughts in for a step brothers romance that i heard was angsty. they’ve apparently met the year before this book started, but obviously we don’t know what happened on that year (if it happens later in the book, i wouldn’t know), but because we don’t see it right now, i don’t think the insta-lust was a good strategy to get the relationship going. whether it becomes angsty later on, i don’t care anymore. i was curious about the fourth book that literally just came out, Luke, but now i’m not gonna read it, and it’s probably for the best. i had FOMO for this author and this book but i’ve realized and accepted she isn’t for me. despite Luke featuring a transgender character and having the grumpy x sunshine trope as well, i’ll be using my time to read other books i’m sure i’ll enjoy.
i read this: Shit, it’s been an hour since I last looked. Where did the time go?
Welcome to my life, people. A whole day could pass, and I wouldn’t even notice.
and that’s when i knew it was enough. this quote reminded me of people on tiktok who self diagnose themselves.
if you ask me about the previous books, they’re ridiculously ott. they say you should suspend your disbelief, but i couldn’t bring myself to. just because it’s fiction doesn’t mean i’m going to ignore the bad cliches and stereotypes, as well as the ignorance of mental health.
no thanks <3
good for you if you liked this. it will all come down to interpretation of the characters, romance, and even mental health. i only read 4%, so i’m only commenting on the 4% i read. whether there’s changes made to what annoyed me, i wouldn’t know and frankly don’t care anymore.
emery talked about how fucked up he was but i felt like my own mental health would fuck up even more if i continued to read. that’s how bad that 4% was.
July 12, 2022
When I say I love fun, sweet stories with great characters, this is exactly what I’m talking about.
You may think finding light romances is an easy task, but most of them are too unrealistic and silly to let you see the characters as real human beings which makes you lose interest in their romance. Very few authors manage to do it just right, and Emery was the perfect example.
Emery has a crush on his new stepbrother, golden-boy August since the first time his eyes fell on him. August is kind, loyal and probably straight, but that doesn’t stop Emery from imagining all kinds of fantasies with him. When their parents decide to go on holiday and August is the one responsible to drive Emery to the location, he knows he is in trouble. There is no way he endures a eight-hour drive without saying anything about sex and August but who can blame him? The guy is so damn dreamy…
“You ever fucked a dude, August?” I blurt.
He’s in the middle of a sip of water and starts choking, his cheeks turning pink as he gasps for breath.
Yeah, I overshot that one. Should have started out with something a little less intense.
While I wouldn’t say the first scenes of flirting were a normal day occurrency, just remind yourself you are reading a book and enjoy the amazing dialogues that will make you laugh, smile and internally scream. I can’t remember the last time I fangirled so much reading a book.
Emery is hilarious but he's also a lot, and August has the patience of a saint and treats Emery like the treasure he is. I loved their dynamics, the way Emery kept making August laugh, and how kindly August protects and loves him. I swear every time I needed to give Emery a hug, August seemed to hear me because he always gave him one 🥺🥺
He presses a small kiss to the tip of my nose. And oh my god, my heart grows ten sizes bigger. It won’t fit in my chest anymore. It will have to live outside my body. Maybe August can tuck it away and keep it safe.
The author could have done an emotional and dark story with what Emery went through, but she decided to see it with a happier lense without stopping to show some tender moments. There were a couple of scenes where my heart broke a little for Emery, it was the perfect balance for all the dopamine the rest of the book is full of. I don’t know how accurate the ADHD representation is, but the author didn’t use it just in the scenes it was convenient for her and forget about all the problems that come with it.
“You don’t let people in, Em.”
“Duh. They can’t disappoint me that way.”
For what’s worth, August is not perfect either and he will mess up too. But when he does, you’ll be so in love with all the good things he’s done, you’ll instantly forgive him and fall a bit more for showing you he’s also human.
“You put me on a pedestal. I told you not to, and you did it anyway. And because of that, I ended up not living up to your expectations. I disappointed you.” My voice breaks and I have to swallow around the lump in my throat. “I love you for who you are. Can’t you do the same for me? I’m not perfect, but I will always fucking love you.”
There were a few scenes with couples from the other books that were too OTT for me, which makes me hesitate to give the other books a try. I think Emery is on my limit of realism to be able to have fun without feeling detached due to the unlikeness of the situation with real life.
I highly recommend Emery if you are looking for sunshine, non-filter characters that will make you laugh, a love that will make you melt and some harder moments that’ll show how real the characters are.
“You make me so happy. God, I haven’t smiled this much in ages.”
You may think finding light romances is an easy task, but most of them are too unrealistic and silly to let you see the characters as real human beings which makes you lose interest in their romance. Very few authors manage to do it just right, and Emery was the perfect example.
Emery has a crush on his new stepbrother, golden-boy August since the first time his eyes fell on him. August is kind, loyal and probably straight, but that doesn’t stop Emery from imagining all kinds of fantasies with him. When their parents decide to go on holiday and August is the one responsible to drive Emery to the location, he knows he is in trouble. There is no way he endures a eight-hour drive without saying anything about sex and August but who can blame him? The guy is so damn dreamy…
“You ever fucked a dude, August?” I blurt.
He’s in the middle of a sip of water and starts choking, his cheeks turning pink as he gasps for breath.
Yeah, I overshot that one. Should have started out with something a little less intense.
While I wouldn’t say the first scenes of flirting were a normal day occurrency, just remind yourself you are reading a book and enjoy the amazing dialogues that will make you laugh, smile and internally scream. I can’t remember the last time I fangirled so much reading a book.
Emery is hilarious but he's also a lot, and August has the patience of a saint and treats Emery like the treasure he is. I loved their dynamics, the way Emery kept making August laugh, and how kindly August protects and loves him. I swear every time I needed to give Emery a hug, August seemed to hear me because he always gave him one 🥺🥺
He presses a small kiss to the tip of my nose. And oh my god, my heart grows ten sizes bigger. It won’t fit in my chest anymore. It will have to live outside my body. Maybe August can tuck it away and keep it safe.
The author could have done an emotional and dark story with what Emery went through, but she decided to see it with a happier lense without stopping to show some tender moments. There were a couple of scenes where my heart broke a little for Emery, it was the perfect balance for all the dopamine the rest of the book is full of. I don’t know how accurate the ADHD representation is, but the author didn’t use it just in the scenes it was convenient for her and forget about all the problems that come with it.
“You don’t let people in, Em.”
“Duh. They can’t disappoint me that way.”
For what’s worth, August is not perfect either and he will mess up too. But when he does, you’ll be so in love with all the good things he’s done, you’ll instantly forgive him and fall a bit more for showing you he’s also human.
“You put me on a pedestal. I told you not to, and you did it anyway. And because of that, I ended up not living up to your expectations. I disappointed you.” My voice breaks and I have to swallow around the lump in my throat. “I love you for who you are. Can’t you do the same for me? I’m not perfect, but I will always fucking love you.”
There were a few scenes with couples from the other books that were too OTT for me, which makes me hesitate to give the other books a try. I think Emery is on my limit of realism to be able to have fun without feeling detached due to the unlikeness of the situation with real life.
I highly recommend Emery if you are looking for sunshine, non-filter characters that will make you laugh, a love that will make you melt and some harder moments that’ll show how real the characters are.
“You make me so happy. God, I haven’t smiled this much in ages.”
August 5, 2022
Not as good as book 2, mostly because being in Emery's head was exhausting.
Emery's obsession with August was real, but August went from being annoyed with Em to wanting to be around him all the time much too quickly. It gave me whiplash.
More relationship development, please.
Also, I would like to read just one book by this author where a dramatic separation doesn't occur at the end. It's such a tired, clichéd trope, yet Rose used it in all three books thus far.
Emery's obsession with August was real, but August went from being annoyed with Em to wanting to be around him all the time much too quickly. It gave me whiplash.
More relationship development, please.
Also, I would like to read just one book by this author where a dramatic separation doesn't occur at the end. It's such a tired, clichéd trope, yet Rose used it in all three books thus far.
August 14, 2022
Emery and August ♥️
Hottest game of Go Fish ever.
Emery and August are my new fave couple in this series.
Cora writes all the fave trope-y goodness.
So grateful for the dual POV this time.
On vacation so mini-review
Hottest game of Go Fish ever.
Emery and August are my new fave couple in this series.
Cora writes all the fave trope-y goodness.
So grateful for the dual POV this time.
On vacation so mini-review
November 19, 2023
4.5***** stars
Wow. Another winner from this author and in this series. I consider myself a fan!
I read the afterword from the author and I’m glad Cora Rose chose not to make this book a dark and angsty one even though with what Emery went through in the past and with what he has to deal with, probably for the rest of his life, it totally had the potential.
I was a hundred percent invested in this book but somehow I have a hard time expressing my feelings for Emery’s and August’s story. I adored them both so much and their own kind of crazy. Well, more Emery’s - there was no other choice than to love him for who he was. ♡♡♡
But as I’m somehow a little speechless I close my review with a few of my fav quotes from the book:
I only wished there would’ve been a scene when August realizes what Emery’s turtle tattoo meant. I didn’t miss it somehow, did I?
************
And as a little side-note, I looooved seeing Sem & Mag again. I'm quite sure they end up being my fav couple in this series. But now I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Luke and Elliot. What we already saw seemed pretty weird to me but I’m curious where this is headed.
♡♡♡
***********
Unexpected Series
Book 1 - Whit - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Sem - 4.5 stars ♡
Book 3 - Emery - 4.5 stars
Book 4 - Luke - 3.5 stars
Book 5 - Lex - dnf
Book 6 - Colin - 4.5 stars ♡
Book 7 - Diablo
Book 8 - Ben - 3.0 stars
Wow. Another winner from this author and in this series. I consider myself a fan!
I read the afterword from the author and I’m glad Cora Rose chose not to make this book a dark and angsty one even though with what Emery went through in the past and with what he has to deal with, probably for the rest of his life, it totally had the potential.
I was a hundred percent invested in this book but somehow I have a hard time expressing my feelings for Emery’s and August’s story. I adored them both so much and their own kind of crazy. Well, more Emery’s - there was no other choice than to love him for who he was. ♡♡♡
But as I’m somehow a little speechless I close my review with a few of my fav quotes from the book:
“And I have a filthy mouth. You should really see it in action. It’s impressive.”
♡
“Tiny marshmallows? Are you trying to seduce me? Because that’s really not necessary. I’m already the sluttiest slut for you.”
♡
This is life-changing. I’ve been fantasizing about this for years.” “We only met a year ago.”
♡
“You. You seduced me and then left me. And you don’t even have the fucking human decency to look upset about it. You could have at least gotten a little less pretty in the time we’ve been apart. You didn’t even have the decorum to drunk-dial me at 3am and leave me an incoherent voicemail professing your undying affection. What the fuck, August?”
♡
“You don’t have to talk to me,” … “But if you want to talk, I’m here to listen.” Of course he is. He’s always there. The rock in my chaotic life.
♡
I only wished there would’ve been a scene when August realizes what Emery’s turtle tattoo meant. I didn’t miss it somehow, did I?
************
And as a little side-note, I looooved seeing Sem & Mag again. I'm quite sure they end up being my fav couple in this series. But now I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Luke and Elliot. What we already saw seemed pretty weird to me but I’m curious where this is headed.
♡♡♡
***********
Unexpected Series
Book 1 - Whit - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Sem - 4.5 stars ♡
Book 3 - Emery - 4.5 stars
Book 4 - Luke - 3.5 stars
Book 5 - Lex - dnf
Book 6 - Colin - 4.5 stars ♡
Book 7 - Diablo
Book 8 - Ben - 3.0 stars
June 30, 2022
Emery is such a wonderful surprise!!! What I love most about the Unexpected series is how each story is so different from the next. You really go on a journey of emotions while reading these beautiful love stories and Emery is another welcome addition. It has elements of the the previous entries including cuddling and intense possessiveness while remaining wholly unique due to its characters.
What makes Emery such a standout is Emery himself. Emery is such a fun, random, direct, chaotic bundle of energy with absolutely no filter. His backstory is especially tough to digest just because of the trauma he endured, but even though he has mental and physical ramifications from his abuse he has such a sunny disposition, which makes him the perfect complement to August. August is stoic, seemingly perfect, while offering constant support and safety to Emery, which only enhances their connection.
Overall Emery takes you on a surprising emotional journey between these two characters that are utterly perfect for one another, there are just a few road blocks along the way. I love seeing both Emery and August's relationship naturally grow, there are both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments that only elevates this perfect love story.
What makes Emery such a standout is Emery himself. Emery is such a fun, random, direct, chaotic bundle of energy with absolutely no filter. His backstory is especially tough to digest just because of the trauma he endured, but even though he has mental and physical ramifications from his abuse he has such a sunny disposition, which makes him the perfect complement to August. August is stoic, seemingly perfect, while offering constant support and safety to Emery, which only enhances their connection.
Overall Emery takes you on a surprising emotional journey between these two characters that are utterly perfect for one another, there are just a few road blocks along the way. I love seeing both Emery and August's relationship naturally grow, there are both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments that only elevates this perfect love story.
July 12, 2022
I read this book twice before I decided to post my very short review because I could've sworn with how fast I read it the first time, it was definitely a fever dream.
But long story short, EMERYYYYYYYYYYYYYY *happy sigh* *swoony sigh* *all the sighs*
i love you so much
Bye
But long story short, EMERYYYYYYYYYYYYYY *happy sigh* *swoony sigh* *all the sighs*
i love you so much
Bye
July 8, 2022
All the praise this book got is well deserved. I laughed, I nearly cried. And then I laughed again.
First of all: thank you, my beloved goodread bubble, for never failing to find some real gems in our bookinky universe here ❤️ you’re the best!
I wasn’t sure what to expect. Yes, it’s highly rated. But reading a book where one of the characters suffers of ptsd (among other things) because of a very bad childhood of abuse, and growing up with a drug addict mother, and then in foster care? Would I be able to stomach that?
Turns out I could. And I fell in love with Emery right from the start. I loved LOVED LOVED him and his constantly buzzing mind, forever jumping from one thing to another, but always, ALWAYS coming back to August, his stepbrother. August, with his perfect hair, perfect friendliness, and his perfect patience. August, whom Emery wants to ruffle up and wreck in the best ways possible. Who’s straight, but who after spending a night stranded in the middle of nowhere with Emery discovers that he can’t keep his fingers off him.
And yes, I was annoyed how perfect August wasn’t so perfect after all when he failed to acknowledge Em in front of his mother because he was afraid he’ll disappoint her. And when he failed to fight for Em.
But in the end, he did. And let me tell you guys, these two will wreck you, too, but only in the best way possible.
As this is book 3 in a series (go me, I jumped right in and skipped book 2 after reading book 1 - how rock’n’roll is that?) I’ll jump back in time now and read the second book. And then the ones who come after this one (I haven’t checked if they’re out yet, but there’s a lot of potential).
And before I misplace them (in the fridge. Or drop them in the toilet, like Em did to the lube): here they are, the 5 perfect stars for this book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
First of all: thank you, my beloved goodread bubble, for never failing to find some real gems in our bookinky universe here ❤️ you’re the best!
I wasn’t sure what to expect. Yes, it’s highly rated. But reading a book where one of the characters suffers of ptsd (among other things) because of a very bad childhood of abuse, and growing up with a drug addict mother, and then in foster care? Would I be able to stomach that?
Turns out I could. And I fell in love with Emery right from the start. I loved LOVED LOVED him and his constantly buzzing mind, forever jumping from one thing to another, but always, ALWAYS coming back to August, his stepbrother. August, with his perfect hair, perfect friendliness, and his perfect patience. August, whom Emery wants to ruffle up and wreck in the best ways possible. Who’s straight, but who after spending a night stranded in the middle of nowhere with Emery discovers that he can’t keep his fingers off him.
And yes, I was annoyed how perfect August wasn’t so perfect after all when he failed to acknowledge Em in front of his mother because he was afraid he’ll disappoint her. And when he failed to fight for Em.
But in the end, he did. And let me tell you guys, these two will wreck you, too, but only in the best way possible.
As this is book 3 in a series (go me, I jumped right in and skipped book 2 after reading book 1 - how rock’n’roll is that?) I’ll jump back in time now and read the second book. And then the ones who come after this one (I haven’t checked if they’re out yet, but there’s a lot of potential).
And before I misplace them (in the fridge. Or drop them in the toilet, like Em did to the lube): here they are, the 5 perfect stars for this book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 28, 2023
⭐️ 4.5 stars ⭐️
This might be my favorite of the Unexpected series.
Emery and August were just so perfect together, and Cora Rose’s writing really shines with characters like Emery. Her stream of consciousness style worked perfectly with his personality and helped me feel more connected with the characters and their story.
Not me crying over that scene, because I FELT that.
Despite Emery’s heavy past, the story itself is pretty low angst but still had me feeling all the emotions.
This couple won’t be leaving my brain anytime soon, I just loved them so much!
CW and tropes(spoilers):
- MC with ADHD, PTSD and diabetes
- Stepbrothers
- Mentions of past child abuse
- Touch-starved MC
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Bi-awakening
- One switch scene
- Forced proximity
- MC with dick piercing and tattoos
“I think if we keep this up, this thing could go sideways.”
“I live sideways already.”
This might be my favorite of the Unexpected series.
Emery and August were just so perfect together, and Cora Rose’s writing really shines with characters like Emery. Her stream of consciousness style worked perfectly with his personality and helped me feel more connected with the characters and their story.
“Just say what you want. Tell me.” Emery stomps his foot and yells, “I want someone to fucking fight for me for once, goddammit.”
Not me crying over that scene, because I FELT that.
Despite Emery’s heavy past, the story itself is pretty low angst but still had me feeling all the emotions.
This couple won’t be leaving my brain anytime soon, I just loved them so much!
CW and tropes(spoilers):
- MC with ADHD, PTSD and diabetes
- Stepbrothers
- Mentions of past child abuse
- Touch-starved MC
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Bi-awakening
- One switch scene
- Forced proximity
- MC with dick piercing and tattoos
July 10, 2022
My focus is a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors. I don’t know up from down most days.I liked it, but wasn't super impressed, mostly because of the lack of depth. There's not much of a plot here and a ton of details were skimmed over. This was a fluffy and light story dealing with some very serious emotional, physical and psychological traumas.
Emery's (24) character was very well written. He's neurodiverse, struggling to manage diabetes (yet constantly sucking on candy), and learning to live with severe PTSD. He is ALL OVER THE PLACE in this story, but it worked for this character. (Reminded me briefly of the mc in Dearest Milton James)
He didn't seem to have a job, so I questioned how he was able to pay for the extensive tattoo work all over his body. He mentioned he's been going to the same tattoo artist for just over six years. Is his dad paying for his tattoos? Emery mentions that his therapist is paid by the state as part of the "Victim Fund," so maybe that's what he lives on? Why are we not told more about this, seems an important part of his healing journey.
“What do you have against me?”It felt like August (not sure how old?) was written like Superman. He was this cookie cutter, Eagle Scout, dressed perfect, looked perfect, mows lawns for free, had the perfect dick, and was a pro at deep throating on his very first try. He's also kinda boring (what exactly was his job?), so he blended into the background. This could've been done on purpose by the author to make Emery pop or it could have been because Emery took up so much space in the book, so that there was very little room left for August.
August wets his lips and keeps his eyes on the road. “Well, you’re impulsive, chaotic, and unpredictable. To name a few.”
Well, that was incredibly blunt and unnecessary. Not to mention, entirely accurate. “So? You’re boring, nice, and reliable. I’d still fuck you.”
Despite the fact that he was a bit bland, there really wasn't a better partner for Emery. August dotes on him.
I run a thumb down his jaw as he rambles. I find that I’ve gotten used to it, the way his mind works. I love the intricate maze of it, getting lost in his thoughts with him. I enter never knowing where I’ll end up.
The book had that NA feel to it, with the angst, the secrets and hiding things from their parents. Overall, this was a well written, emotionally charged, super sweet, OTT, bi-awakening, character-driven, lighthearted yet deals with severe off-page trauma of a child and the adult repercussions of that childhood.
I'm not usually a pessimistic person, but Emery's quirks, specifically constantly losing everything, would begin to wear a relationship down over the years.
August 11, 2022
"I accept you for who you are at this moment. You don't need to feel bad or embarrassed about any of it."
This book broke my heart and then pieced it back together. It made me cry one moment, and then it made me laugh out loud.
I'm genuinely impressed by Cora Rose!!! I didn't expect this book to be so good.
If you're looking for a book that will break your heart in the best possible way, look no further. We have mental health disorders and trauma representation. (I'm not saying more because of spoilers, but I will discuss what exactly Emery has later in my review.) But one of the things that impressed me the most was how we could see how different Emery and August were. When I read Emery's POV chapters, I could feel how his brain worked. And then there were August's POV chapters. It was like a switch had been turned. We see into the mind of a neurodivergent person (Emery) and then a neurotypical (August). I was impressed by Cora Rose for this representation. It requires knowledge, research (or personal experience), and fantastic writing skills! I appreciated that there wasn't magical healing and that what Emery has didn't just magically disappear in the background as the love progressed.
I read a lot of romance books with mental health representation, and let me tell you, I've never read such an amazing book as Emery!!!!!
I gave myself two days before I wrote this review, but I can't seem to find words to do this book justice. I want to share one of the messages in this book for me:
There is no need to change who you are and mask who you are to be loved. There is no need to heal, achieve something, and then say, 'okay, I deserve love now.' No, you deserve to be loved for who you are right at this moment. Don't let other people's opinions and actions make you think less of yourself. You don't have to change to be loved. You are enough. Stand up for yourself, protect yourself, and most importantly, know you deserve to be loved the way you dreamed about, the way you deserve, no matter at which point of your life you are.
⚠️From now on, my review will contain SPOILERS, so please DON'T READ if you haven't read the book!!!⚠️
Even though they weren't, their relationship was perfect (perfect in a tangible way). And hey, who really is perfect? How August treated Emery warmed my heart in a way little books had before. And I'm not talking about something big. I'm talking about the little things. One of my favorite scenes is when they get lost in the woods. Emery was ready to be yelled at. His physical posture changed. He put walls around himself and got ready for the blow. BUT August, even though he was angry and frustrated, he saw that he fucking saw that! And he reigned in his anger. He stayed calm and didn't yell at Emery. 🥺💕
August is so understanding even when he doesn't understand, but he fucking TRIES, and that's what matters. 🙌
"You don't let people in, Em."
"Duh. They can't disappoint me that way."
"I'm sorry," I whisper, and August digs his fingers into my back.
"Never apologize for that. Never."
August is the ultimate book, boyfriend! He is so gentle with Emery... the way he is always brushing his jaw, tucking his hair behind his ear, running his hand through Emery's ear, the way he lets him sleep on top of him and hugs him. My heart melted!!!
I also loved the tension between the two at the beginning, the chemistry, the HOT, HOT, HOT smutty scenes 🥵🥵🥵 Cora Rose knows how to write them! AND I WILL NEVER AGAIN LOOK AT A LOLLIPOP THE SAME WAY AS BEFORE!!! 🥵🥵🥵
Also, there were so many fun scenes, like this one: 🤣
Quick, brain, think unsexy thoughts... unicorns, grass, baseball. Shit, now I'm just picturing August in a tight baseball uniform riding a unicorn through a field. Why am I even like this?
💚💙💜 Emery, he is EVERYTHING! 💚💙💜
"We grow accustomed to the Dark when Light is put away."
Emery stomps his foot and yells, "I want someone to fucking fight for me once, goddammit."
"It's okay."
"It's not okay. None of that is okay."
"I know, but that's my life. I've managed."
"I'm practically a walking encyclopedia of issues."
I loved him more than August because I could relate to him. Emery was such a unique character that I can't find words to describe him. He went through so many awful things. His life hadn't been easy, and because of these things, he has PTSD (even though I would say this is CPTSD because it wasn't one trauma, it was a lot of traumas that were extended for a long time). Also, he has ADHD. The representation of PTSD and ADHD was so accurate and so amazingly well done I couldn't believe it. It touched me in a way I can't wrap my head around. This book will forever be one of my favorites!!! And Emery will forever be one of these characters I won't forget, who feels like a friend with whom I share many things. Also, I think the same way about yoga as Emery. Yep.
"God, I feel like I'm at a support group for masochists."
💚💙💜Emery deserves the world! And I'm so happy he found August! Their relationship was tender, sweet, funny, warm, heartbreaking sometimes, unique, and so much more. I'm glad they have each other!!! Just thinking about the relationship these two have makes my eyes glassy! 💚💙💜
I buddy read this book with my bestie @Mariam THE CLOWN (needy for Al&Laz) even though it wasn't our best buddy reading. She had to read slower because she was traveling, but I couldn't put down the book and read it in one sitting. 😅 She liked August more and said that he was hers. I was 'okay. I love Emery more anyway' and said he and I would be best friends. She was horrified! 🤣 Her exact words: "omg. You and Emery as besties??? In one place??? Uh oh. That's one big UH OH. I don't think even I'm prepared for that chaos". On the other hand, I'm excited. It would be so much fun with Emery. 🤣 So, even though I finished reading first, I'm glad we read this together, bestie!!! 😘 And all the spam you send was just 🙌
P.S. I can't wait for the next book in this series!!! And I need Lex's book!!! I have a feeling I'll love him as much as Emery!!!
He accepts me just as I am, in this moment.
June 30, 2022
”You wanted me wrecked, well here I am! Mission accomplished!”
This author writes crack. Pure, untainted crack. Inject it straight into my veins please.
There is just something about how they write toxic possessiveness that drags me right in. I almost can’t even put it into words, but the characters are surprisingly nuanced and multifaceted. Usually in stories like this, the more eccentric character, Emery, steals the show. However, August is made just as interesting, and even though he’s the more stable of the two, he’s absolutely captivating. I’m as obsessed with these two as they are with each other.
The pacing in this is a bit unusual, but I liked that, too.
The emotions are high here, with Emery having a horrific childhood, and he is clearly not “healed” from it, as many romance characters seem to be. He is a delightful mess, with ADHD that is not well controlled, and tons of lingering trauma and PTSD that he seeks therapy and medication to help him cope. There is no magical forgiveness coming from Emery, and he is raw and real and all his decisions make sense for his character. He is charismatic and addicting.
August is solid and stable, with a relatively stable childhood and a mother he loves, but with enough of his own trauma to be compassionate, empathetic, and understanding with Emery. He is just a warm ball of sweetness with enough edge that Emery doesn’t overshadow him, especially as the book goes on. August is harder to put into words but is just as lovable and more subtly charismatic than Emery.
The sex scenes, as usual, are fucking hot, and I got a mirror sex scene so I’m riding that high right now. These two have so much chemistry. It was also really nice to see Maggie and Sem pop up again.
I absolutely devoured this, as per usual. I downloaded it from KU as soon as I received the email that it was out and didn’t stop until I was done. What a treat!
This author writes crack. Pure, untainted crack. Inject it straight into my veins please.
There is just something about how they write toxic possessiveness that drags me right in. I almost can’t even put it into words, but the characters are surprisingly nuanced and multifaceted. Usually in stories like this, the more eccentric character, Emery, steals the show. However, August is made just as interesting, and even though he’s the more stable of the two, he’s absolutely captivating. I’m as obsessed with these two as they are with each other.
The pacing in this is a bit unusual, but I liked that, too.
The emotions are high here, with Emery having a horrific childhood, and he is clearly not “healed” from it, as many romance characters seem to be. He is a delightful mess, with ADHD that is not well controlled, and tons of lingering trauma and PTSD that he seeks therapy and medication to help him cope. There is no magical forgiveness coming from Emery, and he is raw and real and all his decisions make sense for his character. He is charismatic and addicting.
August is solid and stable, with a relatively stable childhood and a mother he loves, but with enough of his own trauma to be compassionate, empathetic, and understanding with Emery. He is just a warm ball of sweetness with enough edge that Emery doesn’t overshadow him, especially as the book goes on. August is harder to put into words but is just as lovable and more subtly charismatic than Emery.
The sex scenes, as usual, are fucking hot, and I got a mirror sex scene so I’m riding that high right now. These two have so much chemistry. It was also really nice to see Maggie and Sem pop up again.
I absolutely devoured this, as per usual. I downloaded it from KU as soon as I received the email that it was out and didn’t stop until I was done. What a treat!
July 3, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Cora did a fabulous job depicting a man with ADHD. In fact I’d say she probably did too good of a job because while I loved the shit out of him, he’s freaking annoying,
Really, she handled all aspects of Emery’s mental health issues beautifully. I’m no expert but I’ve worked in the mental health field for almost a decade.
The best thing about August is that he accepts Emery. Every single part, flaws and all. He proves it time and time again. Sure he made mistakes, but goddam, it’s hard being perfect all the time.
I thought maybe they fell into a sexual relationship too quickly. I came into this expecting enemies to lovers and I felt a little gipped on that front. Even if it wouldn’t have been as dark as she originally wrote it, I would’ve liked to have worked a little harder to get it.
Of course the steam factor was flawless. The neediness superb. Which is exactly what I’ve come to love and expect from this writer.
She also gave me all the emotions I crave. I cried several times, mostly for Emery and his horrific past. God, when he called Thomas dad, I was a goner. Fucking wonderful.
I’d say that’s another success under Ms. Rose’s belt and I can’t wait to read the next one. But where did Elliot come from? Not gonna lie, I was kinda holding out hope for Lex and his crazy, stalkerish ass.
Cora did a fabulous job depicting a man with ADHD. In fact I’d say she probably did too good of a job because while I loved the shit out of him, he’s freaking annoying,
Really, she handled all aspects of Emery’s mental health issues beautifully. I’m no expert but I’ve worked in the mental health field for almost a decade.
The best thing about August is that he accepts Emery. Every single part, flaws and all. He proves it time and time again. Sure he made mistakes, but goddam, it’s hard being perfect all the time.
I thought maybe they fell into a sexual relationship too quickly. I came into this expecting enemies to lovers and I felt a little gipped on that front. Even if it wouldn’t have been as dark as she originally wrote it, I would’ve liked to have worked a little harder to get it.
Of course the steam factor was flawless. The neediness superb. Which is exactly what I’ve come to love and expect from this writer.
She also gave me all the emotions I crave. I cried several times, mostly for Emery and his horrific past. God, when he called Thomas dad, I was a goner. Fucking wonderful.
I’d say that’s another success under Ms. Rose’s belt and I can’t wait to read the next one. But where did Elliot come from? Not gonna lie, I was kinda holding out hope for Lex and his crazy, stalkerish ass.
August 18, 2022
⭐️
4.5 stars rounded up!
⭐️
I think this is my favorite one so far. I absolutely adored both Emery and August, together and apart.
Emery and August are recent step-brothers, as their parents just recently got married. They've only known each other for a year, and in that time it seems like there was dislike, although August would do anything for Emery even when it seemed he disliked it.
In this we get Emery's POV, and for him he kinda basically fell in love with August right away. But Emery has had a really hard life, and thinks there's no way August would ever feel for him the way he feels for him.
But when, on the way to meet up at a cabin with their parents for a vacation they get stuck in the snow/a little into a ditch, with no cell service, all that time spent together changes things permanently between them.
But for August, he previously thought he was straight, and it takes some time for him to get used to being into a guy, and wrapping his whole head around it. He was more in denial for the past year than Emery was, so he's slower to get to the place Emery already is.
Emery also, along with his past traumas, has severe ADHD and can get sidetracked really easily, or become hyper focused on a thought that he tunes out of a conversation completely. Medication helps, but not by much.
Underneath it all though, is a sweet, funny, sensitive guy, who needs someone like August to show him love he's never really had.
He grew up with a drug addict mother who would lock him in closets, lock him out of their house and forget about him, and let men do awful, sexually abusive things to him as a child (we never have to read about any of it, though. We just get brief flashbacks of before when Emery was locked in the closet and the men would come, and then they'd end there. So if you're worried about that potential trigger, you don't have to be. Although if just the thought of it is hard to take, then definitely a trigger warning for that.)
Emery's dad didn't know he existed until he was 16 years old, so they have a strained, awkward relationship, even 8 years later as Emery is now 24. But thanks to August, things start to improve for them by the end of this.
He has one friend, Lex, who also grew up in the system like Emery did and has a shitty childhood. But they aren't like besties, so Emery has had barely anyone his whole life.
But he can't help but fall for August, who is goodness personified, as Emery thinks to himself once in this.
August really is the sweetest, kindest person. He's flawed, no doubt, as he makes mistakes in this, but he truly is a good, sweet person with a big heart.
I love how he never yells at Emery, who is so used to it that he expects him to and even tells August to yell at him when he messes up, but he never does. August is one where it would take a lot to ever get him to yell, but after he knows what Emery has been through, it is especially something he doesn't do.
He only ever really gets angry in this book one time near the end, and even then he's not yelling and getting in Emery's face or anything.
August really is the perfect person for Emery, because he's patient and sweet and even tempered. After the abuse Emery has suffered, he needs something like that.
Emery is wonderful too, he's just more prone to some chaos and little mistakes here or there, and saying funny things or even inappropriate things, and sometimes at inopportune times. He's also very blunt, as his anxiety makes it hard for him to keep secrets or emotions under wraps. He's very much a "what you see is what you get" kind of person, whereas August is a lot more reserved and quiet. They're both sweet, kind men, shown in different ways.
But also while what you see is what you get, Emery also has walls he erects up, and he does push people away. Except August, although he tries to a few times in this to do just that. He's just too gone for August to really do it.
August's feelings, on the other hand, takes a little more time to cook, and like I said, he's more reserved and quiet and he overthinks a lot of time, and is very cautious, so it might seem like he doesn't feel the same for Emery, but he does. He's just the calmer, more stalwart of the two.
I did wonder at first about August's feelings, but eventually they started to come through and I really started to believe them the more these two spent time together.
Whereas Emery was just head over heels from the start, basically, August didn't feel like that for me. He had to realize his feelings, come to terms with them, and then he wanted to be sure he was in love with Emery before he said those words to him.
But his actions showed his feelings before he came to terms with them. He was just so wonderful with Emery, and there for him in every way.
His only big flaw, really, was that his overly cautious, over thinking self caused him to not tell his mom right away about him and Emery, and that hurt Emery. At the same time, I did understand his hesitation. Even though he and Emery are adults, and met as adults, and had only been official step-brothers for only a few months, it's still a big thing to tell your parent, that you're not with your now step-brother in an official sense.
August also seemed a little bit like a people-pleaser, as he was scared of disappointed his mom, which didn't end up happening. But it was a real fear of his.
I understood his need for some time, and I did think that Emery's reaction at first was a little unfair - calling it off basically right away when they only had a few days together - but once they get back together a month later, he is more understanding than he was before. But I also get his side of things too, his anxiety over keeping secrets and not wanting to be anyone's secret.
I loved the complexity of both characters and their motivations for why they acted the way they did. That was very well done.
My only real gripe is for near the end of this book for when August's mom finally finds out. It felt pretty contrived to me. I also would have rather she found out by August telling her himself, instead of it being something she walked in on.
If this was a book where they'd been stepbrothers since they were kids or something, I'd get them wanting to keep it such a secret for so long more, and them being found out by someone walking in. But since the step-brother thing was almost a non-issue in this book, I would have rather August told her instead of her finding out that way.
It also caused to manufactured drama, in my opinion, especially when it was settled pretty easily. This drama happens at around 93%, and so was solved real quick, and so it felt contrived for that reason. I feel like we already had good enough angst before this - they end things prior and have a month's separation - so it just felt silly to do it at the very end just to have drama for drama's sake. It could have been done a better way.
Maybe the mom still finds out by walking in on them, but August doesn't panic and say the wrong thing, Emery doesn't overhear and leave before hearing the rest of what he says. So still some drama, but not the extent to which we got it, which was Emery running away for a few days and refusing to talk to August and ignoring all his texts and calls. It was just unnecessary, so I gave .5 stars off for all that.
But other than that, I adored the rest of this book. I highly recommend it!
And it seems like the next book is going to be about Luke (Sem's brother) and his best friend Elliot? There was definitely hints at them being the next couple, for sure. I can't wait!
This author is definitely developing into a strong one. Can't wait for more! 😍😍😍
My Ratings for the Unexpected series:
✨ Whit: 4.25 stars (my review)
✨ Sem: 4.25 stars (my review)
✨ Emery: 4.5 stars
I think this is my favorite one so far. I absolutely adored both Emery and August, together and apart.
Emery and August are recent step-brothers, as their parents just recently got married. They've only known each other for a year, and in that time it seems like there was dislike, although August would do anything for Emery even when it seemed he disliked it.
In this we get Emery's POV, and for him he kinda basically fell in love with August right away. But Emery has had a really hard life, and thinks there's no way August would ever feel for him the way he feels for him.
But when, on the way to meet up at a cabin with their parents for a vacation they get stuck in the snow/a little into a ditch, with no cell service, all that time spent together changes things permanently between them.
But for August, he previously thought he was straight, and it takes some time for him to get used to being into a guy, and wrapping his whole head around it. He was more in denial for the past year than Emery was, so he's slower to get to the place Emery already is.
Emery also, along with his past traumas, has severe ADHD and can get sidetracked really easily, or become hyper focused on a thought that he tunes out of a conversation completely. Medication helps, but not by much.
Underneath it all though, is a sweet, funny, sensitive guy, who needs someone like August to show him love he's never really had.
He grew up with a drug addict mother who would lock him in closets, lock him out of their house and forget about him, and let men do awful, sexually abusive things to him as a child (we never have to read about any of it, though. We just get brief flashbacks of before when Emery was locked in the closet and the men would come, and then they'd end there. So if you're worried about that potential trigger, you don't have to be. Although if just the thought of it is hard to take, then definitely a trigger warning for that.)
Emery's dad didn't know he existed until he was 16 years old, so they have a strained, awkward relationship, even 8 years later as Emery is now 24. But thanks to August, things start to improve for them by the end of this.
He has one friend, Lex, who also grew up in the system like Emery did and has a shitty childhood. But they aren't like besties, so Emery has had barely anyone his whole life.
But he can't help but fall for August, who is goodness personified, as Emery thinks to himself once in this.
August really is the sweetest, kindest person. He's flawed, no doubt, as he makes mistakes in this, but he truly is a good, sweet person with a big heart.
I love how he never yells at Emery, who is so used to it that he expects him to and even tells August to yell at him when he messes up, but he never does. August is one where it would take a lot to ever get him to yell, but after he knows what Emery has been through, it is especially something he doesn't do.
He only ever really gets angry in this book one time near the end, and even then he's not yelling and getting in Emery's face or anything.
August really is the perfect person for Emery, because he's patient and sweet and even tempered. After the abuse Emery has suffered, he needs something like that.
Emery is wonderful too, he's just more prone to some chaos and little mistakes here or there, and saying funny things or even inappropriate things, and sometimes at inopportune times. He's also very blunt, as his anxiety makes it hard for him to keep secrets or emotions under wraps. He's very much a "what you see is what you get" kind of person, whereas August is a lot more reserved and quiet. They're both sweet, kind men, shown in different ways.
But also while what you see is what you get, Emery also has walls he erects up, and he does push people away. Except August, although he tries to a few times in this to do just that. He's just too gone for August to really do it.
August's feelings, on the other hand, takes a little more time to cook, and like I said, he's more reserved and quiet and he overthinks a lot of time, and is very cautious, so it might seem like he doesn't feel the same for Emery, but he does. He's just the calmer, more stalwart of the two.
I did wonder at first about August's feelings, but eventually they started to come through and I really started to believe them the more these two spent time together.
Whereas Emery was just head over heels from the start, basically, August didn't feel like that for me. He had to realize his feelings, come to terms with them, and then he wanted to be sure he was in love with Emery before he said those words to him.
But his actions showed his feelings before he came to terms with them. He was just so wonderful with Emery, and there for him in every way.
His only big flaw, really, was that his overly cautious, over thinking self caused him to not tell his mom right away about him and Emery, and that hurt Emery. At the same time, I did understand his hesitation. Even though he and Emery are adults, and met as adults, and had only been official step-brothers for only a few months, it's still a big thing to tell your parent, that you're not with your now step-brother in an official sense.
August also seemed a little bit like a people-pleaser, as he was scared of disappointed his mom, which didn't end up happening. But it was a real fear of his.
I understood his need for some time, and I did think that Emery's reaction at first was a little unfair - calling it off basically right away when they only had a few days together - but once they get back together a month later, he is more understanding than he was before. But I also get his side of things too, his anxiety over keeping secrets and not wanting to be anyone's secret.
I loved the complexity of both characters and their motivations for why they acted the way they did. That was very well done.
My only real gripe is for near the end of this book for when August's mom finally finds out. It felt pretty contrived to me. I also would have rather she found out by August telling her himself, instead of it being something she walked in on.
If this was a book where they'd been stepbrothers since they were kids or something, I'd get them wanting to keep it such a secret for so long more, and them being found out by someone walking in. But since the step-brother thing was almost a non-issue in this book, I would have rather August told her instead of her finding out that way.
It also caused to manufactured drama, in my opinion, especially when it was settled pretty easily. This drama happens at around 93%, and so was solved real quick, and so it felt contrived for that reason. I feel like we already had good enough angst before this - they end things prior and have a month's separation - so it just felt silly to do it at the very end just to have drama for drama's sake. It could have been done a better way.
Maybe the mom still finds out by walking in on them, but August doesn't panic and say the wrong thing, Emery doesn't overhear and leave before hearing the rest of what he says. So still some drama, but not the extent to which we got it, which was Emery running away for a few days and refusing to talk to August and ignoring all his texts and calls. It was just unnecessary, so I gave .5 stars off for all that.
But other than that, I adored the rest of this book. I highly recommend it!
And it seems like the next book is going to be about Luke (Sem's brother) and his best friend Elliot? There was definitely hints at them being the next couple, for sure. I can't wait!
This author is definitely developing into a strong one. Can't wait for more! 😍😍😍
My Ratings for the Unexpected series:
✨ Whit: 4.25 stars (my review)
✨ Sem: 4.25 stars (my review)
✨ Emery: 4.5 stars
July 16, 2022
This series is my baby. I fell in love with the "Unexpected" series - unexpectedly. Cora Rose manages to surprise me every single time. I love the obscurity and ridiculousness of her books. The characters are pure cracks; Wild and preposterous. And I love them for how skillfully they're able to blow my brains. Their incredible humor always makes my day better. I find myself grinning from ear to ear without any restrain.....
In a nutshell, I'm obsessed with this series. Possessiveness and stalking never tasted sweeter.... I mean, I'm not even complaining about how these weirdos do not respect boundaries and all. So, you got to know, I'm head over heels in love with this series.
"Emery" is my favourite book of the series so far. It was absolutely marvelous. Emery himself has become my favourite character and Emery-August my favourite couple. Loved this book...
In a nutshell, I'm obsessed with this series. Possessiveness and stalking never tasted sweeter.... I mean, I'm not even complaining about how these weirdos do not respect boundaries and all. So, you got to know, I'm head over heels in love with this series.
"Emery" is my favourite book of the series so far. It was absolutely marvelous. Emery himself has become my favourite character and Emery-August my favourite couple. Loved this book...
July 3, 2022
I did this book completely dirty and served it injustice.
so, I wouldn't rely on my review either because the entire time I was reading it, I was on a whole ass road trip and you're telling ME I had to sit around with family members while reading chapter 5, 6 and 8???
Well guess what? I did, and I'm NEVER LOOKING THEM IN THE EYE EVER AGAIN.
(This book was a hilarious attempt at buddyreading with my bestie @magic_of_darkness_and_love and the woman deserves an award cus she didn't once complain, (laughed at my expense instead, THAT BITCH) who freaked out and squeaked with me and spends way too many late nights with me everyday)
I'm giving this book 4 stars ⭐✨, I wanted to give it 5 stars but but then I reduced it to 4.5 because of that crap earlier, and after some recollection I like the first half of this book than the second half.
My heart softens for August because good god do I feel him to the depth of my core. He is honestly one of the most realest characters I've ever read and reading his patience but his frustration, his kindness, his generosity, his understanding, his prickliness and all of his nics and tics. He wasn't perfect and I bloody loved seeing those scenes no matter how imperfect it made him seem.
I'd go off about Emery but I have a feeling my bestie @magic would very gladly be doing that, so you can read HER REVIEW for much better, less crackheaded thoughts
initial reactions
okay but I need Luke and Elliot's story like RIGHT NOW.
Of course, it had to be Emery, my infuriating stepbrother, who’s ignited this inside me. He’s an impossibility. He’s the one thing I can’t let myself have.
so, I wouldn't rely on my review either because the entire time I was reading it, I was on a whole ass road trip and you're telling ME I had to sit around with family members while reading chapter 5, 6 and 8???
Well guess what? I did, and I'm NEVER LOOKING THEM IN THE EYE EVER AGAIN.
A grunt escapes him, and then those hands of his are rubbing up and down my back in an attempt to warm me.
But he doesn’t know.
He doesn’t know that just being here with me, despite it all, is enough. No one’s ever held me like this. No one’s ever cared for me like this.
He looks so peaceful. Like a fucking angel. If only some of that light and goodness could extend into me, then maybe I’d make it through this life a little healthier, a little happier.
he chuckles, and I peek up at him and see those green eyes looking back at me. I mean, I can’t really see them well, but I know the exact color because I’ve studied them for so long.
I have a tattoo on my arm that’s just the right shade. Took me forever to find it.
His essence is engraved on my skin––a reminder that he’s way too good for me, but maybe, if I’m lucky, some of his goodness will rub off on me.
(This book was a hilarious attempt at buddyreading with my bestie @magic_of_darkness_and_love and the woman deserves an award cus she didn't once complain, (laughed at my expense instead, THAT BITCH) who freaked out and squeaked with me and spends way too many late nights with me everyday)
I'm giving this book 4 stars ⭐✨, I wanted to give it 5 stars but but then I reduced it to 4.5 because of that crap earlier, and after some recollection I like the first half of this book than the second half.
I can’t remember a time when anyone else put me first. But August always does, even when he doesn’t want to, even when he shouldn’t. He’s always put me first.
“You don’t need to make light of it.”
“Hell yeah, I do. It’s either that or sob uncontrollably. Sometimes it’s better to laugh.”
August mulls over that for a moment and then says softly, “It’s okay if that’s who you are.”
I exhale, “What?”
“All of that is okay. You don’t need to change who you are.”
“Well, my therapist would disagree. He’s always harping on coping mechanisms and personal growth….”
“I know, and that’s good, but I mean…” he swallows. “I accept you for who you are at this moment. You don’t need to feel bad or embarrassed about any of it.”He presses a small kiss to the tip of my nose.
And oh my god, my heart grows ten sizes bigger. It won’t fit in my chest anymore. It will have to live outside my body. Maybe August can tuck it away and keep it safe.
My heart softens for August because good god do I feel him to the depth of my core. He is honestly one of the most realest characters I've ever read and reading his patience but his frustration, his kindness, his generosity, his understanding, his prickliness and all of his nics and tics. He wasn't perfect and I bloody loved seeing those scenes no matter how imperfect it made him seem.
I’m a fucking work in progress, thank you.
“Better?” he asks.
“Yeah.” But he doesn’t understand. He has no clue what I mean. I’m better simply because he’s near me. He’s the warmth that I’ve been craving my entire life. I didn’t realize I’d been missing it until I’d had it.I’ve never really had roots, but with August I feel like maybe I could put some down. It feels so right being with him. His arms feel more like home than any place I’ve ever been.
I'd go off about Emery but I have a feeling my bestie @magic would very gladly be doing that, so you can read HER REVIEW for much better, less crackheaded thoughts
initial reactions
okay but I need Luke and Elliot's story like RIGHT NOW.
July 8, 2022
Another AMAZING story by Cora Rose. How is this author so perfect? Seriously. All three of her stories have managed to become personal favorites and Sem and Magnus are officially one of my favorite mm couples, right along with Wes and Jamie and Adam and Noah.
This story was just as engrossing as the first two and I tried my damnedest to read it slowly so I wouldn’t finish it too quickly but once I started I couldn’t slow down. It was so easy to read and I fell in love with the MCs almost immediately. Emery was such a pleasant surprise. After meeting him in Sem I expected him to be closed off and unfriendly, someone with walls so high August would have to chip away at them for weeks before being let in. I certainly wasn’t expecting him to be the charming energetic ball of adorableness that he was… already half in love with August and more than willing to be swayed into whatever August would allow. August never stood a chance once he opened himself up to him. How had he been around him for almost a year and not noticed how sweet he was? Them being stuck in the snow had to have been divine intervention because those two were made for each other. I melted every time August spoke to him. He was so patient and accepting, his words were always so gentle and sweet. Yeah. Emery didn’t stand a chance either.
I’m so excited for Luke and Elliot’s story. I’m getting major Caleb/ Whit vibes with those two. They are already adorable and I know nothing about their story. 5 enthusiastic stars.
This story was just as engrossing as the first two and I tried my damnedest to read it slowly so I wouldn’t finish it too quickly but once I started I couldn’t slow down. It was so easy to read and I fell in love with the MCs almost immediately. Emery was such a pleasant surprise. After meeting him in Sem I expected him to be closed off and unfriendly, someone with walls so high August would have to chip away at them for weeks before being let in. I certainly wasn’t expecting him to be the charming energetic ball of adorableness that he was… already half in love with August and more than willing to be swayed into whatever August would allow. August never stood a chance once he opened himself up to him. How had he been around him for almost a year and not noticed how sweet he was? Them being stuck in the snow had to have been divine intervention because those two were made for each other. I melted every time August spoke to him. He was so patient and accepting, his words were always so gentle and sweet. Yeah. Emery didn’t stand a chance either.
I’m so excited for Luke and Elliot’s story. I’m getting major Caleb/ Whit vibes with those two. They are already adorable and I know nothing about their story. 5 enthusiastic stars.
July 3, 2022
welcome, this is officially Emery’s fanpage 🤭🤣
Emery, oh my boy! do i really need to say anything about him? he’s so chaotic, hyper and sensitive and he has ADHD 🥺 he’s sooo… ME! don’t you just love characters you can relate your life to? - my absolute weakness. gosh, i love Emery, felt so close to home 🥰 ever since the first page of his appearance, i was already fell head over heels for him. yeap, i’m easy to please just give me MCs like this LMAO 🤣❤️ there’s not much to say, he’s amazing! adorably impulsive and his character was perfectly executed <3 love love LOVE him🫠 every word he said was just pure serotonin i can’t stop laughing.
i think the best part was when he was being all wholesome in the end of a chapter, but on the next page he was like, “God, I’m horny.” god, the switch HAHAHAHA I CANT STOP LAUGHING
but Emery is just…Emery. I’m learning that you’ve just gotta roll with it. And maybe even try to enjoy it along the way
okay, now i’m jealous >:(
i love how funny and cute this journey was, but i have to be honest, i’m not really a fan of the plotline. i feel like it was boring and fast at times and there were some things that made me disappointed. and i needed more details to love this better. i’m so sad i don’t get to love this as much as my friends did. overall, this was wholesome, i just love Emery so much more than everything else that was going on.
February 9, 2024
Actual rating ⭐⭐.5 / 5 HAYWIRE stars
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/ 5 chaotic AF peppers
My toxic trait - not being able to DNF when I really should.
August and Emery as side characters from previous books were lovely. Here, they are an ultimately unlikeable duo, and hear me out, imma tell you why!
Firstly, here is the formula Cora uses for the entire series which, granted, has worked great in the first 2 instalments but unfortunately slowly died for me in the course of this one 💀:
🤸We take a man (boy, really, all in their early 20s) who likes boys - his parents are not happy about it, or he has some kind of traumatic past. Or both.
🏃To him we add a formerly strictly straight man. With lovely family, supportive parents. And a fascination with the queer boy.
🧍Their pairing is an improbability and the circumstances of their falling for each other border on absurd.
🤹There is some kind of hurt/comfort dynamic going on. There will be 3rd act breakup, some amount of groveling, and a HEA.
🏋️There will be a Colin, who will be seemingly ruining things for one of them for a while.
🤾The moral of the story is HE is the one for me, and I love him just the way he is.
The sooner you, the reader, learn and accept the above formula, the more you will enjoy this and, I expect, all the following books in this series.
Having said all that, I didn't like August, nor Emery.
August was indecisive, and kept putting off accepting their love until that came back and bit him in the ass. Emery was a neurodivergent piece of work. As a fellow neuro-atypical person, I was straight up appalled (throwing big words around today, I know) by the manipulation and douche bag behaviour justification that came with his condition. He literally said that August was going to cure him of his weirdness / trauma (don't get me started on that last bit).
Their dynamic started off sexy and interesting, but the mess that was Emery made less and less sense as their relationship progressed. Once it was clear he was going to unashamedly bulldoze all through August's boundaries and uncertainties, I started to properly dislike him. I didn't feel like they deserved their HEA, or that it was really well explored. My favorite people in this book were Maggie and Sem.
I still recommend this series, but definitely from the first, and I am off to read some ARC's now.
(Also, Colin was here to ruin the moment AGAIN! - stop it, Colin).
⚠️Oh, and lastly, check your TW's - there are some real heavy ones. ⚠️
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/ 5 chaotic AF peppers
My toxic trait - not being able to DNF when I really should.
August and Emery as side characters from previous books were lovely. Here, they are an ultimately unlikeable duo, and hear me out, imma tell you why!
Firstly, here is the formula Cora uses for the entire series which, granted, has worked great in the first 2 instalments but unfortunately slowly died for me in the course of this one 💀:
🤸We take a man (boy, really, all in their early 20s) who likes boys - his parents are not happy about it, or he has some kind of traumatic past. Or both.
🏃To him we add a formerly strictly straight man. With lovely family, supportive parents. And a fascination with the queer boy.
🧍Their pairing is an improbability and the circumstances of their falling for each other border on absurd.
🤹There is some kind of hurt/comfort dynamic going on. There will be 3rd act breakup, some amount of groveling, and a HEA.
🏋️There will be a Colin, who will be seemingly ruining things for one of them for a while.
🤾The moral of the story is HE is the one for me, and I love him just the way he is.
The sooner you, the reader, learn and accept the above formula, the more you will enjoy this and, I expect, all the following books in this series.
Having said all that, I didn't like August, nor Emery.
August was indecisive, and kept putting off accepting their love until that came back and bit him in the ass. Emery was a neurodivergent piece of work. As a fellow neuro-atypical person, I was straight up appalled (throwing big words around today, I know) by the manipulation and douche bag behaviour justification that came with his condition. He literally said that August was going to cure him of his weirdness / trauma (don't get me started on that last bit).
Their dynamic started off sexy and interesting, but the mess that was Emery made less and less sense as their relationship progressed. Once it was clear he was going to unashamedly bulldoze all through August's boundaries and uncertainties, I started to properly dislike him. I didn't feel like they deserved their HEA, or that it was really well explored. My favorite people in this book were Maggie and Sem.
I still recommend this series, but definitely from the first, and I am off to read some ARC's now.
(Also, Colin was here to ruin the moment AGAIN! - stop it, Colin).
⚠️Oh, and lastly, check your TW's - there are some real heavy ones. ⚠️
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 8, 2023DNF at 65% 💔 This author is not for me I’ve decided. I tried to go back multiple times to read a few more pages but I’m just not feeling it. I disliked the start of the book. I just want to see the tension build but the characters are kissing 10% in. It’s explained kinda why Emery likes August and he’s been attracted to him for a while. They end up getting stranded in August’s car and suddenly August is kissing Emery. Like where did that even come from? And it’s because Emery said ”if you’ll kiss me, I’ll tell you more about me”. Just no. I get why Emery would say that but August actually doing it doesn’t make sense to me. I would have liked there to be some build up before the characters are just asking the other one to kiss them already lol. So they end up spending a couple of days in the car getting each other off and now August likes Emery. Okayyyy.
I understand why Emery wanted to tell their parents about what’s happening between them but when August doesn’t go through with it, they end up separating from each other for a month. They’ve only been “together” for a few days and August just started to discover something about himself he never thought he would. And Emery just completely cuts him off. August at least deserved a little time. If he continues not to tell them, then yeah I would be mad (I don’t know if this happens though or not). I didn’t feel the chemistry, all their internal thoughts were just a bunch of horny thoughts. There was SO much and it was only the beginning of the book. Because of how the book started, their feelings weren’t believable to me. And nothing else happened later that convinced me otherwise. There’s so much potential with the step siblings trope. Maybe if I would have got the details of when they first met and what is was like living together I would have liked it more.
I’m really sad I didn’t like the series as much as I thought I would. I’m not sure if I’ll come back to read the others or not.
I understand why Emery wanted to tell their parents about what’s happening between them but when August doesn’t go through with it, they end up separating from each other for a month. They’ve only been “together” for a few days and August just started to discover something about himself he never thought he would. And Emery just completely cuts him off. August at least deserved a little time. If he continues not to tell them, then yeah I would be mad (I don’t know if this happens though or not). I didn’t feel the chemistry, all their internal thoughts were just a bunch of horny thoughts. There was SO much and it was only the beginning of the book. Because of how the book started, their feelings weren’t believable to me. And nothing else happened later that convinced me otherwise. There’s so much potential with the step siblings trope. Maybe if I would have got the details of when they first met and what is was like living together I would have liked it more.
I’m really sad I didn’t like the series as much as I thought I would. I’m not sure if I’ll come back to read the others or not.
July 2, 2022
Wonderful Delightful Read
With each book, the author’s writing keeps progressing, and I become more impressed. Here is my vague review.
Emery is so far my favorite character the author has written. He has a traumatic past. Yet he is corky with really a heart of gold. I laughed so hard that I cried with some of the things he said or did.
August is the handsome Boy Scout. His one flaw is he worries about the disappointment of others.
These two are stepbrothers. Emery has always been interested in August. Something about Emery has always piqued August’s interest.
On a trip to their parents' cabin, they get stranded in a snow storm and are now forced to stay warm. I have been waiting to read this scene since Sem’s book. Words alone can not tell you how excited I was. Hot and steamy
After writing this review, I now want to reread this book.
With each book, the author’s writing keeps progressing, and I become more impressed. Here is my vague review.
Emery is so far my favorite character the author has written. He has a traumatic past. Yet he is corky with really a heart of gold. I laughed so hard that I cried with some of the things he said or did.
August is the handsome Boy Scout. His one flaw is he worries about the disappointment of others.
These two are stepbrothers. Emery has always been interested in August. Something about Emery has always piqued August’s interest.
On a trip to their parents' cabin, they get stranded in a snow storm and are now forced to stay warm. I have been waiting to read this scene since Sem’s book. Words alone can not tell you how excited I was. Hot and steamy
After writing this review, I now want to reread this book.
August 7, 2022
I have done nothing all day except read this book. I might be obsessed with this author now.
December 8, 2022
Emery. Emery. Emery. Emery!!!! Gah. He was such a fun character. I loved his quirks and his obsession with candy. Makes me want to have a sucker.
This book was a little of the taboo nature. Emery and August are stepbrothers who are getting it on, but this trope doesn’t even phase me honestly. I’ve read way worse before. I enjoyed reading about these two. I liked how their little relationship started. Getting stranded in the snowy wilderness? Having to snuggle to stay warm? Yessssssss.
While I said I love Emery, sometimes I felt like he was a little too over the top. Like the author wanted a quirky character and didn’t know when to stop. I still loved the man, but I did roll my eyes a lot.
August was very sweet to Emery, and I loved him for it. Em had a horrible past, and he needed something good in his life. All that being said, I wanted to punch August a little. Mostly when it came to telling his mother. He just didn’t want to disappoint his mother, but who freaking cares. Lex said it perfectly, “Parents were made so we can disappoint them.” Preach. But really, I don’t care much for the dirty little secret thing. Makes me angry. :(
I actually wanted more sex in this. Crazy I know. This author writes good sex, but I didn’t feel like there was a lot in this book. I feel like there was more sex in the beginning when they were on vacation, but not much after that. They obviously still went to town on each other, but the details just weren’t there. It was just statements like, “He then railed me.” And I was like oh okay that’s it? Idk. The sex that was there was good, but I wanted some more.
I enjoyed this read. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but I like how the author includes 2 epilogues in her book. One is a short time after the book ends, and the second is quite a while after the book ends. That is different than I have read before, but I wish a lot of books had that. Anyway please read about my sweet pea Emery! Peace, love, and candy. xoxoxoxoxo
This book was a little of the taboo nature. Emery and August are stepbrothers who are getting it on, but this trope doesn’t even phase me honestly. I’ve read way worse before. I enjoyed reading about these two. I liked how their little relationship started. Getting stranded in the snowy wilderness? Having to snuggle to stay warm? Yessssssss.
While I said I love Emery, sometimes I felt like he was a little too over the top. Like the author wanted a quirky character and didn’t know when to stop. I still loved the man, but I did roll my eyes a lot.
August was very sweet to Emery, and I loved him for it. Em had a horrible past, and he needed something good in his life. All that being said, I wanted to punch August a little. Mostly when it came to telling his mother. He just didn’t want to disappoint his mother, but who freaking cares. Lex said it perfectly, “Parents were made so we can disappoint them.” Preach. But really, I don’t care much for the dirty little secret thing. Makes me angry. :(
I actually wanted more sex in this. Crazy I know. This author writes good sex, but I didn’t feel like there was a lot in this book. I feel like there was more sex in the beginning when they were on vacation, but not much after that. They obviously still went to town on each other, but the details just weren’t there. It was just statements like, “He then railed me.” And I was like oh okay that’s it? Idk. The sex that was there was good, but I wanted some more.
I enjoyed this read. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but I like how the author includes 2 epilogues in her book. One is a short time after the book ends, and the second is quite a while after the book ends. That is different than I have read before, but I wish a lot of books had that. Anyway please read about my sweet pea Emery! Peace, love, and candy. xoxoxoxoxo
February 10, 2023
I forgot what it feels like to fall in love with book characters until meeting Emery and August here. Heart-wrenching, sweet, sexy, and so very enjoyable. The found-family theme, the kindness, and the care in this book make my heart so freaking full and happy!!! 💓 UGH I'm tearing up just thinking about Emery again. 🥺
I think August is very well-written, and he gave me some thought-provoking insights on how to deal with people who struggle with mental illness. Even though that's not the point of this book at all. And I saw a lot of myself in Emery too.
I don't know how else I can say I love this book a lot. I thought I'd never find another MM contemporary romance I'd enjoy but here I am, completely satisfied and fulfilled after experiencing Emery and August's journey to their happily-ever-after. 🥰🥰🥰
I think August is very well-written, and he gave me some thought-provoking insights on how to deal with people who struggle with mental illness. Even though that's not the point of this book at all. And I saw a lot of myself in Emery too.
I don't know how else I can say I love this book a lot. I thought I'd never find another MM contemporary romance I'd enjoy but here I am, completely satisfied and fulfilled after experiencing Emery and August's journey to their happily-ever-after. 🥰🥰🥰
September 13, 2023
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.
He bites his lip and fuck is he hot… in a Mr. Rogers kind of way. I mean, he doesn’t wear the cardigans, but he does in spirit.
Okay, first of all: Emery is adorable. He deserves all the good things, and I would do awful things to keep him happy and safe. His character is heavily influenced by his ADHD, but thankfully he’s got a well developed personality outside of the neurospicy parts as well. His character didn’t really line up with what I expected after the glimpses we got of him in Sem, so I was a bit surprised by the golden retriever vibes. I was expecting dark, broken/broody and self destruction. I still loved him, though. Just had to shift my expectations a little.
“Well, you’re impulsive, chaotic, and unpredictable. To name a few.” Well, that was incredibly blunt and unnecessary. Not to mention, entirely accurate.
I admittedly took a long break in about the middle of the book, so I don’t remember all of the details of whatever happened before 60%. I’m left with questions about why August was so afraid of disappointing his mom. I’m sure it was mentioned, but I’m too lazy to look it up, lol. August isn’t a cruel person, but there’s definitely a couple of instances where he isn’t very nice to Emery. Emery is very obsessed with August though, and would forgive him for anything, probably.
Apparently, I have obsessive tendencies too. Like adding a deranged cherry to top off the shit sundae that is my life.
I did get a little bored with this book, hence the long-ass break. I don’t know exactly why that is, as it’s a good book. I just didn’t love it *as* much as I did Whit and Sem (is it too soon to reread Whit, btw?) Anyway. Cora Rose always makes me cry so I for sure connect with the characters atleast a little bit, but I wasn’t awfully invested in these guys. By the time I picked this back up again I had honestly forgotten about the whole ‘rescued from a snowstorm’ thing as well. Not great.
I understand now why Edward was so obsessed with Bella. I’d absolutely hover creepily over August’s bed, watching him sleep, because he smells like a snack.
Still a lovely book, just not my favorite.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Abandonment issues
Golden retriever MC
Neurodivergent
ADHD
Forced proximity
Stepbrothers
Roommates
Past trauma
Facials (not the skincare kind, arguably)
A concerning lack of prep 🍆
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Mentions of past sexual abuse (not detailed)
Mentions of parental neglect
Panic attacks
Anxiety
Trapped in a car (snowstorm)
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: Yes
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
August hands me an apple and I swat it from his hand.
And oh my god, my heart grows ten sizes bigger. It won’t fit in my chest anymore. It will have to live outside my body. Maybe August can tuck it away and keep it safe.
“Tiny marshmallows? Are you trying to seduce me? Because that’s really not necessary. I’m already the sluttiest slut for you.”
“Let us pray,” I say as I drop to my knees and grab onto his muscular ass cheeks and spread them.
He bites his lip and fuck is he hot… in a Mr. Rogers kind of way. I mean, he doesn’t wear the cardigans, but he does in spirit.
Okay, first of all: Emery is adorable. He deserves all the good things, and I would do awful things to keep him happy and safe. His character is heavily influenced by his ADHD, but thankfully he’s got a well developed personality outside of the neurospicy parts as well. His character didn’t really line up with what I expected after the glimpses we got of him in Sem, so I was a bit surprised by the golden retriever vibes. I was expecting dark, broken/broody and self destruction. I still loved him, though. Just had to shift my expectations a little.
“Well, you’re impulsive, chaotic, and unpredictable. To name a few.” Well, that was incredibly blunt and unnecessary. Not to mention, entirely accurate.
I admittedly took a long break in about the middle of the book, so I don’t remember all of the details of whatever happened before 60%. I’m left with questions about why August was so afraid of disappointing his mom. I’m sure it was mentioned, but I’m too lazy to look it up, lol. August isn’t a cruel person, but there’s definitely a couple of instances where he isn’t very nice to Emery. Emery is very obsessed with August though, and would forgive him for anything, probably.
Apparently, I have obsessive tendencies too. Like adding a deranged cherry to top off the shit sundae that is my life.
I did get a little bored with this book, hence the long-ass break. I don’t know exactly why that is, as it’s a good book. I just didn’t love it *as* much as I did Whit and Sem (is it too soon to reread Whit, btw?) Anyway. Cora Rose always makes me cry so I for sure connect with the characters atleast a little bit, but I wasn’t awfully invested in these guys. By the time I picked this back up again I had honestly forgotten about the whole ‘rescued from a snowstorm’ thing as well. Not great.
I understand now why Edward was so obsessed with Bella. I’d absolutely hover creepily over August’s bed, watching him sleep, because he smells like a snack.
Still a lovely book, just not my favorite.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Abandonment issues
Golden retriever MC
Neurodivergent
ADHD
Forced proximity
Stepbrothers
Roommates
Past trauma
Facials (not the skincare kind, arguably)
A concerning lack of prep 🍆
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Mentions of past sexual abuse (not detailed)
Mentions of parental neglect
Panic attacks
Anxiety
Trapped in a car (snowstorm)
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: Yes
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
August hands me an apple and I swat it from his hand.
And oh my god, my heart grows ten sizes bigger. It won’t fit in my chest anymore. It will have to live outside my body. Maybe August can tuck it away and keep it safe.
“Tiny marshmallows? Are you trying to seduce me? Because that’s really not necessary. I’m already the sluttiest slut for you.”
“Let us pray,” I say as I drop to my knees and grab onto his muscular ass cheeks and spread them.
August 12, 2022
I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THIS ONE! Even though, I had to read it while stuck with every relative I have in very close quarters (Asian family weddings) cough, cough. But I still ended up enjoying this so soooo damn much!
Emery deserves all my love and I think I might have found my favorite character in the series- Eli.
Cora Rose, honestly, surprised me. I've read quite a few authors trying to depict a character with mental heath, but they always portrayed it like a third entity- like the disease was all they were. But that's not true. Some days are bad, others not so much. And Emery portrayed it perfectly. So did the author Sohn Won-pyung, in the book Almond.
August was equally adorable, though at time, I took wanted to see him messed up, like Emery. But THE WORST WAS WHEN I WAS READING ABOUT THE SCENE WHERE LILY WALKS IN ON THEM AND MY AUNT WAS SITTING RIGHT BESIDE ME!!!!!.
Overall, this book was alllllll the feels and I CANNOT WAIT FOR LUKE AND ELI!! Seeing Luke flustered is like my one goal in life, after Az and Lazarus :)
Emery deserves all my love and I think I might have found my favorite character in the series- Eli.
Cora Rose, honestly, surprised me. I've read quite a few authors trying to depict a character with mental heath, but they always portrayed it like a third entity- like the disease was all they were. But that's not true. Some days are bad, others not so much. And Emery portrayed it perfectly. So did the author Sohn Won-pyung, in the book Almond.
August was equally adorable, though at time, I took wanted to see him messed up, like Emery. But THE WORST WAS WHEN I WAS READING ABOUT THE SCENE WHERE LILY WALKS IN ON THEM AND MY AUNT WAS SITTING RIGHT BESIDE ME!!!!!.
Overall, this book was alllllll the feels and I CANNOT WAIT FOR LUKE AND ELI!! Seeing Luke flustered is like my one goal in life, after Az and Lazarus :)
August 5, 2022
Every book in this series just gets better and better. This one was a lot less OTT but still completely charming. We once again have a bi-awakening story here. The other tropes are stepbrothers, opposites attract, hurt-comfort, and forced proximity ❄
Emery was absolutely delightful. He ties with Sem for my favorite character in the series so far. Emery is a fun, chaotic ball of energy with zero filter. He made me laugh so much. He is diabetic, neurodivergent and dealing with a heaping pile of trauma but still manages to be actual sunshine 🥺🥺 This boy has a major sweet tooth and it’s because he himself is a cinnamon roll.
Emery has a really, really dark past and is still dealing with a lot of trauma. But what I really appreciated was how Cora Rose chose to not focus on that. He is in therapy, he is dealing with it the best he can - and, yes this will be a lifelong process for him. But the book focuses on him finding love. He is more than his trauma - it will always be there and is touched on in the book but it’s not the focus. I really loved that.
August is such a kind-hearted, generous, patient, and understanding man - the kind to consistently put himself out there to help others. He is exactly the kind of person Emery needed. One part I really loved was when August told Emery not to put him on a pedestal because he might disappoint him - and this foresight was actually so wonderful. He is not perfect and he knows it - no human being is. He has his flaws but he is trying his best to treat Emery the way he deserves.
August was so gentle with Emery. He really stopped and took the time to internally think of what Emery needed, even when he was frustrated with him. This was honestly so beautiful. August loved Emery for EXACTLY who he was. I also love how August was the biggest supporter for Emery too - like helping to push Emery and his dad closer together and advocating for him to get the devices that would help him better manage his diabetes. Their relationship was so tender and sweet.
And in true Cora Rose fashion the chemistry in this one was fantastic. The sexual tension was almost unbearable at the beginning. I mean, one word - lollipop 🥵 And the sex scenes were on point 🔥🔥🔥
Also - I loved Lex. He had me literally cackling!! I would love to see more of him.
Emery needs to be protected for always. I am so glad he found the love he deserves - not just with August but his relationship with his dad as well 🥺 What a simply beautiful book.
Emery was absolutely delightful. He ties with Sem for my favorite character in the series so far. Emery is a fun, chaotic ball of energy with zero filter. He made me laugh so much. He is diabetic, neurodivergent and dealing with a heaping pile of trauma but still manages to be actual sunshine 🥺🥺 This boy has a major sweet tooth and it’s because he himself is a cinnamon roll.
Emery has a really, really dark past and is still dealing with a lot of trauma. But what I really appreciated was how Cora Rose chose to not focus on that. He is in therapy, he is dealing with it the best he can - and, yes this will be a lifelong process for him. But the book focuses on him finding love. He is more than his trauma - it will always be there and is touched on in the book but it’s not the focus. I really loved that.
August is such a kind-hearted, generous, patient, and understanding man - the kind to consistently put himself out there to help others. He is exactly the kind of person Emery needed. One part I really loved was when August told Emery not to put him on a pedestal because he might disappoint him - and this foresight was actually so wonderful. He is not perfect and he knows it - no human being is. He has his flaws but he is trying his best to treat Emery the way he deserves.
August was so gentle with Emery. He really stopped and took the time to internally think of what Emery needed, even when he was frustrated with him. This was honestly so beautiful. August loved Emery for EXACTLY who he was. I also love how August was the biggest supporter for Emery too - like helping to push Emery and his dad closer together and advocating for him to get the devices that would help him better manage his diabetes. Their relationship was so tender and sweet.
And in true Cora Rose fashion the chemistry in this one was fantastic. The sexual tension was almost unbearable at the beginning. I mean, one word - lollipop 🥵 And the sex scenes were on point 🔥🔥🔥
Also - I loved Lex. He had me literally cackling!! I would love to see more of him.
Emery needs to be protected for always. I am so glad he found the love he deserves - not just with August but his relationship with his dad as well 🥺 What a simply beautiful book.
September 6, 2022
MM Romance
Stepbrothers
2.5 Stars ⭐️
I’m definitely in the minority here because everyone I know loves this and I just did not like it at all. I’m mad at myself tbh because I sampled this when it first came out and I wasn’t feeling it but because a new book came out in this series and this was in my ku library, I gave it a shot. I really thought it would grow on me as I was in the mood for something dramatic and OTT but I just couldn’t connect with either main character and I fell asleep 4 different times reading it. The only character I really liked was Lex and I’d love a story about him. Please and Thank You 🙏
Emery was too much and August wasn’t enough. Emery was like a hyperactive version of myself because I have ADD, not his ADHD, but my attention span mimics his because I’ll be telling a story and then… “oooo something sparkly, what was I talking about?” It drives my family a bit nuts and I’m usually told to “land the plane” but unfortunately for whoever I’m talking to, I can’t remember even putting the plane in motion. 😂😂 It’s even worse now because of the meds I take for my chronic nerve pain. So, while I found Emery quite endearing at times, he also bugged the hell out of me because frankly I bug the hell out of myself most days. Then, add in all the other stuff going on with him like childhood trauma (SA), type 1 diabetes with a candy addiction, PTSD, issues with his dad etc and Emery felt too exaggerated for me. August on the other hand was almost like an afterthought. Other than him being helpful mowing elderly people’s lawns and someone who hated disappointing others, there wasn’t a lot there. Yes, he accepted Emery for who he was but he was too one dimensional for me. Frankly, I wanted to know more about him and I felt like I learned more about him from the blurb than the actual book.
This just wasn’t for me and I can’t say I’m all that excited to read Luke after seeing him and Eli in this book. 🤷🏻♀️ But because I’m such a masochist, I may pick it up someday soon. Who knows. 😂😂
Stepbrothers
2.5 Stars ⭐️
I’m definitely in the minority here because everyone I know loves this and I just did not like it at all. I’m mad at myself tbh because I sampled this when it first came out and I wasn’t feeling it but because a new book came out in this series and this was in my ku library, I gave it a shot. I really thought it would grow on me as I was in the mood for something dramatic and OTT but I just couldn’t connect with either main character and I fell asleep 4 different times reading it. The only character I really liked was Lex and I’d love a story about him. Please and Thank You 🙏
Emery was too much and August wasn’t enough. Emery was like a hyperactive version of myself because I have ADD, not his ADHD, but my attention span mimics his because I’ll be telling a story and then… “oooo something sparkly, what was I talking about?” It drives my family a bit nuts and I’m usually told to “land the plane” but unfortunately for whoever I’m talking to, I can’t remember even putting the plane in motion. 😂😂 It’s even worse now because of the meds I take for my chronic nerve pain. So, while I found Emery quite endearing at times, he also bugged the hell out of me because frankly I bug the hell out of myself most days. Then, add in all the other stuff going on with him like childhood trauma (SA), type 1 diabetes with a candy addiction, PTSD, issues with his dad etc and Emery felt too exaggerated for me. August on the other hand was almost like an afterthought. Other than him being helpful mowing elderly people’s lawns and someone who hated disappointing others, there wasn’t a lot there. Yes, he accepted Emery for who he was but he was too one dimensional for me. Frankly, I wanted to know more about him and I felt like I learned more about him from the blurb than the actual book.
This just wasn’t for me and I can’t say I’m all that excited to read Luke after seeing him and Eli in this book. 🤷🏻♀️ But because I’m such a masochist, I may pick it up someday soon. Who knows. 😂😂
July 5, 2022
As I don't have ADHD I'm not entirely sure whether this was an accurate depiction of what it's like to live with it, but I definitely *feel* like I had ADHD while reading it. Not in a bad way though. It was really interesting to find myself experiencing the world through the eyes of a neurodivergent character.
Emery might be my favorite book of this series. His innocence paired with his traumatic childhood made for a really dynamic and captivating character. What's fun about this series is that each book covers so many tropes and doesn't mind being a little over the top and unrealistic. I'm not necessary here to see characters fight being with one another for half the book. I want them sharing a sleeping bag because of some improbable plot situation.
And I got it here.
Only One Sleeping Bag trumps Only One Bed every time.
Emery might be my favorite book of this series. His innocence paired with his traumatic childhood made for a really dynamic and captivating character. What's fun about this series is that each book covers so many tropes and doesn't mind being a little over the top and unrealistic. I'm not necessary here to see characters fight being with one another for half the book. I want them sharing a sleeping bag because of some improbable plot situation.
And I got it here.
Only One Sleeping Bag trumps Only One Bed every time.
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