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Preston Brothers #1
Lucas
In a sprint, every millisecond counts.
When you’re waiting for love, those milliseconds can feel like eons.
High school senior Lucas Preston has it all: star of the track team, a scholarship waiting for him, an apartment to himself and a revolving door of girlfriends. He also has an older sister, five younger brothers and a father who relies on him to make sure those brothers don’t kill each other.
His saving grace? Lois “Laney” Sanders, a girl he started to fall in like with when he was just eleven.
A girl who became his best friend, his confidant, his courage.
It took only sixteen clicks and eight seconds for Lucas to realize that his like for Laney had turned into love.
Eight life-changing seconds.
It’s also the exact length of time it took to lose her.
When you’re waiting for love, those milliseconds can feel like eons.
High school senior Lucas Preston has it all: star of the track team, a scholarship waiting for him, an apartment to himself and a revolving door of girlfriends. He also has an older sister, five younger brothers and a father who relies on him to make sure those brothers don’t kill each other.
His saving grace? Lois “Laney” Sanders, a girl he started to fall in like with when he was just eleven.
A girl who became his best friend, his confidant, his courage.
It took only sixteen clicks and eight seconds for Lucas to realize that his like for Laney had turned into love.
Eight life-changing seconds.
It’s also the exact length of time it took to lose her.
354 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2016
About the author
Jay McLean
43 books8,078 followersJay McLean is an international best-selling author and full-time reader, writer of New Adult and Young Adult romance, and skilled procrastinator. When she’s not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her three little boys, investing way too much time on True Crime Documentaries and binge-watching reality TV.
She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her hurt and make her feel.
Jay lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in her dream home where music is loud and laughter is louder.
She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her hurt and make her feel.
Jay lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in her dream home where music is loud and laughter is louder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,327 reviews
October 4, 2016
5+ stars!
There is this feeling I get when I read a Jay McLean book. I can’t explain it. It’s a magical, all consuming feeling. I feel like every time I have a ‘favorite book’ by her, I read her newest release and think- this is my new favorite! Lucas is tied with Kick Push as my favorite Jay McLean book. And that’s some really high praises from me, because I legit LOVE all her books.
Lucas can most definitely be read as a stand-alone, but if you’ve read the More Than series, you already know who Lucas Preston is. He’s the oldest of Lucy’s younger brothers. If you haven’t read the More Than seres- trust me- get on that ASAP. There are some really nice cameo’s and mayhem from some of our favorite More Than characters. But back to Lucas…
Lucas Preston is the oldest son and a senior in high school. He’s dependable, and since the Preston’s lost their mother, he’s been the glue that holds their family together in many ways. He has one thing, better yet, one person, who holds him together. His best friend, Lois ‘Lane’, or Laney. He and Laney met when they're eleven years old and became best friends straight away. They have a special relationship. Lane is everything to him.
Laney is always there for her best friend no matter what. But the feelings she has for Lucas are more than just friendship. She’s been holding them back for so long, waiting for a sign that he feels the same, but no matter what, she’ll always be there for him. Even if friendship is all she has with him, she’ll be the best friend ever. She proves that over and over again.
Lucas and Lane’s story is complex. I won’t go into detail about what happens, but there were moments that made me smile, made me cry like a baby, a few OMG moments and I could not flip the pages fast enough. Once I was in this book, I found myself unable to stop reading. This is the kind of book that will make you take excessive bathroom breaks at work just so you can get a few chapters in here and there.
McLean has this way of making you feel when you read, but what makes her books so special and different than all those other books that make you feel, is that she makes you laugh. She makes you smile, and makes you fall in love with her characters. After reading this book, all I can think of is that I need books on ALL the Preston brothers. This is one of my favorite fictional families. I loved their dynamic.
Lucas isn’t a perfect guy. He is a teenager. He screws up and makes mistakes. But he is one of my favorite characters Jay has written. The fact that he takes care of his family the way that he does makes me love him so much more. He is a guy, so there are moments he’s a bit oblivious to his choices, but he really does come around and becomes the perfect ‘More Man’. Lane is a character I loved right away. The Preston family becomes her own, and she’s always there for them. She always has Luke’s back, even when he doesn’t deserve it. Not only is she a fantastic heroine, she’s a great friend.
This is a story of friendship, of family, and of falling in love. If you’re looking for an emotional read that’s full of laughs, this is the book for you. I loved it so much. It gets 5+ stars from me and is going on my favorites list for 2016.
beta copy provided by author
There is this feeling I get when I read a Jay McLean book. I can’t explain it. It’s a magical, all consuming feeling. I feel like every time I have a ‘favorite book’ by her, I read her newest release and think- this is my new favorite! Lucas is tied with Kick Push as my favorite Jay McLean book. And that’s some really high praises from me, because I legit LOVE all her books.
Lucas can most definitely be read as a stand-alone, but if you’ve read the More Than series, you already know who Lucas Preston is. He’s the oldest of Lucy’s younger brothers. If you haven’t read the More Than seres- trust me- get on that ASAP. There are some really nice cameo’s and mayhem from some of our favorite More Than characters. But back to Lucas…
Lucas Preston is the oldest son and a senior in high school. He’s dependable, and since the Preston’s lost their mother, he’s been the glue that holds their family together in many ways. He has one thing, better yet, one person, who holds him together. His best friend, Lois ‘Lane’, or Laney. He and Laney met when they're eleven years old and became best friends straight away. They have a special relationship. Lane is everything to him.
Laney is always there for her best friend no matter what. But the feelings she has for Lucas are more than just friendship. She’s been holding them back for so long, waiting for a sign that he feels the same, but no matter what, she’ll always be there for him. Even if friendship is all she has with him, she’ll be the best friend ever. She proves that over and over again.
Lucas and Lane’s story is complex. I won’t go into detail about what happens, but there were moments that made me smile, made me cry like a baby, a few OMG moments and I could not flip the pages fast enough. Once I was in this book, I found myself unable to stop reading. This is the kind of book that will make you take excessive bathroom breaks at work just so you can get a few chapters in here and there.
McLean has this way of making you feel when you read, but what makes her books so special and different than all those other books that make you feel, is that she makes you laugh. She makes you smile, and makes you fall in love with her characters. After reading this book, all I can think of is that I need books on ALL the Preston brothers. This is one of my favorite fictional families. I loved their dynamic.
Lucas isn’t a perfect guy. He is a teenager. He screws up and makes mistakes. But he is one of my favorite characters Jay has written. The fact that he takes care of his family the way that he does makes me love him so much more. He is a guy, so there are moments he’s a bit oblivious to his choices, but he really does come around and becomes the perfect ‘More Man’. Lane is a character I loved right away. The Preston family becomes her own, and she’s always there for them. She always has Luke’s back, even when he doesn’t deserve it. Not only is she a fantastic heroine, she’s a great friend.
This is a story of friendship, of family, and of falling in love. If you’re looking for an emotional read that’s full of laughs, this is the book for you. I loved it so much. It gets 5+ stars from me and is going on my favorites list for 2016.
beta copy provided by author
July 22, 2020
So, y’all should know by now- I don’t do overly complex reviews. It’s basically just a rambling of my general thoughts. 🤷🏼♀️ But something else you should know, I’m not a book snob. I’m not gonna be that person who is overly critical about the complexity of the writing and sentence structure, etc.🙅🏼♀️ Do I like the characters? Do I like the setting? Did the story stick with me? That’s all that matters to me! 👌
This book..... OMG.... sooooo many feels. 🥰 I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I got mad.... I devoured this book! This is totally book crack!! I couldn’t stop!! I just had to keep reading it. It was 4am and I had to force myself to stop. ☺️😊 I love Lucas and all the Preston boys. ❤️❤️
This book..... OMG.... sooooo many feels. 🥰 I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I got mad.... I devoured this book! This is totally book crack!! I couldn’t stop!! I just had to keep reading it. It was 4am and I had to force myself to stop. ☺️😊 I love Lucas and all the Preston boys. ❤️❤️
February 10, 2017
➳Cries, laughter, hatred, and angst... All the feelings and actions Jay McLean makes you feel when you read Lucas' and Laney's story...
➳After reading the synopsis you are instantly swoon over if you are a huge fan of Jay's or simply like dramatic, love at first sight type of stories. Jay found a way to mix those two together and bring an excitement out of me with tears and heartbreak. Lois, also known as Laney is new to town when she meets her dad's boss and the rest of the Preston family. She is instantly drawn to Lucas, the oldest brother of all five Preston boys (Lucy being the oldest... remember her from More Than Enough?)
➳Lucas and Laney are so sweet those first fee years of their friendship when they were just kids. But even at such a small age Lucas was a romantic. He couldnt express his love towards Laney at such an age cause he would believe he wasn't cool enough. But internally he knew that his love for her is stronger than any other;
➳Something that I found rather fascinating is what Jay brought to mind about opposite gender friendships that evolve to wanting to be more than friends, is the fact that Laney and Lucas change their thoughts of simple hugging to wanting more. Touching, smelling, tasting... ;)
All with good intensions of lust and love. Though problems arouse, and Jay did a wonderful job by acquiring those problems with a message against sexual abussive relationships as unfortunately Laney had to go through a period of time...
➳Overall, I enjoyed this nice and sweet story. It made me cry so hard but it lacked some things that could be altered in other areas. Thank you Jay for letting me read the book as an ARC!
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
➳Hero rating: 4.5
➳Heroine rating: 4.5
➳Sexual tension rating: 4.0
➳Sex scenes rating: 4.0
➳Sex scenes frequency: 4.0
➳Plot rating: 5.0
➳Dialogue rating: 4.5
➳Storytelling rating: 5.0
➳Story ending rating: 5.0
Order Now
➳ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review...
➳After reading the synopsis you are instantly swoon over if you are a huge fan of Jay's or simply like dramatic, love at first sight type of stories. Jay found a way to mix those two together and bring an excitement out of me with tears and heartbreak. Lois, also known as Laney is new to town when she meets her dad's boss and the rest of the Preston family. She is instantly drawn to Lucas, the oldest brother of all five Preston boys (Lucy being the oldest... remember her from More Than Enough?)
➳Lucas and Laney are so sweet those first fee years of their friendship when they were just kids. But even at such a small age Lucas was a romantic. He couldnt express his love towards Laney at such an age cause he would believe he wasn't cool enough. But internally he knew that his love for her is stronger than any other;
➳"And so without meaning to, without wanting to, I started to fall in like with a girl who would become my best friend.
My confidant.
My courage...
... A girl who would pater crush my heart and destroy me."
➳Something that I found rather fascinating is what Jay brought to mind about opposite gender friendships that evolve to wanting to be more than friends, is the fact that Laney and Lucas change their thoughts of simple hugging to wanting more. Touching, smelling, tasting... ;)
All with good intensions of lust and love. Though problems arouse, and Jay did a wonderful job by acquiring those problems with a message against sexual abussive relationships as unfortunately Laney had to go through a period of time...
➳Overall, I enjoyed this nice and sweet story. It made me cry so hard but it lacked some things that could be altered in other areas. Thank you Jay for letting me read the book as an ARC!
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
➳Hero rating: 4.5
➳Heroine rating: 4.5
➳Sexual tension rating: 4.0
➳Sex scenes rating: 4.0
➳Sex scenes frequency: 4.0
➳Plot rating: 5.0
➳Dialogue rating: 4.5
➳Storytelling rating: 5.0
➳Story ending rating: 5.0
Order Now
➳ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review...
October 27, 2016
4 STARS
Lucas Preston is one of Lucy’s brothers from the author’s More Than series. He’s the oldest of the Preston boys and this is his story. The timeline takes us from eleven year old Lucas through his teen years. His love interest is Lois “Laney” Sanders whose father takes a job with Preston Construction and their friendship buds and grows through the years. I adored how they were dubbed Lois and Clark from the get go and how their bound survived their childhood. This is definitely a wonderful YA story.
”And so without meaning to, without wanting to, I started to fall in like with a girl who would later become my best friend.
The story is well written and meaty enough to get to know all the other Preston boys as they grow up. Jay McLean’s fantastic sense of humor and swoon worthy scenes make this love story something very special. I would have liked Laney to have had a girl best friend or connected more with our Lucy. Yet I did love her connection to all the Preston boys. Her growing pains and struggle for Lucas to see her as more and how he was all over the place was well done. I thought that that the author related the fact that their timing was off until Lucas got it right.
”And so I creepily lurk in the shadows of her life (not literally) and wait for my turn. She doesn’t realize any of this, of course, because she’s so naïve, so innocent, so Laney.”
The story takes a scary turn and readers should be warned to expect some disturbing situations between Laney and her boyfriend Coop. Kathy Preston, Lucas’ mother plays a small but very large part in this story and was an unforgettable and extremely impactful character. The story has so many funny moments like sexing, the Preston's in the Bed song, Logan- need I say more, and yet there’s a ton of serious issues in this book and a love that these two finally figure out what to do with.
"And I think, ultimately, that’s what true love is, you know? To want to be someone’s hero when they’re faced with villains. To want to be to be the one that saves them. To be their Wonderwall.”
This book can be read as a standalone but I urge readers to try the More Than series it’s YA at its best and Jay McLean writes it like no other!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
Lucas Preston is one of Lucy’s brothers from the author’s More Than series. He’s the oldest of the Preston boys and this is his story. The timeline takes us from eleven year old Lucas through his teen years. His love interest is Lois “Laney” Sanders whose father takes a job with Preston Construction and their friendship buds and grows through the years. I adored how they were dubbed Lois and Clark from the get go and how their bound survived their childhood. This is definitely a wonderful YA story.
”And so without meaning to, without wanting to, I started to fall in like with a girl who would later become my best friend.
The story is well written and meaty enough to get to know all the other Preston boys as they grow up. Jay McLean’s fantastic sense of humor and swoon worthy scenes make this love story something very special. I would have liked Laney to have had a girl best friend or connected more with our Lucy. Yet I did love her connection to all the Preston boys. Her growing pains and struggle for Lucas to see her as more and how he was all over the place was well done. I thought that that the author related the fact that their timing was off until Lucas got it right.
”And so I creepily lurk in the shadows of her life (not literally) and wait for my turn. She doesn’t realize any of this, of course, because she’s so naïve, so innocent, so Laney.”
The story takes a scary turn and readers should be warned to expect some disturbing situations between Laney and her boyfriend Coop. Kathy Preston, Lucas’ mother plays a small but very large part in this story and was an unforgettable and extremely impactful character. The story has so many funny moments like sexing, the Preston's in the Bed song, Logan- need I say more, and yet there’s a ton of serious issues in this book and a love that these two finally figure out what to do with.
"And I think, ultimately, that’s what true love is, you know? To want to be someone’s hero when they’re faced with villains. To want to be to be the one that saves them. To be their Wonderwall.”
This book can be read as a standalone but I urge readers to try the More Than series it’s YA at its best and Jay McLean writes it like no other!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
October 13, 2016
JAY FREAKING MCLEAN! OMG! I loved this book so freaking hard! I legit could barely even handle it. I wanted to jump into book world and leave it all behind for Lucas. I loved Lucas, I loved Lane and I freaking loved the Prestons!
This so much more than a friends to lovers story, because Lois and Lucas are so much more than friends. These two met when the were kids and experienced all of their lives' biggest and smallest moments together. When Lucas’s mom died Lois was there, she cried with him, her heart broke with him and her love helped heal him. Now it’s years later and things are starting to change between them. Lois and Lucas are at a point where they either move on together or risk their friendship being forever changed.
The story is told from dual points of view and includes flashbacks so you can see every thought and important moments throughout their lives. You can see where their friendship has meant the absolute world to each of them and you can see as they get older how their feelings really begin to develop and become more. The most heartbreaking part, you can see how these two teenagers cannot adequately understand, accept and figure out how to make the next step.
I read this books weeks ago and my heart is breaking and swooning all over again at remembering this story. This is a story of epic love and while I love funny books, nothing in the entire world is better than an epic love. I live for books about epic love and Lucas and Lois are the perfect example of a love that transcends time and never diminishes. A love that can heal, a love that can overcome anything, a love the changes you forever.
This book is perfection to me. It’s everything I want in a book and more. It’s funny, it’s sexy, it has so much freaking heart, and just enough angst to keep me sweating a little, but not too much! If you have never read a Jay McLean book, you are crazy and need to fix that immediately because this lady kills it with every book! There a few authors with every release I think this is my new favorite, Jay is one of those authors and Lucas is one of those reads!
So lucky to have beta read this amazing book!
This so much more than a friends to lovers story, because Lois and Lucas are so much more than friends. These two met when the were kids and experienced all of their lives' biggest and smallest moments together. When Lucas’s mom died Lois was there, she cried with him, her heart broke with him and her love helped heal him. Now it’s years later and things are starting to change between them. Lois and Lucas are at a point where they either move on together or risk their friendship being forever changed.
The story is told from dual points of view and includes flashbacks so you can see every thought and important moments throughout their lives. You can see where their friendship has meant the absolute world to each of them and you can see as they get older how their feelings really begin to develop and become more. The most heartbreaking part, you can see how these two teenagers cannot adequately understand, accept and figure out how to make the next step.
I read this books weeks ago and my heart is breaking and swooning all over again at remembering this story. This is a story of epic love and while I love funny books, nothing in the entire world is better than an epic love. I live for books about epic love and Lucas and Lois are the perfect example of a love that transcends time and never diminishes. A love that can heal, a love that can overcome anything, a love the changes you forever.
This book is perfection to me. It’s everything I want in a book and more. It’s funny, it’s sexy, it has so much freaking heart, and just enough angst to keep me sweating a little, but not too much! If you have never read a Jay McLean book, you are crazy and need to fix that immediately because this lady kills it with every book! There a few authors with every release I think this is my new favorite, Jay is one of those authors and Lucas is one of those reads!
So lucky to have beta read this amazing book!
May 1, 2021
2.75 stars ✩⋆
I WOULD DIE FOR LACHLAN, AND LACHLAN ONLY.
and logan (maybe).
maybe leo.
maybe the twins.
definitely lucy and cameron.
lucas...? eh. (still remember what he did in leo so)
this was lowkey such a painful book to reread i didn't wanna go through it again because like-
and add in the fact that this book has childhood best friends to lovers dynamic where the dude, Lucas (H), "loves" the girl best friend, Laney (h), but has no qualms about sleeping with PLENTY of other girls and lowkey shoving it to her face while the girl best friend just stays in the sidelines and just pines after him and saving her virginity for the guy best friend (undeservedly by the way - when is it ever deserved when the dynamic is like this??).
the difference here is, once Lucas hurt Laney by not breaking up with his girlfriend - because yes, when they first slept together in the beginning of the book, he still had a girlfriend so yes he cheated - Laney moved the f on and was in a relationship with someone else, Cooper (OM)
but yeah, i reread this because after rereading lucycam's book i was curious about this book. i read it a long time ago and i forgot what happened, plus, i just wanted more lachlan content because that little kid is too fucking adorable for his own good.
— tw (spoilers): domestic violence, sexual assault, cheating
･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･ SPOILERS AHEAD ･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･．
↬ friends to lovers dynamic will be the death of me ↫
there are 2 sides of friends to lovers:
obviously, y'all know the side i like. and well, lucaslaney unfortunately belongs to the i don't understand why you're a ho when you love your girl best friend side. no seriously tho i don't understand his logic. you love the girl... but... you're still gonna be a ho and shove it on her face??
the math ain't mathin.
and love the fact that laney really said this:
YESS ma'am, you tell him. honestly guys, imma be honest obviously i hate the whole OM drama but a small part of me was.... well... liked it (kind of and obviously excluding the plot twist at the end)...
now hear me out!! so we all know about the OM drama where Laney got with Cooper after Lucas didn't break up with his girlfriend the day after they first slept together and confessed their feelings. but... ya know... a part of me likes it because... i like the fact that Lucas was suffering too okay? i've read a ton of books with this dynamic and the heroine never moves on and the fact that Laney did? that's new. and Lucas finally felt what she felt for years in a matter of months. i know some won’t like this but i dont caaAaAre like yessir we love equality in this household 😤✊ and to be honest, the fact he only felt it for months was a bit merciful and generous for me when Laney had to endure seeing him with other girls for THREE FUCKING YEARS. he should be lucky.
anyways, now that y'all know i have a vengeful soul, i didn't really care about the romance. i know i said some part of me liked the fact Laney moved on and Lucas had to suffer but when these two finally got together around 53% i was not invested anymore. all the OM drama kinda ruined things because once they got together, Lucas said he was doing things "right" for Laney and i just didn't feel... swooned? there were time jumps and telling >>> showing so i didn't really feel connection. also doesn't help the fact i just reread LucyCam before rereading this and those two are literally god tier.
also, i still don't understand Lucas' fuckboy logic about him loving Laney but still sleeping with other girls and this will forever bug the hell out of me so-
and this story that Leo said:
it's just so sad!! this is basically how he treated her for years so obviously i wouldn't like Lucas in the beginning and couldn't even blame Laney for moving on. personally, i wouldn't forgive Lucas after this but whatever. Leo spoke facts, and facts only.
— OW drama (spoilers): for those who want the tea, Lucas was celibate after he was with Laney (thank god) but he cheated on his current girlfriend with Laney in the beginning and didn't break up with her like he promised. He made out with Roxie (yes, it's the OW from LucyCam's book) weeks after his time with Laney tho and this dude had the audacity to say how dare she move on and hang out with someone else when it's only been a few weeks when he literally just made out with someone else i-
↬ THIS IS A LACHLAN APPRECIATION POST ↫
this little kid is the cutest fictional little kid i've ever read alongside lou from wait for it. they're both just- just so fucking adorable i just wanna adopt them but
1) they're fictional,
2) i'm young and i'm broke and,
3) i am ✨BROKE✨ (just had to repeat that again).
the one saving grace in this book for me are the Preston family moments. there's this one scene at the end where Lucas went to jail and Leo and Logan literally tried to "harass" a police officer just so their brother won't feel alone in his jail cell oh my god
and then Lachlan screaming for his brother because the police were taking him away?? i- the family moment's y'all their ride-or-die mentality literally made me cry for three straight hours i think.
aaand when Lachlan drew a mark pretending he got his "schpeen out" just like Laney and she was all like "Did it hurt?" and he nodded and was all like, "But I'm better now. Like you."
the wholesome content i am living for!!
↬ the plot twist at the end (spoilers) ↫
to be honest with y'all... i don't know how i feel about the plot twist at the end. the plot twist being we find out Laney was abused by her ex/OM, Cooper, when they were together and then near the end, he tried to kill her. at first, i didn't like how it's used as a plot twist device because i personally didn't see the foreshadowing but then again the fact that we barely got any signs and when Laney was acting all suspicious and it was all in Lucas' pov, it kinda highlights the fact that these incidences are always not so obvious which makes it all the more dangerous. i kinda like the subtlety of that.
i wish we spent more time in Laney's head about this before we find out. i think it was handled well to some degree though. like the aftermath was dark, tragic and hearbreaking. it was so sad to be honest.
* * *
one last thing, Cameron, sir, explain this to me:
Cameron. bro. what the fu-
im sorry but i legit spat my coffee out while i read this because this was just so out of left field?? i don't condone any Lucy slander but the randomness of it all was too funny for me. like what the f is this dude even talking about pLSSS.
anyways, i kinda wanna reread Logan because yes, i wanna read more Lachlan content because the family moments gives me serotonin but then again that book lowkey traumatized me because i ain't ever forget what happened near the end so umm. maybe if i'm in the mood to feel pain then i'll reread.
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
original rating (may 2018) — 5 stars
* * *
Preston Brothers
#1: lucas — lucas x laney ↠ 2.75 stars
#2: logan — logan x aubrey ↠ 5 stars (old review)
#3: leo — leo x mia ↠ 3.5 stars
I WOULD DIE FOR LACHLAN, AND LACHLAN ONLY.
and logan (maybe).
maybe leo.
maybe the twins.
definitely lucy and cameron.
lucas...? eh. (still remember what he did in leo so)
this was lowkey such a painful book to reread i didn't wanna go through it again because like-
and add in the fact that this book has childhood best friends to lovers dynamic where the dude, Lucas (H), "loves" the girl best friend, Laney (h), but has no qualms about sleeping with PLENTY of other girls and lowkey shoving it to her face while the girl best friend just stays in the sidelines and just pines after him and saving her virginity for the guy best friend (undeservedly by the way - when is it ever deserved when the dynamic is like this??).
the difference here is, once Lucas hurt Laney by not breaking up with his girlfriend - because yes, when they first slept together in the beginning of the book, he still had a girlfriend so yes he cheated - Laney moved the f on and was in a relationship with someone else, Cooper (OM)
but yeah, i reread this because after rereading lucycam's book i was curious about this book. i read it a long time ago and i forgot what happened, plus, i just wanted more lachlan content because that little kid is too fucking adorable for his own good.
— tw (spoilers): domestic violence, sexual assault, cheating
･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･ SPOILERS AHEAD ･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･．
↬ friends to lovers dynamic will be the death of me ↫
there are 2 sides of friends to lovers:
↳ the wholesome, it's only been you side (aka LucyCam): is the kind that i love because the dude isn't a ho 🥺
↳ and the angsty, i don't understand why you're a ho when you love your girl best friend side (aka LucasLaney): is the kind where i either fully hate it or like it- there's no in between
obviously, y'all know the side i like. and well, lucaslaney unfortunately belongs to the i don't understand why you're a ho when you love your girl best friend side. no seriously tho i don't understand his logic. you love the girl... but... you're still gonna be a ho and shove it on her face??
the math ain't mathin.
and love the fact that laney really said this:
"I’ve had to sit around for years watching you date girl after girl after goddamn girl. I’ve listened to you talk about them, talk about having sex with them. And not once have I ever shown you how upsetting it was for me. I had to put up with it for years! You can deal with it for one night.”
YESS ma'am, you tell him. honestly guys, imma be honest obviously i hate the whole OM drama but a small part of me was.... well... liked it (kind of and obviously excluding the plot twist at the end)...
now hear me out!! so we all know about the OM drama where Laney got with Cooper after Lucas didn't break up with his girlfriend the day after they first slept together and confessed their feelings. but... ya know... a part of me likes it because... i like the fact that Lucas was suffering too okay? i've read a ton of books with this dynamic and the heroine never moves on and the fact that Laney did? that's new. and Lucas finally felt what she felt for years in a matter of months. i know some won’t like this but i dont caaAaAre like yessir we love equality in this household 😤✊ and to be honest, the fact he only felt it for months was a bit merciful and generous for me when Laney had to endure seeing him with other girls for THREE FUCKING YEARS. he should be lucky.
anyways, now that y'all know i have a vengeful soul, i didn't really care about the romance. i know i said some part of me liked the fact Laney moved on and Lucas had to suffer but when these two finally got together around 53% i was not invested anymore. all the OM drama kinda ruined things because once they got together, Lucas said he was doing things "right" for Laney and i just didn't feel... swooned? there were time jumps and telling >>> showing so i didn't really feel connection. also doesn't help the fact i just reread LucyCam before rereading this and those two are literally god tier.
also, i still don't understand Lucas' fuckboy logic about him loving Laney but still sleeping with other girls and this will forever bug the hell out of me so-
and this story that Leo said:
"You don’t remember because you weren’t there. She sold six things that day. One to Dad and one each to the rest of us. Lucy got six items of jewelry that Christmas. And the worst part is that she told you about it, reminded you of it so many times, and you promised her you’d be there. She had two chairs set up behind the table. One for her and one for you but you didn’t show! You were here, in the lake, with Dumb Name and a bunch of girls and you forgot about her. And she probably didn’t tell you how badly you hurt her or that it even happened at all because that’s who she is, and that’s why she’s too good for you"
it's just so sad!! this is basically how he treated her for years so obviously i wouldn't like Lucas in the beginning and couldn't even blame Laney for moving on. personally, i wouldn't forgive Lucas after this but whatever. Leo spoke facts, and facts only.
— OW drama (spoilers): for those who want the tea, Lucas was celibate after he was with Laney (thank god) but he cheated on his current girlfriend with Laney in the beginning and didn't break up with her like he promised. He made out with Roxie (yes, it's the OW from LucyCam's book) weeks after his time with Laney tho and this dude had the audacity to say how dare she move on and hang out with someone else when it's only been a few weeks when he literally just made out with someone else i-
↬ THIS IS A LACHLAN APPRECIATION POST ↫
this little kid is the cutest fictional little kid i've ever read alongside lou from wait for it. they're both just- just so fucking adorable i just wanna adopt them but
1) they're fictional,
2) i'm young and i'm broke and,
3) i am ✨BROKE✨ (just had to repeat that again).
the one saving grace in this book for me are the Preston family moments. there's this one scene at the end where Lucas went to jail and Leo and Logan literally tried to "harass" a police officer just so their brother won't feel alone in his jail cell oh my god
and then Lachlan screaming for his brother because the police were taking him away?? i- the family moment's y'all their ride-or-die mentality literally made me cry for three straight hours i think.
aaand when Lachlan drew a mark pretending he got his "schpeen out" just like Laney and she was all like "Did it hurt?" and he nodded and was all like, "But I'm better now. Like you."
the wholesome content i am living for!!
↬ the plot twist at the end (spoilers) ↫
to be honest with y'all... i don't know how i feel about the plot twist at the end. the plot twist being we find out Laney was abused by her ex/OM, Cooper, when they were together and then near the end, he tried to kill her. at first, i didn't like how it's used as a plot twist device because i personally didn't see the foreshadowing but then again the fact that we barely got any signs and when Laney was acting all suspicious and it was all in Lucas' pov, it kinda highlights the fact that these incidences are always not so obvious which makes it all the more dangerous. i kinda like the subtlety of that.
i wish we spent more time in Laney's head about this before we find out. i think it was handled well to some degree though. like the aftermath was dark, tragic and hearbreaking. it was so sad to be honest.
* * *
one last thing, Cameron, sir, explain this to me:
"Yeah! Come on, boys!” Lachlan shouts, hitting the ground with a bat. “Remember, righty tighty, lefty loosey!”
“That doesn’t even make sense,” Lincoln tells him.
Cam shakes his head, lowers his voice. “It’s true, though. Lucy’s definitely not tight anymore."
Cameron. bro. what the fu-
im sorry but i legit spat my coffee out while i read this because this was just so out of left field?? i don't condone any Lucy slander but the randomness of it all was too funny for me. like what the f is this dude even talking about pLSSS.
anyways, i kinda wanna reread Logan because yes, i wanna read more Lachlan content because the family moments gives me serotonin but then again that book lowkey traumatized me because i ain't ever forget what happened near the end so umm. maybe if i'm in the mood to feel pain then i'll reread.
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
original rating (may 2018) — 5 stars
* * *
Preston Brothers
#1: lucas — lucas x laney ↠ 2.75 stars
#2: logan — logan x aubrey ↠ 5 stars (old review)
#3: leo — leo x mia ↠ 3.5 stars
May 11, 2018
“You impress people with your mind. With your kind heart and humble attitude. And while you’re a beautiful girl, your looks or the way you dress shouldn’t be the reason people are impressed by you.”
Words of wisdom right here people!
Lucas is the oldest brother in the Preston family, who we're introduced to in Jay McLeans 'More than this' series, but this book can be read as a stand alone (which is what it is for me since this is the first book by McLean I've picked up).
Lucas and Lois became best friends from the moment they met as eleven year old children. Now, years later, they're seniors at the same high school, preparing to go to the same college and enjoying their final year. Although they both have feelings for each other, their friendship has always been platonic, until one night changes everything.
Trigger warnings:
I can understand why so many people loved this book and gave it five stars, but for me it was just, well, fine.
The characters were fine.
The story was fine.
The writing was fine.
“Good is the enemy of great, Lucas.”
I had some minor issues with the book, like the way they talked in the flashbacks. They're supposed to be 11 years old, but talk as if they're 40 and have had a lifetime of experiences? I just don't buy it.
The bok also felt like a kids roller coaster. You know, the ones that go round and round with only one small bump along the way? So you always know what to expect and when to expect it.
My biggest issue though was with the way the story started. I've said it multiple times in my reviews, but the main characters can truly make or break a book. Jay McLean waist no time setting up her characters for a smash and crash, and because it happened so early in the book I never felt like we got to know the characters and create a connection to them. So when things went south, I didn't feel with the characters, and that just continued out the rest of the book, which made the 300 remaining pages unbelievable slow.
I get why this book can be emotional for a lot of readers. And why some find it angsty and heartwarming, and that it can make you go from a crying mess to a giggling mush in a few pages, but when you don't care about the characters, you don't care about their highs and lows either. Especially when you feel like you pretty much know how this entire story will pan out from the moment you've been introduced to the storys characters. Nothing surprised me.
Now that my mini-rant is over, I do applaud the way she delt with some of the issues in this book (mentioned in the trigger warnings).
“Love doesn’t die just because one heart stops beating. When you love someone, you have the same heartbeat and it’s still there, just not as strong.”
May 30, 2018
SERIES: (Preston Brothers, #1)
AUTHOR: Jay McLean
GENRE: Contemporary Romance.
CHAPTERS: Prologue | 41 | Epilogue
RELEASE DATE: 01st November, 2016
SWEET, HEARTFELT, & A BUCKET FULL of FEELS
LUCAS: Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives,' Past & Present combined.
This kicks starts us off in the 'Prologue' which doesn't make sense until you progress further into the book and the horror all unfolds.
This author has graduated from the feels college with a diploma, she always seems to deliver all those feels in a tightly wrapped up box of emotions, as soon as you start progressing through the book, all the angst, the heartbreak every freaking emotion the author throws your way believe me you feel it!!
LOVE HARD ~ LOVE FIERCE ~ BUT LOVE RIGHT
If you've read the 'MORE THAN' series you would've been introduced to Lucas Preston then, he's Drunk Lucy's brother, he's the eldest brother of 6 siblings (Lucy, Lucas, Leo, Logan, Lincoln, Liam & Lachlan) and this is Lucas's story.
This kicks starts us off when he's eleven years old, and moves through the ages until he's eighteen so it is a YA book, but don't let that hinder your decision to one click this.
Going back to when he was eleven is where we meet Lois Lane and as the years go by they become budding best friends to more to a breakdown of their friendship that looked like it wasn't going to get fixed.
This goes beyond just friends to lovers, and these kinds of stories are my biggest weakness add in that it's written by Jay McLean and I knew I was going to be reading another winner. Lois and Lucas's friendship knew no bounds, Lois becomes a big fixture within the whole Preston family, they all love and care for her as though she were their sister this is reinforced even more when the Preston siblings lost their mother.
November 6, 2016
Jay McLean wrote us another wonderful story. Beautiful, touching, funny and complex. If you have not read this author yet be sure to catch up. It will be for you a magnificent journey through all kinds of emotions.
Lucas and Lois met when they were eleven. That's when started their great friendship. They spent time together when could and over the years their bond was only stronger. They were for each other in the best and worst moments of their lives. Somewhere in the meantime they developed feelings to which no one have the courage to confess.
This is it, in short, without revealing much, because it's probably one of the more complex plot you can now read. They just grow up, make mistakes and learn from them in a hard way. And they need to gain experience to be able to find their time and expand feelings for each other.
It is really 100% Jay McLean in the best shape. All you have to read is one chapter of any of her books, and you'll love it. I have read the More Than series years ago and still remember those stories. They stay in your head and you can always pull something out of them for yourself. She has a way of writing, it is amazing and you walk into it completely. Her stories are sweet and emotional and funny and move you to tears. The author does not treat us gently, but in return gives an unforgettable story.
Lucas book is the story of young people, their failures, successes and first love. They learn to live with lightest and darkest shades of life. In the back, they have an amazing family and friends. You can not fail to mention this, because it is a huge part of the story. I can go on and on how amazing it is, but there is this quote that really could not be more perfect to describe this book:
***
ARC kindly provided for an honest review. Thank you!
Lucas and Lois met when they were eleven. That's when started their great friendship. They spent time together when could and over the years their bond was only stronger. They were for each other in the best and worst moments of their lives. Somewhere in the meantime they developed feelings to which no one have the courage to confess.
This is it, in short, without revealing much, because it's probably one of the more complex plot you can now read. They just grow up, make mistakes and learn from them in a hard way. And they need to gain experience to be able to find their time and expand feelings for each other.
“Friends,” I say.
“Friends?” she asks.
I shrug. “For now.”
It is really 100% Jay McLean in the best shape. All you have to read is one chapter of any of her books, and you'll love it. I have read the More Than series years ago and still remember those stories. They stay in your head and you can always pull something out of them for yourself. She has a way of writing, it is amazing and you walk into it completely. Her stories are sweet and emotional and funny and move you to tears. The author does not treat us gently, but in return gives an unforgettable story.
Lucas book is the story of young people, their failures, successes and first love. They learn to live with lightest and darkest shades of life. In the back, they have an amazing family and friends. You can not fail to mention this, because it is a huge part of the story. I can go on and on how amazing it is, but there is this quote that really could not be more perfect to describe this book:
“It was heartbreaking, breathtaking, and in a way, it was kind of beautiful.”
***
ARC kindly provided for an honest review. Thank you!
October 30, 2016
5 "ELEVENTY THREE" STARS
Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books
Jay McLean is a new to me author although I've had her previous stories on my TBR for a long time. When I saw that she was starting a new series I thought this would be a good starting point. And let me tell you - I couldn't be happier.
SIXTEEN CLICKS.
Eight seconds.
That's how long it took me to realize I'd been in love with her for four years.
Eight, life-changing seconds.
It's also the exact length of time it took to lose her.
The Preston family consists of seven siblings, one sister, six brothers. Lucas is the oldest son and ever since his mom passed away he has taken over caring for his family, relieving his father a little bit from his duties. His best friend Lois/Laney has become a sort of surrogate mom to this bunch of frisky boys. Lane and Lucas have been friends for years. And it's the same amount of years they have been in love, even when they were still too young to put a name to their feelings.
And so without meaning to, without wanting to, I started to fall in like with a girl who would later become my best friend.
Lane is the glue who holds everything and everyone together, especially Lucas.
One night changes everything. The dynamic of their relationship and friendship and their lives. Along the way lie heartbreak, hurt and devastation.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot - I went in blind and I'm happy I did. However please be aware that there are triggers which I will post at the end of my review in spoiler tags.
These two walk through fire for each other, even when they are at odds with one another. Their relationship is deep and has its roots in an all encompassing love. And Laney craves love. So bad that one decision will change the course of her life. What I admire about her is her strength, loyalty, strong will and backbone. She owns her decisions and always tries to keep her loved ones from the hurt that comes as a consequence to her poor choice. She protects them fiercely.
Lucas is flawed. He has hurt Laney in the past, often without him realizing it because he is so tangled up in caring for his family and living the life of a teenager. He also makes one poor decision, although I don't think his brain was involved. You can look past it though because he is young and young people make stupid mistakes. The important part is how you deal with it, what you do to fix it and if you learn from it for the future. And Lucas does all that. You can see huge growth along the way.
"And I think, ultimately, that’s what true love is, you know? To want to be someone’s hero when they’re faced with villains. To want to be to be the one that saves them. To be their Wonderwall.”
I adored all the Preston brothers but one stood out in particular and that was little Lachlan. He made me laugh so hard. He is all of six years old when we first meet him and he repeats everything his older brothers teach him. He yells "SEXING" during a Shakespeare play or laughs about his brothers saying "F*ck". I think every mother would be horrified yet laughing on the inside. And generally Jay McLean inserts a lot of humor throughout the story so that you are never overwhelmed with the angst that certainly comes with the main themes of this book.
"We've had several parents complain that Lachlan's the one teaching their kids swear words."
Lachlan stands, shoves his finger in this teacher's face. "That's bullshit, lady!"
I am in love with this family. This author has a way of writing that made me feel all the things these characters were going through, from the main cast to the secondary, that's how well fleshed out they were. Lucas and Lane were relatable and lovable.
“I need you. I need to love you. And I need to love you right.”
I am so looking forward to meeting the love matches of the other Preston boys, they will definitely need someone special in their lives.
...as much as I'd like to make my opinion known on how silly I think it is when parents give their kids matching names, I can't. Because:
Lucy
Lucas
Leo
Logan
Lincoln
Liam
Lachlan
The safety gang will have a field day with this one.
October 27, 2016
5+++++ STUNNING Lois Lane and Clark Kent Stars
I love Jay McLeans storytelling she just pulls you in and grips you from the beginning. Also there is no sugar coating the realness of her books, and this was just that. OMG I was laughing, crying, in pain then happy... a rollercoaster of emotions.
So what's it about?
This is a friends to lovers story, I just love these books and Jay has slow burn down to the T. Lucas is Lucy's younger brother from More than forever book which you don't have to read to read this but I did listen to the audible version before and that gave me some background information. Plus it helped me to connect to the characters I suppose more so, but this can be read as a standalone so it's not essential. Still I would definitely recommend to read that at some point just cause Cam and Lucy ❤️❤️❤️
Ok so back to Lucas he's a track runner with a scholarship ready for his next chapter in his life... yet he has one year to make Lane fall in love with him, cause although they've been best friends since they were 11 or so being in a relationship hasn't happened... yet....
What I loved about this book was the memories, the moments. You get snippets into the past and then living with them through the present. As friends you get to see how they fell, how they have been in each other's lives when growing up and how they wanted to be with each other underneath. I'd class this as a NA more so than YA cause there are some sexy moments that gave me just enough to hold on to, to connect to them on a deeper level but the story was first and foremost and the angst kept me on the edge of my seat. I will also say there are some darker moments in this that may be hard for some although for me had me hanging on for dear life and holding my kindle to my chest because I felt for all that was concerned in those scenarios. A father, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a brother, a lover. I also loved the Preston family as a whole. I'd actually love a story on the Tom Lucas's Dad maybe pre kids LOL cause we can't have it after can we??!! The brothers esp Leo and Logan I'm very fond of. There's definitely something special about this series and I'll be recommending this book to all my book friends who love this genre, who love slow burn, who love real and love epic love cause this book was about about two halves that fit a whole and this was absolutely 100% a top fav of mine..
That. Is. All...
ARC generously gifted via Jay for a honest review
For more reviews and blog posts
I love Jay McLeans storytelling she just pulls you in and grips you from the beginning. Also there is no sugar coating the realness of her books, and this was just that. OMG I was laughing, crying, in pain then happy... a rollercoaster of emotions.
So what's it about?
This is a friends to lovers story, I just love these books and Jay has slow burn down to the T. Lucas is Lucy's younger brother from More than forever book which you don't have to read to read this but I did listen to the audible version before and that gave me some background information. Plus it helped me to connect to the characters I suppose more so, but this can be read as a standalone so it's not essential. Still I would definitely recommend to read that at some point just cause Cam and Lucy ❤️❤️❤️
Ok so back to Lucas he's a track runner with a scholarship ready for his next chapter in his life... yet he has one year to make Lane fall in love with him, cause although they've been best friends since they were 11 or so being in a relationship hasn't happened... yet....
What I loved about this book was the memories, the moments. You get snippets into the past and then living with them through the present. As friends you get to see how they fell, how they have been in each other's lives when growing up and how they wanted to be with each other underneath. I'd class this as a NA more so than YA cause there are some sexy moments that gave me just enough to hold on to, to connect to them on a deeper level but the story was first and foremost and the angst kept me on the edge of my seat. I will also say there are some darker moments in this that may be hard for some although for me had me hanging on for dear life and holding my kindle to my chest because I felt for all that was concerned in those scenarios. A father, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a brother, a lover. I also loved the Preston family as a whole. I'd actually love a story on the Tom Lucas's Dad maybe pre kids LOL cause we can't have it after can we??!! The brothers esp Leo and Logan I'm very fond of. There's definitely something special about this series and I'll be recommending this book to all my book friends who love this genre, who love slow burn, who love real and love epic love cause this book was about about two halves that fit a whole and this was absolutely 100% a top fav of mine..
That. Is. All...
ARC generously gifted via Jay for a honest review
For more reviews and blog posts
November 9, 2016
FOUR LANEY STARS.
"She’s too much. She’s everything."
Jay McLean loves to take her readers on a nail biting adventure full of romance, angst and pure, undiluted coming of age drama. Whenever I start this authors books I always have huge expectations, mainly because I'm fully aware of the talent and time that gets thrown into the pages. 'Lucas' was one of those books that I couldn't wait to get my hands on, the anticipation was half of the enjoyment and although it didn't knock me off my perch completely I certainly have no regrets with spending my time with Lucas and his very own love soirée.
What's it all about?
'Lucas', is a spin off novel from the hugely popular 'More Than' series. This book brings the focus onto one of the Preston brothers and his developing friendship with his lifelong friend, Lois Sanders. With plenty of twists and exciting plot reveals, Jay McLean has produced a book that showcases exactly everything there is to love about a new adult themed romance.
What did I love?
Angst chasers prepare to jump aboard and get yourself wrecked, 'McLean' style. I love how I always go into a book by this author expecting the very best and for the most part this book swept me off my feet. I loved how the book showcases characters from the 'More than' series but more importantly I fell into like with a hero and heroine that were too lovely to ignore. Jay McLean has a way of capturing me with her quirky story telling and original style, Lucas had this theme in spades and once I'd gotten into the flow with this story I was hooked till the end. I can't wait to read more from this series and like always I'll be eagerly awaiting more from this author.
Why not five?
It took me some time to fall into the flow of this novel, I found myself a little conflicted over the length of time spent with the past and present which took off some of my enjoyment at the start. Overall, I didn't feel fully connected to the story line like I have with other books by this author and although by the end I was fully invested in seeing how this duo's story would conclude I didn't have that wow feeling that I normally have with a McLean book. A solid four stars for an author that I admire.
Final thoughts ...
I've said this a million times before and i'm likely to say it again, Jay McLean is my ultimate go to author for an emotional read. Her books always have a special something to look forward to and I'm always surprised to find romance readers who have yet to discover this authors talent. 'Lucas' is a coming of age novel that I'm convinced will capture the forever attention of all its readers. Enjoy ... kisses.
"She’s too much. She’s everything."
Jay McLean loves to take her readers on a nail biting adventure full of romance, angst and pure, undiluted coming of age drama. Whenever I start this authors books I always have huge expectations, mainly because I'm fully aware of the talent and time that gets thrown into the pages. 'Lucas' was one of those books that I couldn't wait to get my hands on, the anticipation was half of the enjoyment and although it didn't knock me off my perch completely I certainly have no regrets with spending my time with Lucas and his very own love soirée.
What's it all about?
'Lucas', is a spin off novel from the hugely popular 'More Than' series. This book brings the focus onto one of the Preston brothers and his developing friendship with his lifelong friend, Lois Sanders. With plenty of twists and exciting plot reveals, Jay McLean has produced a book that showcases exactly everything there is to love about a new adult themed romance.
What did I love?
Angst chasers prepare to jump aboard and get yourself wrecked, 'McLean' style. I love how I always go into a book by this author expecting the very best and for the most part this book swept me off my feet. I loved how the book showcases characters from the 'More than' series but more importantly I fell into like with a hero and heroine that were too lovely to ignore. Jay McLean has a way of capturing me with her quirky story telling and original style, Lucas had this theme in spades and once I'd gotten into the flow with this story I was hooked till the end. I can't wait to read more from this series and like always I'll be eagerly awaiting more from this author.
Why not five?
It took me some time to fall into the flow of this novel, I found myself a little conflicted over the length of time spent with the past and present which took off some of my enjoyment at the start. Overall, I didn't feel fully connected to the story line like I have with other books by this author and although by the end I was fully invested in seeing how this duo's story would conclude I didn't have that wow feeling that I normally have with a McLean book. A solid four stars for an author that I admire.
Final thoughts ...
I've said this a million times before and i'm likely to say it again, Jay McLean is my ultimate go to author for an emotional read. Her books always have a special something to look forward to and I'm always surprised to find romance readers who have yet to discover this authors talent. 'Lucas' is a coming of age novel that I'm convinced will capture the forever attention of all its readers. Enjoy ... kisses.
August 12, 2019
*****4.5 STARS*****
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5
Heroine: 4
Plot: 4.5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5
Heroine: 4
Plot: 4.5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
April 12, 2017
2.5 underwhelmed stars and I'm guessing by all the 5 star reviews it's a case of "it's me".
This one didn't really work for me, I felt uncomfortable reading about Cooper and Laney's loved up relationship for the first half of the book, a book that was supposed to be Lucas and Laney's.
The middle lagged with nothing much happening, which frustrated me.
The 2.5 stars are for Lucas and the Prestons (and of course CAM ♥). Laney was just "there" and a bit of a doormat too - she could have been any heroine, she definitely didn't stand out as one I will remember.
This one didn't really work for me, I felt uncomfortable reading about Cooper and Laney's loved up relationship for the first half of the book, a book that was supposed to be Lucas and Laney's.
The middle lagged with nothing much happening, which frustrated me.
The 2.5 stars are for Lucas and the Prestons (and of course CAM ♥). Laney was just "there" and a bit of a doormat too - she could have been any heroine, she definitely didn't stand out as one I will remember.
January 30, 2018
I’ve only read a few books by Jay McLean, but I loved those books. I love her writing and the emotions in those books. I do have yet to read a book of the author’s More Than series. I already own all of them and they’re waiting for me to finally read them. Lucas is the first novel of the spinoff series of the More Than series. Lucas Preston is a younger brother of Lucy from More Than Forever.
Lois – better known as Laney – moved to a new town when she was eleven years old. From the moment she meets Lucas, they are best friends. They spend a lot time together and they are just inseparable. A couple of years later, Laney has romantic feelings for Lucas and Lucas feels the same way, but the both of them don’t want to jeopardize their friendship by expressing those feelings and not having them returned.
When they are in their last year of high school, one of them does eventually take a chance and sparks fly, but their happiness doesn’t last long. Laney tries to move on from Lucas and she will find love with Cooper. Lucas isn’t too happy about that, but he’s determined to keep fighting for Laney for another chance. He loves her too much to let her go without a fight.
I loved Lucas and Laney. Laney is a sweet, loving, smart, strong and a little innocent woman. She’s close to her dad and she’s happy that she lives with him. Laney loves to be with Lucas and she hopes to be his girlfriend one day. She always loved him and always will. Lucas loves Laney just as much. He loves her fiercely and he always will. Lucas is sporty, caring, supporting and protective. He takes care of his little brothers and he would do anything for them.
I loved the secondary characters. Lucas and Laney both have an amazing family, from their dads to Lucas’ little brothers. I love the band between Lucas and his brothers and his sister. They are always there for each other. Every brother is different and I’m already hoping for some brothers to get their own book. This book makes me want to read Lucy and Cameron’s love story. While not their whole story is told, I do feel that there is already one big thing spoiled in this book so I hope I forget it by the time I read their book.
This book could have been a 5 star read, but there were some things I didn’t love. I’m just not a fan of a romance book where one of the mean characters has a relationship with someone else when it’s obvious that the main characters love each other. I didn’t have a good feeling about Cooper. Also, some decisions just didn’t make sense to me.
-- My honest review is based on a copy provided by the author. --
Lois – better known as Laney – moved to a new town when she was eleven years old. From the moment she meets Lucas, they are best friends. They spend a lot time together and they are just inseparable. A couple of years later, Laney has romantic feelings for Lucas and Lucas feels the same way, but the both of them don’t want to jeopardize their friendship by expressing those feelings and not having them returned.
When they are in their last year of high school, one of them does eventually take a chance and sparks fly, but their happiness doesn’t last long. Laney tries to move on from Lucas and she will find love with Cooper. Lucas isn’t too happy about that, but he’s determined to keep fighting for Laney for another chance. He loves her too much to let her go without a fight.
I loved Lucas and Laney. Laney is a sweet, loving, smart, strong and a little innocent woman. She’s close to her dad and she’s happy that she lives with him. Laney loves to be with Lucas and she hopes to be his girlfriend one day. She always loved him and always will. Lucas loves Laney just as much. He loves her fiercely and he always will. Lucas is sporty, caring, supporting and protective. He takes care of his little brothers and he would do anything for them.
I loved the secondary characters. Lucas and Laney both have an amazing family, from their dads to Lucas’ little brothers. I love the band between Lucas and his brothers and his sister. They are always there for each other. Every brother is different and I’m already hoping for some brothers to get their own book. This book makes me want to read Lucy and Cameron’s love story. While not their whole story is told, I do feel that there is already one big thing spoiled in this book so I hope I forget it by the time I read their book.
This book could have been a 5 star read, but there were some things I didn’t love. I’m just not a fan of a romance book where one of the mean characters has a relationship with someone else when it’s obvious that the main characters love each other. I didn’t have a good feeling about Cooper. Also, some decisions just didn’t make sense to me.
-- My honest review is based on a copy provided by the author. --
November 11, 2016
DNF at 60%. I just couldn't continue anymore. Lucas doesn't have a single loyal bone in his body. He cheats or he entertains the thought of cheating every chance he gets.
The gist of the story is that he's basically in love with the heroine since they were kids but he doesn't do anything about it. He just goes through girlfriend after girlfriend while still continuing to sleep in the heroine's bedroom every night. Then he suddenly realizes that he hates the thought of the h with other guys so he grills her about who she's dated. This jealousy leads to a night where the h gave her vcard to the H. Then the next day he suddenly remembers that oops he has a girlfriend who he's been dating for 6 months. But he reassures the h that it's okay even though he cheated because he loves the h and he'll break up with his girlfriend asap. Wow.
Okaay.. So the next day, he still doesn't break it off with his gf because of some drama with gf's family. h gets mad and other guy comes in to comfort her. During their time apart, Lucas, the ever cheating gullible shitty hero that he is, fools around with another girl. But wait, according to him, he stopped before they went all the way. AS IF THAT MAKES IT ANY BETTER YOU INDECISIVE SELF-CENTERED MANWHORE!! Ugh!! Then when he sees the h with another guy he has the nerve to say "it's only been weeks and yet she's moved on already". WOW! Talk about double standard!!! It's okay if you fool around but if it's the h it's "too fast"?!?! *face palm
So, the stupid story continues with the girl dating the other guy Cooper who I actually liked more than this douche Lucas. Unfortunately, the h is a dumb doormat who prefers a guy who will cheat on her every chance he gets. So after the scene when Lucas was contemplating on sleeping with random new girl but the h called him, I just had to end this torture.
ONE OF THE MOST HORRIBLY-WRITTEN BOOKS I'VE READ THIS YEAR! I shall never ever trust reviews from now on because I don't know how in the hell can those readers give this book 5 stars?!?!
JUST TERRIBLE!!! CHEATER, DISLOYAL HERO!! DOORMAT HEROINE!
1 STAR for all the emotions (not good ones) this managed to pull out of me. And just for the fact that I managed to held on until 60% of this torturous book.
The gist of the story is that he's basically in love with the heroine since they were kids but he doesn't do anything about it. He just goes through girlfriend after girlfriend while still continuing to sleep in the heroine's bedroom every night. Then he suddenly realizes that he hates the thought of the h with other guys so he grills her about who she's dated. This jealousy leads to a night where the h gave her vcard to the H. Then the next day he suddenly remembers that oops he has a girlfriend who he's been dating for 6 months. But he reassures the h that it's okay even though he cheated because he loves the h and he'll break up with his girlfriend asap. Wow.
Okaay.. So the next day, he still doesn't break it off with his gf because of some drama with gf's family. h gets mad and other guy comes in to comfort her. During their time apart, Lucas, the ever cheating gullible shitty hero that he is, fools around with another girl. But wait, according to him, he stopped before they went all the way. AS IF THAT MAKES IT ANY BETTER YOU INDECISIVE SELF-CENTERED MANWHORE!! Ugh!! Then when he sees the h with another guy he has the nerve to say "it's only been weeks and yet she's moved on already". WOW! Talk about double standard!!! It's okay if you fool around but if it's the h it's "too fast"?!?! *face palm
So, the stupid story continues with the girl dating the other guy Cooper who I actually liked more than this douche Lucas. Unfortunately, the h is a dumb doormat who prefers a guy who will cheat on her every chance he gets. So after the scene when Lucas was contemplating on sleeping with random new girl but the h called him, I just had to end this torture.
ONE OF THE MOST HORRIBLY-WRITTEN BOOKS I'VE READ THIS YEAR! I shall never ever trust reviews from now on because I don't know how in the hell can those readers give this book 5 stars?!?!
JUST TERRIBLE!!! CHEATER, DISLOYAL HERO!! DOORMAT HEROINE!
1 STAR for all the emotions (not good ones) this managed to pull out of me. And just for the fact that I managed to held on until 60% of this torturous book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2017
Re-read 4/16/17
I have been (not so) patiently waiting for this book to be published. Why ?? Well, because it was written by one of my favorite authors and because it's a spinoff from one of my favorite series, which includes my all time favorite book.... "More than forever".
Not only is this a spinoff, but it's about Lucas... Lucy's brother !!! I was pretty sure this book was gonna be awesome and since I'm always right....it was !!
I loved that it was similar to my favorite book (Lucy and Cam) in so many ways.
Lucas and Laney (Lois) have been the best of friends since they were 11 years old. Laney's dad left their mom and started working for Tom, Lucas' dad. This is how they met.
Lucas is the oldest son of the Preston clan. Lucy being the oldest daughter. Then there is Leo, Logan, Linc, Liam and little Lachlan. They are such an awesome family and I do hope we get a story for all the brothers.
This family loses their mom when they are all still young, especially Lachlan. This is not really a spoiler , because if you've read the previous series, you already know. Lucas really steps up the plate to help his family out in all the ways he can and Lane, she is always right by his side helping him out.
Over time her feelings for him changed....
She wants more from Lucas than to be his best friend, but if that's all he wants from her, she will make sure she is the bestest friend ever. She doesn't know however that his feelings for her changed a long time ago.
Lucas made some stupid mistakes. I didn't fault him for this, because he was still young and had to learn so much. When they find out about each others true feelings, they have to decide if they want to risk their friendship and be who they were meant to be ...a match made in heaven.
I'm not gonna say anything more about the storyline. I think everyone should just read it and find out for themselves.
This book made me laugh, cry, swoon and even curse. I loved every single page. We even got some short appearances from Jake, Logan and ofcourse Lucy and Cam, who are still my favorite couple.
For those who haven't read the "More than" series, don't worry. This can be read as a stand alone, although I don't know why anyone would want to skip those books.
Last of all, I want to plead with this author to please write books about all the brother. I'm actually very curious about Logan. I would absolutely love to read his story, but of course I would read about all of them !!
5 Very well deserved stars from me !!!!
I have been (not so) patiently waiting for this book to be published. Why ?? Well, because it was written by one of my favorite authors and because it's a spinoff from one of my favorite series, which includes my all time favorite book.... "More than forever".
Not only is this a spinoff, but it's about Lucas... Lucy's brother !!! I was pretty sure this book was gonna be awesome and since I'm always right....it was !!
I loved that it was similar to my favorite book (Lucy and Cam) in so many ways.
Lucas and Laney (Lois) have been the best of friends since they were 11 years old. Laney's dad left their mom and started working for Tom, Lucas' dad. This is how they met.
Lucas is the oldest son of the Preston clan. Lucy being the oldest daughter. Then there is Leo, Logan, Linc, Liam and little Lachlan. They are such an awesome family and I do hope we get a story for all the brothers.
This family loses their mom when they are all still young, especially Lachlan. This is not really a spoiler , because if you've read the previous series, you already know. Lucas really steps up the plate to help his family out in all the ways he can and Lane, she is always right by his side helping him out.
Over time her feelings for him changed....
She wants more from Lucas than to be his best friend, but if that's all he wants from her, she will make sure she is the bestest friend ever. She doesn't know however that his feelings for her changed a long time ago.
Lucas made some stupid mistakes. I didn't fault him for this, because he was still young and had to learn so much. When they find out about each others true feelings, they have to decide if they want to risk their friendship and be who they were meant to be ...a match made in heaven.
I'm not gonna say anything more about the storyline. I think everyone should just read it and find out for themselves.
This book made me laugh, cry, swoon and even curse. I loved every single page. We even got some short appearances from Jake, Logan and ofcourse Lucy and Cam, who are still my favorite couple.
For those who haven't read the "More than" series, don't worry. This can be read as a stand alone, although I don't know why anyone would want to skip those books.
Last of all, I want to plead with this author to please write books about all the brother. I'm actually very curious about Logan. I would absolutely love to read his story, but of course I would read about all of them !!
5 Very well deserved stars from me !!!!
My reviews are posted on Dirty Books Obsession
April 19, 2017
Sixteen clicks.
Eight seconds.
That’s how long it took me to realizeI’d been in love with her for four years. I hated this book.
Eight, life-changing seconds.
It’s also the exact length of time it took to loseher. me as a potential fan of this author.
Yet I sat through the entirety of this novel and endured this piece of shit. What does that say about me?
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Eight seconds.
That’s how long it took me to realize
Eight, life-changing seconds.
It’s also the exact length of time it took to lose
Yet I sat through the entirety of this novel and endured this piece of shit. What does that say about me?
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Shelved as 'hell-fucking-no'
May 24, 2017Another piece of shit hero that claims to have been in love with the heroine for years and yet continues to fuck other girls. He goes on dates and even has a girlfriend he cheats on to finally have sex with the heroine. Instead of dumping the girlfriend, he stays with her because her dad died. He doesn't even bother explaining or talking to the heroine about this either? Ugh, good God what the fuck is this shit?
June 22, 2020
4.5 "Lucas Preston was beautiful" stars!!
If there's one thing I can always depend on when it comes to reading something from Jay McLean, it's ALL THE FEELS! I fell in love with the Preston family when I fell in love with the way that Lucy and Cameron fell in love. Getting a chance to immerse myself in this world... it's the stuff dreams are made of!
Lucas and Lois met when they were eleven years old. Honestly, it was love at first sight. Their friendship, their connection, their unbreakable bond was solidified from their very first meeting. From sharing his secret stash of Snickers bars to sharing his mom's affections, it was obvious that there was nothing Lucas wouldn't be willing to give to his Laney. But then adolescent innocence, that purity in hopes and dreams and wants and wishes, changes into teenage mistakes. Feelings get hurt. Feelings get felt. Feelings get lost. Confusion and resentment build. And being human just may cost them everything.
Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. Boy doesn't tell girl. Girl likes boy. Girl doesn't tell boy. They both do stupid things that hurt each other, but then they don't tell each other about how hurt they are. Boy dates other girls because he can't have the one he wants. Girl does the same. Girl and boy finally admit their feelings to each other. Something happens and then there's hurt feelings again. Girl moves onto a new relationship and blocks boy. Friendship turns into acquaintanceship. Girl becomes the living embodiment of a PSA announcement.
The angst was most definitely felt.
I am deeply in love with this story. I'm in love with the person Lucas was shaping up to be. I'm in love with the way he gave all of himself in the name of love. I'm in love with the Preston family... there's Leo and his quiet, smooth charm; Logan and his brashness and in-your-face attitude; Liam and Linc, the twins who were pretty much in their own world and yet a part of this one; and sweet, precocious Lachlan, who made me laugh so so so so much! I can't wait for another opportunity to dive back into this magical Preston realm and I'm eagerly looking forward to getting my hands on Logan's book. I'm sure it's gonna be hilarious!
Find the full review HERE
If there's one thing I can always depend on when it comes to reading something from Jay McLean, it's ALL THE FEELS! I fell in love with the Preston family when I fell in love with the way that Lucy and Cameron fell in love. Getting a chance to immerse myself in this world... it's the stuff dreams are made of!
Lucas and Lois met when they were eleven years old. Honestly, it was love at first sight. Their friendship, their connection, their unbreakable bond was solidified from their very first meeting. From sharing his secret stash of Snickers bars to sharing his mom's affections, it was obvious that there was nothing Lucas wouldn't be willing to give to his Laney. But then adolescent innocence, that purity in hopes and dreams and wants and wishes, changes into teenage mistakes. Feelings get hurt. Feelings get felt. Feelings get lost. Confusion and resentment build. And being human just may cost them everything.
"You need to leave because I don't want you here. I don't want you standing at my door, apologizing, trying to make me understand why I can't be hurt by this because I am hurt. And I don't want to hurt." - Laney
Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. Boy doesn't tell girl. Girl likes boy. Girl doesn't tell boy. They both do stupid things that hurt each other, but then they don't tell each other about how hurt they are. Boy dates other girls because he can't have the one he wants. Girl does the same. Girl and boy finally admit their feelings to each other. Something happens and then there's hurt feelings again. Girl moves onto a new relationship and blocks boy. Friendship turns into acquaintanceship. Girl becomes the living embodiment of a PSA announcement.
The angst was most definitely felt.
I am deeply in love with this story. I'm in love with the person Lucas was shaping up to be. I'm in love with the way he gave all of himself in the name of love. I'm in love with the Preston family... there's Leo and his quiet, smooth charm; Logan and his brashness and in-your-face attitude; Liam and Linc, the twins who were pretty much in their own world and yet a part of this one; and sweet, precocious Lachlan, who made me laugh so so so so much! I can't wait for another opportunity to dive back into this magical Preston realm and I'm eagerly looking forward to getting my hands on Logan's book. I'm sure it's gonna be hilarious!
Find the full review HERE
September 22, 2017
Not reviewing, just catching up on this series in preparation for the second book in the series!
Our blog has reviewed this title in the past HERE.
Our blog has reviewed this title in the past HERE.
November 1, 2016
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 OUTSTANDING STARS!
McLean is vicious with a pen. Her writing just gets better and better. Look, I know this review might look long but trust me when I say I'm holding back to not give anything away. One would easily start this book thinking Lucas is going to be one of those sweet best friend to lover reads. And it is...well..kind of. The thing is, Lucas and Lois have a love story that sort of goes against the grain. Their path is waaaaay different than your average teen romance novel.
You see, it's at the precise moment that you think the story is going to go right that it actually goes left; giving readers so much more than they bargained for. At least, I know it was that way for me.
When Lois is eleven her dad lands a job as the site foreman working for Tom Preston. She instantly gains a whole new family as the Preston's welcome her with open arms. However, there is one Preston that she grows to love in a way that differs from the rest. ❤️ Lucas. The thing is I think it would be more accurate if I stated that Lois has a special relationship with EACH Preston to a certain degree. Only Lucas has her heart in every way possible and it's totally obvious.
Now, you know I gotta keep it real and let you know that there is nothing, I repeat NOTHING easy about their love story. When you expect things to progress between them you hit a sharp quick turn. This turn suddenly lands both Lois and Lucas in a somewhat awkward position as best friends. As a reader there are things you think you know but until the real details unfold you're kinda just going with the flow. Only you'll hit another sharp twist that will have you literally just sitting there holding your breath. I'm talking devastation, Jay McLean wrecked me.
My Sweet- The Preston's are BACK! Tom, Kathy and all their kids Lucy Lucas Leo Logan Lincoln Liam and Lachlan
My Sour- He whom shall not be named.
My Thoughts
In Lucas Jay McLean boldly yet somehow still cautiously touches on a darkness that so many face daily. It's considered a silent epidemic and McLean is strategic on how she unpacks the story. Careful not to swallow readers whole without allowing them to chew on a few things first. I'd like to also add that according to a recent article I read this horrific act/s occurs every NINE seconds in America.
The Writing
Listen, I am a true fan I've been down since her first book and I'm not going anywhere. Her growth as a writer has been remarkable thus far. Lucas was a G R E A T read. It's witty, heartfelt and emotionally charged with high doses of character charm. She doesn't just write, she develops and presents these characters in a way that draws you in like a moth to a flame.
I can honestly say that Lucas has taken the number one spot for me out of alllll of McLean's leading male heroes. He is officially my number one! It's crazy, this guy really just stuck to me like glue. I loved being in his head, receiving his thoughts, those candid moments of honesty, I admired his maturity, read on about his leadership, love love loved his loyalty, and enjoyed his sense of humor. I can also see this book topping bestsellers listings as the author has penned some of her best writing yet within the pages of Lucas.
What readers should know
The book holds strong dark undertones as certain characters reach and in some cases possess a brokenness that will bring tears to your eyes. At one point while reading I was rendered speechless... If you're a true fan you've most likely met Lucas in More Than Forever(Lucy & Cam's book)
To buy or Not to Buy? BUY! Go 1click!
Series: Yes. This is the first book in a new series as far as I know.
Plot/Storyline: This book was nothing I expected it to be yet everything I needed it to be. Mainly due to the path the lead characters take.
Writing: Beautiful, Sweet, Heartbreaking, Emotional...STRONG!
Steam Factor: High, on a scale from 1-10 I say 8.
Now go forth and read, then come tell us what you thought about it! If only just a few words, reviews are important to authors
McLean is vicious with a pen. Her writing just gets better and better. Look, I know this review might look long but trust me when I say I'm holding back to not give anything away. One would easily start this book thinking Lucas is going to be one of those sweet best friend to lover reads. And it is...well..kind of. The thing is, Lucas and Lois have a love story that sort of goes against the grain. Their path is waaaaay different than your average teen romance novel.
You see, it's at the precise moment that you think the story is going to go right that it actually goes left; giving readers so much more than they bargained for. At least, I know it was that way for me.
When Lois is eleven her dad lands a job as the site foreman working for Tom Preston. She instantly gains a whole new family as the Preston's welcome her with open arms. However, there is one Preston that she grows to love in a way that differs from the rest. ❤️ Lucas. The thing is I think it would be more accurate if I stated that Lois has a special relationship with EACH Preston to a certain degree. Only Lucas has her heart in every way possible and it's totally obvious.
Now, you know I gotta keep it real and let you know that there is nothing, I repeat NOTHING easy about their love story. When you expect things to progress between them you hit a sharp quick turn. This turn suddenly lands both Lois and Lucas in a somewhat awkward position as best friends. As a reader there are things you think you know but until the real details unfold you're kinda just going with the flow. Only you'll hit another sharp twist that will have you literally just sitting there holding your breath. I'm talking devastation, Jay McLean wrecked me.
My Sweet- The Preston's are BACK! Tom, Kathy and all their kids Lucy Lucas Leo Logan Lincoln Liam and Lachlan
My Sour- He whom shall not be named.
My Thoughts
In Lucas Jay McLean boldly yet somehow still cautiously touches on a darkness that so many face daily. It's considered a silent epidemic and McLean is strategic on how she unpacks the story. Careful not to swallow readers whole without allowing them to chew on a few things first. I'd like to also add that according to a recent article I read this horrific act/s occurs every NINE seconds in America.
The Writing
Listen, I am a true fan I've been down since her first book and I'm not going anywhere. Her growth as a writer has been remarkable thus far. Lucas was a G R E A T read. It's witty, heartfelt and emotionally charged with high doses of character charm. She doesn't just write, she develops and presents these characters in a way that draws you in like a moth to a flame.
I can honestly say that Lucas has taken the number one spot for me out of alllll of McLean's leading male heroes. He is officially my number one! It's crazy, this guy really just stuck to me like glue. I loved being in his head, receiving his thoughts, those candid moments of honesty, I admired his maturity, read on about his leadership, love love loved his loyalty, and enjoyed his sense of humor. I can also see this book topping bestsellers listings as the author has penned some of her best writing yet within the pages of Lucas.
What readers should know
The book holds strong dark undertones as certain characters reach and in some cases possess a brokenness that will bring tears to your eyes. At one point while reading I was rendered speechless... If you're a true fan you've most likely met Lucas in More Than Forever(Lucy & Cam's book)
To buy or Not to Buy? BUY! Go 1click!
Series: Yes. This is the first book in a new series as far as I know.
Plot/Storyline: This book was nothing I expected it to be yet everything I needed it to be. Mainly due to the path the lead characters take.
Writing: Beautiful, Sweet, Heartbreaking, Emotional...STRONG!
Steam Factor: High, on a scale from 1-10 I say 8.
Now go forth and read, then come tell us what you thought about it! If only just a few words, reviews are important to authors
October 11, 2016
A Million Love Hard, Love Fierce, but Love Right Stars
Jay McLean has written 11 books to date. She has shared her passion and her pains with her fans and most importantly she has given her readers something MORE. McLean has taught us that we are all born PHENOMENAL…that sometimes you have to KICK and PUSH before you can COAST. She has showed sadness and hardship and even let us embrace RED LETTER DAYS. Then there were those days she had us CHECKING the TIME. Now with her latest release she has shown that sometimes CUGGLES are enough. That counting is important…ONE MINUTES are valuable. That sometimes true love…must wait.
With every book I read by this author I start jumping and declaring that, YES, this is the one that is my favorite. Her books have progressively gotten to me. Every storyline and each character has grown in my mind and in my heart with every discussion making me a part of something bigger than just a good book I read. With her coming of age, angst-filled fiction she finds a way to bring awareness to so many hard and dark realities and yet she still give light and even the gift of hope.
"Don’t you want to be the first to touch something? To reach out and grasp onto the world around you? You can’t touch it if you can’t see it."
Enter LUCAS. Lucas Preston that is. Those familiar with the MORE clan know this dependable, loyal brother of Lucy, among others! Knowing how so much emotion and passion came from the More Series, I had no idea how this author could go deeper…get more profound…do better. I had no idea that two 11 year olds, Lucas Preston and Lois “Lane” Sanders, would move me and make the most epic of love stories.
And so without meaning to, without wanting to, I started to fall in like with a girl who would later become my best friend.
I can attest that this is not the typical friends to lovers tropes. It is anything but. This is a love story of pure LOVE. A building of a relationship filled with humor, steadfast loyalty, and absolute knowing of your best friend yet at the same time there is real growing pains, young naivety and the heart-breaking want for more.
"And I think, ultimately, that’s what true love is, you know? To want to be someone’s hero when they’re faced with villains. To want to be to be the one that saves them. To be their Wonderwall.”
I know that this book got to me the most because at the heart of two young lives there was so much growth with both love and loss. There was finding home and developing support among strangers that become family. The single dad Sanders and the Preston’s were a constant and there was no better to guide these two young souls with words of wisdom and gentle hands…oh, and bit of prodding and fun! Lucas and Lane could have just fallen and simply existed in their own world but with time comes change and heartbreak. There were so many mistakes and loss of faith moments. There were seconds of bravery that were overshadowed by times of pure darkness and cowardice…but then there was counting… sixteen clicks…eight seconds…until all would be right again. FRIENDS thru and thru. Always there for one another. Always waiting to pick up pieces. Always holding the hand when needed. Friends to the end. What about more??? When is it time for Lucas and Lane??
"That it’s not about the dance. It’s about moving as one, with a person whose heart beats to the same rhythm as yours. It’s about love, about life."
There are not enough words to say how much I loved this read. I had over 10 pages of highlighted passages. Many people have their go to authors, and I know there are so many great talents out there but then I think of Jay Mclean…her stories, her delivery…her wit and charm infused into the lives of her fictional characters. I see the genius start to finish and I applaud her as an author...She is MY CoHO! Whether quoting Felicity or creating mayhem, this story is legit. Lucas…my new all-time favorite book of 2016 and the BEST McLean story.
**please note that quoted text may differ from published work**
Jay McLean has written 11 books to date. She has shared her passion and her pains with her fans and most importantly she has given her readers something MORE. McLean has taught us that we are all born PHENOMENAL…that sometimes you have to KICK and PUSH before you can COAST. She has showed sadness and hardship and even let us embrace RED LETTER DAYS. Then there were those days she had us CHECKING the TIME. Now with her latest release she has shown that sometimes CUGGLES are enough. That counting is important…ONE MINUTES are valuable. That sometimes true love…must wait.
With every book I read by this author I start jumping and declaring that, YES, this is the one that is my favorite. Her books have progressively gotten to me. Every storyline and each character has grown in my mind and in my heart with every discussion making me a part of something bigger than just a good book I read. With her coming of age, angst-filled fiction she finds a way to bring awareness to so many hard and dark realities and yet she still give light and even the gift of hope.
"Don’t you want to be the first to touch something? To reach out and grasp onto the world around you? You can’t touch it if you can’t see it."
Enter LUCAS. Lucas Preston that is. Those familiar with the MORE clan know this dependable, loyal brother of Lucy, among others! Knowing how so much emotion and passion came from the More Series, I had no idea how this author could go deeper…get more profound…do better. I had no idea that two 11 year olds, Lucas Preston and Lois “Lane” Sanders, would move me and make the most epic of love stories.
And so without meaning to, without wanting to, I started to fall in like with a girl who would later become my best friend.
I can attest that this is not the typical friends to lovers tropes. It is anything but. This is a love story of pure LOVE. A building of a relationship filled with humor, steadfast loyalty, and absolute knowing of your best friend yet at the same time there is real growing pains, young naivety and the heart-breaking want for more.
"And I think, ultimately, that’s what true love is, you know? To want to be someone’s hero when they’re faced with villains. To want to be to be the one that saves them. To be their Wonderwall.”
I know that this book got to me the most because at the heart of two young lives there was so much growth with both love and loss. There was finding home and developing support among strangers that become family. The single dad Sanders and the Preston’s were a constant and there was no better to guide these two young souls with words of wisdom and gentle hands…oh, and bit of prodding and fun! Lucas and Lane could have just fallen and simply existed in their own world but with time comes change and heartbreak. There were so many mistakes and loss of faith moments. There were seconds of bravery that were overshadowed by times of pure darkness and cowardice…but then there was counting… sixteen clicks…eight seconds…until all would be right again. FRIENDS thru and thru. Always there for one another. Always waiting to pick up pieces. Always holding the hand when needed. Friends to the end. What about more??? When is it time for Lucas and Lane??
"That it’s not about the dance. It’s about moving as one, with a person whose heart beats to the same rhythm as yours. It’s about love, about life."
There are not enough words to say how much I loved this read. I had over 10 pages of highlighted passages. Many people have their go to authors, and I know there are so many great talents out there but then I think of Jay Mclean…her stories, her delivery…her wit and charm infused into the lives of her fictional characters. I see the genius start to finish and I applaud her as an author...She is MY CoHO! Whether quoting Felicity or creating mayhem, this story is legit. Lucas…my new all-time favorite book of 2016 and the BEST McLean story.
**please note that quoted text may differ from published work**
September 7, 2021
I read this for the first time in January 2020, then skimmed this again now because I wanted to read Logan's book, to get back into the Preston family dynamic and also because I thought, maybe I'd like this now? But if anything, I hated even more.
I know, I seem to be in the minority here. I mean the 4.2-something average rating is mocking me for not liking this. And you know what #suckit.
I don't want to rant, seriously, I don't. And I'm not going to.
Basically this book took some of my favorite tropes and thought it would be wise to fuck them over.
I had thought that I would give reasons to explain why I rated it two stars because it's pointless to hate something without any reason. But frankly, I don't want to dwell on it and I think that this review sums up everything I did NOT like about this book and why I bothered with those two stars. I had actually loved Cooper before the abusive relationship thing went down and I'm pissed because had the author not gone and made him the bad guy, I would always have wanted Laney and Cooper together. Also, I didn't like the message that was implicitly conveyed when Cooper was revealed to be an abusive boyfriend - an abusive father doesn't mean that you have to make the son abusive, and when I had read that part in the book where he almost hurts her for the first time I knew that the author would pull something like this but I had also hoped that instead she'll choose to give a positive message rather than the one I felt was given. They could've parted ways because of other differences, doesn't mean you have to unnecessarily make someone the bad guy.
I know, I seem to be in the minority here. I mean the 4.2-something average rating is mocking me for not liking this. And you know what #suckit.
I don't want to rant, seriously, I don't. And I'm not going to.
Basically this book took some of my favorite tropes and thought it would be wise to fuck them over.
I had thought that I would give reasons to explain why I rated it two stars because it's pointless to hate something without any reason. But frankly, I don't want to dwell on it and I think that this review sums up everything I did NOT like about this book and why I bothered with those two stars. I had actually loved Cooper before the abusive relationship thing went down and I'm pissed because had the author not gone and made him the bad guy, I would always have wanted Laney and Cooper together. Also, I didn't like the message that was implicitly conveyed when Cooper was revealed to be an abusive boyfriend - an abusive father doesn't mean that you have to make the son abusive, and when I had read that part in the book where he almost hurts her for the first time I knew that the author would pull something like this but I had also hoped that instead she'll choose to give a positive message rather than the one I felt was given. They could've parted ways because of other differences, doesn't mean you have to unnecessarily make someone the bad guy.
November 3, 2016
I am such a sucker for a well-written, heart-breaking story, with the perfect balance of laugh out loud banter and one-liners to offset the severity of the storyline. Jay nailed this for me, as she typically does. When I read her books, I feel what the characters feel. I experience every single emotion, good and bad, right along with them. To me, her writing always leads to a journey well-traveled, with all the ups and downs, random onsets of both laughter and tears, and an overwhelming sense of sadness when I finish, knowing I have to tell the characters goodbye. Reading perfection in my eyes. Thank you, Jay. ELEVENTY THREE STARS!!!!!!!!!!
August 10, 2023
⭐4 stars⭐
"We've had several parents complain that Lachlan's the one teaching their kids swear words."
Lachlan stands, shoves his finger in his teacher's face. "That's bullshit, lady!"
I fucking love this kid!
"We've had several parents complain that Lachlan's the one teaching their kids swear words."
Lachlan stands, shoves his finger in his teacher's face. "That's bullshit, lady!"
I fucking love this kid!
April 9, 2021
This was such a sweet story. It was one of this books that you see someone else reviewed and think... Why not? But it lived up to its expectations and all its stars.
It was a very cute story between two friends who have liked each other since they were eleven. I must be honest here and say that the first half of the book took all my willpower to continue because I was kind of bored with it... I didn't see the point on Laney's story with Cooper and I was a tad frustrated but I stayed because the Preston's... All the family scenes had me chuckling, and I loved all the brothers. The second half got a lot better, but maybe because I'm a sucker for romance, and this half had more of it, developing their relationship.
I don't like many of friends to lovers stories, I don't like it when it takes a character years and years to realize they're in love with someone, but this author somehow managed to pull a beautiful story which had me craving for more of the Preston's brothers.
It was a very cute story between two friends who have liked each other since they were eleven. I must be honest here and say that the first half of the book took all my willpower to continue because I was kind of bored with it... I didn't see the point on Laney's story with Cooper and I was a tad frustrated but I stayed because the Preston's... All the family scenes had me chuckling, and I loved all the brothers. The second half got a lot better, but maybe because I'm a sucker for romance, and this half had more of it, developing their relationship.
I don't like many of friends to lovers stories, I don't like it when it takes a character years and years to realize they're in love with someone, but this author somehow managed to pull a beautiful story which had me craving for more of the Preston's brothers.
August 14, 2020
Loved it. Can’t stop, Logan’s calling me.
We love hard, love fierce, and love right.”
February 23, 2017
So, before I review this book I have to admit I was completely at fault. See, for some reason, maybe the First name being the title, I mistakenly thought this was by Jay Crownover...think RULE, which I absolutely loved. I realize it's by Jay McLean, but, for me the distinction is paramount. Why? I haven't had much luck with JM's More Than series. I loved the first book, liked the second a lot, and reluctantly liked the third. Then I just stopped, noticing common themes with this author that aggravated and annoyed me thus lowering my initial liking for her work.
As soon as I opened this up and realized my mistake, I knew what I was in for. JM tends to write highly tragic romance filled with over-the-top drama, unrealistic situations and huge gaps in communication. Needless to say, I didn't like this at all. Everything bad that could have happened, did. It was too much and therefore completely unbelievable and unlikely.
I love friends to lovers, but I've noticed the number of actual quality stories are very low. I can count on one hand how many were amazing for me. This was not. The amount of drama and angst crammed into this book was stressful. And having the H/h apart for the majority of the book doesn't help, especially if their separation is due to said deliberate dramatic tropes. Everything I've read by this author follows that formula: Drama, unrealistic, drama, more drama. I often didn't see where Lois or Lucas were coming from. I didn't agree with her choices, actions or behaviour. Same goes for Lucas. I know lots of readers love JM's work and I can respect that. However, for me, I'm absolutely done.
My favourite part of this, though? My awesome friend, A. Thanks for the rec, we do love the same stuff, just maybe not this one, lol <3, But I'm happy we can share what we loved :)
As soon as I opened this up and realized my mistake, I knew what I was in for. JM tends to write highly tragic romance filled with over-the-top drama, unrealistic situations and huge gaps in communication. Needless to say, I didn't like this at all. Everything bad that could have happened, did. It was too much and therefore completely unbelievable and unlikely.
I love friends to lovers, but I've noticed the number of actual quality stories are very low. I can count on one hand how many were amazing for me. This was not. The amount of drama and angst crammed into this book was stressful. And having the H/h apart for the majority of the book doesn't help, especially if their separation is due to said deliberate dramatic tropes. Everything I've read by this author follows that formula: Drama, unrealistic, drama, more drama. I often didn't see where Lois or Lucas were coming from. I didn't agree with her choices, actions or behaviour. Same goes for Lucas. I know lots of readers love JM's work and I can respect that. However, for me, I'm absolutely done.
My favourite part of this, though? My awesome friend, A. Thanks for the rec, we do love the same stuff, just maybe not this one, lol <3, But I'm happy we can share what we loved :)
November 1, 2016
Overall I found the book to be ok. Both characters were likable I just wish they could have gotten their crap together sooner and that Laney would have opened up quicker. Granted, I understand her reasons and I can't say that I would do much different in her situation.
It was nice to finally read about a Hero who was celibate since being with the heroine even though they weren't together. I also don't blame Laney for moving on with Cooper. She waiting a long time for Lucas and just when she thought they could be together for real he made a mistake. Yes, it was only a mistake but I do understand how it made Laney feel and as they are in high school her actions were understandable. I wish they would have talked it out instead of letting it build BUT Lucas did hurt her.
Their immaturity played a roll in the events through out the book but when it was time to step up to the plate they both did. Lucas proved himself to Laney and I do think that they have an HEA.
It was nice to finally read about a Hero who was celibate since being with the heroine even though they weren't together. I also don't blame Laney for moving on with Cooper. She waiting a long time for Lucas and just when she thought they could be together for real he made a mistake. Yes, it was only a mistake but I do understand how it made Laney feel and as they are in high school her actions were understandable. I wish they would have talked it out instead of letting it build BUT Lucas did hurt her.
Their immaturity played a roll in the events through out the book but when it was time to step up to the plate they both did. Lucas proved himself to Laney and I do think that they have an HEA.
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