livia's Reviews > Interference

This one gave me the warm and fuzzies. It’s a hurt/comfort slow burn focused on Wyatt, a homeless disabled veteran, and Anthony, the hockey player who helps him off the streets. And, of course, the world’s most adorable service dog and a pair of mischievous giant cats.

Some people might be turned off by the fact that Anthony spends a very big chunk of the book in a relationship with Simon, his teammate, but it’s important to emphasize that there is no love triangle and no cheating, physical or emotional. Anthony’s and Simon’s relationship is on the rocks way before Wyatt, but as long as they are together, nothing remotely romantic happens between Anthony and Wyatt.

In fact, my favorite part of this book is how much it takes its time to build their relationship from a solid friendship to something more. There’s physical attraction from relatively early on, but it’s them getting closer and leaning on each other that builds it into full-on feelings. The fact that there is no conflict between them also helps shape it into a dynamic that feels solid and genuine. The sexual tension is pretty well done as well — I had butterflies in my belly on their first kiss.

There are only a couple of things I think could’ve been better, but they are both very minor. One, I think the author leaned too hard on a villainous arc for Simon only to have it all be fine in the epilogue — I could’ve bought the therapy and apology had Simon not been such an unforgivable shit only two chapters ago, and it felt like the author wanted to have the cake and eat it too. The second is just the epilogue in general; too syrupy, with everything working all a little bit too perfectly. It was sweet, but I think it would’ve felt more special had it been a little more grounded.

All in all, a great read that reminded me I really want to find more hurt/comfort reads.