Mage. Reasonable. Mature. In love with his best friend’s little brother.
Dawn. Painfully shy. Crazy talented. An anxious cinnamon roll in need of protection.
Mage has always been Dawn’s hero. He’s been there for him when Dawn was bullied, when Dawn came out, and when he joined The Underdogs. He’s also been Dawn’s first and only love—painfully unrequited, since Mage is straight. But that’s only for the better, because they’re bandmates, and Dawn’s brother is Mage’s best friend.
It would all be too intense, too complicated, too real.
But then one drunken kiss proves Mage might not be as straight as he seemed, and their whole world turns upside down. Even though Dawn craves Mage’s love so much his heart could burst, his shyness stands in the way of any future they could share.
While they have to keep their budding relationship under wraps and they prepare to sign a major record deal, Dawn’s anxiety gets out of control. Mage will have to choose between the success he’s always craved and the love of his life.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: rock band, bandmates romance, older brother’s best friend, coming out, bisexuality, first love, anxiety, compromise, music, secret love
Genre: Contemporary M/M Rocker Romance
Heat level: sweet, explicit scenes
Length: ~50,000 words (Can be read as standalone, HEA)
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| 2.75 Actual Rating |
Hmmm… I’m not sure why I thought this was my first Merikan read but it wasn’t. However, it's worlds different than Laurent and the Beast which is my only other read by this duo. This was sweet, really sweet and while I know I’m not one to gravitate to fluff, this one didn’t hold my attention. At all. So, I’ll just move on over to my dissenting-opinion-table for one and get this lonely party started.
Dawn has been in love with his brother’s best friend (Mage) and now they’re both adults playing in the same band, The Underdogs. Mage, being older than Dawn has always looked out for him starting from a young age. When Mage saved him from bullies, Dawn’s kid heart fell in love and hero worship began. As both grew older, their bond strengthens and they become inseparable.
Dawn has anxiety, is very sensitive, and comes off as super fragile. Mage is here for it though and has been and continues to be his protector. Dawn feels everything- too much of everything. It doesn’t help that he’s in love and that it’s supposedly unrequited. Until, it isn’t.
See? Mage is soooooo sweet. But, something is missing. There are time lapses that skip over parts I actually wanted to read. How did Dawn and Mage go from a panic attack while kissing to making out and curled in bed together? Tour dates are mentioned without much detail and somehow they go from roughing it at the beginning of their tour to nice hotels? There’s not a lot of sex which is totally fine because it fits Dawn. However, many of the moments where they were apparently deepening their connection happens off page and then mentioned after the fact.
I haven’t read any others in this series and maybe that was a mistake as they could have potentially filled in some of the holes? Maybe not? IMO, not much happened in You. Forever. Always. that will entice me to read the others. It was just okay and not a ride that I will continue. As always, while I won’t recommend it, YMMV.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
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