Fake Friends
Fake Friends (Never Just Friends #2)
by Saxon James
ROWAN
Five years ago, I ruined the best thing I had in my life and ran.
Now, I’m finally back to make things right.
I need Circus’s forgiveness, and then maybe I can finally move on.
I’ll leave Sunbury for good this time and never look back. Maybe then I can finally live life as an out gay man—without my family ever finding out.
But earning his forgiveness isn’t as simple as I hoped it would be.
He’s going to make me fight for it.
And I don’t blame him at all.
CIRCUS
I never wanted or expected to see Rowan Harvey again.
When he shows up in Sunbury, begging for forgiveness, I’m tempted to give it to him just so he’ll disappear.
Instead, we make a deal.
I need an extra model for a swimwear shoot, and none of my friends are available or fit the brief.
I’ll forgive him, if he helps me. Then he has to leave. For good.
Because his request for anonymity during the shoot proves he’s still living in his dark closet.
I’m not going to make the same mistakes I did when I was a teenager.
I won’t let myself fall for him again.
Because after how things ended between us, he doesn’t deserve a second chance.
NERDY THOUGHTS
Fake Friends covers a range of tropes--second chance, out for you, hurt/comfort, "fake" relationship--and it consolidates them really beautifully and in an entertaining way.
Circus and Rowan are a wonderful couple. Not only are they likeable and relatable, but their friendship growth leads the way to their relationship development in a sweet and moving way.
Numerous times in this story, I felt the emotional pull for both characters, but for Rowan especially. The author handles the theme of homophobia with thoughtful insight when tackling homophobic family, as well as the church.
Overall Fake Friends is an emotional, enjoyable story, with a sweet HEA.