Friendly Fire

coming back over a year later because i remember nothing about this story, and it's one of the few mm books featuring an ace character.firstly, Cam did come across much more childish in the first half this time around, but it wasn't enough to be entirely off-putting. maybe the audio helped distance my own pet peeves from his behavior or i was more focused on other aspects of the story that made up for his shenanigans - regardless, that spit thing is still a big no from me lmao.as for the ace rep, i like how Rafe breaks the stereotype that one's behavior and one's experience of sexual attraction must always line up. there are a few select lines that do sound off taken out of context (and could do with a little rewording, but i took it as Rafe still feeling out the verbiage as well as his own experience since it's still rather new to him. heck, i continue to have a hard describing the nuances of my own experience), but the underlying message remains unchanged. the most important distinction to make is that while Rafe forced himself to have sex with his ex and derived zero enjoyment from the action, he doesn't hold the same sense of obligation when it comes to Cam. their openness with each other and willingness to take things at their own pace are important factors to make note of, because Rafe is allowed to explore what he's comfortable with in addition to being in his first relationship with a man. this sparks a shift in thinking of sex as more than just a means to an end. he still states that he prefers kissing and doesn't always feel the need to take things further, as in he wouldn't care if he couldn't have sex again. that being said, this doesn't automatically negate the reasons he might choose to have sex on days when he's feeling open to it. it's perfectly valid to have sex to give a partner pleasure and express intimacy, so long as Cam never forces it on Rafe and consent goes both ways. needless to say, Rafe does not represent every ace folk out there. even if he plays around with graysexual & demiromantic labels at one point, there simply doesn't exist a single reality that can take into account every individual under these umbrellas. just as there will be asexuals who engage in sex, there will be individuals who choose not to have sex at all, and they're both equally valid. i highly recommend [b:How to Be a Normal Person 25548442 How to Be a Normal Person (How to Be, #1) T.J. Klune https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1437768781l/25548442.SY75.jpg 45341713] by TJ Klune to anyone on the lookout for superb sex-averse ace rep. there's loads of heartwarming kisses and hugs, and it's one of the cutest things ever <3—- original review —-I want explosions. A thousand volts.Cam gives me that and more.I want to be free to choose him.[4.5] as you might've seen from my other reviews, this series has been a hit-or-miss for me but what a strong finish with this final installment!what i always look for in childhood friends-to-lovers stories is the trust and understanding between mcs that allow them to be themselves and speak their minds, and that's exactly what Cam and Rafe have together. even though they've spent several years apart after their friendship fizzled out, once they reach out to each other again they're able to have many so-called awkward conversations without judgment or shame. i absolutely loved how we got that real and honest communication pretty much right off the bat.my knowledge of labels in general isn't quite up-to-par (i lean more towards recognizing anything and everything someone feels as valid and true and we should just accept those feelings in a person as is, regardless of the name that may or may not come with it), so i learned a few things myself about sex-neutral and sex-favorable attitudes, and i found Rafe's journey of coming to terms with his sexuality to be highly positive. i honestly can't remember the last time i've read about an ace-spec individual as an mc