Risk Taker

I adore Henry and Ivo. Loved everything about this. Ivo’s art room is just the best. The push and pull and uncertainty was just right.

My least favorite of the series. I just can't with the “I love him but he can't possibly want/love me” trope. Too much unnecessary pining and angst when the two MCs could have just talked to each other and admitted their feelings. At least their friends from the previous books in the series know the score and roll their eyes a lot so the reader doesn't have to. The book does pick up when Henry and Ivo finally get together (and have LOTS of sex, including a hilarious scene in a coat closet) but even then they still avoid what is obvious to everyone else. Excruciating to read at times but could have been worse in the hands of a less skilled author.

Updated Review

Since I've read Rule Breaker and Deal Maker, I've been so so excited to read this one that I was refreshing it's Amazon page in the middle of the night waiting for it to become available. And then I went ahead and finished it in a single sitting. It has the signature Brit humor that we've come to expect from this series but it's also way more emotional and angsty. It also has my favorite trope ever – childhood best friends to lovers – and I couldn't help but fall in love.

We've seen Henry as Gabe's awesome best friend in the previous installments and its nice to get to know him better. He is feeling slightly lonely at 34, with all his friends settling down and thinks may be it's time for him too. But his resolution goes for a toss when Ivo shows up injured and exhausted on their doorstep. While Henry is a family lawyer who has settled into a life in London with his dog, casual hookups and catching up with his friends, Ivo is a renowned international photojournalist and artist, always traveling to dangerous places and never wanting to stay long anywhere. Both of them are clever, witty, honest and amazing and its pretty clear from the beginning that they've been in love with each other for the better part of two decades.

Henry never wants to admit his feelings because he can't bear to see Ivo leave again or worse, get injured again or killed. He also never wants to stand in the way of Ivo's dreams. Ivo is very insecure about himself, especially regarding Henry because he feels he is not educated enough or sophisticated enough to be with him. He is also suffering from PTSD and Henry supports him every step of the way, just being there and convincing him to continue therapy. They both consider the other their better half, have tattoos on their wrists representing each other which when joined makes a whole. The friendship, the love, the honest joy they feel while being together is evident in every word and thought. But the major source of angst is that they don't communicate their true feelings and the threat of Ivo leaving is always hanging over their heads.

We see the usual gang here and their interactions are always fun – Ivo explaining to Asa all the bad things about our favorite childhood books, Dylan and Gabe setting up Henry with the most horrific (or hilarious) dates possible just so that Ivo might get jealous, Dylan and Henry getting stoned and singing the same songs on repeat – these situations and the banter is so funny and entertaining that I was sitting in a bookstore, clutching my belly trying very hard to control my laughter. Henry's brother Silas is a wonderful person who has always been his support and just wants the best for him. Even Ivo's therapist Patricia is an entertaining and warm personality who helps him a lot in sorting out his thoughts. We also see glimpses of Henry's abusive homophobic father and Ivo's selfish mother and it's pretty clear why they both became each other's world.

This story is very very emotional. The thought of two men so much in love with each other but willing to let the other go because that's what they think is best for their friendship; it's both selfish and selfless at the same time and utterly heartbreaking. I was a sobbing mess for most part of this book, just crying my heart out. And by now, you all know that any book that can make me cry so much is a quick favorite. The whole book is highly quotable – all the lovey dovey bits as well as the fun stuff – don't forget to checkout my highlights on my Goodreads profile. And the road to their HEA is a long and rocky one but I think all my tears were worth it.

If you are a fan of the series but are exclusively looking for Lily's humor, this book might be a hit or miss. But if you love angsty romances or just enjoy reading best friends to lovers, then don't miss this one.

Initial Thoughts
Wow... this book made me feel all kinds of emotions... On one hand, I was holding onto my stomach trying to control my laughter while sitting in a bookstore and reading the hilarious situations that Henry gets himself into... On the other hand, I was a sobbing mess, my heart crying out for these two amazing guys who love each other so much but dread their inevitable separation.... I'm still reeling from this one and need a few moments to collect my thoughts. RTC