★★★☆☆

Pretty Pretty Boys

Messy! Sometimes problematic but mostly just dramatic. Too many books let their asshole love interests off the hook but here, he writhes on it. Be aware: the will-they-wont-they plays out amid echoes of brutal homophobic bullying. And the MC is a himbo. Well, 70% himbo, 30% a dog with a bone (and 100% in need of therapy).

Transposition

Doubles down on the worst parts of the first book. These boys are doing gold medal mental gymnastics to stay apart and being shitty partners to their SOs in the process, but this time it's more annoying-messy than juicy-messy. Descriptions and storyline for the trans character are uncharitable at best. Hit home on the snowed-in, have-to-share-a-bed & being-vulnerable-because-drugged tropes though.

Paternity Case

Strongest book of the series so far but these guys remain better at finding reasons to be mad at each other than clues. True pros at pulling angst from the jaws of a happily ever after. Nico (a college kid dating one of the main two) may get called a baby every other page but he is leagues more mature than either of them. Having Somers' dad get shot in the inciting incident was great for shoving the messy emotions dial up to 11 though; the Somerset family seems hellish in exactly the right way for drama.

Guilt by Association

Meaningful development to the leads' romance! At last! By now, I am rooting for them half just so Nico can be free. These cavemen deserve each other. Strong performances from the kissing-as-cover and please-get-off-me-you're-too-drunk-to-consent tropes keep this rating up despite the frustrating parts. Most frustrating was the return of a professor from the first book who reads like an alt-right wet-dream of a leftist and makes the literal white supremacist character seem civilised. This series has been a long ride on the pining train with some fun highs but I am relieved I can hop off now.

On Storygraph.