Martin is a ghost. Well, not really, but he might as well be. Job gone, home gone, self-respect gone, and no one even seems to notice. The only person who really sees him is Seb, the artist who lives above the used bookstore.Seb haunts the edges of Seacroft in search of beauty. He knows how to excavate the hidden value in abandoned things—whether it’s in the pages of forgotten books or in … Martin’s stuttering attempts to rebuild his life—and transform them into works of art.
Two lost souls, Seb and Martin discover the strength they need to face eccentric townies and their dysfunctional families together. But as friendship sparks toward something more, neither man wants to risk what they’ve only just found. It takes two to fall in love, but it will take the whole community to bring their beauty to life.
Top Shelf is an 81k slow burn friends-to-lovers MM romance. It features an anxious professor, a drama queen artist, a bookstore that might be haunted, and a full-blown heart-eyes HEA.
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Top Shelf was a good story with likable characters and a solid plot. I really liked the theme of starting over after a difficult experience that shakes your core and plans. I also liked the small town charm of Seacroft and appreciated the steady pace and smooth writing.
While I liked much of the foundational elements of Top Shelf and was excited for a series featuring a small town with lots of interwoven histories and characters, I struggled a bit with Top Shelf. Seb and Martin never fully captured my attention and I felt a little removed from the story. So much is covered in this story, and with two damaged souls, I expected to be more drawn into the romance and excited for their happy ending. Unfortunately, by the end I wasn’t all that invested.
All in all, Top Shelf was a good read and I think readers who like seeing characters get a second chance will enjoy it. I plan on trying the next book in the series simply because I do really like this author’s writing, but this may not be the series for me.
It was difficult to rate this book. It had real potential, however there wasn’t any build up of character or plot. It was missing everything. Except too many pages of sex. Paragraphs and paragraphs of nipples.
Not enough word power to keep me interested……. Made it about 25% before switching to something else.
Overall, Top Shelf really highlighted the ways our family and life can scar us while delivering a charming story about two young men with their own struggles from start to finish. Allison made it impossible to put Top Shelf down, and I would recommend Top Shelf to anyone looking for a light read with interesting characters, a well-developed storyline meant to poke at your heart but not outright break it.
I adored this book. I love a damaged hero and here we have two. At first it seems that Seb is saving Martin but Seb isn’t as put together as he first appears. It takes place in a second hand bookshop, how good is that. And Seb’s artwork sounds amazing. Well written with a lovely relationship, I wept but there is a glorious happy ending and the promise of another book. I can’t wait.
This is a well written book which sucked me in and kept my attention from start to finish.
There is a very interesting cast of people in this story. The two main characters shouldn’t work, often don’t, but ultimately do belong together. One of the main characters, sweet Martin who is an academic, had a lot thrown at him in his short university career. He is the nicest of the bunch. The other MC, artist Seb, is often less likeable, but it is clearly explained why so I forgave him…although I did heartily dislike him for a few pages near the end! I found their relationship to be realistic and think they work well as a couple.
The secondary list goes from adorable Cassidy to obnoxious Philip, with a full range of human idiosyncrasies that make this book believable. I particularly liked Brian who is so contradictory, his obvious faults balanced by his innate kindness.
I look forward to reading more in this series.
Martin is wounded, and heartsore and tired but TBH even though I have finished the book and liked it, I am not quie sure why this was. In saying that thought, the relationship between Seb and Martin, and Martin healing and growing as a person is a wonderful story.
This book very different from the books I usually read. It was a pleasant surprise. It took me while to get into but patience will be rewarded.
This is a slowburn dual POV novel. I gotta say, I wasn’t a huge fan of Seb in the beginning. He sort of annoyed me. He behaved like an arse towards Martin.
I actually had the same reaction as Martin when I realized what his art was. I had the same opinions and arguments as Martin but this novel made me grow out of that thinking.
Loved the writing, great characters. I think I’m in love with that bookstore!! I loved Cassy and how they help her with her art. Those moments were one of my favourites. Seb and Martin are really cute together. I also liked Seb’s brother, Oliver whose book will be the next in the series.
*ARC provided by the author via Signal Boost Promotions in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
This book was so sweet! I loved the sarcasm between Jace and Merrick! I am so happy that Merrick’s family was so supportive and trying to help him! I also enjoyed Jace’s grandpa and thought he was hilarious! This story was so heartbreak, but really adorable! Their relationship is precious!