Brian Stagliano’s life should be pretty sweet right now. Two of his closest friends are getting married, and he’s taking a new, exciting step in his career as a doctor. Most amazing though, his best mate has been given the all clear from cancer. But Brian’s normal has just been tipped A over T and the friendship he’s relied on for years is in danger. All because of five little words.Andrew … words.
Andrew Fitzroy should be on top of the world. The cancer that’s haunted him is gone. He can finally get on with his life—except he doesn’t know what that life is anymore. Is he brave enough to come out as bisexual? Should he pursue architecture or stay in construction? Either way, Andrew knows happiness won’t be his until he has what his engaged friends have—love, joy, passion. So, he says those five little words to Brian—I’m in love with you.
Friends since childhood, Brian and Andrew have always been closer than brothers. Best mates. Nothing could ever tear them apart. Except for those five little words. Now, Brian’s not sure about so many things—their friendship, his own desires—and the foundation Andrew’s built his world on feels like its crumbling. But if they manage not to destroy everything they have together, Andrew and Brian might just find a new normal with each other.
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First off, I had no idea this was L.J. Howard’s first novel in the contemporary romance genre. I read that gem in the acknowledgements. I think she hit this one out of the park — on the first swing! I absolutely loved it. ALL of it. I loved the characters, the storyline, the drama, the emotions, the romance, the fire trucking scenes, and the banter between the main characters. It has two of my favorite tropes (bi awakening/GFY and friends to lovers), and together they’re explosive. The writing was superb, and it drew me in to the point I was emotionally invested in the book. There was a lot if detail and care that went into every paragraph and page. I am glad to see this is book one of a series, and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author. I hope she continues to write books in this genre, because I feel like she has something to bring to the table, and I want everyone to pull up a seat to enjoy it.
***I voluntarily accepted an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews. My review reflects my own thoughts and opinions***
The author’s approach to a friends to lovers trope was a very interesting one. The story is not linear, there are plenty of emotions to observe and explore here. I was really fond of the secondary characters. There are plenty of interesting personalities there! A very good read!
This is my first time reading this author and I’m really impressed!! Wonderful characters and beautifully written! Brian and Andrew have been best friends forever, but their feelings for each other are growing into something they aren’t sure how to deal with. I highly recommend!!
This was a really good story. I loved Andrew and Brian and wanted them (mostly Brian) to figure things out and just be happy. I think that would have been easier for both of them if their group of friends weren’t so nosy, pushy, and sometimes immature. Overall, I still liked the whole lot of them, even with their issues.
Andrew had a lot to work out regarding where he wanted his life to go, now that he’d beaten cancer. And Brian, who was professionally just where he wanted to be, had to figure out how he really felt about his best friend, after Andrew confessed to being in love with him.
There were some funny moments mixed in with all the sex and drama, and I loved all of it. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next in this new series. I think it will be great.
I can’t say I foresaw a friends-to-lovers contemporary romance coming from a favorite romantic action and suspense author, but I was definitely stoked when Miss Hayward announced her plans for a new series set in Australia. The New Normal is a double bi-awakening romance that follows two life-long best friends as they come to terms with new feelings and acknowledge a pervasive connection that has always existed between them.
I loved so much about this book- the sense of chosen family among a group of close friends; the gentle, honest discussions about sexuality and labels; the heat and sexual exploration; and that palpable bond between characters I always hope to find in my romances. However, what I liked most is how honest The New Normal felt. Though it wasn’t overly angsty, there were complications Andrew and Brian had to navigate- both within themselves, between one another, and among their friends. Between those bumps and the men trying to process their burgeoning feelings, the entire story felt real.
I’m not going to lie, reading a book by this author that lacked any big explosions, fast cars, or close calls was very different. However, The New Normal proved that her talent to create interesting, complex characters with a palpable connection that emanates from the pages is steadfast and I’m excited to see what the Gold Coast Collage series will offer up next.
I was really excited for L.J. Hayward’s first contemporary story and it was definitely worth the wait! The main story line centered on Andrew a Construction worker who’s just received the all clear after a cancer diagnosis and Brian a doctor in training two best friends and roommates. There is also a lot of secondary plots around the rest of their friend group.
I loved the way both Andrew and Brian went through their own ways of questioning and figuring out their identities, especially where neither held it against the other one as it ebbed and flowed. The way their friendship and history led to a romantic relationship was well done and fascinating. I loved the addition of Andrew’s coworkers on the job sites as well as Brian’s interacts with his colleagues and mentors at the hospital. They both provided some much needed breaks and levity as things with their friend group exploded as Brian and Andrew tried to figure out their exact relationship.
A couple of the secondary characters within the friend group were pretty horrible/manipulative and it did cause some of the hiccups within Andrew and Brian figuring themselves and their relationship out. I’m hopeful if the series continues those characters will either be fixed/redeemed or less involved.
This is a great well done and realistic contemporary NA romance worth a read
3.5 stars
Brian and Andrew have been best friends for most of their lives. They’ve been through it all together, the most recent being Andrew’s cancer diagnosis a few years ago that sent him into depression. But now that he’s been given the all clear from his doctor, he’s realized how much he loves his best friend, how much he’s IN LOVE with him. But Brian’s reaction to Andrew’s declaration? Let’s just say it was not particularly positive. And it sets off a lot of back and forth, some angst, and Brian questioning himself for far, far too long. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that questioning one’s sexuality cannot be easy, but Brian took it wayyyy too far and it took up too much time in the story for my tastes. It also made it hard for me to like Brian until right around the end, which is, of course, too far into the story for a character to have made himself likable.
Aside from Brian’s negative qualities, though, I mostly enjoyed the rest of this story. Andrew is a sweetheart, and their circle of friends is a varied and realistic bunch. 3.5 stars rounded up seems fair.
They have been best friends since grade school, been through so much together. Their last and most terrifying challenge was going through cancer, and beating it together. But telling your best friend you love them might have destroyed their friendship.
A story that will give you the lows and the highs of having a best friend and of realizing that friendship grew into something more lasting, but nevertheless terrifying. This story is a little angsty but so beautiful with these beautiful men. You will love how Andrew and Brian navigated how they felt toward each other, how they found their “forever happiness!”
I love friends to lovers and this one was so well written. They are childhood bestfriends and while their progress to lovers were not without a few bumps, they do make a really cute couple. I love that Brian actually thought over Andrew’s confession instead of dismissing it.
I love both MCs but I do like Andrew a bit more. I mean he is perfect and also he was in love with Brian for years! Brian’s sexuality is another sub plot in this book. I honestly thought it would go ‘not everyone needs labels’ route. But yeah, I get it. Most people just want to fit into those perfectly labelled boxes.
There’s some amazing side characters and some arseholes too. James and Elle pissed me off a lot. They came across as sort of manipulative. And truthfully, Carly might be the only one I truly like out of their friends. Michael and Sean from Brian’s work fall into the amazing category. I couldn’t put it down especially because some moments were filled with tension.
Overall I really enjoyed reading A New Normal and would totally recommend if you’re looking for a low angst, sweet and sexy friends to lovers story!!
*ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
I love books set in Australia, a country I definitely want to visit, so it’s fun to see it in a book. L.J. Hayward is a new to me author and I loved The New Normal, it was a great story of young adults and I liked the language (some of which I had to guess based on the rest of the paragraph). It was definitely a story about Brian and Andrew, but I liked that it really included all 6 friends and how their group dynamics/relationship worked. I really liked the start that jumped it all and I liked how it all fell out. Andrew and Brian’s story was so sweet, great dialogue, hot and sexy. I loved reading the story and definitely recommend it. I can’t wait to read the next story.
Friends, roomies, lovers? Steamy yet sensitive
Hovering around 4stars
I really liked lead character Andrew from the get-go; he was such a sympathetic guy, recovering from serious illness and depression, supportive to his friends and challenged with his secret love for his long-time best friend. Brian, roommate and object of Andrew’s affections, took longer for me to like. Both guys have a hetero history and are leery of revealing their changing relationship to even their closest friends. For me, the romance moved at a suitable pace but I found Brian’s issues about dissecting and categorizing his sexuality a bit too angsty. The rest of their band of friends did not add much for me. I preferred the snippets provided of both guys and their issues and acquaintances at work.
The story was well-written, offered some quality romantic and steamy scenes, and had some nice bits of drama. There were a few guy bonding scenes like the bachelor’s party that could have been shorter, but on the whole I enjoyed the book.
This was my first time reading any work by L.J. Hayward and I like that she branched out into contemporary romance. My days of reading paranormal romance on a frequent basis are over; I much prefer more realism and a great setting. The Queensland location for this romance was a factor that first drew me to this story. That said, Hayward did not really capitalize on the Australian aspect. I hope she will in future works.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review and the opinions expressed are my own.
The New Normal is a best friends to lovers, bi-awakening, contemporary romance from the Death and the Devil series author – LJ Hayward.
Having been given the all clear from the Big C, Andrew drunkenly tells Brian he is in love with him. Those five little words puts a strain on their friendship. With Andrew’s revelation, they no longer know how to be themselves around each other. This tension also affects their group of friends.
As Brian struggles to understand is feelings, he is accidentally outed, and all hell breaks loose within their small circle of friends.
There are a ton of secondary characters in this book, and I personally did not warm to all of them. There is one in particular that rubbed me the wrong way.
The New Normal is very well written. This book is low-med angst, which felt very realistic to me as the two main characters struggle with their sexuality. Overall, I enjoyed this book.