A friends-to-lovers new adult MM romance from USA Today bestseller Siobhan Davis. Stand-alone with HEA and no cliff-hanger. Keaton Moving to California was supposed to be my fresh start. A clean slate. An opportunity to drop the façade, escape the lies, find a focus, and just be myself.But I should have realized it wouldn’t be easy, especially when my last name is Kennedy.I’m not ready to be a … when my last name is Kennedy.
I’m not ready to be a gay icon or some celebrity role model. I still haven’t admitted the truth to my family or the girl I professed to love, so there’s no way I want the public to know I’m into dudes.
Falling for my hot, straight, football-player roomie wasn’t part of the game plan.
Neither was backing myself into a corner because I trusted the wrong guy.
Now everything is on the line, and it’s time to stop pretending.
Austen
From the time I was a little kid, all I wanted is to play football in college and play in the NFL. As wide receiver for the Golden Bears, I am on track to achieve my goals, but it comes at a heavy price.
Denying who I am—for the sake of my career—goes against everything I believe.
I should never have listened to my high school coach, because all the lies are suffocating me.
Until Keaton Kennedy enters my life, turning it upside down.
Now, there is even more reason to tell the truth, because I’m falling for the famous one and I want the entire world to know.
This heartwarming, emotional romance has a dash of angst and drama, a sprinkling of humor, and cameos from some of your favorite characters from the series. It is a 100k-word full-length novel, and the second to last book in the Kennedy Boys series. This can be read as a stand-alone novel as it focuses on a new couple; however, it is recommended you start at the beginning of the series for maximum reading enjoyment.
more
I couldn’t believe my good luck as I had the opportunity of reading an ARC of the next instalment on the marvellous Kennedy series!! I loved this couple, Keaton and Austen left me breathless at times and their story is beautiful from start to finish. Angst and sexy times galore!! Their chemistry is off the charts and you can see how much they love each other during good and bad times. Only read M/M romance a few times before but honestly I absolutely loved this story, I’d loved anything Siobhan writes!! Recommendable 100%. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
My friends, my heart is in a ooey-gooey perfect little cloud of satisfaction and awe and Adoring Keaton is the book responsible for this hangover of happiness. I fell so hard and fast for these two guys and their story. It was perfection and I find myself smiling still thinking of them long after the book has closed. I know it is one I will most definitely visit for a re-read. It was.just.that.good.
This is the story of Keaton Kennedy, and his roommate turned lover Austen Hayes, and Siobhan’s first dive into a full M/M only romance. Let me tell you guys, she absolutely nailed it. This is a heartfelt and emotional story about the journey of self discovery and growth. It’s about learning to believe in yourself and become comfortable in your own skin, and to be proud of who you are. Both Keaton and Austen are struggling with these issues on their own for different reasons, both being in the public eye. What I loved is the strength they garner from each other. It’s empowering in ways neither expects. They were both dealing with some backlash from things in their past attempting to come back to haunt them, and that definitely created some issues for them. But I just knew if they could overcome these obstacles, they would be UNSTOPPABLE!!
They had this beautiful undeniable inevitable love. They were meant to be together, from the moment they met. This wasn’t just about two men accepting who they are and being proud enough to shout out to everyone “they love who they love” and to hell with everyone else. I mean, yes, it did have aspects of that, But at the heart of it all they were just two people in love, overcoming adversity and the obstacles in their way to be together, like any couple that is destined to be together. You aren’t thinking about the M/M aspect of the book, you are caught up in the beautiful love story, Keats and Austen’s story. Love is powerful, it’s strong. Love can conquer almost anything else, reign above everything if you let it. I mean in the end love should ALWAYS, ALWAYS WIN!!
My Cr8zysockbookblock blog wrap up for this book!
– Adoring Keaton was so much more than I could possibly have imagined it would be. This book was emotionally riveting and took me through the gamut of feelings. It was sexy, sweet and swoony. It was also angsty, and left me wonderfully frustrated. Everything about it was just phenomenal!
-This is one of those books that I like to say will simultaneously melt your heart and your kindle and boy will this one. It was so.freaking.hot! Siobhan has writing love scenes down to a science and she makes them packed with so much chemistry and heat they are dang near combustible the best kinda down and dirty love makin’
Cliffhanger Warning- No Cliff! It was amazing getting to have so many of our favorite Kennedy’s back to see how they are doing these days. From start to finish it was just fantastic, I cried, I laughed, I loved, and I swooned. I loved these characters and felt hurt right along with them. I can’t wait for Kent’s book. I need it like I need air!!
Amount of sex 3 / 5
How explicit are the sex scenes 4 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 5 / 5
Another amazing story from author Siobhan Davis!
Adoring Keaton is the ninth book in the Kennedy Boys series, and it’s also the second to last in the series. It tells the story of Keaton Kennedy and Austen Hayes, and it can be read as a standalone MM romance. Even though this is true, many of the characters from the previous books do appear. So, I would recommend reading the series from the beginning. Just know that it’s only a suggestion.
Keaton is one of seven brothers, and his family is very rich. They have been through a lot over the years, which has resulted in them being very close. Even though this is true, Keaton’s been keeping a big secret from them. He’s currently attending college, and he’s fallen in love with his roommate Austen. Austen is a strong, confident man who’s a talented wide receiver on the football team. He’s very popular on campus, but he’s dating a girl from his hometown. However, not everything is as it seems.
Adoring Keaton is steamy, emotional, full of drama, and so much more than the typical college romance. Like all of Siobhan’s stories, the storyline is top-notch, and the characters are gripping. I was so enthralled from the very first page that I did not want to put it down. I literally carried my Kindle with me everywhere and read whenever I had the opportunity.
I highly recommend you adding this series to your TBR list. Oh, and I’m dying to read the last book in the series, which happens to be Kent’s story.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Copy
So I’ve never read a MM romance. It’s just not my thing. BUT this was one of Siobhan’s books and I devour everything she writes. Plus it’s a Kennedy boys book so how could I not read it….. IT WAS AMAZING! The depth of the characters. The way Siobhan is not afraid to dive in deep and have her characters deal with the hard stuff to get to their HEA… Another AMAZING book by Siobhan Davis.
SIOBHAN DAVIS SLAYED MM ROMANCE. SHE ABSOLUTELY KILLED IT!
You’ll swoon, blush, cry, your heart will break in a million pieces, but it’s so worth it!
I loved watching these characters grow and find themselves.
Keaton and Austen have got to be my favorite Kennedy couple.
They give you the right amount of heat and drama. It was an incredible ride, and am so glad these two got their HEA.
Adoring Keaton is book nine in The Kennedy Boys series. It can be read as a standalone. There’s an author’s note at the beginning that says it’s recommended to start at the beginning of the series for greater understanding. I started this series at book eight and then went on to this one, I haven’t had any problem getting in and loving the series but I do plan at some point to go back and read the series from book one. This one is a male-male romance. I’m not a huge fan of MM but these two characters just fit and the story was good. In the beginning, Austen and Keaton start up a friendship but are gay but they think each other is straight. I was excited when they both figured it out and their feelings came out. Keaton is a good guy. He has a huge family but has gone to college away from them to find himself. Austen is a good guy too. He plays college football and is hoping to play in the NFL. These two have a lot of stuff going on even before they start a relationship. I liked both of them but sometimes, I just wanted to shake some sense into them. I loved the ending and I’m ready for Kent’s book.
Before this I’d only read a few MM scenes in RH romance novels, so this was my first fully MM romance. And yet again Siobhan proves that she can do no wrong, and that each of the Kennedy Boys will steal our hearts. I’d forgotten how much I loved Keaton, the purest, kindest and most emotional of the Kennedy brothers, but this reminded me of all of that and gave me even more reason to love him.
.
What I didn’t expect was how much I would also love Austen, these two perfectly compliment each other. Austen accepts every aspect of Keaton without judgement or question, truely allowing Keats to be himself for the first time in his life. While Keaton shows Austen what it is like to be loved by a Kennedy, a fierce, all-consuming love.
.
For me this instalment in the series felt different to the others, Keaton’s story is in some ways less dramatic than his brothers….if you have read the rest of the series you will understand what I mean, if you haven’t than have you been living under a rock?! BUT in other ways his story is more dramatic, with internal struggles and unforeseen deceits. Adoring Keaton is raw, emotional, angsty and painful in a very real and imaginable ways. It demonstrates how one person, if it’s the right person, can change your life. It raises all the age old relationship questions; is love enough? And it affirms belief that in order to truely be happy with someone else, you must first love yourself.
.
What would a romance be without some steam? By god, there is plenty of steam to go around in this book! Keaton and Austen may just be the dark horses of steam because I was not expecting it to be that hot!
.
We get to see a little of all our favourites from the series in Keaton’s book and I loved seeing updates on where the Kennedy family members are now. However, I’m also conscious that the series is drawing to a close with only one brother’s story left to tell. Kent, as usual, continues to be a complete arse in this book, and while I never really warmed to him previously, in this book I down-right despise him. That being said, I eagerly await his book, because if anyone can make me 180 on my feelings for a character, it’s Siobhan.
wow, I absolutely love this series and this book doesn’t disappoint at all. Not one detail is missed from the other books when the other siblings are mentioned. You really feel like your right there with them when reading. I can’t wait for the next book.
Siobhan Davis has given her readers a beautifully written friends-to-lovers MM romance story filled with secrets, obstacles, lies, drama, scandals, off-the-charts chemistry, some humor, plenty of hot and steamy moments, so many emotions (heartache, self-loathing, doubt, a touch of angst, rejection), love, and a happily ever after.
I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.
Wow! I absolutely devoured this book! Once I started I could not put it down. Siobhan has a way of getting me out of my comfort zone. She introduces me to these different tropes that I may not read on my own but I have to because she wrote it and I know she will blow my mind and she definitely didn’t disappoint this time. This was my first full on MM book. I’ve read MMF or MFM but never MM and let me tell you I couldn’t put it down. Keaton has been one of my favorite Kennedy boys since day one and I couldn’t wait for his book. He was absolutely everything I thought he’d be. He was sweet and strong but also guarded. I feel like Austen was the perfect match for him. He was patient with him but also gave him the strength to want to be himself. I’m telling you, you don’t want to miss this one! I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
I really loved this book and usually I’m not one for m/m. Siobhan has this was y of writing that makes her characters so relatable. Keaton and Austen are just everything you want in a couple. I felt their struggles even if I’ve never been in the same situation.
Read this book.
Adoring Keaton is the ninth standalone in the addicting Kennedy Boys series by Siobhan Davis. I have been following the Kennedy Brothers series the very beginning. I feel like family, Keaton is one of the triplets and we met them at fifteen! They are now turning twenty-one and coming into their own.
Keaton needed a fresh start. One without his family in the same state. They didn’t understand it but he needed it. He thought he would be able to be freer to be himself if he wasn’t in the spotlight except he wasn’t. Everyone on campus knew exactly who he was. A Kennedy. A student with a celebrity and scandals. He couldn’t be himself after-all except one night and it was not at all what he expected. It was a mistake. Then, he met him. The football star. A man who became his friend then roommate. A man who he had a crush on from the very beginning. Too bad Austen was straight, right?
So very wrong and it changes everything!
Austen knew he was but nobody else on campus did. They saw him as the football star with his high school girlfriend back home. The All-American boy. He hated it. He wanted to be himself. Out and proud. Every year was harder and now it was his Junior year and living with Keaton, his friend slash crush. But, Keaton was straight. He recently broke up with his girlfriend and stayed to himself most of the time unless he was with him or a few of his friends. He loved being with him and then one night comes to a head and he is shook from the very first kiss.
Keaton and Austen’s relationship is complicated and beautiful. I just love them. They are real and raw and they see each other. The real them. They definitely have obstacles to jump through. Things to discover. Family and friends to show their true selves. Will it be worth it? Will everyone accept them?
This story is full of emotions, suspense, friendships, family, and love. It’s beautiful, real, hot AF, and once again I was wowed. I am so addicted to this series! The writing is fantastic and engaging. The drama. The family. The storylines. They are all unique, suspenseful and kick ass. You can read each as standalone but reading the series makes each book even better. I can’t wait for the next book. Kent is the last of the Kennedy Boys and the most troubled…I am excited to finally get in his head and discover his secrets!
Quotes:
I scream on the inside, pleading with him to hear. Begging whoever is listening up there to let this not be delusion.
Because if this is real—if Austen Hayes is attracted to me in the way I’m attracted to him—then I’m rewriting the playbook.
“I have zero filter around you,” I admit while his fingers rub up and down my arm. “And zero game. It’s embarrassing.”
“It’s cute.” I scowl, slapping his chest again. “I don’t want to be cute. I want to be sexy.”
“With you, I feel like I can scale mountains.” I grin at his analogy, and he rolls his eyes.
*I voluntarily read an advance complimentary copy of this book.
Adoring Keaton is my first M/M romance. I’m a little embarrassed to admit since I should have been reading these a long time ago.
Adoring Keaton centers on Keaton and Austen as they fall in love in a world that isn’t always accepting of non-heterosexual relationships. It’s truly an adorable romance that will pull on your heartstrings.
Adoring Keaton utilizes some of my favourite romance tropes: secret dating and fake dating. These tropes crank up the tension between the characters in the best ways possible allowing for some great sensual scenes, Adoring Keaton is no exception.
Both Keaton and Austin struggle with their sexuality in different ways. Davis does an incredible job in highlighting these different struggles in an accessible and authentic way. Some of these struggles include: denying ones identity, sports and public perception, and the fear of coming out to one’s family and friends.
As with all Davis novels, the dialogue is incredibly sappy with a heavy focus on communication and truth. Sometimes it comes off as over the top, however it’s much better than deliberate miscommunication to drive tension between the characters.
Overall, Adoring Keaton is a heartwarming romance that offers insight into the struggles members of the LGBTQ + community deals with on a daily basis. Keaton and Austen are adorable together and will have you swooning in no time.
The Kennedy Boys series has captured my attention and my heart from the beginning of Kyler’s story. I am so happy to say that I absolutely loved Keaton’s powerful journey.
While I’m not sure how I feel about the m/m genre, this book being my first, Adoring Keaton is amazing!!! The brilliant writing style of Siobhan Davis and how she bought to life the very real struggle Keaton has endured was incredibly emotional and heart breaking.
Adoring Keaton has given me the strongest urge to back and read the entire series all over again. But for now, I will wait extremely (im)patiently for Reforming Kent.
Come on October.
I am voluntarily reviewing a complimentary advanced copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
ARC REVIEW
I love the Kennedy boys and Keaton has always been one of my favourite and he still is.
Wow this book, first mm for Siobhan Davis and she nailed it. It one of the best mm story I have read and I only said this about another one last week and reading two amazing story in such a short time is very unusual.
From the start of this book you saw the Keaton you reconsider from previous book but what he turned into was just amazing.
I love the relationship he has with his family especially Faye, god I love it when we get them all in the scenes just brings the whole series together.
Now Kent is not in my good books but I know his story next and I can’t wait to find out why he is the way he is. I hope he apologises to Keaton because I don’t think I can forgive him if doesn’t.
Now Austin wow, he is so amazing and you can’t not love him from start to finish of this book. Keaton needed an amazing partner and he got it. He went through a rough time but in the end it worked out and I loved the ending.
These two are relationship goals. If you love a mm story you have to read this whether you read the rest of the series or not. But I recommenced to read them all it worth it.
If you not read a mm I think you should give this a try because the way it written just give you the feels and I don’t think you cannot love it!!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
This story is fantastic. The writing is like poetry and I’m hooked on the first page!! The love and chemistry between the hero’s is out of this world!! Top read of life
Keaton’s story was so well written it felt like you were living with them. This book definitely had some angst and I love the friends to lovers. This was worth read.
Siobhan Davis is about to own your heart with this friends to lovers, MM romance in the Kennedy Boys series. This is Keaton and Austen’s story. It can be read as a standalone but I definitely recommend reading the entire series because it’s just so good. Little side note…this is my first MM romance and I did have some reservations about reading it. Mainly because I’ve never read a MM romance before and I wasn’t sure that I would be able to relate and connect with the characters. I will just say to anyone who has reservations, check them at door. I should have never doubted Siobhan’s ability to make me fall in love with these characters or a new genre. Siobhan brought all the feels (and heat) in Adoring Keaton and I’m so glad that I gave this book a chance!
Keaton has been the people pleaser for most of his life. He is caring and loving and puts everyone and everything before himself. He struggles with his who he is sexually and what he wants to do with his life once college is over, and insecurities. He’s afraid to be honest and tell his family (and the world) that he’s gay due to fear of backlash on not only himself, but his family as well. Denying himself who he is has started to take a toll on him and reading his struggle was heartbreaking. Then Austen comes along, the complete opposite of Keaton, his resilience shining in the face of adversity, and shows Keaton that there is freedom in acceptance. He is everything that Keaton needed in his life and his confidence is so sexy.
“Every relationship has its ups and downs, Keats, and every relationship has outside pressures that threaten its very foundation. That’s when it’s time to batten down the hatches and fight.”
Siobhan has crafted an emotionally charged tale that is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring. The intensity of Keaton and Austen’s romance bled through the pages. I loved everything about them. Their love, their strength and weaknesses, their harrowing journey to be accepted in society. But my favorite aspect of this book is Keaton’s character growth as he learns to accept and OWN who is and let his confidence shine, willing to fight for the love of his life, his soulmate. This is a story that will stay with me forever.
Hands down this is Siobhan’s best work yet! Adoring Keaton is book 9 in the long lasting series The Kennedy Boys; one that I have loved from the beginning.
Keaton has been living a lie for a long time, he has a secret one he has been keeping from everything including his family. When he finds himself with a new roommate the attraction becomes undeniable. Austen is on his way to the NFL; the charming wide receiver has everything going for him and when all the white lies, he has told start to come undone he could lose everything. Facing the world isn’t easy but when they do, they might find that they are finally strong enough to be the best versions of themselves.
I personally loved this story; I have been waiting for Keaton’s book for what feels like the whole series. There was so many emotions running throughout this book, once I started, I couldn’t stop, adulting thrown out the window. I feel like I now have the biggest book hangover and I am going to be counting down till I can get my hands on Kent’s story.
Star Ratings; Plot: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Heat: 5/5 Writing Style: 5/5 Overall: 5/5
If you are a fan of the Kennedy boys series, or Siobhan Davis in general, you need to read this book. It might be the best she’s ever written.
I was truly lucky to get to read a beta version of this book. I love having that privilege, because I can’t get enough of Siobhan’s books, so being able to get to read them before anyone else, well I love getting my grabby hands on them!!!
I DEVOURED this book. This is the book I’ve been waiting for. Keaton was always my favorite of the Kennedy boys. Always. I loved the friendship that he and Faye had, and how gentle he was. I have been WAITING for this book, and man it just was everything I could have hoped for and more. I’ve never read a M/M romance before, but every time I read a new genre or trope I’m not sure about, if it’s Siobhan Davis she makes me fall in love with it. And that’s what she did for this as well. I found myself really loving the genre- not that I expected to have problems. I am an ally to the LGBTQ community, and fully support people of different sexual orientations and non-binary identities. But I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the intimate scenes. Well, I loved them!
I just could not get ENOUGH of these two hot, sweet, guys! Adoring Keaton is the perfect title, the way that Austen adored Keaton, just made me melt.
I about died during a certain section because she BROKE MY HEART, but I realize that it was what was best for the characters, and I think I’ve forgiven her for my bruised heart. I think this may have been the best book that Siobhan has ever written. It’s certainly one of my favorite books written by her, as well as one of my favorites in this series.
All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in any way for this review.