“An irresistible queer romance.” —Publishers WeeklyIt’s not long before their pet-centric arrangement sparks a person-centric desire… children’s book illustrator who needs a dog walker isn’t easy for the man whose persistent anxiety has colored his whole life, but Jack Matheson’s menagerie is just what Simon needs.
Four dogs, three cats and counting. Jack’s pack of rescue pets is the only company he needs. But when a bad fall leaves him with a broken leg, Jack is forced to admit he needs help. That the help comes in the form of the most beautiful man he’s ever seen is a complicated, glorious surprise.
Being with Jack—talking, walking, making out—is a game changer for Simon. And Simon’s company certainly…eases the pain of recovery for Jack. But making a real relationship work once Jack’s cast comes off will mean compromise, understanding and lots of love.
Garnet Run
Book 1: Better Than People
Book 2: Best Laid Plans
Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
A new Carina Adores title is available each month:
The Hideaway Inn by Philip William Stover
The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron
Just Like That by Cole McCade
Hairpin Curves by Elia Winters
Better Than People by Roan Parrish
The Love Study by Kris Ripper
The Secret Ingredient by KD Fisher
Just Like This by Cole McCade
Teddy Spenser Isn’t Looking for Love by Kim Fielding
The Beautiful Things Shoppe by Philip William Stover
Best Laid Plans by Roan Parrish
Knit, Purl, a Baby and a Girl by Hettie Bell
The Hate Project by Kris Ripper
Hard Sell by Hudson Lin
more
Better Than People is a slow-burn journey of two opposite men who meet and find themselves through their love for animals. It is about accepting flaws and finding value and strength in what makes a person unique.
Jack Matheson is grumpy and has been sulking and living as a hermit for the past 8 months. With the exception of his brother Charlie, he has been avoiding everyone. While taking his rescue pets on a walk, he breaks a leg. Much to his dismay, he now needs help with everything, including taking out the dogs.
Simon Burke suffers from crippling social anxiety and prefers animals over people. His anxiety is so severe that, most of the time, he is unable to talk. He badly wants a dog, but it is not the right moment. When he sees an ad on PetShare to walk Jack’s animals, he takes the plunge. Slowly but surely, Jack and Simon will start to interact and get to know each other. They will learn to trust and communicate. And they will fall in love.
The strength of this book relies on phenomenal character development. Parrish captured the social anxiety in a way, that you can almost feel it as a reader. Also, the way Jack and Simon’s love flourishes and how Simon experiences many firsts is simply beautiful.
But I’ll be honest. It took me a while to get into the story as the beginning was extremely slow paced. But once I did, I really enjoy it.
Totally immersive and heartfelt, this sweetly sexy romance about two people learning to be better and stronger together checked all my boxes. Simon and Jack need each other in different ways, and I just love the slow authentic way their relationship unfolds. If you like to really get inside a character’s head, and enjoy love stories with a heaping dose of angst, this is the book for you.
Audible Review
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 5 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Very melancholic.
Better Than People was a sweet, yet very melancholic read. Who knew that an innocent request for a dog walker would lead to two men finding just what they needed in each other.
Boy did my heart hurt for Simon, I can’t imagine living with the crippling anxiety he does on a daily basis. I feel like his anxiety was dealt with in a realistic way, although I don’t live with it myself so I can’t say with certainty if it was for sure. I appreciated that he wasn’t automatically “healed” by the love of a good man, which would have rang completely false. Jack was very caring with him, but he did stumble a few times which is to be expected when navigating a new relationship, no matter what a person might be going through or facing.
Jack was dealing with his own troubles when he hires Simon, the least of which was his broken leg. He was a bit of a broken man, thanks to the betrayal of his best friend, and found himself in a dark place. Hiring Simon turned out to be the best thing to happen to both of them.
I enjoyed this slow burn, sweet romance. Even with everything Simon and Jack were both facing, I liked that there wasn’t a lot of drama, miscommunication, or outside interferences. Better Than People was a lovely story of two men getting to know each other, and developing a friendship that turned into so much more.
James Cavanaugh was the perfect choice for narrator. His voice was very calm and soothing, but he brought the *heat* when needed. I thought he did a really wonderful job bringing both Jack and Simon to life.
*I love the “Easter Egg” that was added, although I’m not sure if that was supposed to be a surprise or not- but it was for me and I loved it!
Roan Parrish writes with empathy and understanding. This book is a wonderful example of how a story can create change in someone’s life. I certainly learned something about myself while I was listening.
James Cavenaugh did a wonderful job on the narration.
If you are looking for a beautifully written story about two people dealing with personal challenges and learning about themselves by getting to know each other, I recommend this book.
This was such a wonderful and comforting book. It felt like wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket and sitting in front of a fire on a dreary day and let’s not forget all the pets that would be next to you!! I am a pet person, so this was definitely a huge plus for me. I loved that the pets were definitely a huge part of the story as well as the lives of both MC. I adored both Simon and Jack and thought they were perfect for each other. Simon being so timid and soft spoken and Jack who just wanted to comfort and be there for Simon. I thought the character development was phenomenal and the world building was soo good. I could not wait to continue listening to James Cavenaugh narrate this and thought he did such a great job. I loved Charlie as well and cannot wait to read his story and get to hopefully check in on Simon and Jack and their pets.
This was just the book I needed. It was the perfect escape.
Loved the story and narration!
Animals Really Are Better Than People. Up front: It took me a month to finish this book, and even then it was a large degree of forcing myself to finish it so that I could get to its sequel, which I have signed up to do a blog tour for. That noted, however, it actually was a strong story of two men both trying to overcome their own limitations – which are largely both in their own heads. (With a physical bone break being one of the only truly physical limitations either deal with.) The main difficulty for me was that Simon’s anxiety was portrayed so similarly to some of the more “severe” (God I hate that term) aspects of being an Autistic, with the constant mind-fight of what people are expecting vs what you feel capable of, being a bit of a misanthrope and (in Simon’s case, and perhaps not Parrish herself’s) not really realizing it. Other than this though, the romance itself seemed to work, and both Simon and Jack were solid characters that worked well together. But the dogs… the dogs damn near stole the show at times. They truly were better than people. 😉 Very much recommended.
I became a fan of Roan Parrish after reading her gorgeous novel, The Remaking of Corbin Wale. Imagine my excitement at discovering this book is also set in the same world.
The story begins with Jack Matheson, a children’s book illustrator who rescues animals. He has grown isolated after a falling out with his friend and writing partner. During a walk with his animals, he suffers a severe leg injury that keeps him off his feet for weeks. To care for his pets, he signs up for PetShare, an app that matches pet owners with animal lovers.
Enter Simon Burke, a graphic artist who has always wanted a dog. He lives with severe anxiety, which makes interacting with people difficult and painful. He is paired with Jack through the PetShare app. They find that their interests and compatibility extend beyond animals.
It takes time for Jack to break through Simon’s anxiety to build a relationship, but when he does, it becomes clear that they are both emotionally wounded in different ways, and in need of care. In addition to the pets, which have more than just a token role in the story, they find healing in each other. The story is realistic, in that their anxieties and insecurities are not erased, but met and confronted with love, determination and commitment. Honestly, what more does anyone want out of their partnership?
The love scenes are beautiful. Communication is everything between Jack and Simon and their ability to reach that intimacy is the heart of this book’s journey.
ARC provided by NetGalley/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Absolutely beautiful, both written and audio. I’m a voracious reader, and I was mesmerized.
I loved this book. It had a strong focus on how a simple touch can convey a thousand words, and how love has more than one language.
Yes, yes, and yes. This book was everything I wanted and more. When I dove into it, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The blurb had me intrigued, but I’ve never read anything by Parrish before, so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. However, any expectations I had likely would’ve been blown out of the water because… just yes. These characters were everything. This story melted my heart and gave me all the warm fuzzies.
But, it was also holy craappppp hot. Like, I’m talking sizzle off your hair hot.
But… it was ALSO sweet. And the portrayal of anxiety was so spot on and carefully handled that I, as a person who suffers from anxiety–particularly social anxiety–I couldn’t help but cheer the author every time something I feel on the regular was found on page and made to seem so… okay. Anytime anxiety or other misunderstood mental health issues is normalized, I can’t help but cheer. Bravo to this author, and bravo to this entire story!
This was an absolutely fantastic read. I started it thinking I would read a few chapters before doing other things… well here I am, it’s 01.22 in the morning and, I’m finished.
Jack is suffering from broken trust of being betrayed by a friend and a broken leg from a nasty fall and needs someone taking care of all his animals. (He’s been rescuing a bunch of cats and dogs) while he’s recovering, so he puts an add up on an app and in walks Simon into his life. Simon is suffering from severe anxiety and has a hard time talking to people.
Seeing these two guys learning to trust each other and fall in love was beautiful. I wasn’t so sure in the beginning, thinking this reminded me a little too much about the authors previous book The Remaking of Corbin Wale (which I absolutely love, if you haven’t read it you have to pick it up), but Corbin is actually playing a part in this book and that made me more accepting of the whole thing.
The way Roan Parrish dealt with Simon’s character and his anxiety was very respectfully done. It wasn’t there to add a conflict to the story, it simply was part of Simon’s character. And while it’s heavy being in Simon’s head at times, she made this book sweet and beautiful. I loved that. I’m always counting on Roan Parrish to give me all the feels. And this was no different.
Better Than People has a fabulous cast of characters. Seriously, from our romantic couple to their families to a group of pets with just the cutest names ever, they’re all lovable, and I love that even the animals have their own personalities. So often, animals in books are rather flat, just there to move the story along. That’s not the case with these animals. They all have their own quirks and things that make them stand out from the crowd, and there is a crowd. The romance is both sweet and sexy, and these guys keep the pages turning. Jack is one of my favorite types of character – He’s gruff, sometimes downright grumpy, and all heart. Then there’s the absolutely adorable Simon, who tugs at every single heartstring. Roan Parrish does an excellent job of explaining Simon’s anxiety and making the reader feel his anguish, and I love the way Jack is with him. He may be a grumpy Gus, but he’s a big softie with Simon. Other than Simon’s anxiety, this one is relatively low on angst, which is especially welcome these days. All in all, this is an engaging romance and a good series start. I’ll be interested to see what’s next for Garnet Run.
I love the fact that things aren’t magically better by just being together. Both men still have their issues to deal with. The real work of understanding happens after Jack’s cast is off. Both men have to work together.
Heartwarming and adorable read about two unique characters and their marvelous pets. I love seeing someone come out of their protective shell to take a chance on love and find acceptance and joy.
I knew practically as soon as I started this that it was going to be a hit for me.
It just had such an easy flow and such a charming sentimental vibe to it.
I instantly felt at home with both Jack and Simon each with there own separate challenges and I could see them muddling along together quite nicely add in how bloody adorable they were together and I was totally sold.
Jack has such an exasperated outward persona he’s grumpy and gruff with a bark definitely worse than his bite and a tendency to stick his foot in it.
He likes his own company and what you see is definitely what you get with Jack.
Simon is anxious to the point he almost wants to disappear from sight.
His words clog-up in his throat and his awkwardness and fear take over.
With animals, he feels able to emerge from behind his protective shell much preferring them to his fellow humans.
So when Jack breaks his leg and is unable to walk his menagerie of four-legged friends it’s Simon that steps in.
Initially brought together by the petshare app they both start to feel a connection.
So I adored the way Jack was with Simon the way he coaxed and comforted him.
He was so protective and loving and his patience with Simons severe anxiety was boundless.
And Simon was willing to try and step out of his bubble for Jack.
Jack who makes him feel things he never thought possible.
This was an incredibly romantic and heartfelt story.
I adored the simplicity of this and it had such a feel-good factor to the whole thing.
This was a really great M/M romance that felt authentic in its emotion and was as hot as it was romantic.
A thumbs up from me I enjoyed this one a lot.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Better Than People.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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Better Than People was a sweet, quiet romance that was even better than I’d expected. Everything about this book was deceptively simple- a quick connection igniting between men that only grows as they get to know one another.
Although Better Than People was not overly complex, it wasn’t boring either. The angst and conflict felt grounded in realistic struggles. I loved that the characters were unique rather than those perfect caricatures of men dominating contemporary romance. The slower pace worked perfectly, giving the reader time to get to know the characters and the characters enough room to develop over the course of the story. I loved seeing the playful side of Simon as he became more comfortable and liked how he helped Jack heal and I liked how steady and patient Jack was with Simon straight away. And then there are the dogs and cats. Though Better Than People does revolve a bit around Jack’s pack of rescues, it was worked into the storyline and character development well.
For a storyline that felt very straight forward from the start, I was pleased at just how much emotion and romance was packed into Better Than People. If you are looking for a quiet, touching love story, this is definitely worth the read.
*eARC received via Netgalley. The author and publisher had no influence over this review*
This was such a sweet, inspirational romance. You have Jack. He worked on a project with his college friend who ended up betraying him. Jack was having a really hard time forgiving him. He was already not the most trusting of people, and this sent him in a tailspin. Thankfully, he had his pack of dogs and cats who kept him company. Then he broke his leg. And now he couldn’t take care of his animals properly. So he reached out to a company and hired someone to help walk his dogs. Enter Simon. Simon always wanted a dog of his own, but it was not possible at this time. So he signed up with a company that helps people with their animals. This lead him to Jack. Simon has his own problems. He has crushing anxiety so bad he can’t talk and he gets physically ill. But helping Jack and his pack is just what he needed. Slowly, a sweet budding romance happened between Jack and Simon. They both understood and helped each other deal with their issues. It was a great romance. Another inspiring story by this talented author.
Jack’s misfortune at the hands of his dogs ends up being the best thing that ever happened to him when the dog walker he hires is an adorable, painfully shy (read, anxious) Simon. Simon has never been comfortable in his own skin but somehow over time spent with his big, grumpy new employer, he starts coming out of his shell. Something about Jack soothes him, and excites him, and allows him to show confidence.
As they rush headlong into new experiences, feelings develop, and attraction fires up. Can two people more comfortable with each other and a menagerie of animals, make a relationship work and give them both a Christmas to remember?
I absolutely adored this sweet, sexy little read. Simon really is adorable and I love how Jack is able to read him and able to gently guide him to some self-confidence. The motley crew of pets, Jack’s brother, and Simon’s grandma round out this already lovable cast, and gave me an entertaining, lovely story. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from Roan Parrish now.