When Carson Turner’s ex-boyfriend unexpectedly invites him to his destination wedding and presumes he’ll be there alone, Carson panics and invents a fake boyfriend to accompany him. That’s what happens when your greatest flaw seems to be to talk first and think later.How can Sam Bixton say no to his little sister’s request for him to go to Greece with her best friend, who he’s only admired from … from afar? Who would turn down fun in the sun with the one guy that’s always been off-limits?
Carson and Sam have a lot to learn about each other, and very little time to do it. Will they succeed in convincing Carson’s ex that they’re devoted boyfriends, or is it all about to go bust?
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I loved Carson and Sam so much! I loved getting to know each of them as they got to know each other. I liked that the book took the relationship slow and built it up over time. The book was well-written and you could really feel the love between Carson and Sam.
A sweet, happy, feel-good romance
THIS Claire Castle book I really liked. It’s the first full length book of hers that I’ve read, and I think that has a lot to do with it. Her short ones I found lacking, with lots of unresolved loose ends.
The characters of Carson, Sam, Sloan, and even Francois, are very well written. (The only detriment is that there isn’t a lot of physical description, so I had a bit of a problem visualizing them.) And she did a really good job working the whole premise of Carson needing to find a “fake” boyfriend, in order to show up a former horrible boyfriend, into a realistic romance! This premise has been used before in M/M romances, but rarely does the author give the 2 characters as much time to get to really know each other, likes, dislikes, etc. before they have the show up in a public venue to show up the former ex. I really think that contributed a great deal to the realism of this romance. And the ways Carson and Sam worked together to find these things out about each other quite often added to the humor in the book. And she also made it a “slow burn” romance, with both characters trying hard not to rush the other into a physical phase, i.e. sex, for fear of scaring the other off.
All in all an enjoyable book. And for those of you who are asking why not 5 stars?I’m NOT some friend of hers who’s going to gush over her books due to friendship. I only give honest reviews, AND I DON’T hand out 5 stars like I hand out candy at Halloween! This book is really good compared to her other ones yes. BUT it ISN’T on a par with say Amy Lane, Tara Lain, Andrew Grey, Mary Calmes, or Charlie Cochet, etc! All 5 star authors who have EARNED 5 stars. Given time, encouragement, constructive criticism instead of platitudes, and some hard work she may yet attain such. I look forward to see how she matures as a writer. (I also intend to look through her books I haven’t yet read to see if she’s written Francois’ story yet! 😉 )
Fake boyfriend or is he
Carson gets invited to his ex-boyfriend’s wedding in Greece. Without thinking, he tells his ex that he had a plus one called Sam.
Sam, brother to Carson’s best friend Sloane, and super hot and gay. Carson convinces Sam to be his fake boyfriend for the upcoming wedding.
But are they getting closer because of the wedding, or is there something between them and developing into an actual relationship?
Great characters and the story develops nicely, and we get a wonderful HEA. Jack Watson does a great job of narrating the book, although I sped up to 1.50 on audible as usual.
Boyfriend or Bust
By: Claire Castle
Narrated by: Jack Watson
Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
Overall
Narration
Story
Read at 1.5 speed on Audible
The perfect book to put you into vacation mood! Sam and Carson may start as fake boyfriends, but their connection is both explosive and profound and I love that they really take the time to get to know each other, and they progress from a fake to real relationship almost flawlessly, with no grand gestures or big drama moments!
The thing I love best is how they present a united front, always being there for each other o listen, support and cheer up!
Jack Watson’s narration took me a bit to “adjust” to. It’s a bit over-the-top, or “dramatic”, you know, and I am more used to a more … sedate kind of narration, but in the end it’s really good and it brings you INTO the story, you laugh, cry and snort out laugh together with the characters!