Jez Fielding and James MacKenzie—Big Mac to his mates—are in their second year at uni. After partying too hard last year, they make a pact to rein themselves in. While their housemates are out drinking every weekend, Jez and Mac stay in to save cash and focus on their studies.
When Jez suggests watching some porn together, he isn’t expecting Mac to agree to it. One thing leads to another, and … another, and soon their arrangement becomes hands-on rather than hands-off. But falling for your straight friend can only end badly, unless there’s a chance he might feel the same.
Length: 33,000 words
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Audiobook and ebook review:
I’ve had this book- and most of the Housemates series- sitting in my library for over a year now and I’m kicking myself for just now getting to them. I have a soft spot for shorter books that feel as though they’re full-length. Helping Hand felt complete and wholly satisfying with a great mix of likable characters, a tiny bit of conflict, seriously steamy scenes, and a good story.
I ended up both reading and listening to Helping Hand and can confidently say it’s a win however way you choose. The narrator has a great voice and quality that works with the characters’ personalities and tone of the book. The writing was smooth as well, with a good mix of dialogue, palpable chemistry, and relationship development. Helping Hand simply was a story I was eager to keep reading/listening to at every opportunity. I’m definitely keen on continuing the Housemates series and would recommend this title to anyone who enjoys bisexual awakening stories or college-age romances.
Helping Hand was one of the first OFY/bisexual awakening stories I ever read, and it went a long way to cementing my love for the trope. It’s a short story but never feels rushed, and the characters are well-rounded and authentic. Jez and Mac’s friendship develops into something more very gradually when an unexpected attraction flares up between them. Even as they explore the physical side of things, they try very hard not to think about the deeper underlying emotions that grow stronger right alongside their shared passion. We only get Jez’s pov, so we know where he stands, even as he’s still figuring things out, but Mac stays a mystery. Jez is left guessing and doesn’t always get it right, and Jez and Mac both shy away from opening up about their feelings for each other. I liked that their take on labels with regards to their sexuality differs. They both experience what happens between them differently. I also liked how everything worked out in the end. After having suffered through a little angst alongside Jez and Mac, I loved seeing them find love and happiness with each other.
What a lovely book with an HEA. Great writing again from Jay.
Two college friends, exploring and finding themselves. Great story, well worth the read or listen on Audible or both.
Helping Hand is the first book in the Housemate series by Jay Northcote. I was introduced to the book quite accidentally – I saw somewhere that it was free on Amazon and I decided to try it. Have to seize the opportunity, right?
As said, it is the first book in the series which deals with different people in the same household (even though some leave and others come), all of them students. Helping Hand focus on Jez and Mac, two ‘straight’ guys who have partied way too much last year and are now staying in – Jez because of his overdraft, and Mac to focus on his studies. And as we all know, staying in can be annoying enough, and so much more if you are stuck in your room. So the two hang out, watch series or play games…until Jez suggests doing something more
Despite being more into each other than in porn, they pretend to watch it while masturbating together…although there is an instance where watching it brings some change to the hands-off thingy.
It was adorable how oblivious and in SO MUCH DENIAL they were, especially Mac, who kept insisting ‘he’s not gay’ which *technically* is true but… Come on, Mac Also both of them are ‘these are just my feelings, there is NO WAY he’s into me’ and they don’t talk about it until the end!
There is some angst in it, although not too much. It is resolved quickly (obviously, since the book is short), and nicely. It was HOT, it was sweet, it had oblivious guys, friendship, and an obligatory, great, sweet, happy ending