Manhattan: A Small Town Friends-to-Lovers Romance (Becker Brothers)

This book was a total summary of young love. Manhattan was fresh and it was so sweet to see the love and family dynamic. Mikey and Kylie were friends since they were little.. who knows you better than the others. Kylie, girl.. you were a sweet soul. Manhattan was a great portrait of young love should be.

Manhattan is a beautiful small town best friend to lovers romance . Mickey is the youngest Becker brother and he is brooding and going through heartbreak , the only person he is close to and who understands him is his best friend Kylie. The story is heartwarming and engaging. It’s well written and captivated my attention with the story and it’s well developed characters. I haven’t read the previous Becker brother stories but was still able to follow this story. There were times I wanted someone to smack Mickey and make him see some sense . I loved Kylie’s character she had a heart of gold. She was caring and was always there for Mickey. Overall it was a satisfying and wonderful read . I really enjoyed this story, after reading this book I have to read the previous two books in this series before the final book is released next year.

I love Kandi Steiner words. There is just something with the tone of them that just call to me and pull me right in and baby Becker’s book just did that.

We’ve met Michael in previous books and he’s one story I’ve looking forward to. His true love ‘Bailey’ who he dated for two years has dumped him and left for a career in Nashville. He’s heartbroken and declares that he needs to leave town to start over, but his best friend, Kylie, has other ideas.

Kylie has loved Michael for forever. They became best friends when they were eight and were inseparable, apart from the two years he was with Bailey. When Bailey leaves, Kylie, the true friend that she is vows to make him see their town isn’t all about his memories of her, but about his new experiences, that she helps him discover along the way and discovering each other.

I love friends to lovers stories and that moment that they discover there is something more between them. Kylie has always loved Michael and although it takes him a little while to clock on, when he finally noticed her, he’s all in.

I loved Kylie’s character, she was strong, assuring, always had a voice and something to say, even when it wasn’t easy and there was moments my heart ached for her, I could truly feel her pain. She was no walk over and I think I might have a crush on her!

Michael, he’s a little brooding at the beginning due to his heartbreak but I couldn’t help falling for him. He’s sweet, loving, caring and had moments that had me swooning all over the place.

One of the things I love about this series is the family. Yes they have their troubles and aren’t perfect but there is a real family feel when they are all together. I loved the previous characters popping up, especially Betty .

Although this is a standalone there is interconnecting storylines and I’m now dying to find out more about Jordan’s discovery and of course the final book with him, he’s a quiet man filled with mystery and I can’t wait to his angst filled journey!
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*An ARC received for an honest review*
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Overall Ratings;u2063
First Sex Scene – 63%
POV – Duel
Hero –
Heroine –
Story –
Angst –
Steam –
Chemistry –

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Kandi Steiner gives us another fabulous book with Manhattan! Michael and Kylie’s is childhood friendship growing.

Michael is broken from a breakup and has pushed his friendship with Kylie aside. Kylie is so strong and just wants to love Michael and support him. As the story develops, Michael sees Kylie is grown up and through different eyes. I loved his character, watching in grow and realize what he wants out of life. The brothers and both their parents are a huge influence on them. They all have suffered loss and it was great to see them all support each other.

Even at 18, some people do know who they love and what they want. Kandi Steiner gives readers that in Manhattan and I loved this beautiful story so much.

Manhattan by Kandi Steiner is the third book in the Becker Brothers series and is the story of Michael and Kylie, a friends to lovers romance. A story about young love and second chances. Kylie and Mikey have been best friends for a long time and she has loved him just as long. But when he falls for another and he is left heartbroken, where does that leave her, especially when he plans on leaving?

This is Kylie’s one shot to show him all they can be. Can she finally tell him how she truly feels? She is set to do just that. To show him not all is lost. I loved watching them grow and connect in different ways. A slow burning love with so many feels. The story was emotional and sweet and I loved it.

Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!

5 star reviews Manhattan (Becker Brothers #3) by Kandi Steiner

I know this will be hard to believe but Kandi Steiner is a new author to me but be assured I am going to be looking her other books as soon as time permits.

Manhattan is a friends to lovers story that was a beautifully written love story that was highly entertaining. Although book three in the series, I had no problems reading this as a stand alone.

What happens when you fall in love with your best friend and are forced to watch him marry someone else? Michael (Mickey) Becker and Kylie Nelson have been friends since they were young and unbeknownst to him, she has been in love with him for years.
This was at times an emotional roller coaster of a read that drew me in and kept me captivated from the first to the last chapter. I really loved the characters and found them to be easy to relate to and honest.
As Mikey struggles and decides it is time to leave his hometown, Kylie convinces him to give her a chance to convince him to stay. Will she finally have the courage to tell him how much she loves him? One click and find out.

***3.5***

Where to begin… I feel like I’m the only person who isn’t like obsessed with Mikey and Kylie. I have a couple reasons why, but at the jump, while I can’t say this is my favorite Kandi book, it’s important to note that I still really enjoyed reading their story, seeing them enter this new era of their lives together.

Let’s talk positives first. As always, I love Kandi’s characters. They are rounded, flawed, and dynamic. I loved hearing both perspectives, as always. Especially with this story, though, since Mikey is so clueless to Kylie’s long-time feelings, it was fun to hear his side of their relationship vs. Kylie’s. The setting, sweet ol’ Stratford, was charming as ever. I love her writing style, how easily the scenes flow together and how natural the dialogue feels. The cast of characters, in particular Mikey’s mom and Betty, have always been my favorites, but they shine in this book. Their advice is great, of course, but really, I just loved hearing their perspective and their stories. I love that about this book – there is more to it than just the romance.

There’s something else I loved but is probably particular to me since I live there… the pair went to a concert in Nashville, and I was geeking out the whole time. I wanted to know which hotel they were staying at off I-65, what venue The Killers were playing at… but yeah, that’s just my goof coming out. Thank you, Kandi, for getting me all invested. 😉

Now, for the not-so-fun part. Normally, I love Kandi’s books without question, but there were a couple of things about this book, about Mikey and Kylie specifically, that didn’t sit right with me. My two hang-ups with this book are that 1) Mikey was not over Bailey and 2) Kylie is unhealthily devoted to him. As I was reading it, the relationship just felt very red-flaggish to me.

My opinion of this book would change dramatically if Mikey had healed from his emotional wounds and was actually ready to find love. I understand the whole point, the whole conflict, of the book was that he wasn’t, but I had an icky feeling in my gut the entire time I read it (and therefore could not really get super excited for the cutesy moments because the alarms were still sounding in my head). I wished I could tell Kylie to r-u-n until he was emotionally ready for what was to come. Of course, he didn’t mean to do her harm – it wasn’t a malicious thing whatsoever – but still. He wanted to be in love, but that doesn’t mean he was ready for it. It would have been slightly better even if he was still sad about her but knew he never wanted to see her again no matter what. But no… and Kylie, who yoked herself to him come hell or high water, had to pay the price.

Which sort of leads me to my next thing, although it didn’t bother me AS much as the whole Mikey thing because she is SO clearly an enneagram type 2. Kylie’s devotion to Mikey is, for the most part, very sweet. And I do understand how her level of devotion can build and accumulate over a lifetime. However, and perhaps it was especially pronounced next to Mikey’s lack of emotional fitness, there were times when I felt like she was holding on too tightly, you know? Like, there’s a certain point at which it’s healthiest for everyone, including yourself, to walk away and give space. But she came right back around like a freakin’ boomerang at the slightest whisper, and it kinda made me sad. It does make her a good friend, but her inability to set up healthy emotional boundaries bothered me because it allowed Mikey to take advantage of her.

If Mikey were my son, I would tell him to lay off until his heart felt right to give the love Kylie deserved. If Kylie were my daughter, I would a) teach her some boundaries and b) tell her to give Mikey the space to heal on his own, independent of her & their relationship. That’s why I can’t fully get behind their relationship: while I do believe they can grow together, they’ve got a lot of work to do before they can be in a healthy, non-codependent relationship. Ya feel?

That said, the ending is VERY sweet, and it did soften my heart. I simply ADORED peeking into their future together, and I really liked that they were getting a fresh start somewhere together… I think they’d have both been out of their depths going solo in such a new place. Also, don’t think I missed the AWESOME Staci Hart easter egg there in the epilogue with the mention of Longbourne! That made me break into a grin resembling Cheshire Cat.

So, let’s wrap this baby up. Was this my favorite Kandi book? No. But was it funny, sweet-hearted, and easy to read? You betcha.

I still really like this series and am very excited to get to see Jordan’s story next… he’s so quiet and reserved, after all… If you love small-town romances, the friends-to-lovers trope, and beautifully, complex characters, then Manhattan should be next on your list.

Be prepared to swoon!
The Becker’s are an amazing family. And Kandi really found her niche with the Becker boys.
Mikey has been in the background as we’ve gone in on a journey with his two other brothers, though, I couldn’t help but be drawn to him during his heart break. Mikey is more of an emotional soul than his brothers are. His journey to love is an emotional ride and as love usually has its way about it, his savior is found in an unlikely place.
One of my most favorite places to be is lost in a Kandi Steiner book.

Overall Grade: 1/2

How do you love from afar? How do you walk through each day loving your best friend when he loves another? Even more, how do you stand with him, aching for him to finally see you as something more, when he is mired in the loss of his former relationship? Lastly, how do you get him to stay and finally see you as something more? These are the driving questions of Kandi Steiner’s newest Becker Brothers book, Manhattan.

Centered around the youngest Becker brother, Michael “Mikey,” and his best friend, Kylie, this romance is a story of being seen and chosen. Kylie has loved Mikey from afar since they were eight years old. She has been his rock, his entertainment, his partner-in-crime, and his best friend. Through the years, they have culled so many memories together that they could fill a stadium. Yet, Mikey doesn’t notice Kylie as anything more than his best friend. One day, however, Mikey begins to finally recognize that Kylie is a girl, not just his androgynous best friend. Coming off of a devastating break-up, he has been so absorbed with it that he hasn’t recognized how much Kyle has changed. In one moment, his eyes begin to open to her, and their love story begins. As their romantic journey progresses, both of them are afraid of the future. Kylie is set to explore a gap year, while Mikey has decided to go to Manhattan. When their feelings grow more deeply, a threat occurs that derails their progress and tanks their friendship. Can Mikey and Kylie live their future apart, or are they destined to be together in the end?

For me, Kylie is the star of this book. I couldn’t say that for the first two books in Steiner’s series of standalones, On the Rocks and Neat. In those books, Noah and Logan were my favorites. In Manhattan, the heart of this story is Kylie. She is a savior, an empath, and a buoy. She singlehandedly saves Michael from himself. She hands so much of her soul to others that it sometimes is a detriment. She’s insightful, stubborn, and beautiful. And her happiness and pain grab at the reader’s heart and connect you into this story. From its outset, you know she’s the reason to read Steiner’s romance.

In contrast, I found myself annoyed with Mikey. In fact, he’s Moody Michael, to me. In On the Rocks and Neat, we know the reason for his depression and apathy for anything. Yet, what makes him annoying is his willingness to mire himself in it. Sitting before him, he has a best friend and family members who love him. Unfortunately, for the first half of the story, Michael is pretty self-absorbed. I can’t tell you the number of times I wrote notes asking “why don’t you realize you haven’t been a good friend?” or “what about Kylie?” Mikey’s characterization is clearly Steiner’s strength in Manhattan because her heroes are oftentimes the best parts of her books. In this one, it takes much of the story for you to love him. When he finally becomes selfless and begins to “see” the depth of Kylie’s character, then he redeems himself. Steiner creates these beautiful moments through Michael’s character that counter his self-absorption at the beginning of their story. I was so thankful for his evolution because it suggests that people can change and happy endings can be realized. Even more, it meant that I could continue to love the Becker brothers.

Manhattan is a poignant story of adventure and risk. At its base level, Mikey and Kylie must risk themselves in order to find their love for each other. The dividends paid for their risk become an adventure into their future. The beauty of this story is the risk of their choices. One of the most powerful moments for me in this book is Kylie’s request to be the first choice, to be Mikey’s biggest risk. It’s Steiner’s admonishment to never settle for anything more than being the first choice. And Manhattan is the best choice you could make to add to your Kindle library.

P.S. This reader can’t wait for oldest brother, Jordan’s, book next year, Old Fashioned. Steiner teases us with his heroine in the beautifully written epilogue for Manhattan. If those details aren’t another reason to read this book, then you aren’t living.

Manhattan is Mikey Becker’s story. He is the youngest Becker boy and Mama Becker has raised another gentleman, he just has a little growing up to do. Mikey Becker is only 18, but he is well on his way to taking his rightful place amongst his brothers as a thoughtful, loving, and caring man.

I’ve really loved this series and totally fell in love with Mikey as well, just in another way. Due to Mikey’s age, Manhattan is more of a young adult romance (not normally my thing) and author Kandi Steiner did a fantastic job with keeping it that way. This book isn’t filled with sexy, steamy scenes. Instead, it is a story of best friends coming of age and becoming so much more as they realize how important they are to each other. It has momentous and tender scenes as well as frustrating scenes that are to be expected of a teenager making choices as he wades through raging hormones, heartbreak, and life in general.

Quote from Mikey’s POV: I love that no matter how many times I prove to you that I’m an idiot, you somehow see past my stupidity to who I really am. You know me better than anyone else in this world, and for that reason alone, you forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it. I know the way I treated you, the things I said to you last weekend firmly fall in the do not forgive category. But, I’m praying you will, anyway… I hope that you’ll give me one last chance to prove to you that I mean what I say, that I’m not just a mouthful of words and empty promises. Let me show you this is real.

Kylie is a beautiful character, inside and out. She is wise beyond her years due to circumstances of her life. She is a caring and forgiving young woman, who despite possibly not having a multitude of confidence and self-esteem, she still knows when it is time to demand the respect you deserve. I was very proud of how that young girl took a stand for herself when it mattered most. Mikey may not have realized the damage his choices had made at the time, but the patience and guidance of his mother as well as his own self-awareness, he finally saw the light, and boy did he make it shine! I think that boy may really love that girl 🙂

Basically, I loved everything about this story and felt it took the path that it needed to take. Kylie and Mikey have lived a lifetime of amazing adventures and they are destined to live through many more. As always, I loved that the author brought back all her beloved characters from the first two books. Most of all, I love how the matriarch figures in this series, both Lorelei Becker and Betty, once again impart their wisdom, caring, and advice to the young couple and help them to see what’s right in front of them through a different set of eyes.

Such a poignant quote from the words of Mikey’s dad: “Son, my biggest wish for you is that you learn when to hold onto something, and when to let it go. That you understand when to fight, and when to walk away.”

The epilogue was outstanding and I can’t wait for another Becker brother story with all the excitement of the events to come. Kandi has sufficiently thrown in so many awesome tidbits to keep us waiting with bated breath for Jordan’s story, Old Fashioned.