“I guess I always figured coming out was something you did for friends and family, and maybe it is, but it’s personal too, you know? The person I was last night is new. I wanna get to know him.”I had two things on my list when I arrived in Los Angeles. One, track down Henry Bennington, the uncle and guardian of my little brother’s best friend, and tell him to get his ass back to Washington. He … Washington. He needed to do something about his nephew, who was turning into a douchebag. And two, figure out just how non-straight I was. For the past two years, I’d had all these fantasies, and now was the time to explore them, far away from my sleepy little town.
Nowhere on this list did it say, “Get Ty’s uncle into bed and fall for him.” I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with another city either. But between brunch, making new friends, and discovering the man I was meant to be, I lost sight of the future that had once seemed pretty damn vivid. How the hell was I supposed to merge my old life and who I used to be with the new dreams Los Angeles and Henry had awakened in me?
(Standalone.)
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This was such an amazing read. The writing style drew me in from page one, and I felt myself rooting for this wonderfully eclectic cast of characters. I love how real all characters felt, their character shown not only through dialogue and actions, but also through their friends and interactions. Hot encounters, a realistic conflict, and a wonderful happy end. Loved it.
*Funny, sweet and a little kinky!!*
„You have to dance with me and get glitter on your face, because this is what life is about. I missed out on it, I guess. Sitting behind that damn register after school and doing inventory on the weekends…burying my mother. That part sucked the most, but I´ve waited long enough now. I need to live. I need glitter nights and purple drinks and more of you.“
This is the story of Zach and Henry. I really enjoyed this story so very much.
Cause this is not just a love story with a huge age gap, but it is also about responsibilities, long-lasting friendships, committment, exploring an new life-style and sexuality and a having to deal with a lot of insecurities and self-doubt.
„I guess I always figured coming out was something you did for friends and family, and maybe it is, but it´s personal too, you know? The person I was last night is new. I wanna get to know him.“
Zach, 27 years old, hasn´t had time to enjoy and live his life until now.
Since his 18th birthday, when his mother committed suicide, it has been his responsibility to care and provide for his 10 years younger brother Mattie and somehow at the same time also for Mattie´s best friend Tyler.
He is on a mission when he leaves his home in Camassia Cove and drives down to LA. He just has two important points on his agenda.
First, he needs to find the uncle of Tyler and convince him to come back to Camassia Cove and take care of Tyler, second, since he´s already in LA, he wants to take the opportunity to explore if he is really attracted to men, a slowly growing feeling he´s been having for two years now.
What he did not expect to find: the love of his life!
Henry, 46 years old, owning a bookshop in Malibu, in honour of his late brother´s dream.
He´s such a kind, sweet, caring, generous man, the perfect gentleman.
After Tyler´s parents (Henry´s brother and his wife) died in a car accident years ago, Henry received sole custody for his nephew. But after coming out to his homophobic parents, Henry had to leave Camassia Cove and Tyler behind, who stayed with his grandparents, that had the very most bad influence on Tyler.
Now, Henry has to step in, claiming his custody for Tyler, who is still in Camassia Cove with his grandparents and has no interest for having Henry in his life.
Come and follow Zach and Henry from being strangers when they meet for the first time in Henry´s bookshop, to exploring the nightlife of LA together with Henry´s best friend Martin (oh my God, I love love love Martin so much and his banter he´s having with Henry like an old married couple), making plans to convince Tyler to come to LA, having wonderful dinners in the Californian sunset, becoming sort of roommates until they both can´t resist no longer their ever growing attraction (and ever growing feelings) and give in to exploring Zach´s gay fantasies together.
Highly recommended!!
5 stars!!
Out is the story of 27-year-old Zachary who’s been raising his younger since the age of 18 after his mother’s suicide. He’s been comfortable in his skin until he started realizing he’s attracted to men. He lives in a small town that doesn’t have much room for exploring. When he feels the need to seek out his younger brother’s friend’s uncle, Henry, in L.A. he figures that gives him the perfect opportunity to test the waters. What he didn’t count on was the uncle being his wet dream.
Some highlights:
-Zachary. I love dual POVs, but in this instance, I didn’t mind only being in Zach’s head. He was funny, sweet, and a tad quirky. I loved seeing the world through his eyes.
-Relationship development. Insta-lust, insta-love, I was insta-all-in!! These two had me awwing and fanning myself from one moment to the next.
-Humor. Between the chapter titles, Zach’s inner monologue, and the banter I found myself smiling and laughing out loud.
-Henry. His family background will have you rooting for him, and his personality will make you fall in love with him.
-The side characters were awesome!! Please write a story for Mattie, Ty (maybe Mattie & Ty…), Martin, and even he who shall remain nameless.
-Chemistry. Dirty talk, mild age play, some edging- I mean this book was hoooot!
-Relationship angst. It wasn’t overdone; it was understandable, and I liked how it was resolved.
All in all, this was a HUGE win.
It had:
-Age gap
-Mild kink
-Steam
-Self discovery
It was:
-Emotional
-Humorous
-Endearing
4.5 Highly Recommend “Out” Stars!
An enjoyable fun story. There were so many moments that had me sniggering.
I really like that Zach jumped in with both feet and didn’t question what was happening between him and Henry, he just knew what he wanted and went for it.
I got frustrated with Henry essentially pushing Zach away, it had me feeling like he didn’t believe anything Zach said.
I’m curious for what happens in Out For the Holidays.
A great read…
So this was a slow start for me and I’m not sure why because once I got going I couldn’t put it down.
Zach is adorable, Mattie is cute and Henry, damn! I want a Henry. Well, a straight Henry. I’m looking forward to the Christmas novella, I need more of these boys!!
A great book by Cara Dee! I love how Cara built the relationship between Henry and Zach in this book. Lots of character-driven plot. Steamy too! Really recommend this one!!
Yes yes yes!! This book is perfection!! Zach had to grow up too fast by taking responsibly of his brother at a young age and all the responsibilities that go with that, but he wouldn’t change it for the world. Even with all that on his shoulders he’s still full of love and amazingly funny and would do anything for anyone, but family comes first so when a “family” problem arises he has to solve it by going to L.A. which could also solve another nagging personal problem of his he’s had for a long time….am I gay?! What better place to figure that out than L.A. right!?! Then comes Henry the answer to the family problem, but what he doesn’t expect is for the older sexy man to be the perfect man for the personal problem as well. Their journey is full of fun love and some oh so steamy times together, but when things turns serious Henry’s jaded past could hurt what they have. This story is not only great it is amazing. The characters are so addicting that you love them from the start even their friends are the absolute best. I loved all the characters especially Martin!! Can’t wait for more from Cara Dee!!
This is a great coming-out story on all levels. Zach has two reasons for going to LA. One to ask his brother’s best friend’s uncle to come home as his nephew is acting as a jerk the more he grows up. The second reason is he wants to find out how gay he thinks he is. He wants to explore and what better way to do that than in LA. What he didn’t expect is falling for said uncle, Henry.
Henry is nearly twenty years older but hot as he comes. Henry takes Zach under his wings (literally). Together with Martin, Henry’s best friend, he teaches Zach what it is to be gay. Just to be clear this is not a threesome but a genuine friendship.
Cara Dee’s writing is impeccable, flowing smoothly and authentically. I was hooked into the story from page one and couldn’t put the book down. She created realistic characters with a lot of depth and still there was room for growth. I got totally invested in their lives. Not only Zach and Henry but also Mattie and Ty are great characters. Mattie is a very mature seventeen-year-old, raised by his older brother after their parents died. He is looking out for his best friend, Ty. Ty really is a douche bag, but you can hardly blame him as he was raised by his bigoted grandparents. He turns out alright in the end, though, as Henry finally gets through to him and earns back his trust.
Back to Zach and Henry. Although their chemistry is off the charts their journey toward each other is a slow one. Zach knows what he or rather who he wants when he sees Henry. He might be unsure and a little naïve when it comes to discovering who he really is but when he knows he acts on it. It is not only coming out as gay it is coming out as a strong and confident person. Henry’s fears get the better (or should I say worse) of him until it is nearly too late. The age difference is not really a matter of concern. It is more that Henry doesn’t trust that he really is who Zach wants.
I save the best for last and that is Martin, Henry’s best friend. He is a delightful person, over the top queer, but with his heart in the right place. I would love for him to have his own happily-ever-after.
Cara Dee presents a very freeing story with Out. I love the premise, not just based off Zach’s journey regarding his sexuality or him reaching out to Henry for help with Ty, it is the ability the author has to delve deep into various themes, weaving them flawlessly though the storyline. It really touches the heart.
This book made me laugh so many times. I don’t think I have ever laughed that much when I’ve read any other book by this author. I enjoyed the change of pace a bit but there was still good tension between Zach and Henry. Cara Dee still avoided the clichéd type of romances, which I appreciated.
Character development was solid, especially considering the use of secondary characters and how Care Dee adds to their depth. I love Martin! The interactions between all characters were spectacular but especially between Henry and Martin. It all felt very genuine and not forced. The world building continues to be detailed so it kept me fully engrossed.
Excellent sexual tension between Zach and Henry and definitely hot scenes. Some light kink and most of all definite deliciousness.
5 Stars for humor, sexiness and an enthralling read!
This being my first book by Cara Dee had me a little confused, I knew it was a standalone but I had a feeling it was part of a series, quite possibly a spin-off of another series, and I felt that way because there was so much I wanted to know about the other couples that popped up throughout the story.
This story focuses on Zach and Henry and let me tell you how much I loved them….I loved them so much that when the book ended I was sad, I wanted more of these two lovable men not to mention Henry’s bestie Martin, who really need to find his HEA soon!!! But that sadness was soon replaced with anticipation because of a note from the author that said “That little epilogue up there wasn’t enough for me. I wanted more than to just tie up loose ends, but when I started writing the original epilogue, a few pages quickly turned into 20,000 words. I don’t want to delete any of it. I want a sweet, dirty, funny, and Christmassy sequel with just a bit of drama” she goes on to tell us that “Out for the Holidays: An Out Novella will be published on December 12th, 2017 and I cannot wait! Ok, sorry, it looks like I have wondered off the beaten path there but I am really looking forward to more of these two men.
Zach lives in the small town of Casammia Cove, where he is raising his brother Mattie and running the family store. Mattie’s best friend is getting out of control so Zach goes to California to find his Uncle in the hopes he will be able to help out with his nephew along with maybe helping Zach find his true self. You see Zach has been having thoughts for a while now that make him think that maybe, just maybe he may be gay.
There’s an instant attraction between Henry and Zach but Henry is quite a bit older so its a no-go for him…well that what he keeps telling himself anyway. Watching Zach find himself with the help of Martin and Henry was great, bringing Zach to a gay nightclub was like bringing a kid to a candy store…so much to choose from but what he really wants is out of reach, or is it? It does take a while for Henry to finally give into his own wants and needs and believe me once he does its fantastic.
The chemistry was phenomenal between the two, and as I mentioned earlier there are a lot of secondary and tertiary characters that I really want to know more about some of them already found their HEAs so I will go back and read their stories and the ones that haven’t found their HEAs yet will be on my radar. I have to admit this was very close to a five star read for me but there were just a couple of things that I didn’t like about the story, I am not going to mention them because I don’t feel the need to since they are just minor issues and didn’t take away from the overall picture of things. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good MM read.
**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book**
Out is a beautifully written story with some great characters, witty dialogue, and a story line that surprised me by just how good it is. This one is about so much more than being out and proud, it’s a story of self-discovery and being happy with the person you are. I also got the added bonus of a May/December romance between Zach and Henry, and that’s always a plus for me. Both are wonderful characters, but Henry was just so darn sweet that you can’t help but fall a little in love with him. The situations and dialogue was often quite hilarious – another added bonus for me! Overall, Out is a fun, touching story with characters that I’ll certainly be coming back to visit from time to time.