It started with a lie. A night of blurred lines between a teacher and a student.I wasn’t her student, yet it was the single most defining night of my life.I’ve never been the man she thinks I am.Most people have no idea about the life I’ve lived or the words that ring true when it comes to me—still waters run deep.But you’d be hard-pressed to find a coed on the TGU campus who knows … TGU campus who knows otherwise…because I’ve never corrected them.
The clock is ticking down, it’s Fourth and Inches with the ball inside the one-yard line and the focus is on me, The Guy on the Left. I’ve never felt like a football god, inside I’m…just Troy.
It’s time to set the record straight.
For my son, I‘ll find the strength.
In her eyes, I’m determined to gain redemption.
I will have them both, even if I have to take my eye off the ball.
All books in the series can be read as a stand-alone.
more
Troy, Clarissa and Dante what a great book so many feels. Loved their story.
Troy and Clarissa’s story! So much Love for this book and their story!
Well done with this series Kate Stewart!
Love the recipes too!
Oh this book! This book stole my heart just to break it and put it back together. To me, this is Kate Stewart best book to date. These characters have so much depth and the development of them was written so well.
Troy is my favorite, he’s so genuine, vulnerable, sweet and sexy. He makes a mistake when he’s younger and spends years trying to make amends. For many of those years he was on the sidelines watching and protecting his son and Clarissa. When the time is right he makes a way into their lives. His relationship with his son Dante is so heartwarming. He is also trying to make up and mend the relationship with Clarissa. This is when things become complicated.
This book brings all the feels and is hilarious. Although it can be read as a standalone I suggest starting with the first book in the series The Guy on The Right. This is a definite must read!
This book is my top romance read of 2019 (coming in just above The Guy on the Right). Troy was everything, his love for Dante and Clarissa was endless. I was intrigued by Troy in tGotR by by the end of that book after realizing his connection to their neighbors I could wait it get his whole story. I knew he would end up have a heart of gold and I wasn’t wrong. This book is definitely more emotional but there was a great balance of humor and of course some steamy times as well.
“Troy,” I shake my head, still trapped beneath him. “We’re a train wreck.”
“So what? Our story is messy, unconventional. We can be messy together, that makes us perfect.”
That quote is a great representation of the storyline. They definitely had a complicated start but Troy fought hard to prove his love and devotion for them both. And that ending was perfect. Now I can’t wait to get the rest of Lance’s story.
Love is messy!!
This book did not pull any punches! Troy told a hurtful lie several years ago and Clarissa is holding a mountain size grudge. There were times that I didn’t like Clarissa’s character, but oh she ended up suffering just as much as Troy, so I really felt for her as the story progressed. Dante was a joy to read!
Troy is likely to have you rooting for him despite his mess-ups! He’s so endearing and the love he has for his son – oh my heart!
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,…You once told me you thought you were the worst, but it’s simply not true.”
This book was hard to read at times due to the pain both characters went through, but it was totally worth it in the end. Another fine read by Kate Stewart.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
If you need a laugh, read this book. If you need a smile, read this book. If love rom-coms with heart, read this book. Otherwise READ THIS BOOK!
So much laughter while reading this story, little Dante was absolutely hilarious, his antics and interactions with Troy and Clarissa had me rolling on the floor with laughter several times. Aside from all the hilarity, this book is full of heart, hope and forgiveness. Prior indiscretions and half truths lead to years apart for Troy from his son, and plenty of time for Clarissa to build impenetrable resentment towards him. The hate fueled anger for mistakes of the past lead to several heated encounters between the two, creating some hot and heavy scenes that will leave you breathless. I loved that while Troy had a player reputation he wasn’t at all like his jock persona. His love for his son and his need for redemption with Clarissa had me rooting for Troy and wishing Clarissa the strength to forgive. This book had me all warm and mushy, a beautiful second chance love story I would definitely recommend! #legitlife
Plus….. you get an amazing free cookbook at the end of the story with all of Kate’s family recipes! So your heart will be full and so will your belly.
5 He’s So Much More Than the Stereotype Stars!!!
Having read The Guy on the Right and getting peeks at Troy’s life I thought I knew what I was going to find in his book….and let me tell you it’s SO MUCH MORE than that and I LOVED every single page of this story.
The opening of the book alone had me both cringing for Clarissa but also feeling Troy’s shock at what she’s come to tell him…. She’s pregnant with his child and all the plans she thought in her head that were going to happen went up in smoke when she’s faced with the fact that Troy is NOT who he said he was! And so begins the life of a single mother and one of the best slow-burn books I’ve ever read!
We move forward several years, Clarissa is raising her son Dante and Troy is trying to be involved in their lives and it’s not going as he’d like but he’s determined. I can so appreciate her mama bear attitude to protect her child who is the love of her life, but, to see Troy doing what he was to make sure he had some part of this incredibly intelligent and beautiful little boy who’s really like a small adult, was both endearing as well as humorous at times. Troy is definitely not the typical star college athlete he just needs to get Clarissa to believe him.
This book is full of heart, angst, anger, love, humor and everything in between. I loved how Troy interacted with Dante. This boy so needs a man in his life and their friendship grows to be so much more before everything comes to light. There were moments I wanted to slap Clarissa silly for some of her actions and Troy had a few of those moments as well. But the moments when these two succumb to the heat that’s been generating between them…holy moly it’s HAF!!!
While this book is filled with everything I love about a slow-burn romance one of the other things, or should I say person, that I loved was Clarissa’s best friend Parker. This is a woman that I immediately connected with having so many things in common with her. I’m truly hoping we’re going to get her romance some day.
Ms. Stewart has absolutely done our H/h justice with this story. Writing about a single parent allowing someone into their lives can be dicey sometimes, but the way this story is developed and flows and holds people accountable is spectacular! It’s absolutely in my top reads of 2019 and I can’t wait to see who’s next in this series!
This is a book that will make you laugh, smile, and swoon! I really enjoyed the story that the author created. I loved the characters and reading about how they met and how they ended up reconnecting. It was quite the journey but one I very much enjoyed! I thought the story was well written and had good character development. While I did enjoy the story it was one that didn’t overly excite me. It need just a little bit more to push it to a five star read. I am excited to see what the author writes next!
In Kate Stewart’s The Guy on the Right, readers were introduced to Troy Jenner, the ‘guy on the left’, but we met him through Theo Houseman’s eyes, not his own, and for that reason, readers only saw the part of Troy’s personality that Theo wanted us to see or maybe what Theo saw as completely contrary to himself. Either way, we were given a bias perspective and led to perceive Troy in the exact light that the main characters in the first book wanted us to view him, which means that Troy appeared to be nothing but a womanizing douchebag – a guy who only wanted one thing from girls and didn’t mind doing whatever needed to be done to achieve his goal.
It’s amazing what a change of perspective does for an outsider’s view of someone and now that readers are privy to Troy’s own thoughts and the reasons behind his actions, it’s clear that he was misjudged or perhaps simply shown as one-dimensional, but this time, we see him in all his glory, which is exactly how a hero like him deserves to be characterized because it’s clear there is way more to this complicated guy and while the young guy he was, was not completely honest or upfront, the way he transforms himself to be someone Clarissa and Dante deserve is what truly makes him an amazing book boyfriend.
In my opinion, there’s nothing like a father fighting for his son…to have a relationship with him…to show him just how much he’s wanted and needed. Troy missed out on the beginning years of Dante’s life due to a lie that categorically changed many people’s lives, which means he has a lot to make up for, and that’s exactly what he wants to do, so when he finally gets to be a constant presence in his son’s life, those scenes are incredibly rich with feelings of love and devotion.
There are times in the story where I truly didn’t understand why Clarissa continued to punish Troy for his past mistakes. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understood the hurt and anger she felt when she found out that he lied to her, but he proves himself time and time again when he comes back into her life, so I just couldn’t wrap my brain around the fact that she refused to see just how much Troy has grown up and that he deserves a chance, not just with his son but with her as well.
There’s something about second chance romances that stand out among the other romantic tropes, and I know I’ve said numerous times how a foundation between the hero and heroine is an aspect of these stories that I adore, but it truly solidifies the connection, and in the case of Troy and Clarissa, it allows for an understanding of the slow burn of their second chance, especially given the fact that their one-night stand all those years ago created Dante who both would do anything for.
The Guy on the Left is such a great story, and while I agree that it illustrates, in some ways, Troy’s redemption, what I think it does more so is demonstrate the man he is and has worked to be, not just to prove himself to Clarissa or even himself, but to be the man who Dante needs him to be.
4.5 Poison Apples
Troy is EVERYTHING!! I loved him from the very beginning. He’s not a perfect man but he comes pretty darn close.
I have a weakness for single daddies (or just daddy) ALL MY HEART EYES for Troy.
This story made me laugh, sigh, smile and my heart twitched and skipped throughout the story.
Dante was the best kid EVER!!! Love him.
Now, moving on to the heroine. My list of heroines that I don’t like or got on my every nerve is short. This one might be on that list (I’m still deciding) She was immature. Stubborn. And can hold s grudge. AND she wasn’t perfect but seemed to expect perfection from others. She came around and to a certain extent she had some rights to be mad… She wasn’t horrible and I think her character brought out some anger in me and that’s a good thing. That means I care about these characters.
I am not sure I can’t write a review that will do justice to this fantastic book that I just finished reading! Kate Stewart is a favorite author of mine and boy did she deliver on this one!
The Guy on the Left will take you on an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. I fell in love with both Troy and Clarissa for different reasons.
Troy May have made a huge mistake when he was a teenager but I love his strength and perseverance as he tried to prove that he could be a better person and take responsibility for his past mistakes. He has stayed in the background for years watching Clarissa and Dante from a distance until the time seemed right to step into their lives.
Clarissa has learned to make it as a single mom. It was something she never expected to have to do but she wouldn’t change a thing because a one night stand has given her a wonderful son. She has worked hard but has struggled to make ends meet at times. She has also been keeping her sons father a secret and she may pay a big price for keeping him away.
Now, Troy has a chance to be a male figure in Dante’s life and he is falling hard for him and for his mom. He and Clarissa had chemistry years ago and it seems they are building something meaningful now which means so much more than the one night of passion they had years earlier. They each have obstacles in their way and will each make their share of mistakes, but can they overcome it all and find their happily ever after as not only a couple but a family?
* A review copy was provided by the author *
The Guy on the Left was an enjoyable read but it didn’t WOW me like I was hoping.
This book was filled with all the feels and emotions we see in a Kate Stewart book but it was filled with a lot of laughter too…thanks to Dante (I loved that kid).
This is the second book in Kate’s Underdog series . It is a standalone novel and I don’t believe the first book needs to be read to enjoy this book. This book and the first book actually overlap with their storylines. This book is told in Dual POV. I thought the flow of the story worked well but it was a little on the slow side for me when it came to the pace. There were also somethings in the storyline that I don’t like reading about in my romance books.
I know I’m probably in the minority here and that this book will be loved by most readers. To me there was just something I couldn’t connect with.
In this book we follow Clarissa and Troy’s story. We met both of them in the first book and I was glad to see them get their own book. These two have some history, so I would consider this book an enemies to lovers second chance romance story. I don’t want to say much about the story…this is one you’ll want to read for yourself.
Even though this wasn’t a 5 star book for me, I would recommend this book to all romance readers and fans of Kate Stewart books. You will definitely laugh, cry, yell and swoon while reading this book!!
The Guy on The Left is an unusual fairytale full of angst and romance and passion and emotion. This book completely swept me off my feet, and the complexity if the story drew me in.
I adored Clarissa and Troy and their chemistry together. It wasn’t a simple or easy story between the two, but it was incredible!
And the kiddo… He’s good people, and so awesome!
A wonderful tale of love, complexity and second chances! And to this author for such an incredible read!
Our story is messy, unconventional, we can be messy together, that makes us perfect.
I LOVED everything about this story and can easily say that this is my new favorite from this series!
An unique and emotional slow burn/second chance romance that will have you rooting for a HEA from the beginning. This was a type of story that had a near permanent smile plastered on my face, along with heart-wrenching moments that had my heart racing, tears springing to my eyes and at the same time took my breath away because of how much I was FEELING while reading some encounters/scenes.
I am becoming a sucker for a good underdog story and Kate sure knows how to write them! Since meeting Troy in book 1, THE GUY ON THE RIGHT, I did NOT expect him to be an underdog, like at all. But Kate proved me (and everyone else) wrong! I misjudged Troy before I knew him, much like the other characters in the series did, but I was quickly shown that he is very much like anyone else, he has his own insecurities and flaws that he’s trying to overcome. He may have his appearance and football talent working in his favor, but that doesn’t make him immune to LIFE and the insecurities and fears that come along with it. I adored everything about his character and enjoyed reading about him stepping up to be a dad. #swoon And then there’s Clarissa…I tried to be upset with her for some of the decisions she made, but she ultimately made it impossible because she ALWAYS had one person in mind, her son, Dante (whom I LOVED!!!). I admired her protectiveness over their son and her resilience, her tenacity, and her strength to do ANYTHING for him and his happiness. She, too, had insecurities and fears that she had to overcome. The combination of their internal struggles and the fact that the foundation of their relationship was formed on a lie, lent to roadblocks in their relationship that they had to learn to navigate and overcome, together. They had to learn to trust each other above everything else and in order to do that, they had to let go of the past and allow each other forgiveness. Especially Clarissa, had to FORGIVE.
“F*cking worth it,”he murmurs. “Every fight, every struggle, the wait, the pain, the ache, loving you, needing you, wanting you, missing you –all of it– worth it to get us to this point, right here.”
This was a story about trust and respect. FORGIVENESS. Taking a risk because sometimes in the end, it is worth it, even if it is a painful and emotional journey to get there. Every trial is worth it! Relationships can be messy, but some times THAT mess is just how your story is meant to play out. “There’s no story if you give up.”
All I’m gonna say is, this series just keeps getting better and better and I can NOT wait for Lance and Harper’s story!
5 stars
A FANTASTIC story by Kate Stewart. TGOTL can be read as a standalone, but don’t. Make sure you read TGOTRight first.
It’s in TGOTR that we first met Troy. Troy the jock, the roommate that pays rent late, the womanizer, the player who hits on girls he shouldn’t.
But we never really know him. Not until we see his heart in TGOTL. I KNEW he had a big old bleeding heart buried in there! I spent a lot of time during this story bleeding for him. He is often judged and labeled, and he chooses to never correct others opinions. The problem with that then, is others opinions become expectation- even for himself.
Clarissa is an amazing single mom, that has worked to more than just survived. She and Dante have flourished. Dante is a kid that honestly nearly steals the show in the story. Clarissa’s big flaw though, is that she holds a grudge like none other. This is a rare story for me in that I’m cheering for the H waaay more than the h. It’s Clarissa that needs more work than Troy. I was frustrated with her for not acknowledging and building on what she saw in Troy.
But like all of Kate Stewart’s stories, this is realistic romance. Wouldn’t we all as moms be doubtful of someone that had lied? That we’ve seen act out his player ways? Wouldn’t it be difficult to trust someone that you felt was not trustworthy? So I get it. I get her doubt. Realistically, it would take time to get there.
And the beauty of the story is we get to witness both of them grow into the people they need to be.
Troy and Clarissa’s story started in a way that makes you feel like the story is heading towards one direction but as we get to dive deeper into the story and the characters you find that it is a story full of love, hope, and second chances.
If you are looking for a good second chances novel the guy on the left it’s a great book that will make you feel all the emotions and feelings. It is angst, funny and with the right amount of sexy moments that will definitely keep you hooked and eager to know what happened between these two..
Troy thought he was not worth it life, people and circumstances keep proving and showing he wasn’t ready for any responsibility they’ll think the worst of him but nobody took the time to see him clearly for whom hi was.. a kind man. Trying to find his way..
Clarissa has been working hard to survive and make her life a little more easy since she is a single mother. She only has time for her son and for work until things came crashing down and sooner or later she will have to face her past..
Great book, I didn’t expect this, and it was wonderful. Good story, great characters definitely will keep your emotions in check.
5 ‘I’ll give you everything’ Stars!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Troy Jenner. Troy, Troy, Troy. *sigh* He is more than enough reason to start reading this novel right this second because you’ll fall completely in love with this man and his story. This series is absolutely amazing and its heroes even more. Kate Stewart keeps making me fall in love with her amazing characters and you’ll understand why if you read any of her books. Troy is one of the best heroes Kate has ever written and that is saying a whole lot.
The Guy on the Left is the second standalone installment in Kate’s Underdogs series and we are finally getting the highly expected story of Theo’s “playboy” roommate, Troy Jenner. Troy had a one-night stand with Clarissa, and what he thought to be a little lie, changed his life forever. Clarissa gets pregnant and the adorable Dante becomes her (and Troy’s) life. But she is so hurt by the lie and now we are six years later. Troy wants to be in his son’s life (not on the sidelines), will Clarissa let him redeem himself and fight to become a real family?
Maybe I’m asking too much, but more than anything at this point, all I want is for Clarissa to look at me, just once, like I’m worthy.
Gah, this story! Angsty, funny, emotional, sexy, romantic. It has everything! But what I thought was the best is the relationship between Troy and his son Dante. He fights tooth and nail to be in Dante’s life, to provide for him, to protect him, to love him. It was beautiful to see them devolving a father-son relationship and such a strong connection. Dante is freaking adorable and so funny. My heart just melted for this little man and his father.
“Someday, maybe sooner, maybe later, someone is going to stop and take notice of how special he is and stake their claim in his life. Trust me. It’ll happen more than once.”
Of course, Troy also fights for Clarissa and what he always thought they would have as a couple. However, Clarissa does make it quite difficult for him. Sometimes I found myself not understanding her behavior because Troy was doing everything and so much more for them to become a real family. Still, I understood her reluctance for what happens after their one night together. Of course, when they do become an item, the tension is burning, the chemistry explosive and the angst! My god, the angst and the feelings are all over the place and I loved it. I loved how they finally accept their love for each other and for Dante and I loved the ending so much.
“Fucking worth it,” he murmurs. “Every fight, every struggle, the wait, the pain, the ache, loving you, needing you, wanting you, missing you— all of it— worth it to get us to this point, right here.”
Therefore, I am rating The Guy on the Left with 5 STARS because the Underdogs series, its heroes and their love stories just keep getting better (if that is even possible!). I adored Troy with all my heart, he is such a good man and his story just made me love him even more. I loved him with Dante and the romantic and protective side of him with Clarissa. I just loved everything! I literally cannot stop smiling after that ending and I now cannot wait to read the rest of Lance and Harper’s story because I am impatiently waiting for it!
“The hardest part of wanting what you can’t have is the realization it might not ever be yours.”
I never expected to fall for Theo this hard. I really didn’t. He’s the epitome of “don’t judge a book by its cover”. And he made this abundantly clear through the whole book. I would have loved to reach into the book, grab this guy and pull him into my real life setting him up as my new boyfriend 😀 But you can’t separate a loving father from his incredibly adorable son, can you? 😉
“Our story is messy, unconventional, we can be messy together, that makes us perfect.”
Everything about this book is fascinating. The characters, their growth, the story development.
Clarissa is a great and caring mother who was burnt deeply by Theo’s first lie. Yes, she was incredibly selfish by taking Theo and the fact that he wanted to make up for the time lost, for granted. But after all she went through, I cant fault her. She had to protect herself, her heart and Dante. And it shows how much she grew to the point where she realized this, were she could acknowledge her mistake and act on it.
And don’t get me to talk about Dante. This kid is adorable, incredible and has already so many facets about him. He’s definitely my little hero in this story.
“Grand girls stay Grand. Grand guys better damn well measure up.”
The Guy On The Left is a book that will touch your heart deeply. It will make you smile, swoon, cry, laugh, curse. So be prepared for an emotional ride that plays with every fibre of your heart, soul and mind.
“I love you. It’s that simple and that complicated.”
This book blew me away! The couple was perfection and the story was wow! I read it in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down!
What an amazing story of redemption and forgiveness. Kate nailed it with this one; she sure knows how to get me all wrapped up in my feels!
This is the perfect mix of romance, sizzling attraction, humor and yea…she had to break my heart in there as well. I’ve come to expect that from her but boy do I love every little minute of it. Kate Stewart is one of my 1-click authors and it’s a title she has earned with every new release she puts out!
This is not just a story of forgiving another but being able to forgive yourself as well. Forgiveness is such a difficult gift to give. Either some hold onto it for too long or some let it go too quick. To be honest there is no perfect time to forgive someone for something they’ve done wrong to you, rest assured this gift of forgiveness always comes long before you’re willing to forgive yourself. I absolutely LOVE that this is something that Kate knows and has included in her story. Real life lessons in books are a must for me, it can’t all be romanticized beyond belief. I need something REAL in my romance books, something that I can connect with. She does it for me every time!
I’ve been dying for Troy’s story since I read The Guy On The Right…I just knew there was something there and I not only needed it but I wanted it! Kate Stewart delivered too.
Troy made one mistake and has paid for it since! Every little thing revealed about him and his pursuance of the mother of his child and to be the father his son deserved made my heart beat faster and grow bigger. Every little kid deserves to have a parent like that. One that has put them first for years without gaining the awesomeness of being that kids parent.
I got so angry at Clarissa at times, you’ll see why when you read it. Then I’d remember that being a first time mom is a scary thing…taking into consideration how she came into that role I can’t help but want to protect both her and their son. Except these two already have the best kind of hero to protect them.
Want a sweet slow burn romance full of angst, humor, love and forgiveness Troy’s story is perfect for you.