After the untimely death of his single mother, Greyson found himself orphaned at fifteen. That is, until the discovery of his father, Sebastian – a world renown drummer in a famous rock band. Overnight, Greyson’s world had been turned upside down, taking him from rags to riches. And now, six years later, Greyson’s only goal is to follow in his dad’s footsteps. Except, while his father is a … father is a reformed ladies’ man, Greyson is gay. And that’s a secret he’s not ready to let go of.
But he never planned on meeting Zach.
How can he keep the man he loves without disappointing the man he admires?
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4.25 Stars
We all remember Greyson. In The Life We Wanted he found out that famous drummer Sebastian Moore is his dad. And then the aunt who was raising Greyson after his mom died went and fell in love with his dad and now they’re a happy family. That was six years ago. But Greyson is not really happy. He still hasn’t gotten a job as a drummer and he still hasn’t told anyone that he’s gay. He doesn’t want to disappoint his family.
But now he finally got a job to go on tour with this metal band. And that’s where he meets him….
Zach. He’s 30. His dad runs a pizza place in Manhattan – where Zach works between jobs as a drum tech.
But now he’ll be on tour for six weeks. With this hot new guy.
Let the fun and not so fun times begin …
I just love #RockstarRomances!
And we’re on tour a lot, so it’s really rockstary … but we don’t like the band at all. They’re so mean to our sweet Greyson!
And poor Greyson already has problems with being who he is and how to tell his dad and how to not screw up this new thing with Zach.
And Zach. He’s not really sure that he can go through another bad heartbreak again. Plus Greyson is nine years younger than him. Zach doesn’t want to be a secret.
Ugh those two. So many problems between them. So much depression and fear. I just hated that for them. People shouldn’t be afraid to tell their dad about their boyfriend!
This was a great love story. But it was so much more than just two guys falling for each other. There’s so much to overcome for both of them. All very heartbreaking and sad and frustrating.
But this is the life they have – so they have to make the best of it – for themselves and for the reader!
I really loved reading it. It was very sweet and sad and romantic and rockstary and full of music and good food and family!
It was a bit too melancholy and frustrating for my tastes – especially the first half, but I really loved Greyson and Zach and of course Seb and Tabs and Zach’s family!
THE LIFE WE HAVE was an adorable, frustrating & rock-stary coming-of-agey love story.
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Greyson & Zach – they’ll be sold out in no time!
The Life We Have is Greyson’s story of self-discovery, family, finding his way after his mom died, and fitting in with his new family, biological father Sebastian Moore, and Aunt Tabatha (his mother’s sister). Finding love and playing in a band.
While parents have an idea about what they want for their kids, it doesn’t always work out the way they planned. However, allowing a child to become what they are meant to be in life is precious even if it doesn’t agree with other’s views and opinions.
When we’re young, we don’t consider all the stupid stuff that we do that have consequences when we get older and follow us for the rest of our lives.
This story is so full of heart and soul; it brought me to tears several times but gave me so much hope. I truly loved reading Greyson and Zack’s story.
5* True Love Stars
Greyson who is the son of a famous drummer meets Zach, when he joins a band as their new drummer, and they go on tour. Zach is his drum tech and they become fast friends having more in common than they both know, despite Zach being 10 years older than Greyson. I loved how caring Zach was in protecting and looking after Greyson whilst on tour while they were surrounded by all the drinking, drugs and partying. It felt so real reading about what the rest of the band members got up to.
It was beautiful to read the journey of love between Greyson and Zach and the obstacles both of them had to overcome to enable them to move forward and be together.
This was a heartfelt and emotional story which will stay with you for a long time. I absolutely loved their story.
Omg!! I don’t know why I always end up surprise from this author. Since I have read already a few of her books and they are always perfect and beautiful to read. But Greyson and Zach story oh my goodness and was so perfect so beautiful and so inspiring that I just didn’t want it to end. But like always all great story have their great ending.
The Life We Have is a beautifully told and heartfelt M/M romance featuring a young up and coming drummer (who is the son of a world famous drummer) and an older man whom he meets when he heads out on his first tour. This story touches on first love, self discovery and acceptance, addiction and recovery, and more. Although this is a stand-alone novel, it features a backstory and characters from other Kelsey Kingsley books, particularly The Life We Wanted, so I suggest that you read that book first to see how Greyson’s story began. Honestly though, you won’t be disappointed in any Kelsey Kinglsey book ever, so I suggest that you just start at the beginning and read them all!
I love this author. In the time of trying to get this story we all wanted, she has been spending as much time with her new baby. This book didn’t disappoint!!! She is a superhero!
I loved the Prologue! We get a better look at Sam and Tabs. While the main story is Greyson and Zach, I loved that look back. We see more of the headspace was for Sam.
This was a coming of age story. It followed Greyson finding himself, and being the person he was always supposed to be. I appreciated that Greyson wanted to be on his own, and find it in him to be a part of a band. I loved that Natalynn befriended him, and supported him while on the road. We saw a very dark world view of entertainment.
This book was so well written, and you could feel the angst of their story radiate off of the pages. He had a lot thrown at him during his life, and Zach had his own issues. But, we see a very strong man stand up for himself, and Zach was right behind him supporting him any way he could.
I loved this book. I, of course, cried, but leave it to someone to say “beautiful, passionate, gay love” and have me cracking up with tears rolling down my face
This book was amazing! This was my first MM book and I really loved it! Kelsey Kingsley has an amazing way of making all of her characters relatable in a way that I don’t see from other authors. I loved Zach’s background and the growth he showed from his past and how willing he was to work with Greyson as Greyson figured out what he wants. I absolutely loved Sebastian’s story and I was so glad to see it as a focal point of this books and the feelings that come with changes in families. Zach and Greyson were adorable and I loved how well they complemented each other and helped each other through the harder times. I highly recommend this book!
YOU GUYS! I am so absolutely in love with these characters! Greyson & Zach stole my heart and I just loved being part of their journey. Watching Greyson open up to Zach and learn to be ok with who he is gave me all the feels. Zach showed up when he needed him most and I loved watching these two find their happiness together.
Kelsey has cemented herself as a must buy author for me! I loved how she was able to bring me so fully into the story and make me feel a part of it. 5 AMAZING STARS!
New to me author. This is a mm contemporary romance book with main characters Greyson and Zach. Grayson is the son of a famous drummer he met after his single mother passed away at aged 15. Zach is a reformed drug and alcohol addict. This book is told from duel POV. There is 10 years difference between 21 year old Grey and 30 yo Zach. Both have been through tough times and find happiness with each other. Great story that I enjoy reading.
THE LIFE WE HAVE by Kelsey Kingsley
I’m always upfront about my love affair with BookBub, though at times it becomes the ultimate rabbit hole. On September 16, Kelsey Kingsley offered a free book titled THE LIFE WE HAVE. It sounded interesting so I ordered it, and I loved it—Greyson’s story was so heartfelt and real that I actually read it twice (along with the bonus epilogue) and when I’d finished it, I immediately wanted to know more about the other characters in the story. Hence the “rabbit hole” analogy… because that’s when I bought THE LIFE WE WANTED. Could not put that one down, either. Grey’s father, Sebastian is a wonderful character, the drummer in a successful rock band, a good hearted guy with absolutely no filters between his brain and his mouth; he’s an absolute original and I had more than one good laugh out loud moment with this story, but there were some truly tender and touching scenes between Grey and Sebastian that had me going back and rereading whole sections all over again just to wallow in Kingsley’s beautiful writing. The relationship that builds between the newly orphaned fifteen year old Greyson and the father he didn’t know he had was tender and sweet and raucous, but the romance between his aunt Tabitha and Sebastian tugs at the heart every bit as much as the love between Grey and his father, and with Zach, a man who gives Grey the love and purpose he was searching for.
That book led to DAISIES AND DEVIN, where I got to meet Devin O’Leary, the leader of this brand new yet very successful rock band, and by then I was so totally wrapped up in this series I couldn’t event think of reading anything else, about anyone else if they weren’t part of the band, which led me to FORGET THE STARS. This one was special. Chad, another band member with a serious and not necessarily socially acceptable illness has spent years with a “girlfriend” who gives girlfriends a bad name. Why he stays with her seems more out of habit than love, as if he’s invested so much time in a bad relationship that he doesn’t seem to think he deserves anything better.
Until he runs across Molly. Once his best friend, he blew it in high school when she was being bullied and Chad thought popularity outweighed his longtime friendship. Now though, he realizes he still loves Molly as a friend, and possibly a whole lot more. I absolutely loved this book, so by the time I got to TELL ME GOODNIGHT, I was more than all in. But, the bar was high—every book I’d read in the series to this point had been absolutely wonderful, and in fact I’m still going back and rereading them—but there was no reason to doubt. Once again, Kelsey Kingsley nails it, another unique story with wonderful characters and a truly tender and memorable love story. This last one I’ve read of hers is the story of a young widower, a talented pianist and songwriter with three young daughters. He’s stuck in his grief and guilt over the death of his wife. He wasn’t there when she passed, and he’s been unable to move past her death and the love he still feels for her. Then Tess arrives—his brother convinces him to hire Tess as his babysitter while he plays piano in his brother’s bar and dreams of one day selling his songs and performing before crowds bigger than the ones in this small town.
This book absolutely tugs at the heart, and believe me when I say that reading all of these, along with their free, “bonus” epilogues took me far and away from the pandemic, the election, and everything in between. I may go back and read them all again, just to get lost in this author’s lyrical writing and beautiful stories. Five stars for all five books, though I’m only writing this one review. I’m sorry, Kelsey, but I’ve got my own book to finish. Thank you, because your writing has definitely inspired me.
Touched my heart- I went into this read blind…and I did not expect it to be such an emotional ride! The cover drew me in and the story kept me glued to the pages. Reading about some everyday struggles people face….drug abuse, trying to fit in, family, love, discovering your sexuality, losing loved ones, forming new bonds and friendships, finding peace and acceptance and finding your happy place. I loved this read!
It’s hard to find the words to do this book the justice it deserves. I got this book free on Amazon and I started once it downloaded. And after that I couldn’t put it down. These characters are flawed and deep and have past that no one should go through. But once these two meet we watch as a friendship is formed and then a love for one another happens and it will make you swoon. A story of self-discovery, a story of finding what you want and going for it.
One of my new favorites….I love all of Kelseys books but I do believe that this is my favorite!
The Life We Have is a can’t put down read! I absolutely adored Greyson and Zach together. They’re personalities were perfectly matched. I loved the beginning, middle and ending, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
All I have to say about this story is…wow. What an amazing story of self identity, true love, learning from past mistakes, and staying true to who you are. Greyson and Zach were freaking epic. They met while Greyson is on tour with a new band. Greyson is the drummer. Zach is the drum tech. A friendship immediately happens but that friendship holds so much more. Greyson has never felt like he was himself. He was always putting on a front. His anger usually got the best of him. But Zach is who Greyson needs. He affects him in a way that Greyson isn’t sure if he is ready to accept. This friendship turns to romance but Greyson isn’t sure if he’s ready to admit his truth. Mix in family drama and drama with the band. This story had me captivated. It was a truly beautiful coming of age story. Also accepting who you are and what makes you most happy. I just loved Greyson and Zach! They were a couple that is totally swoon worthy. There were a few nights reading that I read well beyond my bed time. I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read more from the other characters in this story. I can’t say enough how much I loved this story and recommend it. Beware, you will be hooked.
I FLOVED the idea of this much anticipated story since I first became aware of its exsistance months ago! If you adored one of my special, gorgeous, laugh out loud funny, wildman drummer crushes from The Life We Wanted (a book I could read again and again), Sebastian Moore, the way I did, then you have to be dying to read all about the son he never knew he had, through a crazy twist of fate, until Greyson was 16 years old. This is Grey’s angsty, angry trip from mid-teen to early 20’s, a coming of age story and it’s one that’s NOT to be missed.
Grey is afraid to reach for what he really wants but after enjoying a special friendship and much needed commardarie while touring as a drummer (what else!) with his first band, the man of his dreams is right there in front of him, working beside him every day. Zach is a bit older, maybe wiser, knows he needs to wait for Grey to hopefully feel the same way he does. He needs to be comfortable enough to embrace his decision, either way, being the person he wants to be and reaching for his own happiness. Wow, this book touched my heart for so many reasons.
The cameos of people who loved Greyson all along and pulled for him was a moment for a few tears. So good to see these characters in another book again. Sebastian being himself is always a wild card, but who could resist him!
This book can stand alone but can also be part of a larger world. Whether or not you’ve read and loved this whole, beautiful rockstar series Kelsey Kingsley has created for our immense enjoyment or, if you haven’t had the pleasure yet, what better time than now, when the world is so crazy, to dig right in and get lost for a while, binging the hell out of her amazing and unforgettable stories. Start with Daisies and Devin and keep on going!
Kelsey Kingley is just so darn talented, I can never get enough of her! Maybe you’ll see what I mean!
I am a happy recipient of an early version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow!! An emotional roller coaster ride for Greyson. His inner battle and his relationship with his dad and Aunt are beautifully written. When Zach comes into the picture this story lights up. Their relationship is a slow burn that leads to much more. Words can not describe how well I thought that the author captured special moments between Zach and Greyson. A beautiful, angsty story that stays with you long after you have finished reading!!!
A wonderfully written MM book.
Greysons life is turned upside down when his mother dies and found himself orphaned.
At 21 he takes a job as a drummer in a band for their next tour.
He has no connection with the other members but finds a connection and friendship with Zach.
Emotions run deep in this book.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
K Kingsley not only knows how to write a fantastic rockstar romance, but she will also blow you away with her swoony MM romance writing skills! I absolutely loved this book about Greyson, a struggling drummer living in the shadows of his famous rockstar dad, Sebastian (SWOOOON!); and his love interest, Zach, an older recovering-addict, who is fiercely loyal to his family.
This book will hit you in all the feels…you will feel like you are living on a rock band tour bus, experiencing all of the highs and lows of a struggling musician, as well as facing the uncertainty of acceptance and love from those around you. The author broached the subject of “coming out” so perfectly. Greyson was scared, yet confident in who he was. His dad and aunt were loving and accepting parents, yet we still didn’t know what their reaction to Greyson’s news would be. Zach was the perfect buffer – he was older, experienced, compassionate and loyal. Both of their sensitive sides made me swoon; and at the same time, their banter and gruff male sides set off butterflies in my stomach.
Their story focuses on family and the importance of their roles in one’s life, whether it is small or large, the bonds are always there. And the cameos of side characters who we have come to love from this author made me stand up and scream! These characters are all like family, and the connections and loyalty that they have to each other was a standout in this book!
If you love a good swoony rockstar MM romance, then this book is a MUST READ!!! Well done once again K Kingsley!!
If you read The Life We Wanted you know Greyson our main character is the son of Sebastian Moore. The Life We Have is set 6 years later and Greyson is now an aspiring drummer that has dropped out of college at 20 to pursue his dream. Greyson is a typical 20 year old. Private about his personal life and dreams for the future. He doesn’t want to disappoint anyone but in doing that he is keeping a lot inside and it’s eating at him. When he achieves his first professional gig he’s equally excited and terrified. He meets Zach. Zach is over 10 years older and wiser due to life lessons learned. It has taken Zach a long time to get on the right path for his life but he knows who he is and what he hopes for out of his life. These two guys have a lot of common interests and isn’t that how any relationship begins? The mother in me loves both of these characters. From the young man just entering adulthood to the man who made a lot of mistakes but is doing his best to live his best life. This is so much more than a story about drummers who like video gaming. It’s about finding who you are, accepting nothing less than what you deserve and mostly giving love to those around you. Love is free and we all have an endless supply to give.