Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a newly released M/M contemporary romance from new-to-me author Anyta Sunday. LEO LOVES ARIES is a New Adult romance between college students who might have a little help from their horoscopes. It’s a sweet slow burn, and I really enjoyed it.
About the book:
A new person will enter your life in the early year, Leo. Look past any moments of frustration they might bring and laugh—this could be the start of a thriving friendship.
Theo Wallace usually laughs at the horoscopes his mom sends. Still hung up on his ex-girlfriend and practically friendless, this one begs him to reconsider. Because a friendship that stuck, that thrived…
Well, that would be a reason to leave past pains behind and look to the Bright Future.
When his sister Leone challenges him to find her the perfect date for a spring wedding, Theo uses it as a chance to make new friends. Theo’s ex economics tutor and newest roommate Mr Jamie Cooper seems to be a possible and convenient match. Real convenient. Like written in the stars, convenient.
All he has to do is make sure this Jamie is good enough. Could really be the one for her, and the friend for him.
But watch out, Leo, the stars have a surprise in store…
My Review:
Theo and Leone are fraternal twins who are attending college in Pittsburgh, PA. They share their old family home now that their parents have relocated to Minnesota. This makes it easy for Leone to live virtually unassisted–she’s been legally blind since her late teens. They also share a mutual heartbreak. Leone had dated Derek and Theo had dated Sam(antha) for each about two years. But, a year ago, Sam and Derek broke up with each of them, and began dating each other. And, the wedding announcements are out.
Vowing to not be sad sacks, Leone and Theo decide to find each other a hot date with whom to attend the June nuptials. In the meantime, they need to find a new roomie, to offset their costs. And, Theo’s former econ tutor–Jamie–seems to be a perfect match. Jamie is a little older, a master’s student in economics, Theo’s chosen filed of study. Theo had been a bit of a jerk at the beginning of their mutual coursework, but they settled into a rapport before term’s end. Now, Theo’s jazzed that Jamie might help him ace his applied economics class. He’d actually sought out Jamie for tutoring, and the roommate thing just happened.
Jamie gets along so well with Leone–and their mother, a horoscope and divination fanatic, has advised her Leo children that their perfect love match would come with an Aries–which is Jamie’s sign. As they all build camaraderie, Theo’s sure that Jamie and Leone would have a great chance with each other. And, Theo–who’s felt isolated because he believes his mutual friends with Sam have deserted him–is grateful for the deep bond he and Jamie are building. They discuss economics, and Jamie insists on getting both Leone and Theo to eat healthy meals he cooks for them, and they just fit. Which is why it irks Theo that he’s a wee bit jealous of his sister getting the best of his best friend, ever. Not that any of that has been happening. Theo just imagines it’s a foregone conclusion.
Thing is, neither Leone nor Jamie got this memo. And Jamie goes a mite colder when Theo talks about going out on the blind date Leone has set up. It’s a sweet and slow burn with just enough bread crumbs for readers to recognize that Jamie and Theo aren’t on different pages–their reading different books. Jamie makes it clear that not only is he gay, but that he quite fancies Theo. And Theo’s…not averse. Well, Jamie is an attractive, fit, well-put-together man. And, he cares quite a lot for Theo. As a friend. Maybe experimenting wouldn’t be a bad idea? Oh, Theo! I wanted to shake him half a dozen times. He’s really a great, clueless guy, but their developing relationship is really tender and sweet, and he makes it all great with some gestures that aren’t exactly grand, but do mean an awful lot to smitten Jamie.
The book reads very cleanly, but I certainly heard the undertones of British-English author. It caught me off guard more than three times. That said, I really liked the story. Expect a horny adventurer, a sparkling HEA and two guys to find their soulmates were written in the stars.
Interested? You can find LEO LOVES ARIES on Goodreads and Amazon. You can also find a freebie short story LEO TOPS ARIES on Amazon. I received a review copy via NetGalley.
About Anyta Sunday: (in her own words…)
A bit about me: I’m a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.
Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, GFY/OFY, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries.
I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.
If you’d like to check out more of my stories, check out my website, Facebook and twitter.
Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!