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Lost Boys #2
If There's a Way
He was all I ever needed.
Desperate. Shattered. Lost.
I was a shell of who I once was.
Until him...
I was a fool to come back to Shiloh.
An even bigger fool to stay.
But when it comes to Waylon McAllister, I never stood a chance.
He's damaged. Reckless. Toxic.
A walking, talking grenade to my heart.
But no matter how hard I try, I can't shake him.
Especially not now, when I've finally had a taste of what could be.
I want to love him. Protect him. Make him mine...
If only he'd let me.
Where there's a will, there's a way, right?
He called us doomed.
I'm beginning to think he's right.
Because monsters only lie in wait for so long.
And when out time finally runs out...
It might not just be my heart on the line this time.
*If There's A Way is Book 2 of 2 in the Lost Boys Duet. In order to understand the contents of this book, you must read Where There's A Will first. This is the conclusion of Will & Waylon's story. This duet deals with heavy topics that may be triggering for some readers.
Desperate. Shattered. Lost.
I was a shell of who I once was.
Until him...
I was a fool to come back to Shiloh.
An even bigger fool to stay.
But when it comes to Waylon McAllister, I never stood a chance.
He's damaged. Reckless. Toxic.
A walking, talking grenade to my heart.
But no matter how hard I try, I can't shake him.
Especially not now, when I've finally had a taste of what could be.
I want to love him. Protect him. Make him mine...
If only he'd let me.
Where there's a will, there's a way, right?
He called us doomed.
I'm beginning to think he's right.
Because monsters only lie in wait for so long.
And when out time finally runs out...
It might not just be my heart on the line this time.
*If There's A Way is Book 2 of 2 in the Lost Boys Duet. In order to understand the contents of this book, you must read Where There's A Will first. This is the conclusion of Will & Waylon's story. This duet deals with heavy topics that may be triggering for some readers.
601 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2022
358 people are currently reading
3,061 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Walker
14books1,250followersJessie Walker is an indie author of queer love stories based out of Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she lives with her long-time partner and fur-spawn. Drawn to all things dark and twisted, she likes to pretend she's not the hopeless romantic at heart that she is. She has ADHD and a background in psychology/mental health services, both of which contribute greatly to her storytelling and the themes of her long-winded, character-driven works. When she's not drudging away at a keyboard, there's a very good chance you'll find her vegged out on her couch, listening to sad '90s grunge, and day dreamin� about the all the stories crowding her brain.
Random Facts About Me
Scorpio Sun | Aries Moon | Scorpio Rising
The most socially anxious ENFP you'll ever meet.
Chaotic AF because decisioning and planning is hard.
Random Facts About Me
Scorpio Sun | Aries Moon | Scorpio Rising
The most socially anxious ENFP you'll ever meet.
Chaotic AF because decisioning and planning is hard.
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September 10, 2023
🥀 reread (2): september 2023
How do I tell him that now that I know what it’s like to wake up in his arms, I don’t know how I’ll ever sleep without him again?
How do I tell him I haven’t not beat the sun at welcoming the new day without some kind of substance in years?
How do I tell him that his throat is just sitting there, begging for my lips? Like I might die just looking at him right now, because I’m too far away?
My hand’s pressed over his heart and I am.
Still.
Too.
Far.
Away.
if book one is all trauma, this is all healing. and if i loved book one, i adored. cherished. worshipped. this book. it’s truly so close to me. way’s my precious boy and him finally standing up for himself and will made my heart break and ache and shatter and then mend itself. what i love about second chance romances (that’s very little cause i generally don’t prefer them lol) is that they have this feeling of “we’d have always found each other. even in another life, always.� and that never fails to make me emotional, because even with all of the what-ifs, they’d always end up in each other’s arms. 🥺 and i truly believe will and way are the epitome of that couple.
THE FUCKING TATTOOS. to signify the sun will always rise, no matter what. it’s so them to do something like that even with will’s... aversion to syringes and needles and whatnot 😂 i love how, with every time i reread this, i find a new meaning to the words written. both for me and for the characters. this duet is simply so dear to my heart and i love all the characters so much - reggie, shawn, mason, ivy, izzy, jeremy, and obviously will and way. i just want all of them to be happy, in the end. and i love the way this duet depicts the entire process of healing to be non-linear: it’s not that love heals everything for them. it’s so realistic and touching, and that’s why even though reading this duet brings me pain, it also makes me giggle. sigh. laugh. cry. fume in rage. because that’s how much i feel for all the characters.
in the end, will & way have such a hard-earned hea, but it was worth every step needed to get there. and i’d definitely highly recommend this duet to angst-lovers who love found family and some hurt/comfort along with it. <3
🥀 reread (1): march 2023
See, Will, see. See this heart in my chest. See how it flies for you.
I watch his mouth move silently with a single word. Puckered and released like a kiss.
“W.�
This time, when the lights cut out, plunging us into black, I don’t waste a fucking second.
With my heart in my throat, I surge forward, crushing my lips to his.
See, Will, see how I fly for you.
my heart is still beating for will & way 🥹🫶
🥀 original read: november 2022
“Every time I look at you, I’m ruined.�
my heart hurts. in the best way.
not only for will and way, but all of them. the family they created together. the love they all shared. it was so beautiful to see, the way they sank to the depths of despair but also chased the highest dreams together and always came out on top.
the part with will and his grams. how way flew for will. how he had this adorable need to be praised. how way kept those lil notes, the messages, saying one thing - still beating. 😭 i loved how this time, it was way who was fighting for them, and will the one pulling back. i was worried there’d be no pushback from will and he’d just sit and take all the hurt way had to throw at him, but no - he truly was done here. except way just couldn’t stop, couldn’t let him go, cause he knew they were something explosive and beautiful and bright and something that shone as bright as the sun.
how way is always blinded by will’s light was so adorable?? will was just his sunshine and that was too cute omg and they deserved all the love they could get after everything they went through. they own me. all the lost boys own me fr, they’re just so precious i just wanna hold them and never let them go. they’re everything. 😭
How do I tell him that now that I know what it’s like to wake up in his arms, I don’t know how I’ll ever sleep without him again?
How do I tell him I haven’t not beat the sun at welcoming the new day without some kind of substance in years?
How do I tell him that his throat is just sitting there, begging for my lips? Like I might die just looking at him right now, because I’m too far away?
My hand’s pressed over his heart and I am.
Still.
Too.
Far.
Away.
if book one is all trauma, this is all healing. and if i loved book one, i adored. cherished. worshipped. this book. it’s truly so close to me. way’s my precious boy and him finally standing up for himself and will made my heart break and ache and shatter and then mend itself. what i love about second chance romances (that’s very little cause i generally don’t prefer them lol) is that they have this feeling of “we’d have always found each other. even in another life, always.� and that never fails to make me emotional, because even with all of the what-ifs, they’d always end up in each other’s arms. 🥺 and i truly believe will and way are the epitome of that couple.
THE FUCKING TATTOOS. to signify the sun will always rise, no matter what. it’s so them to do something like that even with will’s... aversion to syringes and needles and whatnot 😂 i love how, with every time i reread this, i find a new meaning to the words written. both for me and for the characters. this duet is simply so dear to my heart and i love all the characters so much - reggie, shawn, mason, ivy, izzy, jeremy, and obviously will and way. i just want all of them to be happy, in the end. and i love the way this duet depicts the entire process of healing to be non-linear: it’s not that love heals everything for them. it’s so realistic and touching, and that’s why even though reading this duet brings me pain, it also makes me giggle. sigh. laugh. cry. fume in rage. because that’s how much i feel for all the characters.
in the end, will & way have such a hard-earned hea, but it was worth every step needed to get there. and i’d definitely highly recommend this duet to angst-lovers who love found family and some hurt/comfort along with it. <3
🥀 reread (1): march 2023
See, Will, see. See this heart in my chest. See how it flies for you.
I watch his mouth move silently with a single word. Puckered and released like a kiss.
“W.�
This time, when the lights cut out, plunging us into black, I don’t waste a fucking second.
With my heart in my throat, I surge forward, crushing my lips to his.
See, Will, see how I fly for you.
my heart is still beating for will & way 🥹🫶
🥀 original read: november 2022
“Every time I look at you, I’m ruined.�
my heart hurts. in the best way.
not only for will and way, but all of them. the family they created together. the love they all shared. it was so beautiful to see, the way they sank to the depths of despair but also chased the highest dreams together and always came out on top.
the part with will and his grams. how way flew for will. how he had this adorable need to be praised. how way kept those lil notes, the messages, saying one thing - still beating. 😭 i loved how this time, it was way who was fighting for them, and will the one pulling back. i was worried there’d be no pushback from will and he’d just sit and take all the hurt way had to throw at him, but no - he truly was done here. except way just couldn’t stop, couldn’t let him go, cause he knew they were something explosive and beautiful and bright and something that shone as bright as the sun.
how way is always blinded by will’s light was so adorable?? will was just his sunshine and that was too cute omg and they deserved all the love they could get after everything they went through. they own me. all the lost boys own me fr, they’re just so precious i just wanna hold them and never let them go. they’re everything. 😭
January 27, 2025
Even� even if it gets to be too much sometimes, I’ll always, always find my way back to you.�
you know what fuck it, 5 stars🤧
This book took me forever to finish mainly because I just couldn't let them go, I knew I would miss them too much and guess what? I was right😭
Guys, these two ruined me. They have now have taken up a permanent residence in my heart and they are never ever leaving😭I am a shell of who I used to be before I read about Will and Way.
“God, you’ve ruined everything, City Boy. You’ve ruined me.� I rock my head against his, not once taking my tear-filled gaze off his. “Every time I look at you, I’m ruined.� BESTIE YOU GUYS RUINED ME TOO OKAY 😭
This emotional and raw journey that these two went on to get to each other was SO PAINFUL but oh so beautiful and worth it🤧
“I like myself a whole lot better when I’m with you.�
Waylon
Our tortured soul. Our grumpy bear. I legit tear up whenever I think of all the trauma this beautiful man went through over the course of two books. I loved his journey to accepting himself in this book. It was so real and just RAW; every time he would feel overwhelmed or on the verge of a panic attack, I would feel like I'm right there with him. (Kudos to Jessie for the stellar writing there)
I just love him to bits and want to protect him and shelter him from everyone and everything 😭
“One day, I’m gonna hold your hand in public, and not feel like I’m dying when I do it.� AND YOU DID AND I'M SO PROUD 😭
“You didn’t make anything worse, Will,� I tell him after a long, quiet moment. “You woke me up, that’s all. You brought me back to life.�
Who decided it was a crime for boys to fucking feel? Who decided we can’t be soft too? BB YOU CAN BE AS SOFT AS YOU WANT I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER😭
How do I tell him that now that I know what it’s like to wake up in his arms, I don’t know how I’ll ever sleep without him again? pls I'm crying again
He’s the beat of my fucking heart. PLEASE GIVE ME BACK MINE 💔
Will
Our sunshine boy. This man is THE BLUEPRINT. His selflessness and patience melted my goddamn hearttttttttttttt 💔💔 He was the perfect counterpart to Way and I loved how they helped each other through their trauma and issues. The way this man loved Way😭 gosh it was beautiful 😭😭
Fuck, he’s beautiful. All dark hair, dimpled cheeks, and full lips. That nose piercing I love so much, maybe even more than the others, though I don’t know why. He’s perfect. Absolutely fucking perfect.
“And I’d rather feel this burden of knowing and loving you than go even a second without you existing somewhere on this planet.� 😭😭😭😭
You can’t fall forever and expect to never land. Eventually you’ll have to learn how to make peace with the ground. Find your legs and keep on keepin� on.
Now was this book too long? yes. Was there too much internal monologue and repetition? yes. Did I care? No. However, if you plan to read this, you should know there's an abundance of internal monologuing that can get quite tedious at times, but my love for these two OVERSHADOWED EVERYTHING OKAY😭
Also, Shawn??? no I need his book yesterday. He's so quiet and tortured I need to know his story plssss😭 “Dude,� I say into a wide grin. “There’s a penis on your face.� Shawn rolls his dark eyes, looking away. “It’s a rocket ship.� AHHHHHH I LOVE HIS STOICNESS ALREADYYYYY
_______________________________________________________
pre-read:
you know what fuck it, 5 stars🤧
This book took me forever to finish mainly because I just couldn't let them go, I knew I would miss them too much and guess what? I was right😭
Guys, these two ruined me. They have now have taken up a permanent residence in my heart and they are never ever leaving😭I am a shell of who I used to be before I read about Will and Way.
“God, you’ve ruined everything, City Boy. You’ve ruined me.� I rock my head against his, not once taking my tear-filled gaze off his. “Every time I look at you, I’m ruined.� BESTIE YOU GUYS RUINED ME TOO OKAY 😭
This emotional and raw journey that these two went on to get to each other was SO PAINFUL but oh so beautiful and worth it🤧
“I like myself a whole lot better when I’m with you.�
Waylon
Our tortured soul. Our grumpy bear. I legit tear up whenever I think of all the trauma this beautiful man went through over the course of two books. I loved his journey to accepting himself in this book. It was so real and just RAW; every time he would feel overwhelmed or on the verge of a panic attack, I would feel like I'm right there with him. (Kudos to Jessie for the stellar writing there)
I just love him to bits and want to protect him and shelter him from everyone and everything 😭
“One day, I’m gonna hold your hand in public, and not feel like I’m dying when I do it.� AND YOU DID AND I'M SO PROUD 😭
“You didn’t make anything worse, Will,� I tell him after a long, quiet moment. “You woke me up, that’s all. You brought me back to life.�
Who decided it was a crime for boys to fucking feel? Who decided we can’t be soft too? BB YOU CAN BE AS SOFT AS YOU WANT I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER😭
How do I tell him that now that I know what it’s like to wake up in his arms, I don’t know how I’ll ever sleep without him again? pls I'm crying again
He’s the beat of my fucking heart. PLEASE GIVE ME BACK MINE 💔
Will
Our sunshine boy. This man is THE BLUEPRINT. His selflessness and patience melted my goddamn hearttttttttttttt 💔💔 He was the perfect counterpart to Way and I loved how they helped each other through their trauma and issues. The way this man loved Way😭 gosh it was beautiful 😭😭
Fuck, he’s beautiful. All dark hair, dimpled cheeks, and full lips. That nose piercing I love so much, maybe even more than the others, though I don’t know why. He’s perfect. Absolutely fucking perfect.
“And I’d rather feel this burden of knowing and loving you than go even a second without you existing somewhere on this planet.� 😭😭😭😭
You can’t fall forever and expect to never land. Eventually you’ll have to learn how to make peace with the ground. Find your legs and keep on keepin� on.
Now was this book too long? yes. Was there too much internal monologue and repetition? yes. Did I care? No. However, if you plan to read this, you should know there's an abundance of internal monologuing that can get quite tedious at times, but my love for these two OVERSHADOWED EVERYTHING OKAY😭
Also, Shawn??? no I need his book yesterday. He's so quiet and tortured I need to know his story plssss😭 “Dude,� I say into a wide grin. “There’s a penis on your face.� Shawn rolls his dark eyes, looking away. “It’s a rocket ship.� AHHHHHH I LOVE HIS STOICNESS ALREADYYYYY
_______________________________________________________
pre-read:
![Profile Image for moonlight☾ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645500038i%2F37448930._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 14, 2022
5 this broke me, but also healed me stars �
"This feeling... like I'm being ripped apart from the inside out. Like I'm dying. Like I... like I literally can't breathe from it. All there's left in me is... is you, and I don't even know if that makes sense. But it's you. It's always been you."
i was excited for this ever since i finished the first book a few months ago and i'm so happy it lived up to my expectations and more (especially bc i've been struggling with finding a good read the past month and a half and i desperately needed something to get me out of this slump 😩).
Will. Waylon. Mason. Shawn. Jeremy. Ivy. Reggie. i've grown so fond of these characters over the course of the two books bc of how realistic and flawed they were. the more flawed a character is, the easier it is to understand and sympathize with them, imo. you may or may not agree with their actions/decisions, but you can at least understand why they act a certain way or the motives of their decisions. this book was filled with pain, hurt and angst (i was sobbing through majority of the book ngl), but it also had its happy and hopeful moments that show there's a light at the end of the tunnel, if you're willing to try and pick yourself back up, despite what life throws your way.
the found family aspect was chefs kiss. the way the Lost Boys—Waylon, Mason and Shawn—have a type of bond where, although they each have had different experiences of pain in their lives, as long as they have each other, they're gonna be okay. 🥺 but i loved how realistic their friendship felt bc there were moments in the past when they were too busy focusing on their own pain that they couldn't see the other's pain and the way they're trying to become better and put in the effort to do more is what makes me love this trio so much. 😭
i'm SO excited for . i loved how we got a bit more of Shawn's backstory in this, and simply him in general, bc it makes me hope for his own happy ending and he deserves to be loved just as much. <3
overall, i would highly recommend this if you love angsty yet hopeful stories, but it's also not an easy read so just be warned.
"This feeling... like I'm being ripped apart from the inside out. Like I'm dying. Like I... like I literally can't breathe from it. All there's left in me is... is you, and I don't even know if that makes sense. But it's you. It's always been you."
i was excited for this ever since i finished the first book a few months ago and i'm so happy it lived up to my expectations and more (especially bc i've been struggling with finding a good read the past month and a half and i desperately needed something to get me out of this slump 😩).
Will. Waylon. Mason. Shawn. Jeremy. Ivy. Reggie. i've grown so fond of these characters over the course of the two books bc of how realistic and flawed they were. the more flawed a character is, the easier it is to understand and sympathize with them, imo. you may or may not agree with their actions/decisions, but you can at least understand why they act a certain way or the motives of their decisions. this book was filled with pain, hurt and angst (i was sobbing through majority of the book ngl), but it also had its happy and hopeful moments that show there's a light at the end of the tunnel, if you're willing to try and pick yourself back up, despite what life throws your way.
the found family aspect was chefs kiss. the way the Lost Boys—Waylon, Mason and Shawn—have a type of bond where, although they each have had different experiences of pain in their lives, as long as they have each other, they're gonna be okay. 🥺 but i loved how realistic their friendship felt bc there were moments in the past when they were too busy focusing on their own pain that they couldn't see the other's pain and the way they're trying to become better and put in the effort to do more is what makes me love this trio so much. 😭
i'm SO excited for . i loved how we got a bit more of Shawn's backstory in this, and simply him in general, bc it makes me hope for his own happy ending and he deserves to be loved just as much. <3
overall, i would highly recommend this if you love angsty yet hopeful stories, but it's also not an easy read so just be warned.
July 3, 2024
� � � �
If There’s A Way
�
5 stars
� � � �
☆₊� � thoughts┊To be completely honest, I think I’d read about a million more books about these two if was willing to write them😭I’m literally starving for more, I cannot get these characters and their world out of my head. I’ve been obsessed with these books since I first read them, and I’ve probably reread them a thousand times already.
⋆╰┈✩ This book is so fucking beautiful I don’t even know how to describe it.
⋆╰┈✩ original note: I’m going through withdrawals after reading this book. It fucking killed me and I’m now dead. Read it. Bye.
⋆╰┈✩ Some tropes are:
� found family
� angst
� slow burn
� tension
� healing
� bars, brawls, & boys lovin� boys
� � II � � 1:35 ─── � songs I listened to � ────── 3:47
� Used To Be Friends ─ Searows
� "Said that you could like me if you wanted to, then followed me around until I talked to you"
� my house is warm ─ sombr
� "I can’t right my wrongs but I can write another song"
� Keep The Rain ─ Searows
� "I don’t know what steps to take, I do the easy ones until it helps"
� House Song ─ Searows
� "Something is rotten inside of me, I have to find it and, cut it out"
� My King Will Be Kind ─ Inhaler
� "You walk around like you own this town. Do you think of me as I’m thinking of you?"
� Totally ─ Inhaler
� "But after all this time, I’m not yours, you’re not mine"
�
� I highly recommend to give this one a listen while reading the book!!
� �
� � � reread � � �
� 03/07/24 ┊Rereading my fave series cause the slump was rough😌👆🏼
౨ৎ happy reading ౨ৎ
∘₊� ── "How do I tell him that now that I know what it’s like to wake up in his arms, I don’t know how I’ll ever sleep without him again? How do I tell him I haven’t not beat the sun at welcoming the new day without some kind of substance in years? How do I tell him that his throat is just sitting there, begging for my lips? Like I might die just looking at him right now, because I’m too far away? My hand’s pressed over his heart and I am. Still. Too. Far. Away." ── ✧₊�
☆₊� � thoughts┊To be completely honest, I think I’d read about a million more books about these two if was willing to write them😭I’m literally starving for more, I cannot get these characters and their world out of my head. I’ve been obsessed with these books since I first read them, and I’ve probably reread them a thousand times already.
⋆╰┈✩ This book is so fucking beautiful I don’t even know how to describe it.
⋆╰┈✩ original note: I’m going through withdrawals after reading this book. It fucking killed me and I’m now dead. Read it. Bye.
∘₊� ── "Jesus, every time he says my name, a little piece of me dies." ── ✧₊�
⋆╰┈✩ Some tropes are:
� found family
� angst
� slow burn
� tension
� healing
� bars, brawls, & boys lovin� boys
∘₊� ── "You make me want to hang on and fight. You make me believe I stand a chance. You. No one else. You." ── ✧₊�
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄☆⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄�
� � II � � 1:35 ─── � songs I listened to � ────── 3:47
� Used To Be Friends ─ Searows
� "Said that you could like me if you wanted to, then followed me around until I talked to you"
� my house is warm ─ sombr
� "I can’t right my wrongs but I can write another song"
� Keep The Rain ─ Searows
� "I don’t know what steps to take, I do the easy ones until it helps"
� House Song ─ Searows
� "Something is rotten inside of me, I have to find it and, cut it out"
� My King Will Be Kind ─ Inhaler
� "You walk around like you own this town. Do you think of me as I’m thinking of you?"
� Totally ─ Inhaler
� "But after all this time, I’m not yours, you’re not mine"
�
� I highly recommend to give this one a listen while reading the book!!
� �
� � � reread � � �
� 03/07/24 ┊Rereading my fave series cause the slump was rough😌👆🏼
౨ৎ happy reading ౨ৎ
June 17, 2022
"every time i look at you, i'm ruined."
🖤
� this book, along with the first one, were really well written. a lot of pain and angst that leads to truly amazing fluff, smut and such a beautiful, real and precious relationship.
� you can't help but root for not only the mcs, but the whole friend group too.
� found family trope, great characterization, well handled sensitive topics, delicious angst, fluff, slow burn that leads to hot smut... yes yes and yes.
"how do i tell him that now that i know what it’s like to wake up in his arms, i don’t know how i'll ever sleep without him again?"
� i gave both books 4 stars after a lot of consideration. i expected to be emotionally wrecked after these, but i sadly wasn't lmao. that would have made this 5 stars i think.
� i also think this would have been better for me if it was just one book and was like a 100 pages shorter. i just struggled to finish it for some reason, despite liking it a lot.
� the fact that this is a debut though? wow.
� this book, along with the first one, were really well written. a lot of pain and angst that leads to truly amazing fluff, smut and such a beautiful, real and precious relationship.
� you can't help but root for not only the mcs, but the whole friend group too.
� found family trope, great characterization, well handled sensitive topics, delicious angst, fluff, slow burn that leads to hot smut... yes yes and yes.
"how do i tell him that now that i know what it’s like to wake up in his arms, i don’t know how i'll ever sleep without him again?"
� i gave both books 4 stars after a lot of consideration. i expected to be emotionally wrecked after these, but i sadly wasn't lmao. that would have made this 5 stars i think.
� i also think this would have been better for me if it was just one book and was like a 100 pages shorter. i just struggled to finish it for some reason, despite liking it a lot.
� the fact that this is a debut though? wow.
March 7, 2024
***5.0 rating***
"Way and Will, Will and Way� Two halves of a fucking whole. Always."
Hello. Hi. It's me. Yes, I read about 1200 pages in two days. Yes, that is normal. Duh. Have I slept? Sleep? What is that I haven't heard from her in two days. Yes, I do look like a sack of shit from being glued to my Kindle. Yes, I am still reading the remaining novellas.
Am I okay? HAHAHAHA.
OKAY?
NO.
I am wrecked. I have laughed, cried, and gasped like a mad woman the past two days. Jessie if you ever read this my therapist says hello.
I am sad to say goodbye to Way and Will. I grew attached to them in such a short period. Idk how to explain it. I had friends telling me to read this duet for the longest time but I waited and waited. A part of me regrets not reading this sooner but a part of me is relieved that I didn't have to wait years to read Way and Will's story. I am gonna read Izzy's story and Jeremy and Mason's. I am not ready to say goodbye to them just yet.
I can't believe Mason's and Jeremey's book is gonna be the length of an encyclopedia but baby am I ready.
What a fucking journey!
"Way and Will, Will and Way� Two halves of a fucking whole. Always."
Hello. Hi. It's me. Yes, I read about 1200 pages in two days. Yes, that is normal. Duh. Have I slept? Sleep? What is that I haven't heard from her in two days. Yes, I do look like a sack of shit from being glued to my Kindle. Yes, I am still reading the remaining novellas.
Am I okay? HAHAHAHA.
OKAY?
NO.
I am wrecked. I have laughed, cried, and gasped like a mad woman the past two days. Jessie if you ever read this my therapist says hello.
I am sad to say goodbye to Way and Will. I grew attached to them in such a short period. Idk how to explain it. I had friends telling me to read this duet for the longest time but I waited and waited. A part of me regrets not reading this sooner but a part of me is relieved that I didn't have to wait years to read Way and Will's story. I am gonna read Izzy's story and Jeremy and Mason's. I am not ready to say goodbye to them just yet.
I can't believe Mason's and Jeremey's book is gonna be the length of an encyclopedia but baby am I ready.
What a fucking journey!
May 13, 2022
Available Now!!
All the stars in the universe and then some 😭... if you're contemplating reading this duet, in the words of Shia LaBeouf (lol not really), stop contemplating, just do it!
**I'm just adding this here after realizing I practically wrote a whole ass book as a review (as spoiler free as possible, but I'll add the spoiler tag just in case 🖤) soo here's a tl;dr for you, This book stole my breath, then laughed at me while running away with the only oxygen tank left. If that's a kink, it's my new favourite 👀
If you want, you can absolutely read my confusing stream of thoughts heheh, I'd definitely appreciate it 🥰
____
You know when you've reached the part of the book where you're supposed to be happy because, "hell yes, everything is finally working out." but you're just sad because it means you're inching closer to the end?! I felt this so hard with this book. Not an exaggeration (maybe a little bit 😆), but I am convinced that it will take me a few months before I recover from this book and its characters. Best worst book hangover of my life!
I don't even have the right words... I'm sitting in the club on a Friday (I'm not, I'm a homebody, but I wanna sound cool soo 🙈) trying to figure out how to write a review that does this story justice. Is good damage a thing? I'm calling it good damage. The kind of damage that is so overwhelming and leaves you a mess, but you'd walk through it over and over again if only for the impact of the emotion it evokes. That's what this book was. It broke me, it fixed me, it left me wrung dry of every possible emotion that could ever exist, but filled my heart until it almost burst... aaand I still wish I could erase my memory to experience this all over again. Yes dw it's an HEA 😌🤌🏾
Over the course of this duet, I have fallen so deeply in love with Waylon James McAllister and Will no-middle-name Foster, and the love they share, that it terrifies me. These are fictional people after all, they'll never love me back (excuse me while I- 😭😭).
I loved how real and raw the mental health struggles, grief and journeys (both individually and collectively) toward healing were portrayed here. I also loved how hope was weaved into even the grittiest fragments of this tapestry. Especially in the character of Waylon. Because what do you do when the people who were supposed to love you and share your burdens, impose their burdens on you expecting you to take it without flinching? What do you do when you've been force fed that toxic masculinity poison bullshit your entire life it's practically coming out of your nose through your esophagus? What do you do when you've begged so hard for a love you never received that it leaves your throat dry and all the water in the world can never quench that thirst?! You harden up and brace yourself, you throw your defenses up, maybe you also throw in the towel eventually because one can only hold out for so long. And when all you've known is darkness, any sliver of light can be intimidating, maybe even blinding, so you hide from it. While in book 1 we see the embodiment of these emotions and more, in Waylon, the level of strength, grit, determination, and resilience he shows in this book?! Unmatched. I honestly could NEVER. and I don't even care how cheesy or cliche this sounds, but Waylon found a way through his will. UGH AND DON'T 👏🏾 EVEN 👏🏾GET 👏🏾ME 👏🏾STARTED 👏🏾ON 👏🏾WILL 👏🏾FOSTER! Will... my heart. Will is Way's anchor, his pacemaker, his City Boy. Will is the boy with the propensity to run but never hide, heart on his leather sleeves, fight in his leather knuckles. But Will wasn't just Way's love interest, he wasn't just meant to be the saviour, he has his own struggles (especially with grief) that were so well explored in this book. And when the universe finally gives them a chance to freely love each other, my world practically shifted on its axis... Or was that me falling from my bed in awe at the most groundbreaking declaration of love I've probably ever read?! Maybe. Most likely. Idgaf tho 🤘🏾
There he is. There’s my sunshine.
What was so perfect about their love was how simple it was...at the core of all the pain surrounding their past and the consequences of certain actions, it was just two boys wanting to love each other against all odds. And boy oh boy, the odds were 'odd-ing' hard... the number of times I yelled, "please, universe give them a break!!" And as much as I hated it, I understood that the pain was necessary 😩
For it isn’t the sexual act that has my eyes burning hotly, but the utter miracle that is his surrender after so many years of pain and repression and control. And there is no other person in the universe I’d rather watch unravel than this guy right here. No one who deserves to let go as much as this human. This human who’s always been mine, in some way or another.
If book 1 was heart wrenchingly magnificent, book 2 is breath-stealingly glorious. If book 1 was the buildup to the crescendo, book 2 is the diminuendo and everything that comes after. It consumes you.
There's something about the monumental attitude shift that happens in Waylon in this book compared to book 1. In book 1 he's closed off, guarded, but in book 2, he loosens up. You feel it. He's more approachable. What a talent to be able make barely noticeable changes to the atmosphere of a story that are so impactful to the overall experience. Hats off to this author, she can have my left kidney if she wants 'cause MY GOD THIS WAS SO FREAKING PERFECT. I honestly could write sonnets about Jessie Walker's enchanting ability to string words together on page and make you feel every damn feeling that ever did exist. But alas, I am but a measly digester of words, and these words by this particular person, will I happily digest forever if given the chance.
Nothing else matters but this. His lips on mine, that god-forsaken tongue ring� That stubborn, reckless heart of his, beating heavily against my chest. Way and Will, Will and Way� Two halves of a fucking whole. Always.
Finally, the thing that is so special about the duet as a whole is that it is deeply character-driven. Don't get me wrong, there is a significant plot going on that requires the reader's attention, but the plot doesn't necessarily evoke emotion, in fact it's a plot that some of us are well acquainted with. What makes this one stand out to me, what tugs at the heartstrings, are the many ways the characters are affected by the plot. You're rooting for each one of them, "Go-little-rockstar" style 🥲, pun intended. These are real people. The best way I can describe it is that because we have the privilege of glimpsing at the crevices of their minds, they somehow burrow themselves so deep within you, they almost become a part of you. It's cheesy but it's true heheh 😅
If you've read book 1, you know what I'm talking about. It was slow at times, fast at others. The themes addressed here dictated the length of the novels. That's why the length felt so perfect to me. I didn't want these issues to be quickly tied up and resolved, and I appreciated how deeply involved with these characters we are allowed to be.
Was I rambling?! I was, wasn't I? Like I said, I don't have the right words. And I think that's okay because this powerful duet speaks volumes for itself 🖤 🖤
**As usual, heed all the trigger warnings, friends! Happy reading!
All the stars in the universe and then some 😭... if you're contemplating reading this duet, in the words of Shia LaBeouf (lol not really), stop contemplating, just do it!
**I'm just adding this here after realizing I practically wrote a whole ass book as a review (as spoiler free as possible, but I'll add the spoiler tag just in case 🖤) soo here's a tl;dr for you, This book stole my breath, then laughed at me while running away with the only oxygen tank left. If that's a kink, it's my new favourite 👀
If you want, you can absolutely read my confusing stream of thoughts heheh, I'd definitely appreciate it 🥰
____
You know when you've reached the part of the book where you're supposed to be happy because, "hell yes, everything is finally working out." but you're just sad because it means you're inching closer to the end?! I felt this so hard with this book. Not an exaggeration (maybe a little bit 😆), but I am convinced that it will take me a few months before I recover from this book and its characters. Best worst book hangover of my life!
I don't even have the right words... I'm sitting in the club on a Friday (I'm not, I'm a homebody, but I wanna sound cool soo 🙈) trying to figure out how to write a review that does this story justice. Is good damage a thing? I'm calling it good damage. The kind of damage that is so overwhelming and leaves you a mess, but you'd walk through it over and over again if only for the impact of the emotion it evokes. That's what this book was. It broke me, it fixed me, it left me wrung dry of every possible emotion that could ever exist, but filled my heart until it almost burst... aaand I still wish I could erase my memory to experience this all over again. Yes dw it's an HEA 😌🤌🏾
Over the course of this duet, I have fallen so deeply in love with Waylon James McAllister and Will no-middle-name Foster, and the love they share, that it terrifies me. These are fictional people after all, they'll never love me back (excuse me while I- 😭😭).
I loved how real and raw the mental health struggles, grief and journeys (both individually and collectively) toward healing were portrayed here. I also loved how hope was weaved into even the grittiest fragments of this tapestry. Especially in the character of Waylon. Because what do you do when the people who were supposed to love you and share your burdens, impose their burdens on you expecting you to take it without flinching? What do you do when you've been force fed that toxic masculinity poison bullshit your entire life it's practically coming out of your nose through your esophagus? What do you do when you've begged so hard for a love you never received that it leaves your throat dry and all the water in the world can never quench that thirst?! You harden up and brace yourself, you throw your defenses up, maybe you also throw in the towel eventually because one can only hold out for so long. And when all you've known is darkness, any sliver of light can be intimidating, maybe even blinding, so you hide from it. While in book 1 we see the embodiment of these emotions and more, in Waylon, the level of strength, grit, determination, and resilience he shows in this book?! Unmatched. I honestly could NEVER. and I don't even care how cheesy or cliche this sounds, but Waylon found a way through his will. UGH AND DON'T 👏🏾 EVEN 👏🏾GET 👏🏾ME 👏🏾STARTED 👏🏾ON 👏🏾WILL 👏🏾FOSTER! Will... my heart. Will is Way's anchor, his pacemaker, his City Boy. Will is the boy with the propensity to run but never hide, heart on his leather sleeves, fight in his leather knuckles. But Will wasn't just Way's love interest, he wasn't just meant to be the saviour, he has his own struggles (especially with grief) that were so well explored in this book. And when the universe finally gives them a chance to freely love each other, my world practically shifted on its axis... Or was that me falling from my bed in awe at the most groundbreaking declaration of love I've probably ever read?! Maybe. Most likely. Idgaf tho 🤘🏾
There he is. There’s my sunshine.
What was so perfect about their love was how simple it was...at the core of all the pain surrounding their past and the consequences of certain actions, it was just two boys wanting to love each other against all odds. And boy oh boy, the odds were 'odd-ing' hard... the number of times I yelled, "please, universe give them a break!!" And as much as I hated it, I understood that the pain was necessary 😩
For it isn’t the sexual act that has my eyes burning hotly, but the utter miracle that is his surrender after so many years of pain and repression and control. And there is no other person in the universe I’d rather watch unravel than this guy right here. No one who deserves to let go as much as this human. This human who’s always been mine, in some way or another.
If book 1 was heart wrenchingly magnificent, book 2 is breath-stealingly glorious. If book 1 was the buildup to the crescendo, book 2 is the diminuendo and everything that comes after. It consumes you.
There's something about the monumental attitude shift that happens in Waylon in this book compared to book 1. In book 1 he's closed off, guarded, but in book 2, he loosens up. You feel it. He's more approachable. What a talent to be able make barely noticeable changes to the atmosphere of a story that are so impactful to the overall experience. Hats off to this author, she can have my left kidney if she wants 'cause MY GOD THIS WAS SO FREAKING PERFECT. I honestly could write sonnets about Jessie Walker's enchanting ability to string words together on page and make you feel every damn feeling that ever did exist. But alas, I am but a measly digester of words, and these words by this particular person, will I happily digest forever if given the chance.
Nothing else matters but this. His lips on mine, that god-forsaken tongue ring� That stubborn, reckless heart of his, beating heavily against my chest. Way and Will, Will and Way� Two halves of a fucking whole. Always.
Finally, the thing that is so special about the duet as a whole is that it is deeply character-driven. Don't get me wrong, there is a significant plot going on that requires the reader's attention, but the plot doesn't necessarily evoke emotion, in fact it's a plot that some of us are well acquainted with. What makes this one stand out to me, what tugs at the heartstrings, are the many ways the characters are affected by the plot. You're rooting for each one of them, "Go-little-rockstar" style 🥲, pun intended. These are real people. The best way I can describe it is that because we have the privilege of glimpsing at the crevices of their minds, they somehow burrow themselves so deep within you, they almost become a part of you. It's cheesy but it's true heheh 😅
If you've read book 1, you know what I'm talking about. It was slow at times, fast at others. The themes addressed here dictated the length of the novels. That's why the length felt so perfect to me. I didn't want these issues to be quickly tied up and resolved, and I appreciated how deeply involved with these characters we are allowed to be.
Was I rambling?! I was, wasn't I? Like I said, I don't have the right words. And I think that's okay because this powerful duet speaks volumes for itself 🖤 🖤
**As usual, heed all the trigger warnings, friends! Happy reading!
January 13, 2025
RTC WHEN I RECOVER😭
____________________
pre-read
My life is depressing thats why I read books about other depressed people. Cheers!!
p.s. this is not going to be a happy read:) send me hugs and tissues guys😭🫂
____________________
pre-read
My life is depressing thats why I read books about other depressed people. Cheers!!
p.s. this is not going to be a happy read:) send me hugs and tissues guys😭🫂
May 23, 2023
Just lemme stop crying and I’ll give it the review it deserves�
Ok. Deep breath.
This book was INCREDIBLE. Breathtaking. Heart-aching. It’s the 2nd in the “Lost Boys�, featuring long-lost friends Will & Waylon, with both books being almost 600pgs each. Not that I noticed.
Swoon /5 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Angst /5 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
Steam /5 ♨️♨️♨️♨️♨️
Plot /5 🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐
LOLs /5 🤭🤭
Spectacularly written, it’s up there with the most highlighting of sections I’ve ever done. The depth of feeling, the emotional expression from both Will and Waylon, the intense descriptions of the inner and outer world of anxiety, PTSD and addiction�. this book wrecked me in the best kind of way:
“All I hear is the heavy heart in my chest snapping free from its constraints, as it finally flies unburdened.
All I feel is the boy in my arms—my boy.
My guy. My man.
The one who’s been there all along, waiting for me—and all I can do is pray that I’m not too late.
Please, please, please don’t let me be too late.�
Past trauma is a part of almost everyone’s life in the book. But Waylon in particular struggles, and it’s not pretty. The depth of understanding by the author regarding anxiety, panic attacks and PTSD is brilliantly written. And it’s not glossed over & cured by the end of the book. We see it all from the dual POV of Will & Way, and it made me sob in parts.
“You’re a ticking time bomb,� I hear myself say, my voice distant even to my own ears.
“One that just keeps fucking rebuilding itself after every explosion, over and over and over again. But I don’t. I don’t rebuild. I don’t heal. I just keep taking it. But I can’t anymore. There’s not enough left of me to take any more shrapnel and walk out alive.�
While the first book “If There’s A Way� was almost entirely heavy angst, this one was also angsty but positive & joyful, as Will & Way get the life together they hoped for. Not without a lot of pain & trauma, but they get there. And there aren’t many couples who deserve every scrap of happiness more than these two:
“But I don’t look away. I don’t back down.
I’ll never hide again.
Never, never, never.
Because I’m staring into the abyss and the abyss is staring back at me and it’s looking at me like I am the goddamn sun. He’s looking at me like I’m the goddamn sun. And I can see that it hurts him—that it fucking burns—but he can’t help himself because winter was so fucking long and so fucking dark and he is as shaky and as exhausted as I am.
He sucks in a breath�
So I press forward.
- And I give myself to the sea.�
A couple of quotes really hit me hard. You know when you stop & stare at the wall for 10 minutes after something hits you in the feels? Firstly, this one:
“It’s a constant battle at this point—this give, give, give of ours, with very little taking. Always putting the other first� But maybe that’s the secret. No one loses when the only objective is to out-love the other. Win-fucking-win.�
Most people have relationships where one loves the other more, and there’s a power dynamic. To love each other intensely and equally? Don’t we all aspire to that?
And secondly, this quote hit hard:
“Still, it’s one thing to create art. But it’s another to make people feel your art. To convey it in such a way that it burrows into the little nooks and crannies of another human’s soul, and unearths the pieces left forgotten. Pieces they might not have had the strength to face before, not until a book, a painting, or a song gave them permission to do so.�
Just like you did for us in this book, Jessie Walker.
I CANNOT believe this is her first series.
Spectacular.
Eagerly awaiting Mason & Jeremy’s story next.
Ok. Deep breath.
This book was INCREDIBLE. Breathtaking. Heart-aching. It’s the 2nd in the “Lost Boys�, featuring long-lost friends Will & Waylon, with both books being almost 600pgs each. Not that I noticed.
Swoon /5 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Angst /5 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
Steam /5 ♨️♨️♨️♨️♨️
Plot /5 🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐
LOLs /5 🤭🤭
Spectacularly written, it’s up there with the most highlighting of sections I’ve ever done. The depth of feeling, the emotional expression from both Will and Waylon, the intense descriptions of the inner and outer world of anxiety, PTSD and addiction�. this book wrecked me in the best kind of way:
“All I hear is the heavy heart in my chest snapping free from its constraints, as it finally flies unburdened.
All I feel is the boy in my arms—my boy.
My guy. My man.
The one who’s been there all along, waiting for me—and all I can do is pray that I’m not too late.
Please, please, please don’t let me be too late.�
Past trauma is a part of almost everyone’s life in the book. But Waylon in particular struggles, and it’s not pretty. The depth of understanding by the author regarding anxiety, panic attacks and PTSD is brilliantly written. And it’s not glossed over & cured by the end of the book. We see it all from the dual POV of Will & Way, and it made me sob in parts.
“You’re a ticking time bomb,� I hear myself say, my voice distant even to my own ears.
“One that just keeps fucking rebuilding itself after every explosion, over and over and over again. But I don’t. I don’t rebuild. I don’t heal. I just keep taking it. But I can’t anymore. There’s not enough left of me to take any more shrapnel and walk out alive.�
While the first book “If There’s A Way� was almost entirely heavy angst, this one was also angsty but positive & joyful, as Will & Way get the life together they hoped for. Not without a lot of pain & trauma, but they get there. And there aren’t many couples who deserve every scrap of happiness more than these two:
“But I don’t look away. I don’t back down.
I’ll never hide again.
Never, never, never.
Because I’m staring into the abyss and the abyss is staring back at me and it’s looking at me like I am the goddamn sun. He’s looking at me like I’m the goddamn sun. And I can see that it hurts him—that it fucking burns—but he can’t help himself because winter was so fucking long and so fucking dark and he is as shaky and as exhausted as I am.
He sucks in a breath�
So I press forward.
- And I give myself to the sea.�
A couple of quotes really hit me hard. You know when you stop & stare at the wall for 10 minutes after something hits you in the feels? Firstly, this one:
“It’s a constant battle at this point—this give, give, give of ours, with very little taking. Always putting the other first� But maybe that’s the secret. No one loses when the only objective is to out-love the other. Win-fucking-win.�
Most people have relationships where one loves the other more, and there’s a power dynamic. To love each other intensely and equally? Don’t we all aspire to that?
And secondly, this quote hit hard:
“Still, it’s one thing to create art. But it’s another to make people feel your art. To convey it in such a way that it burrows into the little nooks and crannies of another human’s soul, and unearths the pieces left forgotten. Pieces they might not have had the strength to face before, not until a book, a painting, or a song gave them permission to do so.�
Just like you did for us in this book, Jessie Walker.
I CANNOT believe this is her first series.
Spectacular.
Eagerly awaiting Mason & Jeremy’s story next.
January 4, 2025
buckle up your seatbelts because you are in for the most chaotic yet heavily emotional ride ever atleast from my side. i will try not to give out spoilers, like i always do, since most of yall haven't read this and fuck it I WANT EVERYONE TO READ THIS. it should be a fucking war crime to not having read this book. yall are literally SINNERS idc.
if anyone knows me, or have read my previous reviews—fuck if you have just seen my profile, you'd know i CANNOT write long reviews. i physically CANNOT. it's not like i do not like the books, or im just lazywhich might be a possibility but no we are not focusing on that. it's just that most books leave me at a loss for words. i cannot bring the words out of me, literally cannot express them. but this book? god i had SO MANY thoughts. so, so, SO MANY. i knew i could not function without scribbling them down. they occupied too much of my head space, my heart space, fuck it my BODY. i'm not a words of affirmation type of person, and i don't know how to compliment shit. but this book made me want to make an exception and i'd do it EVERYTIME.
"Who decided it was a crime for boys to fucking feel? Who decided we can’t be soft too?"
waylon GRUMPYBEAR mcallister
the day we start appreciating character growth and be proud of people, is the day we grow as a society. i read a few reviews, and NONE of them mentioned way's character development. NONE. im really really sorry if anyone gets offended by this, because thats not my intention. i'm also not directing anyone. it just makes me furious how waylon had the BIGGEST character development in the history of character developments, but no one found it in themselves to express it, to be proud of him. he grew SO MUCH that it took my heart fucking out of its socket and dipped it in hot chocolate. because that's how much i loved way. in the first book, he was aggressive and broken. but in this one? he GREW. he MATURED. he REALISED. it was as if someone kidnapped the previous way and replaced them with a old grandpa. he became so patient, and he FOUGHT for will. he opened his fucking eyes and FOUGHT tooth and nail for him. the way he overcame all his fears, and openly loved will? instant GODDAMN tears. the way he never gave up? instant fucking respect. the way he battled his addictions like a fucking WARRIOR? all for WILL? all for HIMSELF? instant utter pride. i didnt 100% like way in the first book, but jesus he fucking robbed my heart and fucking RAN with it in this book.
"It’s okay, because this time, I can be strong for the both of us."
and gosh he was so adorable?? he was like a sick lost puppy, craving will's attention all the time I WILL EAT HIM UP AT THIS RATE 😭 and god he went through SO MUCH. you know there are some characters you just want to shield away from the rest of the world and protect them with all you have? it was WAY for me. i wanted to hug him so bad, so so bad, and NEVER let go. fucking HATS OFF to how he dealt with it, truly theres no comparison.
"Even the sun needs a break sometimes—it’s why it has the moon to help out every night.�
will CITYBOY foster
will. my fucking world. foster. have i mentioned how i am absolutely IN LOVE with this guy? i don't think i have. he was so goddamn lovable, there's literally NO WAY you cannot. sunshine cocky men? MY FUCKING ACHILLES HEEL. he went through issues of his own, and the amount of utter respect i have for the way he dealt it? literally cannot express. he maintained a strong façade ALL THE TIME, just for waylon. he remained strong FOR HIM. i also really loved the way he didn't completely lose himself in waylon. because as much poetic does it sound, i know how draining it is. i absolutely fucking loved how he pulled back when he knew he deserved better, because fuck it HE DID. he suffered SO MUCH in the first book, and he literally deserved THE WORLD. he was constantly giving and giving and giving, getting absolutely nothing in return. the way my heart would fucking shatter whenever way would say something mean to him in the first book? in-fucking-comparable. i literally CRIED FOR HIM. HES LITERALLY MY BABY AT THIS POINT 😭😭
“I want to be burdened by you,� I tell him, lifting my shoulders before dropping them. “I want to be the person you burden.�
people who don't leave their partners when shit gets tough? MASSIVE RESPECT. i really adored how will never left his side, even when they went through problems. he was always there, in some way or the other. even when they didn't talk, he goddamn made sure way was doing alright. even when they weren't sure if they'd end up together, he LITERALLY DID EVERYTHING for way.
"Way and Will, Will and Way� Two halves of a fucking whole. Always."
way + willie <3
they were SO SO SO PERFECT for each other how do i even explain it 😭 it was like in the first book, will was doing everything for way, constantly making efforts and NEVER giving up. and in this book? WAY was doing everything for WILL. it is always so refreshing to see characters switch places. they were always there for each other and the EFFORTS? baby it made me want to scream, cry, thrash around and BAWL all at once. the way they overcame their fears and became stronger FOR EACH OTHER, just so they could be with each other?? im going to commit a felony. i have always YEARNED for the type of love they had. the type where you cannot imagine being without the other person and the only way is to be better FOR THEM. call it toxic, call ME toxic but fuck it i just want a love that consumes me yet keeps me grounded all at once. emotional books ALWAYS, FUCKING ALWAYS worm their way to my heart i love these moments so much someone just take me back to the start of this book so i could be normal again 😭 i love them so much THEY ARE SO PURE UGH IM GOING TO EAT UP them. also be fucking aware of shitting upon them infront of me 🤷♀�
“Skin. There’s so much fucking skin. And Will’s hands are touching all that said fucking skin. And muscles. Skin and muscles that aren’t mine.
This isn’t right. This isn’t... this isn’t how it was supposed to be.
That should be me over there.�
THE JEALOUSY MOMENTS? EXCUSE ME WHILE I CALM MYSELF DOWN. at this point, just start a timer and see how quickly i tie my hair and get on my actual KNEES for the two of them. JESUS i have always EATEN UP jealousy but it was SO IMPORTANT for them i cannot stress it enough. these moments are so ESSENTIALfor my sanity to the plot especially when they are not together and its all angsty and everything 😭
“I’d have bottomed for you in a heartbeat, but damn, baby, I love your ass. And I love that you love your ass being played with.�
“My cock’s fucking aching to own this ass.�
AND THE SMUT. OH MY GOD IM NOT GOING TO SHUT UP WITHOUT MENTIONING ITim totally not hyperventilating thinking about it this was my first mm duology, and i fucking DEVOURED the smut 🙏 never understood why some people would drool over a mm couple, but now? god i get it on the FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL because im WAY WORSE NOW. i became a whore so quick SO SO QUICK for this shit its kinda even better than the straight one 😭 im NOT sexualising homosexuality btw 😭 theres just something about watching two men love each other so openly, when all their lives they've been told that men shouldnt show emotions 😭
"They're my family. Blood might be thicker than water, but us? We've got thorns."
FOUND FUCKING FAMILY. how do i explain it without erupting in major tears? theres something so so so special about a bunch of broken characters with no one to call their own, find a sense of connection and family in each other. theres some utterly heartwarming and mindboggingly humble about reading about people who prove that blood is infact, not thicker than water. that it doesn't take the same womb to be willing to give yourself up for someone. the moments of the lost boys? all together, happy and playing their music? buy me the whole store of tissues since im not gonna stop crying any time soon 😭
"Will, if you two don’t fucking pull your heads out of your asses, I will not hesitate to lock you in a fucking room together until you do.�
special mention to my QUEEN IVY
she ATE. as simple as that. a. t. e. im such a puddle for women who do not take any shit from anyone, like yes babe show them who you are 😭 and the fact that these women are labelled as mean girls when they are just fucking sensitive over their boundaries? im going to kick someone in the face brb 🥰. but anyways, the “misunderstood mean girl� trope has always UNDID me, and she fucking delivered it on a silver platter. she was so sassy and unapologetically HERSELF im not sure if i want to be her or want to be WITH her. i ate up her moments in the book as if i were a starved dog and you were just waving meat infront of me 😭
also, I FUCKING HATE YOU GOODREADS UGH. i was fighting for my fucking life trying to first of all, gather each and every quote. heavy emphasis on that, because WHY is there only one quote in that see quotes option? it took me FUCKING HOURS to gather everything. and narrowing it down? boy how am i supposed to pick out favourites when this entire book was like prose and full of sobworthy lines? i stabbed my own heart while leaving the other quotes behind 😭
absolutely cried crode everything type QUOTES
"Every time I look at you, I'm ruined."
"Maybe I finally paid my dues for existing when I shouldn’t have, and this was my reward. You were my reward.�
“And I’d rather feel this burden of knowing and loving you than go even a second without you existing somewhere on this planet.�
"I might not know love, but I do know my heart beats for him."
“But it is what it is,� I tell him simply. “Take it or leave it, because I refuse to water it down, even for you. I’d do just about anything for you, but don’t ever ask me to love you less.�
"You make me want to hang on and fight. You make me believe I stand a chance. You. No one else. You."
“Well too fucking bad,� I murmur. “You are loved. And I’m not better off without you.�
"I'd rather give every little piece of myself to you than wonder what could have been because society thinks it's wrong. Too much. Toxic."
"How do I tell him that now that I know what it’s like to wake up in his arms, I don’t know how I’ll ever sleep without him again?"
“I like myself a whole lot better when I’m with you.�
"The dude loves when I praise him. He’s fucking starved for it."
"His lashes flutter, and I can’t help but wonder if he feels it too. Feels how fucking timeless we are. How fucking endless."
"He’s looking at me like I’m the goddamn sun."
“All there’s left in me is... is you, and I don’t even know if that makes sense. But it’s you. It’s always been you.�
“You didn’t make anything worse, Will,� I tell him after a long, quiet moment. “You woke me up, that’s all. You brought me back to life.�
"Every fucking part of him is sacred to every fucking part of me."
"He’s the beat of my fucking heart.
And that?
That’s everything."
if anyone knows me, or have read my previous reviews—fuck if you have just seen my profile, you'd know i CANNOT write long reviews. i physically CANNOT. it's not like i do not like the books, or im just lazy
"Who decided it was a crime for boys to fucking feel? Who decided we can’t be soft too?"
waylon GRUMPYBEAR mcallister
the day we start appreciating character growth and be proud of people, is the day we grow as a society. i read a few reviews, and NONE of them mentioned way's character development. NONE. im really really sorry if anyone gets offended by this, because thats not my intention. i'm also not directing anyone. it just makes me furious how waylon had the BIGGEST character development in the history of character developments, but no one found it in themselves to express it, to be proud of him. he grew SO MUCH that it took my heart fucking out of its socket and dipped it in hot chocolate. because that's how much i loved way. in the first book, he was aggressive and broken. but in this one? he GREW. he MATURED. he REALISED. it was as if someone kidnapped the previous way and replaced them with a old grandpa. he became so patient, and he FOUGHT for will. he opened his fucking eyes and FOUGHT tooth and nail for him. the way he overcame all his fears, and openly loved will? instant GODDAMN tears. the way he never gave up? instant fucking respect. the way he battled his addictions like a fucking WARRIOR? all for WILL? all for HIMSELF? instant utter pride. i didnt 100% like way in the first book, but jesus he fucking robbed my heart and fucking RAN with it in this book.
"It’s okay, because this time, I can be strong for the both of us."
and gosh he was so adorable?? he was like a sick lost puppy, craving will's attention all the time I WILL EAT HIM UP AT THIS RATE 😭 and god he went through SO MUCH. you know there are some characters you just want to shield away from the rest of the world and protect them with all you have? it was WAY for me. i wanted to hug him so bad, so so bad, and NEVER let go. fucking HATS OFF to how he dealt with it, truly theres no comparison.
"Even the sun needs a break sometimes—it’s why it has the moon to help out every night.�
will CITYBOY foster
will. my fucking world. foster. have i mentioned how i am absolutely IN LOVE with this guy? i don't think i have. he was so goddamn lovable, there's literally NO WAY you cannot. sunshine cocky men? MY FUCKING ACHILLES HEEL. he went through issues of his own, and the amount of utter respect i have for the way he dealt it? literally cannot express. he maintained a strong façade ALL THE TIME, just for waylon. he remained strong FOR HIM. i also really loved the way he didn't completely lose himself in waylon. because as much poetic does it sound, i know how draining it is. i absolutely fucking loved how he pulled back when he knew he deserved better, because fuck it HE DID. he suffered SO MUCH in the first book, and he literally deserved THE WORLD. he was constantly giving and giving and giving, getting absolutely nothing in return. the way my heart would fucking shatter whenever way would say something mean to him in the first book? in-fucking-comparable. i literally CRIED FOR HIM. HES LITERALLY MY BABY AT THIS POINT 😭😭
“I want to be burdened by you,� I tell him, lifting my shoulders before dropping them. “I want to be the person you burden.�
people who don't leave their partners when shit gets tough? MASSIVE RESPECT. i really adored how will never left his side, even when they went through problems. he was always there, in some way or the other. even when they didn't talk, he goddamn made sure way was doing alright. even when they weren't sure if they'd end up together, he LITERALLY DID EVERYTHING for way.
"Way and Will, Will and Way� Two halves of a fucking whole. Always."
way + willie <3
they were SO SO SO PERFECT for each other how do i even explain it 😭 it was like in the first book, will was doing everything for way, constantly making efforts and NEVER giving up. and in this book? WAY was doing everything for WILL. it is always so refreshing to see characters switch places. they were always there for each other and the EFFORTS? baby it made me want to scream, cry, thrash around and BAWL all at once. the way they overcame their fears and became stronger FOR EACH OTHER, just so they could be with each other?? im going to commit a felony. i have always YEARNED for the type of love they had. the type where you cannot imagine being without the other person and the only way is to be better FOR THEM. call it toxic, call ME toxic but fuck it i just want a love that consumes me yet keeps me grounded all at once. emotional books ALWAYS, FUCKING ALWAYS worm their way to my heart i love these moments so much someone just take me back to the start of this book so i could be normal again 😭 i love them so much THEY ARE SO PURE UGH IM GOING TO EAT UP them. also be fucking aware of shitting upon them infront of me 🤷♀�
“Skin. There’s so much fucking skin. And Will’s hands are touching all that said fucking skin. And muscles. Skin and muscles that aren’t mine.
This isn’t right. This isn’t... this isn’t how it was supposed to be.
That should be me over there.�
THE JEALOUSY MOMENTS? EXCUSE ME WHILE I CALM MYSELF DOWN. at this point, just start a timer and see how quickly i tie my hair and get on my actual KNEES for the two of them. JESUS i have always EATEN UP jealousy but it was SO IMPORTANT for them i cannot stress it enough. these moments are so ESSENTIAL
“I’d have bottomed for you in a heartbeat, but damn, baby, I love your ass. And I love that you love your ass being played with.�
“My cock’s fucking aching to own this ass.�
AND THE SMUT. OH MY GOD IM NOT GOING TO SHUT UP WITHOUT MENTIONING IT
"They're my family. Blood might be thicker than water, but us? We've got thorns."
FOUND FUCKING FAMILY. how do i explain it without erupting in major tears? theres something so so so special about a bunch of broken characters with no one to call their own, find a sense of connection and family in each other. theres some utterly heartwarming and mindboggingly humble about reading about people who prove that blood is infact, not thicker than water. that it doesn't take the same womb to be willing to give yourself up for someone. the moments of the lost boys? all together, happy and playing their music? buy me the whole store of tissues since im not gonna stop crying any time soon 😭
"Will, if you two don’t fucking pull your heads out of your asses, I will not hesitate to lock you in a fucking room together until you do.�
special mention to my QUEEN IVY
she ATE. as simple as that. a. t. e. im such a puddle for women who do not take any shit from anyone, like yes babe show them who you are 😭 and the fact that these women are labelled as mean girls when they are just fucking sensitive over their boundaries? im going to kick someone in the face brb 🥰. but anyways, the “misunderstood mean girl� trope has always UNDID me, and she fucking delivered it on a silver platter. she was so sassy and unapologetically HERSELF im not sure if i want to be her or want to be WITH her. i ate up her moments in the book as if i were a starved dog and you were just waving meat infront of me 😭
also, I FUCKING HATE YOU GOODREADS UGH. i was fighting for my fucking life trying to first of all, gather each and every quote. heavy emphasis on that, because WHY is there only one quote in that see quotes option? it took me FUCKING HOURS to gather everything. and narrowing it down? boy how am i supposed to pick out favourites when this entire book was like prose and full of sobworthy lines? i stabbed my own heart while leaving the other quotes behind 😭
absolutely cried crode everything type QUOTES
"Every time I look at you, I'm ruined."
"Maybe I finally paid my dues for existing when I shouldn’t have, and this was my reward. You were my reward.�
“And I’d rather feel this burden of knowing and loving you than go even a second without you existing somewhere on this planet.�
"I might not know love, but I do know my heart beats for him."
“But it is what it is,� I tell him simply. “Take it or leave it, because I refuse to water it down, even for you. I’d do just about anything for you, but don’t ever ask me to love you less.�
"You make me want to hang on and fight. You make me believe I stand a chance. You. No one else. You."
“Well too fucking bad,� I murmur. “You are loved. And I’m not better off without you.�
"I'd rather give every little piece of myself to you than wonder what could have been because society thinks it's wrong. Too much. Toxic."
"How do I tell him that now that I know what it’s like to wake up in his arms, I don’t know how I’ll ever sleep without him again?"
“I like myself a whole lot better when I’m with you.�
"The dude loves when I praise him. He’s fucking starved for it."
"His lashes flutter, and I can’t help but wonder if he feels it too. Feels how fucking timeless we are. How fucking endless."
"He’s looking at me like I’m the goddamn sun."
“All there’s left in me is... is you, and I don’t even know if that makes sense. But it’s you. It’s always been you.�
“You didn’t make anything worse, Will,� I tell him after a long, quiet moment. “You woke me up, that’s all. You brought me back to life.�
"Every fucking part of him is sacred to every fucking part of me."
"He’s the beat of my fucking heart.
And that?
That’s everything."
May 13, 2022
"When I was ten, I met a boy."
This duet is an absolute masterpiece, a perfect study in angst and loss and abuse and want and fear and absolution, and I couldn't love it more.
"I should have known this boy would be my ruin."
by completes Will and Waylon's story, which started so beautifully, so heart-breakingly, in . This is not a stand-alone and you absolutely need to read book 1 first.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but if you love emotional, slow burn, MM romances featuring ex-childhood best friends-turned enemies-turned lovers, then these books are for you.
The writing is beautiful. The themes are tough. The story, world-building and side characters are all incredible.
There's more to come from this group of friends and I literally can't wait.
These boys will stay in your heart long after you've put the books down.
"I might not know love, but I do know my heart beats for him."
Bravo !
Tropes:
🖤 High angst
🖤 Triggering themes
🖤 All the healing
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Found family
🖤 Slow burn
🖤 Steam steam steam
🖤 Hard won HEA
Highly recommended
⭐️ ALL ⭐️ THE ⭐️ STARS ⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This duet is an absolute masterpiece, a perfect study in angst and loss and abuse and want and fear and absolution, and I couldn't love it more.
"I should have known this boy would be my ruin."
by completes Will and Waylon's story, which started so beautifully, so heart-breakingly, in . This is not a stand-alone and you absolutely need to read book 1 first.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but if you love emotional, slow burn, MM romances featuring ex-childhood best friends-turned enemies-turned lovers, then these books are for you.
The writing is beautiful. The themes are tough. The story, world-building and side characters are all incredible.
There's more to come from this group of friends and I literally can't wait.
These boys will stay in your heart long after you've put the books down.
"I might not know love, but I do know my heart beats for him."
Bravo !
Tropes:
🖤 High angst
🖤 Triggering themes
🖤 All the healing
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Found family
🖤 Slow burn
🖤 Steam steam steam
🖤 Hard won HEA
Highly recommended
⭐️ ALL ⭐️ THE ⭐️ STARS ⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
![Profile Image for Megan [Semi-Hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1634561405i%2F25103878._UY200_CR50%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 9, 2022
MM Romance
Part 2 of a duet
5 Stars ⭐️
This book, well duet, fucked me up. I thought I was smart for waiting until the completed duet was released before starting it but reading over 1000 pages of pure angst in a 72 hour period was not the best idea I’ve ever had. After I finished this book, I wasn’t even sure I liked it because I was so emotionally wrecked from it. I was so invested in the characters that I didn’t want the book to end but I also couldn’t wait to get off the crazy train this book was. I was all over the place and it’s taken me almost 4 days to even be able to write a review that makes sense. I was mad at this when I finished it because I was so caught up in the main couple, the other aspects of this book went over my head. It never occurred to me that the next couple’s book would be in a completely new setting than the small town of Shiloh but after reading some of this over again, I realize it was always going in that direction. Duh Megan 🙄 What else did you think “The Lost Boys� was referring to? 🤦🏻♀�
Once I somehow stepped out of the trance this duet put me in, I realized just how much I loved it. I love angsty books and authors who can wreck me yet be able to stitch me back together somehow better than when I started. This duet is not for the faint of heart. I don’t have many triggers but this book was hard to read at times and the fact this duet is this author’s debut??? What.The.Fuck. It’s so well written and even though it’s long, I felt like it read fast and all the pages were needed. Had this been shorter, it wouldn’t have done the characters justice. This is also one of the first romance books I’ve read in ages where all the sex could be taken out and I’d still want to read this. Don’t get me wrong, I like my smut but there was a proper story here that would have kept my attention without it.
Throughout most of this duet, I was teary eyed or had that swollen feeling in my throat but the part that made me lose my shit was the flashback scene to Will and his grandma. God, it paralyzed me for a moment reading Will’s inner thoughts as he hugged his grandma in her hospital bed while thinking she didn’t smell or look like she was supposed to while remembering similar thoughts and feelings when I lost my own gramma 10 years ago. I decided it was a fabulous idea to read this book on my birthday (🙄) and ironically I spent my birthday 10 years ago at my gramma’s funeral. By the time my gramma died, it was a celebration of her life and a long time coming and while some of my friends were appalled I spent my 30th birthday at my gramma’s funeral, I’ve always thought about it in a different way. My gramma was the most important person in my life growing up. I used to spend summers with her and she loved me unconditionally no matter how many times I fucked up or made choices she didn’t like. She always made me feel incredibly special even though she had a ridiculous amount of grandkids and even though it was my 30th birthday, there was no one I would have rather celebrated on my day but her. So, reading Will’s inner thoughts in that chapter brought all that back somehow and even as I write this now it’s making me teary eyed. This author has a gift with words and considering this is her debut duet, that’s quite the feat.
But then the chapter right after the one above gave me an intense feeling of whiplash because I went from crying my heart out in agony to crying my heart out because it became so fucking swoony and everything I wanted out of this book up to that point. When I say this book wrecked me, it felt like someone scrambled my brain and then ran me over with a truck. The last time I was this wrecked by a book was when I read Wrath by Ella James last year.
I cannot wait to read the next one in this series even though it’s not what I expected it to be. I expect it to be just as angsty if not more because of the subject matter but I was not expecting the trope.
Part 2 of a duet
5 Stars ⭐️
This book, well duet, fucked me up. I thought I was smart for waiting until the completed duet was released before starting it but reading over 1000 pages of pure angst in a 72 hour period was not the best idea I’ve ever had. After I finished this book, I wasn’t even sure I liked it because I was so emotionally wrecked from it. I was so invested in the characters that I didn’t want the book to end but I also couldn’t wait to get off the crazy train this book was. I was all over the place and it’s taken me almost 4 days to even be able to write a review that makes sense. I was mad at this when I finished it because I was so caught up in the main couple, the other aspects of this book went over my head. It never occurred to me that the next couple’s book would be in a completely new setting than the small town of Shiloh but after reading some of this over again, I realize it was always going in that direction. Duh Megan 🙄 What else did you think “The Lost Boys� was referring to? 🤦🏻♀�
Once I somehow stepped out of the trance this duet put me in, I realized just how much I loved it. I love angsty books and authors who can wreck me yet be able to stitch me back together somehow better than when I started. This duet is not for the faint of heart. I don’t have many triggers but this book was hard to read at times and the fact this duet is this author’s debut??? What.The.Fuck. It’s so well written and even though it’s long, I felt like it read fast and all the pages were needed. Had this been shorter, it wouldn’t have done the characters justice. This is also one of the first romance books I’ve read in ages where all the sex could be taken out and I’d still want to read this. Don’t get me wrong, I like my smut but there was a proper story here that would have kept my attention without it.
Throughout most of this duet, I was teary eyed or had that swollen feeling in my throat but the part that made me lose my shit was the flashback scene to Will and his grandma. God, it paralyzed me for a moment reading Will’s inner thoughts as he hugged his grandma in her hospital bed while thinking she didn’t smell or look like she was supposed to while remembering similar thoughts and feelings when I lost my own gramma 10 years ago. I decided it was a fabulous idea to read this book on my birthday (🙄) and ironically I spent my birthday 10 years ago at my gramma’s funeral. By the time my gramma died, it was a celebration of her life and a long time coming and while some of my friends were appalled I spent my 30th birthday at my gramma’s funeral, I’ve always thought about it in a different way. My gramma was the most important person in my life growing up. I used to spend summers with her and she loved me unconditionally no matter how many times I fucked up or made choices she didn’t like. She always made me feel incredibly special even though she had a ridiculous amount of grandkids and even though it was my 30th birthday, there was no one I would have rather celebrated on my day but her. So, reading Will’s inner thoughts in that chapter brought all that back somehow and even as I write this now it’s making me teary eyed. This author has a gift with words and considering this is her debut duet, that’s quite the feat.
But then the chapter right after the one above gave me an intense feeling of whiplash because I went from crying my heart out in agony to crying my heart out because it became so fucking swoony and everything I wanted out of this book up to that point. When I say this book wrecked me, it felt like someone scrambled my brain and then ran me over with a truck. The last time I was this wrecked by a book was when I read Wrath by Ella James last year.
I cannot wait to read the next one in this series even though it’s not what I expected it to be. I expect it to be just as angsty if not more because of the subject matter but I was not expecting the trope.
December 1, 2022
Much deserved 5 stars!
”No one loses when the only objective is to out-love each other�
Will and Waylon *sigh*
From the “soundtrack� - 90s grunge/70s classic rock/60s R&B,
to the characters - if you can even call them that because they feel so real it’s hard to believe they are fictional,
to the town - so gritty and suffocating but with so much warmth and love there, seen through the eyes of the characters.
Immaculate vibes! The aesthetics are so my brand of cool.
Download the Spotify playlist - knowing the songs truly enhances the impact of the scenes.
Going to take me some time to get over this one, bring on the book hangover.
Please check TWs! Sensitive topics.
STILL BEATING ♥️
”No one loses when the only objective is to out-love each other�
Will and Waylon *sigh*
From the “soundtrack� - 90s grunge/70s classic rock/60s R&B,
to the characters - if you can even call them that because they feel so real it’s hard to believe they are fictional,
to the town - so gritty and suffocating but with so much warmth and love there, seen through the eyes of the characters.
Immaculate vibes! The aesthetics are so my brand of cool.
Download the Spotify playlist - knowing the songs truly enhances the impact of the scenes.
Going to take me some time to get over this one, bring on the book hangover.
Please check TWs! Sensitive topics.
STILL BEATING ♥️
May 6, 2024
“I like myself a whole lot better when I’m with you.�
I'm not ready to say goodbye yet!
Will and Way take their own place inside my heart and in my head.
This book was better than the first one, all the things I hated was fixed here, and it's incredible.
Way character development really affected me, his relationship with Will and how it's so realistic, was built step by step.. They both suffered alot, They deserve all the happiness and the good things in the world.
Will and Way story touched my heart, Changed my vision toward many things in my life.. reminderd me to be more grateful toward my own life even if it's miserable sometimes, showed me honest.. true love story. Story written with pain, tears and butterflies kiss.
I loved how much this duo hold many emotions and messages. A long healing journey I really enjoyed, even if I had tinny objections about it.
The lost boys will find their way to the sun, to a new start. And I will be more than happy to read about their own stories.
“I’m your trigger.�
I blink at him.
He gestures to my chest and smiles grimly. “And you’re mine.�
***
“Every day,� he whispers against my lips a second later. “I’ll prove to you every day I’m not going anywhere. Even� even if it gets to be too much sometimes, I’ll always, always find my way back to you.�
***
That stubborn, reckless heart of his, beating heavily against my chest.
Way and Will, Will and Way�
Two halves of a fucking whole.
Always.
***
There might be a lot I wish I could change right now—so many things I wish I could go back and do differently, just to have a little more time.
But I don’t regret him. Will. Never Will. And that’s all that matters.
I don’t regret a second of our story—what led up to this—because it’s ours. And regretting any of it would just give my dad more than he’s already taken. Even if all we have is the little time we had together, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in this godforsaken world.
***
Let's hope I will be okay after finishing this.
I'm not ready to say goodbye yet!
Will and Way take their own place inside my heart and in my head.
This book was better than the first one, all the things I hated was fixed here, and it's incredible.
Way character development really affected me, his relationship with Will and how it's so realistic, was built step by step.. They both suffered alot, They deserve all the happiness and the good things in the world.
Will and Way story touched my heart, Changed my vision toward many things in my life.. reminderd me to be more grateful toward my own life even if it's miserable sometimes, showed me honest.. true love story. Story written with pain, tears and butterflies kiss.
I loved how much this duo hold many emotions and messages. A long healing journey I really enjoyed, even if I had tinny objections about it.
The lost boys will find their way to the sun, to a new start. And I will be more than happy to read about their own stories.
“I’m your trigger.�
I blink at him.
He gestures to my chest and smiles grimly. “And you’re mine.�
***
“Every day,� he whispers against my lips a second later. “I’ll prove to you every day I’m not going anywhere. Even� even if it gets to be too much sometimes, I’ll always, always find my way back to you.�
***
That stubborn, reckless heart of his, beating heavily against my chest.
Way and Will, Will and Way�
Two halves of a fucking whole.
Always.
***
There might be a lot I wish I could change right now—so many things I wish I could go back and do differently, just to have a little more time.
But I don’t regret him. Will. Never Will. And that’s all that matters.
I don’t regret a second of our story—what led up to this—because it’s ours. And regretting any of it would just give my dad more than he’s already taken. Even if all we have is the little time we had together, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in this godforsaken world.
***
Let's hope I will be okay after finishing this.
May 1, 2024
"Nurture might be the thing that makes or breaks us, but just because we break, doesn't mean we stay broken."
No matter what happens there will always be a way.
No matter what happens they will always have their past.
But are they strong enough to overcome that?
Are they strong enough together to handle whatever comes their way?
Even the unpredictable?
Will the waves break them? Or have they always been stronger together?
"What's lost doesn't have to stay lost."
Will and Waylon have carved a place in my heart that I don't think will ever go away.
This duet is amazing to say the least. The growth, the understanding, the terms Way and Will have to come to.
Together, apart, with the other Lost Boys.
"We just need to hold out and wait for the sun to shine, because fuck, when is shines - it shines hard. Harder than any starless night."
It is perfect to see and it brings you into a world with not only Way and Will but also with everyone else.
You become a part of Shiloh for better or for worse.
But at least you have the Lost Boys.
And Jessie Walker created this world, this town, where everyone has issues, everyone has problems. But if you stick together, through the thick and through the thin, the problems can keep being there but you will get through them together. Because eventually there is light even in darkness.
I cannot wait to continue and see what else is in store!!
"You're fucking gorgeous, City Boy. Sorry it took me so long to tell you."
This book, for me at least, is about getting back up.
The past does not define you. While it will always be a part of you, that is something that cannot be changed, you can change how it impacts your life.
"It's always been him, even when I didn't want it to be."
Waylon McAllister is the best example that Jessie Walker brought us. He does not want to be like his father and he will do everything to make sure he isn't. He wants to protect Will. He always wanted to protect Will. Even at the cost of his own feelings. And he absolutely breaks down. And in this book he gets back up.
Because his father - the absolute asshole that he is - does not define him.
And Will, finally thinking about his own feelings as well, needs to know that it is real for Way the way it is for him.
And Way is more than willing to prove to him what Will means to him.
Challenge accepted.
"He's the beat of my fuckin heart. And that? That's everything."
This playlist legit went with the story in my opinion and every song has a different aspect to both this book and the previous one so I hope you like it!! And as always these are the songs I added to the OG amazing playlist by Jessie Walker 🖤�
(Link - )
🎶 "Broken In All The Right Places" - Lost Kings, MOD SUN
🎶 "Tattoos" - Renee Rapp
🎶 "Ocean Eyes" - American Avenue
🎶 "Astronaut In The Ocean" - Our Last Night
🎶 "Afterlife" - Hailee Steinfeld
🎶 "Lifelines" - I Prevail
🎶 "Breathe (2 AM)" - Anna Nalick
🎶 "Religion" - Livingston
🎶 "Control" - Zoe Wees
🎶 "Sober" - Demi Lovato
🎶 "the apology I'll never receive" - RORY
🎶 "Elastic Heart - Rock Version" - Written by Wolves
🎶 "Hurts Like Hell" - Fleurie, Tommee Profitt
🎶 "Bruises" - Lewis Capaldi
🎶 "When I'm Alone" - HVDES, sharks!
🎶 "casual sabotage" - YUNGBLUD
🎶 "Murder On The Dancefloor" - Sophie Ellis-Bextor
🎶 "That Should Be Me - Acoustic Version" - Justin Bieber
🎶 "Glimpse of Us" - Joji
🎶 "DANCING ALL ALONE" - Clinton Kane
🎶 "Be Someone" - Benson Boone
🎶 "Please Don't Leave Me" - P!nk
🎶 "dancing in the kitchen" - LANY
🎶 "I miss you, I'm sorry" - Gracie Abrams
🎶 "I'm Tired" - Zendaya, Labrinth
🎶 "Back To You" - Our Last Night, Halocene, Adam Christopher, Micki Sobral, Henrique Baptista, Tom Verstappen
🎶 "LosT" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎶 "Set Fire To The Rain" - SYCAMOUR
🎶 "Swim" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "Riptide" - grandson
🎶 "Army" - Besomorph, Arcando, Neoni
🎶 "F.I.N.E." - Too Close To Touch
🎶 "Hammer to the Heart" - Teddy Swims
🎶 "Going Under" - Evanescence
🎶 "My My My!" - Troye Sivan
🎶 "Seven" - Rain Paris
🎶 "Toy Soldier" - Livingston
🎶 "something worth working on" - John K
🎶 "Color (Remix)" - Todrick Hall, wiidope, Jeeve
🎶 "Paranoid" - I Prevail
🎶 "Here Without You" - 3 Doors Down
🎶 "More Than Words" - Extreme
🎶 "Panic Room" - Au/Ra
🎶 "Lose" - KSI, Lil Wayne
🎶 "STAY" - True North, Loveless
🎶 "HEAVYWEIGHT" - Ryan Oaks, Loveless
🎶 "Don't Give Up On Me" - Andy Grammer
🎶 "Shatter" - Maggie Rogers
🎶 "Jump - Acoustic" - Julia Michaels
🎶 "Church" - Fall Out Boy
🎶 "Movement" - Hozier
🎶 "I Want To" - Rosenfeld
🎶 "I Like Me Better" - Lauv
🎶 "Bring Me To Life" - Our Last Night
🎶 "If I Can't Have You" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "Spectrum" - Florence + The Machine
🎶 "Warrior" - Livingston
🎶 "Breathe" - Kansh
🎶 "Church" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "Anarchist - Unplugged" - YUNGBLUD
🎶 "Praying" - Kesha
🎶 "Two Punks In Love" - bulow
🎶 "The Reason" - Hoobastank
🎶 "Runnin' Home to You - Guitar Version" - Grant Gustin
🎶 "Nothing Else Matters" - Miley Cyrus, WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, Chad Smith
🎶 "Die For You" - Rain Paris
🎶 "Degenerates" - A Day To Remember
And don't worry about the spice� I got you 😏😏😏
"Fuck, you're so tight. Gonna kill me when I get inside."
"Don't come. I'm far from done with you."
"Look at you. So fucking perfect. So fucking needy for it."
Book Edit -
"I'll always, always find my way back to you."
No matter what happens there will always be a way.
No matter what happens they will always have their past.
But are they strong enough to overcome that?
Are they strong enough together to handle whatever comes their way?
Even the unpredictable?
Will the waves break them? Or have they always been stronger together?
"What's lost doesn't have to stay lost."
Will and Waylon have carved a place in my heart that I don't think will ever go away.
This duet is amazing to say the least. The growth, the understanding, the terms Way and Will have to come to.
Together, apart, with the other Lost Boys.
"We just need to hold out and wait for the sun to shine, because fuck, when is shines - it shines hard. Harder than any starless night."
It is perfect to see and it brings you into a world with not only Way and Will but also with everyone else.
You become a part of Shiloh for better or for worse.
But at least you have the Lost Boys.
And Jessie Walker created this world, this town, where everyone has issues, everyone has problems. But if you stick together, through the thick and through the thin, the problems can keep being there but you will get through them together. Because eventually there is light even in darkness.
I cannot wait to continue and see what else is in store!!
"You're fucking gorgeous, City Boy. Sorry it took me so long to tell you."
This book, for me at least, is about getting back up.
The past does not define you. While it will always be a part of you, that is something that cannot be changed, you can change how it impacts your life.
"It's always been him, even when I didn't want it to be."
Waylon McAllister is the best example that Jessie Walker brought us. He does not want to be like his father and he will do everything to make sure he isn't. He wants to protect Will. He always wanted to protect Will. Even at the cost of his own feelings. And he absolutely breaks down. And in this book he gets back up.
Because his father - the absolute asshole that he is - does not define him.
And Will, finally thinking about his own feelings as well, needs to know that it is real for Way the way it is for him.
And Way is more than willing to prove to him what Will means to him.
Challenge accepted.
"He's the beat of my fuckin heart. And that? That's everything."
This playlist legit went with the story in my opinion and every song has a different aspect to both this book and the previous one so I hope you like it!! And as always these are the songs I added to the OG amazing playlist by Jessie Walker 🖤�
(Link - )
🎶 "Broken In All The Right Places" - Lost Kings, MOD SUN
🎶 "Tattoos" - Renee Rapp
🎶 "Ocean Eyes" - American Avenue
🎶 "Astronaut In The Ocean" - Our Last Night
🎶 "Afterlife" - Hailee Steinfeld
🎶 "Lifelines" - I Prevail
🎶 "Breathe (2 AM)" - Anna Nalick
🎶 "Religion" - Livingston
🎶 "Control" - Zoe Wees
🎶 "Sober" - Demi Lovato
🎶 "the apology I'll never receive" - RORY
🎶 "Elastic Heart - Rock Version" - Written by Wolves
🎶 "Hurts Like Hell" - Fleurie, Tommee Profitt
🎶 "Bruises" - Lewis Capaldi
🎶 "When I'm Alone" - HVDES, sharks!
🎶 "casual sabotage" - YUNGBLUD
🎶 "Murder On The Dancefloor" - Sophie Ellis-Bextor
🎶 "That Should Be Me - Acoustic Version" - Justin Bieber
🎶 "Glimpse of Us" - Joji
🎶 "DANCING ALL ALONE" - Clinton Kane
🎶 "Be Someone" - Benson Boone
🎶 "Please Don't Leave Me" - P!nk
🎶 "dancing in the kitchen" - LANY
🎶 "I miss you, I'm sorry" - Gracie Abrams
🎶 "I'm Tired" - Zendaya, Labrinth
🎶 "Back To You" - Our Last Night, Halocene, Adam Christopher, Micki Sobral, Henrique Baptista, Tom Verstappen
🎶 "LosT" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎶 "Set Fire To The Rain" - SYCAMOUR
🎶 "Swim" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "Riptide" - grandson
🎶 "Army" - Besomorph, Arcando, Neoni
🎶 "F.I.N.E." - Too Close To Touch
🎶 "Hammer to the Heart" - Teddy Swims
🎶 "Going Under" - Evanescence
🎶 "My My My!" - Troye Sivan
🎶 "Seven" - Rain Paris
🎶 "Toy Soldier" - Livingston
🎶 "something worth working on" - John K
🎶 "Color (Remix)" - Todrick Hall, wiidope, Jeeve
🎶 "Paranoid" - I Prevail
🎶 "Here Without You" - 3 Doors Down
🎶 "More Than Words" - Extreme
🎶 "Panic Room" - Au/Ra
🎶 "Lose" - KSI, Lil Wayne
🎶 "STAY" - True North, Loveless
🎶 "HEAVYWEIGHT" - Ryan Oaks, Loveless
🎶 "Don't Give Up On Me" - Andy Grammer
🎶 "Shatter" - Maggie Rogers
🎶 "Jump - Acoustic" - Julia Michaels
🎶 "Church" - Fall Out Boy
🎶 "Movement" - Hozier
🎶 "I Want To" - Rosenfeld
🎶 "I Like Me Better" - Lauv
🎶 "Bring Me To Life" - Our Last Night
🎶 "If I Can't Have You" - Shawn Mendes
🎶 "Spectrum" - Florence + The Machine
🎶 "Warrior" - Livingston
🎶 "Breathe" - Kansh
🎶 "Church" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "Anarchist - Unplugged" - YUNGBLUD
🎶 "Praying" - Kesha
🎶 "Two Punks In Love" - bulow
🎶 "The Reason" - Hoobastank
🎶 "Runnin' Home to You - Guitar Version" - Grant Gustin
🎶 "Nothing Else Matters" - Miley Cyrus, WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, Chad Smith
🎶 "Die For You" - Rain Paris
🎶 "Degenerates" - A Day To Remember
And don't worry about the spice� I got you 😏😏😏
"Fuck, you're so tight. Gonna kill me when I get inside."
"Don't come. I'm far from done with you."
"Look at you. So fucking perfect. So fucking needy for it."
Book Edit -
"I'll always, always find my way back to you."
August 15, 2024
“So long as I have the will to live…� I swallow hard, fingers digging into his skin, and I murmur against his lips. “There’ll always be a way.�
Where There's a Will is trauma, heartbreak and devastation. If There's a Way is comfort, love and healing. That's not to say that this book is all rainbows and butterflies and there aren't moments of pure pain (there are), but where the first book resembles a dark abyss, this one is the light at the end of the tunnel.
Will, Waylon, Ivy, Mason, Shawn, Jeremy, Reggie. These characters have taken up residence in my heart and I've grown quite attached to them over the course of these two books. They're deeply flawed, but that's what makes me love them even more. I find it easier to empathise with flawed characters because even if I don't always agree with their actions, I can at least understand where they're coming from. And there were moments when I wished these characters had acted differently to spare me the heartache, but this is their story and I wouldn't have it any other way.
�Everything good that has happened, happened just ten miles up the road, in some small, middle-of-nowhere town. It’s where I met my best friends growing up. It’s where I found a family of my own—not one I was born into, but one I fell into. �
Will and Way's healing journey was tough, the road to their HEA wasn't easy, and they're not quite there yet, and I love that. I know it sounds weird, but I love how realistically their healing journey is portrayed. It's not linear, their problems aren't magically solved, their traumas aren't erased and they're still going to have bad days. But they are actively trying to get to a better place and that's what matters. They're more solid than ever, stronger and ready to face anything as long as they have each other. I'm very, very proud of them.
� “My burden is loving you, but not letting myself have you, because I’m fucking petrified nothing will ever be enough to keep you. And I can’t live with that. I literally cannot live with the idea of losing you, Waylon. So there you fucking have it. I’m not just scared, I’m petrified.� �
This book had many painful moments, but it was also full of happy moments. I giggled. I swooned. I felt anger and despair. I cried and I laughed. I. FELT. IT. ALL! I wish I could erase my memory of these books, just to read them again for the first time.
ˏˋ�Will Foster, the sunshine boy ꒱ˎ�
This time the roles were reversed and Will was the one pulling back while Waylon fought hard for them. Even though I was so angry at times because Will's actions hurt Way, I'm glad he didn't rush into a relationship with him without first making sure Waylon wanted it, was willing to fight for it. After having his heart crushed, Will needed reassurance. And I'm so proud that for once he put himself first and didn't allow Way to hurt him again, no matter how hard it was to stay away.
� “Every day,� he whispers against my lips a second later. “I’ll prove to you every day I’m not going anywhere. Even� even if it gets to be too much sometimes, I’ll always, always find my way back to you.� �
ˏˋ�Waylon McAllister, the grumpy bear. ꒱ˎ�
Oh, how my heart aches for this boy! Way's character arc was beautifully done. I cannot tell you how many times my heart almost burst at how proud I was of this boy for not giving in to his demons, his self-loathing. Instead of running away from it all, instead of throwing his happiness away, he fought hard for it. He tried and tried and tried. Every single day. Even when he wanted to give up, he never stopped fighting. He did everything he could to be better, not just for Will, but for himself. And I love him for that.
� Against my chest, the blunt edges of his nails dig into my skin, and I kind of want to tell him to just do it. Rip my heart out. It’s already his anyway. �
Will and Waylon fought hard for their happy ending. They bared their souls to each other, showing every scar, every insecurity, every fear. They communicated their feelings so well, it was beautiful to see. They proved to each other that what they have is forever. Their love is messy and angsty and all-consuming, but it is strong. It is brighter than the sun. Will is the sunshine to Way's darkness and they complement each other beautifully. The urge to talk about every little thing that makes their relationship so dear to me is overwhelming, I love them very much.
� “Christ, man. That’s gotta be what this is, right? This feeling� like I’m being ripped apart from the inside out. Like I’m dying. Like I� like I literally can’t breathe from it.� My voice catches, breaking off like glass. “All there’s left in me is� is you, and I don’t even know if that makes sense. But it’s you. It’s always been you.��
The found family in this series is precious. Even though this duet focuses on Will and Way, we still get to see a lot of the other characters and I love how realistically the friendships are portrayed. Nothing is perfect. There were moments where they grew apart, too focused on their own pain to see how much a friend was hurting, but that's real life. It happens. But everyone is trying to get better and that's the most important thing. I just want the best for them.
� Will, the person who my heart beats for. The guys I call brothers. My cousin who’s always been more like a sister—just like the one whose ghost walks these paths. The one we came here to celebrate, along with her twin brother…They’re my family. Blood might be thicker than water, but us? We’ve got thorns. �
I'm so excited to read the next duet, but I'm a little nervous about it because of things I can't reveal so as not to spoil anything. I think it's going to be even messier and more angsty than this duet, but I trust that the author will treat the story with love and care.
I know I have a novella to read, and Will and Way will appear in the next books, so this isn't a farewell, but it still feels like I'm letting them go. I could read more books about them, I don't think I'd ever get tired of them. They’re my precious boys.
Definitely recommend this duet, especially if you like angsty, hopeful romances with found family, but be sure to check the trigger warnings as this is not an easy read.
November 26, 2023
5 RAW-REAL-SHAKING-CRYING-HOPELESSLY-IN-LOVE STARS
January 2, 2025
* ☘︎ :･ﾟTOP 10 READ 2022 :･ﾟ☘︎ *
5 still beating stars
I am totally out of words for this whole duet. It hurt. That much I can say. But it also had its beautiful moments. So beautiful, even light moments.
I love Will & Way and I am sure they will stay with me for a while and I am happy that they found a home on my bookshelf. ˥︎˥︎
Where the first book was more from Will’s perspective we get a lot more into Way’s head in this one. You could see the change he was going through after that awful night at the end of the first book. A change for the good. A change that made him stronger. Stronger to deal with what had happened to him and what he had to endure � and stronger to take the risk of love. With the one person he loved from the start, even if he was taught it was wrong.
I’m not a reader who cries easily. And even as my default expression became a pained one, I didn’t cry. But there was one scene that really got me choking in the end. And that was the talk they had with Will’s parents. Finding out how they tried to help and how eventually a system that is supposed to protect the most vulnerable in our society had failed Way all those years ago.
I loved Way’s uncle Reggie (his mother’s brother) in this one. More than before. After learning about Way’s past and how (in a way) he failed Way too, when he’d needed him, he literally fights to somehow make it up to him. And show Way that he is not only safe with him but loved.
Haha okay, so much for I am out of words�
I loved Jessie Walker’s Afterword. Where she writes about her journey with this book and about her characters. It was heartwarming to read.
I’m very excited for what Jessie Walker has in store for the other two Lost Boys Mason and Shawn. Especially Shawn’s story I cannot wait for. ˥︎
****
Shilohverse recommended reading
Lost Boys Book 1 - Where There’s A Will - 5.0 stars
Lost Boys Book 2 - If There’s A Way - 5.0 stars
Lost Boys Novella - All We Are
Lost Boys Novella - Still Beating - 5.0 stars
Aviary Duet Book 1 - Little Bird Lost - 5.0 stars
Lost Boys Book 3 - Every Breath After, Part 1 - no rating for now
5 still beating stars
“That’s my burden, okay?� Exhaustion weighs down every word. “My burden is loving you, but not letting myself have you, because I’m fucking petrified nothing will ever be enough to keep you. And I can’t live with that. I literally cannot live with the idea of losing you, Waylon. …�
I am totally out of words for this whole duet. It hurt. That much I can say. But it also had its beautiful moments. So beautiful, even light moments.
I love Will & Way and I am sure they will stay with me for a while and I am happy that they found a home on my bookshelf. ˥︎˥︎
Where the first book was more from Will’s perspective we get a lot more into Way’s head in this one. You could see the change he was going through after that awful night at the end of the first book. A change for the good. A change that made him stronger. Stronger to deal with what had happened to him and what he had to endure � and stronger to take the risk of love. With the one person he loved from the start, even if he was taught it was wrong.
“One day, I’m gonna hold your hand in public, and not feel like I’m dying when I do it.� ˥︎
I’m not a reader who cries easily. And even as my default expression became a pained one, I didn’t cry. But there was one scene that really got me choking in the end. And that was the talk they had with Will’s parents. Finding out how they tried to help and how eventually a system that is supposed to protect the most vulnerable in our society had failed Way all those years ago.
I loved Way’s uncle Reggie (his mother’s brother) in this one. More than before. After learning about Way’s past and how (in a way) he failed Way too, when he’d needed him, he literally fights to somehow make it up to him. And show Way that he is not only safe with him but loved.
To Will: “I don’t have to give you the talk, do I?�
“The talk?�
“You’re a good kid. But that boy—…he’s my entire world.� �
“You get me?�
Haha okay, so much for I am out of words�
I loved Jessie Walker’s Afterword. Where she writes about her journey with this book and about her characters. It was heartwarming to read.
I started this for me, but I finished it for you� And for them. My boys.
I’m very excited for what Jessie Walker has in store for the other two Lost Boys Mason and Shawn. Especially Shawn’s story I cannot wait for. ˥︎
****
Shilohverse recommended reading
Lost Boys Book 1 - Where There’s A Will - 5.0 stars
Lost Boys Book 2 - If There’s A Way - 5.0 stars
Lost Boys Novella - All We Are
Lost Boys Novella - Still Beating - 5.0 stars
Aviary Duet Book 1 - Little Bird Lost - 5.0 stars
Lost Boys Book 3 - Every Breath After, Part 1 - no rating for now
January 15, 2025
4.5⭐️ i am unwell😭🥹 these books broke me.. but in a good way? if that even makes sense 😭
this story is so heavy, deep and raw and so beautiful, i actually cried many times through both books 💔 the whole push and pull thing kind of annoyed me at times, but it was good i guess, bc how unpredictable it was, kept me on the edge of my seat honestly 👀 and i will always devour anything with found a family trope 💜
but most of all, i fell in love with these boys and their love for each other 🫶🏼 no matter how flawed and broken they were, they always kept coming back bc they need each other like they need air 😭❤️�
in conclusion: i would die for them, your honor 🫶🏼
this story is so heavy, deep and raw and so beautiful, i actually cried many times through both books 💔 the whole push and pull thing kind of annoyed me at times, but it was good i guess, bc how unpredictable it was, kept me on the edge of my seat honestly 👀 and i will always devour anything with found a family trope 💜
but most of all, i fell in love with these boys and their love for each other 🫶🏼 no matter how flawed and broken they were, they always kept coming back bc they need each other like they need air 😭❤️�
in conclusion: i would die for them, your honor 🫶🏼
May 15, 2022
I’m going to write a review tomorrow morning. I’m emotionally gutted right now� but yes this wasn’t just a five Star read it was 100,000 stars, it was everything and more. More to come�
☀� ☀� ☀� THE NEXT MORNING ☀� ☀� ☀�
Will and Way…wow, guys what an ending. Now you’ll notice that my review for book one was � scant to say the least. Because, well I was verklempt. Which, honestly, was true for book 2 as well.
So here’s what I have to say: read this duet. Just do it.
Y’a know when you find a book that touches something inside of you, an ache that’s always there, that never seems to go away? But then through someone else’s story, someone else’s words, you’re able to unlock a kind of balm for this soul-deep ache. Touch into in a way you never knew could be done. In a way that heals instead of hurts. Or if it does hurt, it’s in a way that needs to be felt� Well that’s what this duet did for me. For a lot of reasons that are far to personal for the internet. 😅 I’m grateful to these characters, the town of Shiloh, and Jessie for getting this story out there.
And I guess I’ll just leave you with (ONE) of my favorite quotes from this book:
“Still beating.�
PS check the trigger warnings! Jessie is a masterful writer who’s wielding of the proverbial quill will cut you DEEP regardless of whether or not the topics touched on are personally uncomfortable!!
☀� ☀� ☀� THE NEXT MORNING ☀� ☀� ☀�
Will and Way…wow, guys what an ending. Now you’ll notice that my review for book one was � scant to say the least. Because, well I was verklempt. Which, honestly, was true for book 2 as well.
So here’s what I have to say: read this duet. Just do it.
Y’a know when you find a book that touches something inside of you, an ache that’s always there, that never seems to go away? But then through someone else’s story, someone else’s words, you’re able to unlock a kind of balm for this soul-deep ache. Touch into in a way you never knew could be done. In a way that heals instead of hurts. Or if it does hurt, it’s in a way that needs to be felt� Well that’s what this duet did for me. For a lot of reasons that are far to personal for the internet. 😅 I’m grateful to these characters, the town of Shiloh, and Jessie for getting this story out there.
And I guess I’ll just leave you with (ONE) of my favorite quotes from this book:
“Still beating.�
PS check the trigger warnings! Jessie is a masterful writer who’s wielding of the proverbial quill will cut you DEEP regardless of whether or not the topics touched on are personally uncomfortable!!
June 10, 2022
"He holds me to him as desperately as I hold on to him.
This, I think. This is all I need. Oxygen? Who fucking needs it? Shit’s poisonous anyhow."
I guess it's okay to say that I died a painful death. Once, maybe twice or maybe several times. But this duet killed me for sure. Then....I was reincarnated by the bittersweet epilogue.
Just some of my favourite parts of the book: -
No, we’re not lost, I think, smiling against his cheek.
Not anymore�
But found.
This, I think. This is all I need. Oxygen? Who fucking needs it? Shit’s poisonous anyhow."
I guess it's okay to say that I died a painful death. Once, maybe twice or maybe several times. But this duet killed me for sure. Then....I was reincarnated by the bittersweet epilogue.
Just some of my favourite parts of the book: -
I might not know love, but I do know my heart beats for him. That much is as clear as day to me. So if keeping this bruised up chunk of muscle beating is all I’ve gotta do to make sure he never lets me hurt him again? Well, that’s the easiest promise I’ll ever make. Simple as that.
Healthy?
Probably not.
But hell if I give a shit right now.
“And I know that’s a fucking lot—I’m a lot. Especially when it comes to you.�
“But it is what it is,� I tell him simply. “Take it or leave it, because I refuse to water it down, even for you. I’d do just about anything for you, but don’t ever ask me to love you less.�
“I’d rather give every little piece of myself to you,� he goes on roughly, “than wonder what could have been because society says it’s wrong. Too much. Toxic.�
No, we’re not lost, I think, smiling against his cheek.
Not anymore�
But found.
May 16, 2022
4.5
The conclusion to Way and Will’s story didn’t disappoint. It was every bit as intense, emotional and dramatic as the first book (or rather the first ‘part� of their story; the author made it clear these are not two separate books in a series, but one book split into two volumes, and I agree).
I said ‘dramatic,� but I meant that in a good way. Not only the MCs, almost everyone here had been through hell at some point in their lives, and shit got ugly. But they had each other’s backs, and supported one another through it all. What an amazing group of friends.
Found family ftw. �
If I hadn’t already known psychology was Jessie Walker’s thing after snooping around on her page, I would’ve guessed from the authentic, no-holds-barred � but at the same time, sensitive � way she wrote about trauma and its effects on every aspect of one’s life.
Way’s trauma took the cake, of course. These boys had to fight tooth and nail for their love and it was just heartbreaking sometimes. 😭
Stylistically, the writing’s improved compared to book 1, imo. I think the story could’ve been tightened, though � maybe not to one book, there’s just too much going on here, but two 300-something-page ones, perhaps? 🤔 That’s just splitting hairs, though.
I’d like Mason’s book now, please. 🙂💔
PLEASE. That title sounds suitably ominous...
Also, Shawn’s getting a book, too � fuck yeah!! I shouldn’t be surprised, though, he is a Lost Boy, after all.
Write fast, Jessie.
The conclusion to Way and Will’s story didn’t disappoint. It was every bit as intense, emotional and dramatic as the first book (or rather the first ‘part� of their story; the author made it clear these are not two separate books in a series, but one book split into two volumes, and I agree).
I said ‘dramatic,� but I meant that in a good way. Not only the MCs, almost everyone here had been through hell at some point in their lives, and shit got ugly. But they had each other’s backs, and supported one another through it all. What an amazing group of friends.
They’re my family.
Blood might be thicker than water, but us? We’ve got thorns. There is no pulling away without one of us bleeding out. It’s codependent. Toxic as fuck. Messy and raw in a way that most people will never understand or accept.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Found family ftw. �
If I hadn’t already known psychology was Jessie Walker’s thing after snooping around on her page, I would’ve guessed from the authentic, no-holds-barred � but at the same time, sensitive � way she wrote about trauma and its effects on every aspect of one’s life.
Way’s trauma took the cake, of course. These boys had to fight tooth and nail for their love and it was just heartbreaking sometimes. 😭
Stylistically, the writing’s improved compared to book 1, imo. I think the story could’ve been tightened, though � maybe not to one book, there’s just too much going on here, but two 300-something-page ones, perhaps? 🤔 That’s just splitting hairs, though.
I’d like Mason’s book now, please. 🙂💔
PLEASE. That title sounds suitably ominous...
Also, Shawn’s getting a book, too � fuck yeah!! I shouldn’t be surprised, though, he is a Lost Boy, after all.
Write fast, Jessie.
May 16, 2022
I don't think I have the vocabulary to express how much I loved this book and this duet as a whole. Honestly, if the books weren't so long and if my tbr wasn't a living, breathing thing, I would start reading these over again right now. Not only do I not want to let Waylon and Will go, I kind of can't. I stayed up late last night with one goal, and that was to finish this long ass book. Then I tossed and turned the rest of the night because I couldn't stop thinking about it. This was probably my most anticipated book of the year and Jessie Walker hit it right out of the park. I have never read books better tailored to what I like. The music, the characters, the small town, the big dreams, the loss, the trauma, the pain (so much pain). But also the joyous moments and the found family and the beauty of love and acceptance when you never thought it was possible or if it was even deserved. And the elation found in small moments, the pride in overcoming something that felt massive and impossible. The need for love and the fear of not recognizing it, not accepting it, being ashamed of it. I guess I do have some vocabulary, but I still don't think I'm doing this book the justice it deserves.
I loved that the focus of this second part was primarily on Waylon. He absolutely bloomed, but it was not without putting in a ton of hard work to get to that point. In the club, with the confetti - y'all know what I'm talking about. It was breathtaking and I couldn't have stopped the tears if I'd wanted to (which I didn't). That smile. That feeling of safety and freedom. Ugh, I'm gonna cry again just thinking about it. I was so glad that the author gave Waylon the time and space he needed to work on himself. The focus on therapy and coping techniques and sobriety was so appreciated and made Waylon's journey believable. Many authors have tried and failed at this, but not this one. Every step was given attention and respect and every breakthrough felt earned, not rushed. I felt the pride in every win just as much as I felt the pain in every loss.
And Will. Will, Will, Will. The push and pull taking place inside of him was heartbreaking and completely understandable. He was still fresh off the loss of Zayne and was once again in a position to lose someone he cared about. All of his thoughts and reasons and realizations felt authentic to him and made so much sense to me. He didn't always make decisions I agreed with, but I also never felt like I needed to agree with them because they weren't mine to make. That's how perfectly these characters were written. They were so real and flawed and broken that all I could do was buckle up and trust them to get me where I needed to be. Also, Will's parents were awesome. I had reservations about his mom at first, but she won me over and made me laugh at the same time.
Waylon and Will together...perfectly imperfect. There was no "love heals all wounds" BS in this book. While the bad days weren't on full display, they were acknowledged and that was enough. Their relationship would never be easy, not after everything they'd been through. But once they stopped fighting each other, dropped the pretenses and started using their words, things got easier. They gave themselves and each other the opportunity to see just how good they were together, how well they fit. They weren't there to fix each other. They were a soft place to land. A ray of sunshine in the dark. A beating heart. Also, they were freaking adorable as a couple. All the pinky holding and cheesy declarations and eye rolling...so cute.
Obviously you have to read before this book since this is a duet and you will otherwise be completely lost. Also read the trigger warnings because this author does not pull punches and the subject matter, themes and events in this book are very heavy. I'm so glad that there are plans to give both Mason and Shawn their own books. I can't even begin to imagine what type of person it will take to bring Shawn out of the fortress he has built around himself. I'm also hoping Ivy will get some attention. She's just as much a Lost Boy as the rest of them and I'd love to see her find her person.
I loved that the focus of this second part was primarily on Waylon. He absolutely bloomed, but it was not without putting in a ton of hard work to get to that point. In the club, with the confetti - y'all know what I'm talking about. It was breathtaking and I couldn't have stopped the tears if I'd wanted to (which I didn't). That smile. That feeling of safety and freedom. Ugh, I'm gonna cry again just thinking about it. I was so glad that the author gave Waylon the time and space he needed to work on himself. The focus on therapy and coping techniques and sobriety was so appreciated and made Waylon's journey believable. Many authors have tried and failed at this, but not this one. Every step was given attention and respect and every breakthrough felt earned, not rushed. I felt the pride in every win just as much as I felt the pain in every loss.
And Will. Will, Will, Will. The push and pull taking place inside of him was heartbreaking and completely understandable. He was still fresh off the loss of Zayne and was once again in a position to lose someone he cared about. All of his thoughts and reasons and realizations felt authentic to him and made so much sense to me. He didn't always make decisions I agreed with, but I also never felt like I needed to agree with them because they weren't mine to make. That's how perfectly these characters were written. They were so real and flawed and broken that all I could do was buckle up and trust them to get me where I needed to be. Also, Will's parents were awesome. I had reservations about his mom at first, but she won me over and made me laugh at the same time.
Waylon and Will together...perfectly imperfect. There was no "love heals all wounds" BS in this book. While the bad days weren't on full display, they were acknowledged and that was enough. Their relationship would never be easy, not after everything they'd been through. But once they stopped fighting each other, dropped the pretenses and started using their words, things got easier. They gave themselves and each other the opportunity to see just how good they were together, how well they fit. They weren't there to fix each other. They were a soft place to land. A ray of sunshine in the dark. A beating heart. Also, they were freaking adorable as a couple. All the pinky holding and cheesy declarations and eye rolling...so cute.
Obviously you have to read before this book since this is a duet and you will otherwise be completely lost. Also read the trigger warnings because this author does not pull punches and the subject matter, themes and events in this book are very heavy. I'm so glad that there are plans to give both Mason and Shawn their own books. I can't even begin to imagine what type of person it will take to bring Shawn out of the fortress he has built around himself. I'm also hoping Ivy will get some attention. She's just as much a Lost Boy as the rest of them and I'd love to see her find her person.
May 25, 2024
Therapy. Healing. Sobriety. Words Waylon McAllister never thought he’d have in his vocabulary, all that’s missing is Will. After the ending of Where There’s a Will and the blowout that followed, Way has himself believing that Will hates him and wants nothing to do with him ever again. Will is around though, keeping his distance and working through his own problems, and boy are they messy.
These two beautiful broken men, still very much those same little boys from ten years ago, are inevitable no matter how much they fight it. Despite all of the hurt, the toxicity and the trauma, there’s still hope. There’s still salvation. & If There’s a Way is their uphill battle to happiness, at least their ever changing version of it. It’s still heavy, it’s still fucked up, but Will and Way finally figure out that they’re better together than apart.
There’s so much love and acceptance and growth for Will and Way, and fuck do they deserve that after everything. I’m glad that this isn’t the end for their story, and need more of these babies ASAP
These two beautiful broken men, still very much those same little boys from ten years ago, are inevitable no matter how much they fight it. Despite all of the hurt, the toxicity and the trauma, there’s still hope. There’s still salvation. & If There’s a Way is their uphill battle to happiness, at least their ever changing version of it. It’s still heavy, it’s still fucked up, but Will and Way finally figure out that they’re better together than apart.
There’s so much love and acceptance and growth for Will and Way, and fuck do they deserve that after everything. I’m glad that this isn’t the end for their story, and need more of these babies ASAP
June 17, 2022
ok i liked this better than the first but still there were some things that had me scoffing and shaking my head.
some might say that standing in front of someone who hates you and asking them to shoot is pretty fucking suicidal. and that brought them together?? i was honestly so damn confused, still am as a matter of fact. pretty sure the book implied that Will's hard limit was suicidal boyfriends🤡. it's one thing getting in front of your loved one if they're about to get shot and a whole other to demand somebody shoot you.
another thing was how Way's whole tune about his father changed when his dad died. above all else that must've been a slap to the face to the people who watched him die year after year because of what the piece of shit did.
also, where did the basic human decency go. how did not one person step up and be an actual human being for once and get him out of there. it is so far from enough that you just show up when it's all done and say he has godparents now. and the gall of them to praise Will😬. i wanted to slap some of the characters more than once.
i was even annoyed with Ivy at one point. Will and Way were both destructive to a degree and the time away did them a lot of good so the way she shouted at Will like she had any right to interfere in a relationship brimming with landmines annoyed the fuck out of me.
the way they fought when there wasn't actually any problems and didn't fight when there were reasons glaring at their faces💀. but i was also tired of the way Will got treated the last book so i was glad he stood up for his heart at last.
some might say that standing in front of someone who hates you and asking them to shoot is pretty fucking suicidal. and that brought them together?? i was honestly so damn confused, still am as a matter of fact. pretty sure the book implied that Will's hard limit was suicidal boyfriends🤡. it's one thing getting in front of your loved one if they're about to get shot and a whole other to demand somebody shoot you.
another thing was how Way's whole tune about his father changed when his dad died. above all else that must've been a slap to the face to the people who watched him die year after year because of what the piece of shit did.
also, where did the basic human decency go. how did not one person step up and be an actual human being for once and get him out of there. it is so far from enough that you just show up when it's all done and say he has godparents now. and the gall of them to praise Will😬. i wanted to slap some of the characters more than once.
i was even annoyed with Ivy at one point. Will and Way were both destructive to a degree and the time away did them a lot of good so the way she shouted at Will like she had any right to interfere in a relationship brimming with landmines annoyed the fuck out of me.
the way they fought when there wasn't actually any problems and didn't fight when there were reasons glaring at their faces💀. but i was also tired of the way Will got treated the last book so i was glad he stood up for his heart at last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 2, 2023Pausing at 28%, not in the right headspace for this one rn but I love them 💜
April 24, 2025
18/04/2025 - reread
...
My Gawd, this series took itself seriously!!! Everything was dramatic and over emphasized.
There.
Were.
Senteces.
Written.
Like.
This.
The declarations were for forever, the love was like no other...
To be fair the topics it covered were pretty serious, and i did have a lot of fun reading it despite OR because of the drama.
...
My Gawd, this series took itself seriously!!! Everything was dramatic and over emphasized.
There.
Were.
Senteces.
Written.
Like.
This.
The declarations were for forever, the love was like no other...
To be fair the topics it covered were pretty serious, and i did have a lot of fun reading it despite OR because of the drama.
December 18, 2023
Reread 🖤 crying.
November 8, 2022
⭐︎
5 "Where There's a Will, There's a Way" stars!
⭐︎
“Christ, man. That’s gotta be what this is, right? This feeling� like I’m being ripped apart from the inside out. Like I’m dying. Like I� like I literally can’t breathe from it.� My voice catches, breaking off like glass. “All there’s left in me is� is you, and I don’t even know if that makes sense. But it’s you. It’s always been you.�
What's there to say after reading such a masterpiece of a duet? What's there to say after reading a love story for the ages? What's there to say after reading such a bloody brilliant book?
Well, I guess nothing other than you gotta go read these two books if you haven't yet.
Why? Because they were amazingly written, which full fleshed out characters, that felt so very real, with a real love that was one for the ages.
It was never easy or pretty, but it was real, and Will and Way are so very in love. They just had to wade through all the shit to get to the other side where they could be together and have a sustainable relationship.
Way, after having such a tough go of it in the first book, really stepped up in this second installment. He stumbled, he was never perfect, but he did the work to get better, even though it was the hardest thing he ever had to do.
What it comes down to is having the mental strength, the will to get up day after day and work on yourself and how to handle things that doesn't lead down the road of destruction and addiction.
The first book was mainly about getting Way to rock bottom so that he would have to admit he had a problem in the first place, and that he needed help in order to get better.
After the first book's cliffhanger, it wasn't looking too good for our main pair. The second book opens up about a month later from those events, and Will and Way haven't seen each other in that month.
Way essentially had to detox from alcohol, and start going to therapy three times a week, and focus and pulling himself out of the hole he found himself in at the end of the first book.
It wasn't easy, and it took time - and Will had his own lesser version of PTSD and problems to deal with as well - but all the angst and heartbreak was SO worth it.
As horrible as all the angst is, and how much we don't want beloved characters to go through such trauma and hurt and anguish...would they end up where they are in this story if everything didn't happen the way it did?
We learn more regarding Will and his parents leaving the town when he was a kid and how things might have been worse if Will had actually stayed. As heartbreaking as it was for these two boys...in the end, they seem the better for it, we learn. I can't spoil why that is, but when you learn of it, it makes so much sense.
As much as it sucks that these two didn't get those 10 years together, in a way it was good. They had growing up to do, and they needed to get to where they are in these books on their own to be ready for each other.
And sure, Way needed even more time and work than Will, but still. Things could have gone even worse for him than things already were, so in a way things needed to happen the way they did, as much as it sucks while in the angsty part of it.
This second installment, in particular, did an amazing job of picking up the pieces of the first book. These two have already been through the wringer, and they still go through some shit in this book, but...they are handling it way better than in the first book, because they're learning and growing and bettering themselves first and foremost.
Therapy is also a big reason why as well. Will isn't in it for the majority of this, but near the end he starts going back to therapy as well. He goes through his own shit, even if it might not be as bad as Way, it's still his own problems and his own heartbreaks, in a way, that have affected him, and which he needs help with as well.
I LOVE when authors have characters who are in a particularly bad place have their characters go through therapy. And Way for SURE was a character who needed therapy if there ever was one.
These two, once they got together - and when they do get together? It was GLORIOUS. It was a book and a half (LONG books, too) in the making, but oh boy was it WORTH it.
The angst is immense...but it just makes the happiness, once we FINALLY get it, all the more worth it and all the more amazing.
I was a puddle of goo reading these two confess their love for each other, and then after that seeing them finally work through their problems instead of running from them.
And the way they were so solid after that? It made all the shit before it worth it too. They feel unbreakable as a couple by the end of this. Doesn't mean things won't get tough, won't be hard, won't be shitty...but they have the tools now to work through it, individually and together, to get through it instead of breaking.
It made me so incredibly happy.
And what's funny is that we got almost 900 pages total of their love story, and I still feel like I could read so much more of them together.
Don't get me wrong, their overall story was finished, and it was done SO well, but I loved these two so much that I could just keep reading more of them just...being together and in love and happy together. I always love when author's make me love the couple so much that I crave more of them together even after it's over - especially when we already got almost 1000 pages of them together...and yet I still want more.
We even get a solid portion of the book being about them being together...and yet I still wanted more.
I absolutely fell in love with these two and their love. They were perfect together. These two even think they might be a little unhealthy near the end, and I was like "no, you two are very healthy together and are just very much in love with each other." Because I think two people who work on themselves in therapy and try hard everyday to work through their shit in a healthy way couldn't be unhealthy together.
They are just head over heels in love each other, is all ;).
I cannot sing the praises of this duet enough, and these two MC's and their love story, their romance. They of course, kept up the amazing chemistry of the first book and brought the heat. Their first time going all the way was amazing and passionate and scorching and I couldn't get enough of them.
This story was almost 600 pages, and I read within two days. I just never wanted to put it down.
I just LOVE this story, and I HIGHLY recommend this duet to everyone. If you haven't read it, I recommend you do. It's SO angsty, but SO worth it. I myself LOVE when if we get angst, we get a HFN or HEA that makes all the pain and suffering and heartbreak worth it, and this duet delivered on that front. We end on a pretty strong HFN, which could be seen as a HEA even.
But knowing we'll see these two again in Mason and Shawn's stories, made me lean toward HFN. I'm sure they'll be happy and settled in their books, but still. We're still gonna get more of them together in those books, so I myself felt like is was a strong HFN at the end of this.
Cannot sing the praises of this story enough. Two MASSIVE thumbs up from me. Absolutely ADORED it. 🥰😍😘
Next book will be about Mason (and I assume Jeremy. But we'll see if Jeremy is the other MC or not. It'll be very interesting if he is!)
My ratings for the Lost Boys Series:
🔆 : 5 stars (my review)
🔆 If There's a Way: 5 stars
🔆 : TBR
“Christ, man. That’s gotta be what this is, right? This feeling� like I’m being ripped apart from the inside out. Like I’m dying. Like I� like I literally can’t breathe from it.� My voice catches, breaking off like glass. “All there’s left in me is� is you, and I don’t even know if that makes sense. But it’s you. It’s always been you.�
What's there to say after reading such a masterpiece of a duet? What's there to say after reading a love story for the ages? What's there to say after reading such a bloody brilliant book?
Well, I guess nothing other than you gotta go read these two books if you haven't yet.
Why? Because they were amazingly written, which full fleshed out characters, that felt so very real, with a real love that was one for the ages.
It was never easy or pretty, but it was real, and Will and Way are so very in love. They just had to wade through all the shit to get to the other side where they could be together and have a sustainable relationship.
Way, after having such a tough go of it in the first book, really stepped up in this second installment. He stumbled, he was never perfect, but he did the work to get better, even though it was the hardest thing he ever had to do.
What it comes down to is having the mental strength, the will to get up day after day and work on yourself and how to handle things that doesn't lead down the road of destruction and addiction.
The first book was mainly about getting Way to rock bottom so that he would have to admit he had a problem in the first place, and that he needed help in order to get better.
After the first book's cliffhanger, it wasn't looking too good for our main pair. The second book opens up about a month later from those events, and Will and Way haven't seen each other in that month.
Way essentially had to detox from alcohol, and start going to therapy three times a week, and focus and pulling himself out of the hole he found himself in at the end of the first book.
It wasn't easy, and it took time - and Will had his own lesser version of PTSD and problems to deal with as well - but all the angst and heartbreak was SO worth it.
As horrible as all the angst is, and how much we don't want beloved characters to go through such trauma and hurt and anguish...would they end up where they are in this story if everything didn't happen the way it did?
We learn more regarding Will and his parents leaving the town when he was a kid and how things might have been worse if Will had actually stayed. As heartbreaking as it was for these two boys...in the end, they seem the better for it, we learn. I can't spoil why that is, but when you learn of it, it makes so much sense.
As much as it sucks that these two didn't get those 10 years together, in a way it was good. They had growing up to do, and they needed to get to where they are in these books on their own to be ready for each other.
And sure, Way needed even more time and work than Will, but still. Things could have gone even worse for him than things already were, so in a way things needed to happen the way they did, as much as it sucks while in the angsty part of it.
This second installment, in particular, did an amazing job of picking up the pieces of the first book. These two have already been through the wringer, and they still go through some shit in this book, but...they are handling it way better than in the first book, because they're learning and growing and bettering themselves first and foremost.
Therapy is also a big reason why as well. Will isn't in it for the majority of this, but near the end he starts going back to therapy as well. He goes through his own shit, even if it might not be as bad as Way, it's still his own problems and his own heartbreaks, in a way, that have affected him, and which he needs help with as well.
I LOVE when authors have characters who are in a particularly bad place have their characters go through therapy. And Way for SURE was a character who needed therapy if there ever was one.
These two, once they got together - and when they do get together? It was GLORIOUS. It was a book and a half (LONG books, too) in the making, but oh boy was it WORTH it.
The angst is immense...but it just makes the happiness, once we FINALLY get it, all the more worth it and all the more amazing.
I was a puddle of goo reading these two confess their love for each other, and then after that seeing them finally work through their problems instead of running from them.
And the way they were so solid after that? It made all the shit before it worth it too. They feel unbreakable as a couple by the end of this. Doesn't mean things won't get tough, won't be hard, won't be shitty...but they have the tools now to work through it, individually and together, to get through it instead of breaking.
It made me so incredibly happy.
And what's funny is that we got almost 900 pages total of their love story, and I still feel like I could read so much more of them together.
Don't get me wrong, their overall story was finished, and it was done SO well, but I loved these two so much that I could just keep reading more of them just...being together and in love and happy together. I always love when author's make me love the couple so much that I crave more of them together even after it's over - especially when we already got almost 1000 pages of them together...and yet I still want more.
We even get a solid portion of the book being about them being together...and yet I still wanted more.
I absolutely fell in love with these two and their love. They were perfect together. These two even think they might be a little unhealthy near the end, and I was like "no, you two are very healthy together and are just very much in love with each other." Because I think two people who work on themselves in therapy and try hard everyday to work through their shit in a healthy way couldn't be unhealthy together.
They are just head over heels in love each other, is all ;).
I cannot sing the praises of this duet enough, and these two MC's and their love story, their romance. They of course, kept up the amazing chemistry of the first book and brought the heat. Their first time going all the way was amazing and passionate and scorching and I couldn't get enough of them.
This story was almost 600 pages, and I read within two days. I just never wanted to put it down.
I just LOVE this story, and I HIGHLY recommend this duet to everyone. If you haven't read it, I recommend you do. It's SO angsty, but SO worth it. I myself LOVE when if we get angst, we get a HFN or HEA that makes all the pain and suffering and heartbreak worth it, and this duet delivered on that front. We end on a pretty strong HFN, which could be seen as a HEA even.
But knowing we'll see these two again in Mason and Shawn's stories, made me lean toward HFN. I'm sure they'll be happy and settled in their books, but still. We're still gonna get more of them together in those books, so I myself felt like is was a strong HFN at the end of this.
Cannot sing the praises of this story enough. Two MASSIVE thumbs up from me. Absolutely ADORED it. 🥰😍😘
Next book will be about Mason (and I assume Jeremy. But we'll see if Jeremy is the other MC or not. It'll be very interesting if he is!)
My ratings for the Lost Boys Series:
🔆 : 5 stars (my review)
🔆 If There's a Way: 5 stars
🔆 : TBR
December 10, 2022
These boys.... my heart! It was genuinely refreshing to have such an in depth story of trying to deal with trauma - a lot of books seem to brush past it pretty fast and everyone is magically healed and happy again, but this story wallows in both the pain, new and old, and the healing process each character is going through, and I absolutely loved it.
Again, because it's so heavy a story and everyone is dealing with their own trauma, it's not a book I think I could re-read, but it is definitely one of the best duets I've ever read and I'm so intrigued for the next book.
Again, because it's so heavy a story and everyone is dealing with their own trauma, it's not a book I think I could re-read, but it is definitely one of the best duets I've ever read and I'm so intrigued for the next book.
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