Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Enough
AUTHOR: Matthew J. Metzger
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 192 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2019
BLURB:
How can a man like him ever be enough?
Jesse has never had a real boyfriend before. He’s a firefighter, and that’s all that anyone’s interested in—a quick and thrilling screw, and a story for the future. So when he lands Ezra Pryce, the most beautiful man in the whole of Brighton, Jesse can’t quite understand why Ezra is still here eight months down the line.
Not that he’s going to complain. Ezra’s sexy, sarcastic, and nothing shot of perfection—and Jesse can’t hope to measure up. He isn’t going to be enough for someone like Ezra in the long run, and he is living—and loving—on borrowed time. When a disastrous weekend in Norwich introduces Jesse to the staunch disapproval of Ezra’s family and the six-pack of his ex-boyfriend in one fell swoop, Jesse’s fate is sealed.
He cannot hope to live up to an ex who has every intention of getting Ezra back, and all the looks and charm to do it too. Jesse is not enough for Ezra and he’s never going to be.
Right?
Reader advisory: This book contains references to homophobia and homophobic bullying.
REVIEW:
Jesse and Ezra have been seeing each other for more than half a year – a chance meeting at a local gay bar in Brighton and Jesse gets Ezra’s number. He’s surprised when Ezra agrees to go out with him and continues to be surprised when Ezra keeps saying yes. He lives across from Jesse’s firehouse and they are still going strong. But Jesse has a lot of issues and so does Ezra it seems.
When Ezra convinces Jesse to go home with him for his Nan’s birthday and Jesse gets to see first hand how screwed up Ezra’s family is and learns of the tragedy that continues to tear them – and Ezra – apart, he’s stunned. His own family was a huge mess – something he’s not revealed either. But he’s still shocked at the nasty turn the family visit takes. Then there’s the “perfect” ex-boyfriend. And eventually Ezra confesses that the ex was must more serious than he’d even imagined. And of course this sets off Jesse’s low self-esteem issues.
Things go from bad to worse when the ex shows up in Brighton. Jesse’s convinced his days are numbered and lashes out. But then another surprise shows him that he really may be right for Ezra and that he’s got what it takes for the long haul. If only he can get past his own issues.
I’ve been a fan of this author for a while. This story is one of his earlier ones that was recently re-released with a new publisher, and I felt like the pacing was maybe a bit slower than later works. The first half of the book moves along at a snail’s pace. I know he’s just setting the stage for what is to come, but it dragged a little for me. I understood both Ezra and Jesse’s issues, but they just were terrible at communicating and after eight months together I found it hard to believe they had held back so much of their history. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story and I really loved the characters together. The characters definitely grow over the course of the story and I liked watching them work out their issues realistically.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: