Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Everything To Lose
AUTHOR: E.M. Denning
SERIES: Learning The Ropes #1
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 206 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 12, 2020
BLURB:
Zane’s in trouble. His younger brother is off to college in California and he makes Zane promise to look out for the best friend he leaves behind. It shouldn’t be a problem but being around Dante makes Zane question everything he thought he knew about himself. The more time he spends around Dante, the more alluring he becomes. But… Zane is straight. Right?
Dante is alone in a strange city. He didn’t have much back home, but at least he had his best friend. Zane’s increased presence in Dante’s life comforts him and stops him from feeling adrift and alone. There’s one complication, however. Dante’s years-old crush on his best friend’s brother is back. While struggling to put his feelings behind him for good… Zane kisses him.
Pursuing their mutual attraction isn’t without risks. Zane could lose his heart, but loving Zane could cost Dante everything.
REVIEW:
Everything to Lose is a sweet book with the best friend’s brother trope. Dante has been crushing on Zach, the older brother of his best friend, Jonathan, since forever. Zach is how Dante realized he was gay. Now they’re away at the same college – Dante a freshman, Zane a senior – and with increased time spent together, Zane is finding himself attracted to a man, just one man – Dante – for the first time in his life. Zane wants love and a connection with someone. Casual hookups and fuck buddies aren’t doing it for him. He wants more; he wants Dante.
When Dante discovers that the object of his years of unrequited love has feelings for him, he’s both elated and terrified. If it goes south, he has everything to lose. You see, Zane’s family means everything to Dante. Not only is Jonathan his best friend, Jonathan and Zane’s mom and dad are Dante’s surrogate parents. Dante was the result of an unwanted pregnancy. He never had a dad and his mother clearly wasn’t interested in her son. She has been uncaring and largely absent from his life. So as much as Dante craves Zane, in the back of his mind he worries about losing his pseudo-family which he very much needs. So, their romance is tentative at first but grows into a caring and sexy love.
Shy, quiet Dante and affable Zane are engaging characters I was quick to warm up to. Dante’s lifelong BFF, Jonathan, his new college bestie, Linden, and Zane’s buddy and roommate, Ricky, serve as great friends and support, and make for fun characters. Then there are Zane and Jonathan’s parents who I just want to hug for being exactly who Dante needs.
When I began to read this book, I noticed a number of grammatical errors, mainly in sentence structure and punctuation. It was annoying because I had to re-read sentences in order to understand them, and it broke up the flow of the storytelling. There’s no doubt this book needs a good editor, but if you stick with it, you’ll be rewarded with a lovely story.
I love the ending of the book, which surprised me since there’s no epilogue. I live for epilogues. The ending worked for me because it screams of permanence. It not only cements Dante and Zane’s relationship, but solidifies the larger family dynamic, as well. I happily recommend Everything to Lose.
RATING: 
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