Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: Gravity

SERIES: Written in the Stars Book 2

AUTHOR: Mia Monroe

PUBLISHER: self-published

RELEASE DATE: February 8, 2021

LENGTH: 258 pages

BLURB: 

He was only meant to be a hookup. Until he became my coworker.

Only I could ruin the hottest potential hookup ever. One look at the gorgeous ginger, and I was done for. I summoned every bit of courage I had, then panicked. As is my way. I managed to put it behind me until he became my new coworker. Now, every day is a reminder of my insecurities and what might have been.

Working so closely together, Henry and I become fast friends. We have so much in common, but he’s very clear that relationships are not on his mind. The attraction though, that’s undeniable. When Henry offers friends with benefits, there’s no way I’m saying no. Did I mention I’m a virgin?

All I have to do is keep a level head and my feet on the ground. We have a blast together, but before long, the line between friendship and love blurs, and I’m drawn in by his gravity. 

The question remains… Is he drawn in by mine?

Gravity is a steamy, low angst, hook up turned surprise coworker, friends with benefits, first time romance featuring a Sinatra-loving old soul, a sweeter than sugar virgin, nerding to the nth degree, and rain-drenched kisses. It is book 2 in the Written in the Stars series, featuring science-loving nerds and the men who fall for them.

REVIEW:

Gravity, Mia Monroe’s title for the second entry in her stellar, swoony Written in the Stars series, ostensibly reflects nothing more than a cute nod to the series’ pervasive astronomy theme.  In actuality, the title communicates important aspects of this sweet story of emotionally traumatized Julian and his aborted-hookup-turned-Blue Moon Planetarium coworker and BFF, Henry.  This story is overflowing with shmoopy, syrupy romance between two guys with hidden scars.  But don’t let that fool you into thinking this story is all “fluff”.  Ms. Monroe delivers an impactful story of finding love despite disappointments and externally inflicted damage.  She weaves into Julian and Henry’s romance an important message: Do not believe that dreams don’t come true, that settling is sufficient, and that sufficient is the best we can expect.

Seriousness. Importance. Attraction. A fundamental physical force responsible for interaction between bodies.  A natural force that causes things to fall to the ground.  All of these things are definitions of gravity.  All of these things play an important role in Julian and Henry’s lives.  Hence, the apropos title. 

Julian and Henry are both science loving geniuses.  Both are solid, kind, giving people.  But past traumatic events weigh them both down and affect their ability to engage in a healthy romantic relationship.  An emotionally damaging ex-boyfriend’s treatment shattered Henry and tainted his view of his capacity for love.  Julian views himself as damaged goods.  He’s full of insecurities borne from emotional bullying inflicted on him in school. Both Julien and Henry believe they are incapable of being together because of their baggage.  Pretty serious stuff.

Julian is an admitted hopeless romantic but his life has been full of disappointment.  He believes it’s because of his scars.  He’s therefore convinced himself he should give up looking for that someone special.   

“My guy will show up when he’s ready, and if he’s just a regular, stable, okay-looking man, that’ll do as long he’s nice to me.”

Adorable, loving, just want to hug-him-so-tight Julian, deserves better. But he’s afraid.  He tells himself he’s glad that gravity has a pull that keeps him grounded, keeps him weighed down by reality:

“There’s nothing wrong with keeping two feet on planet Earth.  You’re less disappointed that way.”

Henry, for his part, desperately wants Julian.  But he is terrified the gravitational pull he feels toward him is not real, that once they get close enough, he’ll repel Julien like two incompatible magnets.

What they both deserve is, oxymoronically, a love infused with gravity (irresistible attraction) with a partner that makes them feel like gravity doesn’t exist.  Like they’re floating in space, weightless, carefree, warm and happy.  They should feel an attraction they can’t fight once it’s present.  A love consisting of two people inexorably drawn together, helpless to stop it.  Not wanting to stop it. 

Julian and Henry are either blind or in denial, or maybe a combination of both, because their relationship delivers on both counts yet they fight it, deny it.  They swirl helplessly toward each other with nothing to slow them down … except themselves.  They futilely throw up barriers, helplessly and unsuccessfully, fighting gravity.  Not surprisingly, gravity wins out, pulling them together.  Once there, they become gravity for each other, grounding each other in shared interests and life goals.  In doing so, they conversely allow each other to soar.  Ultimately, they end up changing each other’s lives.  The gravity of that is not lost on either of them.

For all of the hidden meanings and gravity related analogies and metaphors, Gravity at its center contains a lovely story of two lovely men deserving of a lovely HEA, which they do indeed get.  You can enjoy it fully and completely without reading anything between the lines.  I will admit, as you can probably tell from this review, that I have a penchant for a good analogy or metaphor.  Part of the magic of this book, and one of the things I most appreciate about it, is Ms. Monroe’s creative and impactful use of them to convey her point.  

If you’ve read Ms. Monroe’s other works, note that Julien and Henry’s journey to their HEA feels very different from any of the Tattoos & Temptations books, or even Gravity’s predecessor, Stars Collide (reviewed here). If you are looking for spicy, hot and steamy, slightly kinky romance, you won’t find that in Gravity.  And that’s not a bad thing.  Diversity and variety are welcome.  

Gravity’s story is sweet and slow, also sexy but in a more subtle way.  It is an overwhelmingly heartwarming and engaging romance which also satisfies a craving for found-family in Julian and Henry’s coworkers at the planetarium.  While this book had a feel altogether different from what I expected given what I’ve read from Ms. Monroe before, it left me feeling settled and undeniably happy.  Gravity is a necessary balm for the soul, reassuring that love, goodness and peace are still tethered to this world and that deserving people get their HEAs. 

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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