Reviewed by Stephen K.
TITLE: My Mate Jack
Series: A Heated Beat Story
AUTHOR: Garrett Leigh
NARRATOR: Dan Calley
PUBLISHER: Fox Love Press
LENGTH: 3 hours
RELEASE DATE: August 20th 2020
BLURB:
Will Barter’s been in love with his best mate, Jack, for as long as he can remember. They’ve shared everything: love, life, laughs, even Will’s first kiss. But Jack’s straight, and Will’s long-buried infatuation means nothing until their last summer together draws to a close.
Then one night, everything changes, but with Will bound for university in Leeds and Jack for his dream DJ job in Ibiza, there’s no time to explore their blurred lines. Before long, all that’s left are secrets, lies, and misunderstandings.
In the months that follow, anger and hurt overshadow 15 years of friendship, and Will must dig deep to remember Jack is his mate…his best mate, and nothing matters more than that, right?
REVIEW:
As with so many tales of childhood friends to lovers, this is tale of firsts. First kisses, first shags, and first heartbreaks. This is a tale of coming outs, and coming to terms. There are misunderstandings. But you just know that these two mates have crossed the event horizon. There’s no escaping their mutual gravitational pull.
Yes, there are setbacks, Will and Jack’s separation while Will pursues his degree in Leeds, and Jack pursues his disco dreams in Ibiza. Will’s inability to believe that Jack might return his love is maddening. Jack’s reaction to Will’s gay dating life should be obvious to anyone who even mostly awake, but Will is somehow oblivious. And the two are terrible at communicating, despite their numerous social media connections.
The underlying story is sweet, but the main satisfaction to be found here is FINALLY being able to scratch what’s been itching since the first chapter. As that melancholic Dane put it… “”Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.” And this time no one needs to be stabbed to see it done.
Narrator Dan Calley does a great job with the narration. But in this outing he has little scope for flaunting his skill with the varied realistic accents and voices that he’s demonstrated in other books.
Overall this is a thoroughly satisfying book to listen to. I’d not be averse to listening t it again at some point. But it lacks the convoluted plot elements necessary to make it into my frequent re-listen queue.
RATING: 
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