Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Unexpected
SERIES: Worth It (Book 2)
AUTHOR: Joelle Lynne
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 238 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2022
BLURB:
Christopher was content to never take a relationship seriously. Over the last year, he slowly started spending time on his own. Without his best friend to keep him out of trouble, Christopher finds himself thrust, head first, into a situation he never saw himself being in.
Gabe was in trouble. His pushy ways finally caught up to him and forced him to move. How he landed in such a small town was a joke, but he was going to make the most of it. When a night out to get acquainted with his new home takes a turn for the interesting, his past mistakes might just come back to haunt him.
Christopher shouldn’t be interested, Gabe shouldn’t be pushing it, but what if it was always meant to be? Who cares that it was completely Unexpected?
This is the second book in a series after Worth the Wait and follows the story of Michael’s brother, Christopher. It can be read as a stand-alone, however, reading the first book is encouraged.
REVIEW:
Expect the Unexpected is what one of my favorite guilty pleasure shows constantly says…and they are right.
Christopher is Michael’s big brother by two years and Shane’s best friend since first grade. Now that Michael and Shane are a committed couple life is different for Christopher without Shane as his wingman. A self proclaimed non-relationship kind of guy, he has left a string of girls all over town. When Christopher heads out on his own to their favorite local bar he doesn’t expect a pretty blonde and the guy she’s with to strike up a conversation. Turns out they are new to town but look like a committed couple, which is too bad because she looks like she might be fun for a night. Little did he know it was Gabe (the new guy) that was interested in him not his best friend Stef!
Okay, I’m going to put this out here. First off, Shane really pissed me off with his attitude. Christopher had always been super supportive of Shane being gay all his life. And he was totally cool with pushing Shane to pursue his younger brother Michael, when he became aware of their attraction to each other.
This was all brand new to the confirmed womanizer bachelor to want what Gabe was throwing at him. He needed to get his own mind sorted first. And Yes, Shane and Michael were the obvious choices to talk through his thoughts. But they were just too close and he wasn’t ready to accept even his own feelings! And then, when things get tough for Shane’s little brother Ryan, Shane drags him to talk to Gabe. Yeah, that actually was the right choice however Shane had been a giant jerk and now, when he needs help, he comes running. I mean he never really redeemed himself to me for all his jerkiness! Which was too bad because I really like Shane in the first book and his and Christopher’s tight friendship through everything.
And Gabe, talk about a pushy idiot! I felt like what he did to Christopher those first few chapters came really close to sexual assault. I can’t see the second you land in town after that you practice the same self-destructive behavior and lack of judgement.
I was pleased that we saw Shane’s little brother Ryan again and Gabe was a good mentor for him. However, again poor judgement, putting a sexually active 16 year old in his own place and allowing his boyfriend to come hang alone with him!
I learned to like Gabe as the book progressed and see that he and Christopher learned how to develop a loving relationship although it happened pretty fast for two non-commitment kind of guys. I just really didn’t like the lack of good judgement by several of the characters and serious lack of friendship and support for Christopher by Shane when he was obviously confused and needed the support the most. I was happy to see shy Michael reach out. That did help. I don’t believe that Christopher was as much bi as he was more gay-for-Gabe only. I do think you really need to read the first book before launching into this one.
RATING: 
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