Reviewed by: Sue Eaton

TITLE: Like I Wished

SERIES: Heather Bay #2

AUTHOR: Charlie Novak

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 277 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 27, 2022

BLURB:

Dreaming about my best friend’s brother is one thing, him actually falling for me is another.

Baking cupcakes for the science department bake-off shouldn’t strike fear into the heart of chemistry teacher Noah, but his previous record hasn’t exactly been glowing. In an attempt to stave off another year in last place, Noah turns to the one man who might be able to help him: his best friend’s older brother, Spencer.

Noah’s had a crush on the vibrant and sporty footballer turned baker for years, but the chances of anything happening between them are slim to none. Spencer is caring, funny, gorgeous… and totally straight.

Spencer has never thought about dating men before, but after watching Noah lick buttercream off a whisk he’s suddenly realising he’s not as straight as previously thought.

Revelations about his sexuality are one thing, but his footballing past being dragged into the present is another and Spencer isn’t sure which is more stressful. But he’s sure about one thing: he wants Noah in his life. Now all they have to do is figure out how to make their wishes come true.

REVIEW:

It was wonderful to return to Heather Bay and see who was next to appear in a book.  This was a loving crafted story with two very different characters, surrounded by beautiful descriptions of Yorkshire, I could feel the wind, see the sea and duck from the seagulls.

This was a slow burn tale of an unlikely, on the face of it, romance.  A bisexual awakening, with a dash of confusion and lots and lots of yummy baking.

Noah has always had a crush on his best friend’s brother.  Noah is the local high school science teacher and was in the most part content with his life.  He has kept his crush to himself for so many years and he never thought it would be anything more than a crush.

Spence was the older brother, a brilliant footballer who it seemed had the world at his feet, until injury struck and he returned home to Heather Bay.  He dated women and helped to run the coffee shop with his brother, finding baking as his new passion, though his thoughts turn to his greatest love, football, which he can never play again, or so he thought.

I enjoyed watching Spencer try to figure his sexuality out, and all the little things he’d never thought much about suddenly added up to being bi-sexual.  The attraction he feels for Noah, who he had always thought of as his brother friend, adds to his self-awakening and questioning.  Was it Noah? Or had he just never recognised that side of himself?  The baking scenes were brilliant and the pleasure Spencer gets from teaching Noah is apparent, as is the sexual tension between them.

Having all their friends gatecrash their first date, was funny and expected but no-one knew it was a date so all the interruptions were friends being friends rather than trying to derail a new romance.  It was lovely to see the rest of the friends and their reaction when they discover their relationship was one of easy acceptance.

The best bit for me, was Spencer getting to play football again, and the journey he was on towards acceptance of his ruined football career.  It might have happened years ago but he had never fully accepted that the sport he loved was out of his reach and being able to play it again, in whatever capacity was beautiful to read.

I appreciate the low angst in these books, the easy acceptance and the gorgeous descriptions of places and I look forward to the third book in this series.

RATING:

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