Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Collided
SERIES: Prequel to LSU Series
AUTHOR: Becca Steele
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 220 Pages
RELEASE DATE: July 10, 2023
BLURB:
From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Becca Steele comes a new standalone M/M romance.
When my mother told me she was getting married, I had no idea just how much my life would change.
Her new husband does his best to make me feel welcome, but his son is a different story. Huxley Granger is rude and aggressive, and from the moment we collide, he makes it clear that he loathes me.
Then, something happens. An event that alters everything between us.
I find myself looking at him in a different way.
A way I shouldn’t be looking at the person who has been so hostile to me from the beginning. A way I shouldn’t be looking at the one person I’m not allowed to have.
Even though I tell myself to forget him, I can’t get him out of my head.
And I could be wrong, but I think he might have the same problem.
I know I should stay away.
I should.
But I won’t.
Collided is an M/M new adult romance with enemies to lovers themes. It is a prequel to the LSU college romance series. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone.
REVIEW:
At short notice, Cole and Huxley discover that they are to be step-brothers. Dealing with the revelation alongside leftover feelings of Mum and Dad divorcing leaves Cole and Huxley emotionally raw. Their early days, living in the same house, are openly hostile – but will things change?
Collided is the prequel to an LSU series, where each book can be read as a standalone. In the opening chapters, I had reservations about the story arc, which I will explain, shortly, but by the end, I was a fully-fledged groupie, punching my pom-poms in the air for these two.
This British-based story is told in the first person, with named chapters from the viewpoints of Cole and Huxley. Worldbuilding mostly revolves around the fallout surrounding divorce, how children can be forgotten, and the heartbreak of losing connection to a parent. Also, coping mechanisms that parents may not approve of, that highlight talents, and other benefits.
The journey of Cole and Huxley was a superb read. However, as already stated, I had initial reservations. June and David (the respective parents) are supposedly responsible adults with good jobs. So, what kind of parent doesn’t introduce their kid to a future spouse before marriage is even on the table? Let alone being given a week to pack before moving in with the other half? Reckless – comes to mind, which annoyed me more than I expected. Then I rationalized – without such rash, careless behavior, and catalytic events, stories like this wouldn’t exist.
Cole adjusts to the situation better than Huxley, who has had a rough time with abandonment issues. Cole is no saint, though. He’s simply more fortunate in his execution of situations. The more the story progressed, the circumstances that joined the families became less important. I particularly enjoyed the strawberry obsession, Huxley’s love of music, and the support that Huxley and Cole built between them.
Collided is not a story where it’s all hate, then bam, flick a switch, and all’s good. Cole and Huxley face physical and emotional challenges that have no easy solution. I liked the fact that the boys’ struggles seemed natural and understandable, and by the end, I was a Cole and Huxley story enthusiast.
RATING: 
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