Reviewed by Ro
TITLE: Don’t Move Out
SERIES: Crowhill Cove, Book 1
AUTHOR: Rhiannon D’Averc
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 227 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 1, 2023
BLURB:
KEATON
I got out of high school alive – just. Now, nothing in the world could push me back in the closet. I’m determined to have the best time of my life.
Until he walks in.
Oliver Harvey – six foot something of pure muscle, abs for days and lips I just want to kiss. And my old high school bully.
How the hell could we end up sharing a college dorm room together?
One thing’s for certain – I’m not sharing with him for the rest of the year. Even if he says he’s sorry. Even if he needs my help. And even if I can’t drag my eyes away when he gets changed right in front of me…
And I’m definitely, absolutely, 100% not going to kiss my straight roommate. Not even if he starts leaning in my direction. I’m not even going to THINK about it.
OLLY
Ever since I last saw Keaton, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him. I can’t get his face out of my head.
The way I treated him was wrong. I know that. I’ve been living with the guilt.
I just want a chance to make it up to him.
That’s why I can’t stop thinking about his soft lips or imagining running my hands through his messy curls – right?
That’s why every time we touch by accident, I freeze up and feel like I’ve been hit by lightning – right?
That’s why even though I’m a man of few words, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather stay up all night talking to… right…?
I need his help. I need his company.
I think I might just need… him.
Don’t Move Out is an enemies to lovers gay romance with plenty of heat! The first book in the Crowhill Cove series which can also be read as a standalone. Happy ending guaranteed… in more ways than one!
REVIEW:
I’m sort of conflicted about how to rate this book. On the one hand, it is a trope I really like – bullies with a second chance. On the other hand, there was a lot of unachieved potential here. It starts out with moving day at college. Keaton is away from bigoted parents and ready to make college something amazing while living his authentic life. He is uber-organized and I adored this about him. He’s anxiously waiting to meet his new roommate when in walks in…Ollie, his high school bully.
So this is where I had high hopes. “That first night when he saw me walk into the room was tough. I saw in his eyes how much he hated me. I understood that he was still afraid of me”. Ollie thinks that but I was thinking – as he should! The information here is given out in little bits and pieces so you don’t find out the extent of the bullying until later. Probably just as well, since I would have really disliked Ollie.
Maybe what got me the most were the consequences of that bullying. I won’t spoil anything but it was an adverse life-changing event for Keaton and a typical sports pass for Ollie. There are other actions of Ollie’s that just rubbed me the wrong way. An email, a reaction to his classes, just random things that do not put Ollie in a good light. I wanted an explanation of why Ollie came to college with only three changes of clothes and a bottle of body wash. He doesn’t come across as flighty.
But we also have Keaton, who I really liked. And his sister, Clara. Keaton is a nerd, sure, as well as kind and thoughtful. He worries about his sister, worries about Ollie, worries about his family. When he writes a letter to his parents, I wanted to hug him. There is so much good in this man. He helps all the time. He also is not afraid to bring up painful conversations, which he does with Ollie.
There is a lot for them to overcome to even be able to be roommates, let alone friends. I liked them together but wasn’t as invested in them as I thought I would be. I was actually at one point hoping Ace was going to be some competition for Ollie, I really liked him. There are some heavy issues happening here but some of these are less than fully developed. It’s a nice start to a new series.
RATING: 
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