Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Treading Water
AUTHOR: Andrew Grey
PUBLISHER: Andrew Grey Books
LENGTH: 99 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 23, 2026
BLURB:
Once a runaway, Darren Butterfield works three jobs so he can maintain the house his grandmother left him in Mendocino, California. All he wants is to make ends meet and somehow keep his head above water for a little stability.
Chester Killington Jr., Chet, has had every advantage money can buy, but the cost is the ability to make his own choices. His life has been planned for him, with family expectations and duty taking center stage. Until he meets Darren as a server in Mendocino, when a dinner companion behaves badly.
Chet feels terrible about his friend’s behavior and asks Darren to dinner as an apology. The two men hit it off and find they have more in common than either one expected, combined with an attraction that takes them both by surprise. But Darren’s aunt and Chet’s father each have their own ideas that could keep them from sharing a life together.
REVIEW:
A new standalone novella by Andrew Grey.
Darren Butterfield does everything humanly possible to keep himself in the house his paternal grandmother left him in her will. Unfortunately, even though there is no mortgage to pay, the taxes and insurance costs are sky high for the tiny bungalow near the ocean in Mendocino, California. So Darren works hard at three jobs to make it all work as best he can. One doesn’t really need time off or sleep so they? It’s somewhat overrated. So, one day at his evening job at The Pub, a rather obnoxious and drunken patron decides that grabbing his butt was appropriate behavior to wait staff. But Darren stood up to the sleazy serial-killer looking guy and had his friends call an Über to haul him away. First, being congratulated, by fellow worker Lilly, on standing up for himself was appreciated. But not as much as the $100 tip the nasty guys friend’s left. But the real surprise was when the blonde god showed up at his day job the next day to ask him to lunch to make up for the outrageous behavior his dinner companion had demonstrated. The rest you need to read how that all turns out.
This is a classic rich boy/poor boy tale that tugs at your heart strings. Both men suffered from over work and loneliness. And they complimented each other well. This is a short novella and they fall for each other really quickly because Chet is only visiting for a short time and then he’s back to New York City where his company and life is. They both know the score. Darren is fighting to survive in California and Chet is there on a short rest stop after sealing another deal for his family’s extremely successful cookie business based in New York City. But both men catch feelings super fast and know that the clock is ticking quickly.
I particularly loved watching both men become comfortable with the other. I could see that this was going to be hard when Chet eventually had to leave.
I always look forward to Andrew Grey’s books and this one worked for me even with the insta-love/catching feelings.
RATING: 
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