Reviewed by Lady Macbeth
TITLE: The Storm
SERIES: Us #2
AUTHOR: Briar Prescott
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 509 Pages
RELEASE DATE: August 10, 2026
BLURB:
I was fifteen when Nicholas Hayes walked into my life.
I was seventeen and he hated me.
I was nineteen when I fell for him. Hopelessly.
…and then we broke each other to pieces.
Six years later, I’m back on the east coast, doing my sister a favor. He’s not supposed to be here, so running into him is an unwelcome surprise.
What’s worse, somehow, we end up working together, so instead of avoiding him, I now have to see him every day.
His infuriating smirk.
The knowing looks.
His laugh and dumb jokes and the way that stupid nickname he gave me sounds on his lips.
Before I know it, all those feelings I thought I’d buried long ago are back with a vengeance.
But I’m not that same lovesick teenager anymore.
I know exactly how this story ends.
And I refuse to live through it twice.
REVIEW:
This book was absolutely fantastic, I’m so happy I had the chance to read it.
We briefly met Indy in The Island, he was a former one night stand turned best friend for Dylan.
At the start of the story, Indy is a fifteen years old boy who lives with his twin sister Dia and their parents. One day they receive the visit of an old friend and her son, Nick. After two years from that disastrous day, Nick, who has lost his mother to cancer, is living with Indy’s family. Indy has genuine affection for Nick and tries to befriend him, while Nick is constantly angry and rejects everyone. His mother’s death was the last straw of a difficult childhood (financial difficulties, father’s absence, estranged maternal grandparents). So Nick doesn’t know how to let himself be part of that happy family.
A couple of years later, though, the pull both boys felt towards each other the second they met becomes stronger and stronger and, during a very nasty storm, they surrender to their attraction while trapped in a diner.
After a few very confusing days, they steal every moment they can to be together, it’s a magical summer for Nick and Blue: they go rowing, they talk, they share intimate moments, they have their first physical experiences and they also make plans for the future. They’re completely smitten with each other. Nick was amazing, he has always appeared cold and distant, but in reality he’s so caring and tender with his Blue, it’s clear how much he adores him and he can’t wait to start their adult lives together.
But it wouldn’t be a Briar Prescott’s story if drama and plot twists were missing, so while Dia is in the hospital fighting for her life, everything blows up and Nick leaves the family and Indy for good.
The second part of the story starts 6 years later when fate and two meddling people, Dia and Bridget, push Nick and Indy in the same place again.
After all this time, Indy is a miserable man: he never made real plans for his future, he has been doing odd jobs and he distanced himself from his parents. Nick has reverted to his old angry self, he works as a private chef for some football players and he’s perpetually single.
Their reunion is a shock and they’re even more stunned to know they will be working together for Callum.
After 6 years all the feelings are still there for both of them: regret, loneliness, sadness, yearning, longing and, above all, there’s still love.
It will take a long time and several heartbreaking moments when it seemed that all was lost for them to give themselves a real chance to be together again. It was a painful and wonderful journey that was worth every tear I shed (one of my favourite heart wrenching moments was when Nick realised Indy has been punishing himself the whole time).
What prevented me from giving five full stars (I’ll try to not leave spoilers):
I had a few questions that remained unanswered: why Indy didn’t seem bothered or sad by the fact that he never had the chance to get to know Nick’s mom? Who asked the judge to make that ruling? It seemed a very odd thing since the parts weren’t in disagreement. Why there was no therapist for the people involved when the truth came out first?
I disliked both Nick and Indy’s parents, especially Indy’s mom, for obvious reasons and I’m glad they weren’t off the hook yet, even after a long time.
I liked Dia and Bridget because they were good friends for both of them and I loved Callum: he’s a funny and sweet guy and, to be honest, I hope the author will consider giving him a book too. Maybe with the adorable Julian, I would like that a lot.
Absolutely recommended
RATING: 
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