Title: HeartOn
Series: Full Hearts: Book Two
Author: Amy Jo Cousins
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 196 Pages
Category: Contemporary
At a Glance: Even though I didn’t connect with Carlos and Deion’s story on the same level I did with Josh and Benji’s, I absolutely still enjoyed the book.
Reviewed By: Jules
Blurb: When an injury sidelines NFL player Deion McCaskill—maybe permanently—he heads to Miami to stay with an old college teammate and his boyfriend. He packs his tailor-made suits, anxiety about the future, and the bisexuality he’s ignored for years because it didn’t fit with his drive to succeed at football’s most elite levels.
Set designer Carlos Kelly has always known he’s bi, but dating women is easier than making waves with his Puerto Rican/Irish Catholic family. His friends and coworkers from the theater community might be almost entirely on the rainbow spectrum, but Carlos keeps things simple. Except for this heat that keeps flaring between him and the hot football player visiting his best friend.
Two weeks. Two guys who’ve never explored their bisexuality before and don’t plan on coming out, ever. One promise to let each other try out every fantasy they’ve ever had. Zero feelings involved.
At least, that was the plan. . .
Review: I love the end of the blurb for Amy Jo Cousins’ latest book:
“Two weeks. Two guys who’ve never explored their bisexuality before and don’t plan on coming out, ever. One promise to let each other try out every fantasy they’ve ever had. Zero feelings involved.
At least, that was the plan. . .”
Perfect little summary of the premise of HeartOn, her second book in the Full Hearts series, and follow up to last year’s HeartShip, which I adored. If you read HeartShip, you’ll already know Deion fairly well as Josh’s best friend, and Carlos was introduced briefly also, as Benji’s friend. In this book we learn that each has been secretly attracted to the other—both through various Twitter interactions, and after meeting in person one time at a party—so when Deion is in Miami for a couple of weeks on vacation, it doesn’t take long for them to catch each other looking, and find out they are both interested in “scratching this itch” they’re both feeling while he’s there.
I loved Deion so much in HeartShip. He’s such an amazing friend to Josh and Benji, and in HeartOn, we see how envious he is of their connection and how at ease they are around each other and their friends. He starts to examine why he hasn’t been able to build that type of connection with anyone himself, and can’t help but wonder if it’s because he has hidden away this whole other half of himself…the half that wants to know what Carlos would feel like pinned underneath him.
Carlos is also great. I love his and Benji’s friendship and history. He has a very close relationship with him and Josh, and it’s obvious that they suspect that he might be bisexual anyway, so I’m not sure why he is so unwilling to discuss it with them. Especially given that they would obviously accept him. His family is another story altogether. I get the hesitation there entirely—though, it’s terrible that he’s so close to his family, including his much-loved and respected abuela, but is so afraid of how they would react if he told them he was bisexual.
Amy Jo Cousins does a nice job dealing with each character’s coming out fears, as well as their curiosity and exploration together. And, while I liked them together a lot—they had fantastic chemistry and, for the most part, kept things very lighthearted and fun—I had a tough time actually connecting to them as a couple. The relationship felt a little forced for some reason to me, particularly the being in love after less than two weeks. They were a lot of fun together, and super sexy, I just wish more of a connection had been built so that their coming together had felt more organic.
I enjoy Amy Jo Cousins’ stories very much, and HeartOn was no exception. Her writing style, characters, and storylines typically grab me and keep me fully engaged. And, there were a lot of things I really liked about this book. Josh and Benji had a decent sized role in the book, and I loved seeing them and learning all about their plans for the clinic, etc. I was definitely intrigued at our glimpse of Owen at the clinic and am excited to read his story in the upcoming HeartUp (by the way, how many of these fun titles do you think Cousins has up her sleeve?!?). And, I really liked both Deion and Carlos individually and together; I just needed something more to be more invested in them as a couple. But, even though I didn’t connect with their story on the same level I did with Josh and Benji’s, I absolutely still enjoyed the book.
You can buy HeartOn here:
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