Book Review: Never Let Go by M.L. Rhodes

Title: Never Let Go
Series: Always, Book 1
Author: M.L. Rhodes
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: June 24, 2007 by Amber Allure

Will McLaren and Ethan Gallagher first met in high school. Ethan—sophisticated, cocky, and full of wild daring—was everything bookish and quiet Will was not. Yet they’d instantly connected and forged an unlikely friendship that had carried them through their teens and well into adulthood. Even as teenagers, though, they’d always kept secrets from one another...hidden bits about their lives and desires they feared could destroy their friendship.

As adults, the secrets have become heavy burdens to bear, forcing them to keep their distance from one another and make up stories to hide the truth. Then, in an unguarded moment, Will lets his secret slip. His revelation explodes into a night of unexpected passion that stuns them both.
When Ethan disappears the next morning, Will blames himself, and as the months pass with no word, he’s convinced he’s driven away his best friend. He forces himself to move on with his life and try to forget.

But three years later, Ethan shows up again, only a shell of the vibrant man Will once knew, and mysteriously evasive about where he’s been. When Ethan makes a confession of his own, can the two men recapture the friendship they’d once shared, and maybe even build something more powerful? Or will the hurts and deceptions of the past tear them apart for good?

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Intense, angsty romance that hit the right note for me.

The Set Up: Will and Ethan have been best friends since high school. Now on the eve of Will’s thirtieth birthday and his sister’s wedding, he’s willing to tell Ethan his secret—he’s been in love with him since high school. This night will change their relationship but when Ethan leaves the next morning, he doesn’t contact Will again for three years. Now Will is angry and hurt but will Ethan’s confession make a difference?

Why I Read this Book: The friends to lovers trope is one of my favorites.

What I Liked: I’m a sucker for angsty romances and that’s what I got here. Will had been pining for Ethan for over a decade, worrying the entire time that if he pushed their relationship he’d lose Ethan’s friendship. Ethan had been keeping his attraction secret too so on the fateful night all of this sexual longing mixes with emotional vulnerability and ignites on page. But the angst doesn’t end there! Ethan doesn’t contact Will for three years and Will makes him pay both sexually and emotionally. I enjoyed this long novella because it combines the erotic and emotional where the relationship between Will and Ethan is the sole focus. The men’s caring for each other really comes across, like when Will reflects on Ethan’s unhealthy appearance after the three year absence.

What I Also Liked: Too often in separation romances the leads are ridiculously faithful even though broken up. This book is more realistic, especially for Will who thought Ethan left him without a word but then it still shows how neither man ever forgot or got over the other.

What I Didn’t Like: I know that Ethan’s confession was, well, romance-novel-y but I didn’t care since it gave me the angst-filled romance I wanted. Without the three years separating the men the romance wouldn’t have been as intense, either emotionally or sexually, so I was willing to put up with the contrivance to get the angst I love in romance novels. Plus, it allowed Will to get some “hand” in the relationship that wouldn’t have been there without the three year separation.

IMO: I already have book two to read and can’t wait!

P.S. Don’t even worry about the weird BDSM tag on Goodreads. This is no BDSM romance at all, though Will does let Ethan know he’s safe with Will in the bedroom! 

J9’s Rating:


Add to Goodreads  |  Buy on Amazon