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Less Than Three
“Three people in a relationship is complicated enough, let alone when two of them are pretending to be the same person.”
Gregarious, sophisticated, comfortable in his own skin – surgeon Simon Gallagher is none of these things. That’s why – whenever the social occasion demands – he hires his extroverted actor twin Nathan to put on a white coat, flatten down his hair and pretend to be him for the evening.
Nathan’s latest mission? To chat up an adorable Bloomsbury bookseller named Rob, because Simon is far too shy to make the first move. Despite being busy with the role of a lifetime, Nathan reluctantly agrees to play Cyrano de Bergerac. It’s not like the situation is going to get messy, since Nathan’s straight.
Sort of.
As the romantic complications and cases of mistaken identity pile up, Nathan is forced to confront not only the fact that he’s further up the Kinsey Scale than he previously thought, but also that he might just be falling in love with his brother’s boyfriend.
Gregarious, sophisticated, comfortable in his own skin – surgeon Simon Gallagher is none of these things. That’s why – whenever the social occasion demands – he hires his extroverted actor twin Nathan to put on a white coat, flatten down his hair and pretend to be him for the evening.
Nathan’s latest mission? To chat up an adorable Bloomsbury bookseller named Rob, because Simon is far too shy to make the first move. Despite being busy with the role of a lifetime, Nathan reluctantly agrees to play Cyrano de Bergerac. It’s not like the situation is going to get messy, since Nathan’s straight.
Sort of.
As the romantic complications and cases of mistaken identity pile up, Nathan is forced to confront not only the fact that he’s further up the Kinsey Scale than he previously thought, but also that he might just be falling in love with his brother’s boyfriend.
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2018
32 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Jess Whitecroft
24 books129 followersJess Whitecroft was born and educated in the UK, where she was once voted 'Most Likely To Think That Writing A Romantic Comedy About Bigfoot Is A Good Idea'.
After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.
After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 21, 2018
I haven't met a Jess Whitecroft book I didn't like, not yet, and Less Than Three kept that record intact. It's clever and witty and totally enjoyable contemporary romance reading set in London. It also does flirt a bit too close to GFY for me but it isn't, not saying anymore.
If you like the idea of a Cyrano/Valmont tale around twins, a doctor and a struggling actor, one helping the other get his man - a bookseller named Rob - then this could be the book for you. It's not ménage or twincest, just for the record. It also isn't dramatic or angsty, there is humour, some sexy times, and a HEA.
I'm tired, it's been a long week, an even longer year, and there is a slightly longer review, but not particularly long, on the blog.
If you like the idea of a Cyrano/Valmont tale around twins, a doctor and a struggling actor, one helping the other get his man - a bookseller named Rob - then this could be the book for you. It's not ménage or twincest, just for the record. It also isn't dramatic or angsty, there is humour, some sexy times, and a HEA.
I'm tired, it's been a long week, an even longer year, and there is a slightly longer review, but not particularly long, on the blog.
probably-not-but-freebie
December 13, 2018Freebie at the zon.com right now: https://smile.amazon.com/Less-Than-Th...
December 6, 2022
Cyrano de Bergerac, but queer and nobody dies -- how's that? Also, because this is Jess Whitecroft, one must be prepared to love characters who are not morally pure or honest. It's like this: Simon and Nathan are identical twins; Simon's an orthopedic surgeon and socially inept; Nathan's an actor and socially ept-plus. Simon's gay, Nathan ... isn't? Simon meets Rob, who's a delight. Simon pressures Nathan into impersonating him and, of course, Nathan falls like a ton of bricks -- well, a slow-falling ton of bricks -- for Rob.
Does it sound irredeemable? Does it sound like Simon and Nathan are a couple of shits? ... The thing is, Simon genuinely likes Rob; he doesn't so much want to pull the wool over Rob's eyes as he does to present the best, not inauthentic, version of himself to someone he wants to get to know and who has no reason to give him the time of day. And Simon really is so shy and clumsy that he's not wrong in thinking he can't shine in the early stages of a relationship. As for Nathan, he loves his brother but he balks hard, impersonating Simon on only two occasions neither of which entails getting physical apart from one brief kiss initiated by Rob. And as for Rob + Nathan, they don't get going until after Rob has broken up with Simon. Oh yeah, did I mention that Rob has his own damage to deal with?
Now I've given away more than enough of the plot, which is as tangled as it sounds, and I'm not even going into Nathan's experience playing the role of Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses -- a character whose inability to recognize and act on the first human feelings he's ever had ruins not only the person he cares for but also, of course, himself. Fortunately, in Jess Whitecroft's world, love and truth do eventually prevail, with everyone happier at the end of the book than at the beginning despite
For the avoidance of doubt, although Nathan goes through a certain amount of wait-I'm-straight-I-definitely-am-not-finding-my-brother's-boyfriend-so-appealing, he never has a big melodramatic Sexuality Crisis (TM): eventually, he just acknowledges that he desires and loves Rob, without a whole lot of fuss about that aspect of the three men's situation. It's deceit that's the problem, and both he and Simon know it.
As usual, expect lashings of JW's patented wit and erudition. God, I just bask in this woman's books.
Does it sound irredeemable? Does it sound like Simon and Nathan are a couple of shits? ... The thing is, Simon genuinely likes Rob; he doesn't so much want to pull the wool over Rob's eyes as he does to present the best, not inauthentic, version of himself to someone he wants to get to know and who has no reason to give him the time of day. And Simon really is so shy and clumsy that he's not wrong in thinking he can't shine in the early stages of a relationship. As for Nathan, he loves his brother but he balks hard, impersonating Simon on only two occasions neither of which entails getting physical apart from one brief kiss initiated by Rob. And as for Rob + Nathan, they don't get going until after Rob has broken up with Simon. Oh yeah, did I mention that Rob has his own damage to deal with?
Now I've given away more than enough of the plot, which is as tangled as it sounds, and I'm not even going into Nathan's experience playing the role of Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses -- a character whose inability to recognize and act on the first human feelings he's ever had ruins not only the person he cares for but also, of course, himself. Fortunately, in Jess Whitecroft's world, love and truth do eventually prevail, with everyone happier at the end of the book than at the beginning despite
For the avoidance of doubt, although Nathan goes through a certain amount of wait-I'm-straight-I-definitely-am-not-finding-my-brother's-boyfriend-so-appealing, he never has a big melodramatic Sexuality Crisis (TM): eventually, he just acknowledges that he desires and loves Rob, without a whole lot of fuss about that aspect of the three men's situation. It's deceit that's the problem, and both he and Simon know it.
As usual, expect lashings of JW's patented wit and erudition. God, I just bask in this woman's books.
October 20, 2018
4.5 Stars!
If you aren't reading Jess Whitecroft, what is wrong with you?
Less Than Three's first friends and then lovers delights. The building of each hero and the relationship is so well done.
We get the joy of silly romance troupes like twins switching places and Cyrano de Bergerac but enmeshed in the wondrous detail of one brother who is a genius doctor and the other an actor of high emotionial intelligence.
Nathan's work on the play Dangerous Liaisons brings the story a back drop of #MeToo while exploring the art of the theater. While we also get to think about writing and visual arts as well with Rob whom I love for his joy and self awareness as much as Nathan does.
I adore the moments deep in Simon's medical point of view as well and then Whitecroft makes my day with Neil Breen films (look him up, its awful) and carefully thinking about Doyle and Holmes to delight my book nerdy self.
The relationship between the twins is really so clear sighted and a treasure.
The romance between Nathan and Rob as it takes off could be a bad love triangle but it isn't because everyone is an adult. Love that.
We have banter and friendship and characters that really like and then love each other. I wanted more from the epilogue given some of the plot late in the book and Simon better being getting his own book but I adored every moment.
I will read this book over and over.
If you aren't reading Jess Whitecroft, what is wrong with you?
Less Than Three's first friends and then lovers delights. The building of each hero and the relationship is so well done.
We get the joy of silly romance troupes like twins switching places and Cyrano de Bergerac but enmeshed in the wondrous detail of one brother who is a genius doctor and the other an actor of high emotionial intelligence.
Nathan's work on the play Dangerous Liaisons brings the story a back drop of #MeToo while exploring the art of the theater. While we also get to think about writing and visual arts as well with Rob whom I love for his joy and self awareness as much as Nathan does.
I adore the moments deep in Simon's medical point of view as well and then Whitecroft makes my day with Neil Breen films (look him up, its awful) and carefully thinking about Doyle and Holmes to delight my book nerdy self.
The relationship between the twins is really so clear sighted and a treasure.
The romance between Nathan and Rob as it takes off could be a bad love triangle but it isn't because everyone is an adult. Love that.
We have banter and friendship and characters that really like and then love each other. I wanted more from the epilogue given some of the plot late in the book and Simon better being getting his own book but I adored every moment.
I will read this book over and over.
December 6, 2022
You know what, this author is great at writing comedy and sex and heartbreak and romance all together. That’s a rare skill! Usually people are very good at one, or a couple, and their books just don’t have much of the others - and that’s fine. Not every book needs to have everything. But this author? She can balance all those different tones really well within a single story.
I say that because this is not the first book by her I’ve read where after a lot of comedy and sex to begin with, there’s a decent amount of heartbreak and/or tragedy around the 60-80% mark. While that can be a little underwhelming and predictable in books by other authors (eg, 80% break-up cliche), this author always has me really *feeling* it - I’m caught up in the emotion! And basically very impressed with the writing.
I say that because this is not the first book by her I’ve read where after a lot of comedy and sex to begin with, there’s a decent amount of heartbreak and/or tragedy around the 60-80% mark. While that can be a little underwhelming and predictable in books by other authors (eg, 80% break-up cliche), this author always has me really *feeling* it - I’m caught up in the emotion! And basically very impressed with the writing.
January 10, 2019
This was a short quick read from an author that I read and liked before. Simon Gallagher is a orthopedic surgeon who is a shy introvert he hates social occasions Simon has a twin brother Nathan who is an actor he hires him to take his place. When Simons meets a guy that he is interested in he hires Nathan to woo him the only problem is he is straight or so he thought. Rob is a bookseller he is cute and adorable. Simon seems older than his twin because he is more rigid and straight laced while his brother Nathan is the out going one the one that can talk to people. Nathan and Rob have become friends then Rob breaks up with Simon, but they continue to hang out. When these two begin having feelings for each other they begin to date. This was a cute romance story that I liked. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling.
October 8, 2023
Don't know why these work--
Short, trope-y, unlikeable
but such sweet, hot depth.
Rounded up because Whitecroft consistently satisfies.
Short, trope-y, unlikeable
but such sweet, hot depth.
Rounded up because Whitecroft consistently satisfies.
October 10, 2018
***I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.***
Straight twin playing the part of the gay twin to win over the gay twin’s love interest. Very interesting. When I first started reading Less Than Three I thought, for some reason, the story would be written from Simon’s POV (the gay twin). What a surprise it was (to me, at least) to find it’s written from the Nathan’s POV (the straight twin). A gay romance told from the straight twin’s point of view. Very, very interesting.
Whitecroft could write about any topic--seriously, anything--and I would gobble it up. Stealing Rob’s words regarding Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: “He wanted to be off writing dense historical novels that would bore the pigeon poo off a statue.” Whitecroft could be write such novels, and I could be the pigeon poo...only, I wouldn’t be bored. Not by a long shot.
The previous books I’ve read by Whitecroft were set in the US. This one is set in England, and some of the British references escaped me. I had to Google several of the people mentioned to get an idea of what was being said. But, that’s all on me, being a dense American.
So, the twins. They have two very distinct, individual personalities. Where Simon is as dry as unbuttered toast (“My brother’s love life--as far as I could tell--was a lot like Fifty Shades of Grey: long periods of boredom interspersed with awkward conversations about cheese and Twinings tea bags.”), Nathan is animated and funny. Nathan tells his brother, “I don’t mean to brag, but you’re good looking.”
I loved being in Nathan’s head for a front row seat to his unabashed realization of his feelings for Rob. And Rob was just adorable. I enjoyed their frank conversations about literature and sexuality. When questioned by Rob about his previous gay experiences, Nathan tells him, “One time I did E and it got...oral.”
Holy mackerel, this book is hilarious and sexy and emotional. I give Less Than Three a solid ten.
Straight twin playing the part of the gay twin to win over the gay twin’s love interest. Very interesting. When I first started reading Less Than Three I thought, for some reason, the story would be written from Simon’s POV (the gay twin). What a surprise it was (to me, at least) to find it’s written from the Nathan’s POV (the straight twin). A gay romance told from the straight twin’s point of view. Very, very interesting.
Whitecroft could write about any topic--seriously, anything--and I would gobble it up. Stealing Rob’s words regarding Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: “He wanted to be off writing dense historical novels that would bore the pigeon poo off a statue.” Whitecroft could be write such novels, and I could be the pigeon poo...only, I wouldn’t be bored. Not by a long shot.
The previous books I’ve read by Whitecroft were set in the US. This one is set in England, and some of the British references escaped me. I had to Google several of the people mentioned to get an idea of what was being said. But, that’s all on me, being a dense American.
So, the twins. They have two very distinct, individual personalities. Where Simon is as dry as unbuttered toast (“My brother’s love life--as far as I could tell--was a lot like Fifty Shades of Grey: long periods of boredom interspersed with awkward conversations about cheese and Twinings tea bags.”), Nathan is animated and funny. Nathan tells his brother, “I don’t mean to brag, but you’re good looking.”
I loved being in Nathan’s head for a front row seat to his unabashed realization of his feelings for Rob. And Rob was just adorable. I enjoyed their frank conversations about literature and sexuality. When questioned by Rob about his previous gay experiences, Nathan tells him, “One time I did E and it got...oral.”
Holy mackerel, this book is hilarious and sexy and emotional. I give Less Than Three a solid ten.
January 4, 2019
3.5 stars.
It almost feels like I read two separate books in one.
There was a strong start and a good setup to the whole twin-thing as well as Nathan's GFY situation. Then, around ~30-40 %, I looked at by boyfriend and said, "I feel like I missed something.. Either I haven't paid enough attention, or the book just time jumped without me noticing."
Suddenly, we were much further ahead in the storyline. Suddenly, Rob and Simon were relatively steady, while Nathan had all these feelings, and I was like, "When did all of this happen?". And it took me a little while of scratching my head until I said, "Screw it," and just kept reading without asking so many questions.
Once I did, I liked the book a lot. I didn't care too much for all the theathre talk, but the Rob and Nathan situation was just up my alley, dragging emotions from me left and right.
I could really have loved this book, but the confusion around the halfway mark drags down the rating for me.
It almost feels like I read two separate books in one.
There was a strong start and a good setup to the whole twin-thing as well as Nathan's GFY situation. Then, around ~30-40 %, I looked at by boyfriend and said, "I feel like I missed something.. Either I haven't paid enough attention, or the book just time jumped without me noticing."
Suddenly, we were much further ahead in the storyline. Suddenly, Rob and Simon were relatively steady, while Nathan had all these feelings, and I was like, "When did all of this happen?". And it took me a little while of scratching my head until I said, "Screw it," and just kept reading without asking so many questions.
Once I did, I liked the book a lot. I didn't care too much for all the theathre talk, but the Rob and Nathan situation was just up my alley, dragging emotions from me left and right.
I could really have loved this book, but the confusion around the halfway mark drags down the rating for me.
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May 4, 2019
To anyone not convinced by the blurb—a great twin brothers' romance with Brit sense of humour—don't miss this one!
Wonderful originality to the storyline, and great attention to details in this love story, my first by Jess Whitecroft. The plot was both entertaining and engaging—identical looking twin brothers tangle themselves up in light-hearted deception while courting a potential love interest.
Complications continue to arise along the way, and by the second half of the book the story had become more angsty and serious than that of the fun and easy-going beginning. I absolutely loved that the author dared to do that.
As a fan of 'Dangerious Liasons' and 'Valmont', I found even the acting performance scenes a very enjoyable to read. For me there was a slight slump in the middle of the story, before it picks up new momentum. That short middle part—and the blurb—were the only minor weaknesses of this book as far as I'm concerned.
Pleasantly surprised, and definitely want to read more books by the author.
Wonderful originality to the storyline, and great attention to details in this love story, my first by Jess Whitecroft. The plot was both entertaining and engaging—identical looking twin brothers tangle themselves up in light-hearted deception while courting a potential love interest.
Complications continue to arise along the way, and by the second half of the book the story had become more angsty and serious than that of the fun and easy-going beginning. I absolutely loved that the author dared to do that.
As a fan of 'Dangerious Liasons' and 'Valmont', I found even the acting performance scenes a very enjoyable to read. For me there was a slight slump in the middle of the story, before it picks up new momentum. That short middle part—and the blurb—were the only minor weaknesses of this book as far as I'm concerned.
Pleasantly surprised, and definitely want to read more books by the author.
October 10, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book from Jess Whitecroft, who in my humble opinion is, one of the best writers around right now. It's just so British, chock full of black humour, sarcastic wit and some of the best belly laughs. We meet twins Nathan and Simon who are identical twins that could not be more different. Nathan is an actor and his brother Simon is a surgeon with a very bad case of social awkwardness. As kids, Nathan helps Simon with social situations so naturally, when an Ulsterman named Rob catches Simons eye, Nathan is dispatched to clear the way and make the first move, which yeah that's weird but so is Simon :) Oh and did I mention Nathan is straight? Fantastic read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 19, 2019
This has the cover and title of a rom-com, but it morphs into something darker and more serious after the first few chapters. “Twin masquerading as his brother” is a humorous trope, but the laughs drop off as all three men suffer the painful consequences of the brothers’ deceit. And they would be painful. I liked that this wasn’t brushed off with a chuckle, and that both of the twins had to wrestle with the fallout of their choices.
At about the 3/4 mark the book veers again into something different, with a shocking tragic plot point which could have gone over the top, but ended up being well handled. Writing quality and characterization were solid. I feel the book would have been better served with less inconsequential packaging.
Recommended.
At about the 3/4 mark the book veers again into something different, with a shocking tragic plot point which could have gone over the top, but ended up being well handled. Writing quality and characterization were solid. I feel the book would have been better served with less inconsequential packaging.
Recommended.
October 10, 2018
Simon a gay orthopedic surgeon, inlists his identical twin brother, Nathan, to help him date Rob a bookseller.
What could go wrong? Right.
Simon and Rob date and things get very involved, Nathan who shares an apartment with his brother, gets to hear how close, every night for hours.
Nathan and Rob have become friends, then Rob breaks up with Simon.
Nathan and Rob continue to hang out after all they can be friends he is straight. But they find the selves at a crossroad of feelings and agree to date.
Read the journey these 3 take, it is funny, touching, horrifing, painful and more.
I could not put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What could go wrong? Right.
Simon and Rob date and things get very involved, Nathan who shares an apartment with his brother, gets to hear how close, every night for hours.
Nathan and Rob have become friends, then Rob breaks up with Simon.
Nathan and Rob continue to hang out after all they can be friends he is straight. But they find the selves at a crossroad of feelings and agree to date.
Read the journey these 3 take, it is funny, touching, horrifing, painful and more.
I could not put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
October 29, 2018I DNFd at 70% for a whole hosts of reasons. Mainly for what this was it's long. One the two fall in love & start fucking like rabbits I grew bored & just wanted it to get to the point. I couldn't tell for sure but I may have loathed everyone 😂
January 24, 2025
A totally unexpected delight. Moves at a brisk clip, supported by snappy, smart, genuinely funny dialogue, charming characters, and some very sexy sex. The hard right turn it takes into is sudden (and not something I saw coming), but the writing and the emotional core is strong enough to support it. Whitecroft has clearly done a lot of thinking about the structure of romantic comedy and the problems inherent to the genre, which shows through in a very precise deployment of the central deception, the timing of the relationships Rob has with each brother, and the consistent, openly stated refusal to rely on pressure and pursuit to mend fractures in the romance.
There's something interesting to be said about Nathan experiencing and exploring intense attraction to another man at the same time he's performing a role that provokes disgust, shame, etc. about the usual workings of heterosexuality. Whitecroft never explicitly connects those facts, but they hover around the edges of the narrative. If I'm being ungenerous there's something a tiny bit pat about it ("if you don't want to be a coercive creep toward women, just stop dating them!"), but I enjoyed the book way too much to dwell overly. It did kind of make me want to read an M/F romance that grapples with the same things, but I don't know if there's anyone capable of writing it without making me roll my eyes so hard they get stuck like that.
Anyway! This is charming, full stop. I plan on checking out Whitecroft's other work, because actually clever banter is thin on the ground and I'm interested in seeing the gears of her brain turn.
There's something interesting to be said about Nathan experiencing and exploring intense attraction to another man at the same time he's performing a role that provokes disgust, shame, etc. about the usual workings of heterosexuality. Whitecroft never explicitly connects those facts, but they hover around the edges of the narrative. If I'm being ungenerous there's something a tiny bit pat about it ("if you don't want to be a coercive creep toward women, just stop dating them!"), but I enjoyed the book way too much to dwell overly. It did kind of make me want to read an M/F romance that grapples with the same things, but I don't know if there's anyone capable of writing it without making me roll my eyes so hard they get stuck like that.
Anyway! This is charming, full stop. I plan on checking out Whitecroft's other work, because actually clever banter is thin on the ground and I'm interested in seeing the gears of her brain turn.
June 9, 2019
3.75*
Want to read
December 13, 201812/13/18 Currently FREE via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
June 22, 2019
Cute read but the situation toward the end feels kind of just thrown there.
September 2, 2022
This one really kept me on my prediction toes. So I treat books the way Scott Aukerman treats movies. I don't want any spoilers. I don't read blurbs. I want to go into books completely innocent of the plot. So the only thing I knew coming into this one was that it was written by Jess Whitecroft and that it had the number three in the title (this is embarrassing you guys but even though there's a freakin <3 on the freakin book cover I didn't realize that the title was referring to the heart emoticon) so naturally I assumed it was about a polyamorous relationship.
So imagine my surprise when we open with identical twins. If you read my review of Arcana, you'll know I'm not down for boinking cousins, I'm certainly not down for the most incesty of incest. So my autopredict mind is all over the place.
It becomes pretty obvious pretty quickly that this is a twin falling in love with his brother's boyfriend but it was still difficult to figure out how it was going to end.
I liked the Good Omens vibes of the twins and how they interact with each other. However, because this story is told in first person, Rob's characterization feels superficial and lacking. He comes off as a manic pixie dream boy (which is fine, I love me some neurotic twinks) but I felt it did him a disservice. We get a little of his viewpoint at the end but I don't think it was enough to salvage his character.
Still, the story was good and I like that Nathan didn't feel the need to define his sexuality. I also liked that it was a messy story in that the characters did problematic things that they had to live with and it wasn't an easy ride for them to their hea.
So imagine my surprise when we open with identical twins. If you read my review of Arcana, you'll know I'm not down for boinking cousins, I'm certainly not down for the most incesty of incest. So my autopredict mind is all over the place.
It becomes pretty obvious pretty quickly that this is a twin falling in love with his brother's boyfriend but it was still difficult to figure out how it was going to end.
I liked the Good Omens vibes of the twins and how they interact with each other. However, because this story is told in first person, Rob's characterization feels superficial and lacking. He comes off as a manic pixie dream boy (which is fine, I love me some neurotic twinks) but I felt it did him a disservice. We get a little of his viewpoint at the end but I don't think it was enough to salvage his character.
Still, the story was good and I like that Nathan didn't feel the need to define his sexuality. I also liked that it was a messy story in that the characters did problematic things that they had to live with and it wasn't an easy ride for them to their hea.
April 15, 2020
Twins. It sounds cringy and ultimately like a bad idea, but when one of them is straight and just a stand in to get the foot in the door and open a romantic relationship with a handsome bookseller, you suddenly realize that yes, it is both of those things, and no matter how either twin tries to normalize it, it's just wrong. Stephan is the gay/doctor twin infatuated with, Rob, the bookseller/aspiring novelist. Nathan is the straight/actor twin who gets along better with Rob than he ever imagined. The story runs parallel to a stage production of Dangerous Liaisons where Nathan plays the Vicomte de Valmont, and questions are raised throughout of what is "romance" vs. "stalking" in this post "Me too" age. In general I adored the subtext of what we consider romance and erotic and sexuality and the question marks that JW puts next to them. The characters are likeable and believable even if the situation is cliche "rom-com." Really loved that Nathan was just able to except his attraction to Rob, realizing that those "experiments" in college might have meant something. Nathan and Rob together are off the inferno scale and there were some true flashes of sexiness. In all, loved this book despite it's cliche trope or maybe because of it, and the exploration that JW takes about it.
October 15, 2018
3,5*
PLEASE READ FIRST MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings (thanks to amazon I had to change it again and 'upgrade' it a little bit)
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow- Away-book like 'Liberty' from Seth King,
'Save the kids' series from EM Leya or 'Jesse's Smile' from Angelique Jurd), it's like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books) it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few times (most romances where you can enjoy
for relaxing and during waiting times in hospitals). I can recommend them definitively! It's
like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader, but not really an often reread book
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but it
was ok) It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolute NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole line, dismissed, repeat the class
PLEASE READ FIRST MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings (thanks to amazon I had to change it again and 'upgrade' it a little bit)
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow- Away-book like 'Liberty' from Seth King,
'Save the kids' series from EM Leya or 'Jesse's Smile' from Angelique Jurd), it's like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books) it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few times (most romances where you can enjoy
for relaxing and during waiting times in hospitals). I can recommend them definitively! It's
like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader, but not really an often reread book
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but it
was ok) It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolute NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole line, dismissed, repeat the class
October 15, 2018
Simon and Nathan are identical twins yet nothing alike. These two have switched places with Nathan portraying Simon since they were kids. When Simon had an interview for college admissions to become a surgeon Nathan took the interview for Simon. So when Simon claims to have fallen for Rob (Robert) from the book store Nathan refuses at first but then the need for cash has him agreeing.
I loved the characters as well as the strength of the bond the twins share. I liked Rob as well, the way he allowed his feelings for I’m going to say man he loved dictate and allow him to see his made quite a big mistake but got over and didn’t allow it to cause him to give up on his relationship. Great story, many valuable lessons to be learned.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved the characters as well as the strength of the bond the twins share. I liked Rob as well, the way he allowed his feelings for I’m going to say man he loved dictate and allow him to see his made quite a big mistake but got over and didn’t allow it to cause him to give up on his relationship. Great story, many valuable lessons to be learned.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 19, 2022
Liked:
Nathan's personality
Talks about theatre, plays, books and arts
Rob boat house in Chelsea's harbour <3
Rob's bookstore and the date scene in Russel Square Gardens <3
Didn't like:
The epilogue :(
Ended with Simon's presence too heavy (up to the last sentence!). I didn't like Rob at all in the epilogue and felt bad for Nathan. They had been so desperately in love up to that point, I think I'm just going to pretend the epilogue didn't exist :(
I'd have liked if the epilogue was mostly between Nathan and Rob, and Nathan was obviously not thrilled about Rob's behaviour, he just made feel Nathan insecure again and then The End??
It would have been good if through the book Simon would also find a new boyfriend and focus on them
Nathan's personality
Talks about theatre, plays, books and arts
Rob boat house in Chelsea's harbour <3
Rob's bookstore and the date scene in Russel Square Gardens <3
Didn't like:
The epilogue :(
Ended with Simon's presence too heavy (up to the last sentence!). I didn't like Rob at all in the epilogue and felt bad for Nathan. They had been so desperately in love up to that point, I think I'm just going to pretend the epilogue didn't exist :(
I'd have liked if the epilogue was mostly between Nathan and Rob, and Nathan was obviously not thrilled about Rob's behaviour, he just made feel Nathan insecure again and then The End??
It would have been good if through the book Simon would also find a new boyfriend and focus on them
October 15, 2018
Firstly, I loved the Cyrano de Bergerac theme. How unique to see it applied to a pair of twins, one gay and one straight. Secondly, one of the things I enjoy most about this author's stories is the way they are laced with humor. There is always at least one scene or phrase that makes me laugh out loud. It's not all fun and games, though; there are moments of drama, angst , and heart-ache, too. I love that Mr. Whitecroft's writing really lets the reader "know" the characters. By the time I was done. they were as familiar as old friends.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 15, 2018
Twins are fascinating because you never know what they will have in common and where they will differ. Apparently they did not know fully either and that is why one twin, Simon - who is gay - should see a guy he was interested in and talk Nathan, his supposedly straight brother into wooing the guy on his behalf and in the end the guy winds up the love of Nathan's life. This was a neat modern loose retelling of the Cyrano story. I liked that despite how things turn out the brothers stay cool with one another. Nicely done.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 24, 2023
I wanted to dnf this at around 15% but I really like twin swap and wanted to see how it played out. I regret spending as much time as I did even though I basically skimmed most of it.
Too much focus on scenes, inner monologue and conversations that don’t do anything to advance the romance.
It felt like the author was trying to toot their own horn by showing us how well read they are. Same with plays and movies and shit. I have not read/seen any of these references and I have zero interest in changing that. And there was SO much focus on all of it!
The “big reveal” was stupid. The breakup at around 80% was stupid. The epilogue was stupid.
Too much focus on scenes, inner monologue and conversations that don’t do anything to advance the romance.
It felt like the author was trying to toot their own horn by showing us how well read they are. Same with plays and movies and shit. I have not read/seen any of these references and I have zero interest in changing that. And there was SO much focus on all of it!
The “big reveal” was stupid. The breakup at around 80% was stupid. The epilogue was stupid.
October 12, 2018
This was a really great book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The three characters in here where quite strong and interesting ones, that you really got involved with. But the two that ended up together made the most sense indeed, in my opinion. I really enjoyed Rob's character the most he was very warm and had such a big heart.
This is a definite must read, grab it now.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a definite must read, grab it now.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 12, 2018
This is a well written book with an interesting story line. I loved the characters and reading their story. The author does a great job pulling at your emotions as you're following Rob and Nathan's relationship. It's an entertaining story that had me hooked from beginning to end and I would recommend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
October 22, 2018
Jess Whitecroft has become an auto-buy for me. This didn't disappoint. I just wish it could've been longer. I like this didn't get Cyrano de Bergerac all the way. It would've been awkward. As it is, it's just perfect.
Oh, and this book is WOKE AF. Props for nailing the awful things that women have been fed since the beginning of times (confusing creepiness with romance) and supporting the #MeToo movement. Use your platform. Use your voice.
Oh, and this book is WOKE AF. Props for nailing the awful things that women have been fed since the beginning of times (confusing creepiness with romance) and supporting the #MeToo movement. Use your platform. Use your voice.
October 11, 2018
He is very shy and he has a thing for a male book shop owner so what will be do? Simple he asks his twin to pretend to be him besides they are straight. This is so not going to end well. Follow the how and downs and if they are found out
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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