Book Review: Real World, book 5 by Amy Jo Cousins

Title: Real World, book 5

Author: Amy Jo Cousins

Publisher/GR Link: Samhain, GR

Genre: MM Contemporary

Vice: series, holiday read

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Lock this book up: 4 keys out of 5, the sex is hot!

Length: 175 page Novel

Satisfaction: HEA

Cover Impressions: These covers are amazing!

Best Line:  "…Tom was done fucking up. Was done putting his relationship in jeopardy because he was ashamed and fearful and hiding under the shaky leaf of his own lies as if they were rocks."

Synopsis: Five years ago, Tom Worthington busted his ass to overcome the fear and paranoia that led him to withdraw from the world and nearly lose his boyfriend. He never thought he’d find himself right back there, shutting Reese out, keeping secrets again.

Reese Anders is ready to try anything to get Tom to talk: if he can’t seduce his boyfriend with food, he’ll get Tom to open up in bed. But even Tom’s confession that his dad is getting out of prison soon doesn’t clear the air between them. And as the holidays approach, intensive mentoring from a new British boss creates more distractions, until Reese is keeping secrets of his own.

At a company Christmas party, it only takes Tom one look at Reese’s new boss to figure out how much danger their relationship is in. But he’s not about to let the connection that started all those years ago at Carlisle come to an end. It’s time to deal with their problems like adults. Face to face. Or back to front. Starting in the bedroom.

Impressions:  I have loved the Off Campus series, and I jumped at the chance to review book 5 in the series.  The fact that it was a holiday read?  Buttercream icing on a cake I was already going to eat!

It was great to see Tom and Reese again, but my heart broke to watch Tom suffer so mush in silence.  I really liked that this book showed Tom having made some progress in his communication issues, but showing that this is not a quick fix.  I thought it was really respectful and realistic when looking at the way Tom had been raised.  I loved that Reese was there for him, and this was a true development of a relationship that I already loved.  This story didn’t need any crazy plot twists or “big misunderstandings” because what carries this read is characters that we love and a romance that keeps growing.

I loved seeing some other familiar characters in this story, and it was great seeing how their lives were all connected as they supported and loved each other.

This was a great read, and the holiday setting made it an amazing and fun pre-holiday gem!