When I first met this friend group, who call themselves the Motherfuckers, in The Love Study I just knew there would have to be more. At the time, that story was listed as a standalone. I’m so happy the author decided to continue with this group and tell us another tale. But I don’t believe you really need to read the first book in order to enjoy and feel this book.

Just as the description of this book says, Oscar is a grouch. A lot of his grouchiness comes from two things, anxiety and not being good at understanding social cues. He’s quiet, even with his closest friends. That will often come across as grouchy even when it’s not intended to. Although, he really is a bit of a grouch. And Jack, for his part, is pretty grouchy himself. Where he can come across as a bit snobbish, it’s also to do with his inability to always know how he’s expected to act. Jack is very straight forward and matter of fact and doesn’t like when others are not. Which, by the way, is quite helpful to Oscar.

In some ways this story can be looked at as an enemies to lovers tale. Jack and Oscar may be part of the same friend group (Jack is a newer addition to a well-established group of friends), yet due to their personalities they don’t tend to interact with one another all that often. And when they do, it’s generally to snipe at each other. The way their relationship begins is a bit non-traditional but loaded with emotion. Maybe not the emotions you’re expecting, but still overflowing with some kind of feelings.

If you have any issues with anxiety, you will 100% understand Oscar. If you don’t but have people in your life who do, maybe Oscar will help you to empathize with them a bit more. The angst, the self-recrimination, the anger and helplessness. The author captures these moments so honestly and candidly. Of course, all of this boils down to him also having a very low self-esteem. I adore how Jack, in his Jack way, tries to boost Oscar’s self-confidence. Of course, because Jack is often sarcastic and biting, more than half the time Oscar doesn’t take those confidence boosts seriously.

This is definitely a story of two people who need to learn how to talk to one another. With their personalities and pasts, it made sense. I didn’t find myself annoyed with this but instead rooting for them to grasp how much they could have if they’d just tell each other the truth and bare their hearts.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and Carina Press. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

You can find an excerpt from this story over on my blog, All In Good Time.

If you enjoyed Boyfriend Material, there's a solid chance you'll enjoy this.

Oscar is a grouch (cute) who has serious anxiety, but also an amazing group of friends who support him no matter what. What he doesn't have anymore is a job. Jack is a newcomer to the friend group, quiet and serious, with a hoard house that needs cleaning out and he's willing to pay.

Told only from Oscar's point of view, it's a deep dive into sometimes crippling anxiety and one person's way of living with it. Oscar's voice really reminds me of Luc in Boyfriend Material (and I was not entirely surprised to find that Alexis Hall thanked in the acknowledgements), though their issues are different.

Their physical connection is strong, and fun to read. And their communication style is bickering, which is also super fun to read.

Kris Ripper is a new-to-me author, and I'll be looking to read more of zir work.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sometimes I really love an asshole. Not a bad person. Not a let’s call him grumpy because he’s not throwing glitter and shitting rainbows. Jack is sad d asshole. He just says whatever. He has not mean but he is abrupt and just says all the things.
Oscar has anxiety. He does not do well with change. His emotions are big and he struggles to manage them. Either he has word vomit or his brain locks up and refuses to share words. He is learning to not shut out and shut down.
These two together are complicated.
I love Jack and his matter of fact way of telling Oscar he finds him hot. Calling him a bear cub and wanting to touch him.
Oscar is lovable but he is way outside my experience.
This is not a light fluffy romance. It is not without real issues. It is a good book with a tough story.