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A review by booksafety
The Barkeep and the Bro by A.J. Truman
4.0
Book safety, tropes and tags down below.
This was surprisingly sweet and low angst. Enough push and pull to keep it interesting, but not so much that you get annoyed while reading. Charlie was an adorable character and my heart hurt for him at several points in the book. If you spend enough time being told you’re only good for a fun (and short) time, that you’re not-so-bright, then you start believing it.
«‘You like him,’ he said. I didn’t answer. ‘He likes you too.’ ‘He likes flirting with me and fucking me. That’s all I was good for with girls. It’s the same with guys, too. I’m not the best when it comes to actual, real relationships.’»
Considering it’s a ex-girlfriend’s-dad romance, it wasn’t bad on the angst, and the daughter/ex girlfriend wasn’t a massive part of the book at all. From the little we did see of her though, I didn’t like her at all. A bridezilla, and she said some really hurtful things to Charlie. We were told they made up off-page, but atleast an apology on-page would have been nice.
«‘I’ve wanted him to find someone for years. But he should be with someone more serious, someone more on his wavelength.’ I took my hand back. ‘I think we get along well.’ ‘You’re fun. You’re a lot of fun. But my dad isn’t the type who messes around. He’s built for a serious relationship.’ ‘I can be…’ Breath left my body. ‘One of the benefits of this awkward situation is that I know what it’s like to date you. It’s fun, but it doesn’t go beyond that. Things can only go so far. You’re like a rocketship that just can’t break through the earth’s atmosphere into outer space.’»
God, imagine hearing someone tell you that when you have real feelings for someone. Ouch.
I’m happy we got a cute little epilogue too, getting to check in on Mitch and Charlie six months later. It was entertaining and the spice was really hot.
Book safety
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Strict top/bottom or vers: Versatile with switching on-page
TW/CW
Explicit sexual content, side character with a *maybe* alcohol problem
Tropes & tags
Ex girlfriend’s dad, age gap, size difference, bi awakening, beard, body hair, boss/employee, workplace sex, bartender, weddings, frat bro, single dad, divorced
This was surprisingly sweet and low angst. Enough push and pull to keep it interesting, but not so much that you get annoyed while reading. Charlie was an adorable character and my heart hurt for him at several points in the book. If you spend enough time being told you’re only good for a fun (and short) time, that you’re not-so-bright, then you start believing it.
«‘You like him,’ he said. I didn’t answer. ‘He likes you too.’ ‘He likes flirting with me and fucking me. That’s all I was good for with girls. It’s the same with guys, too. I’m not the best when it comes to actual, real relationships.’»
Considering it’s a ex-girlfriend’s-dad romance, it wasn’t bad on the angst, and the daughter/ex girlfriend wasn’t a massive part of the book at all. From the little we did see of her though, I didn’t like her at all. A bridezilla, and she said some really hurtful things to Charlie. We were told they made up off-page, but atleast an apology on-page would have been nice.
«‘I’ve wanted him to find someone for years. But he should be with someone more serious, someone more on his wavelength.’ I took my hand back. ‘I think we get along well.’ ‘You’re fun. You’re a lot of fun. But my dad isn’t the type who messes around. He’s built for a serious relationship.’ ‘I can be…’ Breath left my body. ‘One of the benefits of this awkward situation is that I know what it’s like to date you. It’s fun, but it doesn’t go beyond that. Things can only go so far. You’re like a rocketship that just can’t break through the earth’s atmosphere into outer space.’»
God, imagine hearing someone tell you that when you have real feelings for someone. Ouch.
I’m happy we got a cute little epilogue too, getting to check in on Mitch and Charlie six months later. It was entertaining and the spice was really hot.
Book safety
Spoiler
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Strict top/bottom or vers: Versatile with switching on-page
TW/CW
Spoiler
Explicit sexual content, side character with a *maybe* alcohol problem
Tropes & tags
Spoiler
Ex girlfriend’s dad, age gap, size difference, bi awakening, beard, body hair, boss/employee, workplace sex, bartender, weddings, frat bro, single dad, divorced