Tracy’s review of Not My Boyfriend by Monica L. Anderson

Stuck at a co-workers retirement party, Max prepares himself for a long, boring night—until a guy across the bar with an intense brown gaze and a dangerous smirk offers some mutual gratification in the bathroom. Max had been looking for a forever love, but Karson’s so hot, forever can wait.

Ever since his cheating ex broke his heart, Karson’s had rules. Only pleasure. Never more than once. Never stay the night. Yet long after their romp in the bar bathroom, Karson still wants Max—maybe enough to break his own rules.

As Max and Karson struggle to sort out their complicated non-relationship, Karson’s ex resurfaces in full win-him-back mode. One white lie later, Max attends Karson’s tenth annual high-school reunion as his “boyfriend” to keep his ex away. But pretending is hard, when all Max wants is for the lie to be the truth.

Max meets Karson in a bar when they are both there with co-workers. They have an instant attraction and Karson makes no bones about the fact that he’s looking for a quick hook-up. Max, however, gave up quick hook-ups and one night stands six months prior as he wants something more – a committed relationship. Despite Max’s good intentions he decides that it’s A-OK to have that hook-up with Karson in the bathroom of the bar. As hot as it is Max instantly regrets it.

Karson just wanted a hook-up as well but he can’t get Max out of his head. When he returns some books at the local library and finds that Max works there he ends up getting his number but only so that they can be sex buddies which surprisingly, Max agrees to.

Karson ends up calling so he can have sex with Max and then get him out of his system and the pair begin a sex only relationship but Max gets in deep way too quickly and he’s soon deciding that he wants more with Karson. Karson can’t seem to get Max out of his mind or bed. Every time Max thinks he’s going to end it with Karson the man does something to change Max’s mind. Then Karson’s ex comes into the picture and Max ends up as Karson’s fake boyfriend at his HS reunion.

I have to start my review portion of this book saying that I liked Anderson’s writing style and her characters had some really great qualities. This was a good book but I ended up having a few issues with it overall.

First was Max and his decision to look for a serious relationship but then folding like a freaking origami crane the first time Karson blinks his eyes. I wondered if this was the first time that Max had been out in that 6 month period and the first time he was propositioned in all that time because the man just caved! Karson didn’t even have to work that hard. I know that this was supposed to mean that Max found Karson so attractive that he just couldn’t help himself but it didn’t make me look at Max in a very good light. That light stayed dim as he let Karson walk all over him throughout the book. Now I did like things about Max and he was my favorite of the two men but that may have been because I ended up knowing very little about Karson. Max’s best friend Lydia was da bomb and anyone who could have that woman as a best friend couldn’t be all bad, right?

I really didn’t like the way that Karson strung Max along. The man didn’t know what he wanted and this caused misunderstanding after misunderstanding. Now I think part of that issue was Max himself and his expectations because some of the things that Karson did that hurt Max so badly wouldn’t have hurt the random sex buddy. Karson had no idea how Max felt so I don’t think he was intentionally hurting Max, it just ended up that way. He wasn’t a bad guy, just confused.

If you like stories with the “Big Mis” then this is definitely a book for you. I found it frustrating at times but other than that it was a decent read.

Rating: 3 out of 5

This title is available from Samhain Publishing. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.