Green Light (Caffeine Daydreams Book 2) by Lark Taylor

Get your tissues ready, readers, because Lark Taylor puts these poor men through the ringer before getting their HEA in her newest release, Green Light. 

From the blurb:

What is the true nature of the relationship between the guitarist and bassist of the world-famous rock band, Caffeine Daydreams?

Kai

I should be happy.

My childhood best friend and I are living our wildest dream—making music and touring the world as famous rock stars. I’ve got everything I could wish for.

Except him.

I’ll never have Silas. Not the way I want.

Our onstage behaviour gives fans a lot to speculate over, but it’s only an act.

The truth is, I die inside every time we touch. It might be pretend for Silas, but for me, it’s a constant reminder that I can’t have him the way I truly desire.

Then, a moment onstage leads me to a breaking point, and I can’t bear the heartache any longer.

I need to find a way to only see Silas as a friend before I lose our friendship, and him, forever.

Silas

My life is split into two chapters.

Before Kai and After Kai.

My childhood was a nightmare. A darkness I carried alone. But everything became brighter when I met Kai. He took me into his life, his family, his home.

Kai is more than my best friend. He’s my everything.

Some people think our relationship is odd…that it’s unusual for two friends to be as close as we are.

But everything about us makes sense.

At least, that’s what I believed.

When an onstage moment shines a light on the cracks in our foundation, my eyes are opened to a truth that’s been right in front of me the entire time.

A truth I want to explore.

But it’s too late. Just when I’m ready for more, Kai’s moving on.

One thing’s for sure; I’m not giving up.

No matter the risks.

Green Light is a bi-awakening, best friends-to-lovers MM rockstar romance. The second in the Caffeine Daydreams series, each book will follow a different couple as they find their HEA. Although better read in order, these books can stand alone.

Jacqueleen the Reading Queen's Review:

"𝙄'𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚. 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮, 𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪."

Jesus Christ Lark. My freaking heart took a beating with this one! Every time I thought this is it! They are finally going to talk and hash things out! I was proven wrong again, usually in a way that had my heart dropping into my stomach. Three words: The Birthday Party 😭😭 This was a book of pining. SO MUCH PINING. My heart broke over and over for Kai in the first half, while it spent the majority of the second breaking for Silas. Their story definitely had a completely different tone to book 1.

The song lyrics were a big highlight for me while reading. I loved how Kai used his feelings and expressed them through his song lyrics. How Silas never figured out what everyone else had for years was beyond me. I guess there is a reason they say ignorance is bliss. Silas honestly had no idea his best friend was so unhappy because if he did, that would have led to his unhappiness as well. There was no world where one of them was happy if the other wasn't. That's just who they were to one another. Codependent? Oh yes. Toxic? Depends who you ask, I suppose. Does it really matter if spending 24/7 with the love of your life makes them both truly happy?

"𝙄'𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚.

𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨. 𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩.

𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚."

Kai and Silas' story is definitely a slow burn when it comes to the actual steam and relationship, so be prepared. It will rip your heart out over and over, but I promise it gets put back together again. Now I understand what all those author friends of Larks were saying in their posted messages cursing her name! The love story of Kai and Silas was certainly an epic one, and I can't wait to read about Arlo and Jack's story next. Once my heart has recovered from this one, of course.

Rating: 5 Stars

Molly's Review:

What started with white noise brought us Caffeine Daydreams where we met and fell hard for this band and their bond. You knew it was gonna be a rough friend to lovers, but I don't think you're prepared for what Lark has put out into the world this go around.  

Kai and Silas have been each other's rocks for so long, but one kiss changes everything. With the time apart, your heart will be splayed open, with the fears these men have to put their heart on the line it will be further torn apart. But as always, with Lark, once the pain passes, you will be put back together with hope and love for these men to have their forever love.

Don't think Lark is a PNR only author. She does contemporary just as brilliantly, just in a more visceral way that will make you feel the pain different but just as beautifully as with her paranormal work.

Rating: 5 Stars

Angel's Review:

When I start a Lark Taylor book, I know I'm in for an emotional journey. Lark always has a way to get you to connect with any character she writes; whether that be demons and mages, or down-to-earth rockstars. You're going to be taken on a journey of self-discovery with Silas, and a journey of Kai realizing that he shouldn't have kept his secret away from Silas.

I was not immune to Lark's writing prowess. I teared up while reading this book. The way Lark writes her characters evokes so much emotion from her readers. That's exactly what Kai and Silas did. They made me feel their pain and anguish, their confusion, happiness, the way they both felt uneasy about how they felt for one another. 

One thing I've noticed with Lark's books is the relatability of her characters. No matter what, you're probably going to end up relating to a few characters in one way or another. The pacing of this story was so excellent while also being excruciating. All you wanted was for them to just talk, and get everything out in the open, but no.. Lark can't have that happen too soon in the story. Which I appreciate while simultaneously being a bit frustrated by it. It's quite a conundrum. 

The characters were well written, as always. We got to learn about where Silas and Kai met; we learned about each of their backstories, how they grew up with each other. And how no matter what, they stick together, always. 

I really enjoyed this story. I was really satisfied with how Kai and Silas's story turned out. At times I got mad at Kai for hurting Silas, and yet I did understand where he was coming from.. it was a conflicting journey that Lark will take you on.

I loved how once Silas realized how he felt in regards to Kai; he accepted it. He didn't freak out or throw a fit. His immediate concern was thinking about how much he had unknowingly hurt Kai. His character was so sweet. 

The relationship between Kai's family and Silas was so endearing, and so, so sweet. I'm really glad that Kai's family accepted him into their welcoming arms. 

Overall, this book was truly incredible and I'm very excited to read about Arlo's story, which I hope is next! As someone who loves the friends to lovers trope, this was done so beautifully!

Rating: 5 Stars

Heather's Review:

Oblivious and pining... and then reverse the scenario and you have Green Light by Lark Taylor.  If you started with the first book in the series, you know that Kai and Silas are best friends who everyone knows should be more... but Silas is straight... or is he?

I love that Lark started at the beginning of their story - their first meeting as young men and how their childhoods impacted the way they became adults together....

I absolutely love the angst and the pining, the obliviousness that both characters displayed and the sweet and thoughtful ending to the story...

I couldn't put the book down, and it was difficult to watch the back and forth, but I loved their family and how supportive they were, but how they hinted rather than told the characters what was obviously right in front of their faces.

This story, while it was about rock stars was really a childhood friends to lovers story where they happened to find their path in music.  

Rating: 5 Stars

Green Light is available to buy as an ebook, paperback, or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.