The Marriage Policy is when best friends decide to get married for health insurance. Making them be able to open their eyes to see how much they mean to the other. Part of Riley Harts the Jilted Exes Club series.
From the blurb:
Donovan
What’s a little marriage of convenience between best friends?
I’ve always worked hard to keep the friendship line firmly in place when it comes to Eric. I’m gay, and he’s straight. We’re best friends and nothing more. But he’s my person, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. Which is why when I find out he’s struggling financially and doesn’t have medical insurance, I blurt out six friendship-altering words: I want you to marry me.
Eric
Donovan’s my best friend, the most important person in my life… And he wants to marry me.
Okay, so maybe I haven’t made the best decisions lately. I took a job with no health insurance and no guaranteed money, which was working out fine, if not for the whole getting-injured-and-fired thing. But Donovan has come up with a solution. Marriage. Living together. There’s a small chance we’re a tad codependent, but I always want to be with him, so signing a marriage license shouldn’t really change much. Until the kissing starts…and the touching…and the exploring… And all I know is, I want more. So much more from my husband.
Playing pretend with Donovan is the realest thing I’ve ever felt, and though divorce was the ultimate plan, I’m not sure I want this to end.
Content Warning: MC without medical insurance, discussion on the risks of not having medical insurance, discussion about losing a parent to cancer (in the past).
Molly Otto's review:
Eric & Donovan have been life-long best friends who are co-dependent with each other without realizing how much. Until Eric is injured playing basketball and Donovan offers a marriage of convenience. What should be something simple turns into these two realizing how much they actually mean to one another.
Best friends to lovers are not always a favorite trope of mine because of the unnecessary angst from friends to more. With these two, you just do not have that. You have insecurities, but that's understandable, especially after what Malcolm did to Donovan. with the help of the fellow Jilted Exes Club, Donovan is able to see he is worth more and able to be brave enough for this next step. With his injury, Eric is able to see who his true friends are and be able to make the right choices for himself to be truly happy. Another great addition to this series of unlikely friends brought together by a common mistake.
Zakiyya's review:
The Marriage Policy is a heartfelt MM romance that twists the classic marriage-of-convenience trope with a fresh and deeply emotional spin.
Written by the talented, Riley Hart, an author who knows how to blend humor, vulnerability, and sizzling chemistry, this story focuses on the complex relationship between two best friends, Donovan and Eric, whose bond goes from platonic to something much more intense and real.
The central romance is tender and believable. As the marriage of convenience becomes less about a legal contract and more about two people supporting and caring for each other, their relationship evolves in ways neither of them expected. The blend of humor (because who wouldn't laugh at the absurdity of being married for insurance purposes?) and heart-warming emotional beats provides a perfect balance, making this book hard to put down.
The emotional payoff when Donovan finally admits his love for Eric is both cathartic and satisfying. Watching them both accept their true feelings, especially when they’ve been so terrified of what they might mean, is beautifully done. The conflicts they face feel earned, and by the end of the book, the reader is left with a sense of hope and joy for these two men.
This is a well-crafted, emotionally charged story that combines the sweetness of a slow-burn romance with the intensity of self-discovery. While the marriage-of-convenience trope is well-worn, the execution here feels fresh and poignant, and the characters will stay with you long after the last page. If you’re a fan of MM romance that’s thoughtful, emotional, and beautifully written, " The Marriage Policy " is one you shouldn’t miss. The combination of humor, heart, and sizzling chemistry will leave you wanting more of Eric and Donovan’s story.
Jacqueleen the Reading Queen's review:
"π³ππππππ ππ πππ ππ’π ππ ππ’ ππππ, πππ πΈ πππ ππππ πΈ'π πππ ππ’π ππ πππ πππ. π·π ππππππ ππ ππππππ ππππππ ππ ππ ππ ππππ ππ πππππ’ ππ ππ ππππ ππ πππ, πππ ππ'π ππππππππ’ πππ ππππ πππππππππ πππππ ππ ππ’ π ππππ ππππππππ ππ ππ πππ ππππ πππ πππ."
Donovan and Eric have to be the absolute sweetest friends to lovers romance ever. Probably because these two have basically been each other's person since they were just kids. Where one would go, the other follows and vice versa. Donovan wants to move away to go to college? Ok Eric's going with him. Eric needs to go the ER? Donovan is on his way. Their friendship was definitely closer than what's considered "normal" but neither of them would have it any other way. That's just how close they were.
I think every single person who met these two knew they were soulmates except for them. They did everything you would expect two people in a committed relationship would do except have sex. And once they DID add the sex in? Holy smokes. These two were so hot for one another you could feel the chemistry leap off the page. I never knew Eric could have such a dirty mouth. *fans self*
It took Eric and Donovan awhile, not to mention some helpful advice from the jilted exes, to finally open their eyes to the truth. I was happy that we never had to deal with a big freak out on Eric's part. He already knew he loved Donovan, now it was just more. I sincerely adored these two together and am so happy they finally saw what the world did. That they were just perfect for one another.
"π·π'π ππ’ ππππππ ππ ππππ π ππ’π ππππ πΈ πππππππ. ππππ πππππ πΈ πππππ ππππ πππ πππ’πππ...ππ'π πππππππ ππ'π ππ’ πππππ."
Comments
Post a Comment