A fantastic, heartbreakingly beautiful book from a debut author!
From the blurb:
After the relationship I escaped, safety means keeping my life small: Evergreen Books, my apartment above it, and the people I trust. Then Noah Richards needs a place to stay. My younger brother’s best friend is all grown up now—steady, warm, and impossible to ignore. He sees me in ways I can't see myself, and suddenly I’m wondering if trust, and maybe love, could feel safe again.
But is love enough to save me from my own mind?
NOAH
Coming back to Willowrun was supposed to be simple: open Anchor Strength, reconnect with my best friend, settle down. Then I move in with Gabe Shaw. Gabe, who doesn’t realize how beautiful he is, or how easy he is to want. I can see he’s hurting, but I also see the man beneath it—someone who deserves patience, laughter, and a love that stays. He might never want me back, but if being his safe place is all I get, I’ll take it… even if my heart wants more.
Shelved Hearts is a slow-burn MM romance about healing from past abuse, rediscovering trust, and finding love in an unexpected place. With themes of recovery, vulnerability, and chosen family, Shelved Hearts balances emotional depth with heartfelt, swoony spice.
*This story contains heavy topics that could potentially be triggering. A content warning list will be available in the book. Prior to release please visit the author's Instagram for more information/details.
Angel's review:
The blurb caught my interest as soon as I read it, a love story about childhood friends, recovering from trauma, found family, AND it have a happy ending?? Sounds exactly like the books I'm into.
This book is.. raw, in the sense that is packed full of emotion. Gabe has been through so much, and has been shattered into pieces to the point where he doesn't even know who he is anymore. His reactions to loud noises, to touch, and being out in public, absolutely broke my heart. I just wanted to give him a hug. Thankfully though, Noah gave him a hug for me!
Noah is a golden retriever of a character, he's so incredibly kind, caring, loyal, and fiercely protective of Gabe and his mental and physical well being. Even when he was hurting seeing Gabe struggling, he listened to what the other man needed from him, and then went with it. He never took anything, he followed Gabe's lead while always offering support. He was the steady lighthouse guiding Gabe back to shore.
Their relationship was so immensely beautiful, the slow burn was delectable and done well. Their relationship occured naturally, slowly but surely they gained each other's trust, learned how to open up and rely on each other, and that was just really beautiful to witness.
The side characters were absolutely FANTASTIC!! I almost liked them better than the MC's, almost! I'm so curious about all of them and I hope that they all get their own stories eventually. Especially Ciarán, I need to know what's going on between him and Aidan..
This book is going to hit you in your feels so for that reason you should probably have some tissues near by. This book does talk about abuse, both mental and physical, as well as all the trauma that lingers from going through something like that. So, if that's something that could be harmful to you, please read with caution.
Having said that, I highly recommend this book, it's very good and I'm looking forward to seeing what this author releases next.
Shelved Hearts is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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