Better Than People by Roan Parrish

It’s not long before their pet-centric arrangement sparks a person-centric desire…

Simon Burke has always preferred animals to people. When the countdown to adopting his own dog is unexpectedly put on hold, Simon turns to the PetShare app to find the fluffy TLC he’s been missing. Meeting a grumpy children’s book illustrator who needs a dog walker isn’t easy for the man whose persistent anxiety has colored his whole life, but Jack Matheson’s menagerie is just what Simon needs.

Four dogs, three cats and counting. Jack’s pack of rescue pets is the only company he needs. But when a bad fall leaves him with a broken leg, Jack is forced to admit he needs help. That the help comes in the form of the most beautiful man he’s ever seen is a complicated, glorious surprise.

Being with Jack—talking, waking, making out—is a game changer for Simon. And Simon’s company certainly… eases the pain of recovery for Jack. But making a real relationship work once Jack’s cast comes off will mean compromise, understanding and lots of love.

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.

Book 1
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Carina Adores—Harlequin

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a book that will appeal to introverts everywhere. Simon and Jack are two men who love animals – but find their relationships with people quite difficult. While Jack can be a bit surly and tends to avoid people, Simon suffers from crippling social anxiety. This is the story of the awkward, fumbling start to a very special relationship.

It probably says something about me that I love the animals in this book even more than the humans. Jack’s pack of heavily anthropomorphised dogs and cats are wonderfully entertaining. But the men are pretty wonderful too. Jack may not be great with the people in his life, but he lives for his dogs and he’s passionate about his art. Simon’s anxiety is debilitating but he too is passionate about his work, his grandmother, and Jack’s dogs. For obvious reasons, there is a definite lack of witty banter between these two but the chemistry between them is crazy hot and there is something really lovely about the quiet connection that builds between them.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
I wasn't sure about this book because the last one I read by the author missed the mark for me. However, the blurb and title grabbed my interest, so I gave it a go. I'll have to say that I enjoyed this book. I learned so much about people with anxiety worse than mine that I now feel bad for thinking my anxiety sucked. Jack and Simon go from zero to sixty pretty fast, I think, for someone with as bad of anxiety as Simon. Jack and the animals just melt my heart. Pretty good book, glad I gave it a go.

 

ROAN PARRISH lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre. When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Better Than People (Garnet Run #1) by Roan Parrish to read and review.