Book Title: The Glow Up
Author: A.M. Johnson
Release Date: September 22nd, 2022
Genre: M/M Romance
My Rating: 3/5 Stars
Synopsis:
Chris Delaney
I’ve promised myself that this was going to be the year to finally buckle down. I’m a junior, and I’ve settled on a major. I’ve got focus and determination. The one thing I haven’t figured out yet? How to deal with the massive crush I’ve been harboring on the guy in study carrel six.
I don’t know his name and some of my friends think it’s time for me to move on, but he has this whole sexy, broody, dark eyes and messy hair thing going for him. And yeah, he seems like he could be my polar opposite. The kind of unapproachable, serious type who doesn’t smile much, but I’d like to think he’s all rays of sunshine underneath his stormy expressions and disheveled demeanor. All that intense energy… I dig it.
I want to know him.
The rub?
I’ll have to find the courage to actually introduce myself.
Aiden Russo
The college experience is supposed to be parties, drinking, and fun with a few classes mixed in. It sounds pretty amazing, right? For me, it turned out to be endless lectures, avalanches of homework, and copious amounts of caffeine. The study carrel might as well be my dorm room. And that guitar under my bed? It’s got two years of dust growing on it. But this is the life I have to lead if I’m ever going to help my dad.
Pre-med isn’t for the weak.
The problem? Loneliness holds me hostage.
If only I could find someone willing to break through my ever-present cloud bank, and remind me what it’s like to have fun again.
My Review:
The Glow Up is the perfect story to read if you’re having a bad day, or just need something cozy and sweet to put a smile on your face. This book is so sweet and low-angst, with lots of gooey love between the two leads.
The two mcs become fast friends after a rather awkward encounter at a spa, and then they begin testing the waters of a relationship. Their bond strengthens daily, and even though Aiden is always busy because of his pre-med degree, Chris is quick to find little things for them to do to spend time together.
Aiden and Chris are pretty much perfect for each other. Their strengths compliment each other, and they’re both helpful and accommodating of each other’s weaknesses. Chris helps Aiden come out of his shell, while Aiden helps ground Chris. It’s a nice dynamic. The two really were sweet together.
The main reason I didn’t give this book four stars is because it was a little too sweet at times. I was hoping for a bit more conflict. There was conflict between Aiden, his degree, and his father, but it didn’t test Aiden and Chris’s relationship like I had hoped it would. If you need a book that requires very little thought for all the good feelings, this one is perfect, but if you’re hoping for something that goes deeper past the surface level, the Glow Up doesn’t quite live up to expectations.
Even so, I did enjoy it, and I think it’s definitely a great addition to the Franklin University series. I’m reading them completely out of order at the moment, but so far this is my favorite of the two and a half I’ve read. I can’t get over how endearing Chris and Aiden were. If I was judging the book on how cute their relationship was alone, it would have perfect marks!
So, even though I had a couple issues with it, I still definitely recommend it.
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
Purchase it at: Amazon | Audible
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